Ⅰ.阅读理解(人物故事类+科普研究类)
A
(2014·河北唐山一模)
Helen Thomas, the pioneering White House reporter known for putting presidents on the hot seat, died at 92.
To those who regularly watch presidential press conferences, Helen Thomas is a familiar figure. Usually dressed in red and always seated in the front row, she is always the first or second reporter the president calls upon. It is an honor she has earned. Besides, it affords her the perfect opportunity to do what she does best—challenge the president and other public officials to tell the plain truth. She said, “We reporters' priority(首要事情) is the people's right to know—without fear or favor. We are the people's servants.”
Helen Thomas was born in Kentucky in 1920. All the nine Thomas children were brought up to value education, and all were expected to make something of themselves through working hard.She made up her mind while still in high school to become a reporter after writing for the student newspaper. After receiving her bachelor's degree in 1942, Thomas headed straight for Washington D.C., in search of a newspaper job. Before long，she landed one at Washington Daily News.Her duty included fetching coffee and doughnuts for the paper's reporters and editors.The eager young woman found the atmosphere exciting and was convinced she had made the right career choice.
Her big break came when she was sent to Florida to report on the vacation of Presidentelect John F. Kennedy and his family. Once President Kennedy took office, Thomas changed her focus from the president's family to his policies. She began attending the daily press briefings at the White House as well as presidential press conferences. Thomas has covered every president since Kennedy. Over the years, Thomas found her job “thrilling and inspiring”， but never boring. And she took very seriously her duty to “keep an eye on the president” and keep American people informed.
1.What can we learn about Helen Thomas from the passage?
A.Her career took off after covering the Kennedys.
B.Her first job was to deliver doughnuts to a news agency.
C.She was born to a large family in Kentucky in 1942.
D.She decided to be a reporter while in college.
2. Paragraph 3 is written to show Helen Thomas ________.
A.is a good decisionmaker for her career
B.appreciates education and hard work
C.wants to be famous by writing reports
D.has great support from her family
3. What does Helen Thomas think of her work?
A.Unbearable. B.Exciting.
C.Challenging. D.Unforgettable.
4. What can be the best title for the text?
A.A reporter sticking to the facts
B.A reporter challenging President Kennedy
C.A reporter from an ordinary family
D.A reporter for Washington Daily News
答案：
【语篇解读】 美国记者海伦·托马斯辞世，享年92岁。她采访过约翰·肯尼迪后的历任美国总统，而且以问题尖锐著称。她以让人民了解事实为宗旨，以过人的执著、勇气、正直和激情诠释了职业良知。
1.A 解析：细节理解题。根据最后一段的第一句“Her big break came when she was sent to Florida to report on the vacation of Presidentelect John F.Kennedy and his family”可知，在采访了肯尼迪及其家人之后，海伦的事业开始腾飞。
2.B 解析：写作意图题。根据第三段的第二句“All the nine Thomas children were brought up to value education，and all were expected to make something of themselves through working hard”及对海伦经历的介绍可知，第三段的内容表明海伦重视教育及努力工作。
3.B 解析：细节理解题。根据第三段的最后一句“The eager young woman found the atmosphere exciting”以及最后一段倒数第二句中的“Thomas found her job ‘thrilling and inspiring'，but never boring”可知，海伦觉得她的工作很令人兴奋。
4.A 解析：主旨大意题。本文主要介绍了为了让公众了解事实而向历任美国总统尖锐发问的记者海伦·托马斯，因此A项为最佳标题。
