Question

    I have learned something about myself since I moved from Long Island to Florida three years ago. Even though I own a home in Port St. Lucie just minutes from the ocean, an uncontrollable urge wells up to return to Long Island even as others make their way south. I guess I am a snowbird stuck in reverse. Instead of enjoying Florida’s mild winters, I willingly endure the severe weather on Long Island, the place I called home for 65 years.

I’m like a migratory bird (候鸟) that has lost its sense of timing and direction, my wings flapping against season.

So what makes me fly against the tide of snowbirds? The answer has a lot to do with my reluctance to give up the things that define who I am. Once I hear that the temperature on Long Island has dipped into the range of 40 to 50 degrees, I begin to long for the sight and crackling sound of a wood fire. I also long for the bright display of colors -- first in the fall trees, and then in the lights around homes and at Rockefeller Center. Floridians decorate too, but can’t create the special feel of a New England winter.

I suppose the biggest reason why I return is to celebrate the holidays with people I haven’t seen in months. What could be better than sitting with family and friends for a Thanksgiving turkey dinner, or watching neighbors children excitedly open gifts on Christmas? Even the first snowfall seems special. I especially enjoy seeing a bright red bird settling on a snow-covered branch. (My wife and I spend winters at a retirement community in Ridge, and I’m grateful that I don’t have to shovel.)

While these simple pleasures are not unique to Long Island, they are some of the reasons why I come back. Who says you can’t go home?

1.What does the underlined word “reluctance” in Paragraph 3 mean?

A.Coincidence. B.Expectation. C.Unwillingness. D.Motivation.

2.Which of the following words can best describe the author?

A.Imaginative and outspoken. B.Hard-working and serious.

C.Homesick and easy-going. D.Anxious and painful.

3.What’s the author’s purpose in writing the text?

A.To describe his dream to be a free bird.

B.To explain the reasons for moving from his hometown.

C.To praise the beauty and warmth of his hometown.

D.To express his feeling of missing his hometown.

Answer

1.C

2.C

3.D

【解析】

本文是一篇夹叙夹议文。作者在文章中描述了他对家乡的思念之情。

1.词义猜测题。根据下文Once I hear that the temperature on Long Island has dipped into the range of 40 to 50 degrees, I begin to long for the sight and crackling sound of a wood fire．（当我听说长岛的温度已经下降到40到50度的范围，我开始渴望看到和听到柴火的噼里啪啦声）结合上下文可知，作者不愿意放弃那些能够定义自己的东西。故划线单词意思为“不愿意”。故选C。

2.推理判断题。根据第四段中I suppose the biggest reason why I return is to celebrate the holidays with people I haven't seen in months．What could be better than sitting with family and friends for a Thanksgiving turkey dinner，or watching neighbors' children excitedly open gifts on Christmas?（我想我回来的最大原因是和几个月没见面的人一起过节。还有什么比与家人和朋友坐在一起共进感恩节火鸡大餐，或者看着邻居的孩子在圣诞节兴奋地打开礼物更好呢？）可推知，作者是一个恋家而且很随和的人。故选C。

3.推理判断题。根据第一段中的Instead of enjoying Florida’s mild winters, I willingly endure the severe weather on Long Island, the place I called home for 65 years.（我宁愿忍受长岛的恶劣天气，也不愿享受佛罗里达州温和的冬天，长岛是65年来我称之为家的地方）及最后一段中的While these simple pleasures are not unique to Long Island, they are some of the reasons why I come back.（虽然这些简单的乐趣并不是长岛独有的，但它们是我回来的部分原因）可知，作者想念家乡的景色，想念家乡的亲朋好友。由此可知,作者写这篇文章的目的是表达他对家乡的思念之情。故选D。