Question

    When I was a child, I often dreamed of the time when I could leave home and escape to the city. We lived on a small farm and it was very difficult for us to know what was happening outside the small farm, especially in the winter when we were quite cut off from the outside world. As soon as I left school, I packed my bags and moved to the capital. However, I soon discovered that city life has its own problems, too.

    One big disadvantage is money. It costs so much to go out, not to mention basic needs like food and housing. Another disadvantage is pollution. I suffer from a disease that makes breathing very difficult and the air is so bad that I am afraid to go outside as I like, even in the summer. Then there is the problem of traveling round. Although I have a car, I seldom use it because of the traffic jams. One choice is to go by bicycle, but that can be quite dangerous.

    Of course there are advantages. First, there is so much to do in the city, whatever you taste in culture or entertainment. Besides, there are wonderful jobs and greater chances of moving to a more important job or position. Finally, if you like shopping, the variety (多样性) of goods is very surprising—and, what is more, shops are often only a short walk away.

Is life better then, in the city? Perhaps it is, when you are in your teens or twenties. However, as you get older, and especially if you have small children, the peace of the countryside may seem preferable. I certainly hope to move back there soon.

56. What was the writer always thinking about when he was a child?

   A. Staying on the farm.

   B. Moving to the countryside.

   C. Leaving home for the city.

   D. Running away from the school.

57. What can we learn from the text?

   A. The writer is very old now.                    B. The writer is in good health.

   C. The write prefers driving a car.                  D. The writer lives in the city now.

58. In the passage, the writer tries to __________.

   A. express his opinions about way of life      

   B. describe his life in the countryside

   C. show an interest in the outside world

   D. persuade the reader to live in the city

59. How is the passage mainly developed?

   A. By questioning.                                             B. By comparing.

   C. By listing examples.                                       D. By giving explanations.

Answer 1

    【语篇解读】本文属于叙议结合的文章。讲诉了作者儿时对城市生活的向往，

                及长大后对城市和乡村不同生活方式的看法。

56.C【命题立意】考查考生对具体信息的理解能力。

    【试题解析】从短文第一句 I often dreamed of the time when I could leave home 

            and escape to the city.可知答案为C。

57.D【命题立意】考查考生对具体信息的理解能力。

【试题解析】短文最后一句 I certainly hope to move back there soon. 句中的

            back there指的是上文的back in the countryside。

58.A【命题立意】考查学生的判断推理能力。

      【试题解析】作者从多个方面表达自己对生活方式的看法。

59.B【命题立意】考查考生对文体的判断能力。

【试题解析】本文作者以对比的方式表达自己的观点。首先是对比城市生活的

            缺点和优点（disadvantage and advantage）；然后把农村生活的宁

            静（the peace of the countryside）与城市作比较，表达出作者回

            归农村的愿望。