A
A Lesson from the Elder
Grandfather was an elder Cherokee Native American who had a wrinkled, nut brown face and kind dark eyes. His grandson often came in the evening to sit on his knee and ask the many questions that children ask.
One day the grandson came to his grandfather with a look of anger on his face and the following story. “Father and I went to the store today and because I helped him, he bought me a present — a jack-knife. I went outside to wait for father and to admire my new knife in the sunlight. Some town boys came by and saw me. They surrounded me and started saying bad things. They called me dirty and stupid and said that I should not have such a fine knife. The largest of these boys pushed me back and I fell over one of the other boys. I dropped my knife and one of them picked it up and they all ran away laughing. I hate them. I hate them all.”
The elder Cherokee, with eyes that had seen too much, lifted his grandson’s face so his eyes looked into the boy’s face. Grandfather said, “Let me tell you a story. I, too, at times, have felt a great hate for those who have taken so much with no sorrow for what they do. But hate wears you down and does not hurt your enemy. It is like drinking poison and wishing your enemy would die. I have struggled with these feelings many times. It is as if two wolves are inside me...
It is a terrible fight.
One wolf is good and does no harm. He lives in harmony with all around him and does not take offense when no offense is intended. It will only fight when it is right to do so and in the right way. This wolf stands for joy, peace, love, hope, sharing, modesty, kindness, friendship, sympathy, generosity, truth, and faith.
The other wolf is full of anger. The littlest thing will set off his fiercest temper. He fights everyone, all the time, for no reason. He cannot think because his anger and hate are so much.
It is helpless anger, for his anger will change nothing. This wolf represents fear, envy, greed, self-pity, guilt, lies, false pride and superiority.
Sometimes, it is hard to live with these two wolves inside me for both of them try to control my spirit. This same fight is going on inside you and inside every other person too.”
The boy looked into his grandfather’s eyes and asked, “Which wolf will win?” The old Cherokee simply replied ...
“The one you feed.”
1. The boy was angry because ________.
A. he was not satisfied with his present B. his back was badly injured in a fight
C. he had waited for his father for too long D. his jack-knife had been taken away by some boys
2. We can learn from the third paragraph that ________.
A. “hate” is healthy B. “hate” hurts oneself
C. “hate” is complicated D. “hate” harms one’s enemies
3. What did Grandfather mean by saying “The one you feed” in the last paragraph?
A. We should feed the two wolves equally.
B. Living in harmony with others is important.
C. Our feelings should be expressed at the right time.
D. The choices we make determine who we will become.
【答案】1. D 2. B 3. D
【解析】
【分析】这是一篇记叙文。文章叙述了一个男孩因为他的小刀被其他一些男孩拿走了而生气并且满怀仇恨。他的爷爷通过一个故事说明了一个道理，仇恨没有伤到敌人，反而伤到了自己。
1题详解】
细节理解题。由第二段中的“I dropped my knife and one of them picked it up and they all ran away laughing. I hate them. I hate them all. (我把刀掉在地上，其中一个男孩捡起了刀，他们都笑着跑开了。我恨他们，我恨他们)”可知，这个男孩生气是因为他的小刀被一些男孩拿走了。故选D项。
【2题详解】
细节理解题。由第三段中的“But hate wears you down and does not hurt your enemy. (但是仇恨会让你消沉，也不会伤害你的敌人)”可知，仇恨不会伤害你的敌人，只会让你消沉，伤害的是自己。故选B项。
【3题详解】
词句猜测题。由第五段中的“One wolf is good and does no harm. (一只狼是善良的，不会造成伤害)”，第六段中的“The other wolf is full of anger. (另一只狼充满了愤怒)”，第八段中的“Sometimes, it is hard to live with these two wolves inside me for both of them try to control my spirit. (有时候，我很难和这两只狼一起生活，因为它们都试图控制我的精神)”，第九段中的“The boy looked into his grandfather’s eyes and asked, “Which wolf will win?” The old Cherokee simply replied ... (男孩看着祖父的眼睛问：“哪只狼会赢？”老切诺基人简单地回答说……)”最后一段中的“The one you feed. (你喂的那个)”可知，每个人心中都有两只狼，一只好狼，一只坏狼，你喂养哪只狼，哪只狼就会赢，说明是由我们自己来决定哪只狼获胜，“The one you feed.”意为“我们所做的选择决定了我们将成为谁”。故选D项。
