单选题
It is customary for adults to forget how hard and dull and
long school is. The learning by memory of all the basic things one must know is
a most incredible and unending effort. Learning to read is probably the most
difficult and revolutionary thing that happens to the human brain and if you
don't believe that, watch an illiterate adult try to do it. School is not easy
and it is not for the most part very much fun, but then, if you are very lucky,
you may find a real teacher. Three real teachers in a lifetime is the very best
of my luck. My first was a science and math teacher in high school, my second, a
professor of creative writing at Stanford, and my third was my friend and
partner, Ed Ricketts. I have come to believe that a great
teacher is a great artist and that there are as few as there are any other great
artists. It might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human
mind and spirit. My three had these things in common: They all
loved what they were doing. Under their influence, the horizons sprung wide and
fear went away and the unknown became knowable. I shall speak
only of my first teacher because in addition to the other things, she brought
discovery. She aroused us to shouting, book-waving discussions. She had the
noisiest class in school and she didn't even seem to know it. We could never
stick to the subject. Our speculation ranged the world. She breathed curiosity
into us so that we brought in facts or truths shielded in our hands like
captured fireflies. She was fired and perhaps rightly so, for
failing to teach fundamentals. Such things must be learned. But she left a
passion in us for the pure knowable world and she inflamed me with a curiosity
which has never left. I have had many teachers who told me soon-forgotten backs
but only three who created in me a new attitude and a new hunger. What deathless
power lies in the hands of such a person?
单选题
In the writer's opinion, school life is usually ______.
A. it is easy to find great artists as well as good teachers
B. there are fewer great teachers but many great artists
C. the greatest artists are not easy to find; nor are the greatest
teachers
D. being a great teacher is a great art to learn because teachers spread
knowledge
【正确答案】
C
【答案解析】细节题。从第二段第一句I have come to believe that a great teacher is a great artist and that there are as few as there are any other great artists.得知好老师就是好艺术家，而且两者都不多。
单选题
In the writer's opinion, a good teacher should ______.
A. teach students the fundamental things
B. stick to one subject and be strict with students
C. teach students the knowledge ranging the world
D. arouse students' curiosity and desire to know the world
【正确答案】
D
【答案解析】细节题。从文章第三段可以看出三位老师的共同点，1. They all loved what they were doing. 2. They catalyzed a burning desire to know.第一点是他们都爱他们的事业，第二点是他们都是潜移默化地激发学生学习的欲望。答案D符合第二个共同点。
单选题
The writer's first teacher was dismissed mainly because ______.
A. her class was the noisiest in school
B. she did not teach basic knowledge in class
C. she let the students shout and wave books in class
D. she did not know how to teach basic knowledge effectively
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】细节题。最后一段的第一句话She was fired and perhaps rightly so, for failing to teach fundamentals.可以解答这个问题。
单选题
What is the best title of this article?
A. The Teachers in My Life
B. How to Become A Teacher
C. What to teach at School
D. What Makes A Good Teacher
【正确答案】
D
【答案解析】主旨题。全篇讲的是好老师可遇而不可求，作者提到对自己影响深刻的三位老师，并对这三位老师的共同特点做了总结。并在文章的最后两段指出好老师要激发孩子的求知欲。所以D. What Makes A Good Teacher“好老师的素质”最能概括整篇短文的大意。