Question

We’ve all had cases where we’ve waited just a bit too long to pay an electric bill or speeding ticket．But one man, from California by reasonable assumption, who goes by “Dave”, recently took procrastination (拖延) one step further, by paying a parking ticket almost a half-century after it was given．

In December 2018, the Minersville Police Department in Pennsylvania received a letter in the mail．Whoever wrote the letter decided it was best to keep his name somewhat unknown, so he put the return address as “Wayward Road, Anytown California” under the name “Feeling guilty”．

When the officers opened the envelope, they found a brief letter, along with a $5 bill, and a parking ticket dating all the way back to 1974．The note read, “Dear PD, I’ve been carrying this ticket around for 40 plus years always intending to pay．Forgive me if I don’t give you my info．With respect, Dave.”

Even though the initial parking ticket was only for $2, “Dave” must have felt awfully guilty because he left 150 percent, or $3, in interest．

Michael Combs, the Police Chief of the Minersville Police Department, stated in an interview that the same ticket would cost about $20 if it was given today． Combs went on to share that the original ticket from 1974 was given to a vehicle that had an Ohio license plate．

Because there was no system for tracking tickets given to out-of-state cars back then, “Dave” could have gotten away with never paying the $2 fine．But apparently, guilt got the best of him, and he decided to finally cough up the money more than 40 years past its due date．

1.How much do we know about “Dave”?

A. He lives in Wayward Road, Anytown California．

B. The police are trying to find out more about him．

C. His car probably came from Ohio at that time．

D. “Dave” is of course the man’s real name indeed．

2.Why didn’t “Dave” pay for the parking ticket until recently?

A. He completely forgot about it in the past 44 years．

B. He didn’t find it until almost half a century later．

C. He failed to find out who he should pay the money to．

D. He didn’t pay for it just because of procrastination．

3.What drove “Dave” to pay for the parking ticket at last?

A. A strong sense of guilty．

B. Fear of being tracked by the police．

C. Worry about being fined more．

D. Sudden change of his financial situation．

4.Which of the following can be the best title?

A. Police Chief of the Minersville Police Department Shares a Story

B. Mysterious Procrastinator Finally Pays 44-Year-Old Parking Ticket

C. Unusual Letter Comes from Wayward Road, Anytown California

D. Parking Ticket Carried Around for Almost Half a Century from Ohio

Answer

1. C

2. D

3. A

4. B

【解析】

本文是一篇记叙文。文章讲述的是一位神秘的拖延者终于支付了44年的停车罚单。

1.推理判断题。根据倒数第二段最后一句Combs went on to share that the original ticket from 1974 was given to a vehicle that had an Ohio license plate．可知，Dave的车可能来自俄亥俄州。故选C。

2.推理判断题。根据最后一段中Because there was no system for tracking tickets given to out-of-state cars back then, “Dave” could have gotten away with never paying the $2 fine．可知，“Dave”直到最近才付停车费是因为拖延。故选D。

3.细节理解题。根据最后一段最后一句But apparently, guilt got the best of him, and he decided to finally cough up the money more than 40 years past its due date．可知，一种强烈的罪恶感驱使“Dave”终于付了停车费。故选A。

4.主旨大意题。根据第一段中But one man, from California by reasonable assumption, who goes by “Dave”, recently took procrastination (拖延) one step further, by paying a parking ticket almost a half-century after it was given．可知，本文讲述的是一位神秘的拖延者终于支付了44年的停车罚单。故选B。