A
Eleven years ago, the world as I knew it ended. My husband of 19 years was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Over the course of seven months, Bill went from beating me silly at tennis to needing my help to go to the bathroom. It was the best seven months of my life.
Maybe I don't actually mean that. But it was certainly the time when I felt most alive. I discovered that the minor complaint of an annoying co-worker, or a flat tire pales in comparison with the beauty of sincere laughter, or the smells of a bakery. There were moments of joy; laughter, and tenderness. After Bill's diagnosis and brain surgery, I found clinical trials and talked to doctors in Texas, Pennsylvania, and New York. It gave me a sense of purpose.
In the latter days, being Bill's caregiver also meant being fully present for as many moments of every day as possible. During his last weekend, we had dinner together. Later, a relative visited. I noticed that she'd changed her appearance, and not in a good way. It was the kind of thought I'd usually keep to myself. Just then, Bill voiced exactly what I'd been thinking, in that truthful way he had, and I found myself laughing out loud.
I thought I could look after this man forever. However, he would be dead in four days.
Eleven years later, I haven't started a foundation to cure cancer. I haven't left the news business to get a medical degree. But every day, I try to again be the person I became during those seven months. I try to be a little less judgmental, a little more forgiving and generous. I am a better person for having been Bill's caregiver. It was his last, best gift to me.
1. What is true about her husband?
A. He was a poor tennis player.
B. He had to talk to doctors in different cities.
C. His brain didn't function well because of the surgery.
D. He had to be accompanied mostly during his illness.
2. What does the underlined word “pales” in Paragraph 2 mean?
A. Proves unavoidable. B. Seems less important.
C. Turns whiter than usual. D. Becomes more significant.
3. What is the best title of the passage?
A. A Caregiver's Hard Work B. My Loving Husband
C. The Best Time of My Life D. The Greatest Gift to Me
【答案】1. D 2. B 3. D
【解析】
【分析】这是一篇记叙文。文章主要讲述了作者的丈夫被诊断出癌症晚期，大部分时间都需要作者的照顾，作者每天尽可能多地全身心投入到照顾丈夫中，也发现自己成为了更好的人，这是丈夫送给自己最后也是最好的礼物。
【1题详解】
细节理解题。根据第一段中“My husband of 19 years was diagnosed with terminal cancer Over the course of seven months, Bill went from beating me silly at tennis to needing my help to go to the bathroom.(与我结婚19年的丈夫被诊断出癌症晚期。在七个月的时间里，比尔从打网球把我打得晕晕的，到上厕所都需要我的帮助)”可知，关于丈夫的说法中，D选项“他生病期间大部分时间必须有人陪伴”正确。故选D。
【2题详解】
词句猜测题。根据第二段中“But it was certainly the time when I felt most alive.( 但那确实是我感到最有活力的时候)”；画线词上文“I discovered that the minor complaint of an annoying co-worker, or a flat tire”以及后文“in comparison with the beauty of sincere laughter, or the smells of a bakery”可知，作者那段时间感到非常有活力，所以一个讨厌的同事的小抱怨，或者轮胎漏气，与真诚的笑声或面包房的香味相比，都似乎不那么重要了。故画线词意思是“似乎不那么重要”。故选B。
【3题详解】
主旨大意题。根据最后一段中“But every day, I try to again be the person I became during those seven months. I try to be a little less judgmental, a little more forgiving and generous. I am a better person for having been Bill's caregiver. It was his last, best gift to me.(但每一天，我都试着重新做回那七个月里的自己。我试着少一点批判，多一点宽容和慷慨。我成为了一个更好的人，因为我一直是Bill的照顾者。这是他送给我的最后，也是最好的礼物)”结合文章主要讲述了作者的丈夫被诊断出癌症晚期，大部分时间都需要作者的照顾，作者每天尽可能多地全身心投入到照顾丈夫中，也发现自己成为了更好的人，这是丈夫送给自己最后也是最好的礼物。可知，D选项“给我最好的礼物”最符合文章标题。故选D。
