A
I live on the West Coast of British Columbia with my husband and three children. Our day started like any other day. My husband left for work in the north of the town，which is an hour and a half’s drive. The younger children caught their bus to school ten minutes away. Our oldest attends high school and is a 40minute drive away. I work at home in the office，working on the computer.
It was November 2006 and the news had reported gusty winds. When the winds started to get strong I shut the computer down and tried to phone my husband. I left a message telling him the winds were blowing at 80 to 90 km/hr. As I hung up the phone，I heard a tree crack. I went outside and stood in the driveway. Another tree exploded and my heart was racing.
When the school bus carrying the youngsters arrived，I ran to get them. No sooner had we made it to the house than another tree exploded. The children were clearly scared，so I loaded them up into the car and we parked in the middle of the yard，where no trees could land on us. It was starting to get dark.
My oldest son didn’t come home on the bus and my husband was stranded at work. I called the high school and reached my son. He said he was stranded and didn’t know what to do. I called a friend in town for help. He managed to get my son home to me. Finally，my husband managed to get home.
We had been prepared for such events，as we had a generator，candles，a wood stove，fresh water，batteries and two freezers full of food. We were without power for five days. But we didn’t panic-we had all the emergency equipment we needed. Thankfully，none of our neighbours were injured，but the damage was extensive. We are witnessing climate change. We need to be prepared.
1. When did the mother hear a tree crack for the third time?
A. When she was on the phone.
B. After she hung up the phone.
C. Right before she and her kids went into the house.
D. Right after she and her kids got into the house.
2. Why did the mother park the car in the middle of the yard?
A. It was dark inside the house.
B. It was safer there than in the house.
C. She wanted to wait for her family there.
D. She wanted to receive help from others.
3. What does the underlined phrase “stranded at work” probably mean?
A. Busy completing his work.
B. Under the pressure of work.
C. Stuck at the workplace.
D. Worried while working.
【答案】1. D 2. B 3. C
【解析】
这是一篇记叙文。文章讲述了作者一家人遭遇极端天气，家庭成员几经周折才安全到家，家里虽然没电，但因为做了充分的准备，所以并不慌张。
【1题详解】
细节理解题。由第二段中的“As I hung up the phone，I heard a tree crack. I went outside and stood in the driveway. Another tree exploded and my heart was racing.”（当我挂断电话时，我听到一棵树劈啪作响。我走到外面，站在车道上。另一棵树爆裂了，我的心跳加速。）和第三段中的“When the school bus carrying the youngsters arrived，I ran to get them. No sooner had we made it to the house than another tree exploded.”（当载着孩子们的校车到达时，我跑去接他们。我们刚到家，另一棵树就爆裂了。），可知作者把孩子们接回家时，就听到第三棵树断裂的声音。故选D项。
【2题详解】
推理判断题。由第三段中的“The children were clearly scared，so I loaded them up into the car and we parked in the middle of the yard，where no trees could land on us.”（孩子们显然很害怕，所以我把他们装进车里，我们把车停在院子中间，那里没有树可以落在我们身上。），可知作者把车停在院子中间，是因为没有树木能够砸到他们，得出作者认为院子里更安全。故选B项。
【3题详解】
短语猜测题。由第一段中的“My husband left for work in the north of the town，which is an hour and a half’s drive.”（我丈夫去城北上班，那里有一个半小时的车程。），画线词前一句“My oldest son didn’t come home on the bus”（我的大儿子没有坐公共汽车回家）及画线词后的“I called the high school and reached my son. He said he was stranded and didn’t know what to do.”（我给高中打了个电话给我儿子。他说他被困了，不知道该怎么办。）可知，作者的儿子被困在了学校，她的丈夫被困在了工作的地方，stranded at work在此处意为“被困在了工作的地方”。故选C项。
