课下能力提升(二十四)

Ⅰ.阅读理解

You know that Grandparents Day, taking place the Sunday after Labor Day every year, is a holiday for celebrating your parents' parents.But how did the holiday come to be? Did it originate out of a sweet, sincere wish at heart ...or was it all a giant marketing plan to sell more goods?

It is, in fact, the former.When Marian McQuade first thought of the idea for the holiday, commercialism (商业主义) was the last thing on her mind. In 1956, McQuade was trying to plan a celebration for the elderly members of her community.She made the sad discovery that many of the senior citizens in the nursing home didn't often receive visits from their families.So she set a day to appreciate grandparents.

In any case, McQuade never wanted the holiday to be a_money_grab.Mother's Day actually has a similar story; in fact, its founder wanted it discontinued in the 1920s after she saw how commercialized it had become.However, it didn't stop card companies from getting excited about the future of a new holiday.Hallmark predicted that, by 1983, Grandparents Day would become the sixth highest card-selling holiday.But to their disappointment, it never became a commercial holiday.

Many families have much more meaningful ways of celebrating the holiday.Danielle Kirsch celebrates by trying a new activity every year with her grandmother Elsie.“This year, we'll be painting together，” she tells RD.com.Molly Arnold's grandmother is no longer around, yet she still finds a way to honor the holiday.Arnold is the Chief Operations Officer of the Frank and Barbara Broyles Foundation, a charity she created in memory of her grandmother, Barbara Broyles, who passed away from Alzheimer's disease (老年痴呆症)．

However, just because the holiday is not about commercialism doesn't mean you can't exchange gifts.Spruce.com actually suggests that grandparents give their grandchildren gifts, especially gifts that “honor family traditions”．For example, a meaningful gift from a grandpa to his granddaughter would be actually a birthday gift, but we think it's a perfect Grandparents Day idea too.

语篇解读：本文是议论文。文章介绍了祖父母节的由来以及庆祝方式。 1．Why did McQuade found Grandparents Day? A．To grow her own business. B．To realize her parents' dream.

C．To remember her own grandparents. D．To call on people to care for the elderly.

解析：选D 细节理解题。根据第二段中的“McQuade was trying to plan a celebration for the elderly members of her community”可知，McQuade创立这个节日是为了鼓励人们关爱老年人。

2．What does the underlined part “a money grab” in Paragraph 3 probably mean? A．A way to make big money. B．A celebration of one's wealth. C．A chance to give others money. D．A deal between family members.

解析：选A 词义猜测题。根据第三段中的“Mother's Day actually has ...commercialized it had become”可知，祖父母节和母亲节一样，创立者们都不希望节日变成攫取人们钱财的商业机会。

3．Hallmark thought Grandparents Day ________. A．wouldn't grow popular among young people B．would become a commercial holiday C．would turn into a global holiday D．wouldn't last long

解析：选B 推理判断题。根据第三段中的“Hallmark predicted that ...sixth highest card-selling holiday”可知，Hallmark预测祖父母节将会变成全球第六大卡片销售的节日。因此Hallmark认为这个节日将会商业化。

4．What is Paragraph 4 mainly about? A．Meaningful ways of celebrating the holiday. B．People's attitudes toward the holiday. C．The effort to carry out the holiday. D．The future of the holiday.

解析：选A 段落大意题。第四段的主题句为首句“Many families have much more meaningful ways of celebrating the holiday”，由此可知，本段主要介绍了人们以各种有意义的方式来庆祝祖父母节。

Ⅱ.阅读七选五

I was giving my 5-year-old a bath one night when she looked out the window at our fence and announced, “You know, Mamma, sometimes looking at trees helps you to think.”__1__ What a deep observation from a little child.“You are right，” I encouraged.“What are you thinking about？”

Lately, there have been a lot of changes going on in my life at work.Business has been hard and I have been doing a lot of consulting for customers who haven't been able to afford help.__2__ I have a need and desire (欲望) to help, but I often say “Yes” when my wallet should be saying “No！”

The last few years have been such a struggle for so many of my customers from so many walks of life.__3__ Worse yet, I always have a voice in the back of my head that says if I don't relax or learn a better way to deal with stress, cancer might come near!

So when my daughter said that one sentence, I promised to spend more time in nature.__4__ It is so grounding and so healing.I have traded a few gym days for hikes in the hills above my house.__5__ I am always more clear-headed after that.So I plan on spending some time this summer in southern California, enjoying thinking at the base of an old, wise tree — with my daughter of course.

A．I struggle with this. B．What she said is so true. C．My health is on the downside. D．I decided to stop the busy life. E．I just sat in surprise and silence. F．I have trouble sleeping, sometimes.

G．Have you ever sat in a park and stared at a tree? 答案：1～5 EAFBG Ⅲ.完形填空

Mom put a heavy wool hat on Grandpa's head. “Wait until I get your __1__，” she said.

“Your mother is putting enough __2__ on me to kill a man，” Grandpa laughed. His simple joke was like a wind among the tree. I started to __3__， too. He thought I was laughing at his __4__ and he was pleased. But actually I was laughing at his __5__ clothes. Grandpa wore a thick wool suit that made him look like a white fat bear. Mom had __6__ Grandpa as if it were freezing and there were __7__ on the ground but the fact was not so. When I looked at

the sunshine and green grass through the __8__， I laughed harder. Grandpa also laughed __9__ me.

“I am going to see my old friend，” he said when Mom __10__ with his gloves. “Who is he, Grandpa？” I asked __11__ he didn't seem to hear what I said. He __12__ stood there and let Mom put the gloves on his hands. Grandpa said, “I know he will still be there waiting for me.”

Mom __13__ the front door for Grandpa. He walked slowly outside, holding the __14__ firmly in one hand. Perhaps he would __15__ his gloves when he got far away from the house. That is what I did when Mom __16__ not see me. Sometimes I even put my __17__ into the cool water of the river.

“He used to be a __18__ man，” Mom said. “ No man could cut down more trees than your Grandpa. He could lift the heaviest tree in the woods.”

“Who is Grandpa going to see？” I asked.

“He is going to see __19__. He is just to talk to himself.” She answered __20__. Her quiet voice sounded like saying to herself.

语篇解读：本文有三个主人公，年事已高的祖父，中年母亲，还有年少的作者，故事通过三代人之间的交流、理解，体现了一家人互相恩爱关照的温暖画面。

1．A.mail B．box C．gloves

D．shoes

解析：选C 根据第三段中的“with his gloves”可知，妈妈是去给外公取手套。 2．A.clothes

B．praise

C．burden D．hat

解析：选A 从下文中“Grandpa wore a thick wool suit that made him look like a white fat bear”可知，外公穿着很厚实的衣服。

3．A.cry

B．sigh

C．think D．laugh

解析：选D 根据上文“His simple joke”可知，作者也开始笑了。 4．A.hair

B．words

C．thoughts D．face

解析：选B 根据上文，他认为“我”因他的话而大笑，所以很高兴。 5．A.new

B．unusual

C．heavy D．funny

解析：选C 根据语境，“我”是因为他的厚重的衣服而发笑。