Question

After lunch,I walked back home. I was just to cross the street when I heard the sound of a coin dropping. It wasn’t much but,as I turned, my eyes caught the heads of several other people turning too. A woman had dropped what appeared to be a dime.

The tinkling sound of a coin dropping on pavement is an attention-getter．It Can be nothing more than a penny．Whatever the coin is，no one ignores the sound of it．It got me thinking about sounds again．We are surrounded by so many sounds that attract the most attention．

People in New York City seldom turn to look when a fire engine，a police car or an ambulance comes screaming along the street．When I’m in New York，I’m a New Yorker．I don’t turn either．Like the natives，I hardly hear a siren(警报)there．

However，at home in my little town in Connecticut，it’s different．The distant sound of a police car, all emergency vehicle or a fire siren brings me to my feet if I’m seated and brings me to the window if I’m in bed．It’s the quietest sounds that have most effect on us．not the loudest．In the middle of the night, I can hear a dripping tap a hundred yards away thigh three closed doors．I’ve been hearing little creaking noises and sounds which my imaginnation turns into footsteps in the middle of the night for twenty-five years in our house．How come I never hear those sounds in the daytime?

I’m quite clear in my mind what the good sounds are and what the bad sounds are,I’ve turned against whistling，for instance：I used to think of it as the mark of a happy worker but lately I’ve been associating the whistler with a nervous person making unconscious noises．The tapping，tapping，tapping of my typewriter as the keys hit the paper is a lovely sound to me．I often like the sound of what I write better than the looks of it．

1.The sound of a coin dropping makes people________

A．think of money    B．look at each other

C．pay attention to it    D．stop crossing the street

2.The author dislikes whistling because__________

A．he has got tired of it    B．it reminds him of tense people

C．he used to be happier D．he doesn’t like workers

3.What kind of sound does the author find pleasant?

A．Tapping sound of his typewriter．    B．Clinking sound of keys

C．Tinkling sound of a coin dropping．  D．Creaking sound of footsteps

4.How does the author feel about sounds in general?

A．They make him feel al home．      B．He thinks they should be ignored

C．He prefers silence to loud noises．   D．He believes they are part of our life

Answer

1.C

2.B

3.A

4.D

【解析】

试题分析：作者从路上硬币掉落的声音引起人们的注意，联想到生活中的声音，有喜欢的，有不喜欢的，但都是我们生活的一部分。

1.细节题：从第一段的句子：It wasn’t much but,as I turned, my eyes caught the heads of several other people turning too. 可知一枚硬币掉在地上使人们很关注。选C

2.细节题：从最后一段的句子：I’ve turned against whistling，for instance：I used to think of it as the mark of a happy worker but lately I’ve been associating the whistler with a nervous person making unconscious noises．可知作者不喜欢吹口哨的声音，因为这使他想到紧张的人。选B

3.细节题：从最后一段的句子：The tapping，tapping，tapping of my typewriter as the keys hit the paper is a lovely sound to me．可知作者喜欢他的打字机打字的声音。选A

4.细节题：从第二段的句子：We are surrounded by so many sounds that attract the most attention．可知作者认为声音是我们生活的一部分。选D

考点：考查社会现象类短文