Question

There is a time when Karyn Bosnak couldn’t pay a ＄59 bill at the grocery store. She was officially broke. She didn’t have enough money to get on the subway, but she looked rich. She was a television producer, earned ＄900 a week, and had a closetful of designer labels like Gucci and Louis Vuitton. But she also had a ＄20,221.40 credit card bill and an empty bank account. Karyn decided that it was time for a change. She built a website and simply asked people to help her out by sending her a dollar or two.

On the site, Karyn honestly explained her situation. “If 20,000 people gave me just ＄1, I’d be home free.” Amazingly, it worked. Her website was visited by more than a million people. Although most donors just gave a few dollars, one generous donor sent ＄1,000. She was on TV and in newspapers and magazines. She was offered a book deal and a movie contract. And of course, she was able to pay off her credit card debt. She also sold her designer clothes on eBay. In her closet, where the Gucci purse once sat, Karyn keeps all the letters that people have sent her.

It’s hard to understand why so many people helped a total stranger pay off her huge credit card bill. Karyn explains, “I was just honest about what happened; I didn’t make up some sob story (悲伤的故事) about saving the world.” Her donors think it’s funny and original, and view it less as a charity than as an entertainment site. Imitators have appeared all over the Internet, some with extremely selfish requests for things like a BMW or a house.

Actually, Karyn was not the first person to put up a website asking strangers for money. The practice has a name: “cyber-begging.” Most sites receive little traffic and even less cash. Karyn also had thousands of enemies and critics. People sent her hate mail and scolded (斥责) her on websites. Karyn says she never let this anger bother her. “They are probably jealous (嫉妒的) they didn’t think of it.” She explains.

1.Why was Karyn in financial trouble?

A. She lost her job.

B. Her business failed.

C. She spent too much money.

D. Her bank account was stolen.

2. After building a website, Karyn      .

A. became very famous.

B. decided to make a movie

C. decided herself to charity

D. started a fashion magazine

3.Why did so many people respond positively to Karyn’s website?

A. They were moved by Karyn’s story.

B. They thought it was very interesting.

C. They wanted to follow Karyn’s steps.

D. They really wanted to help Karyn out.

4.What can we learn about cyber-begging?

A. It encourages beggars to be honest.

B. Its main purpose is to help the poor.

C. It was first started by Karyn Bosnak.

D. Most of the time it draws little attention.

Answer

1.C

2.A

3.B

4.D

【解析】

试题分析: 本文讲述的是Karyn因为还不起巨额信用卡债务而上网求助，引发人们的热烈讨论。

1.C细节理解题。由第一段的She …earned ＄900 a week, and had a closetful of designer labels like Gucci and Louis Vuitton. But she also had a ＄20,222.40 credit card bill and an empty bank account. 可知，Karyn是因为花了太多的钱买奢侈品而陷入经济麻烦，故选C项。

2.A推理判断题。由第二段可知，建立乞讨网站后，Karyn不仅筹集了足够的资金偿还她的欠款，而且还受到媒体的关注，甚至还得到出书和拍电影的邀约，由此可知她出名了，故选A项。

3.B细节理解题。由倒数第二段的Her donors think it’s funny and original, and view it less as a charity than as an entertainment site可知，人们积极响应Karyn发起的网站是因为他们觉得这个事很有意思，故选B项。

4.推理判断题。由最后一段的The practice has a name: “cyber-begging”. Most sites receive little traffic and even less cash.可知，大多数时候这些网络乞讨并没有引起人们太多的关注，故选D项。

考点 ：社会现象类阅读。