Question

    My friend, Jack, was a taxi driver. We became friends quite by accident. Five years ago, I made a trip to Chicago. The moment I stepped into a cab, I realized it was different. The floor was covered with a rug (小地毯). There were small reproductions of paintings by Van Gogh inside the cab. And the windows were spotless. I told the driver I had never ridden in a more attractive taxi.

“I like to hear my passengers say that,” he replied. “How long have you been decorating your cab?” I asked. “It’s not mine,” he said. “It’s a company cab. I hit upon the idea years ago when I worked as a clean-up man for the taxi company. Each car that came in at the end of the day was like a garbage pit. Cigarette butts and matches covered the floor. Sticky stuff like peanut butter was on the seats or door handles. I thought that if the company and the drivers would give people a car worth keeping clean, they might be more considerate. ”

“As soon as I got my taxi license, I tried out my ideas. I put a lot of extra decorations into the cab they gave me to drive. I got a nice rug and some flowers. When each passenger got out, I checked to make sure that everything was in order for the next fare. After about a month of my bringing in a spotless cab, the boss reserved the same car for me each day. That was when I put up the reproductions of great paintings.”

“I’ve never been disappointed by people in the past ten years—no garbage. Like I say, people appreciate beautiful things. If we planted more flowers and trees in the city and made the buildings more attractive, more people would tend to keep the city clean.”

Later, we became good friends. I was impressed by the taxi-driver, who had hit on a great truth—a sense of beauty comes with the gift of life. Most people don’t have to be instructed about the rarity of beauty. They respond when they find it. And, if they are made to feel a part of it, they will try to add to it.

1.What made the writer surprised when he got into the taxi?

A. The beautiful decoration on the rug.

B. The style of decoration outside the taxi.

C. The masterpieces of well-known painters.

D. The impressive inner environment of the taxi.

2.Jack got the idea of decorating the cab when _______.

A. he got his taxi license

B. the boss reserved the same car for him each day

C. he served as a clean-up man for the taxi company

D. he found the taxi he cleaned was full of cigarette butts

3.What does the story mainly tell us?

A. People can easily make friends when taking a taxi.

B. When people find beauty in life, they will try to add to it.

C. If we plant more flowers and trees, we can keep the city clean.

D. We have to be taught to find beauty and make it more beautiful.

Answer

1.D

2.C

3.B

【解析】

本文是一篇记叙文。爱美的出租车司机装饰了自己的出租车。令人印象深刻的出租车内部环境让作者在上车时感到惊讶。这篇文章告诉我们“当人们在生活中发现美时，他们会努力为之添彩。”

1.推理判断题。根据第一段中The moment I stepped into a cab, I realized it was different. The floor was covered with a rug (小地毯). There were small reproductions of paintings by Van Gogh inside the cab. And the windows were spotless.“当我走进一辆出租车，我意识到这是不同的。地板上铺着地毯。在驾驶室里有一些小的梵高画作的复制品。窗户也一尘不染。”可知，令人印象深刻的出租车内部环境让作者在上车时感到惊讶。故选D。

2.细节理解题。根据第二段中I hit upon the idea years ago when I worked as a clean-up man for the taxi company.“几年前，我在一家出租车公司当清洁工时，突然想到了这个主意。”可知，杰克在出租车公司当清洁工时，就有了装饰出租车的想法。故选C。

3.主旨大意题。根据最后一段中Most people don’t have to be instructed about the rarity of beauty. They respond when they find it. And, if they are made to feel a part of it, they will try to add to it.“大多数人不需要被告知美的稀有。当他们发现时，他们会做出反应。而且，如果他们被要求去感受其中的一部分，他们会尝试去增加它。”可知本文告诉我们“当人们在生活中发现美时，他们会努力为之添彩。”故选B。