Question

    After my husband died from a heart attack, my world changed all in a sudden. I just put all my effort into making a living, caring for the children and just keeping my head above water.

I was lucky to find a wonderful housekeeper to care for the children during the week, but from Friday nights to Monday mornings, the children and I were alone, and in fact I was uncomfortable. Every unusual noise and any late-night phone call would fill me with fear. I felt unbelievably alone.

One Friday evening I came home from work to find a big beautiful German shepherd （牧羊犬） on our doorstep. I became worried. Where did this dog come from? Was it safe to let the children play with a strange dog? Finally I let him sleep in the basement（地下室）until the next day, when we could search around the neighborhood for his owner. That night I slept peacefully for the first time in many weeks.

The following morning we made phone calls and checked lost-and-found ads for German’s owner, but with no results. Saturday night he was still with us and I planned to take the children on a picnic without German. But we were surprised to see him jumping onto the hood （引擎盖）and looking directly into my eyes. No way was he going to be left behind. So he stayed again Sunday night. Monday morning I let him out for a run while the children got ready for school. He didn’t come back till the next Friday evening. And again he stayed until Monday morning, when our housekeeper arrived.

This repeated every weekend for almost 10 months. Each week, between German’s visits, I grew a little stronger and braver; every weekend I enjoyed his company（陪伴）. Then one Monday morning we patted his head and let him out for what turned out to be the last time. He never came back.

I think of him often. He came when I needed him the most and stayed until I was strong enough to go on alone. I believe German was sent because he was needed, and because no matter how sad and alone we feel, somehow, somewhere, someone knows and cares.

1.The underlined part in Paragraph 1 means the writer_____________.

A.had great difficulty supporting the family B.couldn’t breathe and swim at the same time

C.found it hard to look for a good housekeeper D.was too heart-broken to take care of her children

2.What conclusion can we draw from the last paragraph?

A.At last the writer came to realize who German’s owner was.

B.Being strong enough, the writer didn’t miss German any more.

C.German had no choice but to come to the writer’s house on weekends.

D.The writer believes that German was sent to her because she was alone.

3.Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?

A.A Homeless Dog B.We Are Not Alone

C.Every Dog Has Its Day D.German, Our Pet Dog

Answer

1.A

2.D

3.B

【解析】

本文讲述了一条德国牧羊犬在作者孤单的时候陪伴作者的事情，它让作者变得更勇敢、坚强。

1.

词句猜测题。had great difficulty supporting the family很难养家糊口；couldn’t breathe and swim at the same time不能同时呼吸和游泳；found it hard to look for a good housekeeper发现很难找到一个好管家；was too heart-broken to take care of her children太伤心而不能照顾她的孩子。根据第一段中“I just put all my effort into making a living, caring for the children”可知，作者丈夫由于心脏病去世，作者把所有的精力都放在谋生上，说明作者养家糊口有很大困难，所以此处划线部分just keeping my head above water与had great difficulty supporting the family意思相同。故选A。

2.

主旨大意题。根据最后一段中“I believe German was sent because he was needed…”可知，在作者孤身一人的时候，一只德国牧羊犬正好出现在作者的生活里，有了牧羊犬的陪伴，作者感觉好多了，所以作者认为牧羊犬就是在她孤身一人、特别艰难的时候被派来陪她的。故选D。

3.

选择最佳标题。结合全文可知，作者在自己的丈夫去世后，孤身一人养家糊口，自己感到非常不舒服，有一天，一条德国牧羊犬出现在作者家门口，这条牧羊犬陪着作者将近10个月，作者也变得更加勇敢和坚强，作者认为牧羊犬就是在她孤身一人、特别艰难的时候被派来陪她的，让她不再孤单，所以文章最佳标题应为We Are Not Alone我们不孤单。故选B。