Question

    Three weeks ago, we were living paycheck to paycheck. We survived on my husband’s low-paid job and my disability. We have kids. Also, I was experiencing a terrible tumor (肿瘤)on my neck, leaving me staying in bed in extreme pain, but the operation was to be $8,000, out of pocket, because Medicare only covers 80%.

To take me to the hospital, my husband took a day off work. At 7 am, his boss called. He was being placed on paid leaving, waiting for an investigation into a mistake he had made at work.

We both panicked. Having slowly worked our way out of poverty (贫穷) for 8 years, we were so close to being OK and it was ail falling away. As my husband was a great worker, we decided to stay positive and hope for the best. However, two days later he received the official phone call-he was fired.

Having no savings to pay bills, we cried hopelessly. We went to the welfare office only to be told that he couldn’t collect unemployment for 8 weeks, meaning he had the possibility of having $0 income for two months. It was terrifying.

With only enough food to last for about a week, we applied for food stamps and Medicaid. Then we worked together- diving into job applications. After sending out resumes (简历)to everywhere in the field, he came across some promising companies. We kept our fingers crossed. Hopefully, we could get out of trouble as early as possible.

Soon I got a phone call-my neck operation was going to be free now that we were poor again. And my husband got an email invitation for a video interview and it went great. He would be paid $3 more an hour than his last job. What a roller coaster ride!

1.What was the family like before the husband got fired?

A.They showed little concern for each other.

B.They lived in an extremely poor area.

C.They could hardly make ends meet.

D.They led a rich and comfortable life.

2.Why did the boss call the husband?

A.To ask him about the truth. B.To tell him about a decision.

C.To persuade him to quit his job. D.To warn him to mind his work attitude.

3.What does the underlined sentence in Paragraph 5 most probably mean?

A.We were uncertain about our future. B.We waited hopelessly.

C.We felt more and more nervous. D.We wished ourselves good luck

4.What life lesson has the author learned from her experience?

A.Many hands make light work.

B.Actions speak louder than words.

C.When one door shuts, another opens.

D.One false step makes a great difference.

Answer

1.C

2.B

3.D

4.C

【解析】

这是一篇记叙文。作者在文章中描述了家庭的种种困难，更糟糕的是在家庭收入入不敷出时丈夫又失业了没有收入，作者和丈夫绝望地哭了起来。但是当一扇门关闭的时候，生活会为你开启另一扇门，最后作者的颈部手术免费，丈夫收到了一个视频面试的电子邮件邀请，一切都很顺利，而且每小时的工资将比上一份工作多了3美元。

1.细节理解题。根据第一段中Three weeks ago, we were living paycheck to paycheck. We survived on my husband’s low-paid job and my disability. We have kids. 三个星期前，我们靠薪水过日子。我们从丈夫的低薪工作和我的残疾中坚持生活。我们有孩子。可知，丈夫被解雇前，他们家里的生活几乎入不敷出。故选C项。

2.细节理解题。根据第二段中At 7 am, his boss called. He was being placed on paid leaving, waiting for an investigation into a mistake he had made at work. 早上7点，他的老板打来电话。他被安排带薪休假，等待对他在工作中犯下的错误进行调查。可知，老板打电话给丈夫是告诉他一个决定。故选B项。

3.词义猜测题。根据第五段中After sending out resumes (简历)to everywhere in the field, he came across some promising companies. We kept our fingers crossed. Hopefully, we could get out of trouble as early as possible. 在四处投递简历后，他遇到了一些很有前途的公司。我们祈求好运。希望我们能尽早摆脱困境。由作者表达希望他们能早日摆脱困境，可知，作者祈祷他们得到好运，因此猜测划线句We kept our fingers crossed意为“我们祈求自己好运”。故选D项。

4.推理判断题。根据最后一段Soon I got a phone call-my neck operation was going to be free now that we were poor again. And my husband got an email invitation for a video interview and it went great. He would be paid $3 more an hour than his last job. What a roller coaster ride! 不久，我接到了一个电话——由于我们又变穷了，我的颈部手术将免费。我丈夫收到了一个视频面试的电子邮件邀请，一切都很顺利。他每小时的工资将比上一份工作多3美元。真是坐过山车啊！可知，作者从她的经历中明白了当一扇门关闭的时候，生活会为你开启另一扇门的道理。故选C项。