四、阅读理解
Mr Winter’s voice boomed across the store as I hurried to put my shoes back on. “We don’t carry those in size 10. In fact, we don’t have any size 10 shoes for young ladies.”
A hot flush burned my face quickly. Around me, my friends were happily trying on beautiful new shoes, but the store suddenly felt like a prison (监狱). My fun trip was completely over. I just wanted to leave.
Growing up in a small town meant living in a glass jar (罐头). Everyone knew I was taller and broader than my older sister. In middle school, I tried the tiring art of making myself look small. I sat low in my chair, pulled my shoulders in like a scared bird, and always hid at the very back of group photos. I felt like a heavy giant trapped inside a little toy house.
One weekend, my family went camping at Little Lake Jackson with another family. My father took my older sister and me out in a boat, and he handed me the heavy oars (船桨).
At first, I had a hard time. The oars felt clumsy (笨拙的) in my hands, and the boat turned in circles. But my father sat patiently beside me, showing me how to pull and guide the wood. Slowly, I caught the rhythm. I still wasn’t perfect, but the boat began to move smoothly through the quiet water. A cool wind brushed my face, and looking at the wide sky and green trees, I felt a deep sense of peace. The tight walls of my classroom felt a million miles away.
When we returned to the shore, the parents from the other family watched us arrive. “Wow, she rows so well,” the mother said, looking at me. “She has a lot of strength.”
During the summer town parade (游行), crowds filled the streets. While my friends jumped up and down on their toes, trying hard to see over the adults in front of them, I didn’t have to move an inch. Standing flat on my size-10 feet, I had a perfect, clear view of the colourful floats (花车) and the marching band.
For the first time, I didn’t pull my shoulders in. I let my tall body take up the space it needed, breathing in the warm summer air. And then, from somewhere behind me, a woman whispered, “Wow! She really stands out.”
() 1. Why did the writer’s trip to the shop end unhappily?
A. Because Mr Winter loudly pointed out her shoe size.
B. Because the beautiful shoes cost too much money.
C. Because her friends laughed at her large feet.
D. Because her friends left her alone in the store.
() 2. What does the underlined phrase “living in a glass jar” probably mean in paragraph 3?
A. Living in a very small and clean house.
B. Being easily broken or hurt by others.
C. Staying away from the outside world safely.
D. Having no secrets from other citizens in the town.
() 3. What advantage (优势) did the writer have at the summer town parade?
A. She easily found a quiet place in the crowd.
B. She had a perfect view without standing on her toes.
C. She was tall enough to help her friends see clearly.
D. She was invited to play with the local marching band.
() 4. How did the writer probably feel when hearing “She really stands out”?
A. She felt very down and ready to argue.
B. She felt deeply thankful and turned to smile.
C. She felt quite proud and accepted who she was.
D. She felt shy and wanted to hide in the crowd.