A
Mama and I spend mornings cleaning up the dirt that blows into our house. Mama says all the dust is due to the drought. The dirt sifts into everything. It covers our clothes. We have to wash the dishes before each meal. We rarely drive the truck because Papa fears the dust from the road will ruin the motor.
When my sister, Faye, and I walk to school, we wear kerchiefs over our mouths so we don’t breathe in the dirt. On days when the air is so bad that they close the school, we stay home and help Mama put wet sheets over the windows. But the dirt always finds a way in.
Last Sunday, there was no dirt in the air, only bright spring sunshine and a clear blue sky. After lunch, Papa headed out to the field to check on the cattle while I played with Faye in the yard. The temperature suddenly dropped. I looked to the west and saw a huge black cloud of dust.
All the birds flew away. “I must warn Papa,” I thought to myself. To avoid her panicking, I gently told Faye to go back inside where she would be safe, and then headed off to the field.
The storm hit so fast, and in an instant the day turned into night. By the time I entered the cow field the fine sand was whipping across my face. I screamed for Papa, hoping my voice would lead him back.
The dirt and sand stung my skin like a thousand bees. Although I was terrified, I refused to turn back. My dad was stranded and needed my help. Covering my face with one hand, I groped my way toward the truck and opened the door. First I tried turning the truck’s lights on and off, hoping that Papa would see them flashing, but the sandstorm let no light escape. Then I pushed the horn again and again, so Papa would hear it. I pushed until I had no more strength in my arms.
Suddenly, Papa’s face appeared at the window. My heart leaped with surprise and relief. He opened the door and climbed onto the seat next to me. He then pulled me into his arms and said, “Oh, Iris, you saved me!”
Finally, the wind subsided and the dust began to settle. Dirt was piled up to the window on one side of the truck and halfway up the door on the other. Papa kicked against the door, opening it far enough to let us out.
Sand and soil drifts were everywhere, but we were safe.
1. What is the main function of the first two paragraphs?
A. It describes a problem the characters must solve.
B. It establishes the setting where the story takes place.
C. It introduces the characters that will follow in the story.
D. It explains the motivations for the characters’ later actions.
2. Why did Papa go to the field that Sunday?
A. He was trying to get to his truck.
B. He needed to prepare the field for harvest.
C. He wanted to make sure the animals were fine.
D. He planned to bring in the cattle before the storm.
3. How did Iris save her father?
A. By warning him to run away. B. By turning on the truck’s lights.
C. By guiding him towards the shelter. D. By screaming his name at the top of her voice.
4. Which of the following words best describe Iris?
A. Brave and calm. B. Experienced and confident.
C. Adventurous and careful. D. Fearless and sympathetic
【答案】1. B 2. C 3. C 4. A
【解析】
这是一篇记叙文。文章主要记叙了上周日，Iris一家突然遭遇了沙尘暴，而Iris的爸爸去田里看家畜还没能回来，Iris急忙呼喊爸爸回家，又一遍遍地按汽车喇叭好让父亲听到。最终父亲平安找到了车，一家人躲过了沙尘暴。
【1题详解】
推理判断题。根据前两段的内容主要描述了Iris一家住在风沙很大的地方，每天不得不用头巾蒙住嘴，才不会吸入灰尘，在空气很糟糕的日子里，学校会关闭，他们呆在家里帮妈妈把湿床单盖在窗户上。为后文沙尘暴的发生介绍背景，由此可推知，前两段的主要功能是交待故事发生的背景。故选B。
【2题详解】
细节理解题。根据第三段中After lunch, Papa headed out to the field to check on the cattle while I played with Faye in the yard.可知，午饭后，我和Faye在院子里玩耍，爸爸去田野里看家畜。由此可知，那个星期天爸爸到田里去想确保家畜们安然无恙。故选C。
【3题详解】
推理判断题。根据倒数第四段中First I tried turning the truck’s lights on and off, hoping that Papa would see them flashing, but the sandstorm let no light escape. Then I pushed the horn again and again, so Papa would hear it. I pushed until I had no more strength in my arms.可知，首先，作者试着打开和关闭卡车的灯，希望爸爸能看到他们闪烁，但沙尘暴挡住了光。然后作者一次又一次地按喇叭，好让爸爸听到。作者用力推，直到手臂没有力气了。由此可知，Iris是通过按卡车喇叭引导父亲找到卡车，以躲避沙尘暴。故选C。
【4题详解】
推理判断题。根据文章主要记叙了上周日，Iris一家突然遭遇了沙尘暴，而Iris的爸爸去田里看家畜还没能回来，Iris急忙呼喊爸爸回家，又一遍遍地按汽车喇叭好让父亲听到。最终父亲平安找到了车，一家人躲过了沙尘暴。由此可以推断，Iris是机智并且冷静的孩子。故选A。
