14．When a dirty and untidy orange cat showed up in the prison yard，I was one of the first to go out there and pet it．I hadn't touched a cat or a dog in over 20years．I spent at least 20minutes，knelt down behind the kitchen as the cat rolled around，relaxed．What he was expressing outwardly，I was feeling inwardly．It was an amazing bit of grace to feel him under my hand and note that I was reaching a life or another creature with something as simple as my care．
Over the next few days，there were other prisoners responding to the cat．Every yard period，a group of prisoners gathered there．They stood around talking and taking turns petting the cat．These were guys you wouldn't usually find talking to each other．Several times I saw an officer in the group，not chasing people away，but just watching and seeming to enjoy along with the prisoners．Bowls of milk and water appeared along with bread，wisely placed under the edge of the dustbin to keep the birds from getting it．
The cat was obviously homeless and in pretty bad shape．People said that the cat came to the right place．He's getting treated like a king．This was true．but as I watched I was also thinking about what the cat was doing for us．There was a lot of talk about what's wrong with prisons in America．We need more programs．We need more psychologists or treatment of various kinds．Some may even talk about making prisons more kind．But I think what we really need is a chance to practise our own kindness．Not receive it，but give it．After more than two decades here，I know kindness is not a value that's encouraged．It's often seen as a weakness．
Instead，the culture encourages keeping your head down，minding your own business，and never letting yourself be weak．
The cat did my heart good to see the effect he had on me and the men here．By simply saying，"I need some help here"，he did something important for us．He needed us．And we needed to be needed．I believe we all do．
24．Which of the following statements is true？B
A．The cat was dirty because it was kept in prison．
B．The author realized the importance of practising kindness．
C．The officer in the prison enjoyed petting the cat．
D．The prisoners prepared food for both the cat and birds．
25．We can infer from the third paragraph thatD．
A．caring for others is encouraged in American prisons
B．the American prison culture will be improved
C．showing love to others can make prisoners strong
D．the author is not content with the prison culture
26．What is the best title for the passage？C
A．Animals Need Care．
B．Prison Culture is Important．
C．Caring Makes Us Human．
D．Everyone Needs to be Cared for．
27．In Paragraph 2，the author mentioned that"Several times I saw an officer in the group，not chasing people away，but just watching and seeming to enjoy along with the prisoners．"toC．
A．show us the officer and prisoners get along well with each other
B．show us the officer and prisoners all like the cat
C．show us the American prison culture does need improvement
D．show us the American prison culture is great．
分析 本文講述了一只臟兮兮的小貓進(jìn)入了監(jiān)獄，卻得到了監(jiān)獄里的囚犯們的一致歡迎．說明正是因為人們身上存在的善良讓我們成為人．讓作者認(rèn)識到善良的重要性，也意識到美國的監(jiān)獄文化急需改善．
解答 24．B 推理判斷題．根據(jù)第三段最后3行But I think what we really need is a chance to practise our own kindness．Not receive it，but give it．After more than two decades here，I know kindness is not a value that's encouraged．It's often seen as a weakness．說明作者意識到行善的重要性，故B正確．
25．D推斷判斷題．根據(jù)第三段There was a lot of talk about what's wrong with prisons in America．We need more programs．We need more psychologists or treatment of various kinds．Some may even talk about making prisons more kind．說明作者認(rèn)為美國的監(jiān)獄里的監(jiān)獄文化有很大的問題．故D正確．
26．C 主旨大意題．本文講述了一只小貓進(jìn)入了監(jiān)獄，得到了監(jiān)獄里的囚犯們的一致歡迎．說明正是因為人們身上存在的善良讓我們成為人．讓作者認(rèn)識到善良的重要性．故C正確．
27．C 推理判斷題．根據(jù)作者所提，連監(jiān)獄的獄警都對這只貓表現(xiàn)出愛心，沒有驅(qū)散囚犯，而是和他們一起來享受這一輕松時刻．說明美國的監(jiān)獄的確沒什么讓人感興趣的地方，沒有文化可言，的確有待改善．所以答案選C．
點評 在閱讀時要抓住文章的主題和細(xì)節(jié)，分析文章結(jié)構(gòu)，根據(jù)上下文內(nèi)在聯(lián)系，挖掘文章的深層含義，對于暗含在文章中的人物的行為動機，事件中的因果關(guān)系及作者未言明的傾向、意圖、態(tài)度、觀點等要進(jìn)行合乎邏輯的判斷、推理、分析，進(jìn)一步增強理解能力，抓住材料實質(zhì)性的東西
