文章大意:本文是一篇记叙文。文章主要讲述了因为一次火灾,作者失去了自己心爱的猫咪,由此决定不在领养小猫,但是因为一次偶然,另外一只小猫给了作者重拾希望的勇气的故事。
One steamy July afternoon in central Arkansas, I was working on an important project in my home office with a dear friend and colleague. My trusty printer was churning out (快速生产) a time-sensitive report when it simply stopped. After fifteen minutes of trying to repair, I decided to buy a new printer. Upon our return, my heart froze to see my house on fire.
Despite having spent much of my life writing, I was still lost for adequate words to describe the sick, sinking feeling of seeing your home, business, and belongings going up in flames along with photographs and memories collected over a lifetime. But the panic that filled my shocked heart in that awful moment was for the nine cats that shared my home after being rescued from situations of abuse and abandonment.
Responding to an early security-system warning, the amazing firefighters arrived in record time, but the chemical-laden smoke had already caused deaths. I examined and kissed each cat goodbye, extremely grateful that they had passed gently, without injuries or burns.
Only animal lovers really understand the unbelievable impact that the loss of one beloved four-legged family member can have on your heart, mind and soul. The loss of so many dearly loved creatures sent me reeling (发蒙).
After staying with another great friend for a couple of weeks, I was relocated to a furnished apartment. One evening, about a month after moving in, I was occupied in writing a mystery novel when a falsetto “meow” sounded from outside the apartment door. Was it my mind playing tricks again? More than once I had heard, seen or felt the brush of one of my departed furry roommates. The meow grew louder and more insistent. Curious, I opened the door.
Sitting on the doorstep was a kitten (小猫) with an exotic black coat and alert amber eyes. A neighbor walking by picked him up and began petting him. When I remarked how cute her kitten was, she explained that he had been born under a bridge and looked around for food. This kitty-loving neighbor was quick to offer an extra litter box if I was interested in giving him a home. My immediate reaction was a facetious (开玩笑的) “that’s all I need!” After all, my resolution(决心)had been well reasoned and remained firm. But without hesitation she put the adorable kitten down. I thanked her and closed the door, resolved to just let him stay until a real home could be found.
That night, as I slid between the sheets of the still unfamiliar bed in the still unfamiliar apartment, the energetic little fur ball jumped onto the bed, yawned dramatically, and nestled by my side. Those who have never shared a sleep with a creature or two may not relate, but that was the first night since the fire that I actually slept. Stubbornly determined not to open myself to more animals—to more pain—I had refused to admit how desperately I missed having a warm fuzzy cuddled (依偎) close.
Needless to say, the cat community knew the precise prescription for healing far better than I. The name Starlight (Star for short) seemed perfect because that night he brought some light back into my life.
Star adores wrestling rubber bands, races up and down the stairs, darts outside anytime the door opens, suddenly appears everywhere I don’t want him to be, holds onto the broom while I’m trying to sweep, and rolls in catnip or whatever else happens to be on the floor. In hindsight (事后看来), a better name might have been “Star, Stop It!”
In the five years since the fire, we have been through a lot, Starlight and I. We returned to the house, managed to keep the business alive, brought the mystery novel to the final edits before it’s submitted in hopes of publication, and made a lot more resolutions. Star helped me through a massive, yet untraditional, healing of spirit. The memories of the kitties that passed in the fire now spark only warmth in my heart and win some smiles. Every single day, I appreciate the serendipitous (有意外收获的) nature of the Universe that sent me hope in the form of a little black furball.
So take a little advice from my furry friend: no matter how hopeless things may become or how fixed your resolution may be, open the door whenever opportunity knocks. It just might be a star to light your way.
43. What probably caused the author to open the door?
A.The idea of seeing his beloved four-legged family member again. |
B.The impact of the loss of loved creatures on his mind and soul. |
C.The brush of his departed furry roommates playing tricks on him. |
D.The curiosity about the novel written in memory of his cats. |
44. What does the underlined sentence in Paragraph 6 mean?
A.The author desired to make friends with a cat-loving neighbor. |
B.The author made a decision not to take in any animals. |
C.The author didn’t consider a cat-loving neighbor as a friend. |
D.The author made a decision to adopt other animals. |
45. The author had had a good sleep for the first time since the fire mainly because ________.
A.he never shared a sleep with a kitten | B.he refused to admit missing a kitten |
C.he determined to open himself to pain | D.he accepted the kitten and slept with it |
46. What is the best title for the passage?
A.The Dream for Kittens | B.Ways to Remove Sadness |
C.The Power of Resolutions | D.Starlight to Give Hope |