Question

I was in a rush as always, but this time it was for an important date I just couldn’t be late for! I found myself at a checkout counter behind an elderly woman seemingly in no hurry as she paid for her groceries. A PhD student with not a lot of money, I had hurried into the store to pick up some flowers. I was in a huge rush, thinking of my upcoming evening. I did not want to be late for this date.

We were in Boston, a place not always known for small conversation between strangers. The woman stopped unloading her basket and looked up at me. She smiled. It was a nice smile ---warm and reassuring ---- and I returned her gift by smiling back.

“Must be a special lady, whoever it is that will be getting those beautiful flowers,” she said.

“Yes, she’s special,” I said, and then to my embarrassment, the words kept coming out.

“It’s only our second date, but somehow I am just having the feeling she’s ‘the one’. Jokingly, I added, “The only problem is that I can’t figure out why she’d want to date a guy like me.”

“Well, I think she’s very lucky to have a boyfriend who brings her such lovely flowers and who is obviously in love with her,” the woman said.” “My husband used to bring me flowers every week –even when times were tough and we didn’t have much money. Those were incredible(难以置信的) days; he was very romantic and – of course – I miss him since he’s passed away.”

I paid for my flowers as she was gathering up her groceries. There was no doubt in my mind as I walked up to her. I touched her on the shoulder and said, “You were right, you know. These flowers are indeed for a very special lady.” I handed her the flowers and thanked her for such a nice conversation.

It took her a moment to realize that I was giving her the flowers I had just bought. “You have a wonderful evening,” I said. I left her with a big smile and my heart warmed as I saw her smelling the beautiful flowers.

I remember being slightly late for my date that night and telling my girlfriend the above story. A couple of years later, when I finally worked up the courage to ask her to marry me, she told me that this story had helped to seal it for her –that was the night that I won her heart.

1.Why was the writer in a hurry that day?

A．He was to meet his girlfriend.

B．He had to go back to school soon.

C．He was delayed by an elderly lady.

D．He had to pick up some groceries.

2.What does the underlined phrase “her gift”(Paragraph 2) refer to?

A．Her words.        B．Her smile.

C．Her flowers.      D．her politeness.

3.Why did the writer give his flowers to the elderly lady?

A．She told him a nice story.

B．She allowed him to pay first.

C．She gave him encouragement.

D．She liked flowers very much.

4.What can you learn from the story?

A．Flowers are important for a date.

B．Small talk is helpful.

C．Love and kindness are rewarding.

D．Elderly people deserve respecting.

Answer

1.A

2.B

3.C

4.C

【解析】

试题分析: 作者买花时遇到一位老妇人，通过交谈得到鼓舞，作者将花送给了那位老人，故事也感动了他的女友，使女友最终决定嫁给他。

1.A 细节判断题。根据第一段的I was in a huge rush, thinking of my upcoming evening.I did not want to be late for this date.和最后一段的 I remember being slightly late for my date that night and telling my girlfriend the above story.可知，作者匆匆忙忙是要去和女朋友约会。故选A。

2.B词义猜测题。根据 She smiled.—— I retuned her gift by smiling back. 一句得知：她对着我笑，我还她微笑，smile是她给我的礼物，故选B。

3.C推理理解题。根据作者说：The only problem is that I can't figure out why she'd want to date a guy like me." 暗示作者当时的不自信；而那位老妇人的话 Well, I think she's very lucky to have a boyfriend who brings her such lovely flowers and who is obviously in love with her 增强了作者的自信心，所以是给了他很大的鼓舞，才把鲜花送给了那个妇女，选C。

4.4】C推理判断题。此文作者买花时遇到一位老妇人，通过交谈得到鼓舞，作者将花送给了那位老人，故事感动了他的女友，使女友最终决定嫁给他；所以爱和善良就能得到回报，故选C。

考点：考查故事类短文阅读。