Question

    Some parts of the garden are for the rest of the world to admire. Others are for you to disappear to when you don't want to be found. Of course, that's easy enough to arrange when you have lots of land with space for the kids to run round and cosy "garden rooms" for the adults to enjoy. But when your garden is on the small side, you might think it's a tall order. Well, you're wrong.

To create a secret garden, people tend to take the routine: surrounding a small garden with high fences and then placing a lawn(草坪) in the middle and borders round the edge. Far from making the most of the area, that just makes it look a lot smaller and more boring. Dividing it up makes much more use of your space and means you can have your practical family area plus a secret garden.

When you're searching for the perfect secret site within your existing set-up, consider your present favourite spot. A secret garden needs to be special—a complete contrast to the more practical family parts of the garden. Perhaps you take a folding chair down to a quiet corner that gets evening sun; maybe you sit and watch the pond or simply slip out to the patio(露台)with a glass of wine.

It's quite easy to change an existing favourite feature into a secret place. You could top the patio with a pergola(棚架) pole and plant a grapevine for shade, or position a bench overlooking the pond and plant bamboos to screen it from the rest of the garden.

The areas you create needn't all to be the same size—or even the same style—but if you're planning a major redesign, take your time and work it out on paper before committing time and money. Then when it's done, you'll really be able to relax and enjoy it.

1.What assumption lies behind this passage?

A. Grapevine are widely used as shade in gardens.

B. Parents need their own space in the garden.

C. Family members should share everything.

D. Gardens are different in size and style.

2.The underlined phrase "a tall order" (in Paragraph 1) probably means ________.

A. a difficult task B. a costly decision

C. an unwise attempt D. an unfair business

3.What's the author's solution for a cozy space in a small garden?

A. Place a lawn in the middle.

B. Build borders around the lawn.

C. Surround the garden with high fences.

D. Have a separate space within the garden.

4.What's the author's purpose in writing the passage?

A. To offer tips on a small getaway in the garden.

B. To share personal experience in gardening.

C. To recommend best plants for small gardens.

D. To advertise some new designs of gardens.

Answer

1.B

2.A

3.D

4.A

【解析】

本文是一篇说明文。作者在文章中为那些在花园中想有一个舒适空间的人提供了一些建议。

1.推理判断题。根据第一段中that's easy enough to arrange when you have lots of land with space for the kids to run round and cosy "garden rooms" for the adults to enjoy.可知，这篇文章的设想是父母在花园里需要自己的空间，孩子们有奔跑的空间。故选B。

2.词义猜测题。根据第一段中that's easy enough to arrange when you have lots of land with space for the kids to run round and cosy "garden rooms" for the adults to enjoy.（当你有很多土地给孩子们跑步的空间和舒适的“花园房间”给成年人享受时，这很容易安排。），再根据But when your garden is on the small side, you might think it's a tall order.中的but表示转折，由此推知，“但是当你的花园很小的时候，你可能会认为这是一个很高的要求。”所以划线部分的意思是“一个困难的任务”。故选A。

3.推理判断题。根据第二段中Dividing it up makes much more use of your space and means you can have your practical family area plus a secret garden.可知，作者对小花园中舒适空间的解决方案是在花园里有一个单独的空间。故选D。

4.主旨大意题。纵观全文，尤其是最后一段The areas you create needn't all to be the same size—or even the same style—but if you're planning a major redesign, take your time and work it out on paper before committing time and money. Then when it's done, you'll really be able to relax and enjoy it.可知，作者写这篇文章的目的是为那些在花园中想有一个舒适空间的人提供建议。故选A。