第二部分 阅读理解（共25小题；第一节每小题2分，第二节每小题1分；满分45分）
阅读下列短文， 从每题所给的四个选项中选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将
该项涂黑。
It was the old lady’s eightieth birthday. She was sure Myra wouldn’t forget her mother’s birthday, even if she was busy. After all, eighty was a special birthday. Perhaps Myra might come. Even if Myra did not come, she would send a present. The old lady was sure of that. Two spots of colour brightened her cheeks. She was excited like a child.
Mrs. Morrison had brought a card and a bunch of flowers when she came to do the breakfast. Mrs. Grant downstairs had made a cake. Johnnie, the little boy next door, was now up with her with a packet of sweets.
“I guess you’ll get lots and lots of presents,” he said. “I did last week when I was six.”
What would she like? A pair of slippers perhaps. A blue new cardigan. Or a table lamp. Or a little clock, with clear black numbers. So many lovely things.
She stood by the window, watching. The postman turned round the corner on his bicycle. Her heart beat fast. Johnnie had seen him too and ran to the gate.
“Granny, granny,” Johnnie returned. “I’ve got your post!”
He gave her four envelopes. Three were from old friends. The fourth was in Myra’s writing.
“No parcel, Johnnie?”
“No, granny.”
Almost reluctantly, she tore the fourth envelope open. Folded in the card was a check. Written on the card was a message: Happy Birthday—Buy yourself something nice with the check, Myra and Harold.
The six-figure check fell to the floor like a bird with a broken wing. Slowly the old lady bent to pick it up. Her present, her lovely present. With trembling fingers she tore it into little bits.
41. As can be inferred from the passage, ______.
A. the neighbours cared little about the old lady in daily life
B. the friends sent the old lady many lovely presents by post
C. Myra was stopped by her husband from seeing her mother
D. the old lady lived alone in a flat away from her daughter
42. The old lady felt ______ when she saw the fourth envelope in her daughter’s writing.
A. excited B. disappointed C. happy D. impatient
43. The reason the old lady tore the check into small pieces was that______.
A. she was sure her daughter would come, not the check
B. she didn’t notice there were six figures on the check
C. she would prefer a present with love from her daughter
D. she didn’t think the check was large enough for a present
44. Which of the following might serve as the best title for the passage?
A. The Present. B. The Check. C. The Birthday. D. The Daughter.