Question

Samantha(her husband, John, called her Sam)left the doctor’s house looking perfect, satisfied with her appearance.

The year was 1862. It seemed that the war with the North would never come to an end. Sam’s father had left as soon as possible, fighting for their land, for their new government, for the South.

At last, Samantha reached the house that she and John owned. It was a cold, rainy night, and she was glad to be home. She stepped into the sitting room. John sat in an armchair, reading a book. When he saw her, he put the book down, and stood, reaching his arms out for her. They kissed briefly. He put a hand to her now slightly round belly(肚子) and asked, “What did the doctor say?”

“He said the baby was fine and that I seemed healthy. Do you have any news?”

“Surprisingly, yes.” John hesitated for a moment, as if deciding how he would stop what he was about to say, and then unwillingly continued, “I’ve been required to join the army.”

Sam screamed, “What?” She was near tears. “But-but we’re just starting out.” Her voice shook. “I thought that after two years of begging my mother to let the two of us get married that our life would finally be happy. Isn’t there any way you can get out of this?”

John answered, “I’m afraid not.”

    “Please. Please, John, if you love me, please get out of this. Break a leg or do something.” She began to cry. John comforted her, resting her head on his shoulder.

“Sam.”

“What?”

“Name the child after me; name it John or Joanna. I’ll come back as soon as I can. I promise.”

Sam smiled, knowing that John never broke a promise. She put her hand to her belly, and, unknown to her, the baby was a girl.

And unknown to both of them, the promise that John had just made would be the only promise he would ever break.

1.Sam visited the doctor probably because she ___________.

A. tried to see her husband

B. wanted to look perfect

C. needed an examination for her baby

D. was a little worried about her appearance

2.According to the passage, which of the following statements is TRUE?

A. Sam’s father had been dead for some time.

B. A new government was set up in the South.

C. Sam’s mother lived in the North on her own.  

D. The South was attacked by foreign countries.

3.Sam asked John to “break a leg” in order to___________.

A. let John get away from the war 

B. prepare for the birth of their baby

C. make sure that John would come back

D. know how much John loved her 

4.It can be inferred that John ___________.

A. was required to join the army             B. lied to his wife

C. often broke his promises                 D. died in the war  

Answer

1.C

2.B

3.A

4.D

【解析】

试题分析：短文讲述的是南北战争时期一段感人的故事。为了保卫自己的家园，萨曼莎的父亲参加了独立战争。萨曼莎的丈夫约翰也申请参军，离开已有身孕的她，萨曼莎担心丈夫的安危，想借打折腿来远离这场战争，但约翰决心已定，最后在战争中牺牲。

1.C细节理解题。根据短文第三，四段中的句子“He put a hand to her now slightly round belly(肚子) and asked, “What did the doctor say?”“He said the baby was fine and that I seemed healthy.”可知，山姆怀疑了，她是去医生那里做产前体检。答案为C。

2.B细节理解题。根据短文第二段中的句子“Sam’s father had left as soon as possible, fighting for their land, for their new government, for the South.”短文讲述的是美国南北战争，山姆的父亲为南部的新政府而战，答案B正确。

3.A 细节理解题。根据短文中的句子“Please. Please, John, if you love me, please get out of this. Break a leg or do something.”前文提到约翰申请参军，此处萨曼莎担心丈夫的安危，想借打折腿来远离这场战争。故答案为A。

4.D推理判断题。根据短文中的句子I’ll come back as soon as I can. I promise.” the promise that John had just made would be the only promise he would ever break.约翰违背了自己的承诺，而他曾承诺妻子会尽快回来，可以推测他很有可能在战争中牺牲。故答案为D。

考点：故事类短文阅读。