It was long before he heard the faint, steady rhythm of hooves (马蹄) along the frozen path. Anxiously watching several horsemen coming up, he let the first one pass by without any effort to get his attention, then another passed by, and another. Finally, the last rider drew near where the old man sat like a snow statue when old man caught his eyes and said, “Sir, would you mind giving an old man a ride to the other side?”

 

Stopping his horse, the rider replied, “Sure! Jump aboard.” Seeing the old man unable to lift his half-frozen body from the ground, the horseman got down to help him. The horseman took him not just across the river, but to his destination just a few miles away.

 

As they approached the tiny but cozy cottage, the horseman’s curiosity caused him to inquire, “Sir, I noticed you let several other riders pass by without making an effort to secure a ride. Then I came up and you immediately asked me for a ride. I am curious why, on such a bitter night, you would wait and ask the last rider. What if I had refused and left you here?”

 

The old man looked the rider straight in the eyes and replied, “I reckon I know people pretty good. I looked into the eyes of the other riders and immediately found no concern for my situation. It would have been useless even to ask them for a ride. But when I looked into your eyes, your gentle spirit would welcome the opportunity to give me assistance in my time of need.”

 

Those heart-warming comments touched the horseman deeply. “I’m so grateful for what you have said,” he told the old man. “May I never get too busy in my own affairs that I fail to respond to the needs of others with kindness and compassion.”

 

With that, Thomas Jefferson turned his horse around and made his way back to the White House.

 

55. Why didn’t the old man ask the previous riders for a ride?

 

A. Because he was waiting for the last rider.

 

B. Because his efforts failed to get their attention.

 

C. Because he assumed they had no concern for him.

 

D. Because he was too numb to lift his half-frozen body.

 

56. What caused the last rider to stop and help the old man?

 

A. the old man’s poor situation  B. The old man’s warm comments

 

C. his own affairs D. kindness and sympathy

 

57. What do you know about the old man?

 

A. He judged people by looking into their eyes.

 

B. He lived in a cozy cottage a few miles away.

 

C. He gave the last rider an opportunity to help.

 

D. He recognized the president at first sight.

 

58. Which can be the best title of this text?

 

A. look into your eyes  B. compassion of a great man

 

C. the last rider to help D. return to the White House

 

 

 

英语阅读答案

 

55-58 CDAB

 

    那是许多年前，在弗吉尼亚州北部的一个寒冷的晚上。老人的胡须釉的冬天的霜冻，而他在等待渡船乘坐过河。似乎无休止的等待。他的身体从寒冷的北风变得麻木和僵硬。

    过了很长时间，他隐约听到了马蹄声，稳定的节奏（马蹄）沿着冰冻的路径。焦急地注视着几个骑马的人来了，他让第一个通过没有任何的努力来吸引他的注意，然后再通过，和另一个。最后，最后骑手走近了那个老人坐像雪雕像时，老人抓住了他的眼睛说道，“先生，请你给一个老人带到另一边吗？“

    停止他的马，骑马的人回答说，“当然！跳上船。”看到老人无法抬起冻僵的身体从地面，骑马去帮助他。骑手把他不仅过了河，但到他的目的地只有几英里远。

    当他们走近时，小而舒适的屋子，骑手的好奇心使他问，“先生，我注意到你让其他车手通过而不努力去获得骑。然后我来了，你叫我马上去兜风。我很好奇，为什么，在这样一个寒冷的夜晚，你将要等到最后一位。如果我拒绝离开你吗？“

    老人朝骑手直在眼睛回答说，“我想我知道人们很好。我看那些人的眼睛，立即发现没有关心我的处境。这将是无用的甚至问他们一程。但当我看着你的眼睛，你的温柔的精神欢迎有机会给我在我需要的时候帮助。”

    这些暖心的话深深地打动了这位骑手。“我很感激你所说的，”他告诉老人。“我可以不要太忙自己的事情，我无法应对的善意和同情他人的需求。”

    这样，托马斯杰佛逊调转马头，回到白宫。

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