I was in a rush as always, but this time it was for an important date I just cou

I was in a rush as always, but this time it was for animportant date I just couldn’t be late for! I found myself at a checkoutcounter behind an elderly woman seemingly in no hurry as she paid for hergroceries. A PhD student with not a lot of money, I had hurried into the storeto pick up some flowers. I was in a huge rush, thinking of my upcoming evening.I did not want to be late for this date.

We were in Boston, a place not always known for smallconversation between strangers. The woman stopped unloading her basket andlooked up at me. She smiled. It was a nice smile –warm and reassuring—and I returned her gift bysmiling back.

“Must be a special lady, whoever it is that will begetting those beautiful flowers,” she said.

 “Yes, she’s special,” I said, and then to myembarrassment, the words kept coming out.

“It’s only our second date, but somehow I am just havingthe feeling she’s ‘the one’. Jokingly, I added, “The only problem is that Ican’t figure out why she’d want to date a guy like me.”

“Well, I think she’s very lucky to have a boyfriend whobrings her such lovely flowers and who is obviously in love with her,” thewoman said.” “My husband used to bring me flowers every week –even when timeswere tough and we didn’t have much money. Those were incredible days; he wasvery romantic and – of course – I miss him since he’s passed away.”

I paid for my flowers as she was gathering up hergroceries. There was no doubt in my mind as I walked up to her. I touched heron the shoulder and said, “You were right, you know. These flowers are indeedfor a very special lady.” I handed her the flowers and thanked her for such a niceconversation.

It took her a moment to realize that I was giving herthe flowers I had just purchased. “You have a wonderful evening,” I said. Ileft her with a big smile and my heart warmed as I saw her smelling thebeautiful flowers.

I remember being slightly late for my date that nightand telling my girlfriend the above story. A couple of years later, when Ifinally worked up the courage to ask her to marry me, she told me that thisstory had helped to seal it for her –that was the night that I won her heart.

1.Why was the writer in a hurry that day?

A．Hewas to meet hisgirlfriend.          B．He had to go back to school soon.

C．Hewas delayed by an elderly lady.      D．He had to pick up some groceries.

2.What does the underlined phrase “her gift”(Paragraph2) refer to?

A．Herwords.       B．Hersmile.      C．Herflowers.      D．herpoliteness.

3.Why did the writer give his flowers to the elderlylady?

A．Shetold him a nicestory.             B．She allowed him to pay first.

C．Shegave him encouragement.          D．She liked flowers very much.

4.What is the message conveyed in the story?

A．Flowersare important for a date.        B．Small talk is helpful.

C．Loveand kindness are rewarding.       D．Elderly people deserve respecting.

试题答案

【答案】

1.Ａ

2.Ｂ

3.Ｃ

4.Ｃ

【解析】

1.细节判断题。由第一段第一句的关键词,date；及最后一段girlfriend可知答案是A.

2.词义猜测题。由"She smiled.——I retuned her gift bysmiling back."一句得知答案，选B选项。

3.推理理解题。由文中"The only problem is that I can't figure out why she'd want todate a guy like me." 暗示作者当时的不自信；后来年长女士说"Well, I think she's very lucky to have a boyfriend who brings her suchlovely flowers and who is obviously in love with her,"的话，前后对比，极大地增强了作者的自信心而给了他很大的鼓舞，选C。

4.推理判断题。此处句意为女店主——鼓舞——作者——花赠与了女店主——做法又感动其女友——女友嫁给他；由此看出回报之意，所以找准关键词"回报"，选C。