“It’ s over! Thank goodness!”

   School was over and I Was tired．I sat at the front of the school bus．

   Janie．the driver, always tries to break the uncomfortable atmosphere（氣氛）by talking．I try to listen politely, but usually  I’m too busy thinking about my day．On this day, however, her talk was worth listening to．

  “My father’s ill，”she said to no one in particular（特別地）．I could see worry in her eyes．I had never seen her like this before．She always meets students with a smile．

     With a sudden chance of interest, I asked, "What's wrong with him?"

     With her eyes wet and her voice unusual, she answered, "Heart trouble．" Her eyes lowered as she continued, "I've already lost my mum, so I don't think I can stand losing him．" I couldn't answer．My heart ached for her．

     I sat on the seat thinking of the great pain my own mother was thrown into when her father died．

     I saw how hard it was, and still is, for her． I wouldn't want anyone to go through that．

 Suddenly I realized Janie wasn't only a bus driver, which was just her job． She had a whole world of family and cares too．

     I shouldn't have been so selfish． I paid no attention to Janie because she was a bus driver．I had judged her by her job and brushed her off as unimportant．

     I shouldn't have been so selfish and self-centered．

     Understanding people is an art．

1．When the students get on the school bus, Janie usually．

      A．listens to music                                     B．talks about her own worry

      C．sits on her seat without words              D．meets them with a smile

2．After she learned Janie's story, the writer thought of

      A．her father's death                        B．her mother's pain

    C．the ache of her own heart                 D．the pain of Janie's parents

3．The writer felt herself selfish because she had

      A．thought of Janie as nothing but a driver  

     B．made only a few friends in the school

     C．hardly thought of herself

D．never listened to others

4．In this passage the writer tries to tell us that

      A．losing parents makes people sad and helpless

      B．understanding the people around us takes time

C．we should learn to understand the people around us

      D．it's not right to judge the people around us by their clothes

閱讀理解

　　“It is over! Thank goodness!”

　　School was over and I was both mentally and physically tired. I sat at the very front of the bus because of my anxiety to get home. Sitting at the front makes you stand out like a shiny coin in a pile of dull pennies.

　　Janie, the driver, tries to break the uncomfortable atmosphere by striking the match of conversation. I try to mind my manners and politely listen, but usually I am too busy thinking about my day. On this day, however, her conversation was worth listening to. “My father's sick. ”she said to no one in particular. I could see the anxiety and fear in her eyes. It frightened me. I had never seen her like this before. She always greeted students with a smile.

　　With a sudden change of attitude and interest, I asked, “What's wrong with him?”

　　With her eyes wet and her voice tight from fighting the tears, she responded, “Heart trouble. ”Her eyes lowered as she continued. “I've already lost my mum, so I don't think I can stand losing him. ”

　　I couldn't respond. I was in shock. My heart ached for her.

　　I sat on the old, smelly seat thinking of the great pain my own mother was thrown into when her father died. I saw how hard it was, and still is, for her. I wouldn't want anyone to go through that.

　　Suddenly I realized Janie wasn't only a bus driver, that was just her job. She had a whole world of family and concerns too. I had never thought of her as anything but a driver.

　　I suddenly felt very selfish. I realized I had only thought of people as far as what their purposes were in my life. I had never thought of them as people with lives and events of their own. I paid no attention to Janie because she was a bus driver. I had judged her by her job and brushed her off as unimportant.

　　For all I know, I'm just another person in someone else's world, and may not even be important. I shouldn't have been so selfish and self-centered. Everyone has places to go, people to see and appointments to keep. Understanding people is an art.

1．The driver talked to the writer because ________.

[　　]

A．she knew the writer was tired

B．she wanted the writer to share her sorrow

C．the writer sat very near her

D．she wanted to make the writer happy

2．The writer was probably ________.

[　　]

A．a(chǎn) polite student

B．a(chǎn) warm-hearted student

C．a(chǎn) good listener

D．a(chǎn) very selfish person

3．It was ________ that made the writer changed the attitude.

[　　]

A．the topic

B．her father's illness

C．her feelings

D．her voice

4．We can infer that it is the first time for the writer ________.

[　　]

A．talk to people face to face

B．to have a heart-to-heart talk

C．think of herself

D．to think of others

5．The short talk taught the writer to ________.

[　　]

A．how to talk with other people

B．look deeper into the people around

C．share with other people

D．understand people's sorrow

 　 “It’s over! Thank goodness!”

School was over and I was tired. I sat at the front of the school bus. Janie, the driver, tries to break the uncomfortable atmosphere by striking the match of talks. I try to listen politely, but usually I am too busy thinking about my day. On this day, however, her talk was worth listening to.

“My father’s ill,” she said to no one in particular. I could see worry in her eyes. I had never seen her like this before. She always meets students with a smile. With a sudden change of interest, I asked, “What’s wrong with him?”

With her eyes wet and her voice unusual, she answered, “Heart trouble.” Her eyes lowered as she continued, “I’ve already lost my mum, so I don’t think I can stand losing him.” I couldn’t answer. My heart ached for her.

I sat on the seat thinking of the great pain my own mother was thrown into when her father died. I saw how hard it was, and still is, for her. I wouldn’t want anyone to go through that.

Suddenly I realized Janie was more than a bus driver. That was just her job. She had a whole world of family and cares for them too.

I suddenly felt very selfish. I paid no attention to Janie because she was a bus driver. I had judged her by her job and brushed her off as unimportant. I shouldn’t have been so selfish and self-centered.

Understanding people is an art.

68. When the students get on the school bus, Janie usually _______.

A. tries to break the silence                     B. meets them with a smile

C. sits on her seat without words                D. speaks to herself

69. After she learned Janie’s story, the author thought of _______.

A. Janie’s pain when her mother died

B. her mother’s pain when the author’s father died

C. the author’s pain when her own father died

D. her mother’s pain when the author’s grandfather died

70．The writer felt very selfish because          .

A. she was always busy with her own studies.

B. she thought nothing of Janie as a driver.

C. she showed no concern about others.

D. she hardly thought of others.

71. In this passage the writer tries to tell us         .

A. understanding people around us takes time.

B. people should care for others more.

C. we should learn some skills to understand others.

D. we should pay attention when someone is speaking.