The only way to travel is on foot

The past ages of man have all been carefully labeled(标记)by anthropologists(人类学家). Descriptions like ‘Palaeolithic(旧石器时代) Man’, ‘Neolithic Man’, etc., neatly(干净地;整洁地) sum up whole periods. When the time comes for anthropologists to turn their attention to the twentieth century, they will surely choose the label ‘Legless Man’. Histories of the time will go something like this: ‘in the twentieth century, people forgot how to use their legs. Men and women moved about in cars, buses and trains from a very early age. There were lifts and escalators(自动电梯,自动扶梯)in all large buildings to prevent people from walking. This situation was forced upon earth dwellers(居民) of that time because of miles each day. But the surprising thing is that they didn’t use their legs even when they went on holiday. They built cable railways, ski-lifts and roads to the top of every huge mountain. All the beauty spots on earth were marred (糟蹋)by the presence of large car parks. ’

The future history books might also record that we were deprived(剥夺) of the use of our eyes. In our hurry to get from one place to another, we failed to see anything on the way. Air travel gives you a bird’s-eye view of the world – or even less if the wing of the aircraft happens to get in your way. When you travel by car or train a blurred image of the countryside constantly smears the windows. Car drivers, in particular, are forever obsessed with the urge to go on and on: they never want to stop.

Is it the lure of the great motorways, or what? And as for sea travel, it hardly deserves mention. It is perfectly summed up in the words of the old song: ‘I joined the navy to see the world, and what did I see? I saw the sea.’ The typical twentieth-century traveler is the man who always says ‘I’ve been there. ’ You mention the remotest, most evocative place-names in the world like El Dorado, Kabul, Irkutsk and someone is bound to say ‘I’ve been there’ – meaning, ‘I drove through it at 100 miles an hour on the way to somewhere else. ’

When you travel at high speeds, the present means nothing: you live mainly in the future because you spend most of your time looking forward to arriving at some other place. But actual arrival, when it is achieved, is meaningless. You want to move on again. By traveling like this, you suspend all experience; the present ceases to be a reality: you might just as well be dead. The traveler on foot, on the other hand, lives constantly in the present. For him traveling and arriving are one and the same thing: he arrives somewhere with every step he makes. He experiences the present moment with his eyes, his ears and the whole of his body. At the end of his journey he feels a delicious physical weariness. He knows that sound. Satisfying sleep will be his: the just reward of all true travellers.

1. Anthropologists label nowadays’ men ‘Legless’ because

       A . people forget how to use his legs.            B  people prefer cars, buses and trains.

       C  lifts and escalators prevent people from walking. D  there are a lot of transportation devices.

2. Travelling at high speed means

       A people’s focus on the future.   B a pleasure.

C satisfying drivers’ great thrill.  D a necessity y of life.

3. Why does the author say ‘we are deprived of the use of our eyes’ ?

       A  People won’t use their eyes.     B In traveling at high speed, eyes become useless.

       C  People can’t see anything on his way of travel.   D  People want to sleep during travelling.

4. What is the purpose of the author in writing this passage?

       A Legs become weaker.   B Modern means of transportation make the world a small place.

       C There is no need to use eyes.    D The best way to travel is on foot.

5. What does ‘a bird’s-eye view’ mean?

       A  See view with bird’s eyes.    B  A bird looks at a beautiful view.

C It is a general view from a high position looking down.   D  A scenic place.

(湖北省部分重点中学2009届高三第二次联考)

D

y brother-in-1aw opened the drawer of my sister’s cupboard and took out a package.He said。“This is a new silk slip(衬裙).Jane bought it in New York nine years ago.She never wore it.She was saving it for a special occasion.I guess this is the occasion.”

It was an exquisite(精美的)handmade silk slip.The price tag on it was still attached.

He took the slip from me and put it on the bed,with the other clothes we were taking to the mortician(殡仪员).His hands fingered on the soft material for a moment, then he shut the drawer and turned to me.“Don’t ever save anything for a special occasion.Every day you’re alive is a special occasion.’’

His words have changed my mind.I’m spending more time with my family and less time on meetings.I’m trying to recognize these moments now and cherish them.I’m not saving anything.I wear my good skirt to the market if I feel like it.I can pay $28·49 for a small bag of  groceries.I’m not saving my good perfume for special parties.If something is worth seeing or hearing or doing,I want to see and hear and do it now.“Someday” has disappeared in my vocabulary

I’m not sure what Jane would have done if she had known she’d not be here for the tomorrow we all take for granted.I’m guessing Jane would have called family members and a few close friends.She might have apologized to her former friends for their past quarrels.She’d have gone out for a Chinese dinner, her favorite food.

I’m trying hard not to put off, hold back。or save anything that would add laughter to our fives.Every morning I open my eyes。I tell myself that every day, every minute,every breath is a gift.

73.Why didn’t Jane wear the brand new silk slip?

A.She meant to wear it on her death.     B.She wanted to save it for her sister.

      C.She thought it was too dear.               D.She saved it for a special occasion

74.After Jane’s death.the author begins to            

A.treasure the simple pleasure of life               B.spend more time having meetings

C.save more money for necessities                 D.care about her special parties

75.What does the underlined sentence “Someday” has disappeared in my vocabulary.”(in Paragraph4)mean?

A.I prefer to leave out the word “someday” in my speech.

B.“Someday” is found missing from my old dictionar.

C.I will not delay enjoying the pleasure of life

D.I decide not to enjoy something good at the moment·

76.It can be inferred from the passage that             

A.it makes sense to follow our dream

B.we tend to leave good things until the last minute

C.we should take pleasure in our work

D.it is meaningless to save something for the future

  

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