专题07 阅读理解之小说和诗歌-学易金卷：2023年中考英语一模试题分项汇编（江苏专用）

专题07 阅读理解之小说和诗歌 （2023·江苏无锡·无锡市天一实验学校校考一模）When Oliver arrived in this hard world, it was very doubtful whether he would live beyond the first three minutes. He lay on a hard little bed and struggled to start breathing. Oliver fought his first battle without much help from the two people present at his birth. One was an old woman, who was nearly always drunk, and the other was a busy local doctor, who was not paid enough to be very interested in Oliver’s survive. However, Oliver managed to draw his first breath, and then announced his arrival by crying loudly. His mother raised her pale young face and whispered, “let me see it.” The doctor turned away from the fire, where he had been warming his hands. He gave her the child. Lovingly, she kissed the baby with her cold white lips, then stared wildly around the room, fell back—and died. The doctor began to put on his coat. “The mother was a good-looking girl. Where did she come from?” “She was brought here last night,” replied the old woman. “She was found lying in the street. Where she came from, or what her name was, nobody knows.” The doctor lifted the girl’s left hand. “The old story,” he shook his head. “No wedding ring, I see. Ah! Good night.” And so Oliver was left with only the drunken nurse. He was then sent to a special “baby farm” nearby. There, he and thirty other children rolled (翻滚) around the floor all day, without the inconvenience of too much food or too much clothing. Mrs. Mann, who “looked after” them, was very experienced. She knew what was good for children. She also knew what was good for herself. The board (董事会) responsible for the orphans (孤儿) sometimes checked on the health of the children, but they always sent Mr. Bumble, a kind local policeman, to announce their visit the day before. So whenever the board arrived, of course, the children were always neat and clean. On Oliver’s ninth birthday, Mr. Bumble came to see Mrs. Mann. Through the front window, Mrs. Mann saw him at the gate, and t