第三节 阅读理解(共20小题，每下题2分，计40分)

阅读下面短文，然后从每题所给的 A , B , C , D四个选项中选出最佳答案。

A

In 1970, my five brothers, my sister and I lived in the housing projects of Toronto with our parents. My father was a factory worker, and my mother stayed at home. Each year my father would dress up as Santa Claus and go through the streets of the projects sharing joy and candies with the children there. He loved it as much as they did!

But around the Christmas in 1970, my father was out of his job and money was tight. In fact, there was no money for Christmas and my parents weren’t sure what they’d provide for us.

That Christmas Eve, however, as usual, my father left the house dressed as Santa Claus. He knew that even though our Christmas would be hard, he could not disappoint the other kids in the neighborhood.

As my father left the house and went down the walkway, Santa Claus was walking up, with a great sack(袋) full of gifts for us! He said nothing, only smiled a sweet smile at my father, and wished him a Merry Christmas. The happy man handed Dad the sack and walked away down the block.

We never knew who the man was and who showed us great kindness on a snowy Christmas night. We do know, however, that without him we would have had nothing under the tree. His kindness gave my parents hope and showed us in a very real way the true meaning of Christmas.

Our family has never forgotten this kind stranger. Each year we tell the story of the mysterious Santa Claus and try to repay(报答) his gifts by giving gifts to others in need.

56.The author’s father ________.

A. was once the richest man in his hometown B. had to support a family of 9 people

C. was working in a government office D. looked like Santa Claus most

57. What happened in 1970?

A. They had the worst Christmas in their lives.

B. The author’s father was out of work.

C. The author’s mother lost her job.

D. They had a little money left for Christmas.

58.The author’s family knew ________.

A. who the mysterious Santa Claus was

B. why the mysterious Santa Claus helped them

C. they could find the mysterious Santa Claus one day

D. how they could repay the mysterious Santa Claus

59.It can be inferred (推断)that ________.

A. the mysterious Santa Claus was one of their relatives

B. the mysterious Santa Claus was a rich man in the area

C. the sack from the mysterious Santa Claus was very expensive

D. the author’s family were all thankful to the mysterious Santa Claus

B

It doesn‘t matter when or how much a person sleeps, but everyone needs some rest to stay alive. That‘s what all doctors thought, until they heard about Al Herpin. Al Herpin, it was said, never slept. Could this be true ? The doctors decided to see this strange man themselves.

Al Herpin was 90 years old when the doctors came to his home in New Jersey. They thought for sure that he got some sleep of some kind. So they stayed with him and watched every movement he made. But they were surprised. Though they watched him hour after hour and day after day. They never saw Herpin sleeping. In fact, he did not even own a bed. He never needed one.

The only rest that Herpin sometimes got was sitting in a comfortable chair and reading newspapers. The doctors were puzzled by this strange continuous sleeplessness. They found only one answer that might explain his condition. Herpin remembered some talk about his mother having been injured several days before he was born. But that was all. Was this the real reason ? No one could be sure. Herpin died at the age of 94.

60. The main idea of this passage is that _______.

A. a person was found who actually didn‘t need any sleep

B. large numbers of people do not need sleep

C. everyone needs some sleep to stay alive

D. people can live longer by trying not to sleep

61. The doctors came to visit Herpin, expecting to _______.

A. cure him of his sleeplessness

B. find a way to free people from the need of sleeping

C. find that his sleeplessness was not really true

D. find out why some old people didn‘t need any asleep

62. After watching him closely, the doctors came to believe that Al Herpin _______.

A. was too old to need any sleep B. needed no sleep at all

C. often slept in a chair D. needed some kind of sleep

63. One reason that might explain Herpin‘s sleeplessness was _______.

A. that he hadn‘t got a bed

B. that he had gradually got tired of the sleeping habit

C. his mother‘s injury before he was born

D. his magnificent physical condition