It was a bitter, cold evening in northern Virginia many years ago. The old man was waiting for a ride across the 36 . The wait seemed 37 .
At last he heard the slight, steady rhythm of approaching hooves (马蹄) ing along the frozen path. Anxiously, he 38 as several horsemen came around the bend (转角处). He let the first one 39 . Then another, and another. Finally, as the 40 rider neared the spot where the old man sat like a snow statue, the old man 41 the rider’s eye and said, “Sir, would you mind giving an old man a ride to the other side? There doesn’t appear to be a passage way by 42 .”
The rider replied, “Sure.” Seeing the old man was unable to 43 his half-frozen body from the ground, the horseman got down and helped the old man onto the horse. The horseman took the old man not just across the river, but to his destination.
As they neared the tiny but cozy (舒适的) cottage, the horseman’s 44 caused him to ask, “Sir, I notice that you let several other riders go by without making a(n) 45 to get a ride. Then I came up and you 46 asked me for a ride. I’m curious why, on such a bitter winter night, you would wait and ask the last rider. 47 I had refused and left you there?”
The old man replied, “I’ve been 48 here for some time. I think I know people pretty good.” He continued, “I looked into the eyes of the other riders and immediately saw there was no 49 for my situation. But when I looked into your eyes, 50 was evident. I knew, 51 , that your gentle spirit would 52 the opportunity to give me help in my time of 53 .”
Those heartwarming ments 54 the horseman deeply.
“I’m most grateful for what you have said,” he told the old man. “May I never get too busy in my own affairs that I 55 to respond to the needs of others with kindness and passion.”
With that, Thomas Jefferson turned his horse around and made his way back to the White House.
【小题1】A．townB．riverC．countryD．island【小题2】A．meaninglessB．uselessC．carelessD．endless【小题3】A．watched B．askedC．wavedD．approached【小题4】A．e overB．get offC．pass byD．take off【小题5】A．ingB．leavingC．nextD．last【小题6】A．missedB．caughtC．avoidedD．saw【小题7】A．busB．carC．footD．horse【小题8】A．feel B．pushC．liftD．stand【小题9】A．honestyB．courageC．enthusiasmD．curiosity【小题10】A．choiceB．stopC．effortD．scene【小题11】A．immediatelyB．hurriedlyC．friendlyD．strangely【小题12】A．What aboutB．What ifC．How eD．If only【小题13】A．inB．outC．aroundD．beyond【小题14】A．concernB．doubtC．chanceD．reason【小题15】A．meaning B．kindnessC．seriousnessD．help【小题16】A．then and thereB．for a moment C．all of a suddenD．sooner or later【小题17】A．offerB．createC．findD．wele【小题18】A．needB．dangerC．fortuneD．happiness【小题19】A．influencedB．excitedC．touchedD．hit【小题20】A．happenB．tryC．disagreeD．failB
网友回答
(答案→)B
解析：
【小题1】 B。从第三段最后一句not just across the river可知B正确。
【小题2】 D。通常等待的人都会觉得时间过得慢，而这样寒冷的夜晚就更漫长，另外下段的at last，以及后面的老人都冻僵了的描写都是线索。所以D正确。
【小题3】 A。从第五段老人解释他为什么只向最后一位骑手求助的原因可以看出，他是根据这些骑手的眼神做出判断的，所以watch正确。从第四段wait and ask the last rider可知在看到最后一位骑手前，他没做什么，而且他都冻僵了也没法走动，所以其他选项都不正确。
【小题4】 C。根据第四段…I notice that you let several other riders go by…可判断。
【小题5】 D。从第四段wait and ask the last rider可知。
【小题6】 B。词组“catch sb’s eye” means to look at someone at the same moment that they are looking at you，意思是于某人对视。而第五段老者的解释：I looked into your eyes也证明了这点。See one’s eye只是说看到某人的眼睛，而且用eye的单数也不合理。
【小题7】 C。明显是走路走不到，从最后一段Thomas Jefferson, the White House也可以知道那时候还没有bus和car。
【小题8】 C。因为冻僵了，所以起不来，所以lift正确。Push是推，所以错。Stand搭配错误。
【小题9】 D。从后面的I’m curious可知D正确。
【小题10】 C。从第四段wait and ask the last rider可知在看到最后一位骑手前，老人没做什么，所以effort努力正确。
【小题11】 A。从第五段末尾老者解释的话中点明了最后一位骑手的眼神中他看出了他的gentle spirit会乐意帮助他，说明立刻作出了决定，而从整个求助可以看出老者一点都不慌张，所以排除B，而friendly意思似乎正确，但是形容词，不可以修饰动词。
【小题12】 B。骑手是对老者的镇定和选择很好奇，就问他他怎么知道他一定会帮忙呢？如果他拒绝帮忙呢？所以what if 正确。How e怎么会……; if only要是……(就好了)；what about……怎么样。
【小题13】 C。around指住在这一带有很久了。BD和上下文根本说不通。如果用in就是强调在里面，所以也不对。
【小题14】 A。be concerned for对……担心。
【小题15】 B。可以看出老人发现只有最后一位骑手充满善意和同情心，而其他的骑手眼中看不出对他的状况有丝毫的关心，所以A正确。
【小题16】 A。只一眼就很明了，所以是老人当时当地就明白了可以向他求助。
【小题17】 D。有同情心的人欢迎这样帮助别人的机会。Offer是提供机会。Create创造，但是都不符合文中的情况。
【小题18】 A。老人处于需要帮助的情况，所以选need。
【小题19】 C。从骑手的回答可看出他很感动。
【小题20】 D。fail to不能做到，或者做不到。May I never…意思是希望我永远不会太忙以至于不能回应别人的需求。