间是因果关系，故用therefore。meanwhile“与此同时”；otherwise“否则”；however“然而”。] 34．A.apply C．contribute
B．owe D．adapt
B [作者将这一切都归功于他卧病在床的那段漫长时光。owe ...to ...“把……归功于……”，是固定用法。] 35．A.awareness C．comment
B．agreement D．compromise
A [更有智慧的人无须被困到如此境地也能明白这些道理。awareness“意识，明白”符合语境。compromise“妥协”。]
【导学号：25874089】
Ⅲ.阅读理解——故事轶闻
(2017·镇江高三一模)One steamy July afternoon in Central Arkansas，I was working on an important project in my home office with a dear friend and colleague.My trusty printer was churning out(快速生产)a time-sensitive report when it simply stopped.After fifteen minutes of trying to repair，I decided to buy a new printer.Upon our return，my heart froze to see my house on fire.
Despite having spent much of my life writing，I was still lost for adequate words to describe the sick，sinking feeling of seeing my home，business，and belongings going up in flames along with photographs and memories collected over a lifetime.But the panic that filled my shocked heart in that awful moment was for the nine cats that shared my home after being rescued from situations of abuse and abandonment.
Responding to an early security system warning, the amazing firefighters arrived in record time，but the chemical-laden smoke had already caused deaths.I examined and kissed each cat goodbye，extremely grateful that they had passed away gently，without injuries or burns.
Only animal lovers really understand the unbelievable impact that the loss of one beloved four-legged family member can have on your heart，mind and soul.The loss of so many dearly loved creatures sent me reeling(发蒙)．
After staying with another great friend for a couple of weeks，I was relocated to
a furnished apartment.One evening，about a month after moving in，I was occupied in writing a mystery novel when a falsetto “meow” sounded from outside the apartment door.Was it my mind playing tricks again? More than once I had heard，seen or felt the brush of one of my departed furry roommates.The meow grew louder and more insistent.Curious，I opened the door.
Sitting on the doorstep was a kitten(小猫)with an exotic black coat and alert amber eyes.A neighbor walking by picked him up and began petting him.When I remarked how cute her kitten was，she explained that he had been born under a bridge and looked around for food.This kittyloving neighbor was quick to offer an extra litter box if I was interested in giving him a home.My immediate reaction was a facetious(开玩笑的)“that's all I need！” After_all，my_resolution(决心)_had_been_well_reasoned_and_remained_firm.But without hesitation she put the adorable kitten down.I thanked her and closed the door，resolved to just let him stay until a real home could be found.
That night，as I slid between the sheets of the still unfamiliar bed in the still unfamiliar apartment，the energetic little fur ball jumped onto the bed，yawned dramatically，and nestled by my side.Those who have never shared a sleep with a creature or two may not relate，but that was the first night since the fire that I actually slept.Stubbornly determined not to open myself to more animals—to more pain－I had refused to admit how desperately I missed having a warm fuzzy cuddled(依偎)close.
Needless to say，the cat community knew the precise prescription for healing far better than I．The name Starlight(Star for short )seemed perfect because that night he brought some light back into my life.
Star adores wrestling rubber bands，races up and down the stairs，darts outside anytime the door opens，suddenly appears everywhere I don't want him to be，holds onto the broom while I'm trying to sweep，and rolls in catnip or whatever else happens to be on the floor.In hindsight(事后看来)，a better name might have been “Star，Stop It！”
In the five years since the fire，we have been through a lot，Starlight and I．We
returned to the house，managed to keep the business alive，brought the mystery novel to the final edits before it's submitted in hopes of publication，and made a lot more resolutions.Star helped me through the massive，yet untraditional，healing of spirit.The memories of the kitties that passed away in the fire now spark only warmth in my heart and win some smiles.Every single day，I appreciate the serendipitous(有意外收获的) nature of the universe that sent me hope in the form of a little black fur ball.
So take a little advice from my furry friend: no matter how hopeless things may become or how fixed your resolution may be，open the door whenever opportunity knocks.It just might be a star to light your way.
【语篇解读】 本文是记叙文。文章主要讲述了作者和猫的不解之缘。 36．What made the author relieved after the fire was put out? A．A new printer helping finish the time-sensitive report. B．A description of the belongings going up in flames. C．The cats being rescued from situations of abandonment. D．The cats being dead without receiving injuries in the fire.
D [细节理解题。根据第三段第二句“I examined and kissed each cat goodbye，extremely grateful that they had passed away gently，without injuries or burns”可知，大火扑灭后令作者欣慰的是虽然他的猫去世了，但它们在大火中并没有受伤。故选D项。]
37．What probably caused the author to open the door?
A．The idea of seeing his beloved four-legged family member again. B．The impact of the loss of loved creatures on his mind and soul. C．The brush of his departed furry roommates playing tricks on him. D．The curiosity about the novel written in memory of his cats.
A [推理判断题。根据第五段中的“Was it my mind ...The meow grew louder and more insistent.Curious，I opened the door”可知，作者抱着能再次看到自己心爱的猫回来的好奇心打开了门。故选A项。] 38．What does the underlined sentence in Paragraph 6 mean? A．The author desired to make friends with a cat-loving neighbor.
B．The author made a decision not to take in any animals. C．The author didn't consider a cat-loving neighbor as a friend. D．The author made a decision to adopt other animals.
B [句意理解题。根据第六段中的“...My immediate reaction was a facetious(开玩笑的)‘that's all I need！’．..But without hesitation she put the adorable kitten down”可知，当邻居提出来让作者收养这只猫时，作者的第一反应是开玩笑地说“这是我所需要的”，再结合下文但是邻居毫不犹豫地把猫放了下来的转折可知，作者原本是不想收养这只猫的，故画线句表示作者下定决心不收养、不接受任何动物。故选B项。]
39．The author had had a good sleep for the first time since the fire mainly because
________．
A．he never shared a sleep with a kitten B．he refused to admit missing a kitten C．he determined to open himself to pain D．he accepted the kitten and slept with it
D [细节理解题。根据第七段“ That night，as I slid between the sheets of the still unfamiliar bed in the still unfamiliar apartment，the energetic little fur ball jumped onto the bed，yawned dramatically，and nestled by my side ...close”可知，作者在那场大火之后第一次睡了个好觉是因为有猫的陪伴，即作者从内心上接受了这只猫。故选D项。]
40．What did the author say about Starlight? A．It was very naughty and made him annoyed. B．It knew how to make up prescriptions for healing. C．It made him regain hope and make progress.
D．It should have been given a wrong name “Starlight”．
C [推理判断题。根据第八段“...The name Starlight(Star for short)seemed perfect because that night he brought some light back into my life”和最后两段的内容可知，名为“星光”的猫使作者重新获得希望并取得进步。故选C项。] 41．What is the best title for the passage? A．The Dream for Kittens
