12．There was a gardener who looked after his garden with great care．To water his flowers，he used two buckets（水桶）．One was a shiny and new bucket．The other was a very old and dilapidated one，which had seen many years of service，but was now past its best．
Every morning，the gardener would fill up the two buckets．Then he would carry them along the path，one on each side，to the flowerbeds．The new bucket was very proud of itself．It could carry a full bucket of water without a single drop spilled （溢出）．The old bucket felt very ashamed because of its holes：before it reached the flowerbeds，much water had leaked （漏出） along the path．
Sometimes the new bucket would say，"See how capable I am!How good it is that the gardener has me to water the flowers every day!I don't know why he still bothers with you．What a waste of space you are!"
And all that the old bucket could say was．"I know I am not very useful，but I can only do my best．I am happy that the gardener still finds a little bit of use in me，at least．"
One day，the gardener heard that kind of conversation．After watering the flowers as usual，he said，"You both have done your work very well．Now I am going to carry you back．I want you to look carefully along the path．"
Then the two buckets did so．All along the path，they noticed，on the side where the new bucket was carried，there was just bare（光秃秃的）earth； on the other side where the old bucket was carried，there was a joyous row of wild flowers，leading all the way to the garden．
32．What was the old bucket ashamed of？D
A．His past． B．His aging．
C．His manner． D．His leaking．
33．What does the underlined word"dilapidated"probably mean？C
A．dirty B．dark
C．worn-out D．ordinary-looking．
34．The new bucket made conversations with the old one mainly toB．
A．take pity on the old one
B．laugh at the old one
C．show off its beautiful looks
D．praise the gardener's kindness
35．Why was the old bucket still kept by the gardener？C
A．Because it was used to keep a balance
B．Because it stayed in its best condition
C．Because it had its own function
D．Because it was taken as a treasure．
分析 文章给我们讲述了一个寓言故事，告诉我们每个人都是用自己的用处的．
解答 32．D 推理题．根据文章第2段3，4行The old bucket felt very ashamed because of its holes：before it reached the flowerbeds，much water had leaked along the path．可知旧的桶坏了，会漏水．他因此感到羞愧，故选D
33．C 猜测词义题．To water his flowers，he used two buckets（水桶）．One was a shiny and new bucket．The other was a very old and dilapidated one，which had seen many years of service，but was now past its best．他有二个桶，一个是新的，另一个是dilapidated，根据上下文可知这个词与shiny and new是反义词．C正确．
34．B 推理题．根据第3段第2行I don't know why he still bothers with you．What a waste of space you are!"可知那只新桶是在嘲笑那只旧的桶．故选B
35．C 推理题．根据最后一段 on the other side where the old bucket was carried，there was a joyous row of wild flowers，leading all the way to the garden．可知花匠仍然使用旧桶是因为它仍然有用．
点评 本文是人物故事类阅读理解．做这类题材阅读理解时要求考生对文章通读一遍，做题时结合原文和题目有针对性的找出相关语句进行仔细分析，结合选项选出正确答案．推理判断题也是要在抓住关键句子的基础上合理的分析才能得出正确答案，切忌胡乱猜测，一定要做到有理有据
