My professor brother and I have an argument about head and heart, about whether he overvalues IQ while I learn more toward EQ. We typically have this debate about peop’d love it if our dog could fetch the morning paper and then read it to me over coffee, but I actually care much more about her loyal and innocent heart. There’s already enough thinking going on is our house, and we probably spend too much time in our heads. Where we need some role modeling is in instinct, and that’s where a dog is a roving revelation.
I did not grow up with dogs, which meant that my older daughter’s respectful but unyielding determination to get one required some adjustment on my part. I often felt she was training me: from ages of 6 to 9, she gently schooled me in various breeds and their personalities, whispered to the dogs we encountered so they would charm and persuade me, demonstrated by her self-discipline that she was ready for the responsibility. And thus came our dog Twist, whom I sometimes mistake for a third daughter.
At first I thought the challenge would be to train her to sit, to heel, to walk calmly beside us and not go wildly chasing the neighbourhood rabbits. But I soon discovered how much more we had to learn from her than she from us.
If it is true, for example, that the secret to a child’s success is less rare genius than raw persistence, Twist’s ability to stay on task is a model for us all, especially if the task is trying to capture the sunbeam that flicks around the living room as the wind blows through the branches outside. She never succeeds, and she never gives up. This includes when she runs square into walls.
Then there is her unfailing patience, which breaks down only when she senses that dinnertime was 15 minutes ago and we have somehow failed to notice. Even then she is more eager than indignant, and her refusal to whine shows a restraint of which I’m not always capable when hungry.
But the lesson I value most is the one in forgiveness, and Twist first offered this when she was still very young. When she was about 7 months old, we took her to the vet to be sprayed (切除卵巢). We turned her over to a stranger, who proceeded to perform a procedure that was probably not pleasant. But when the vet returned her to us, limp and tender, there was no recrimination (反责), no How could you do that to me? It was as though she really knew that we could not intentionally cause her pain, and while she did not understand, she forgave and curled up with her head on my daughter’s lap.
I suppose we could have concluded that she was just blindly loyal and docile. But eventually we knew better. She is entirely capable of disobedience, as she has proved many times. She will ignore us when there are more interesting things to look at, rebuke us when we are careless, bark into the twilight when she has urgent messages to send. But her patience with our failings and fickleness and her willingness to give us a second chance are a daily lesson in gratitude.
My friends who grew up with dogs tell me how when they were teenagers and trusted no one in the world, they could tell their dog all their secrets. It was the one friend who would not gossip or betray, could provide in the middle of the night the soft, unbegrudging comfort and peace that adolescence conspires to disrupt. An age that is all about growth and risk needs some anchors and weights, a model of steadfastness when all else is in flux. Sometimes I think Twist’s devotion keeps my girls on a benevolent lash, one that hangs quietly at their side as they trot along but occasionally yanks them back to safety and solid ground.
We’ve weighed so many decisions so carefully in raising our daughters—what school to send them to and what church to attend, when to give them cell phones and with what precautions. But when it comes to what really shapes their character and binds our family, I never would have thought we would owe so much to its smallest member.
1. In the first paragraph, the author suggests that ________.
2. According to the passage, all the following are Twist’s characteristics EXCEPT ________.
3. That Twist’s devotion keeps my girls on a benevolent leash means that ________.
4. What does the author try to express in the last paragraph?
问题1选项
A.a person can either have a high IQ or a low EQ
B.her professor brother cares too much about IQ
C.we need examples of how to follow one’s heart
D.she prefers dogs that are clever and loyal
问题2选项
A.resignation
B.patience
C.forgiveness
D.tenacity
问题3选项
A.Twist is capable of looking after the girls
B.Twist and the girls have become friends
C.Twist knows how to follow the girls
D.Twist’s loyalty helps the girls grow up
问题4选项
A.Difficulties in raising her children.
B.Worries about what to buy for kids.
C.Gratitude to Twist for her role.
D.Concerns about schooling and religion.
第1题:
【选项释义】
In the first paragraph, the author suggests that ________. 在第一段中,作者提出:________。
A. a person can either have a high IQ or a low EQ A. 一个人既可以有高智商也可以有低情商
B. her professor brother cares too much about IQ B. 她的教授哥哥太在乎智商了
C. we need examples of how to follow one’s heart C. 我们需要了解如何追随自己的心的例子
D. she prefers dogs that are clever and loyal D. 她更喜欢聪明而忠诚的狗
【考查点】推理判断题。
【解题思路】根据关键词可以定位到文章第一段第三句“但我实际上更关心的是它忠诚和天真的心(care much more about her loyal and innocent heart)”,接着最后一句说到“我们在遵循本能方面需要楷模(need some role modeling is in instinct),而在这方面狗是一个活生生的榜样”,说明作者更加重视内心而不是大脑。因此C选项“我们需要了解如何追随自己的心的例子”正确。
【干扰项排除】
A选项“一个人既可以有高智商也可以有低情商”和D选项“她更喜欢聪明而忠诚的狗”在文中没有提及,属于无中生有;
B选项“她的教授哥哥太在乎智商了”,文章只是说哥哥更重视智商,属于过度推断。
第2题:
【选项释义】
According to the passage, all the following are Twist’s characteristics EXCEPT ________. 根据这篇文章,以下都是卷毛的特点,除了________。
A. resignation A. 顺从
B. patience B. 耐心
C. forgiveness C. 宽恕
D. tenacity D. 坚韧
【考查点】推理判断题。
【解题思路】根据关键词可以定位到文章第七段第一、二、三句“我想我们可以得出结论,她只是盲目的忠诚和温顺。但最终我们知道了更多。她完全有能力反抗(capable of disobedience),这一点她已经证明了很多次”,说明我们本来以为她是盲目的忠诚和温顺,但实际上她不是完全顺从。因此A选项“顺从”不符合卷毛的特点,符合题意。
【干扰项排除】
B选项“耐心”,由第五段第一句“还有就是她那永不衰竭的耐心”可知,耐心符合卷毛的特点,属于反向干扰;
C选项“宽恕”,由第六段第一句“但我最珍视的是宽恕”可知,宽恕符合卷毛的特点,属于反向干扰;
D选项“坚韧”,由第四段第一句“如果一个孩子成功的秘诀不在于罕见的天赋,而在于朴实的坚持,卷毛能坚持完成任务的能力就是我们所有人的榜样”可知,坚韧符合卷毛的特点,属于反向干扰。
第3题:
【选项释义】
That Twist’s devotion keeps my girls on a benevolent leash means that ________. 卷毛的忠诚使我的女孩们受到了善意的约束,这意味着________。
A. Twist is capable of looking after the girls A. 卷毛有能力照顾好女孩们
B. Twist and the girls have become friends B. 卷毛和女孩们已经成为朋友
C. Twist knows how to follow the girls C. 卷毛知道如何跟随这些女孩
D. Twist’s loyalty helps the girls grow up D. 卷毛的忠诚帮助女孩们长大成人
【考查点】推理判断题。
【解题思路】根据关键词可以定位到文章第八段最后一句“卷毛的忠诚让我的女儿们保持着一种善意的约束(benevolent leash)”,上文说到“在一个成长和冒险的年纪,需要一些依靠(anchors)和沉淀,一个在其他一切都在变化时保持坚定的榜样”,说明狗可以在青少年时期成为他们的约束和依靠,由此可知卷毛的忠诚有利于女儿们的成长。因此D选项“卷毛的忠诚帮助女孩们长大成人”正确。
【干扰项排除】
A选项“卷毛有能力照顾好女孩们”在文中没有提及,属于无中生有;
B选项“卷毛和女孩们已经成为朋友”和C选项“卷毛知道如何跟随这些女孩”和善意的约束无关,属于出处错位。
第4题:
【选项释义】
What does the author try to express in the last paragraph? 作者在最后一段中试图表达的是什么?
A. Difficulties in raising her children. A. 抚养孩子的困难。
B. Worries about what to buy for kids. B. 担心给孩子买什么。
C. Gratitude to Twist for her role. C. 对卷毛起到的作用的感激之情。
D. Concerns about schooling and religion. D. 对学校教育和宗教的担忧。
【考查点】推理判断题。
【解题思路】根据关键词可以定位到文章最后一段“在抚养我们的女儿的过程中,我们仔细地权衡过很多决定。但当谈到是什么真正塑造了她们的性格,并将我们的家庭联系在一起时,我从未想过我们会如此感谢家庭中最小的成员”,强调了卷毛在我们培养孩子和维系家庭方面起到的重要作用。因此C选项“对卷毛起到的作用的感激之情。”正确。
【干扰项排除】
A选项“抚养孩子的困难。”,B选项“担心给孩子买什么。”和D选项“对学校教育和宗教的担忧。”在文中没有提及,属于无中生有。
【文章来源】《时代周刊》(Time)2010
【参考译文】
我的教授哥哥和我就头脑和心灵的问题争论不休,争论他是否高估了智商,而我则对情商有了更多的了解。我们通常会争论,如果我们的狗能取来晨报,然后在喝咖啡的时候读给我听,但我实际上更关心的是它忠诚和天真的心。我们已经有太多的想法了,我们可能花了太多的时间动脑子。我们在遵循本能方面需要楷模,而在这方面狗是一个活生生的榜样。
我不是和狗一起长大的,因此我的大女儿恭敬却又坚定地要养一只狗时,我还是做了一些权衡的。我经常觉得她在训练我:从6岁到9岁,她一直和缓地向我灌输各种品种的狗和它们的性格,对我们遇到的狗耳语,让它们吸引和说服我,用她的自律证明她准备好了承担责任。我们的狗卷毛就这样出现了,我有时会把它错当成第三个女儿。
起初,我以为挑战在于训练它坐下、跟在我们后面、平静地走在我们身边,而不是疯狂地追逐邻居家的兔子。但我很快发现,我们要向她学习的东西比她向我们学习的东西多得多。
例如,如果一个孩子成功的秘诀不在于罕见的天赋,而在于朴实的坚持,卷毛能坚持完成任务的能力就是我们所有人的榜样,尤其是当这个任务是试图捕捉风吹过室外树枝时在客厅里闪过的阳光时。她从未成功,也从不放弃。包括她撞到墙上的时候。
还有就是她那永不衰竭的耐心,只有当她意识到吃饭时间已经过去15分钟了,而我们却不知为何没有注意到的时候,她的耐心才会崩溃。即使到了那个时候,她也表现出了更多的渴望而不是愤怒,而且她拒绝哀嚎,这表明她有一种克制,而我在饥饿的时候却总是做不到这一点。
但我最珍视的是宽恕,卷毛在初次教会我们这一点的时候还很小。当她7个月大的时候,我们带她去兽医那里切除卵巢。我们把她交给一个陌生人,随后进行的手术可能令卷毛不太舒服。但当兽医把她还给我们的时候,她纤弱而幼嫩,没有表现出反责——你们怎么可以这样对我?她好像真的知道我们不可能故意给她造成痛苦,虽然她不明白,但她原谅了我,把头伏在我女儿的腿上。
我想我们可以得出结论,她只是盲目的忠诚和温顺。但最终我们知道了更多。她完全有能力反抗,这一点她已经证明了很多次。当有更有趣的东西看的时候,她会忽略我们,当我们粗心大意的时候,她会责备我们,当她有紧急的消息要传达的时候,她会在暮色中吠叫。但是,她对我们的错误和三心二意所表现出来的耐心,以及她愿意给我们第二次机会的宽容,是她每天教给我们的感恩课。
我那些和狗一起长大的朋友告诉我,当他们十几岁的时候,在这个世界上谁都不相信的时候,他们可以告诉他们的狗所有的秘密。这是唯一一个不会八卦或背叛的朋友,夜半更深时提供温柔、无私的安慰和青少年蓄意扰乱的平静。在一个成长和冒险的年纪,需要一些依靠和沉淀,一个在其他一切都在变化时保持坚定的榜样。有时我想,卷毛的忠诚让我的女儿们保持着一种善意的约束,她总是在她们快步走的时候安静地跟随在身边,但偶尔也会把她们拉回安全而坚实的地面。
在抚养我们的女儿的过程中,我们仔细地权衡过很多决定——送她们去哪所学校,去哪座教堂,什么时候给她们手机,需要给予她们什么样的告诫。但当谈到是什么真正塑造了她们的性格,并将我们的家庭联系在一起时,我从未想过我们会如此感谢家庭中最小的成员。