Question

    It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man. College, career, and life itself got in  the way. In fact, Jack moved clear across the country in pursuit of his dreams. There, in the rush of his busy life, Jack had little time to think about the past and often no time to spend with his wife  and son. He was working on his future, and nothing could stop him.

Over the phone, his mother told him, “Mr. Belser died last night. The funeral is Wednesday.” Memories flashed through his mind like an old newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days.

“Jack, did you hear me?”

“Oh, sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. It’s been so long since I thought of him. I’m sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago,” Jack said.

“Well, he didn’t forget you. Every time I saw him he’d ask how you were doing. He’d reminisce about the many days you spent over ‘his side of the fence’ as he put it,” Mom told him.

“I loved that old house he lived in,” Jack said.

“You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to make sure you had a man’s influence in your life,” she said.

“He’s the one who taught me carpentry. I wouldn’t be in this business if it weren’t for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important… Mom, I’ll be there for the funeral,” Jack said.

Busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to his hometown. Mr. Belser’s funeral was small and uneventful. He had no children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.

The night before he had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by to see the old house next door one more time, which was exactly as he remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of furniture… Jack stopped suddenly.

“What’s wrong, Jack?” his Mom asked. “The box is gone,” he said.

“What box?” Mom asked.

“There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk. I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All he’d ever tell me was ‘the thing I value most’,” Jack said.

It was gone. Everything about the house was exactly how Jack remembered it, except for the box. He figured someone from the Belser family had taken it.

“Now, I’ll never know what was so valuable to him,” Jack said sadly.

Returning to his office the next day, he found a package on his desk. The return address caught his attention.

“Mr. Harold Belser” it read. Jack tore open the package. There inside was the gold box and an envelope. Jack’s hands shook as he read the note inside.

“Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack Bennett. It’s the thing I valued most in my life.” A small key was taped to the letter. His heart racing, and tears filling his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch. Running his fingers slowly over the fine cover, he opened it.

Inside he found these words carved: “Jack, thanks for your time! Harold Belser.” “Oh, My God! This is the thing he valued most…”

Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his assistant and cleared his appointments for the next two days. “Why?” his assistant asked.

“I need some time to spend with my son,” he said.

1.Why did Jack think Mr. Belser died years ago?

A.College and career prevented him from remembering Mr. Bleser.

B.Jack was too busy with his business and family to think about Mr. Belser.

C.Jack was too busy realizing his dreams to think about Mr. Belser.

D.His present busy life washed away his childhood memories.

2.Jack’s mother told him on the phone about Mr. Belser EXCEPT that ______.

A.Mr. Belser often asked how Jack was doing

B.Mr. Belser’s funeral would take place on Wednesday

C.Mr. Belser had asked for Jack’s mailing address

D.Mr. Belser had pleasant memories of their time together

3.What does the underlined word “reminisce” mean in paragraph 5?

A.recover B.reveal

C.recommend D.recall

4.Why did Belser send Jack his gold watch?

A.Because he had no children or relatives.

B.Because he thought he had to keep his word.

C.Because he was grateful for Jack’s time with him.

D.Because Jack had always wanted it during his childhood.

5.Jack said he needed some time to spend with his son because ______.

A.he came to realize the importance of the time with his family

B.he had promised to spare more time to stay with his son

C.he had missed his son and his family for days

D.he was very tired of his work and wanted to have a good rest.

6.Which of the following is the most suitable title for this passage?

A.The Good Old Times B.What He Valued Most

C.An Old Gold Watch D.The Lost Childhood Days

Answer

1.C

2.C

3.D

4.C

5.A

6.B

【解析】

这是一篇记叙文。文章讲述了工作狂Jack在参加老邻居葬礼之后逐渐意识到亲情的重要性。

1.推理判断题。根据第一段中There, in the rush of his busy life, Jack had little time to think about the past and often no time to spend with his wife and son. He was working on his future, and nothing could stop him.可知，Jack非常的忙于事业和前途，没有时间陪伴家人，没有时间回忆过去，所以在他印象中Mr. Belser仿佛早就去世了，故选C。

2.推理判断题。根据第二段中The funeral is Wednesday可知，葬礼在周三举行，故排除B；根据第五段中Every time I saw him he’d ask how you were doing. He’d reminisce about the many days you spent over ‘his side of the fence’ as he put it,的内容可以排除A，D选项；故选C。

3.词义猜测题。根据第五段中“Well, he didn’t forget you. Every time I saw him he’d ask how you were doing. He’d reminisce about the many days you spent over ‘his side of the fence’ as he put it,”可知，Harold从来没有忘记Jack，每次见到Jack的妈妈都要询问Jack的近况，他会回忆以前在他的庭院里和Jack一起渡过的许多日子，故此处reminsice为回忆的意思，故选D。

4.细节理解题。根据倒数第三段中Inside he found these words carved: “Jack, thanks for your time! Harold Belser.” “Oh, My God! This is the thing he valued most…”可知，Harold感谢Jack陪伴他的日子，故选C。

5.推理判断题。根据倒数第三段中Inside he found these words carved: “Jack, thanks for your time! Harold Belser.” “Oh, My God! This is the thing he valued most…”可知，Jack从Harold身上得到了A启发，他终于明白了陪伴家人的重要性，故选A。

6.最佳标题题。通读全文可知，Jack开始时忙于工作疏忽家庭，认为事业最重要。后来因为参加老邻居的葬礼回忆起些许童年时光，又因老邻居赠送Jack其生前最重视的东西而得到启发，Jack发现最重要的不是事业，而是亲情和家庭。故这篇文章主要是围绕“什么最重要”来展开的，故选B。