Question

    Last year, I went WWOOFing (Willing Workers on Organic Farms) at a beautiful organic farm in the south of La Reunion. With WOOFing, volunteers exchange their time and work for food and board. I slept in a cabin in the woods with hedgehogs (刺猬) digging about in the bushes, all different coloured birds singing in the morning and endless rows of palm trees offering shade from the sun.

For me, one of the best ways to get to know a new place is to work with the land, live with the locals and share meals together. It has got to be one of the best ways to travel. It is a mutually beneficial exchange where everyone involved prioritizes people and our planet above profit. You get the time and space to deepen a connection with local communities and nature.

There is a lot to learn and each farm has its own unique way of doing things, depending on the environment, climate and soil. At the farm in La Reunion we planted palm trees to harvest the core of the trunk which can be eaten in salads. Before staying with the farm I had only eaten heart of palm from cans which were nothing in comparison to the real thing, fresh from the ground. When potting up the very beginnings of the palm trees, I felt grateful to be a part of the start of the trees’ cycle. I was filled with awe that something so small could grow into something so big and strong.

Of course, not everyone is able to travel far afield, due to various restrictions or responsibilities back home. The great thing about the skill-share philosophy behind WWOOFing, which prioritizes people above profit, is that it’s something we can all do from our own backyard. That can be swapping French lessons with a neighbour for babysitting, or cooking a meal in exchange for a yoga class. The focus shifts from money to how we can best support each other in our communities. A fair exchange can make a big difference in the world.

1.The author loves WWOOFing mainly because       .

A.he can get to know new places and people

B.it is one of the best ways to travel

C.he can make profits at the beautiful organic farm

D.he can connect with local communities and nature

2.What does the underlined word “prioritizes” in Paragraph 2 mean?

A.Take something more seriously.

B.Treat something more carefully.

C.Consider something more important.

D.Take something for granted.

3.Why does the author mention “palm trees ’’again in Paragraph 3?

A.To show that he learns a lot by volunteering on the farm.

B.To introduce the growing process of palm trees.

C.To express his interest in growing plants on the farm.

D.To show his amazement at the growth of palm trees.

4.What can we infer from the last paragraph?

A.We should exchange what we have with our neighbors.

B.We can save money by swapping labor with our neighbors.

C.We can benefit each other by exchanging our time and work.

D.We should volunteer to work on a farm to experience nature.

Answer

1.D

2.C

3.A

4.C

【解析】

这是一篇记叙文。介绍了作者在有机农场从事志愿劳动的体验和对大自然及社会的感悟。

1.

细节理解题。根据第二段“You get the time and space to deepen a connection with local communities and nature.”可知，作者喜爱WWOOFing是因为可以与当地社区和大自然紧密联系。故选D。

2.

词义猜测题。根据“It is a mutually beneficial exchange(这是一种互惠互利的交换)”和上下文可知，从事农场志愿工作的人都认为人类和地球比利润更重要，所以prioritizes为“认为……更重要”之意。故选C。

3.

推理判断题。本段为总分结构，首句为主题句，后面对种植棕榈树的具体描述和作者对棕榈树认识的比较是作为例子说明首句主题，即作者在劳动的过程中学到了很多。故选A。

4.

推理判断题。对最后一段的推理也是对主旨的深化和升华。作者通过对志愿劳动的感悟引发对日常生活的思考。不仅在农场，我们在自己的社区也可以以各种形式贯彻mutually beneficial exchange，服务别人，自己获益，即：通过交换时间和工作来彼此受益。故选C。