Question

Harry is a boy with a learning disability. On his fourth birthday, he was given a pug called Millie. Two weeks after the dog’s arrival, he was happier and calmer and said his first words, “dog” and “mummy”. Just two months later, thieves stole the dog, and now the heartbroken little boy is back to where he started. He has refused to talk since losing his best friend. His mother was worried and gave him another dog, but he just “pushed it away”. Mrs Hainsworth, his mother, says, “My son is very sad. He’ll go over to her cage and just beat(敲打) on the bars. There is no word coming out, but you just know he’s screaming ‘Where is Millie’ inside. Millie was really his best friend. They would play together happily for hours. None of his toys has ever held his attention that long. Now he has just completely turned quiet again. ”Harry suffers from a condition which affects his ability to speak and move. But the dog’s being with him achieved more in days than months of speech therapy and physiotherapy had. Mrs Hainsworth says, “My son was so happy when he saw Millie. Being with Millie changed him, and within two weeks he had said his first words and was working on saying ‘dad’. Just last week, his teachers and I were saying how much Millie had helped him. And now this!” Mrs Hainsworth is considering buying another pug in the hope that her son will accept it. Maureen Hennis of the charity, Pets as Therapy, says she has seen many cases of dogs helping people with speech problems. “People may talk to a dog when they wouldn’t like to talk to another human,” she says. “A dog doesn’t care if words come out wrong.”

1. Before getting Millie, Harry .

A. had never seen a dog

B. had never said a word

C. had received little treatment

D. had never played with toys

2. With Millie gone, Harry .

A. is too sad to continue learning to talk

B. often quietly waits for her beside the cage

C. keeps asking his mother to get him another pug

D. does not want to play with other children any more

3. According to Maureen Hennis, Millie was able to help Harry because .

A. dogs are man’s best friends

B. dogs are very clever and helpful

C. children don’t have stress when talking to dogs

D. children would rather talk to dogs than to humans

Answer

1.B

2.A

3.C

【解析】

试题分析：这篇短文中讲述了一个孩子Harry，他不说话，但是自从他有了一只狗后，他开始说话了。后来狗被偷了，Harry又变回了从前的样子，不说话了。有时候动物会帮助孩子说话，因为跟动物说话，孩子不会害怕出错。

1.细节理解题。根据短文的开头On his fourth birthday, he was given a pug called Millie. Two weeks after the dog’s arrival, he was happier and calmer and said his first words, “dog” and “mummy”.可知，在Harry四岁生日的时候，他有了一只狗叫Millie。这只狗到来两周后，他说了他的第一句话，“狗”和“妈妈。因此，有了这只狗后，Harry第一次说话，说明他以前没有说过话。故选B。

2.细节理解题。根据短文第一段中Just two months later, thieves stole the dog, and now the heartbroken little boy is back to where he started. He has refused to talk since losing his best friend.可知，后来这只狗被小偷偷走了，Harry很伤心，他又回到了原来的样子，拒绝说话。故选A。

3.细节理解题。根据短文的最后部分Maureen Hennis of the charity, Pets as Therapy, says she has seen many cases of dogs helping people with speech problems.可知，Maureen说她曾经见过很多动物帮助人们解决语言问题的例子，如果你说错了话，动物是不会介意的。由此可知选C。

考点：日常生活类短文阅读。