14．When milk arrived on the doorstep
When I was a boy growing up in New Jersey in the 1960s，we had a milkman delivering milk to our doorstep．His name was Mr．Basille．He wore a white cap and drove a white truck．As a 5-year-old boy，I couldn't take my eyes off the coin changer fixed to his belt．He noticed this one day during a delivery and gave me a quarter out of his coin changer．
Of course，he delivered more than milk．There was cheese，eggs and so on．If we needed to change our order，my mother would pen a note-"Please add a bottle of buttermilk next delivery"-and place it in the box along with the empty bottles．And then，the buttermilk would magically （魔术般） appear．
All of this was about more than convenience．There existed a close relationship between families and their milkmen．Mr．Basille even had a key to our house，for those times when it was so cold outside that we put the box indoors，so that the milk wouldn't freeze．And I remember Mr．Basille from time to time taking a break at our kitchen table，having a cup of tea and telling stories about his delivery．
There is sadly no home milk delivery today．Big companies allowed the production of cheaper milk，thus making it difficult for milkmen to compete．Besides，milk is for sale everywhere，and it may just not have been practical to have a delivery service．
Recently，an old milk box in the countryside I saw brought back my childhood memories．I took it home and planted it on the back porch （门廊）．Every so often my son's friends will ask what it is．So I start telling stories of my boyhood，and of the milkman who brought us friendship along with his milk．
1．Mr．Basille gave the boy a quarter out of his coin changerA．
A．to satisfy his curiosity
B．to pay for the delivery
C．to show his magical power
D．to please his mother
2．What can be inferred from the fact that the milkman had the key to the boy's house？B
A．He wanted to have tea there．
B．He was fully trusted by the family．
C．He was treated as a family member．
D．He was a respectable person．
3．Why does home milk delivery no longer exist？D
A．Nobody wants to be a milkman now．
B．It is forbidden by law．
C．Its service is getting poor．
D．It has been driven out of the market．
4．Why did the author bring back home an old milk box？C
A．He needed it for his milk bottles．
B．He wanted to tell interesting stories．
C．He missed the good old days．
D．He planted flowers in it．
分析 本文描述了一位名叫Basille先生的送奶工．在我5岁时，曾对固定在他皮带上找零的硬币夹感到好奇．一天在送货的时候他发现了，就从里面拿出一枚25分的硬币送给我． 当时每一家都与他们的送奶工都保持着良好的关系．Basille先生甚至有我们家的钥匙，在天很冷的时候，为防止牛奶被冻住Basille先生会来家里休息，喝茶，聊他的送货经历． 后来由于大公司允许生产更便宜的牛奶；另外，牛奶到处都可以买到，渐渐地就不需要送奶工的服务了． 当我在乡下看到了一个旧牛奶箱后，就把它带回家并按在后门廊上．还经常为孩子的朋友讲述我的童年以及与送奶工的故事．
解答 1-4 ABDC
1：A 细节推理题 根据第一段中"I couldn't take my eyes off…during a delivery．"由于一天在送货的时候他注意到：我目不转睛地看着固定在他皮带上的找零的硬币夹．可知，是因为他看到了我的好奇，所以，就拿出了一枚25分的硬币送给我．所以A选项是正确的．
2：B 细节推理题 本题容易错选C 他被当做家庭成员来对待，单从将家里钥匙留给送奶工，并不能体现这一点．根据第三段的中心句"There existed a close relationship between families and their milkmen．"（每一家与他们的送奶工都保持着良好的关系）以及将家里钥匙留给送奶工可推知，他们之间有着良好的信任关系，所以B选项是正确的．
3：D 细节推理题 根据第四段提到的两点：一、"Big companies allowed the production of cheaper milk．"大公司允许生产更便宜的牛奶．二、"milk is for sale everywhere"牛奶到处都可以买到．所以送奶业就不再景气，失去了存在的意义．所以D选项是正确的．
4：C 细节推理题 本题考查了作者将牛奶箱带回家的原因．根据最后一段"an old milk box in the countryside I saw brought back my childhood memories"我在乡下看见的一个旧牛奶箱勾起了我童年的回忆．并且在下文中提到经常给儿子的朋友讲过去送奶工的故事，可见他对过去的怀念，所以C选项是正确的．
点评 阅读理解题测试考生在阅读基础上的逻辑推理能力，要求考生根据文章所述事件的逻辑关系，对未说明的趋势或结局作出合理的推断；或根据作者所阐述的观点理论，对文章未涉及的现象、事例给以解释．考生首先要仔细阅读短文，完整了解信息，准确把握作者观点．
