Question

Hilary Smith belonged to a good family. But by the age of twenty, he had spent all the money the good old family had. He then had some trouble with the bank and was put in prison. He escaped from the prison and ran to Australia without delay.

Hilary did not like Australia and Australia did not like Hilary. What he could do seemed to be one of two things: die or work. Then he remembered that he was not alone in the world. He had an aunt.

She was his father's only sister, but his father used to say she brought no glory to the family. Hilary, of course, tried to discover what she had done. It seemed that she had failed to marry a nobleman. Instead, she had chosen a husband who was connected with "trade". Of course as soon as she became "Mrs. Parks", her brother considered her dead. Later on, Mr. Parks died and left her a lot of money; but that did not bring her back to life in her brother's opinion.

Hilary discovered his aunt's address. Fortunately she remained faithful and honest to him even after she fell ill. So Hilary's star shone again, and soon he moved into her house and lived as comfortably as a sailor who had just reached harbor. He had only about a sixpence in his pocket.

One thing was soon clear: his aunt was seriously ill, and nothing could cure her illness. Hilary was very worried. Fate had found a home for him, and was now going to throw him out of it. There was only one thing that could save him: her will.

"Will?" she said, "yes, I have made one. That was when I was a girl and had not much money. I left all my money to some religious people."

"Didn't you make another will when you were married?" Hilary asked.

His aunt shook her head. "No," she said in a low voice, "There was no need. When I finally had a lot of money I found 1 had no relations."

On the next day he went to the public library and examined a book of law. It told him what he already believed. When a woman is married, an earlier will loses its value. A new will must be made. If no new will is made, the money goes to the nearest relation. Hilary knew that he was his aunt's only relation. His future was safe.

After a few months had passed, Hilary's problems became serious. He badly needed money. He had expensive tastes, and owed a lot of money to shopkeepers. They trusted him because his aunt was rich; but the debt was terrible.

Unfortunately his aunt did not want to discuss money matters at all. In the end they had a quarrel about the small amount of ten pounds. Hilary was not very angry. He began to wonder about a new problem. Was it kind to want his aunt to live any longer? Was it not better for her to die now? While he was considering what to do, his aunt told him that she was going to send for her lawyer. So she was going to make a new will, Hilary thought. She might leave all her money to someone else. Soon he reached a clear decision. He must do a great kindness to the poor old woman.

One night when the old servant who had been nursing his aunt went off, he doubled the amount of some medicine. The total amount was too great and it could just put her to sleep forever.

"Thank you," his aunt took the glass from his hand with a grateful look." I want, more than anything, to sleep, and never to wake up again. Is that what you wish, Hilary? Don't blame me if I have some doubts about what you intended to do. Sick people get these ideas, you know. One thing I ought to explain to you. Mr. Parks never married me. He already had a wife and couldn't marry again. That made your foolish father very angry with me...Well, if I am alive tomorrow I shall make another will in your favor. If I die tonight, you'll get nothing...No, Hilary, don't try to take the glass away. If you do that, I shall know; and I don't want to know. Good night, Hilary."

Then, very carefully, she raised the glass to her mouth and drank.

1.From the story ,we learn that Hilary's aunt was ______.

A. bad-tempered and lonely

B. kind-hearted and wise

C. careless about money

D. cruel to her niece

2.Why did Hilary's father consider his aunt dead?

A. Because they lost contact with each other after her marriage.

B. Because she married a businessman with a wife against his will.

C. Because she broke away from the family for a better life.

D. Because he thought she was a shame to the family

3.The underlined sentence "He must do a great kindness to the poor old woman" in paragraph 11 suggests that Hilary Smith ______.

A. was determined to put his aunt's life to an end

B. decided to do his aunt a favor to call in a lawyer

C. made up his mind to take good care of his aunt

D. would help his aunt to donate all her money to religious people

4.Which of the following is the focus of the story?

A. Hilary's aunt's money.

B. Hilary Smith's debts.

C. The intended murder.

D. Hilary's aunt's marriage.

5.According to the law book,_____.

A. Hilary's aunt is not allowed to make a new will.

B. the money will go to Hilary after his aunt dies without a new will.

C. Hilary's aunt must leave the money to the religious people after she dies.

D. Hilary must look after his aunt till her death because he is the only relation.

6.Which detail from the story is the climax of the story?

A. Hilary escaped from the prison.

B. Hilary quarreled with is aunt about ten pounds.

C. Hilary's aunt drank the medicine her nephew prepared for her.

D. Hilary's aunt made a will to leave all her money to someone else.

Answer

1.B

2.D

3.A

4.A

5.B

6.C

【解析】

试题分析：本文讲的是希拉里和他姑妈的遗嘱的故事。希拉里出生在一个好的家庭，二十岁时花光了家里所有钱，和银行有些麻烦，被关进了监狱。然后从监狱逃到了澳大利亚，投奔了他的姑妈。有一件事很快就明了了：他的姑妈病重，没有什么能治好她的病。于是他想到姑妈的遗嘱，于是想加害于她，姑妈知道了，不过还是喝下了那杯超剂量的药。

1.题。需要整体把握全文，用排除法。文中第四段“Fortunately she remained faithful and honest to him even after she fell ill. ”句意：幸运的是，她在生病之后依然对他坦诚相待。可以看出她姑妈是一个仁慈的人，排除A和D；从最后她对遗嘱的态度可看出，她对钱并不马虎，排除C；反而通过立遗嘱，可以看出她是一个聪明人，故选B。

2. father used to say she brought no glory to the family. ”、“ It seemed that she had failed to marry a nobleman. Instead, she had chosen a husband who was connected with "trade". ”句意：他的父亲认为她没有给家族带来任何荣耀；她没有嫁给贵族，却嫁给了商人。在那个时期，商人地位很低，所以对他哥哥而言，是个耻辱。故选D。

3. it kind to want his aunt to live any longer? Was it not better for her to die now? While he was considering what to do, his aunt told him that she was going to send for her lawyer. So she was going to make a new will, Hilary thought. She might leave all her money to someone else. Soon he reached a clear decision. ”句意：让姑妈活久一点？是不是她死了更好吗？当他还在考虑要做什么，他的姑妈告诉他，她联系她的律师。所以她要做一个新的遗嘱，希拉里想。她会将所有的钱都给别人了。他马上做出决定。可以看出他起了歹心，想结束姑妈的生命，故选A。

4. aunt's will，即姑妈的遗嘱。根据常识可以知道，遗嘱是跟钱有关，而希拉里想得到这笔遗嘱。Hilary Smith's debts.希拉里的债务有提及；The intended murder这场预定的谋杀出现在文章后面；Hilary's aunt's marriage.姑妈的婚姻有提及；B、C、D文中都有提到，不过都是文章故事发展的情节之一，文章的重点是姑妈的遗嘱，即希拉里姑妈的钱，故选A。

5. no new will is made, the money goes to the nearest relation. Hilary knew that he was his aunt's only relation. ”句意：如果没有新的遗嘱，钱将回到最亲的亲戚手上，希拉里知道他是她姑妈在世上的唯一的亲人。可以得出，希拉里作为她姑妈血缘关系最近的人，假如没有新的遗嘱，她姑妈的钱会到他手里，故选B。

6. escaped from the prison.”希拉里逃出了监狱，是故事的开端；B选项“Hilary quarreled with is aunt about ten pounds.”希拉里因为十英镑和姑妈吵了起来，是故事的小情节之一；D选项“Hilary's aunt made a will to leave all her money to someone else.”希拉里的姑妈想立一份遗嘱把她所有钱给别人，文章只是在后面她姑妈说她今晚如果死了的话，就把钱给别人，只是一种假设；而C选项“Hilary's aunt drank the medicine her nephew prepared for her.”希拉里的姑妈喝了她外甥为她准备的药，由前面可知，她姑妈的遗嘱是文章的主线，希拉里想得到它，然后想谋杀姑妈，故事的关注点落在那杯放了很多剂量的药里，而他姑妈喝了她外甥为她准备的药，将故事推上高潮，故选C.。

考点：考查记叙类阅读。