LATE ONE SUNDAY AFTERNOON in September 1999，Oseola McCarty，an elderly cleaning lady passed away in the little wooden frame house where she had lived and worked most of her life. It may seem like an ordinary end to a humble life，but there was something quite exceptional about this woman. 1
In the summer of 1995 ，McCarty gave $ 150，000，most of the money she had saved throughout her life，to the University of Southern Mississippi in her hometown. The money was to help other African Americans through university. She had started her savings habit as a young child when she would return from school to clean and iron for money which she would then save.
She led a simple，frugal existence，never spending on anything but her most basic needs. 2 Her bank also advised her on investing her hard-earned savings.
When she retired，she decided that she wanted to use the money to give children of limited Means the opportunity to go to university. 3 She had wanted to become a nurse，but had to leave school to look after ill relatives and work. When asked why she had given her life savings away，she replied，Im giving it away so that children wont have to work so hard，like I did. After news of her donation hit the media，over 600 donations were made to the scholarship fund. One was given by media executive，Ted Turner，who reputedly gave a billion dollars.
She didnt want any fuss made over her gift，but the news got out and she was invited all over the United States to talk to people. Wherever she went ，people would come up to her to say a few words or to just touch her. She met the ordinary and the famous，President Clinton included. In the last few years of her life，before she died of cancer，McCarty was given over 300 awards：she was honoured by the United Nations and received the Presidential Citizen s Medal. Despite having no real education，she found herself with two honorary doctorates：one from the University of Southern Mississippi and the other from Harvard University. Her generosity was clearly an inspiration to many and proof that true selflessness does exist.
词汇:
frugal /fru:g l/ adj. 节约的，俭朴的，花钱少 的，物质的，廉价的 fuss /f s / n. 慌乱，小题大做，抱怨争吵 V. 忙
donation /d vneif n/ n. 捐赠，捐款，捐赠的 乱，烦恼抱怨
注释:
1. It mayseem like an ordinary end to a humble life，but there was something quite exceptional about this woman. 这位老妇人看似平凡的一生却有着非同寻常的意义。
2. She led a simple，frugal existence，never spending on anything but her most basic needs. 她一生过着简单、节俭的生活，除了生活必需品外她从不在其他事情上花钱。
3. When she retired，she decided that she wanted to use the money to give children of limited means the opportunity to go to university. 当她退休的时候，她决定用钱给那些条件有限的孩 子提供上大学的机会。
练习:
1. This woman shocked and inspired the world because _______.
A) she had managed to save so much money
B) she gave her money to African Americans
C) she gave her life savings to help others through university
D) she only spent money on cheap things
2. She managed to save so much mOI1y because_______.
A) she had ironed and washed clothes all her life
B) she had worked hard ，saved hard and invested carefully
C) she had opened a good向 bank account
D) she knew how to make money
3. She gave her money away because_______.
A) she wanted to help -the university
B) she wanted others to have the chance to become nurses
C) she wanted others to have the opportunity to escape a hard life
D) she want to be remembered after her death
4. When her generosity was made_______.
A) people donated billions
B) hundreds of students got scholarships
C) hundreds of people put money into the fund
D) she was sent to university
5. McCarty became famous because _______.
A) of her generosity
B) of her exceptional skills
C) she had saved $ 150，000
D) she travelled all over America
答案与题解:
1. C 本题的问题是:这个女人震撼和鼓舞世界的原因是什么?从文章的第一段最后一句看出 这个女人有不同于寻常人的地方，第二段第一句直接给出了她不同寻常有着卓越意义的原因，即捐款 150000 美元。故此题答案为 C。A、B 项不切题。D 选项未提及。
2. B本题的问题是:她能够攒下如此多的钱的原因是什么?从文中第二段最后一句话与第三 段第一句话可以得出结论，她从年轻的时候便开始有积蓄的习惯并且除了生活必需品外几乎没有开销，故本题答案为 B。A 项不切题，C，D 项未提及。
3. C本题的问题是:她把钱捐出来的原因是什么?由第四段中间她的回答可知，她是想让孩 子们摆脱苦难的生活，不用生活得如此艰辛。故此题答案为 C。
4. C 本题的问题是:她的慷慨行为公之于世后有什么样的影响?由第四段最后两句可得出答案，原文只提及一个名为 Ted Turner 的人捐款十亿美元，所以 A 选项不正确，B 选项不切题，D 选项未提及，故本题正确答案为 C。
5. A本题的问题是：McCarty 因什么而闻名?总览全文可知A为正确答案C，D 选项不切题，B 选项未提及。