Exercises
A. Choose the best answer. Do not refer to the text.
The main idea of the story is that _______. ( D )
(a) a big bear wanted to attack the family but it only managed to frighten the cattle on the farm
(b) a man supported his family by hunting wild animals while his wife and children helped with farm work
(c) a mother was helped by one of her daughters with the milking of the cow and they spent a night together while the father was away in town
(d) a mother and her daughter living in the big woods encountered a big bear but got home safely
B. Comprehending the text.
Choose the best answer.
1. One day Pa went to town to ______. ( B )
(a) sell animals he had caught all winter and buy articles of daily use
(b) trade the furs of the wild animals he had caught
(c) do some urgent business in town and buy some food on the way
(d) buy some presents for the family since holidays were coming
2. When Pa was leaving, Ma was worried because ______. ( C )
(a) it might not be worth the effort going a long way to trade things
(b) the weather was not fine and the road was dangerous
(c) Pa might not be able to return before dark
(d) she and the girls would be without protection
3. Laura was proud to help Ma with ______. ( C )
(a) preparing the meal for Pa
(b) taking care of the other members of the family
(c) the milking of the cow at the barn
(d) driving Sukey, their cow, into the barnyard
4. When Ma and Laura saw the bear, they ______. ( D )
(a) ran away immediately
(b) were so frightened that they did not know what to do
(c) thought that Pa could get the fur of the animal
(d) both kept their heads and walked away as if nothing had happened
5. Ma praised Laura for her ______. ( C )
(a) courage in time of great danger
(b) readiness to help with household chores
(c) obedience in time of unexpected danger
(d) great capacity for hard work
6. The town was very far away from the house and Pa did not return until ______. ( C )
(a) very late that night
(b) very late the next day
(c) the next morning
(d) the next afternoon
7. It can be learned from the text that the family had _______ children. ( B )
(a) two
(b) three
(c) four
(d) five
8. Which of the following is NOT true?( C )
(a) Life in the wilderness was hard and full of danger.
(b) Courage and hard work were needed to live in the woods.
(c) Life in the woods was too dangerous for children.
(d) Life close to nature might also have its charms.
C. Understanding vocabulary.
Choose the correct definition according to the context.
1. In the Big Woods the snow was beginning to thaw. ( A )
(a) melt
(b) sink
(c) fall
(d) glow
2. At noon all the big icicles along the eaves of the little house quivered and sparkled in the sunshine, and drops of water hung trembling at their tips. ( D )
(a) shone
(b) worked
(c) weakened
(d) trembled
3. It was time to do the chores, and still he had not come. ( D )
(a) dishwashing
(b) homework
(c) saying prayers
(d) small household duties
4. There were so many furs that when they were packed tightly and tied together they made a bundle almost as big as Pa. ( B )
(a) lightly
(b) firmly
(c) together
(d) in a bundle
5. The woods were dark, but there was a gray light on the snowy path, and in the sky there were a few faint stars.( A )
(a) not bright
(b) not warm
(c) not big
(d) not near
6. She hung on to Ma and sobbed. ( B )
(a) hugged Ma
(b) leant against Ma
(c) pushed against Ma
(d) went to Ma
7. Ma sat by the lamp, mending one of Pa's shirts. ( B )
(a) folding
(b) repairing
(c) making
(d) cleaning
8. Then she went back to her rocking chair and sat there rocking gently and holding Baby Carrie in her arms. ( B )
(a) talking
(b) moving from side to side
(c) sitting
(d) waiting
9. She was sitting up late, waiting for Pa.( C )
(a) working hard
(b) sitting in an upright position
(c) not going to bed after the usual bedtime
(d) being very careful
10. Pa had got such good prices for his furs that he could afford to get them such beautiful presents.( A )
(a) had enough money
(b) had time
(c) was willing
(d) thought
D. Discussing the following topics.
1. Why did Ma say that Laura was a good girl?
答案： Ma said Laura was a good girl because in their encounter with a bear, Laura followed Ma's instructions exactly and did it quickly, without asking why.
2. What kind of people were Laura's parents?
答案： Laura's parents were typical American frontier people who lived in the sparsely populated big west. Pa did some outdoor undertakings such as hunting and trapping animals in the woods while Ma was responsible for housework and other indoor work. They lived almost self-sufficiently.
3. Discuss the kind of life the family lived in the big woods.
答案： The family lived in the Big Woods. In winter, Pa usually trapped animals so that they could trade the furs for some daily necessities in the next spring. They lived far from the town. The children in the family had not even seen a store. As natural threats such as a bear's breaking in were always around, they had to learn to cope with the harsh surroundings.
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