D(2025·江苏淮安·期中)
(“I” am a horse named Black Beauty in the novel.)
At midnight, I was sleeping in the stable(马厩).
Suddenly, I heard the bell ringing very loudly.
“Wake up, Beauty!” John said. “We must go quickly now.” He put the saddle(马鞍) on me and took me to the
front door of the house.
Mr Gordon was waiting for us at the front door with a letter in his hand, “John, my wife is very ill. Send this letter to Doctor White quickly, and then let Beauty have a rest there and come back as soon as you can.”
John and I went through the park and the village and down the hill. I ran as fast as I could. Hours later, we stopped by Doctor White’s house. John rang the bell twice and then knocked on the door hard.
Finally, Dr White opened the window and asked, “What do you want?”
“Mrs Gordon is very ill, sir. My master wants you to go at once. He thinks she will die without a doctor’s care. Here’s his letter,” John answered.
The doctor said, “I’ll go, but my horse worked the whole day and is tired. Can I ride yours?”
“Mr Gordon told me to rest Beauty. But if there’s no choice(选择), you can ride Beauty,” John said.
John patted(轻拍) me and I knew he felt sorry for me. Then Doctor White and I started the journey back. Doctor White was heavier and he wasn’t a good rider. However, I did my best.
Mr Gordon and Joe were waiting at the door. Doctor White went into the house with Mr Gordon and Joe took me to the stable.
My legs were shaking and there was not a dry hair on my body. Joe was young and knew very little. He did the best he could, cleaning my body, but he did not put a piece of cloth on me. He thought I was so hot that I would not like it. He gave me some cold water to drink. Then he gave me some food and went away.
Soon I began to shake, and my legs hurt so much that I knew I was ill. I wished John was there but he was still on his way home.
—Adapted from Black Beauty
( )12. Who was ill at the beginning of the story?
A. John. B. Joe.
C. Mrs Gordon. D. Doctor White.
()13. Why did John feel sorry?
A. Because Doctor White wasn’t a good rider.
B. Because Black Beauty would die on the way.
C. Because he and Beauty couldn’t go back together.
D. Because he had to keep Beauty working for too long.
()14. What can we know from the story?
A. The family was kind to Beauty.
B. Beauty wasn’t happy with the work.
C. John didn’t get along with Beauty.
D. Joe offered the right care to Beauty.
()15. What might happen next in the story?
A. Why Beauty got angry with Joe.
B. How the whole family got together.
C. Why Beauty needed a new master.
D. How Beauty got well with John’s care.