Question

    When I was a kid in Minnesota, watermelons were expensive. One of my father's friends, Bernie, was a rich businessman, who owned a large store in St.Paul.

Every summer, when the first watermelons arrived, Bernie would call. Dad and I would go to Bernie's place. We'd sit on the edge of the dock(码头), and got ready for a big meal.

Bernie would take out his knife, cut our first watermelon, hand us both a big piece and sit down next to us. Then we'd bury our faces in watermelons, eating only the heart-the reddest, juiciest, firmest, sweetest, and most seed-free part-and throw away the rest.

Bernie was my father's ideal of a rich man. I always thought it was because he was such a successful businessman. Years later, I realized that it was not Bernie's wealth itself but his way of dealing with it that my father liked. Bernie knew how to stop working, get together with friends and eat only the heart of the watermelon.

What I learned from Bernie is that being rich is a state of mind. If you don't take the time to dangle(摇摆)your feet over the dock and enjoy life's small pleasure, your work will probably hurt your life.

For many years, I forgot that lesson I'd learned as a kid on the dock. I was too busy making all the money I could. Well, I've relearned it. I hope I have time left to enjoy the success of others and to take pleasure in the day. That's the heart of the watermelon. I have learned again to throw the rest away.

1.How were the watermelons to the writer when he was young?

A.Not common. B.Not cheap. C.Not delicious. D.Not sweet.

2.How did the writer and his father eat the watermelon?

A.They ate it in a polite way. B.They only ate its best part.

C.They ate every part of it. D.They shared only one piece.

3.What did the writer's father think of Bernie?

A.He was just a rich businessman. B.He worked hard all the time.

C.He lived a rich but healthy life. D.He knew how to make money.

4.What do the underlined words "the heart of the watermelon" in the last paragraph refer to?

A.The best part of the watermelon. B.The writer's busy life.

C.The writer's decision of making money. D.The writer's hope of enjoying life.

5.What can be learned from the text?

A.One has to work hard to reach his goal. B.One should help a friend in trouble.

C.Watermelon is the healthiest fruit. D.One should keep work and life balance.

Answer

1.B

2.B

3.C

4.D

5.D

【解析】

这篇短文主要讲述了Bernie小时西瓜很贵，作者父亲的朋友，伯尼，是一个富有的商人，作者从伯尼那里学到的是富有是一种心态，作者希望有时间来享受别人的成功，享受每一天。

1.

细节理解。根据文中“When I was a kid in Minnesota, watermelons were expensive. ” 我小时候在明尼苏达州，西瓜很贵。故选B。

2.

细节理解。根据文中“Then we'd bury our faces in watermelons, eating only the heart-the reddest, juiciest, firmest, sweetest, and most seed-free part-and throw away the rest. ” 然后我们就把脸埋在西瓜里，只吃最红、最多汁、最结实、最甜、最无籽的部分，然后把剩下的扔掉。可知，他们只吃它最好的部分。故选B。

3.

细节理解。根据文中“Years later, I realized that it was not Bernie's wealth itself but his way of dealing with it that my father liked. Bernie knew how to stop working, get together with friends and eat only the heart of the watermelon. ” 几年后，我意识到我父亲喜欢的不是伯尼的财富，而是他处理财富的方式。伯尼知道如何停止工作，和朋友聚在一起，只吃西瓜的心。可知，作者父亲认为伯尼过着富裕而健康的生活。故选C。

4.

词句猜测。根据上文“I hope I have time left to enjoy the success of others and to take pleasure in the day. ”可知，作者希望腾出时间来享受他人的成功，在生活中过得开心幸福，紧接着说这就是“”“the heart of the watermelon”可知，这里指的是“he writer's hope of enjoying life.”作者享受生活的希望。故选D。

5.

主旨大意。通读整篇短文可知，作者从作者父亲的朋友，伯尼，那里学到的是富有是一种心态，作者希望有时间来享受别人的成功，享受每一天，这是心的西瓜，作者已经学会了扔掉剩下的。由此作何也体会到了平衡工作和生活才是最大的财富。可知，这篇短文主要讲述了一个人应该保持工作和生活的平衡。故选D。