Question

    You should see the photo. I’m sitting in red dirt, wearing an ugly purple T-shirt. My face is pink and my hair is wet with sweat. Flies buzz around my head. I’m in the Outback of Australia’s Northwest Territory, on a school trip with 20 parents and 20 kids.

It was an odd choice for a holiday. I like sitting by the pool with a cola, not flies and frogs. I like being alone and quiet, not a busload of kids. I like freshly washed sheets, not dirty-looking blankets.

But here’s the thing about that photo: I am smiling!

The trip sounded good when I signed up. Guides would take us into the heart of the place, and I would see a new part of Australia, learn about local culture and bond with my youngest daughter. I would also bond with 40 strangers. I just hoped there would be good coffee.

In Darwin, we were herded onto a bus. It quickly became tiresome. The kids were loud and I hate making small talk. But later, when I looked out at the vast, empty land, I was surprised at and moved by its beauty. Our guide told us about the land and his culture. I felt far from home.

At a national park, we enjoyed a natural swimming hole. Kids and parents had a great time.

Then we got to the outback. The cabin I shared with my daughter was a brick cell, full of geckos (壁虎) and crickets (蟋蟀), but too dark to see them.

It didn’t matter. The next nine days were packed: waterfalls, lakes, community visits and a trip around Katharine Gorge. We even saw giant crocodiles and baby wallabies.

On our last night, a water pipe broke. We awoke to a mess. Usually, I would have complained and asked for a refund, but it just seemed normal to be dirty.

Indeed, it was impossible to stay clean. We were hiking in red dirt, with temperatures of 35 degrees. Still, I felt a kind of energy I hadn’t experienced in years.

Yes, the coffee was bad, but I was too focused on keeping crickets off my face.

I love that photo of me in the dirt. I look messy, but also happy. Sometimes, it’s another way of traveling. There is beautiful scenery, there is dirt. There was always someone to talk to, someone to laugh with.

1.What were the author’s previous trips like, according to the article?

A.Cheap.

B.Adventurous.

C.Peaceful and comfortable.

D.Packed with outdoor activities.

2.What do we know about the author’s trip with her daughter?

A.Their journey was relaxing without too much sightseeing.

B.Their living conditions were fairly poor during the trip.

C.The scenery on the trip disappointed them.

D.The parents seemed to enjoy themselves more than the children.

3.How did the author feel during the later part of the trip?

A.Impatient. B.Positive.

C.Disappointed. D.Exhausted.

4.What is the author’s main purpose in writing this article?

A.To warn readers to choose their trips wisely.

B.To share the benefits of traveling with children.

C.To tell about her latest trip and explain what she learned from it.

D.To show the advantages of going to different places.

Answer

1.C

2.B

3.B

4.C

【解析】

这是一篇记叙文。文章主要讲述了作者最近的一次旅行，这次不像她之前的旅行那么安静、轻松，她学会了享受旅行过程中的快乐并解释她从中学到了什么。

1.推理判断题。根据第二段中的“I like sitting by the pool with a cola, not flies and frogs. I like being alone and quiet, not a busload of kids. I like freshly washed sheets, not dirty-looking blankets.”可知，“我”喜欢坐在泳池边喝可乐，不喜欢苍蝇和青蛙。“我”喜欢一个人安静，不喜欢一车的孩子。我喜欢刚洗过的床单，而不是脏兮兮的毯子。由此可推知，作者之前的旅行较为安静、轻松的。故选C项。

2.细节理解题。根据第七段第二句“The cabin I shared with my daughter was a brick cell, full of geckos (壁虎) and crickets (蟋蟀), but too dark to see them.”以及下文可知，“我”和女儿共用的小屋是一个砖砌的牢房，里面满是壁虎和蟋蟀，但是太黑了看不见它们。由此可推知，旅行期间作者和女儿的生活条件相当差。故选B项。

3.细节理解题。根据倒数第四段第二句“Usually, I would have complained and asked for a refund, but it just seemed normal to be dirty.”和倒数第三段最后一句“Still, I felt a kind of energy I hadn’t experienced in years.”可知，作者在旅行的后期感到乐观。故选B项。

4.推理判断题。通读全文，尤其最后一段内容可知，作者在本文讲述了她最近的一次旅行，这次不像她之前的旅行那么安静、轻松，学会了享受旅行过程中的快乐并解释她从中学到了什么。故选C项。