Living an Adventurous Life

Nearly ten years ago, I was told that I had a brain tumor (瘤), and this experience changed my attitude about adventure forever.I thought that I was going to die and that all my adventures were over.I did not have a brain tumor, it turned out, but rather multiple sclerosis (多发性硬化症), which meant that, although they were not over, the nature of my adventures could have to change.

Each morning that I wake up is a fresh event, something that I might not have had.Each gesture that I make carries the weight of uncertainty and demands significant attention: buttoning my shirt, changing a light bulb, walking down stairs.I might not be able to do it this time.If I could not delight in them, they would likely drown me in anger and in self-pity.

I admire the grand adventures of others.I read about them with interest.With Peter Matthiessen I have hiked across the Himalayas to the Crystal Mountain.I have walked with Annie Dillard up, down, into, and across Tinker Creek in all seasons.David Bain has gone with me along 110 miles of Philippine coast, and Ed Abbey has rowed me down the Colorado River.I enjoy the adventures of these courageous figures, who can strike out on difficult trips – 2 miles, 250 miles, 3000 miles – ready to bear cold and tiredness, indeed not just to bear but to celebrate.

But as for me, I can no longer walk very far from the armchair in which I read.Some days I don’t even make it to the backyard.And yet I’m unwilling to give up the adventurous life, the difficulty of it, even the pain, the anxiety and fear, and the sudden brief lift of spirit that makes a hard journey more attractive.

I refine adventure, make it smaller and smaller.And now, whether I am moving on my hands and knees across the dining room to help my cat, lying wide-eyed in the dark battling another period of sadness, gathering flowers from the garden, meeting a friend for lunch, I am always having the adventures that are mine to have.

Which of the following is TRUE about the author’s reaction after the illness?

       A.The author is drowned in anger and self-pity.

       B.The author travels to places he/she has dreamed of.

       C.The author can’t take care of himself/herself any longer.  

       D.The author adapts to the condition successfully.

Why does the author admire the people mentioned in Paragraph 3?

       A.Because they write popular novels.                          B.Because they are great adventurers.

       C.Because they are famous geographers.               D.Because they fight with hardship in life.

Which of the following shows the author’s strong love for adventures?

       A.The author spends almost every day looking for adventures.

       B.The author works hard to make more money for adventures.

       C.The author imagines having adventures while reading.

       D.The author expects to recover only to continue adventures.

When we think about giving help to developing countries, we often think about giving money so that these countries can build schools and hospitals, buy food and medicine, or find clean water supplies. These seem to be the most important basic needs of the people we are trying to help. However, it's far from enough. Ladies and gentlemen, we've got to come up with some better ideas to help them.
I was very surprised, then, when I read about a plan to make cheap laptop computers for children in developing countries. A man called Nicholas Negroponte invented a cheap laptop computer, which can run without electricity. He decided to invent this computer after he visited a school in Cambodia.
The laptop which Mr. Negroponte has designed is a little different from the normal laptop computers you can buy in the shops. One difference is that it is covered in rubber so that it is very strong and won't be damaged easily. As an electricity supply can be a problem in developing countries, the computer also has a special handle so that children can wind the computer up to give it extra power when needed.
These special laptop computers will cost less than 100 US dollars and Mr. Negroponte wants to build as many as 15 million machines in the first year of production. The idea is that these computers will help the children's education as they will be able to access the Internet. These computers might not help the people in developing countries immediately, but by improving children's education they should help people to find their own solutions to their problems in the long term.
Another idea to help children in developing countries is to recycle old mobile phones so that they can be used again. In the UK, and, probably in many other countries too, millions of mobile phones are thrown away every year. The waste created by throwing away these old phones is very bad for the environment, so it seems to be an excellent idea to recycle them. In this way we will be able to achieve two important goals at the same time. We will reduce the waste we produce and help others. In other words, we will be able to 'kill two birds with one stone', and that is always a good thing.
【小题1】  The author gives the example of Mr. Negroponte's cheap computers _______.

A.to show what high tech can bring us.
B.to illustrate the kindness of people in the developed countries
C.to show how to find business opportunities in developing countries
D.to give an example of how to help developing countries
【小题2】Which of the following statements is TRUE about Mr. Negroponte's cheap computers?
A.His computers don’t need any power to function well.
B.His computers are covered with rubber so that they are very cheap.
C.His computers will help children in developing countries to have better education.
D.His computers will help people in developing countries to find all the solutions.
【小题3】Where does this passage probably come from?
A.A magazineB.A newspaperC.A lectureD.An advertisement

When we think about giving help to developing countries, we often think about giving money so that these countries can build schools and hospitals, buy food and medicine, or find clean water supplies. These seem to be the most important basic needs of the people we are trying to help. However, it's far from enough. Ladies and gentlemen, we've got to come up with some better ideas to help them.
I was very surprised, then, when I read about a plan to make cheap laptop computers for children in developing countries. A man called Nicholas Negroponte invented a cheap laptop computer and he planed to produce a lot and sell them to the children in developing countries at a low price after he visited a school in Cambodia. The laptop will be covered in rubber so that it is very strong and won't be damaged easily. The idea is that these computers will help the children's education as they will be able to surf the Internet. By improving children's education they should help people to find their own solutions to their problems in the long term.
Another idea to help children in developing countries is to recycle old mobile phones so that they can be used again. In the UK, and probably in many other countries too, millions of mobile phones are thrown away every year. The waste created by throwing away these old phones is very bad for the environment, so it seems to be an excellent idea to recycle them. In this way we will be able to achieve two important goals at the same time. We will reduce the waste we produce and help others. In other words, we will be able to 'kill two birds with one  stone’, and that is always a good thing.
【小题1】It's an excellent idea to recycle old mobile phones because         .

A.it reduces waste and can help others
B.it prevents waste and can earn lots of money
C.it can send the waste produced by developed countries to other countries
D.it is good for the environment and very educative for phone users
【小题2】The author gives the example of Mr. Negroponte’s cheap computers
A.to show what high technology can bring us
B.to show the kindness of people in the developed countries
C.to show how to find business opportunities in developing countries
D.to give an example of how to help developing countries
【小题3】Where does this passage probably come from?         .
A.A newspaper.B.A magazine.
C.A lecture.D.An advertisement.

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