C
Bella rushed to her room and shut the door heavily.
“Why?” she shouted at the walls. “Why can't I, for once, have a birthday party?”
Tomorrow was Speech Day—a nightmare. She had left it to the last minute, again. She could never think of a topic.
Next morning, Bella stood in front of the class. “The house that I live in with my grandma,” she began, “has been the same since my grandpa died fifty years ago. There is no television or computer in my house. My life is far better, though, than what it would have been in the orphanage(孤儿院). There, I was always hungry. I slept under thin blankets with fifty other kids who kept me awake crying for their mothers. I'm glad my grandma saved me. She is kind but once, just once, I would love a birthday party. Not to get presents, just to feel what it would be like to have a special day of my own. My grandma says, ‘No birthday parties, ever!’ So here I am, going to school in one century and going home to a world in another. ”
Bella sat down. She could see some kids with wet eyes and Mr Barlow was blowing his nose. “That,” said Mr Barlow, “was a real speech. It made us think. It made us feel, really feel... I would like a copy. ”
On her birthday morning, Bella's grandma had the usual present—two neatly wrapped handkerchiefs(手帕) and a pair of socks. It was impossible for Bella to hide her
despondency as she picked up her bag and headed out the door.
“Bella,” her grandma called after her. “Your teacher called. He said you did a great speech, the best in fact. I am very pleased you are trying hard so I thought, seeing as it is your birthday, we'll go to the park after school—for an ice cream. ”
An ice cream, that was all? Oh well, they never had ice cream, only the rice pudding her grandpa liked. Ice cream would sort of be a treat.
When Bella arrived at the park, she couldn't believe her eyes. There was her grandma wearing large, purple sunglasses, a bright - orange spotted dress and stripy socks with boots. “Happy birthday!” she screamed, in a voice Bella had never heard her use before. Then out from the bushes bounced Mr Barlow and Bella's whole class carrying plates of party food. It was a real party.
There were presents like Bella had never had before. But one of the best parts was to see her grandma screaming around in her unusual clothes as if she were a kid again.
(
A
)31. What does the underlined word “despondency” mean?
A. Sadness.
B. Madness.
C. Loneliness.
D. Rudeness.
(
D
)32. 新考法 事
件排序 What is the CORRECT order of what happened in the story?
① Bella made a speech.
② Bella's grandma saved Bella.
③ Mr Barlow called Bella's grandma.
④ Bella's grandma prepared her a party.
⑤ Bella's grandpa died.
A. ①②⑤③④
B. ②⑤①④③
C. ⑤①②④③
D. ⑤②①③④
(
B
)33. What is the best title for this story?
A. Bella's Problem
B. A Real Party
C. Speech Day
D. Life with Grandma
