An African-American man named John Henry was the hero of former slaves and the people who built the railroads in the US in the 19th century.
John Henry was born a slave. He was known for his strength. Many people say he represents the spirit of growth in America during that period.
John Henry grew up in a world that did not let children stay children for long. Before he was six years old, he was carrying stones for workers building a nearby railroad. By the time John Henry was a young man, he was one of the best railroad workers in the country.
John Henry was asked to lead workers on a hard project, creating a tunnel through a mountain. The project required about 1,000 laborers and lasted three years. Hundreds of men became sick as a result of the hot weather and tiredness. John Henry was the strongest and fastest man. Concerned his friends might lose their jobs, he picked up their hammers and began doing their work. He worked day and night, rarely stopping to have a rest.
One day, a salesman came to the work area with a new drilling machine powered by steam. He said it could drill holes faster than twelve men working together.[来源:学_科_网Z_X_X_K]
John Henry looked at the machine and saw images of the future. He saw machines taking the place of America’s best laborers. He saw himself and his friends unemployed and sanding by a road, asking for food. He decided he would never let the machine take their jobs. Therefore, a petition between a man and a machine began .At first, the steam-powered drill worked twice faster. Then, John Henry started working with a hammer in each hand. He worked faster and faster. People cheered when the machine broke down and was pulled away. But they were sad to find John Henry fall to the ground, with blood spilling all around, and still holding a hammer in one of his hands.“I beat them,”he said. Then he took his last breath.
【小题1】What does the underlined part in Paragraph 3 most probably mean?A．Many children in those days starved to death.B．Children at that time grew much faster.C．Children in those days had to work like adults.D．Children at that time couldn’t stay together.【小题2】Why did hundreds of workers bee sick?A．Because they had to work long hours.B．Because the weather was hot and they were tired.C．Because the project was too hard.D．Because they didn’t have time to eat.【小题3】John Henry helped do his friends’ work .A．because he was the strongest and fastest manB．for fear that his friends would lose their jobsC．so that they could regain their strengthD．in order be the hero of the railroad workers【小题4】Which of the following best describes John Henry?A．Kind and determined.B．Cautious and considerate.C．Brave and strict.D．Hardworking and stubborn.C
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(答案→)C
解析：本文讲述了一位美国的英雄人物John Henry的故事，他出身贫寒。生性善良，愿意为朋友两肋插刀。文章中详细描述了他和机器展开竞争的故事。
【小题1】.C 推理题。根据下句Before he was six years old, he was carrying stones for workers building a nearby railroad.可知孩子在很小的时候就要像大人一样干活了。故C正确。
【小题2】.B 细节题。根据第4段第2行Hundreds of men became sick as a result of the hot weather and tiredness.可知很多人生病是因为天气炎热和疲劳。故B正确。
【小题3】.B 推理题。根据完整最后一段John Henry looked at the machine and saw images of the future. He saw machines taking the place of America’s best laborers. He saw himself and his friends unemployed and sanding by a road, asking for food.可知他担心他的朋友们会因为机器的使用而失去工作。故B正确。
【小题4】A 推理题。根据文章内容可知他为了朋友而和机器展开了竞争。而且一直坚持到最后。说明他很善良，意志也很坚定。故A正确。