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One sunny afternoon in the autumn of the year 1861, a soldier lay in bushes by the side of a road in western Virginia, America. He lay at full length upon his stomach, his head upon his left forearm. His right hand loosely grasped his gun. But for the slight rhythmic movement of his back, he might have been thought to be dead. He was asleep at his post of duty. But if found, he would be dead shortly afterward, death being the legal punishment for his crime.

The sleeping soldier was a young Virginian named Carter Druse. He was the son of wealthy parents, an old child. His home was but a few miles from where he now lay. One morning he rose from the breakfast table and said seriously:’ Father, the Union army has arrived at Graton. I am going to join it. ‘

The father lifted his head, looked at his son a moment in silence, and replied,’ Go Carter, and whatever may occur, do what you consider to be your duty. Virginia, which you betray, must get on without you. If we both live to the end of the war, we will speak further of the matter.’

So Carter Druse, bowed to his father and left the home of his childhood. His bravery won him his selection for his present duty at the extreme post. Nevertheless, he fell asleep, exhausted. What good or bad angel came in a dream to awake him from his state of crime, who shall say? He quietly raised his forehead from his arm and looked between the bushes.

His first feeling was a great artistic delight. On the cliff(悬崖) was a man sitting on a horse, straight and soldierly. The face of the rider turned slightly away; he was looking downward to the bottom of the valley.

Fully awake and keenly alive now, Druse cautiously (谨慎地) pushed the gun forward through the bushes and covered a spot of horseman’s breast. A touch upon the trigger(扳机)  and all would have bene well with Druse. At that moment, the horseman turned and looked in his direction—seemed to look into his very face, into his eyes, into his brave heart.

Druse grew pale; his whole body shook. His hand fell away from his weapon, and his head slowly dropped until his face rested on the leaves.

The duty of the soldier was clear—the man must be shot dead. But no –there is a hope; he may have discovered nothing—perhaps he is but admiring the beauty of the landscape. Druse looked downward. He saw some foolish soldiers watering their horses in the open!

Druse fixed his eyes again upon the group of man and horse in the sky, and again it was through the sights of his gun. But this time his aim was at the horse. In his memory rang the words of his father,’ Whatever may occur, do what you consider to be your duty.’

He fired.

Ten minutes had passed when a Federal officer came to him cautiously.

‘Did you fire?’ the officer whispered.

‘ Yes.’

‘ At what?’

‘A horse. It was standing on the rock. You see it is no longer there. It went over the cliff.’

‘ The soldier’s face was white, but he showed no other sign of emotion. Having answered, he turned away his eyes and said no more. The officer did not understand.

‘See here, Druse,’ he said, ‘ It is no use making a mystery. I order you to report. Was there anybody on the horse?’

‘Yes.’

‘Well?’

‘My father.’

1.What can we learn from the first paragraph?

A.The soldier was thought to be dead.

B.The soldier was watching attentively.

C.The soldier was punished for his crime.

D.The soldier was sleeping on his duty.

2.What can be concluded from Paragraphs 2 and 3?

A.The father discouraged the son.

B.The son decided to fight for his belief.

C.Both the son and the father survived the war.

D.The son was sent abroad to fight for the country.

3.Which of the following best shows the struggle in the soldier’s mind?

A.His first feeling was a great artistic delight.

B.His head slowly dropped until his face rested on the leaves.

C.He saw some foolish soldiers watering their horses in the open!

D.Having answered, he turned away his eyes and said no more.

4.Why did Carter Druse fire in the end?

A.He did hit duty. B.He was cold-blooded.

C.He recognized the horse rider. D.He pulled the trigger by accident.

5.The writer wrote this story mainly to show ____.

A.the greatness of a father B.the growth of a soldier

C.the cruelty of the war D.the wisdom of an officer

高一英语阅读理解中等难度题

少年,再来一题如何?
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