Question

Tim Richter and his wife, Linda, had taught for over 30 years near Buffalo, New York--he in computers, she in special education. "Teaching means everything to us," Tim would say. In April1998, he learned he would need a heart operation. It was the kind of news that leads to some serious thinking about life's purpose.

Not long after the surgery, Tim saw a brochure describing Imagination Library, a program started by Dolly Parton' s foundation (基金会) that mailed a book every month to children from birth to age five in the singer's home town of Sevier, Tennessee.“I thought, maybe Linda and I could do something like this when we retire," Tim recalls.  He placed the brochure on his desk, "as a reminder."

Five years later, now retired and with that brochure still on the desk, Tim clicked on imagination library .com. The program had been opened up to partners who could take advantage of book and postage discounts.

The quality of the books was of great concern to the Richters. Rather than sign up online, they went to Dollywood for a look-see. “We didn’t want to give the children rubbish,” says Linda. The books-reviewed each year by teachers, literacy specialists and Dollywood board members-included classics such as Ezra Jack Keats’s The Snowy Day and newer books like Anna Dewdney’s Llama Llama series.

Satisfied, the couple set up the Richter Family Foundation and got to work. Since 2004, they have shipped more than 12,200 books to preschoolers in their in their area. Megan Williams, a mother of four, is more than appreciative: “This program introduces us to books I’ve never heard of .”

The Richters spend about ＄400 a month sending books to 200 children. “Some people sit there and wait to die,” says Tim. “Others get as busy as they can in the time they have left.”

1.What led Tim to think seriously about the meaning of life?

A.His health problem. B.His love for teaching.

C.The influence of his wife. D.The news from the Web.

2.What did Tim want to do after learning about Imagination Library?

A.Give out brochures. B.Do something similar.

C.Write books for children D.Retire from being a teacher.

3.According to the text, Dollly Parton is          .

A.a well-known surgeon B.a mother of a four-year-old

C.a singer born in Tennessee D.a computer programmer

4.Why did the Richters go to Dollywood?

A.To avoid signing up online.

B.To meet Dollywood board members.

C.To make sure the books were the newest.

D.To see if the books were of good quality.

5.What can we learn from Tim’s words in the last paragraph?

A.He needs more money to help the children.

B.He wonders why some people are so busy.

C.He tries to save those waiting to die.

D.He considers his efforts worthwhile.

Answer

1.A

2.B

3.C

4.D

5.D

【解析】

这是一篇记叙文。文章通过介绍Richter夫妇从接触一个名为Imagination Library的项目到成立自己的基金会的历程并找到生活的真正价值

1.细节理解题。根据文章第一段he learned he would need a heart operation. It was the kind of news that leads to some serious thinking about life's purpose.可知，他得知他需要做心脏手术。这类新闻引发了人们对人生目标的严肃思考。所以是他的健康问题使他严肃思考生活的意义。故选A项。

2.细节理解题。根据第二段I thought, maybe Linda and I could do something like this when we retire可知，我想，也许琳达和我退休后可以做些类似的事情。所以作者手术后不久接触到Imagination Library的宣传册决定退休后从事这样的事业。故选B项。

3.细节理解题。根据第二段a program started by Dolly Parton' s foundation (基金会) that mailed a book every month to children from birth to age five in the singer's home town of Sevier, Tennessee.可知，多莉 · 帕顿的基金会发起了一个项目，在歌手的家乡田纳西州的塞维尔，这个项目每个月都会给从出生到五岁的孩子们邮寄一本书。所以Dollly Parton是一个出生在田纳西州的歌手。故选C项。

4.细节理解题。根据第四段The quality of the books was of great concern to the Richters.可知，这些书的质量是Richters非常关心的。所以里希特夫夫妇去多莱伍德是为了看看这些书的质量好不好。故选D项。

5.推理判断题。根据最后一段The Richters spend about ＄400 a month sending books to 200 children. “Some people sit there and wait to die,” says Tim. “Others get as busy as they can in the time they have left.”可知，希特夫夫妇每月花400美元给200个孩子寄书。“有些人坐在那里等死，”蒂姆说。“其他人在离世的时候还在忙碌。由此判断出，他认为他的努力是值得的。故选D项。