Question

    One year, a newspaper of the United States published an announcement—the Horticultural Institute offered a reward at a high price for the pure white marigold (金盏花). The high reward attracted so many people, but in nature besides golden, the marigold is brown; it is not easy to create the white one. So after they were excited for a time, many people forgot that announcement.

One normal day after 20 years, the Horticultural Institute accidentally received a letter and 100 seeds of pure white marigold. On that day, the news spread like wildfire. It proved to be an old woman of over 70 years old. The institute had always been hesitating over the fact that the seeds could bloom pure white marigold.

Those seeds finally took root in the earth. The wonder appeared after one year: large fields of pure white marigold swung in the light wind. As a result, the old woman became a new focus.

Originally, the old woman was just a flower-lover. When she happened to read the announcement 20 years ago, her heart kept beating wildly. But her eight children all opposed her decision. After all, a woman who never knew the seed genetics (遗传学) couldn’t complete what the experts could never accomplish! Still, the old woman didn’t change her mind and went on working. Year after year, through many cycles of spring sowing and autumn harvest, the old woman’s husband died; her children flew far and high; a lot of things happened in her life but only the desire to grow the pure white marigold took root in her heart. Finally, after 20 years on the day we all know, in the garden, she saw a marigold, which was not nearly white but as white as silver or snow.

Such a difficult problem as even experts couldn’t deal with was solved by an old woman who didn’t understand genetics. Was it a wonder? Take root in the heart and even the most common seed can grow into a wonder!

1.Why was a great reward offered by the Horticultural Institute?

A.White flowers could be sold at a higher price.

B.It was difficult to develop pure white marigold.

C.Pure white marigold was more beautiful in nature.

D.Scientists wanted to know how marigold grew in nature.

2.What can we know about the old woman from the passage?

A.She got professional support from scientists.

B.She kept trying for years before she succeeded.

C.She was 70 when she first read the announcement.

D.She sent pure white marigold flowers to the institute.

3.Which of the following words best describes the old woman?

A.Honest. B.Stubborn.

C.Determined. D.Knowledgeable.

4.What is the best title for the text?

A.White Flowers Bring Success B.White Marigold is Hard to    Grow

C.Marigolds Grow from Loneliness D.Seeds Take Root in    the Heart

Answer

1.B

2.B

3.C

4.D

【解析】

这是一篇记叙文。文章讲述了有机构出高价奖赏能够种出白色金盏花的人，但是一直到时隔20年后才有人发明出来如何种出白色金盏花，而此人是一位年纪70多的老妇人，她花了20年一直致力研究新品种的花。

1.

细节理解题。由文章第一段“The high reward attracted so many people, but in nature besides golden, the marigold is brown; it is not easy to create the white one.”高奖赏吸引了很多人，但是在大自然界中，除了金色，只存在棕色的金盏花，创造出白色金盏是不容易的。由文章可知白色金盏花不容易生产，所以奖励就越高。故选B项。

2.

推理判断题。由第四段“Still, the old woman didn’t change her mind and went on working. Year after year, through many cycles of spring sowing and autumn harvest, the old woman’s husband died; her children flew far and high; a lot of things happened in her life but only the desire to grow the pure white marigold took root in her heart.”尽管老妇人的儿女们不同意她想要研究白色金盏花的想法，这个老妇人仍然没有改变想法并且继续研究，一年接着一年，经过很多次春天的播种和秋天的丰收时刻，老人的丈夫去世了，孩子也都去远方，但是老妇人想要去种植白色金盏花的想法仍然在心底扎根。由此判断出这里老妇人在研究成功之前尝试了很多年，故选B项。

3.

推理判断题。由第四段“Still, the old woman didn’t change her mind and went on working.”可知老妇人一直没有放弃研究，故判断出老人意志坚决。故选C项。

4.

主旨大意题。由文章最后一段“Was it a wonder? Take root in the heart and even the most common seed can grow into a wonder!”这是一个奇迹吗? 把一个目标在心中扎根，即使是最普通的种子也能长成奇迹！ 文章通过老妇人花费20年时间坚持研究新花，并把这件事在心中扎根，所以短文的最佳标题为“种子在心里扎根”。故选D项。