A
Once upon a time, two brothers who lived on neighboring farms fell into conflict (冲突). It was the first serious one between them in 40 years of farming peacefully side by side. In the end, they fell apart.
One morning, a man with a carpenter's toolbox came for some work. The elder brother said, “I just have a job for you. Look at the farm across the creek (河沟). My younger brother lives there. It was he who used his bulldozer (推土机) to dig the creek last week to spite (刁难) me. So I want you to build me a fence, an 8foothigh fence, in order not to see his place any more.” The carpenter smiled and said, “I see. I'll try to do a job that satisfies you.” Then the elder brother went downtown.
At sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job. The farmer's eyes opened wide! To his surprise, there was no fence there at all! Instead, there was a bridge stretching from one side of the creek to the other! A fine piece of work! He saw his younger brother coming to him with the hands outstretching. The brothers stood at each end of the bridge, and then they met in the middle, taking each other's hands. They turned to see the carpenter lift his toolbox on his shoulder. “No, wait! Stay a few days. I've a lot of other work for you，” said the elder brother. “I'd love to stay on，” the carpenter said, “but I have so many more bridges to build.”
1. What was the life like for the two brothers before the conflict?
A. They lived a poor life.
B. They lived in peace.
C. They never spoke to each other.
D. They lived on the same farm.
2. It can be learned that the carpenter was ________.
A. unwilling to obey the farmer
B. fond of building bridges
C. unable to build a fence
D. willing to help others
3. The best title for this passage is ________.
A. A Fine Piece of Work
B. A Carpenter
C. A Conflict Between Two Brothers
D. Two Brothers
4. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A. The elder brother used his bulldozer to dig a creek.
B. The elder brother helped the carpenter build the bridge.
C. The brothers were both satisfied with the carpenter's work.
D. The carpenter planned to build an 8foothigh fence as asked to.
【答案】1. B 2. D 3. A 4. C
【解析】
这是一篇寓意很深的记叙文。一个聪明又乐于助人的木匠使产生冲突的兄弟俩和好如初，化干戈为玉帛。
【1题详解】
细节理解题。从文章第一段“It was the first serious one between them in 40 years of farming peacefully side by side.(这是他们40年来第一次严重的冲突。)”可以看出，发生冲突之前他们是和平相处的。故选B
【2题详解】
推理判断题。根据文章最后一段““I'd love to stay on，” the carpenter said, “but I have so many more bridges to build.””以及文章对木匠的描述和他干活的情况看，他是一个聪明、乐于助人、技术熟练的木匠。故选D
【3题详解】
主旨大意题。文章主要讲述了一位木匠在两个农场之间架了一座桥，这座桥化解了兄弟之间的冲突的故事。因此，无论从具体的桥还是从寓意上的桥来讲它都是一件“杰作”。故A项作为标题最合适。故选A。
【4题详解】
细节理解题。由最后一段中兄弟俩的表现尤其是“A fine piece of work！”可知兄弟俩对木匠做的活很满意，故选C。
