第三部分：阅读理解（共20小题；每小题2分。满分40分）

阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C、D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

It was the old lady’s eightieth birthday. She was sure Mary would not forget her mother’s birthday, even if she was busy. After all, eighty was a special birthday. Perhaps Mary might come. Even if Mary didn’t come, she would send her a present. The old lady was sure of that. Two spots of colour brightened her cheeks. She was excited like a child.

Mrs. Morrison had brought a card and a bunch of flowers when she came to do the breakfast. Mrs. Grant downstairs had made a cake. John, the little boy next door, was now up with her with a pack of sweets.

“I guess you will get lots and lots of presents,” he said, “I did last week when I was seven.”

What would she like? A pair of slippers, perhaps. A table lamp or a little clock, with clear black numbers. So many lovely things.

She stood by the window, watching. The postman turned round the corner on his bike. Her heart beast fast. John had seen him too and ran to the gate.

“Granny, granny,” John returned. “I have got your post!”

He gave her four envelopes. Three were from old friends. The fourth was in Mary’s writhing.

“No parcel (包裹), John?”

“No, Granny.”

Almost reluctantly, she tore the fourth envelope open. Folded in the card was a check. Written on the card was a message: Happy Birthday—Buy yourself something nice with the check, Mary and Harold.

The six-figure check fell to the floor like a bird with a broken wing. Slowly the old lady bent to pick it up. Her present, her lovely present. With trembling fingers, she tore it into little bits.

1. The old lady felt _____ when she saw no packet came with her daughter’s card.

A. excited         B. happy          C. disappointed       D. impatient

2. We can infer from the passage that______ .

     A. the old lady lived alone in a flat away from her daughter

     B. the friends sent the old lady many lovely presents by post

     C. Mary was stopped by her husband from seeing her mother

     D. the neighbors cared little about the old lady in daily life

3. The reason why the old lady tore the check into small pieces was that______ .

     A. she was sure her daughter would come, not the check.

     B. she didn’t notice there were six figures on the check.

     C. she didn’t think the check was large enough for a present.

     D. she would prefer a present with love from her daughter.

4. Which of the following is the best title for the passage?

     A. The Present     B. The Check      C. The Birthday     D. The Daughter