Ⅱ. 阅读理解

A

(2010届英语周报第1期A)At eighteen years of age，I flew up to San Francisco to meet a pen pal who I had written to for over a year. The first thing we did when we got home was to bake chocolate chip cookies，and our strong_ties were formed. From laughing at the burnt cookies，to eating the chocolate chips instead of putting them in the dough(生面团)，it was fantastic. We became best friends. Twelve years later，we still reflect on that moment，and laugh with silliness and joy.

Fast forward to 2003，I was in my first month of training in radiation oncology(放射肿瘤学)，and scared. I was in a new city，alone，and afraid of having to make a new start. One patient that we were treating used to come into the department with freshly baked goods for everyone once a week with a smile on her face. She was treated with a really tough regimen(疗法)for her cancer，yet she still overcame the pain and exhaustion(精疲力竭)to bake for the department. I once asked her why，and she said it gave her purpose and meaning.

This purpose was far greater for me than a simple cookie. I really didn’t know how to bake，and I told her that. She then invited me to her home for lessons. With her as a guide I learned some of the art of baking. While baking we talked about life，regrets，and dreams. We soon became very close friends.

A few weeks later，her husband came to the department and gave me a large box with a handwritten note. I opened the box. Inside was a Kitchen Aid mixer，and the note saying，“Please remember me when you bake，keep at it and you’ll change the world. ”He told me that her cancer had spread. She was in her final stages of life. I cried and cried. It was simply the most generous gift that I had ever received.

【解题导语】　友情有时候是“烘烤”而成的，作者的两段友情就都与“烘焙”有关。

1. What do the underlined words“strong ties”in Paragraph 1 refer to?

A. Cooking skills.          B. Close friendship.

C. First impression.         D. Exercise program.

解析：选B。词义推断题。根据第一段第四句We became best friends可推断，strong ties可能是指“亲密的友谊”。tie此处意为“关系”。

2. Which of the following can be used to describe the patient?

A. Honest and loyal.

B. Clever and active.

C. Warm­hearted and generous.

D. Confident and independent.

解析：选C。推理判断题。那位病人不顾自己的病痛，坚持为医生们制作小点心，而且主动邀请作者到家里学习烘焙，可见她很热心，很慷慨。

3. After receiving the gift，the author probably felt ________.

A. very pleased and honored

B. a bit disappointed and confused

C. quite excited and satisfied

D. deeply moved and sad

解析：选D。推理判断题。收到这样一个特殊的礼物，作者一定会非常感动;根据文章倒数第二句I cried and cried可知，作者当时非常难过。故选D。

4. Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?

A. Baking can build a friendship

B. A friend is a second self

C. When your friends face difficulty

D. Fine art of making friends

解析：选A。标题归纳题。作者讲了两个关于友谊的故事，都与烘焙点心有关，A项标题准确地概括了全文。