Question

Poet William Stafford once said that we are defined more by the detours (繞行路) in life than by the narrow road toward goals. I like this image. But it was quite by accident that I discovered the deep meaning of his words.

For years we made the long drive from our home in Seattle to my parents’ home in Boise in nine hours. We traveled the way most people do: the fastest, shortest, easiest road, especially when I was alone with four noisy, restless kids who hate confinement (限制) and have strong opinions about everything.

Road trips felt risky, so I would drive fast, stopping only when I had to. We would stick to the freeways and arrive tired.

But then Banner, our lamb was born. He was rejected by his mama days before our planned trip to Boise. I had two choices: leave Banner with my husband, or take him with me. My husband made the decision for me.

That is how I found myself on the road with four kids, a baby lamb and nothing but my everlasting optimism to see me through. We took the country roads out of necessity. We had to stop every hour, let Banner shake out his legs and feed him. The kids chased him and one another. They’d get back in the car breathless and energized, smelling fresh from the cold air.

We explored side roads, catching grasshoppers in waist-high grass. Even if we simply looked out of the car windows at baby pigs following their mother, or fish leaping out of the water, it was better than the best ride down the freeway. Here was life. And new horizons (見識).

We eventually arrived at my parents’ doorstep astonishingly fresh and full of stories.

I grew brave with the trip back home and creative with my disciplining technique. On an empty section of road, everyone started quarreling. I stopped the car, ordered all kids out and told them to meet me up ahead. I parked my car half a mile away and read my book in sweet silence.

Some road trips are by necessity fast and straight. But that trip with Banner opened our eyes to a world available to anyone adventurous enough to wander around and made me realize that a detour may uncover the best part of a journey—and the best part of yourself.

1.Why did the author use to take freeways to her parents’ home?

A．It was less tiring.

B．It would be faster and safer.

C．Her kids would feel less confined.

D．She felt better with other drivers nearby.

2.The author stopped regularly on the country roads to _____.

A. relax in the fresh air

B. take a deep breath

C. take care of the lamb

C. let the kids play with Banner.

3.What does the author discover from the trio according to Paragraph 6?

A．Freeways are where beauty hides.

B．Getting close to nature adds to the joy of life.

C．Enjoying the beauty of nature benefits one’s health.

D．One should follow side roads to watch wild animals.

4.Why did the author ask the kids to get out of the car on their way back home?

A．To give herself some time to read.

B．To order some food for them.

C．To play a game with them.

D．To let them cool down.

5.What could be the best title for the passage?

A．Charm of the Detour

B．The Road to Bravery

C．Creativity out of Necessity

D．Road Trip and Country Life

 

Answer 1

【答案】

1.B

2.C

3.B

4.D

5.A

【解析】

【文章大意】作者，通過一次帶著小羊羔Banner去父母家的繞道旅行，發(fā)現繞道旅行非常有意思。這是一篇記敘文，作者采用總分總的方式對文章進行論述。第一段含蓄點出中心，最后一段重申中心。

1.文章中的第二段“We traveled the way most people do: the fastest, shortest, easiest road, especially when I was alone with four noisy, restless kids who hate confinement (限制) and have strong opinions about everything.”明確給出了作者以前為什么喜歡走freeways(高速公路)，結合選項，只能選B。

2.題干中問作者為什么有規(guī)律的停車。這顯然是在談作者的這次繞道旅行。結合第三段和第四段，我們發(fā)現是由于our lamb was born，并且第五段中有一句話“We had to stop every hour, let Banner shake out his legs and feed him.”，這都說明答案為C。

3.第六段中的it was better than the best ride down the freeway和最后一段均說明作者很開心，這段旅程是生活中最美好的(best)。故答案為B。C錯在文中根本沒有提及健康問題。

4.前面的那句話“everyone started quarreling”是作者asked the kids to get out of the car的原因。最接近的就是D。

5.文章的第一段（we are defined more by the detours (繞行路) in life than by the narrow road toward goals. I like this image）和最后一段就說明繞道的魅力。