Question

There was once a forest made up of tiny trees that were all growing up together. They had been planted by a very old gardener who took care that they would all grow up to be straight and healthy. However, the area was hit by strong winds, and the little trees preferred to avoid the annoying winds, so they bent(弯) their trunks (树干) and branches to protect themselves.

The old man, knowing they could never grow well like this, decided to straighten them out, and spent many hours tying their tiny trunks to supporting poles(杆), hoping his beloved trees would understand he was doing this for their own good. But those naughty trees disliked all the wind. They always avoided the gardener’s help by bending themselves, hiding from the wind. One of those trees, one standing right in the middle of the forest, forced itself to grow up straight, patiently bearing the annoying wind.

Three years passed, and the old man died. And from then on the trees could grow however they liked, bending from the wind just as they pleased, with no one bothering them about it. All, that was, except the single straight tree in the center of the forest, who decided to grow up just as a tree should.

But as the forest grew, and the trees got thicker and stronger, they began to hear cracks(破裂声) from inside. Their branches and trunks needed to keep growing, but the trees were so twisted that the growth they were experiencing only brought them pain and suffering.

And it was a place with a special beauty since, right in its center, surrounded by thousands of short twisted trees, rose one impressive tree that was long and straight like no others. And that tree, the only one that never cracked, continued growing, without a worry for the changeable wind.

1.Why did the trees bend their trunks and branches?

A.Because the gardener often touched them.

B.Because the wind were not strong.

C.Because they protected themselves from being destroyed.

D.Because they were very shy and afraid to meet the wind.

2.What can we infer from Paragraph 2?

A.The gardener was kind and treated the trees well.

B.The trees disliked the gardener.

C.The gardener was cruel to the trees.

D.The trees were all naughty.

3.How long did the old gardener look after the trees?

A. Two years.   B. Three years.

C. Four years. D. Five years.

4. We can learn from the fourth paragraph that      .

A. the trees lived happily

B. the trees liked to stay with each other

C. the trees missed the old gardener

D. the trees suffered from their actions

Answer

1.C

2.A

3.B

4.D

【解析】

试题分析: 本文讲述小树为了避免大风弯下腰，即使有园丁帮助扶起来，也不愿意直起腰身，等园丁死后，他们按照自己的意愿长大，随着枝干的生长，树开始承受痛苦，慢慢的断裂，只有一棵直立的树傲然迎风，告诉我们只有直立才能接受挑战。

1.C 细节理解题。根据第一段提到the little trees preferred to avoid the annoying winds, so they bent(弯) their trunks (树干) and branches to protect themselves.他们弯腰为了保护他们自己，故选C项。

2.A 推断题。根据第二段提到The old man, knowing they could never grow well like this, decided to straighten them out, and spent many hours tying their tiny trunks to supporting poles(杆), hoping his beloved trees would understand he was doing this for their own good.老人知道他们不能象这样，决定把他们弄直来帮他他们，故选A项。

3.B 细节理解题。根据第三段提到Three years passed, and the old man died.可知照顾了三年，故选B项。

4.D 细节推断题。根据第四段提到Their branches and trunks needed to keep growing, but the trees were so twisted that the growth they were experiencing only brought them pain and suffering.树枝要生长，便树太弯曲了，成长带给他们的只有苦痛，故选D项。

考点：故事类阅读。