閱讀理解
part A
Mr King works in a shop and drives a car for the manager. He drives carefully and can keep calm in time of danger. And he escaped from several accidents. The manager pays him more and the traffic policemen often speak highly of him.
Mr Baker， one of his friends， works in a factory outside the city. It‘s far from his house and he has to go to work by bus. As the traffic is crowded in the morning， sometimes he’s late for the work. His manager warns the young man that he will be sent away unless he gets to his office on time. He hopes to buy a car， but he hasn‘t enough money. He decides to buy an old one. He went to the flea (跳蚤) market and at last he chose a beautiful but cheap car. He said he wanted to have a trial (試驗) drive， the seller agreed. He called Mr King and asked him to help him.
Mr King examined the car at first and then drove it away. It was five in the morning and there were few cars in the street. At first he drove slowly and it worked well. Then he drove fast. And when he reached a crossing， the lights turned red. He tried to stop it， but he failed and nearly hit an old woman who was crossing the street. A policeman told him to stop， but the car went on until it hit a big tree by the road.
“Didn‘t you hear me?” the policeman asked angrily.
“Yes， I did， sir，” said Mr King， “Since it doesn‘t listen to me，can it obey you?”
根據以上短文內容，然後從每題所給的四個選項中選擇最佳選項。
1. Mr King is paid more because he _______.
A. always drives very slowly B. is not afraid of danger
C. had driven for years D. drives very well
2. Mr Baker went to the flea market to _______.
A. buy a second-hand car B. have a trial drive
C. choose a new car D. sell his old car
3. Mr King tried to stop the car when _______.
A. he saw an old woman crossing the street
B. he saw a big tree
C. the traffic lights turned red
D. the policeman shouted angrily at him
4. Which of the following is true?
A. Mr King will be sent away if he keeps being late
B. Mr Baker can‘t afford to buy an old car
C. Mr King didn‘t hear the policeman
D. Something was wrong with the car
「答案與解析」
1. 選D.由句子He drives carefully and can keep calm in time of danger. And he escaped from several accidents.可知，Mr King drives very well，因此老闆付給了他更多的薪水。答案選D.
2. 選 Baker因為交通擁擠而經常遲到，受到老闆的責罵，所以He hopes to buy a car. 但是他沒有足夠的錢，所以He decided to buy an old one，可見他去跳蚤市場是buy a second-hand car(想買一輛二手車)，因此答案選A.
3. 選 King試車到了一個十字路口時，The light turned red，所以He tried to stop it，因此答案選C.
4. 選 King在交警的警告下也沒有停住車，最後撞到了樹上，他的解釋是：It doesn‘t listen to me(車不聽我的話)，可見車有問題，所以答案選D.
part A
I will always remember my mother‘s last few days in this world.
On February 14th，2000，my class went on a field trip to the beach. I had so much fun. When we returned to school，my teacher told me to go to the headmaster‘s office. When I got into the office，I saw a police officer. Suddenly I realized something was wrong. The police officer told me what had happened and we went to pick my sister up. After that，we went to the hospital and waited. Time went slowly. Finally，we got to see our mother. It was terrible.
On the next day，the headmaster came and told my two teachers what had happened. I was taking a rest that day. I knew it had something to do with my mother. I kept thinking that she either died or had gotten better. How I wished that she had gotten better. When my teacher took me outside，my sister ran up to me. She started crying，“She‘s gone. Teresa，mommy’s gone. She‘s dead.” I couldn’t believe it. We jumped into the car and drove straight to the hospital. Most of my family were there. The silence was terrible. I knew I had to say goodbye.
Today when I look back，I still miss my mother very much，but I know that I will live. My mother was a strong mother，who had the biggest heart. My mother was an angel walking on the earth. I will always remember her as living. When someone is asked who their hero (英雄) is，they usually say someone famous，like Michael Jordan or Britney Spears. When someone asks me who my hero is，I tell them，my mother. My mother lives every day. That is what makes her a true hero.
根據以上短文內容，然後從每題所給的四個選項中選擇最佳選項。
1. Where was the writer when she learned her mother was very ill?
A. On the beach. B. At the hospital.
C. At school. D. At home.
2. Who brought the writer the bad news that her mother was ill?
A. Her sister. B. The headmaster.
C. Her teacher. D. The police officer.
3. What did the headmaster tell the two teachers on the next day?
A. Her mother had been very ill.
B. Her mother had been dead.
C. Her mother had gotten better.
D. Her sister came to see her.
4. From the last paragraph of the passage we know that _______.
A. the writer is afraid of her mother
B. the writer is proud of her mother
C. the writer feels sad about her mother
D. the writer feels sorry for her mother
5. The writer must think her mother is a _______ woman.
A. famous B. free
C. rich D. great
「答案與解析」
1. 選C.根據短文的第2段句子When we returned to school，my teacher told me to…可知，當我回到學校以後，才得知母親生病的訊息，即當作者得知母親病重時，當時她is at school(在學校)。
2. 選D.根據第2段的句子The police officer told me what had happened and…可知，老師叫我去校長辦公室，但真正告訴我發生了什麼事的是the police officer.故答案選D.
3. 選B.在短文的`第3段開頭講到了第二天發生的事。校長告訴我的兩個老師發生了什麼事，然後緊接著借妹妹之口：She‘s gone. Teresa，mommy’s gone. She‘s dead.使讀者知道，校長告訴老師的事是My mother had been dead(我的母親死了)。
4. 選B.在短文的最後一段，作者反覆提到這樣的字眼：a strong mother，had the biggest heart，an angel，字裡行間都充滿著自豪之情。故答案選B.
5. 選D.最後一段說母親有世界上最寬容的心，她是一位 strong母親，她是一位真正的英雄，這些都說明了在作者心中母親很great(偉大)。
