A
The annual marathon in my town occurred as scheduled. My job was to follow behind the runners in an ambulance in case any of them needed medical attention. As the athletes began to pace themselves, the front runners started to disappear. It was then that my eyes were drawn to the woman in blue running shorts and a baggy white T-shirt.
I knew we were already watching our “last runner”. Her feet were turned in, yet her left knee was turned out. Her legs were so crippled and bent that it seemed impossible for her to walk, let alone run a marathon.
The driver and I watched in silence as she slowly moved forward. We would move forward a little bit, then stop and wait for her to gain some distance. Then we’d slowly move forward a little bit more. As I watched her struggle to put one foot in front of the other, I found myself breathing for her and urging her forward. I wanted her to stop, and at the same time, I prayed that she wouldn’t.
Finally, she was the only runner left in sight. I sat on the edge of my seat and watched with respect and amazement as she pushed forward with sheer determination through the last miles. When the finish line came into sight, the cheering crowds had long gone home. Yet, standing straight and proud waited a man. He was holding one end of a ribbon tied to a post. She slowly crossed through, leaving both ends of the ribbon fluttering (飘动) behind her.
I don’t know this woman’s name, but that day she became a part of my life — a part I often depend on. For her, it wasn’t about beating the other runners or winning a prize. It was about finishing what she had set out to do. When I think things are too difficult or I get those “I-just-can’t-do-it,” I think of the last runner. Then I realize how easy the task before me really is.
1. What words can best describe the woman?
A. Proud and determined. B. Strong-willed and honorable.
C. Modest and courageous. D. Diligent and considerate.
2. What does the underlined word “crippled” in paragraph 2 mean?
A. Disabled. B. Healthy. C. Perfect. D. Strong.
3. What has the author learnt from the woman?
A. Don’t depend on others when facing hardships.
B. Nothing is too tough to accomplish if one is brave enough.
C. The disabled can also run a marathon despite their walking difficulty.
D. It’s not winning but finishing the thing we start that really matters.
4. What could be the best title for the text?
A. A Humorous Stranger. B. An Unforgettable Job.
C. The Last Runner. D. The Annual Marathon.
【答案】1. B 2. A 3. D 4. C
【解析】
本文是一篇记叙文。主要讲述作者作为工作人员参加马拉松比赛，目睹一位脚有问题的女人坚持跑完马拉松的过程，并且这个最后一位跑步者一直激励作者以后生活的道路。
【1题详解】
推理判断题。根据倒数第三段I sat on the edge of my seat and watched with respect and amazement as she pushed forward with sheer determination through the last miles.可知，我坐在座位边上，带着敬意和惊讶看着她坚定地向前走了最后几英里。以及最后一段I don’t know this woman’s name, but that day she became a part of my life — a part I often depend on. For her, it wasn’t about beating the other runners or winning a prize. It was about finishing what she had set out to do. When I think things are too difficult or I get those “I-just-can’t-do-it,” I think of the last runner. Then I realize how easy the task before me really is. 可知我不知道这个女人的名字，但从那天起，她就成了我生活的一部分——我经常依赖的一部分。对她来说，这不是打败其他赛跑者或赢得奖品的问题。这是关于完成她已经开始做的事情。当我认为事情太困难或者我得到那些“我只是不能做”的时候，我就会想到最后一个跑步者。然后我意识到我面前的任务是多么的简单。由此可推知，作者认为，这个女人虽然一位脚有问题，但是意志坚强地走完了最后几英里，且她的行为也让作者一直铭记，成立作者生活的一部分，说明作者觉得这个有残疾的女人是值得尊敬的。故选B。
【2题详解】
词义猜测题。根据上文Her feet were turned in, yet her left knee was turned out.她的脚朝里，但左膝朝外。以及后文bent that it seemed impossible for her to walk, let alone run a marathon.可知这个女人的腿弯曲，似乎不可能走路，更不用说跑马拉松了。由此可知，这个女人腿有残疾，故划线单词意思为“残疾的”。A. Disabled.残疾的；B. Healthy.健康的；C. Perfect.完美的；D. Strong.强壮的。故选A。
【3题详解】
推理判断题。根据最后一段I don’t know this woman’s name, but that day she became a part of my life — a part I often depend on. For her, it wasn’t about beating the other runners or winning a prize. It was about finishing what she had set out to do. When I think things are too difficult or I get those “I-just-can’t-do-it,” I think of the last runner. Then I realize how easy the task before me really is. 可知我不知道这个女人的名字，但从那天起，她就成了我生活的一部分——我经常依赖的一部分。对她来说，这不是打败其他赛跑者或赢得奖品的问题。这是关于完成她已经开始做的事情。当我认为事情太困难或者我得到那些“我只是不能做”的时候，我就会想到最后一个跑步者。然后我意识到我面前的任务是多么的简单。由此可以推断作者从这个女人身上学到的，不是胜利而是坚持到底才是最重要的，故选D。
【4题详解】
主旨大意题。根据最后一段中When I think things are too difficult or I get those “I-just-can’t-do-it,” I think of the last runner. Then I realize how easy the task before me really is.可知当我认为事情太困难或者我得到那些“我只是不能做”的时候，我就会想到最后一个跑步者。然后我意识到我面前的任务是多么的简单。结合本文主要讲述作者作为工作人员参加马拉松比赛，目睹一位脚有问题的女人坚持跑完马拉松的过程，并且这个最后一位跑步者一直激励作者以后生活的道路。所以C选项“最后一位跑步者”为短文最佳标题，更吸引读者，故选C。
