Question

    My sister and I were taught at a very early age to write thank-you letters for birthday and Christmas gifts. We carefully copied addresses from our mom’s address book into our own pretty little books, and a new box of stationery（信箋，信封）was always among my gifts under the tree. We wrote our letters on December 26 at the latest every year. It was an important tradition in our home, and it has turned me into an avid（热情）thank-you-letter writer as an adult.

I still send a great deal of personal mail, and I am extremely interested in all of the trappings of letter writing: unique stamps, beautiful stationery, fountain pens（自来水笔）. I feel a mad rush of satisfaction sticking a stamp on a carefully penned thank-you letter and sending it off in the mail.

Several years ago, I even sent my mom a thank-you letter to thank her for teaching me to count my blessings on paper. Sending letters of thanks out into the world has made me more grateful for the love, support and kindness I receive daily.

My father died when I was twenty-seven. Even then, I found comfort in writing letters of thanks for the gifts of words I received. At a time when all I wanted to do was retreat（退缩）into my own sadness, the act of giving thanks forced me to stay connected to the world and to the lives of the living.

And while it may seem unimportant, my belief in well-written thank-you letters has protected my popularity. Since real thank-you letters are extremely few and far between, my social graces（风度）are considered as a charming difference from other people, and my friends and family always seem truly moved by my efforts.

1.What can we learn about the author’s family?

A.Her family liked to collect stationery.

B.Her family had a thank-you-letter writing tradition.

C.She often copied addresses for her mother.

D.They wrote thank-you letters on Dec 26.

2.How did the author feel when writing thank-you letters?

A.Satisfied. B.Tired. C.Excited. D.Bored.

3.What can we infer from the fourth paragraph?

A.The author felt happy to receive gifts from others.

B.The author’s father died when she was very young.

C.Writing thank-you letters made the author lead an active life.

D.Writing thank-you letters forced the author to talk with others.

4.What does the author intend to tell us?

A.Expressing thanks can protect what we have.

B.Receiving thank-you letters is truly moving.

C.Writing thank-you letters is difficult work.

D.Being grateful can help gain the respect.

Answer

1.B

2.A

3.C

4.D

【解析】

本文为议论文。文章主要讲了作者认为写感谢信的诸多好处。

1.

细节理解题。根据第一段It was an important tradition in our home, and it has turned me into an avid（热情）thank-you-letter writer as an adult. （这是我们家的一个重要传统，它把我变成了一个热心的感谢信作家。）可知作者一家有写感谢信的传统。故选B。

2.

细节理解题。根据文章第二段I feel a mad rush of satisfaction sticking a stamp on a carefully penned thank-you letter and sending it off in the mail. （把一张邮票贴在一封精心写好的感谢信上，然后寄出去，让我感到一种疯狂的满足感。）可知作者在写感谢信时，是感到很满足。故选A。

3.

推理判断题。根据文章第四段My father died when I was twenty-seven. Even then, I found comfort in writing letters of thanks for the gifts of words I received. At a time when all I wanted to do was retreat（退缩）into my own sadness, the act of giving thanks forced me to stay connected to the world and to the lives of the living.(我父亲在我27岁时去世了。即使在那时，我还是在写感谢信中找到了安慰。曾经有一段时间，我只想沉浸在自己的悲伤中，感恩的行为迫使我与世界和活着的人保持联系。)由此推知，写感谢信使作者过着积极的生活。故选C。

4.

推理判断题。根据文章最后一段And while it may seem unimportant, my belief in well-written thank-you letters has protected my popularity.Since real thank-you letters are extremely few and far between, my social graces（风度）are considered as a charming difference from other people, and my friends and family always seem truly moved by my efforts.（虽然这看起来不重要，但我对写好感谢信的信念保护了我的声望。由于真正的感谢信非常少，我的社会风度被认为是与其他人不同的魅力所在，我的朋友和家人似乎总是被我的努力所感动。）可推断出，作者想告诉我们心存感激可以帮助你赢得尊重。故选D。