Question

I vividly remember walking back to my house after collecting the afternoon mails. I saw a credit card statement, another credit card statement and our bank statements. It was in that moment that I felt a deep tension.

I realized that even though I had married a man who I absolutely loved and adored, I really didn’t have a clear sense of how he handled money and how the two of us were going to combine our different approaches to handling money in our marriage. I was more organized and detailed, but he was more of a laid-back type. I knew that getting on the same financial page was a key factor in creating a successful marriage and financial future.

I asked my husband if he would be willing to set up a time each week to talk about our finances and develop a plan for getting rid of our credit card debt. My husband said he would be willing to do this. Admittedly, he was skeptical — but willing.

We came to refer to our weekly meetings as our Financial Dates. We didn’t really have a clue as to what we were doing. All we knew was that we needed to give our finances serious attention. Some Dates were filled with tense conversations. Other Dates were filled with laughter, joy and creativity. However, we kept showing up for our Dates and we never gave up. What started out as a means for survival became a powerful connecting thread in our relationship. Something shifted within us.

Instead of our finances becoming a source of divisive tension that pulled us apart, they became

the glue that held us together as we became a unified team.

I still recall the day that we excitedly crossed off our last credit card payment on the chart we had created. We had finally arrived. We were free. We had been given wings to fly.

Now, whenever I feel huge stress I ask myself, “How am I contributing to what is happening right now?” This gives me the ultimate power to take action. Even though my husband and I don’t have any guarantee against future challenges, I am left with something deep within that is unshakable and that can never be taken away — the memory of our past successes and the power to integrate (整合) these lessons in my day-to-day life.

1.Why did the author feel nervous when collecting the afternoon mails? _______

A. She was not sure about her marriage.

B. She didn’t know how to handle money.

C. She could feel the pressure of the huge debt.

D. She was reminded of the quarrels in the family.

2.Which word can replace the underlined word “laid-back” in the second paragraph?_____

A. relaxed.       B. skeptical.

C. lazy.          D. confident.

3.What can we learn from the Financial Dates? ______

A. They showed the couple clear direction at first.

B. They left the couple nothing but deep sadness.

C. They were once interrupted but quickly continued.

D. They strengthened the couple’s relationship at last.

4.We can infer that when faced with stress the author will _______.

A. try to change the situation

B. focus on what contributes to it

C. get power from the memory

D. feel free to do what she likes

Answer

1.C

2.A

3.D

4.C

【解析】

试题分析: 本文讲述的是作者在处理钱的问题上与丈夫约定开定期的财政会议，会有争吵，有欢乐，给作者留下美好的回忆。

1.C 推断题。根据第一段提到I saw a credit card statement, another credit card statement and our bank statements.我看到一张信用卡账单，又一张信用卡账单和银行账单，故感到压力很大，故选C项。

2.A词意猜测。根据第二段提到I was more organized and detailed, but he was more of a laid-back type我是有条理的细心的，但他是轻松自在的，故选A项。

3.D 推断题。根据第四段提到What started out as a means for survival became a powerful connecting thread in our relationship.做为结果成为一种夫妻关系的强有力的联系，故选D项。

4.C 推断题。根据最后一段提到I am left with something deep within that is unshakable and that can never be taken away — the memory of our past successes and the power to integrate (整合) these lessons in my day-to-day life当我面对压力时，从记忆中得到整合的力量，故选C项。

考点：日常生活类阅读。