A
Maureen stood by the lake. Suddenly the other children came running through the trees with sharp cries of excitement. They rushed up to the lake, leaning over the clear water, watching the crowds of tiny fish. Some children demanded loudly to go to the boats, but all at once those who had been left behind at the ice-cream stall (小摊) came running up to make some announcement or other, and they all left the water and dashed back the way they had come. With growing excitement, Maureen ran after them.
When she saw what had been run for, she stopped running. They were buying things again. The toy stall was open and they were crowding around it. Behind the stall a middle-aged woman was selling a great variety of small rubbish. She took money from the forest of small hands in exchange for little boats, plastic dolls, yellow pencils and rubbers, or anything. Maureen leaned against a tree, looking on. The idea of spending washed against her face like a strong current, trying to draw her in.
Nona Parker pushed out to the edge of the group and laid what she had bought on the ground so that she could see what money she had left in her white purse. Under Maureen's eyes lay a boat, a mouth organ, and little plates of doll’s food in coloured plaster—a brown load of bread, a joint of beef, a pink pudding—all tiny and terribly desirable. Maureen was so full of the wish for the things like that that she couldn't bear to look at them. She turned her head sharply. Her face against the tree, she shut her eyes and prayed eagerly for some money, for the price of a set of toy plates.
In a moment, she opened her eyes, but she didn't turn back to the stall. It was too painful to see the others buying whatever they wanted. She rubbed almost round the tree, her eyes on the ground. And there under her feet was a ten-pence piece.
21. Why did children dash back on hearing some announcement?
A. To watch tiny fish.
B. To buy new toys.
C. To collect various rubbish.
D. To see a middle-aged woman.
22. Maureen stopped running after the other children because she _______.
A. was too shy to push her way in
B. thought the other children were rich
C. knew the stall was selling rubbish
D. couldn't afford to buy anything
23. Maureen's strong desire for the plates of doll’s food grew when _______.
A. she happened to see what Nona had bought
B. Nona checked her remaining money
C. she saw other children buying things freely
D. Nona was pushed to the edge of the group
24. Seeing the others buying so many wonderful things, Maureen felt _______.
A. thrilled B. helpless C. curious D. annoyed
【答案】21. B 22. D 23. A 24. B
【解析】
本文是一篇记叙文。文章讲述的是Maureen看到其他孩子买东西而自己没钱买时的痛苦。
【21题详解】
推理判断题。根据第二段中When she saw what had been run for, she stopped running. They were buying things again. The toy stall was open and they were crowding around it.可知，孩子们一听到通知就急忙跑回来是因为他们要买新玩具。故选B。
【22题详解】
推理判断题。根据第三段中Maureen was so full of the wish for the things like that that she couldn't bear to look at them. She turned her head sharply. Her face against the tree, she shut her eyes and prayed eagerly for some money, for the price of a set of toy plates.可知，Maureen不再追赶其他孩子了，因为她买不起任何东西。故选D。
【23题详解】
推理判断题。根据第三段中Under Maureen's eyes lay a boat, a mouth organ, and little plates of doll’s food in coloured plaster—a brown load of bread, a joint of beef, a pink pudding—all tiny and terribly desirable. Maureen was so full of the wish for the things like that that she couldn't bear to look at them.可知，Maureen看到Nona买了什么东西，对那一盘多尔的食物产生了强烈的欲望。故选A。
【24题详解】
推理判断题。根据最后一段中In a moment, she opened her eyes, but she didn't turn back to the stall. It was too painful to see the others buying whatever they wanted.可知，看到其他人买了这么多好东西，Maureen感到很无助。故选B。
