My mother, Marisol Torres, came with her family to Australia in the early 1960s. Then my parents’ marriage ended and Mum began the study of precious stones. Her interest in opals (猫眼石) took her to the New South Wales remote town of Lightning Ridge. There were no luxuries (奢华的享受), but she was closer to nature and had a chance to find black opals and make some money.
My mother was beautiful with dark hair and brown eyes, but she was also quiet and shy. Early in the Ridge years, she kept to herself, but later, she started going to the neighbourhood centre to make friends.
It was her dream to mine, but her get-rich-quick thinking was unrealistic. She was cheated and she was never very successful. But she kept a sense of humour and a charming smile.
Then, just as friendships began to blossom, she was diagnosed with cancer and had to return south for treatment. She had the intention of cooking Spanish food as special treat for her Ridge friends, but died too soon. In her honour, my aunt, Marisa, and I fulfilled her desire when we visited the Ridge in March last year.
People who mine the Ridge e from a cross section of society, from lawyers to travels. Looks don’t mean much: it can be hard to tell who is millionaire and who is poor. Opals attracted Sebastian and Hanna Deisenberger to Lightning Ridge. They planned a two-year stay, but became permanent residents.
Then there’s Neil Schellnegger, 45, who moved to the area with his parents when he was a child. He lives with his son, Luke. Luke is a shy 19-year-old boy who enjoys helping his dad. They haven’t had much luck over the past couple of years, but their passion for opals conquers disappointment. They love the peaceful lifestyle.
Danny Hatcher, 38, is a second-generation miner and president of the Lightning Ridge Miners’ Association. He is an optimistic man, driven by the desire to find the perfect opal. “It’s magic,” he explains. “Once you start opal mining you don’t want to do anything else… There is always the potential for finding a million dollars. Nothing beats it.”
It’s a place where dreams --- spiritual or material --- can be fulfilled; a place, for one last bet in life.
【小题1】What made the author’s mother go to Lightning Ridge?A．The luxurious life there.B．Her new marriage there. C．Her interest in opals.D．Her passion for nature. .【小题2】After the author’s mother died, she fulfilled her desire by . A．treating her mother’s Ridge friends with Spanish foodB．writing a biography about her whole life C．decorating her house in Lightning Ridge D．finding a lot of black opals in Lightning Ridge【小题3】We know from the passage that . A．the rich and the poor can be distinguished by their looksB．Luke is a successful miner, just like his father C．Sebastian is planning to leave Lightning Ridge D．Danny Hatcher’s parents were miners in Lightning Ridge【小题4】Lightning Ridge is a place where dreams can be fulfilled because . A．there are precious stones and life is peaceful B．there are people from all walks of life C．there are rich people who can help poor people D．there is a lot of gold hidden in the ground【小题5】What is the author’s purpose of giving Neil Schellnegger and Danny Hatcher as examples?A．To show the magic power of opal mining. B．To tell people it isn’t always hard to mine opals. C．To warn people not to take up this kind of job. D．To persuade people to look for more resources for the country.C
网友回答
(答案→)C
解析：本文介绍了妈妈对于猫眼石的追求以及对Lightning Ridge这里的猫眼石的矿对人们的影响的举例说明。
【小题1】C 细节题。根据第一段3,4行Her interest in opals (猫眼石) took her to the New South Wales remote town of Lightning Ridge.可知是对猫眼石的兴趣让她去了这个地方，故C正确。
【小题2】A 细节题。根据第二段2,3,4行She had the intention of cooking Spanish food as special treat for her Ridge friends, but died too soon. In her honour, my aunt, Marisa, and I fulfilled her desire when we visited the Ridge in March last year. 可知她们通过请妈妈的朋友享用西班牙的食物来实现她的愿望。故A正确。
【小题3】D 推理题。根据文章倒数第二段1,2行Danny Hatcher, 38, is a second-generation miner and president of the Lightning Ridge Miners’ Association.可知Danny Hatcher是第二代矿工，也就是输他的父母亲是第一代矿工，故D正确。
【小题4】A 细节题。根据文章第一段和最后一段It’s a place where dreams --- spiritual or material --- can be fulfilled; a place, for one last bet in life. There were no luxuries (奢华的享受), but she was closer to nature and had a chance to find black opals and make some money.可知在Lightning Ridge有宁静的生活也有可能找到猫眼石。故A项内容正确。
【小题5】A 推理题。根据文章倒数第二段最后3行“It’s magic,” he explains. “Once you start opal mining you don’t want to do anything else… There is always the potential for finding a million dollars. Nothing beats it.”可知这个两个例子就是为了告诉我们猫眼石的魔力，很多人都愿意为此做很多事情。故A正确。