阅读理解。
It was a week before Christmas, but things were far from cheery. Our task was to deliver as many boxes
of food as possible to those in need in Camden, New Jersey. There were no Christmas carolers (唱颂歌的人)
walking these streets that were lined with boarded-up (用木板封住的) houses and broken windows. Mothers
kept their children close as they hurried down the streets. It was mid-afternoon, but even the bright sun couldn't warm this place.
Red tickets in the windows marked which houses we were to visit. Our white truck stopped in front of one
townhouse and our group knocked on the door. In our arms were boxes filled with ham, bread and other
essentials to make the perfect Christmas dinner. Four small faces glanced through the curtains and one
exhausted mom answered the door. She seemed embarrassed to be caught in her nightgown with undone hair.
She was in her mid-20s, but her rough skin and tired eyes added years.
"Sacred Heart food delivery service," I smiled."Where can we put this for you?"
She pointed and as we entered the house, I noticed the conditions they lived in. The children climbed around, wearing only diapers (尿布). There were no carpets, only cold concrete beneath our feet. There was no
Christmas tree or decorations. My heart sank. It was so cold, and I found it hard to believe that this was reality
for this family. We set the boxes down and the mother grabbed my hand.
"You don't know how much of a blessing this is to me and my family," she said, crying."We are just getting by." I opened my arms and gave her a hug.
"Happy holidays!" I replied before I headed out the door. I realized how warm I felt inside. This was unlike
anything I had ever experienced. We cannot help what family we are born into, but we can help each other.
1. From Paragraph 1, we can infer that Camden may be a place where ______.
A. the living conditions were terrible
B. people had no belief
C. there was no sign of life
D. little sunshine was received
2. What impression did the woman leave on the author?
A. She was shy and cold to visitors.
B. She was confident and energetic.
C. She wasn't good at dressing herself up.
D. She looked much older than her age.
3. By saying "We are just getting by", the woman meant ______.
A. they were waiting for help
B. they were looking for food and clothing
C. they were going to move away
D. they were living a very poor life
4. The passage mainly tells us that _______.
A. the poor can also help others
B. assisting the poor needs actions
C. people should help each other
D. having more children causes poverty
