18."I never did hate the Yankees (北方佬).All that I hated was the war…"That's how my great-aunt Bettie began her story.I heard it many times as a child,whenever my family visited Aunt Bettie in the old house in Berryville,Virginia.
Bettie Van Metre had good reason to hate the Civil War.Her brother was killed at Gettysburg,and her husband,James,a Confederate (南方联盟军) officer,was taken prisoner and sent to an unknown prison camp somewhere.
One day in late September,Dick came to Bettie reporting that he had found a wounded Union soldier in a farmhouse half a mile away from the Van Metre home.When talking about her first sight of the man in the blood-spotted blue uniform,she always used the same words."It was like walking into a nightmare:those awful bandages,that terrible smell."She went out into the cool air,trying not to be sick at the thought of that smashed right hand,that missing left leg.
The man's papers Bettie found in the farmhouse showed his identity:Henry Bedell,30years old.She knew that she should report the presence of this Union officer to the Confederate army,but she wouldn't.This is how she explained it:"I kept wondering if he had a wife somewhere,hoping,and not knowing-just as I was.It seemed to me that the only thing that mattered was to get her husband back to her."
Slowly,patiently,skillfully,Aunt Bettie fanned the spark of life in Henry Bedell.Of drugs or medicines she had almost none.And she was not willing to take any from the few supplies at the Confederate hospital.But she did the best she could with what she had.
The October nights in the valley grew cold.With the help of Dick and his wife,she moved the Union officer at night,to a hidden room above the warm kitchen of her own home.But the next day,Bedell had a high fever.Knowing that she must get help,she went to her family doctor,Graham Osborne.Dr.Osborne examined Bedell and said,"there was little hope unless proper medicines could be found."
"I'll get them from the Yankees at Harpers Ferry."Bettie said.The doctor told her that Harpers Ferry was almost 20miles away.Even if she reached them,the Yankees would never believe her."I'll take proof,"Bettie said.She found a blood-spotted paper bearing the official War Department seal (印章)."When I show it,they'll believe me."
Early the next morning she set off with a list of medical items.For five hours she drove,stopping only to rest her horse.The sun was almost down when she finally stood before the general at Harpers Ferry.The general listened,but did not believe her."Madam,"he said,"Bedell's death was reported to us.""He's alive,"Bettie insisted."But he won't be much longer unless he has the medicines on that list.""Well,"the general turned to a junior officer,"see that Mrs.Van Metre gets the supplies."
With the medicines,Bedell gradually recovered.Ten days later he was walking with sticks."I'd better go back as soon as possible."Bedell told Bettie.So it was arranged that Dick should help Bettie deliver Bedell to Harpers Ferry in his wagon.Bedell lay down in a box filled with hay,his rifle and sticks beside him.
At Harpers Ferry,the soldiers were amazed when the Union officer with the missing leg rose from his hay-filled box.Bedell told the story to Secretary of War Edwin M.Stanton,who wrote a letter of thanks to Bettie and signed an order to free James Van Metre.It was arranged for Bedell to go with Bettie as she searched for her husband.Records showed that a James Van Metre had been sent to a prison camp in Ohio.Then at Fort Delaware,near the end of the line of prisoner,a tall man stepped out and walked clumsily into Bettie's arms.Bettie held him,tears streaming down her face.And Henry Bedell,standing by on his sticks,wept,too.
71.Why wouldn't Bettie report the presence of Bedell to the Confederate army?C
A.Because she felt it her responsibility to save soldiers of the Union.
B.Because she wanted to save Bedell so that her husband could be freed.
C.Because Bedell was more a suffering human being than an enemy to Bettie.
D.Because Bedell begged Bettie not to give him away to the Confederate army.
72.Dr.Osborn thought it wasA of Bettie Van Metre to drive to Harpers Ferry for the medicines.
A.crazy
B.kind
C.brave
D.smart
73.Still recovering,Henry Bedell decided to leave as soon as possible mainly becauseB.
A.he was eager to return to the Union to fight
B.he didn't want to go on putting Bettie in danger
C.he was concerned about his safety at the Van Metre home
D.he could be treated with better medicines back at Harpers Ferry
74.Rearrange the following statements in terms of time order.C
a.Bettie's husband was found and freed.
b.Bettie helped deliver Bedell back to Harpers Ferry.
c.Bettie moved Bedell to a safe room in her own house.
d.Bettie drove all the way to Harpers Ferry to get the medicines for Bedell.
e.In spite of being short of medicines,Bettie attended to Bettie with what she had.
f.Bettie saw Bedell in a farmhouse half a mile away from her house for the first time.
A.f,e,c,b,d,a
B.f,c,e,d,b,a
C.f,e,c,d,b,a
D.f,c,e,b,d,a
75.What message is conveyed through the end of the story?C
A.Giving is a reward in itself.
B.Happiness comes from giving.
C.Help yourself by helping others.
D.God helps those who help themselves.
分析 作者的姨妈因为救了在美国国内战争中一位受伤的军官,从而得到了释放自己丈夫的机会,从而和丈夫得以团聚.
解答 71-75CABCC
71 C 细节题."'I kept wondering if he had a wife somewhere,hoping,and not knowing-just as I was.It seemed to me that the only thing that mattered was to get her husband back to her.'"可知 Bettie 不上报 Bedell 的行踪是因为尽管 Bedell 是敌人,但他也是一般人,也有妻子,自己应当将他平安送回他妻子的身边.故正确答案为C.
72 A 推断题.由倒数第四段第三句"The doctor told her that Harpers Ferry was almost 20 miles away.Even if she reached them,the Yankees would never believe her."可知从这距 Harpers Ferry 有20英里,就算 Bettie 赶到,北方佬也不一定会相信她,所以医生认为 Bettie 的行为很疯狂.故正确答案为A.
73 B 推断题.由倒数第三段最后一句"'see that Mrs.Van Metre gets the supplies.'"可知 the general 在给 Bettie 药的时候还是不太相信 Bedell 在她家.如果 Bedell 不早点回去的话,the general 就会认定 Bettie 是在骗他,Bettie 就会有危险,所以 Bedell 要尽快回去是不想让 Bettie 有危险.故正确答案为B.
74 C 细节题.本篇文章中,故事的脉络是 Bettie 遇到了受伤的 Bedell.Bettie 尝试在不看医生的情况下救 Bedell.为了不让人发现,Bettie 将 Bedell 一个隐秘安全的房间.在 Bedell 发烧不得不需要药时,Bettie 为了取药前去找 Harpers Ferry.在 Bedell 稍加恢复时,Bettie 找人帮忙将 Bedell 送回 Harpers Ferry.Bettie 被囚禁的丈夫也因她对 Bedell 的救命之恩而被释放.故正确的顺序为 f,e,c,d,b,a,故正确答案为C.
75 C 推断题.由最后一段第二句"…who wrote a letter of thanks to Bettie and signed an order to free James Van Metre."可知 Bettie 救了 Bedell,最终换来了他丈夫的自由,说明帮助别人就是在帮助自己,故正确答案为C.
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