Question

【題目】For many years, our next-door neighbor's house was a terrible mess. It would be impossible to describe the awful smells of her house. The health department came and shut down an illegal puppy mill (幼犬繁育場(chǎng)) in the house a few years ago.

The house was sold for a rather high price because of the good location of the neighborhood. My husband and I looked into the house at that time and were upset by the scene: black mold (霉菌) growing on the walls; cigarette ends all over the floor; the wall between the garage and the living room completely destroyed by water damage. We couldn't spend more than one second in the house before running away.

We thought that it would be a teardown, but the new owners set about cleaning the inside. They worked for months making it safe and livable. After everything was clean and tidy, the owners decided to resell the house for a higher price.

Yesterday while I was out in my yard, a potential (潛在的) buyer pulled up and asked me what I could tell her about the history of the house. I just said that I didn't know anything.

What is my ethical obligation (道德義務(wù)) in this situation? It's possible that they have removed all the awful smells, dangerous mold and that the house is safe and livable. But it's also possible that they have just structurally fixed the house and that some unsafe mold will take root in the future. I wouldn't personally live there knowing what I know. But really, it's none of my business, and given the choice, I wouldn't talk to anyone about what I know. While it feels like a lie not to answer a direct question, I also feel that it's not my place to potentially ruin the seller's business deal. If I am asked again, what should I say?

【1】What can be learned about the author's neighborhood?

A. It's nice. B. It's noisy.

C. It's wealthy. D. It's crowded.

【2】Why did the new owners give the house a thorough cleaning?

A. To move into it.

B. To please the neighbors.

C. To get it ready for resale.

D. To make it match the surrounding area.

【3】How did the author feel after saying she knew nothing about the house's history?

A. Sad. B. Troubled. C. Relaxed. D. Proud.

【4】Why does the author write the text?

A. To offer help. B. To ask for advice.

C. To make a complaint. D. To give an explanation.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】A

【2】C

【3】B

【4】B

【解析】這篇文章主要講了作者鄰居的房子一片混亂，這座房子被售出后，新的房主徹底清理這座房子，準(zhǔn)備再次銷售。后來(lái)一位買家來(lái)詢問(wèn)這座房子的歷史，作者回答說(shuō)，他對(duì)這座房子的歷史一無(wú)所知，當(dāng)作者說(shuō)出他對(duì)這個(gè)房子的歷史一無(wú)所知后，作者感覺(jué)很困惑，于是向讀者征求建議。

【1】推理判斷題。由For many years, our next-door neighbor's house was a terrible mess. It would be impossible to describe the awful smells of her house. The health department came and shut down an illegal puppy mill (幼犬繁育場(chǎng)) in the house a few years ago.可以判斷出作者的鄰居非常吵鬧，選B。

【2】細(xì)節(jié)理解題。由After everything was clean and tidy, the owners decided to resell the house for a higher price.可知新的房主徹底清理這座房子，是為了再次銷售，選C。

【3】推理判斷題。由While it feels like a lie not to answer a direct question, I also feel that it's not my place to potentially ruin the seller's business deal.可判斷出當(dāng)作者說(shuō)出他對(duì)這個(gè)房子的歷史一無(wú)所知后，作者感覺(jué)很困惑，選B。

【4】寫作意圖題。由If I am asked again, what should I say? 可判斷出作者寫這篇文章的目的是為了征求建議，選B。