Two elderly women in my community died "full of years,"which means both died from the normal wearing out of the body after a long and full life. Their homes happened to be near each other, so I paid visits to the two families.
The son of one of the deceased(已故的) women said to me,"If only I had sent my mother to Florida and got her out of this cold ,she would be alive today. "The son of the other deceased woman said, "If only I hadn't insisted on my mother's going to Florida, she would be alive today. That long airplane ride, the sudden change of climate, was more than she could take. "
When things don't turn out as we would like them to, it is very likely for us to think that if we had done things differently, the story would have had a happier ending. Any time there is a death, the survivors will feel guilty.
There seem to be two elements in our readiness to feel guilty. The first is our pressing need to believe that the world makes sense and that there is a cause for every effect and a reason for everything that happens. That leads us to try to find the patterns and connections.
The second element is the notion(觀念)that we are the cause of what happens, especially the bad things that happen. Psychologists trace this feeling back to our childhood. A baby comes to think that the world exists to meet his needs, and that he makes everything happen in it. The world works for him. When he cries, someone comes to attend to him. When he is hungry, people feed him, and when he is wet, people change him. Very often, we do not completely outgrow the notion that our wishes cause things to happen.

  1. 1.

    What is said about the two deceased elderly women?

    1. A.
      They lived long and died after a natural life.
    2. B.
      They died due to lack of care by family members.
    3. C.
      They died of the tiredness after the long plane ride.
    4. D.
      They weren't quite used to the change in weather.
  2. 2.

    People feel guilty for the deaths of their beloved ones because_______.

    1. A.
      they believe that they were responsible
    2. B.
      they do not know the natural course of events
    3. C.
      they couldn't find a better way to express their grief
    4. D.
      they didn't know things often turn out in the opposite direction
  3. 3.

    The underlined sentence "the world makes sense" probably means that_______.

    1. A.
      we have to be sensible so as to understand the world
    2. B.
      everything in the world is pre-determined
    3. C.
      there's an explanation for everything in the world
    4. D.
      the world can be interpreted in different ways
  4. 4.

    People have been made to believe since babyhood that_______.

    1. A.
      every story should have a happy ending
    2. B.
      their wishes are the cause of everything that happens
    3. C.
      life and death is an unsolved mystery
    4. D.
      everybody should obey their wills without question
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科目：高中英語 來源： 題型：閱讀理解

I had an experience some years ago, which taught me something about the ways in which people make a bad situation worse by blaming themselves. One January, I had to hold two funerals on successive days for two elderly women in my community. Both had died “full of years”, as the Bible would say. Their homes happened to be near each other, so I paid condolence (吊唁) calls on the two families on the same afternoon.

At the first home, the son of the deceased (已故的) woman said to me, “If only I had sent my mother to Florida and gotten her out of this cold and snow , she would be alive today. It’s my fault that she died.” At the second home, the son of the other deceased woman said, “If only I hadn’t insisted on my mother’s going to Florida, she would be alive today. That long airplane ride, the sudden change of climate, was more than she could take. It’s my fault that she’s dead.”

You see that any time there is a death, the survivors will feel guilty. Because the course of action they took turned out badly, they believe that the opposite course — keeping Mother at home, putting off the operation — would have turned out better. After all, how could it have turned out any worse?

There seem to be two elements involved in our willingness to feel guilty. The first is our pressing need to believe that the world makes sense, that there is a cause for every effect and a reason for everything that happens. That leads us to find patterns and connections both where they really exist and where they exist only in our minds.

The second element is the view that we are the cause of what happens, especially the bad things that happen. It seems to be a short step from believing that every event has a cause to believing that every disaster is our fault. The roots of this feeling may lie in our childhood.

A baby comes to think that the world exists to meet his needs, and that he makes everything happen in it. He wakes up in the morning and summons the rest of the world to its tasks. He cries, and someone comes to attend to him. When he is hungry, people feed him, and when he is wet, people change him. Very often, we do not completely outgrow that childish view that our wishes cause things to happen.

The author had to hold the two women’s funerals probably because     .

A. he wanted to comfort the two families    B. he was an official from the community

       C. he had great pity for the deceased    D. he was priest of the local church

People feel guilty for the deaths of their loved ones because     .

       A. they couldn’t find a better way to express their sorrow

       B. they believe that they were responsible

       C. they had neglected the natural course of events

       D. they didn’t know things often turn out in the opposite direction

According to the passage, the underlined part in paragraph 4 probably means that     .

       A. everything in the world is predetermined

       B. the world can be interpreted in different ways 

       C. there’s an explanation for everything in the world

       D. we have to be sensible in order to understand the world

What’s the main idea of the passage?

       A. Life and death is an unsolved mystery.

       B. Every story should have a happy ending.

       C. Never feel guilty all the time because not every disaster is our fault.

       D. In general, the survivors will feel guilty about the people who passed away .

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科目：高中英語 來源：2011年黑龍江省大慶實驗中學(xué)高二下學(xué)期期末考試英語卷 題型：完型填空

As I was driving out of the store parking lot, they crossed in front of me．My first reaction was filled with   36  at being delayed for a whole ten seconds．But I quickly became   37  when I realized that it was an elderly   38   ．
The man leaned on his   39  who walked in front of him．He not only used her for   40  but it was obvious that he was blind．The two of them  _41  as one—each needing the other to  42    in this fast-changing world．
That little example of true strength   43  my whole personal perception(理解) of life that day．Suddenly I wasn’t so   44  having to work a few extra hours on Saturdays．I had my    45 ，and I was still   46  young．
That picture of those two elderly people walking with dignity(尊嚴(yán)) and strength   47  me the entire week．My   48  wasn’t so bad after all．I had my health and a good job．I had a wonderful，         49  wife．I started to think—not only was I   50  to have these all, but so was that wonderful old couple，who，_51  the trials and sufferings of a long life，still had the love and support of each other to   52    them through this world．
There are so many people out there just like that couple．My wife and I sometimes   53 ourselves in our old age, walking arm in arm into the sunset. That image always gives us a    54  feeling．Just remember, none of us would be here if it wasn’t for our elders．We all should spend a little extra time and patience,   55  helping our elder friends．

【小題1】
A．tensionB．a(chǎn)ngerC．surpriseD．puzzle
【小題2】
A．nervousB．worriedC．patientD．satisfied
【小題3】
A．coupleB．driverC．policemanD．truck
【小題4】
A．friendB．daughterC．wifeD．mother
【小題5】
A．funB．freeC．supportD．care
【小題6】
A．workedB．stoodC．thoughtD．considered
【小題7】
A．warnB．pointC．remindD．function
【小題8】
A．ruinB．removeC．changeD．fail
【小題9】
A．sure of B．mad aboutC．excited withD．curious about
【小題10】
A．courageB．freedomC．dreamD．strength
【小題11】
A．similarlyB．extremelyC．naturallyD．relatively
【小題12】
A．a(chǎn)greed withB．stayed withC．happened toD．connected with
【小題13】
A．familyB．planC．lifeD．salary
【小題14】
A．supportiveB．famousC．a(chǎn)ctiveD．pretty
【小題15】
A．luckyB．fitC．willingD．eager
【小題16】
A．unlessB．despiteC．owing toD．since
【小題17】
A．challengeB．valueC．carryD．a(chǎn)rrange
【小題18】
A．pictureB．shareC．compareD．teach
【小題19】
A．sadB．bitterC．seriousD．warm
【小題20】
A．in case ofB．regardless ofC．a(chǎn)s a result ofD．when it comes to

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科目：高中英語 來源：2012-2013學(xué)年遼寧葫蘆島第一高級中學(xué)高二下期期中考試英語卷（帶解析） 題型：閱讀理解

I had an experience some years ago, which taught me something about the ways in which people make a bad situation worse by themselves. One January, I had to hold two funerals on successive days for two elderly women in my community. Both had died “full of years”, as the Bible would say .Their homes happened to be near each other, so I paid condolence(吊唁)calls on the two families on the same afternoon.
At the first home, the son of the deceased woman said to me, ”If only I had sent my mother to Florida and gotten her out of this cold and snow, she would be alive today. It’s my fault that she died. ”At the second home, the son of the other deceased woman said, “If only I hadn’t insisted on my mother’s going to Florida, she would be alive today .That long airplane ride, the sudden change of climate ,was more than she could take．It’s my fault that she’s dead.”
You see that any time there is a death, the survivors will feel guilty. Because the course of action they took turned out bad, they believe that the opposite course------keeping mother at home, putting off the operation----would have turned out better. After all, how could it have turned out any worse?
There seem to be two elements involved in our willingness to feel guilty. The first is our pressing need to believe that the world makes sense, that there is a cause for every effect and a reason for everything that happens. That leads us to find patterns and connections both where they really exist and where they exist only in our minds.
The second element is the view that we are the cause of what happens, especially the bad things that happen. It seems to be a short step from believing that every event has a cause to believing that every disaster is our fault. The roots of this feeling may lie in our childhood.
A baby comes to think that the world exists to meet his needｓ,and that he makes everything happen in it. He wakes up in the morning and summons the rest of the world to his tasks. He cries, and someone comes to attend to him. When he is hungry, people feed him，and when he is wet, people change him. Very often, we don not completely outgrow that childish view that our wishes cause things to happen.
【小題1】The author had to conduct the two women’s funerals probably because_______.

A．he was minister of the local church
B．he wanted to comfort the two families
C．he was an official of the community
D．he had great pity for the deceased
【小題2】People feel guilty for the death of their loved ones because________.
A．they can’t find a better way of express their sorrow
B．they have neglected the natural course of events
C．they believe that they were the reason
D．the don’t know things often turn in the opposite direction
【小題3】According to the main passage, the underlined part in Paragraph 4 probably means that________.
A．everything in the world is predetermined
B．there’s an explanation for everything in the world
C．the world can be interpreted in different ways
D．we have to be sensible in order to understand the world
【小題4】What’s the main idea of the message?
A .Life and death is an unsolved mystery.
B. Never feel guilty all the time because not every disaster is our fault.
C Every story should have a happy ending.
D. In general, the survivors will feel guilty about the people who passed away.

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科目：高中英語 來源：2013屆江西省新余市下學(xué)期高三第一次段考英語試卷（解析版） 題型：閱讀理解

I had an experience some years ago, which taught me something about the ways in which people make a bad situation worse by blaming themselves. One January, I had to hold two funerals on successive days for two elderly women in my community. Both had died “ full of years”, as the Bible would say. Their homes happened to be near each other, so I paid condolence(吊唁) calls on the two families on the same afternoon.

At the first home, the son of the deceased(已故的)woman said to me, “ If only I had sent my mother to Florida and gotten her out of this cold and snow, she would be alive today. It’s my fault that she died.” At the second home, the son of the other deceased woman said, “ If only I hadn’t insisted on my mother’s going to Florida, she would be alive today.. that long airplane ride, the sudden change of climate, was more than she could take. It’s my fault that she’s dead.”

You see that any time there is a death, the survivors will feel guilty. Because the course of action they took turned out bad, they believe that the opposite course—keeping Mother at home, putting off the operation—would have turned out better. After all, how could it have turned out any worse?

There are seem to be two elements involved in our willingness to feel guilty. The first is our pressing need to believe that the world makes sense, that there is a cause for every effect and a reason for everything that happens that leads us to find patterns and connections both where they really exist and where they exist only in our minds.

The second element is the view that we are the cause of what happens , especially the bad things that happen. It seems to be a short step from believing that every event has a cause to believe that every disaster is our fault. The roots of this feeling may lie in our childhood.

A baby comes to think that the world exists to meet his needs, and that he makes everything happen in it. He wakes up in the morning and summons the rest of the world to its tasks. He cries, and someone comes to attend to him. When he is hungry, people feed him , and when he is wet, people change him. Very often, we do not completely outgrow that childish view that our wishes cause things to happen.

1.What is said about the two diseased elderly women?

A．They lived out a natural life

B．They died of exhaustion after the long plane ride

C．They weren’t used to the change in weather.

D．They died due to lack of care by family members.

2.The author had to conduct the two women’s funerals probably because ______.

A．he wanted to comfort the two families

B．he was an official from the community

C．he had great pity for the deceased

D．he was minister of the local church

3.People feel guilty for the deaths of their loved ones because _____.

A．they couldn’t find a better way to express their sorrow

B．they believe that they were responsible

C．they had neglected the natural course of events

D．they didn’t know things often turn in the opposite direction

4.According to the passage, the underlined part in paragraph 4 probably means that_____.

A．everything in the world is predetermined

B．the world can be interpreted in different ways

C．there is an explanation for everything in the world

D．we have to be sensible in order to understand the world

5.What’s the idea of the passage?

A．Life and death is an unsolved mystery.

B．Every story should have a happy ending.

C．Never feel guilty all the time because not every disaster is our fault.

D．In general, the survivors will feel guilty about the people who passed away.

 

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科目：高中英語 來源：2010年江蘇省高二下學(xué)期期末考試英語 題型：閱讀理解

They crossed in front of me as I was driving out of the store parking lot. My first reaction was anger at being delayed for a whole ten seconds. I quickly became patient when I realised that this was an elderly couple.

The man leaned on his wife who walked in front of him. He not only used her for support but it was obvious that he was blind. The two of them worked as one---each needing the other to function in this fast-changing world.

That little example of true strength changed my whole personal perception(理解) of life that day. Suddenly I wasn’t so mad about having to work a few extra hours on Saturdays. I had my strength, and I was still relatively young.

That picture of those two elderly people walking with dignity and strength stayed with me the entire week. My life wasn’t so bad after all. I had my health and a good job. I had a wonderful, supportive wife. I started to think---not only was I lucky to have it all, but so was that wonderful old couple, who, despite the trials and sufferings of a long life, still had the love and support of each other to carry them through this world.

There are so many people out there just like that couple. My wife and I sometimes picture ourselves in our old age, walking arm-in-arm into the sunset. That image always gives us a warm feeling of comfort. Just remember, none of us would be here if it wasn’t for our elders. We should all have a little extra time and patience when it comes to helping our elder friends.

1.When the author was about to drive away, the couple __________________.

A．got in his way

B．hit his car

C． entered the store

D．a(chǎn)sked him for help

2. After he saw the couple, the author would _________________.

A．drive at a high speed

B．seldom think of his wife

C．be impolite to the blind

D．spend less time complaining

3. What did the author think of the couple?

A．They lived a happier life than he.

B．They didn’t live a life without hardships.

C．They were admirable for their lasting love.

D．They won respect by walking together.

4. From the passage, we learn _______________________.

A．the author hated working on Saturdays

B．the author was happy with his wife

C．old couples were advised to walk in the sunset

D．many people like that couple are blind

 

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