There are two things I can count on my dad asking every time he calls me:“Is there anything I can do for you?”and“How’s the car?”I guess he asks what he can do for me because his dad(an air force officer)was never really there for him,and he’s determined to provide me with the support he lacked.During my youth he never missed a school play or softball game.In fact,he was so supportive that I sometimes longed for one of those dads who dressed better and cared less.But my dad would forever be the guy wearing shorts with dress shoes and black socks,cheering me on,expecting greatness.
His other standard question—How’s the car?--used to strike me as a waste of long-distance dollars from a man who once suggested making a list of what you want to talk about before calling someone out of state.What I now realize is that“How’s the car?”is not about the car.It’s a father’s way of asking his adult daughter how she is doing.The advantage is that if there’s something wrong with the car,he knows what to do about it and how much it will cost,whereas if you’re having problems about marriage or doubting a career choice,he might have to act Mom on the line.
At age thirty I finally took the plunge(跳进)into adulthood by renting a car without my dad’s help or advice.I’m sure my dad was hurt rather than proud.Though a daughter’s independence is evidence of a job well done,it still implies the job’s done,and many fathers are unwilling to retire.Even when my dad was overworked,he’d happily jump on a plane if I said I needed help.His frequent question“Is there anything I can do for you?”underlines the fact that he wishes there was still something he could provide.It’s interesting:Even though we’re tied by blood and I love him no matter what,he still seems to need a concrete function--suggesting stocks,finding the cheapest plane fare--to feel he has a role in my life.
小题1:In the author’s opinion,her father always attended her school plays or softball games to_____.
A.satisfy any demand she made to him
B.show his interest and watch them for fun
C.make up what he was previously short of
D.expect his daughter would be great in games
小题2:The author has learned that by asking“How is the car?”,her father is actually_____.
A.reminding her not to waste money
B.asking how his daughter is getting along
C.expressing his concern for her daughter’s safety
D.asking his daughter if the car breaks down or not
小题3:According to the author,her father,like many other fathers,is unwilling to retire probably because_____.
A.he wants to continue to earn money
B.he is doubtful of children’s independence
C.he won’t put an end to caring for his children
D.he is afraid of losing connection with children
小题4:We can safely draw a conclusion from the story that in the author’s eye her father_____.
A.has a strong passion for his work
B.has the deepest love for his children
C.has great interest in his daughter’s car
D.has too much control over his children
小题1:C
小题2:B
小题3:C
小题4:B
试题分析:
小题1:C细节理解题。根据第一段提到I guess he asks what he can do for me because his dad(an air force officer)was never really there for him,and he’s determined to provide me with the support he lacked.During my youth he never missed a school play or softball game我认为他所做的是因为他的爸爸没有为他做的,所以才来参加与我有关任何的活动,所以选C项。
小题2:B细节理解题。根据第二段所提到What I now realize is that“How’s the car?”is not about the car.It’s a father’s way of asking his adult daughter how she is doing这句话不是问车怎么样,而是一种父亲式的关怀,问女儿情况如何,所以选B项。
小题3:C细节理解题。根据第三段提到Though a daughter’s independence is evidence of a job well done,it still implies the job’s done,and many fathers are unwilling to retire.尽管女儿的独立是工作很好的证据,但它也表示工作的结束,许多父亲不愿意退休,所以选C项这意味着他要停止关心女儿,孩子已经长大了,所以选C项。
小题4:B细节推断题。根据最后一段提到Even when my dad was overworked,he’d happily jump on a plane if I said I needed help即使当他非常忙时,如果我说我需要帮助,他会十分开心,Even though we’re tied by blood and I love him no matter what,he still seems to need a concrete function--suggesting stocks,finding the cheapest plane fare--to feel he has a role in my life.虽然我们有血缘关系,他仍然需要一个具体的作用来感觉他在我的生活中仍然起着重要的作用,所以体现父亲对女儿常常的爱,所以选B项。
In 1993, I had my first opportunity to visit
Toward the end of my three week trip I was invited by my young Russian host and friend Nicolai Vasilevich and his lovely wife Yulya out to dinner. At the end of a wonderful meal, Yulya asked if I would like a banana. I politely declined and thanked her, and explained I was most satisfied with the meal. But the whole while my mind was racing: “What do I do? Do I offer her a banana even though they are as close to her as they are to me? What is the polite thing to do?”
“Would you like a banana?” I asked Yulya.
“Yes,” she smiled, but made no attempt to take any of the three bananas in the fruit basket. “What now?” I thought.
“Which one would you like?” I asked awkwardly.
“That one,” she pointed at one of the bananas. Thinking about Russian politeness, I picked the banana Yulya had pointed at and peeled(去皮) it half way and handed it to her. Smiles in Yulya’s and Nicolai’s faces told me I had done the right thing. After this experience I spent much time letting the world know that in
Sometime during my third trip I was politely corrected by a Russian friend. “Oh, no, in
Certain lessons have to be learned the hard way. Some well meaning articles and presentations on cultural differences have a potential to do more harm than good and may not be as amusing. They present, like my bananas, too many generalizations or quite an inaccurate view.
65. The author went to
A. visit a famous university B. work as an interpreter
C. offer some professional help D. do some agricultural work
66. The author decided to offer Yulya a banana because ________.
A. he sat closer to bananas B. he wanted to show politeness
C. she gave him one first D. he wanted to win her heart
67. How did the author probably feel after he saw the smiles in Yulya’s and Nicolai’s faces?
A. Awkward. B. Embarrassed. C. Surprised. D. Relieved.
68. The author told this story mainly to express that _________.
A. Russian politeness is rather difficult to understand
B. man should never peel a banana for a lady in
C. what people say about other culture may not be true
D. funny things may happen anywhere at any time