Question

It is said that in the United States much has been told that anyone can become rich and successful if he works hard and has some good luck． 　　Yes, when one becomes rich he wants people to know it．And even he does not become very rich, he wants people to think that he is．That's what“Keeping up with the Joneses”is about．The expression was first used in 1913 by a young American by the name of Arthur Momand．Momand looked around him and noticed that many people do things to keep up with their neighbours：they try to look as rich and as successful as their neighbours．He saw the funny side of it and started to write a number of short stories．He called it“Keeping Up with the Joneses”, because“Jones”is a very common name in the United States．“Keeping up with the Joneses”came to mean keeping up with the people around you．Momand's series appeared in different newspapers across the country for over 28 years． 　　People never seem to get tired of keeping up with the Joneses．That is one reason why they read“right”books, go to the“right”universities and eat in the“right”restaurants． 　　Every city has an area where people want to live because others will think better of them if they do．And there are“Joneses”in every city on the world．But one must get tired of trying to keep up with the Joneses, because no matter what one does, Mr．Jones always seems to be ahead． (1) Why, according to the passage, do many people try to keep up with the Joneses? [　　] A． Because they feel pround to be taken for the Joneses． B． Because they want others to know or think they are rich． C． Because they are afraid that others will know they are rich． D． Because they want to be as rich as their neighbours． (2) On the whole, the passage is about ________． [　　] A． American's thought of being weel-known for richness． B． the relationship among American people． C． Americans competing with each other． D． more chances of becoming rich in U．S． (3) What does the author mean when he says the“right”books? [　　] A． Books that teach people how to get rich and successful． B． Books by famous and successful writers． C． Very expensive books． D． Books that other people around are reading． (4) What does the author mean by“Mr．Jones always seems to be ahead”? [　　] A． It seems one can never keep up with all people around． B． It seems Mr．Jones is a very rich man． C． It seems one has to work very hard to get rich． D． It seems Mr．Jones is always walking ahead of others．

Answer 1

答案：1．B;2．C;3．D;4．A;
解析：

(1)	从第二段的前两句可找到答案。
(2)	美国人与人之间相互攀比的心态。
(3)	什么都想同周围的人相比，周围的人看什么书，他也要这样做，这样才显得keep up with others(与别人保持一起，不落后)。
(4)	从文中的最后一句可以看出“……似乎总在前面”，即“总赶不上周围的人”。