Question

The Power of a Smile

I had an interesting experience at my children's school this week. About six months ago, a crazy father was driving his car half on the sidewalk at a fast speed along the road into the school. I was frightened and had a conflict (冲突) with him, telling him his driving was dangerous.

Two days ago, I was walking along the road into the school, actually a foot or so on to the road because the sidewalk was full of kids, and I saw this same man sitting at the wheel of his car about 10 metres in front of me. He looked at me angrily, started up the engine and speeded past me. So close to me that the car almost brushed my coat. It was obvious he did it purposely, to try to frighten me. I hit his car with my son's school bag hard as it went by. I called the police and they told me I should get his licence (执照) plate number and they would go round and talk to him.

This morning I was walking up to the school gate with my kids and the guy got out of his car and walked up to me. I knew he was going to confront (对质) me. "Next time I'm going to run you over," he said to me.

And for some reason I smiled. "You nearly ran me over two mornings ago." I said.

Then his manner suddenly changed, became less confrontational, "I'm not going to be dirty, because you smiled."

Did I? I didn't even realize that I had.

"I shouldn't have done it." he said. "I shouldn't have tried to make fun of you, by pulling my foot down so hard. I won't do it again. "

"Okay. Let's just stop it there then." I said.

He put his hand on my shoulder, and for some reason without thinking about it. I put an arm around him.

How strange! It shows how powerful a smile can be and how quickly conflict can turn to empathy (同理心), if you deal with it with a non-confrontational attitude.

1.The writer told the crazy father his driving was ________ about six months ago.

A.careful B.slow C.dangerous D.funny

2.The crazy father wanted to ________ by speeding past the writer two days ago.

A.save the time B.pick up his son C.get his son's bag D.frighten the writer

3.The crazy father changed his manner because ________.

A.the writer smiled to him B.the writer was powerful

C.the police talked to him D.the kids stopped him

Answer

1.C

2.D

3.A

【解析】

本文作者讲述了在他的经历。六个月前，一个疯狂的父亲以极快地速度在人行道上开车进入学校，作者告诉他他的驾驶很危险。两天前，这个疯狂的父亲气愤地看着我，发动引擎，从我身边飞驰而过。车差点擦到作者的外套。很明显他故意这么做是为了吓唬作者。作者打电话报了警。今天早上作者和孩子们一起走向学校的时候，那家伙又想和作者发生冲突，作者用微笑化解了冲突。本文告诉我们，以一种非对抗的态度来处理事情， 微笑力量是强大的，冲突能很快转化为同理心。

1.细节理解题。根据第1段第2句“About six months ago, a crazy father was driving his car half on the sidewalk at a fast speed along the road into the school. I was frightened and had a conflict (冲突) with him, telling him his driving was dangerous.（大约六个月前，一个疯狂的父亲在人行道上以极快的速度开着他的车进入学校。我很害怕，并与他发生了冲突，告诉他他的驾驶很危险。）”可知“大约六个月前作者告诉那个疯狂的父亲，他的驾驶是危险的。”故选C。

2.细节理解题。根据第2段第4句“It was obvious he did it purposely, to try to frighten me.（很明显他故意这么做是为了吓唬我。）”可知“两天前那个疯狂的父亲加速从作者身边经过，目的是要吓唬他。”故选D。

3.细节理解题。根据第5段“Then his manner suddenly changed, became less confrontational, "I'm not going to be dirty, because you smiled."（然后他的态度突然变了，变得不那么对抗了，说：“我不会这么卑鄙的，因为你笑了。”）可知“那个疯狂的父亲改变了他的态度，因为作者对他微笑。”故选A。