Question

　 Recently, a professor of philosophy in the United States has written a book called Money and the Meaning of Life. He has discovered that how we deal with money in our day-to-day life has more meaning than we usually think. One of the exercises he asked his students to do is to keep a record of every penny they spend for a week. From the way they spend their money, they can see what they really value in life.

　 He says our relation with others often become clearly defined when money enters the picture. You might have wonderful friendship with somebody and you think that you are very good friends. But you will know him only when you ask him to lend you some money. If he does, it brings something to the relationship that seems stronger than ever before. Or it can suddenly weaken the relationship if he doesn’t. This person may say that he as a certain feeling, but if it is not carried out in the money world, there is something less real about it.

　 Since money is so important to us, we consider those who possess a lot of it to be very important. The author interviewed some millionaires in researching his book.

　 Question: What is the most surprising thing you have discovered about being rich, because you are a self-made man?

　 Answer: The most surprising thing is how people give me so much respect.. I am nothing. I don’t know much. All I am is rich.

　 People just have an idea of making more and more money, but what is it for? How much do I need for any given purposes in my life? In his book, the professor uncovered an important deed in modern society: to bring back the idea that money is an instrument rather than the end. Money plays an important role in the material world, but expecting money to give happiness may be missing the meaning of life.

1. The author seems to believe that asking your friend to lend you some money ____.

　 A. is a good way to test your friendship

　 B. will do harm to your friendship

　 C. will strengthen(增進)your friendship

　 D. is a good way to break off your friendship

2. What can we learn about the millionaire from his answer in the interview?

　 A. He does not feel that he is well educated.

　 B. He does not think that he is a very important person.

　 C. He does not think that being rich deserves(應(yīng)受)so much attention.

　 D. he does not consider himself to be very successful.

3. What does the American professor of philosophy want to explain in his book?

　 A. Money is an end.　　　　　　 B. Money is a means.

　 C. Money is everything.　　　　　 D. Money is important.

4. Which of the following might the author disagree?

　 A. Money is important in modern society.

　 B. The meaning of life does not completely lie in money.

　 C. Wealth will surely bring the owner happiness.

　 D. happiness is not necessarily the result of wealth.

 

Answer 1

1. 選【A】。這是一道細(xì)節(jié)理解題。文章第二段中的“But you will know him only when …if

　　　　　 he doesn’t.”很清楚地講到：只有當(dāng)你向朋友借錢時，才能真正了解他是否誠

　　　　　 心。所以可以推斷出：向朋友借錢是考驗他們友誼的一種好方法。

2. 選【C】。這是一道細(xì)節(jié)理解題。百萬富翁的回答告訴我們：人們覺得他有錢，就格外尊

　　　　　 敬他，這是他感到驚訝的事情。顯然，百萬富翁不認(rèn)為有錢就值得格外尊敬。

3. 選【B】。這是一道細(xì)節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)文章最后一段中的“…money is an instrument rather

　　　　　 than the end”即“金錢只是一種工具而決不是一種目的”。由此可見選項B正

　　　　　 確。

4. 選【C】。這是一道細(xì)節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)文章最后一段末尾兩句，可排除A、B、D三項，

　　　　　 故C項正確。