Question

    It was early in 1981 when I first met George. I was in my early 30s, seeking a creative outlet unrelated to the boredom of housework and raising little kids. At 65, George had recently retired and was seeking a rewarding hobby for his golden years. For both of us, painting was “it” and we met at a local TAFE painting class. Thus began a friendship that was to last for 25 years- -until the day he died.

George was a man who lived life to the full. He worked hard, played hard and had an opinion about everything. As a slim and energetic man, he took pride in his fitness and walked more than three kilometers every day. “I'd no more go without my walk than without changing my underwear. “He’d say.

As the only male in a painting class full of women, George ruled the roost and we were his hens. He adored his singular role and looked after his brood with the same attention he gave to everything.

He took to painting with passion and commitment, even changing the spare bedroom of his home into a studio. His painting equipment was comprehensive- an easel, quality paints, linseed oil, turpentine, brushes, palette, canvases, charcoal pencils, fixative, palette knives- even a rolling pin for removing air bubbles when gluing.

For about six years George and I studied together through various units until the completion of the course and other commitments drew us apart, though we always maintained personal contact as we lived within a couple of kilometers of each other. I'd sometimes see him on his daily walk or at the local shops and occasionally we' d touch base with a“proper”afternoon tea.

Fast-forward some years and George was now about 80 years old. He rang one day and asked me to come to his house, saying he needed to ask me something. George explained that he was giving up painting and giving away all his “stuff". Everything- -paints, boards, canvases, completed works and rolling pin! “I can't paint, Bev.” He declared in the manner of a child who had to say farewell to his favorite toy.“ You have the best talent and are most likely to use it," he said.

After considerable persuasion, I accepted this precious gift on condition that he could reclaim it at any time. He never did, of course, and I still use much of his equipment today, more than 20 years later. As I paint, I often remember George and his big personality.

1.The friendship between George and the writer started because_________

A.they thought painting was characterized by creativity

B.they appreciated each other for their painting ability

C.they thought painting was a great way of killing time

D.they shared happiness in their local painting class

2.The underlined sentence in Paragraph 2 indicates that_________

A.George walked too hard to change his underwear

B.George viewed his walk as a great way to keep fit

C.George had his opinion of changing his underwear

D.George had to walk hard daily to live life to the full

3.The rolling pin is mentioned in Paragraph 4 to show that_________

A.George was passionate about painting

B.George was cautious about his painting

C.George was skilled with his painting

D.George was fond of its use in painting

4.Which of the following can NOT reflect George’s “big personality “in the last paragraph?

A.“He worked hard, played hard and had an opinion about everything" (Paragraph 2)

B.“As the only male ... George ruled the roost and we were his hens." (Paragraph 3)

C.“I’d sometimes see him on his daily walk .... afternoon tea." (Paragraph 5)

D.“He declared in the manner of a child who ... his favorite toy." (Paragraph 6)

Answer

1.D

2.B

3.A

4.C

【解析】

这是一篇人物传记类记叙文。本文通过作者和乔治的接触以及对乔治的了解和一生的事迹进行了记叙说明。

1.

推理判断题。结合第一段For both of us, painting was “it” and we met at a local TAFE painting class. Thus began a friendship that was to last for 25 years- -until the day he died“对于我们两人来说，画画是机缘，我们相遇在一家TAFE 画画班，因此我们开始了一段持续直到他死去的的长达25年的友谊”和第三段的As the only male in a painting class full of women, George ruled the roost and we were his hens.“乔治作为班里唯一的男性一直充当头头，而我们只是他的属下。”描述，可以推断出作者和George在绘画班相遇，后在与他相处的过程中十分快乐，从而发展了友谊。故选D。

2.

句义猜测题。联系前一句话As a slim and energetic man, he took pride in his fitness and walked more than three kilometers every day.“作为一个身材好，精力充沛的男人，他自豪于自己的良好身材，每天步行超过3公里路程。”可以推断出该句是George对走路这种锻炼方式的评价。该句可译作“我（每天）都不能不走路（锻炼），正如我（每天）都不能不换内衣裤一样。”故选B。

3.

推理判断题。该题考查学生的主题句意识。even a rolling pin for removing air bubbles when gluing“即便是一根为了在胶水胶东西移除气泡用的曲型针 。这个细节再次点明前面主题句He took to painting with passion and commitment, “他是带着激情和责任去画画的”。这个主题正好切合选项A中所说“George was passionate about painting乔治对画画充满激情”，再次点明主题。故选A。

4.

推理判断题。选项A、B和D都从不同侧面反映出George的big personality性格特点，即热爱生活、合作友爱和自我释怀，C项只是客观描述事实而已。故选C。