A
I saw my first tree today. Dad used to tell me stories about the trees that still existed when he was a boy. There weren’t very many even then, with the urbanization program in full swing.
The O’Brien home was one of the few examples of old-style wooden structures that hadn’t been destroyed in Boston’s urban-renewal campaign. The family had been able to avoid this because of its wealth and political influence, and the house was passed on through generations to the present. Old man O’Brien had no children, so when he died, the Urban Center bought it. Then an official discovered that the house had a backyard-in the yard was a live tree!
When the news of the tree’s discovery leaked out
quite a few sightseers stopped by to have a look at it, and the local government, realizing the money-making potential, began charging admission and advertising the place. By now it had become a favorite spot for family trips like ours.
Dad paid the fee and we walked through a doorway hidden in a bookshelf and into the backyard. I just couldn’t help noticing the tree!
It was located at one end of the yard, with a fence around it for protection. It was similar in form to the plastic trees I’d seen, but there was much more. You could see details more delicate than in any artificially made plant. And it was alive. But best of all was the smell-fresh, living smell, unfamiliar to the world outside with metal, plastic, and glass. I wanted to touch the bark, but the fence prevented me from doing so.
On the way back, I read through the brochures. One part said the O’Brien home would be torn down next year to make room for some insurance building, and the tree will have to go, too.
I just sat still, fingering the object in my pocket that I had picked in the O’Brien’s backyard. I think it’s called an acorn (橡子).
1. Why could the tree in the O’Brien’s backyard survive till today?
A. It possessed some special characteristics.
B. It had a very strong fence around to protect it.
C. It was preserved together with the house by its owner.
D. It got the local government’s attention as a tourist attraction.
2. How might the author feel after the trip?
A. Annoyed. B. Calm. C. Excited. D. Upset.
3. Which statement best shows the theme of the passage?
A. Social progress and urbanization come at a cost.
B. Social progress should give way to nature protection.
C. Humans value nature protection over social progress.
D. Urbanization has more advantages than disadvantages.
【答案】1. C 2. D 3. A
【解析】
【分析】这是一篇记叙文。文章主要讲述了作者在城市化全面推进的社会里终于见到了第一棵真树，这棵树种在O’Brien家后院，但是因为要为一些保险大楼腾出空间，明年这棵树也要被砍掉，这使作者很沮丧。
【1题详解】
细节理解题。根据第二段中“The O’Brien home was one of the few examples of old-style wooden structures that hadn’t been destroyed in Boston’s urban-renewal campaign. The family had been able to avoid this because of its wealth and political influence, and the house was passed on through generations to the present. …Then an official discovered that the house had a backyard-in the yard was a live tree! (在波士顿的城市重建运动中，奥布莱恩的房子是少数几个没有被摧毁的旧式木结构建筑的例子之一。由于其财富和政治影响力，这个家族得以避免这种情况，这所房子代代相传到现在。……后来一位官员发现这所房子有一个后院——院子里是一棵活的树!)”可知，O’Brien家后院的树能存活到今天是因为它和房子一起被主人保存了下来。故选C项。
【2题详解】
推理判断题。根据倒数第二段中“One part said the O’Brien home would be torn down next year to make room for some insurance building, and the tree will have to go, too. (其中一部分说O’Brien的房子明年将被拆除，为一些保险大楼腾出空间，那棵树也必须被砍掉。)”和最后一段中“I just sat still, fingering the object in my pocket that I had picked in the O’Brien’s backyard. (我只能静静地坐着，用手摸着我口袋里的东西，它是在O’Brien家后院捡到的。)”可知，作者在这次旅行后会感到沮丧。故选D项。
【3题详解】
主旨大意题。根据第一段中“Dad used to tell me stories about the trees that still existed when he was a boy. There weren’t very many even then, with the urbanization program in full swing. (爸爸常给我讲他小时候还存在的那些树的故事。即使在当时，随着城市化进程的全面推进，这样的城市也不多。)”和倒数第二段中“One part said the O’Brien home would be torn down next year to make room for some insurance building, and the tree will have to go, too. (其中一部分说O’Brien的房子明年将被拆除，为一些保险大楼腾出空间，那棵树也必须被砍掉。)”以及下文的描述，可知，本文讲述了作者在城市化全面推进的社会里终于见到了第一棵真树，这棵树种在O’Brien家后院，但是因为要为一些保险大楼腾出空间，明年这棵树也要被砍掉，这使作者很沮丧。因此本文的主题选项A“社会进步和城市化是有代价的。”符合题意。故选A项。
