Watson entered Mr. Smith’s office. The Boss was a hard man. He fired people who didn’t do well without giving them a second chance.
“Watson,” said Mr. Smith, “this past year your department hasn’t earned money. We’re going to drop that department. It’s finished. I’ m sorry, —but you’ll have to go.” “But, sir—if I just had a little more time. For the moment I need the job to keep my son at Riverside School.”
“What’s that!” said the Boss. “Riverside! I didn’t know you had a boy there. That’s an expensive school for a man with your salary.”
“I know, sir. But he likes it there so much! He’s a star trackman（田径运动员） and the best boxer in the school. The boys call him Champ（冠军） there.”
The Boss sat perfectly still for a long time—a faraway （恍惚的） look in his eyes. Then, suddenly, he said, “We’ve got to close your department, Watson. But you’ll take over a new job in another department. It means longer hours—maybe more pay. Now get out. You’re here for life.”
Watson got out, with surprise in his face. Then the Boss took a letter from the top drawer of his desk. It was Herbie’s last letter from Riverside School —written a few days before he died. He had read it over and over again with sick pain. The letter read: I can’t say the boys here are any nicer to me than the others were. I guess it’s the same everywhere when you’re a cripple (跛脚的人). But don’t worry about me, Dad. They’ve got a good chemistry department here. And there’s one boy here who is really great. He’s a track star and boxing champ and just tops in chemistry. The boys call him Champ. He made them stop throwing my books around. And he knocked a boy down who hit me. He is the best friend I ever had. Dad, when I grow up, I want to do something for Champ. Something big—that he won’t even know about.
Your son, Herbie
【小题1】The underlined word “drop” in paragraph 2 could best be replaced by .A．fallB．closeC．punishD．sell【小题2】 It can be inferred from the text that Champ is .A．Watson’ s sonB．Mr Smith’ s sonC．a teacher of Mr Smith’s sonD．the son of Mr Smith’s friend【小题3】From the text we know that Herbie .A．was a college studentB．didn’t live to grow upC．made friends with many boysD．died from a car accident【小题4】Watson was given a second chance because .A．Mr Smith wanted to help Watson’s sonB．a man was needed in another departmentC．Herbie told Mr Smith to do so in his letterD．Mr Smith wanted to realize his son’s dreamB
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(答案→)B
解析：
【小题1】B 推理题。根据第二段1,2行“this past year your department hasn’t earned money. We’re going to drop that department. It’s finished.说明这个部门不挣钱，老板准备关闭这个部门，故B正确。
【小题2】A 推理题。根据第四段“I know, sir. But he likes it there so much! He’s a star trackman（田径运动员） and the best boxer in the school. The boys call him Champ（冠军） there.”说明Champ就是Watson的儿子。
【小题3】B 细节题。根据文章最后一段第2行It was Herbie’s last letter from Riverside School —written a few days before he died.说明Herbie已经去世了，故B正确。
【小题4】D 推理题。根据文章最后两行He is the best friend I ever had. Dad, when I grow up, I want to do something for Champ. Something big—that he won’t even know about.说明Watson的儿子帮助了Mr. Smith的儿子，Mr. Smith想实现他儿子的梦想。