Hilary Smith belonged to a good family. But by the age of twenty, he had spent a

Hilary Smith belonged to a good family. But by the ageof twenty, he had spent all the money the good old family had. He then had sometrouble with the bank and was put in prison. He escaped from the prison and ranto Australia without delay.

Hilary did not like Australia and Australia did notlike Hilary. What he could do seemed to be one of two things: die or work. Thethought of neither of these gave him any pleasure. Then he remembered that hewas not alone in the world. He possessed an aunt.

She was his father’s only sister, but his father usedto say she brought no glory to the family. Hilary, of course, tried to discoverwhat she had done. It seemed that she had failed to marry a nobleman. Instead,she had chosen a husband who was connected with trade. Of course as soon as shebecame “Mrs Parks”, her brother considered her dead. Later on, Mr. Parks diedand left her a lot of money; but that did not bring her back to life in herbrother’s opinion.

Hilary discovered his aunt’s address. Fortunately sheremained faithful and honest to him even after she fell ill. So Hilary’s starshone again. When he was feeling honest, he could talk attractively. Hefrequently visited his aunt’s house; and soon he was living comfortably in thebuilding which the profits of trade had provided.

One thing was soon clear: his aunt was seriously ill,and nothing could cure her illness. Hilary was very worried. Fate had found ahome for him, and was now going to throw him out of it. There was only onething that could save him: her will.

“Will?” she said, “yes, I have made one. That was whenI was a girl and had not much money. I left all my money to some religiouspeople.”

“Didn’t you make another will when you were married?” Hilaryasked.

His aunt shook her head. “No,” she said in a lowvoice, “There was no need. When I finally had a lot of money I found I had norelations.”

On the next day he went to the public library andexamined a book of law. It told him what he already believed. When a woman ismarried, an earlier will loses its value. A new will must be made. If no newwill is made, the money goes to the nearest relation. Hilary knew that he washis aunt’s only relation. His future was safe.

After a few months had passed, Hilary’s problemsbecame serious. He badly needed money. He had expensive tastes, and owed a lotof money to shopkeepers. They trusted him because his aunt was rich; but thedebt was terrible.

Unfortunately his aunt did not want to discuss moneymatters at all. In the end they had a quarrel about the small amount of tenpounds. Hilary was now very angry. He began to wonder about a new problem. Wasit kind to want his aunt to live any longer? Was it not better for her to dienow? While he was considering what to do, his aunt told him that she was goingto send for her lawyer. So she was going to make a new will. Hilary thought shemight leave all her money to someone else. Soon he reached a clear decision．He must do a great kindness to the poor old woman.

One night when the old servant who had been nursinghis aunt went off, he doubled the amount of some medicine. The total amount wastoo great and it could just put her to sleep forever.

“Thank you,” his aunt took the glass from his handwith a grateful look. “I want, more than anything, to sleep, and never to wakeup again. Is that what you wish, Hilary? I have given you your chance. Don’t blameme if I have some doubts about what you intended to do. Sick people get theseideas, you know. One thing I ought to explain to you. Mr. Parks never marriedme. He already had a wife and couldn’t marry again. That made your foolishfather very angry with me… Well, if I am alive tomorrow I shall make anotherwill in your favor. If I die tonight, you’ll get nothing… No, Hilary, don’t tryto take the glass away. If you do that, I shall know; and I don’t want to know.Good night, Hilary.”

Then, very carefully, she raised the glass to hermouth and drank.

1.Fromthe story, we learn that Hilary’s aunt was ______.

A. bad-tempered and lonely                   B. kind-hearted and wise

C. careless about money                      D. cruel to her nephew

2.Whydid Hilary’s father consider his aunt dead?

A. Because they lost contact with each other after hermarriage.

B. Because she married a businessman.

C. Because she broke away from the family for a betterlife.

D. Because he thought she was a shame to the family.

3.Theunderlined sentence “He must do a great kindness to the poor old woman” in Paragraph11 suggests that Hilary Smith ______.

A. was determined to put his aunt’s life to an end

B. decided to do his aunt a favor to call in a lawyer

C. made up his mind to take good care of his aunt

D. would help his aunt to donate all her money toreligious people

4.Whichof the following is the focus of the story?

A. Hilary’s aunt’s money.                   B. Hilary Smith’s debts.

C. The intended murder.                     D.Hilary’s aunt’s marriage.

5.Whichpart of what Hilary’s aunt said finally might make Hilary frustrated?

A. She wanted to sleep and never to wake up again.

B. She never got married to Mr. Parks.

C. Mr. Parks had a wife.

D. She would make a new will tomorrow.

6.Whichdetail from the story is the climax（高潮）of thestory?

A. Hilary escaped from the prison.

B. Hilary quarreled with his aunt about ten pounds.

C. Hilary’s aunt drank the medicine her nephewprepared for her.

D. Hilary’s aunt made a will to leave all her money tosomeone else.

试题答案

【答案】

1.B

2.D

3.A

4.A

5.B

6.C

【解析】

试题