三、阅读理解

A

I was riding my special motorbike this past weekend and stopped at a convenience store. As I was getting my wheelchair off the back, a man watched me from his car and I noticed a wheelchair in his back seat. We spoke for a moment and I asked him about the wheelchair. He answered that it was for his daughter. “Well, do you think she would like to go for a ride on my motorbike with me?” I asked. He seemed shocked that a total stranger would ask him this. He thought about it for a second and said, “OK, as long as I can follow you.”

He introduced me to Amy and he sat her on my back seat. Her father followed me for a few miles and she talked non-stop about what she wanted for Christmas.

As we came back to the convenience store, she said, “This ride is the best Christmas present I could ever receive. I have been in a wheelchair my whole life and didn’t know I could do this.” I told her about some of the other things I do (ski, travel the world by myself, etc.). As her father was taking her off my bike, she turned to him and said, “Oh Daddy, I’m going to be OK. Mr. Bryant does all kinds of things, and I will too.” Her father turned away as a tear of joy rolled down his cheek. He hugged me and said, “I was sitting here praying for a gift for Amy that would encourage her. She often felt that her life was dull compared to other children. God answered my prayer just now. Now I pray that God will bless you for your gift to Amy today.” I believed what he said. Being kind and thoughtful to others, we can be an answer to prayer.

1. How did the father feel at first when the author invited his daughter for a ride?

A. He felt surprised because he didn’t know the author.

B. He was happy because his daughter could gain excitement.

C. He was moved because the author was willing to help his daughter.

D. He felt nervous because he was worried about his daughter’s safety.

2. What can we know about the author?

A. He was a disabled man.

B. He usually drove too fast.

C. He worked in a convenience store.

D. He often helped people who were in trouble.

3. According to the passage, the girl _______.

A. used to be a completely healthy person

B. was not allowed to do some fierce sports

C. usually felt sad about life due to her disability

D. was unwilling to communicate with a stranger

4. What did the author’s gift refer to according to the girl’s father?

A. The motorbike. B. The wheelchair. C. The blessing. D. The ride.

B

Dear Michelle,

My Dad hates my Mom. He tells me that she is a liar and that I should not trust her. Of course, they are divorced but they have “joint custody” (共同监护). What a joke! I am a 15-year-old girl, my brother is 9, and we have a life of hell, frankly.

We live one week on and one week off. This was the “brilliant” idea of both of my parents, which was fair to them but ruining my life. I cannot get away from his voice and his putting my mom down. Sometimes I think about running away. What should I do?

A Hopeless Ant

Dear Hopeless Ant,

First, thank you for trusting me with your problem. If all you said is correct, then there are several things that you can and should do to help yourself, your brother, and oddly enough, your parents.

You need a family counselor. Such a person could listen to each family member alone and then meet together to talk about the situation.

If refused, you need to talk to a counselor in your school. You need to be heard, and you need an adult who will listen. A school counselor can organize a meeting with your parents.

Perhaps you need to write to your mother. Writing things down allows people to go over it more than one time.

I cannot imagine that she will stand passively by and do nothing at all to help once she reads how you feel. Your father needs a letter as well. He may not realize the destructive effect that it has on his children.

Lastly, have a plan in mind when all else fails that is not self-destructive. Life passes very quickly, sweetheart, and you will grow up and have your own life.

Until then, you need to keep yourself safe. Never doubt that it will get better. Write back and let me know how everything is going.

Michelle

5. The Hopeless Ant wrote the letter to _____.

A. explain her worries B. ask for advice

C. describe her family D. express dissatisfaction

6. The Hopeless Ant hated her father because he _____.

A. often told lies

B. divorced her mother

C. didn’t love his children

D. wasn’t friendly to her mother

7. In which part of a magazine will the text probably appear?

A. Life. B. Advertisement. C. Entertainment. D. Education.