Question

    Detroit Hives is a non-profit organization that buys vacant lots in the city to transform into bee farms. Timothy Paul and Nicole Lindsey started the non-profit last year, focused on improving the Motor City’s “left behind” communities and educating people on bees.

Timothy got interested in honey and honeybees because of a cough he couldn’t shake. He was sick for months, until a store owner in nearby Ferndale recommended he try some local honey. Soon Timothy’s cough was gone. And he and Nicole found that abandoned urban sites often became illegal dumping grounds, contributing to an overgrowth of allergens (过敏原) — not to mention the mess. The couple began to think about how to settle that issue by producing local honey on vacant sites, and Detroit Hives was born.

To become certified beekeepers, Timothy and Nicole took two courses. They bought their first vacant lot for $340, with the aid of the Detroit Land Bank Authority community partnership program. From there, they built three hives and vegetable garden plots. Thousands of bees now buzz (嗡嗡) on the lot. “The neighbors say they wish we were there decades of years ago. That area had always been a place where people dumped garbage, so when we came here, we gave that area a sense of purpose. The neighbors keep an eye on the area to make sure that people don’t dump any more,” Lindsey said.

Currently, Detroit Hives has partnered with local Detroit Soup and a homeless shelter to provide local, raw honey and they also sell their sweet product. In addition, Detroit Hives spreads awareness about bees through public tours of the farm. The couple also speak at schools in the area. They aim to expand beyond their first farm this year.

1.What does the author intend to tell us in Paragraph 2?

A.The method of curing cough.

B.The inspiration for Detroit Hives.

C.The terrible environment in Detroit.

D.The medical value of local honey.

2.What can we learn about the couples’ work?

A.It enriched the variety of vegetables.

B.It disturbed the neighbors’ normal life.

C.It improved the environment in the area.

D.It enabled neighbors to live in harmony.

3.Why does Detroit Hives offer public tours?

A.To appeal to more customers.

B.To help expand their first farm.

C.To promote their honey product.

D.To help people learn more about bees.

4.Which of the following best describes the husband and wife?

A.Optimistic. B.Faithful.

C.Creative. D.Demanding.

Answer

1.B

2.C

3.D

4.C

【解析】

这是一篇记叙文。文章主要讲述了一对夫妇因为偶然的机会接触到蜂蜜，之后通过自己的智慧和努力把城市倾倒垃圾、传播疾病的废弃土地变成养蜂农场，最终扩大规模形成了一个非盈利组织——底特律蜂巢——的故事。

1.主旨大意题。根据文章第二段的主要内容，尤其是最后一句The couple began to think about how to settle that issue by producing local honey on vacant sites, and Detroit Hives was born.(这对夫妇开始考虑如何通过在空地上生产当地蜂蜜来解决这个问题，于是底特律蜂巢诞生了)可知，本段主要讲述建造底特律蜂巢的灵感——对城市空地的利用。B. The inspiration for Detroit Hives.(底特律蜂巢的灵感)符合以上说法，故选B项。

2.细节理解题。根据文章第三段的That area had always been a place where people dumped garbage, so when we came here, we gave that area a sense of purpose. The neighbors keep an eye on the area to make sure that people don’t dump any more,(那个地方一直是人们倾倒垃圾的地方，我们的到来给了那个地方一种使命感。邻居都密切关注着这个区域，确保人们不再在这里倾倒垃圾)可知，作者夫妇的工作让这个地区的环境变好了，因为人们不再往这里倾倒垃圾。C. It improved the environment in the area.(改善了该地区的环境)符合以上说法，故选C项。

3.细节理解题。根据文章最后一段的In addition, Detroit Hives spreads awareness about bees through public tours of the farm.(此外，底特律蜂巢通过公众参观的形式来提高人们对蜜蜂的认识)可知，底特律蜂巢提供公共参观的目的是让公众更多的了解蜜蜂。D. To help people learn more about bees.(帮助人们更多的了解蜜蜂)符合以上说法，故选D项。

4.推理判断题。根据文章第三段的From there, they built three hives and vegetable garden plots.(从那儿，他们建造了三个蜂巢和一个菜园)和最后一段Currently, Detroit Hives has partnered with local Detroit Soup and a homeless shelter to provide local, raw honey (底特律蜂巢和当地的一个避难所合作，为他们提供当地的蜂蜜)和In addition, Detroit Hives spreads awareness about bees through public tours of the farm. The couple also speak at schools in the area. They aim to expand beyond their first farm this year.(此外，底特律蜂巢通过公众参观的形式来提高人们对蜜蜂的认识。他们还到学校演讲，并计划扩今年扩大第一个农场)可知，这对夫妇把废弃的空地变成养蜂农场，并且尽力帮助有需要的人，努力让人们更多的了解蜜蜂。由此推测，这对夫妇很有创造力。故选C项。