Question

Hilary Smith belonged to a good family. But by the age of twenty, he had spent all the money the good old family had. He then had some trouble with the bank and was put in prison. He escaped from the prison and ran to Australia without delay.

Hilary did not like Australia and Australia did not like Hilary. What he could do seemed to be one of two things: die or work. The thought of neither of these gave him any pleasure. Then he remembered that he was not alone in the world. He possessed an aunt.

She was his father’s only sister, but his father used to say she brought no glory to the family. Hilary, of course, tried to discover what she had done. It seemed that she had failed to marry a nobleman. Instead, she had chosen a husband who was connected with trade. Of course as soon as she became “Mrs Parks”, her brother considered her dead. Later on, Mr. Parks died and left her a lot of money; but that did not bring her back to life in her brother’s opinion.

Hilary discovered his aunt’s address. Fortunately she remained faithful and honest to him even after she fell ill. So Hilary’s star shone again. When he was feeling honest, he could talk attractively. He frequently visited his aunt’s house; and soon he was living comfortably in the building which the profits of trade had provided.

One thing was soon clear: his aunt was seriously ill, and nothing could cure her illness. Hilary was very worried. Fate had found a home for him, and was now going to throw him out of it. There was only one thing that could save him: her will.

“Will?” she said, “yes, I have made one. That was when I was a girl and had not much money. I left all my money to some religious people.”

“Didn’t you make another will when you were married?” Hilary asked.

His aunt shook her head. “No,” she said in a low voice, “There was no need. When I finally had a lot of money I found I had no relations.”

On the next day he went to the public library and examined a book of law. It told him what he already believed. When a woman is married, an earlier will loses its value. A new will must be made. If no new will is made, the money goes to the nearest relation. Hilary knew that he was his aunt’s only relation. His future was safe.

After a few months had passed, Hilary’s problems became serious. He badly needed money. He had expensive tastes, and owed a lot of money to shopkeepers. They trusted him because his aunt was rich; but the debt was terrible.

Unfortunately his aunt did not want to discuss money matters at all. In the end they had a quarrel about the small amount of ten pounds. Hilary was now very angry. He began to wonder about a new problem. Was it kind to want his aunt to live any longer? Was it not better for her to die now? While he was considering what to do, his aunt told him that she was going to send for her lawyer. So she was going to make a new will. Hilary thought she might leave all her money to someone else. Soon he reached a clear decision．He must do a great kindness to the poor old woman.

One night when the old servant who had been nursing his aunt went off, he doubled the amount of some medicine. The total amount was too great and it could just put her to sleep forever.

“Thank you,” his aunt took the glass from his hand with a grateful look. “I want, more than anything, to sleep, and never to wake up again. Is that what you wish, Hilary? I have given you your chance. Don’t blame me if I have some doubts about what you intended to do. Sick people get these ideas, you know. One thing I ought to explain to you. Mr. Parks never married me. He already had a wife and couldn’t marry again. That made your foolish father very angry with me… Well, if I am alive tomorrow I shall make another will in your favor. If I die tonight, you’ll get nothing… No, Hilary, don’t try to take the glass away. If you do that, I shall know; and I don’t want to know. Good night, Hilary.”

Then, very carefully, she raised the glass to her mouth and drank.

1.From the story, we learn that Hilary’s aunt was ______.

A. bad-tempered and lonely                    B. kind-hearted and wise

C. careless about money                       D. cruel to her nephew

2.Why did Hilary’s father consider his aunt dead?

A. Because they lost contact with each other after her marriage.

B. Because she married a businessman.

C. Because she broke away from the family for a better life.

D. Because he thought she was a shame to the family.

3.The underlined sentence “He must do a great kindness to the poor old woman” in Paragraph 11 suggests that Hilary Smith ______.

A. was determined to put his aunt’s life to an end

B. decided to do his aunt a favor to call in a lawyer

C. made up his mind to take good care of his aunt

D. would help his aunt to donate all her money to religious people

4.Which of the following is the focus of the story?

A. Hilary’s aunt’s money.                    B. Hilary Smith’s debts.

C. The intended murder.                     D. Hilary’s aunt’s marriage.

5.Which part of what Hilary’s aunt said finally might make Hilary frustrated?

A. She wanted to sleep and never to wake up again.

B. She never got married to Mr. Parks.

C. Mr. Parks had a wife.

D. She would make a new will tomorrow.

6.Which detail from the story is the climax（高潮）of the story?

A. Hilary escaped from the prison.

B. Hilary quarreled with his aunt about ten pounds.

C. Hilary’s aunt drank the medicine her nephew prepared for her.

D. Hilary’s aunt made a will to leave all her money to someone else.

 

Answer 1

【答案】

 

1.B

2.D

3.A

4.A

5.B

6.C

【解析】

试题分析：本文讲述了Hilary的故事，他为了钱而谋杀了自己的阿姨。最终聪明反被聪明误了。

1.B 推理题，根据文章倒数第二段One thing I ought to explain to you．Mr Parks never married me．He already had a wife and couldn't marry again．That made your foolish father very angry with me．．．Well, if I am alive tomorrow I shall make another will in your favour．If I die tonight, you'll get nothing．．．No, Hilary, don't try to take the glass away．If you do that, I shall know and I don't want to know．Goodnight, Hilary说明他的阿姨很清楚他想做的事情，是非常明智的。在他穷苦潦倒的时候，他的阿姨接纳了他，也说明她是很善良的，故B说法正确。

2.D 推理题。根据第3段Instead, she had chosen a husband who was connected with "trade"．Of course as soon as she became "Mrs Parks" ,her brother considered her dead．和倒数第2段One thing I ought to explain to you．Mr Parks never married me．He already had a wife and couldn't marry again．That made your foolish father very angry with me．．．说明Hilary的父亲认为他的妹妹是家庭的耻辱，故D正确。

3.A 推理题。根据下一段he doubled the amount of some medicine．The total amount was too great and it could just put her to sleep forever．说明他想谋杀他的阿姨，想让她一睡不醒。故A正确。

4.A 推理题。Hilary来到阿姨这里是因为缺少钱，他和阿姨的争吵也是为了钱，最后想把阿姨害死还是因为钱，所以他的一切都是为了钱，故A说法正确。

5.B 细节题。根据倒数第三段的句子：One thing I ought to explain to you. Mr. Parks never married me. He already had a wife and couldn’t marry again. That made your foolish father very angry with me…可知他的阿姨告诉他没有和Park先生结婚是让他感到受挫的事情。故B正确。

6.C 根据文章最后两段内容可知在他的阿姨喝了那杯水的时候，故事到了高潮。故事也随之结束。Hilary聪明反被聪明误了。故文章最后一段是高潮部分，C项正确。

考点：考查文学故事类短文阅读

点评：本文讲述了Hilary的故事，他为了钱而谋杀了自己的阿姨。最终聪明反被聪明误了。在阅读的时候要抓住故事的时间，地点，人物，故事的线索以及主要的情节，再结合题目的要求和选项的搭配，做出准确的选择。本文考查题型多样，答题时在文章找到对应的地方，用笔进行标记，这有利于后期有时间检查时可以立刻找到答案的位置。仔细理解作者所讲的意思，再结合选项，通过排除法和自己对全文的把握，选出正确答案。