二、阅读理解
An old man and a young man sat by a quiet pond, watching a lotus flower. The young man broke the silence.
“Master, why is the meaning of life hidden from us? We try to understand the world around us, but every time we think we have found the answers, something new comes along and breaks our understanding.”
The old man turned his eyes from the flower and said, “The meaning of life can only be understood by someone whose mind is free from worries, wants and strong feelings. Newborn babies are closest to this state. Their souls (灵魂) are like lotus flowers rising from the still water. Their minds are not touched by the wind of wishes, the rain of
attachments, or the snow of loss. They have no one to miss, no one to wait for, and no one to please. But then the world comes in. Parents, teachers and friends all leave their marks. Every word, every lesson, and every interaction (互动) changes the child’s pure soul. As we grow up, we move further and further away from understanding the meaning of life.”
“But we cannot get rid of all that!” the young man said angrily. “We are human! Our lives are made of these actions, feelings and relationships! Are you asking us to become plants?!”
A light smile touched the old man’s lips. “You have understood it well. If you want to search for the meaning of life, you can. But to do so, you must give up all worldly (世俗的) wants and cares. You must become like grass or a fern (蕨类植物). You must live alone, away from others. Only then might you find your way back to the beginning. But ask yourself: is the search worth it? If the answer is no, then stay among people.”
The old man turned his eyes back to the lotus and said, “And about the meaning of life, you can always talk with your wife or a friend, sitting in the shade of your home, listening to the laughter of your children, and drinking tea that you make yourself.”
(
D
) 1. What does the old man compare a newborn baby’s soul to?
A. A quiet pond in the morning.
B. A tree standing alone in the forest.
C. A flower touched by wind and rain.
D. A lotus flower rising from still water.
(
C
) 2. The underlined word “
attachments” in paragraph 3 means “
”.
A. problems that are easy to solve
B. things we carry around with us
C. things or people we care about
D. important papers we need to keep
(
B
) 3. What does the old man think about searching for the meaning of life?
A. Only young people are able to find it.
B. It is not worth the cost for most people.
C. Everyone should give up everything to find it.
D. It can only be found by living in nature.
(
D
) 4. What does the old man suggest at the end of the story?
A. Drinking tea is the only way to understand life.
B. People should stop thinking about the meaning of life.
C. The young man should leave his family and live alone.
D. Finding meaning in daily life with loved ones is enough.
(
C
) 5. What is the main purpose of this story?
A. To teach people how to grow beautiful lotus flowers.
B. To explain why babies are much happier than adults.
C. To discuss whether we should give up everything to find the meaning of life.
D. To show that old people are wiser than young people.
