Lightning flashed through the darkness over Donald Lubeck’s bedroom skylight. The 80-year-old retired worker was shaken by a blast of thunder. It was 11 p.m. The storm had moved directly over his two-story wood home in the rural town of Belchertown, Massachusetts. Then he heard the smoke alarm beeping. Lubeck padded down the stairs barefoot and opened the door to the basement, and flames exploded out.

Lubeck fled back upstairs to call 911 from his bedroom, but the phone didn’t work. Lubeck realized he was trapped. “I started panicking,” he says.

His daughter and young granddaughters, who lived with him, were away for the night. No one will even know I’m home, he thought. His house was three miles off the main road and so well hidden by pines that Lubeck knew calling for help would be fruitless.

Up a hill about a third of a mile away lived Lubeck’s closest neighbors, Jeremie Wentworth and his wife. Wentworth had been lying down, listening to the radio when it occurred to him that the sound was more like a smoke detector. He jumped out of bed, grabbed a cordless phone and a flashlight, and headed down the hillside toward the noise.

He dialed 911. “Is anyone there?” he called out as he approached the house. Wentworth knew that Lubeck lived in the house.

Then he heard, “Help me! I’m trapped!” coming from the balcony off Lubeck’s bedroom.

“I ran in and yelled,‘Don, where are you?’ Then I had to run outside to catch my breath.”

After one more attempt inside the house, he gave up and circled around back. But there was no way to get to him. “I shined the flashlight into the woods next to an old shed and noticed a ladder,” says Wentworth. He dragged it over to the balcony and pulled Lubeck down just as the second floor of the house collapsed.

Wentworth and Lubeck don’t run into each other regularly, but Lubeck now knows that if he ever needs help, Wentworth will be there.

Lubeck still chokes up when he tells the story. “I was alone,” he says. “Then I heard the most beautiful sound in my life. It was Jeremie.”

1.According to the text, Lubeck___________.

A．stayed calm in the fire                    B．couldn’t find a safe way out

C．lived on the first floor                    D．called for help in the fire

2.How did Wentworth help Lubeck escape?

A．He called 911.

B．He went upstairs and took Lubeck out.

C．He put out the fire.

D．He used a ladder and pulled Lubeck down.

3.Which of the following factors was not mentioned in the text that almost cost Lubeck’s life?

A．He was living in his wood home alone that night.

B．The storm was too heavy and the fire was too fierce.

C．He lived far from the main road and was surrounded by pines.

D．He was too frightened to escape from the danger.

4.What does the text mainly talk about?

A．A near neighbour is better than a distant cousin.

B．A good way to get a narrow escape.

C．God helps those who help themselves.

D．Blood is thicker than water.

Lightning flashed through the darkness over Donald Lubeck’s bedroom skylight. The 80-year-old retired worker was shaken by a blast of thunder. It was 11 p.m. The storm had moved directly over his two-story wood home in the rural town of Belchertown, Massachusetts. Then he heard the smoke alarm beeping. Lubeck padded down the stairs barefoot and opened the door to the basement, and flames exploded out.
Lubeck fled back upstairs to call 911 from his bedroom, but the phone didn’t work. Lubeck realized he was trapped. “I started panicking,” he says.
His daughter and young granddaughters, who lived with him, were away for the night. No one will even know I’m home, he thought. His house was three miles off the main road and so well hidden by pines that Lubeck knew calling for help would be fruitless.
Up a hill about a third of a mile away lived Lubeck’s closest neighbors, Jeremie Wentworth and his wife. Wentworth had been lying down, listening to the radio when it occurred to him that the sound was more like a smoke detector. He jumped out of bed, grabbed a cordless phone and a flashlight, and headed down the hillside toward the noise.
He dialed 911. “Is anyone there?” he called out as he approached the house. Wentworth knew that Lubeck lived in the house.
Then he heard, “Help me! I’m trapped!” coming from the balcony off Lubeck’s bedroom.
“I ran in and yelled,‘Don, where are you?’ Then I had to run outside to catch my breath.”
After one more attempt inside the house, he gave up and circled around back. But there was no way to get to him. “I shined the flashlight into the woods next to an old shed and noticed a ladder,” says Wentworth. He dragged it over to the balcony and pulled Lubeck down just as the second floor of the house collapsed.
Wentworth and Lubeck don’t run into each other regularly, but Lubeck now knows that if he ever needs help, Wentworth will be there.
Lubeck still chokes up when he tells the story. “I was alone,” he says. “Then I heard the most beautiful sound in my life. It was Jeremie.”
【小题1】According to the text, Lubeck___________.

Lightning flashed through the darkness over Sibson’s bedroom skylight（天窗）.Sibson was shaken by a clap of thunder ____21___ he knew what was happening. The storm had moved directly _____22____ his two-story wooden house. Then he heard the smoke alarm beeping.
Sibson rushed down the stairs barefoot to     23     ; he opened the door to the basement（地下室）, and flames      24     out. Sibson ran back upstairs to call 911 from his bedroom. “I felt      25      because the room had a separate outdoor stairway,” he explains.
But the phone didn’t work, and when he tried to go down the outdoor stairway, he was      26     by a wall of flames. Sibson realized he was trapped（困住）.
Sibson’s house was three kilometers      27     the main road and was so well hidden by trees that he knew calling for help would be     28     .
Up a hill nearby lived Sibson’s neighbor, Huggons. He was lying in bed when something like a smoke alarm      29     his ears. He jumped out of bed, took his     30     and flashlight, and headed down the hillside toward the    31    . That was when he saw the rolling heavy smoke.
Huggons dialed 911, and the operator warned him not to    32   the house. But Huggons said, “There is no way I am going to listen to Sibson    33    and die in that fire.”
“Anyone there?” Huggons called out. Then he heard “Help! I’m trapped!” coming from the second floor balcony（阳台）. He entered the house, but soon had to run back to catch his     34    .
After one more    35   inside the house, Huggons gave up and     36   around back.
The wind parted the smoke just     37    for him to catch sight of Sibson. But there was no way to get to him. He    38   the flashlight into the woods and noticed a ladder. He took it over to the balcony and     39    Sibson down just as the second floor of the house fell off.
Sibson is still     40    when he tells the story. “ I was alone that night,” he says. “Then I heard the most beautiful sound in my life. It was Huggons.”

Lightning flashed through the darkness over Sibson’s bedroom skylight(天窗).Sibson was shaken by a clap of thunder1 he knew what was happening. The storm had moved directly2 his two-story wooden house. Then he heard the smoke alarm beeping.
Sibson rushed down the stairs barefoot to3; he opened the door to the basement(地下室), and flames4out. Sibson ran back upstairs to call 911 from his bedroom. “I felt 5because the room had a separate outdoor stairway,” he explains.
But the phone didn’t work, and when he tried to go down the outdoor stairway, he was6by a wall of flames. Sibson realized he was trapped(困住).
Sibson’s house was three kilometers7the main road and was so well hidden by trees that he knew calling for help would be8.
Up a hill nearby lived Sibson’s neighbor, Huggons. He was lying in bed when something like a smoke alarm9his ears. He jumped out of bed, took his10and flashlight, and headed down the hillside toward the11. That was when he saw the rolling heavy smoke.
Huggons dialed 911, and the operator warned him not to12the house. But Huggons said, “There is no way I am going to listen to Sibson 13and die in that fire.”
“Anyone there?” Huggons called out. Then he heard “Help! I’m trapped!” coming from the second floor balcony(阳台). He entered the house, but soon had to run back to catch his14.
After one more15inside the house, Huggons gave up and16around back.
The wind parted the smoke just17for him to catch sight of Sibson. But there was no way to get to him. He18the flashlight into the woods and noticed a ladder. He took it over to the balcony and19Sibson down just as the second floor of the house fell off.
Sibson is still20when he tells the story. “ I was alone that night,” he says. “Then I heard the most beautiful sound in my life. It was Huggons.”

1. 1.
   1. A.
      before
   2. B.
      while
   3. C.
      since
   4. D.
      until
2. 2.
   1. A.
      on
   2. B.
      in
   3. C.
      through
   4. D.
      over
3. 3.
   1. A.
      hide
   2. B.
      wait
   3. C.
      check
   4. D.
      escape
4. 4.
   1. A.
      moved
   2. B.
      gave
   3. C.
      went
   4. D.
      exploded
5. 5.
   1. A.
      safe
   2. B.
      worried
   3. C.
      glad
   4. D.
      tired
6. 6.
   1. A.
      burned
   2. B.
      stopped
   3. C.
      shocked
   4. D.
      covered
7. 7.
   1. A.
      beside
   2. B.
      off
   3. C.
      across
   4. D.
      along
8. 8.
   1. A.
      limited
   2. B.
      false
   3. C.
      fruitless
   4. D.
      regretful
9. 9.
   1. A.
      struck
   2. B.
      missed
   3. C.
      touched
   4. D.
      passed
10. 10.
    1. A.
       coat
    2. B.
       key
    3. C.
       basin
    4. D.
       phone
11. 11.
    1. A.
       noise
    2. B.
       road
    3. C.
       smoke
    4. D.
       danger
12. 12.
    1. A.
       search
    2. B.
       enter
    3. C.
       leave
    4. D.
       damage
13. 13.
    1. A.
       call
    2. B.
       roll
    3. C.
       scream
    4. D.
       sigh
14. 14.
    1. A.
       breath
    2. B.
       attention
    3. C.
       ladder
    4. D.
       flashlight
15. 15.
    1. A.
       stay
    2. B.
       chance
    3. C.
       thought
    4. D.
       attempt
16. 16.
    1. A.
       climbed
    2. B.
       circled
    3. C.
       looked
    4. D.
       jumped
17. 17.
    1. A.
       clear
    2. B.
       open
    3. C.
       enough
    4. D.
       fit
18. 18.
    1. A.
       led
    2. B.
       put
    3. C.
       drove
    4. D.
       shone
19. 19.
    1. A.
       persuaded
    2. B.
       kicked
    3. C.
       pulled
    4. D.
       forced
20. 20.
    1. A.
       nervous
    2. B.
       surprised
    3. C.
       proud
    4. D.
       thankful