第三部分阅读理解(满分40分)
阅读下列短文,从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中选出最佳选项。
It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man. In the rush of his busy life, Jack had little time to think about the past and often no time to spend with his wife and son.
Over the phone, his mother told him: "Mr. Belter died. The funeral is Wednesday."
Memories flashed through his mind.
"Jack, did you hear me?"
"Oh sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. It’s been so long since I thought of him." Jack said.
"Well, he didn’t forget you. Every time I saw him he’d ask how you were doing. He’d reminisce (追忆) about the many days you spent with him," Mom told him.
"I loved that old house he lived in," Jack said.
"You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belter stepped in to make sure you had a man’s influence," she said.
"He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important... Mom, I’ll be there for the funeral," he said.
Jack caught the next flight to his hometown. Belter’s funeral was small and uneventful (平凡的). Most of his relatives had passed away.
Later, Jack and his mom stopped by to see the old house next door one more time. Standing in the doorway, Jack paused for a moment.
"What’s wrong, Jack?" his mom asked.
"There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk. I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All he’d ever tell me was ‘the thing I value most''," Jack said.
It was gone. He figured someone from the Belter family had taken it.
"Now I’ll never know what was so valuable to him," Jack said.
Back home, two weeks later Jack received a package. "From Mr. Harold Belter," it read. Inside were the gold box and an envelope.
"Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack Bennett. It’s the thing I valued most in my life." A small key was taped to the letter. Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch. He unlatched (打开) the cover. Inside he found these words:
"Jack, Thanks for your time! –Harold Belter."
"The thing he valued most... was... my time."
Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his office and cleared his appointments for the next two days. "Why?" Janet, his assistant asked.
"I need some time to spend with my son," he said. "Oh, by the way, Janet... thanks for your time!"
56. Jack seemed to have forgotten Mr. Belter before his mother called because ______.
A. he was too busy with his work to think about Mr. Belter
B. he was too devoted to his family to think about Mr. Belter
C. they had been separated from each other for a long time
D. Mr. Belter was nobody in his life
57. Jack’s mother told him all of the following about Mr. Belter on the phone EXCEPT that ______.
A. Mr. Belter often asked how Jack was doing
B. Mr. Belter’s funeral would take place on Wednesday
C. Mr. Belter had asked for Jack’s mailing address
D. Mr. Belter had pleasant memories of their time together
58. What was Jack’s attitude towards Mr. Belter?
A. Admiring. B. Grateful. C. Disrespectful. D. Dissatisfied.
59. Mr. Belter sent Jack his gold watch to ______.
A. let Jack know his secret
B. tell him how important time is
C. remind him to spend more time with his family
D. show his appreciation for the time Jack had spent with him