英銘老師告訴你其實閱讀測驗並不難，因為外國人寫文章都愛用破題法，從第一段就看到了Hurricane Katrina，今天的文章主題當然就是Katrina颶風囉！這篇文章並不難，大家看完可能會有點小感動呢，小孩子都那麼堅強，同學們也要加油喔！
|
|
Heroism often requires little more than the common sense of a
|
|
|
6-year-old. Three days after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans,
|
|
|
Susan Williams, the mother of first-grader De’Monte, decided she
|
|
|
had to get her family out of their flooded neighborhood. But when a
|
|
5
|
small rescue helicopter finally touched down at the neighborhood,
|
|
|
the pilot said he could take only a handful of children; he would come
|
|
|
right back for the parents. Reluctant and seeing the floodwaters
|
|
|
about to swallow their home, Williams tearfully put De’Monte, 6, and
|
|
|
his 5-month-old brother Da’Roneal aboard, along with two cousins
|
|
10
|
and three neighbor children, all ranging in age from 14 months to 3
|
|
|
years. The chopper flew off–but it didn’t return for the parents.
|
|
|
When the kids were dropped off on the city’s west side, and they
|
|
|
became lost in the chaos there, De’Monte kept a cool head and a
|
|
|
brave heart. Clutching Da’Roneal, he had the other kids (one was
|
|
15
|
wearing only diapers) hold hands in a chain as they wandered to find
|
|
|
a safe place. He kept them together and unharmed until rescuers
|
|
|
discovered them and took them to a Baton Rouge, Louisiana shelter.
|
|
|
They thought the kids were now orphans. But once in the shelter,
|
|
|
De’Monte saved the day again. Thanks to good coaching by his
|
|
20
|
mom, the boy gave rescuers enough information-names,
|
|
|
addresses, phone numbers, personal descriptions–so that in a few
|
|
|
days they were able to locate all the children’s parents.
|
( ) 1. Who was put on the helicopter?
(A) Only the kids who got lost. (B) Five kids and a parent.
(C) Only the kids wearing diapers. (D) Seven kids aged from 5 months to 6.
( ) 2. Where did the helicopter rescuers put down the children?
(A) At a Louisiana shelter. (B) On the west side of New Orleans.
(C) In a neighboring state. (D) At their relatives’ house.
( ) 3. How did De’Monte keep the other small kids together and safe?
(A) By holding them in his arms. (B) By asking them to hold hand-in-hand.
(C) By giving them a hand. (D) By asking them to find a safe place.
( ) 4. Why was De’Monte called a hero?
(A) He was cool and brave to leave his parents and take care of his brother alone.
(B) He was so brave that he was not afraid to take a helicopter with small baby kids.
(C) He was only six, but he was able to protect smaller kids and help the rescuers find the parents of all the children.
(D) He was so well-trained that he was able to deal with natural disasters like hurricanes.
英銘老師：閱讀測驗是很多考生畏懼的英文題型之一，其實閱題測驗的解題並不難。這篇文章是以Katrina颶風為背景，敘述一個6歲大的小男孩，如何照顧其他的小孩，以及幫助救難人員找到他們的雙親的故事。
第1題：誰被放進直升機？根據文章的第8行至第11行，可得知在直升機中的有：“De’Monte”、“Da’Roneal”、兩個表弟、三個鄰居小孩，年齡從6歲到5個月大，因此答案是(D)。
補充：
range (always)
1. n. 一系列、山脈、範圍、距離、類別、靶場、閒蕩
The two political leaders discussed a range of issues.
兩位政治領導人討論了一系列問題。
There is an impressive range of hills topped with snow in the far distance.
遠處有山頂覆蓋著白雪的綿綿山巒。
We have many used cars available within this price range.
我們有很多在這個價位範圍之內的二手汽車。
What is the range of the cannon?
這座砲的有效距離多大？
This shop sells a wide range of air conditioners.
這家商店出售各種型號的冷氣機。
Nobody is allowed to enter that Army firing range.
任何人不得進入那陸軍射擊場。
Gwendolyn takes her dog for a range every evening.
Gwendolyn每天傍晚牽著狗閒逛。
2. v. 排列、來回走動、延伸、變動、射程為
The books are ranged in alphabetical order on the shelf.
書籍是以字母順序排列在書架上。
The rescue team range widely in search of the plane wreckage.
救援隊伍在廣闊的區域內搜尋飛機殘骸。
The mountain ranges eastward from the desert.
這座山從沙漠向東延伸。
Today's temperatures will range between 25℃ and 30℃.
今天的溫度變化在25℃到30℃之間。
This mortar ranges over 3 miles.
這種迫擊砲射程達3英里。
第2題：救援人員將孩子們安置何處？根據文章的第12行“the kids were dropped off on the city’s west side”(孩子們在城市的西邊下直升機)，所以答案是(B)。
補充：
drop off 打瞌睡、減少、從(交通工具)上下來、掉落、消失 (often)
Eugene must be dropping off to sleep.
Eugene肯定正在打瞌睡。
The interest in the issue has begun to drop off.
人們對這問題的興趣已經開始減退了。
Octavia asked the cab driver to drop her off at the museum.
Octavia叫計程車司機在博物館讓她下車。
Mavis didn't notice that a button had dropped off.
Mavis沒有注意到衣服上有一顆釦子掉了。
Leopold dropped off at the end of the street.
Leopold消失在街道的盡頭。
第3題：De’Monte如何把其他的小孩平安的聚在一起？根據文章的第14行至第15行，“he had the other kids hold hands in a chain”(他讓其他的孩子們像鏈條般的手牽著手)，所以答案是(B)。
補充：
chain n. 鏈條、一連串、連鎖店、束縛 v. 用鎖鏈拴住(束縛) (often)
Nathan wears a fat gold chain on his neck.
Nathan在脖子上戴著一條很粗的金鏈。
The new policy led to a chain of arguments.
新政策引起了一連串的爭論。
McDonald's is the biggest fast food chain.
麥當勞是最大的速食連鎖店。
Lynn must break the chains of tradition.
Lynn必須打破傳統的束縛。
Priscilla chained her bike to the lamppost.
Priscilla把自行車鎖在燈柱上。
第4題：為什麼De’Monte被稱為英雄？根據整篇文章的內容，De’Monte雖然只有6歲，他不僅維護了其他小孩的安全，還幫助援救者找到他們的父母親，所以答案是(C)。
補充：
protect v. 保護 (always)
Sun glasses can protect our eyes from the sun.
太陽眼鏡可以保護眼睛不受陽光刺激。
disaster n. 災難 (always)
Natural disaster causes some animals to die out.
自然災害導致一些動物滅絕。
同義：casualty, calamity, misfortune, mishap, catastrophe.