Question

【题目】阅读下面的文章，从每题后面所给的四个选项中选出正确的一项。

As you move around your home, take a good look at the things you have. It is likely that your living room will have a television set and a video, and your kitchen a washing machine and a microwave oven. Your bedroom drawers will be filled with almost three times as many clothes as you need. You almost certainly own a car and possibly a home computer, holiday abroad at least once a year and eat out at least once a week.

Now, perhaps, more than ever before, people are wondering what life is all about, and what it is for. Seeking material success is beginning to trouble large numbers of people around the world. They feel that the long hours work culture to make more money is eating up their lives, leaving them very little time or energy for family or pastimes. Many are turning to other ways of living and downshifting is one of them. Six percent of workers in Britain took the decision to downshift last year.

One couple who downshifted is Daniel and Liz. They used to work in central London. He was a newspaper reporter and she used to work for an international bank. They would go to work by train every day from their large house in the suburbs, leaving their two children with a nanny. Most evenings Daniel wouldn’t get home until eight or nine o’clock and nearly twice a month he would have to fly to New York for meetings. They both earned a large amount of money but began to feel that life was passing them by.

Nowadays, they run a farm in the mountains of Wales. “I always wanted to have a farm then,” says Daniel, “and we took almost a year to make the decision to downshift. It’s taken some getting used to, but it’s been worth it. We have to think twice now about spending money on car repairs and we no longer have any holidays. However, I think it’s made us stronger as a family, and the children are a lot happier.

Liz, however, is not quite sure. “I used to enjoy my job, even though it was hard work and long hours. I’m not really a country girl, but I suppose I’m gradually getting used to looking after the animals. One thing I do like, though, is being able to see more of my children. My advice for other people wanting to do the same is not to think about it too much or you might not do it at all.”

【1】The passage tells us that ________.

A．people seldom work long hours to make money

B．people hardly buy more things than necessary

C．people are sure everything they own is in the right place

D．people realize there is more to life than just making money

【2】When Daniel was a reporter he ________.

A．lived in central London B．disliked his job

C．missed his children D．was well paid

【3】Daniel and Liz both agree that the move to the farm ________.

A．was easy to organize B．has improved family life

C．was extremely expensive D．has been a total success

【4】What does the author mean by saying “the long hours work culture to make more money is eating up their lives” in the second paragraph?

A．People work long hours to earn their living.

B．To make more money through hard work is the aim of people’s life.

C．Long hours of hard work occupy too much of people’s life.

D．People spent too much time and money eating meals.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】D

【2】D

【3】B

【4】C

【解析】

试题分析：文章讲的是生活中除了挣钱，还有很多东西值得去追求。

【1】D 主旨大意题。第一段描述了一番景象，家里很富裕，几乎什么都不缺，第二段却话题一转，说“people are wondering what life is all about”，说明物质的追求让人们感到生活的乏味，再有“leaving them very little time or energy for family or pastimes”，从而说明了生活中除了挣钱，还有很多东西值得去追求。故选D。

【2】D 细节理解题。根据第三段最后一句They both earned a large amount of money but began to feel that life was passing them by.可知，当Daniel是一名记者时，他的工资很高。答案为D。

【3】B 细节理解题。根据第四段最后一句However, I think it’s made us stronger as a family, and the children are a lot happier.可知，Daniel和Liz搬到农场后家庭生活发生了变化。答案为B。

【4】C 句意理解题。句意为“长时间工作赚钱的文化正在吞噬人们的生活”，与其意思最接近的是C项。