Question

【题目】People aren’t walking any more—if they can figure out a way to avoid it.

I felt superior about this matter until the other day I took my car to mail a small parcel. The journey is a matter of 281 steps. But I used the car. And I wasn’t in any hurry, either, I had merely become one more victim of a national sickness: motorosis.

It is an illness to which I had thought myself immune（免疫的）, for I was bred in the tradition of going to places on my own two legs. At that time, we regarded 25 miles as good day’s walk and the ability to cover such a distance in ten hours as sign of strength and skill. It did not occur to us that walking was a hardship. And the effect was lasting. When I was 45 years old I raced—and beat—a teenage football player the 168 steps up the Stature of Liberty.

Such enterprises today are regarded by many middle-aged persons as bad for the heart. But a well-known British physician, Sir Adolphe Abrhams, pointed out recently that hearts and bodies need proper exercises. A person who avoids exercise is more likely to have illnesses than one who exercises regularly. And walking is an ideal form of exercise—the most familiar and natural of all.

It was Henry Thoreau who showed mankind the richness of going on foot. The man walking can learn the trees, flower, insects, birds and animals, the significance of seasons, the very feel of himself as a living creature in a living world, He cannot learn in a car.

The car is a convenient means of transport, but we have made it our way of life. Many people don’t dare to approach Nature any more; to them the world they were born to enjoy is all threat.To them security isa steel river thundering on a concrete road. And much of their thinking takes place while waiting for the traffic light to turn green.

I say that the green of forests is the mind’s best light. And none but the man on foot can evaluate what is basic and everlasting.

【1】What is the national sickness?

A. Walking too much.

B. Travelling too much.

C. Driving cars too much.

D. Climbing stairs too much.

【2】What was life like when the author was young?

A. People usually went around on foot.

B. People often walked 25 miles a day.

C. People used to climb the Statue of Liberty.

D. People considered a ten-hour walk as a hardship.

【3】The author mentions Henry Thoreau to prove that _____.

A. middle-aged people like getting back to nature

B. walking in nature helps enrich one’s mind

C. people need regular exercise to keep fit

D. going on foot prevents heart disease

【4】What's the author's intention of writing this passage?

A. To tell people to reflect more on life.

B. To recommend people to give up driving.

C. To advice people to do outdoor activities.

D. To encourage people to return to walking.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】C

【2】A

【3】B

【4】A

【解析】试题分析：文章主要从作者自身的角度来呼吁人们更多地用步行来代替汽车等交通工具，鼓励人们回归大自然，减少汽车等的使用。

【1】C推理判断题。根据第二段“The journey is a matter of 281 steps. But I used the car. And I wasn’t in any hurry, either.”可知，只有281步的距离，作者却习惯性地开车前往，作者认为自己也成了motorosis的一名受害者。A步行过度；B旅行过度；C开车过度；D爬楼过度。故选C。

【2】A细节理解题。根据第三段“At that time, we regarded 25 miles as good day’s walk...”可知，年轻时候，作者认为步行25里是很有好处的，但没有提到每天步行25里，排除B；C项未提及；根据“It did not occur to us that walking was a hardship.”可知，D项错误，故选A。

【3】B细节理解题。根据第五段“The man walking can learn the trees, flower, insects, birds and animals, the significance of seasons, the very feel of himself as a living creature in a living world.”可知，步行的时候，可以了解树木、花草、昆虫、鸟儿、动物等，从而丰富自己的内心世界，故选B。

【4】D写作意图题。作者刚开始就提到，如果人们能够避免步行，那么他们就会乐意为之。然而，现代生活中，人们过于依赖汽车等交通工具，从而导致人们与大自然的距离越来越疏远。作者写这篇文章的意图就是希望人们能够找回步行的习惯，亲近大自然。故选D。

【名师点拨】

作者态度及写作意图推断

每一篇文章都会包含作者的某种观点和态度，只不过有的直截了当，有的含而不露，有的通过所用词语的褒贬来体现。此类题可细分为作者态度题(表明作者的好恶)和作者观点题(表明作者对某事物的看法)。准确把握作者的情感和态度，需要注意以下几点：

1.作者对某一事物的看法,要么支持,要么反对,带中立色彩的词最不可能是正确答案。

2.漠不关心类词语往往不对,既然写文章就不会不关心。

3.不要把自己的态度揉入其中,也要区分作者的态度和作者引用的别人的态度。

4.当作者的态度没有明确提出时,要学会根据作者使用词语的褒贬性来判断。

5.作者的观点一般与文章的主旨相关联。

6.绝对化或语气过于强烈的选项常常是错误的,如:strong, complete, entire等。