It was not far to the river, but Jo and Laurie were already skating when Amy arrived. Jo saw Amy but turned away. Laurie was carefully skating along the edge of the ice and didn’t see the young girl.
Amy put her skates on and stood on the ice.
“Keep near the edge. The ice isn’t safe in the middle,” Laurie called to Jo, then he disappeared round the first bend(拐弯处) in the river.
Jo heard, but Amy did not. Jo realized that Amy probably hadn’t heard, but she said nothing and skated after Laurie. “Let Amy look after herself!” Jo thought.
Amy skated out towards the smoother ice in the middle of the river. Jo reached the bend, and for a moment she stood still, a strange feeling in her heart. Something made her turn round—just in time to see Amy throw up her hands and go crashing through the ice into the cold water. Amy gave a cry that made Jo’s heart stop with fear. She tried to call Laurie, but her voice was gone, and for a second she could only stand and stare at the little blue hood(兜帽) of Amy’s coat above the black water.
Suddenly, Laurie skated past her and shouted, “Bring a piece of wood from the side of the river, quickly!”
Wild with fear, Jo fetched(拿来) some wood and pulled it across the ice, while Laurie held Amy’s head above the water. Together, they got her out.
She was more frightened than hurt, and was quickly taken home. They covered her in blankets and tried to calm her, and after a little while she fell asleep in front of the warm fire. Later, when everything was quiet, Jo asked her mother, “Are you sure she’s safe?”
“Quite safe, dear. It was sensible to get her home as quickly as you did.”
“Laurie did it all,” said Jo. “Mother, if she should die, it will be my fault. I get angry so quickly. Oh, why can’t I be more like you?”
“I get angry nearly every day of my life, Jo,” said Mrs March, “but I’ve learnt not to show it. I’ve learnt to stop myself saying the angry words that come to my lips, and you must try to do the same, my dear.”
Amy moved in her sleep and Jo looked at her. “I refused to forgive her, and today, she nearly died! And it was Laurie who saved her. How could I be so wicked(恶劣的)?” Jo began to cry.
Then Amy opened her eyes and held out her arms, with a smile that went straight to Jo’s heart. Neither of them said a word, but they held each other close, and everything was forgiven and forgotten.
—Taken from Little Women
() 4. Why did Amy skate towards the middle of the river though Laurie had given a warning?
A. She didn’t hear what he said.
B. She wanted to show off her skills.
C. She couldn’t control where she was going.
D. She was trying to get Jo’s attention.
() 5. What did Laurie tell Jo to do as he skated past her?
A. Call for help.
B. Stay with Amy.
C. Bring some blankets.
D. Find a piece of wood.
() 6. How did Jo feel after rescuing Amy?
A. Afraid of skating.
B. Proud of what she did.
C. Ashamed and regretful.
D. Satisfied and happy.
() 7. Which of the following best describes Mrs March?
A. Brave and strong.
B. Strict and intelligent.
C. Honest and understanding.
D. Energetic and forgiving.
() 8. What can we know about Jo’s future behaviour?
A. She will avoid skating with Amy.
B. She will depend on Laurie’s help.
C. She will become fearful of icy rivers.
D. She will try to control her mood.