Question

    Both of Omar's parents were poets. For as long as Omar could remember, his parents spent at least one evening each week at a poetry reading, which usually took place at a small coffee house.

Omar had very fond memories of the coffee house on Sixth Street where the people's personalities were as colorful as the coffee cups. He loved going to early evening poetry readings at Cody's Coffee Shop. He would sit in the audience next to his parents, the smell of coffee floating through the air and the gentle voices of the poets removing his childish worries with the rhythm of their poems.

There was one woman who came to Cody's every week just as his parents did. Her name was Mrs. Aboud. She never read, but she had a bright smile for everyone, and she would clap (手) loudly after each reading.

Eventually, Omar began writing his own poetry. Mrs. Francis, Omar's English teacher, advised him to enter a poetry contest ( 比赛). At first Omar was proud and excited. However, when he read the contest rules, he became concerned. The contest was an oral(口头的) reading. Omar had no doubt that he could write high-quality poetry, but he was a very shy young man. He doubted that he could stand in front of a large group to read his poems calmly.

“It would make me very proud”, his father said, and Omar knew that he had to go through with it somehow.

So on the day of the contest, he selected his favorite poem, put on his best clothes, and appeared at the auditorium (会堂).

When he stepped onto the stage, though, something wonderful happened! There in the audience, right beside his parents, was Mrs. Aboud. Omar could almost smell the coffee at Cody's Coffee Shop. He focused on his parents and Mrs. Aboud and tuned out everyone else. Now it was easy to read his poem in a clear, calm voice. When he finished, everyone in the auditorium applauded.

1.What is the second paragraph mainly about?

A.Poetry B.A coffee house

C.Omar's parents D.Omar's worries

2.Which word best describes Mrs. Aboud?

A.Clever. B.Patient

C.Creative D.Supportive.

3.Why did Omar feel that he had to enter the contest?

A.He wanted to win a prize.

B.He wanted to face his fears.

C.He wanted to please his teacher.

D.He wanted to surprise his father.

4.The underlined phrase “tuned out” in the last paragraph can be replaced by______.

A.ignored B.attracted

C.forgot D.impressed

Answer

1.B

2.D

3.B

4.A

【解析】

这是一篇记叙文。文章主要讲述了主人公奥马尔从小接受了诗歌的熏陶，经常被父母带到一家咖啡馆参加朗读会。有一次被老师鼓励参加诗歌朗诵比赛，克服自己的畏惧心理，并且在一位熟人“Mrs. Aboud”的支持下顺利完成了这个比赛。

1.主旨大意题。根据文章第二段出现的高频词汇“the coffee shop”，可知本段主要介绍了这个作者和父母经常参加诗歌朗读会的咖啡馆。故选B项。

2.细节理解题。根据文章第三段末尾句内容“She never read, but she had a bright smile for everyone, and she would clap loudly after each reading. (她从不读书，但她对每个人都有灿烂的笑容，每次读书后都会大声鼓掌)”可知她在读书会上是一个积极的支持者。选项D：Supportive. (支持的) 描述正确。故选D项。

3.细节理解题。根据文章第四段末尾内容和第五段内容“Omar had no doubt that he could write high-quality poetry, but he was a very shy young man. He doubted that he could stand in front of a large group to read his poems calmly. "It would make me very proud", his father said, and Omar knew that he had to go through with it somehow. (奥马尔毫无疑问可以写出高质量的诗歌，但他是个非常害羞的年轻人。他怀疑自己能否站在一大群人面前平静地读他的诗。“这会让我非常自豪，”他的父亲说，奥马尔知道他必须以某种方式挺过去)”可知，他选择参加诗朗诵比赛的原因是要克服自己对于在众人面前朗诵诗歌的恐惧心理，且父亲再次强调克服恐惧在一大群人面前朗读是令他骄傲的事情。故选B项。

4.词义猜测题。根据划线短语之前的并列连词and可知，此处为动作的顺承关系。且前文提及“There in the audience, right beside his parents, was Mrs. Aboud. Omar could almost smell the coffee at Cody's Coffee Shop. He focused on his parents and Mrs. Aboud (观众席上，就在他父母的旁边，是阿武德太太。奥马尔几乎能闻到科迪咖啡店里的咖啡味。他把注意力集中在他的父母和阿布德太太身上)”可知，这种情景使他感受到像在咖啡馆里一样的自在，只专注在父母和阿布德太太身上，而忽略了在场其他的人。因此，此处的tuned out 可以理解为“忽略；忽视”含义，与选项A表达含义一致。故选A项。