The event that stands out in my memory happened one morning in 1983 when I was 14 years old. I was at home with my mother, getting ready for the afternoon session of school.
I was doing my homework when I heard raised voices. At first I thought nothing of it—customers in the motorcycle shop directly below us often became unruly and loud, but I soon realized this was different.
“Quick! Remove the motorcycles from the shop,” someone yelled.
Then a thick burning smell filled the air. When I opened the front door of our flat to investigate, a thick cloud of smoke, billowing up from the ground floor, greeted me. The motorcycle shop had caught fire.
My mum, who had been working in the kitchen, hurried to the living room. We rushed out of the door and along the corridor through the smoke.
We were heading towards the stairway at the far end of the corridor when Mum stopped in  her tracks. She turned around and headed back the way we came. I had no idea what she was doing, but I followed suit.
Mum had suddenly remembered the Korean lady in her 70s who lived next door to us, who we called Makcik. Mum began banging on Makcik’s door, but to no avail. As the smoke thickened around us, I could see many of our neighbors—some still in their pyjamas—running for safety.
“She would have run for safety like everyone else!” I cried.
Mum refused to give up. “I know Makcik’s still inside,” she said as she pounded the door. “Go downstairs，Shaji. Go now!”
However, frozen with fear, I stood rooted to the spot. By then, both of us were coughing and our eyes were stinging. Time seemed to stand still, though we were probably there for only  two or three minutes.
Just as I was beginning to suffocate(窒息), the door opened. Makcik stood there, totally confused. Mum was right—she had been unaware of what was happening. Grabbing her hand, Mum led Makcik downstairs and outside to a safe spot where people had gathered to witness the fire.
The firemen had just arrived and set about fighting the blaze, which was reaching up to the two floors above the motorcycle shop.
Comprehending the gravity of the situation, Makcik broke down. Holding my mother’s hands tightly, and with tears flowing down her cheeks, she spoke to Mum. I could not hear what she said, but there was no mistaking her gratitude. I learned later that Makcik was sleeping when the fire broke out.
I dread to think what would have happened if Mum had not turned back for her.
Soon the firemen put out the billowing flames. There were no deaths or injuries, though the motorcycle shop was completely destroyed.
Although the fire had damaged our corridor badly, it was put out before it could spread into our flat. Our home had been saved, though everything was covered in soot(黑灰)and an awful smell hung in the air. And, sadly, my pet lovebirds were dead.
I felt terrible for not saving them in my haste. However, the thought of Mum’s courageous act in saving a human life brought great relief.
Years later, I asked Mum about this incident. She said she was familiar with Makcik’s daily routine and was certain she would still be sleeping. When I asked if she was scared, Mum replied: “When a loved one is in danger, the thought of fear never crosses the mind.”
During my school days, whenever I wrote an essay about courageous deeds, I always focused  on soldiers risking their lives to save others. It never occurred to me to write about my mum who had, in her determined way, saved our elderly neighbor. Today I know better. Maria Thomas, a timid and modest lady, someone who would not be mistaken for a superhero, had turned out to be my real hero.
【语篇解读】本文是一篇记叙文，主要介绍了楼下的摩托店发生火灾，妈妈在和“我”逃离时，突然想到了住在隔壁的年老的Makcik，最终把她带到了安全的地方。妈妈在“我”的心中是超级英雄。
65. It can be inferred from the passage that _______.
A. firefighters broke in and saved Makcik from the fire
B. Makcik ran for safety like everyone else after the fire broke out
C. Makcik survived the fire owing to my mum’s timely rescue
D. people headed back to Makcik’s flat at the request of my mother
【答案】C
【解析】推理判断题。根据文章可知，摩托店发生火灾，妈妈和“我”在逃离时，是妈妈想到Makcik，并坚持等到把Makcik叫醒，并把她带到了安全的地方。故选C项。
66. Receiving no response from Makcik, Mum still refused to leave because _______.
A. she didn’t realize that the fire was quickly surrounding her
B. she was sure that Makcik must be sleeping at that time
C. she was convinced that Makcik must be too scared to move
D. she was informed that Makcik was in desperate need of help
【答案】B
【解析】细节理解题。根据第九段中的“I know Makcik’s still inside”以及倒数第二段第二句话“She said she was familiar with Makcik’s daily routine and was certain she would still be sleeping.”可知，妈妈了解Makcik的生活习惯，知道她那时一定在睡觉，所以她没有放弃。故选B项。
67. What made Makcik break down after she reached a safe spot?
A. The big fire was spreading rapidly.
B. People’s terrible screams shocked her.
C. Mum’s sudden appearance moved her deeply.
D. The serious situation made her confused.
【答案】A
【解析】细节理解题。根据第十三段第一句话“Comprehending the gravity of the situation, Makcik broke down.”可知，大火迅速地蔓延，Makcik在知道了情况的严重性之后崩溃了。故选A项。
68. Which of the following best explains the underlined sentence “When a loved one is in danger，the thought of fear never crosses the mind.”?
A. Love makes all hard hearts gentle. B. Love warms more than a thousand fires.
C. Love is never paid but with true love. D. Love fears no danger.
【答案】D
【解析】句意猜测题。根据倒数第二段妈妈所说的话可知，当心爱的人身处危险境地的时候，我们根本就不会察觉到自己的恐惧。故选D项。
69. The writer mentions the soldiers and Mum in the last paragraph to _______.
A. highlight Mum’s courage and determination by making comparisons
B. show respect for firemen’s courageous deeds by providing explanations
C. convey Mum’s influence on my attitude to danger by offering analyses
D. emphasize the neighbor’s gratitude to Mum by giving examples
【答案】A
【解析】推理判断题。根据最后一段第一句中的“whenever I wrote an essay about  courageous deeds”以及提到妈妈和士兵们一样，都是冒着生命危险挽救别人可推断，作者提到士兵和妈妈是为了通过比较来突出妈妈的勇气和决心。故选A项。
70. Which of the following is the best title for the passage?
A. My Neighbor: A Narrow Escape B. The Firefighting: A Thrilling Story
C. My Mother: The Superhero D. The Fire: An Unforgettable Experience
【答案】C
【解析】主旨大意题(标题)。文章最后一句话点明了文章主旨，即“我”的妈妈不顾生命危险救了老奶奶Makcik，在“我”心中妈妈是位超级英雄。故选C项。