Question

【題目】An elderly carpenter was ready to retire.He told his employer, a contractor, of his plans to leave the house－building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife enjoying his extended family.He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire.They could get by.

The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor.The carpenter said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work.He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials.It was an unfortunate way to end his career.

When the carpenter finished his work and the builder came to inspect the house, the contractor handed the front－door key to the carpenter.“This is your house，” he said, “my gift to you.” What a shock！What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently.Now he had to live in the home he had built none too well.

So it is with us.We build our lives in a distracted way, reacting rather than acting, willing to put up less than the best.At important points we do not give the job our best effort.Then with a shock we look at the situation we have created and find that we are now living in the house we have built.If we had realized that we would have done it differently.

Think of yourself as the carpenter.Think about your house.Each day you hammer a nail, place a board，or erect a wall.Build wisely.It is the only life you will ever build.Even if you live it for only one more day, that day deserves to be lived graciously and with dignity.The plaque on the wall says，“Life is a do－it－yourself project.” Your life tomorrow will be the result of your attitudes and the choices you make today.

【1】What did the carpenter plan to do after retirement？

A. Enjoy family happiness. B. Switch to another field.

C. Start his own business. D. Build a house of his own.

【2】How did the contractor plan to deal with the house he asked the carpenter to build？

A. He planned to sell it to one of his customers.

B. He planned to send it to the carpenter as a gift.

C. He planned to fill it with his favorites.

D. He planned to send it to his partner.

【3】What can we know about the last house the carpenter built？

A. It was of low quality.

B. It did not satisfy the contractor.

C. It was perfect in workmanship and materials.

D. It was the best of all the houses he had built.

【4】What does the story intend to tell us？

A. We should focus on the future life.

B. We should react to life rather than act.

C. We should build our houses in life.

D. We should always do our best.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】A

【2】B

【3】A

【4】D

【解析】

這是一篇夾敘夾議文。本文通過講述一名即將退休的木匠的故事，告訴人們應(yīng)該如何面對生活和人生。

【1】細(xì)節(jié)理解題。由第一段第二句“He told his employer，a contractor，of his plans to leave the house－building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife enjoying his extended family.”可知，木匠把他要退休去和妻子過悠閑的生活，享受家庭快樂的計劃告訴了雇主。故 A 選項(xiàng)正確。

【2】細(xì)節(jié)理解題。由第三段中的the contractor handed the front－door key to the carpenter.“This is your house，” he said, “my gift to you.” 可知，雇主把木匠親手蓋得房子送給了木匠作為禮物。故B選項(xiàng)正確。

【3】細(xì)節(jié)理解題。由第二段He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end his career和第三段Now he had to live in the home he had built none too well 可知，木匠最后建造的房子質(zhì)量很差。故 A選項(xiàng)正確。

【4】推理判斷題。由最后段可知，你的明天將是你的態(tài)度和你今天所做的選擇的結(jié)果。意在告訴我們要認(rèn)真地，努力地做好每一件事情。故D選項(xiàng)正確。