Question

    Now, perhaps, more than ever before, people are wondering what life is all about, and what it is for. Seeking material success is beginning to trouble large numbers of people around the world. They feel that the long-hour work culture to make more money to buy more things is eating up their lives, leaving them very little time or energy for family or hobbies. Many are turning to other ways of living and downshifting is one of them.

Six percent of the workers in Britain took the decision to downshift last year. One couple who downshifted are Daniel and Liz. They used to work in central London. He was a newspaper reporter and she worked for an international bank. They would go to work by train every day from their large house in the suburbs, leaving their two children with a nanny. Nearly twice a month Daniel had to fly to New York for meetings. They both earned a large amount of money but began to feel that life was passing them by.

Nowadays, they run a farm in the mountains of Wales. “I always wanted to have one here,” says Daniel, “and we took almost a year to make the decision to downshift. it's taken some time getting used to, but it's been worth it. We have to think twice now about spending money on car repairs and we no longer have any holidays. However, I think it's made us stronger as a family, and the children are a lot happier.”

Liz, however, is not quite sure. “I used to enjoy my job, even though it was hard work and long hours. I'm not really a country girl, but I suppose I'm gradually getting used to looking after the animals. One thing I do like, though, is being able to see more of my children. My advice for other people wanting to do the same is not to think about it too much or you might not do it at all.”

1.What do the first two paragraphs tell us?

A.People seldom work long hours to make money.

B.People hardly buy more things than necessary.

C.People are sure everything they own is in the right place.

D.People realized there is more to life than just making money.

2.When Daniel was a reporter he _____.

A.was well paid B.disliked his job C.missed his children D.lived in central London.

3.Daniel and Liz both agree that the move to the farm ______.

A.was easy to organize B.has improved family life

C.was extremely expensive D.has been a total success

4.What does the underlined "it" in the last paragraph refer to?

A.Child-caring B.Liz’s advice C.Downshifting D.Liz' job.

5.The underlined word "downshifting" in the second paragraph means ____.

A.repairing your car by yourself

B.spending money carefully

C.moving out to the countryside to live a simple and better life

D.living in a big house in the suburbs and dining out once a week

Answer

1.D

2.A

3.B

4.C

5.C

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。主要说明了越来越的人意识到生活不仅仅是赚钱，许多人正在转向其他的生活方式，“放慢生活节奏”就是其中之一。同时以Daniel和Liz夫妇为例，说明了“downshifting”生活方式的含义是搬到乡下并过上简单美好的生活。

1.推理判断题。根据第一段中They feel that the long-hour work culture to make more money to buy more things is eating up their lives, leaving them very little time or energy for family or hobbies. Many are turning to other ways of living and downshifting is one of them.可知他们觉得，为了赚更多钱买更多东西的长时间工作文化正在吞噬他们的生活，留给他们的时间和精力很少用于家庭或爱好。许多人正在转向其他的生活方式，“放慢生活节奏”就是其中之一。同时第二段列举了Daniel和Liz夫妇开始由繁忙的生活方式转向了降薪来放慢生活节奏，由此判断出，前两段告诉了我们人们意识到生活不仅仅是赚钱。故选D。

2.细节理解题。根据第二段中They both earned a large amount of money but began to feel that life was passing them by.可知他们俩都挣了一大笔钱，但开始觉得日子过得飞快。由此可知，Daniel当记者时，工资很高。故选A。

3.细节理解题。根据倒数第二段中However, I think it's made us stronger as a family, and the children are a lot happier.可知然而，我认为这让我们的家庭更强大了，孩子们也更快乐了。以及最后一段中One thing I do like, though, is being able to see more of my children.可知不过，有一件事我确实喜欢，那就是能多看看我的孩子。由此可知，Daniel和Liz都认为搬到农场改善了家庭生活。故选B。

4.词义猜测题。结合上文可知Daniel和Liz搬到了农场，选择了downshifting的生活方式，上文One thing I do like, though, is being able to see more of my children.(不过，有一件事我确实喜欢，那就是能多看看我的孩子)提到了Liz对于downshifting后搬到农场的生活让她能多看到自己的孩子，由此可知她此处建议其他想要做同样的事情的人，对于downshifting不要想太多，否则你可能根本就不会去做。所以it指代“downshifting”。故选C。

5.词义猜测题。根据后文对于Daniel和Liz夫妇的描述可知，Daniel和Liz夫妇过去在伦敦市中心工作，虽然收入不错，但是只能把两个孩子留给保姆照看，后来他们选择了downshifting搬到了农场生活，这一举动使得他们的家庭生活得到了改善，故可知downshifting意思是搬去乡下并过上简单美好的生活。故选C。