Question

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 born 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 a sign of strength and skill. A well­known British physician, Sir Adolphe Abrhams, pointed out recently that hearts and bodies need proper exercise. 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, flowers, insects, birds and animals, the significance of seasons, the very feel of himself as a living creature in a living world. He can’t 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 is a 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 walk ten hours every day.

D. People considered a ten­hour walk as a hardship.

3. What is compared to “a steel river” in Paragraph 6?

A. A queue of cars.

B. A ray of traffic light.

C. A flash of lightning.

D. A stream of people.

4.What is the author's intention of writing this passage?

A. To tell people to reflect more on life.

B. To encourage people to return to walking.

C. To advise people to do outdoor activities.

D. To recommend people to give up driving.

Answer

1.C

2.A

3.A

4.B

【解析】

试题分析：作者在本文中说明现在很多人都患上了一种国家病：开车太多，很少步行。作者回忆了以前人们经常步行的情况，也说明了步行的很多好处。可知本文的未了鼓励人们重新用双脚走路，少开车。

1.推理题。根据文章第二段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.可知有一次只要走281步的路程，我却开着汽车。说明我患了一种national sickness: motorosis。也就是开车太多。故C正确。

2.推理题。根据文章第三段2,3行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.可知之前我们认为一天走25英里是很好的，我从来都没有想过步行会成为一种困难。说明在作者年轻的时候，人们经常步行。故A正确。

3.推理题。根据本句to them the world they were born to enjoy is all threat. To them security is a steel river thundering on a concrete road.对他们来说他们生来的世界都是威胁，对他们来说，安全就是混凝土路上的汽车。本题的关键是on a concrete road可知路上的是车流。故A正确。

4.推理题。作者在本文中说明现在很多人都患上了一种国家病：开车太多，很少步行。作者回忆了以前人们经常步行的情况，也说明了步行的很多好处。可知本文的未了鼓励人们重新用双脚走路，少开车。故D正确。

【长难句解析】

It is an illness to which I had thought myself immune(免疫的), for I was bornd in the tradition of going to places on my own two legs.

这是一个我认为我能够免疫的疾病，因为我出生在一个靠两条腿走路的传统社会里。

分析：本句中有一个定语从句to which I had thought myself immune修饰先行词an illness；后面的连词for引导的状语从句表示补充说明具体的原因。

考点：考查文化教育类阅读