Question

閱讀理解（共20小題；每小題2分, 滿分40分）

閱讀下列短文, 從每篇短文后各題所給的四個選項（A、B、C和D）中, 選出最佳選項, 并在答題卡上將該項涂黑。

It was a cold night in Washington, D.C., and I was heading back to the hotel when a man approached me. He asked if I would give him some money so he could get something to eat. I'd read the signs: "Don't give money to beggars as most of them are swindlers." So I shook my head and kept walking.

I wasn't prepared for a reply, but with no hesitation, he followed me and said, "I really am homeless and I really am hungry! You can come with me and watch me eat!" But I kept on walking.

The incident kept bothering me for the rest of the week. I had money in my pocket and it wouldn't have killed me to hand over a dollar or two even if he hadn’t been a real beggar. On a freezing cold night, no less, I assumed the worst of a fellow human being.

Flying back to Anchorage, I couldn't help thinking of him. I tried to reason my failure to help by supposing government agencies, churches and charities were there to feed him. Besides, you're not supposed to give money to beggars.

Somewhere over Seattle, I started to write my weekly garden column for The Anchorage Daily News. Out of the blue, I came up with an idea. Bean's Cafe, a local charity service kitchen, feeds hundreds of hungry local people every day. Why not try to get all my readers to plant one row of vegetables or flowers in their gardens for Bean's? Plant a row for Bean's. It’s clean and simple.

We didn't keep records back then, but the idea began to take off. Folks would fax me or call when they took something in. It’s food for the spirit and comfort for my conscience.

In April 1995, the Garden Writers Association of America(GWAA) held their annual meeting in Anchorage and after learning our program, Plant a Row for Bean's became Plant a Row For The Hungry. The idea then was to have every member write or talk about planting a row for the hungry, which brought the program to national attention.

As more and more people participated, new variations cropped up. Many companies gave free seeds to customers and displayed the logo for the program. Donations poured in. It was then that I could really stop feeling guilty.

1.The underlined word “swindlers” in the first paragraph is closest in meaning to ______.

A. policemen B. writers C. cheaters D. beggars

2.Why did the author think he assumed the worst of a fellow human being?

A. Because he didn’t show fair respect to a beggar treating him badly.

B. Because he could have helped a hungry man but he passed by.

C. Because he believed that no people begged because of real hunger.

D. Because he thought that charity work was the government’s duty.

3.How did the author make up for what he had done?

A. He set up a local kitchen to help the poor.

B. He planted a row of vegetables for charity.

C. He called on people to donate money to the Bean’s.

D. He initiated the idea of Plant a row for Bean’s.

4.Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?

A. The beggar gave up the first time he was turned down by the author.

B. The author invented the program inspired by the Anchorage Daily News.

C. GWAA expanded the program concept and made it nationwide in 1995.

D. The program was later taken over by some seeding companies.

 

Answer 1

1.C

2.B

3.D

4.C

【解析】

試題分析：文章講述了一個救濟難民的故事。作者走在華盛頓寒冷的大街上，這時，一個人靠近了作者向作者乞討，作者懷疑他不是真正的乞討者而拒絕了他。這件事一直讓作者感到良心上的不安。一次偶然的機會，他在專欄里發起了一項公益活動，這項活動還得到園藝作家協會的推廣，最后得到了全國的關注。

1.Don't give money to beggars as most of them are swindlers.”和第三段“even if he hadn’t been a real beggar”可知，作者認為他可能是騙子，而不是乞討者，故選C。

2.I had money in my pocket and it wouldn't have killed me to hand over a dollar or two even if he hadn’t been a real beggar. On a freezing cold night, no less,”可知，作者回想此事，覺得即使他不是乞討者，給他一兩元錢，自己又沒有什么損失，況且天氣那么冷。作者本來可以幫助那個人，他感到了內疚，故選B。

3.I came up with an idea. Bean's Cafe, a local charity service kitchen, feeds hundreds of hungry local people every day. Why not try to get all my readers to plant one row of vegetables or flowers in their gardens for Bean's?”和第六段“It’s food for the spirit and comfort for my conscience.”可知，作者發起了一個公益活動“Plant a row for Bean's”，號召讀者幫助無家可歸的人，故選D。

4.In April 1995, the Garden Writers Association of America(GWAA) held their annual meeting in Anchorage and after learning our program, Plant a Row for Bean's became Plant a Row For The Hungry. ...which brought the program to national attention.”可知，作者發起的活動得到了GWAA的推廣并引起了全國的關注，故選C。

考點：社會類短文閱讀