What does the word “home” mean to you? How do you say the word in English? In Spanish? In your language? Although people usually know what the word means it often has no exact t
ranslation. It’s not surprising really, because the idea of home varies from country to country, and from person to person. A home is more than a roof and four walls. It’s the cooking, eating, talking, playing and family living that go on inside, which are important as well. And at home you usually feel safe and relaxed.
But it’s not just that homes look different in different countries, they also contain different things and reveal（顯示）different attitudes（態(tài)度） and needs. For example, in cold northern Europe, there’s a fire in the living room or kitchen and all the chairs face it. In the south, where the sun shines a lot and it’s more important to keep the heat out, there are small windows, cool stone floors and often no carpets. We asked some people about their homes.
How often do people move house in your country?
“In my country many people don’t stay in one place for a very long time. They often move every ten years or so.”
— Cheryl, Boston, USA
What are typical features of homes in your country?
“In Britain, even in town there’s always a garden and sometimes a basement. We have separate bedrooms and living rooms. But we don’t oft
en have balconies.
The weather isn’t warm enough!”
— Pat, Exeter, England
( )49. The word “home” has no exact translation because ______.
A. people can’t find this word in the dictionary
B. no one really knows what a home looks like
C. it has different meanings in different countries
D. people can’t understand each other very well
( )50. You can ______ at home according to the passage.
A. cook, talk, and play games B. eat, play, and teach students
C. swim, eat, and make friends D. do nothing but cool yourself
( )51. Why is it important to keep the heat out of the houses in southern Europe?
A. Because they want to breathe fresh air outside.
B. Because there’s a fire in the living room.
C. Because they wear heavy clothing all day long.
D. Because the sun there shines a lot in the daytime.
( )52. Which one is true according to the passage?
A. People in Britain seldom have balconies because it’s so hot outside.
B. “Home” is a place where people feel safe, relaxed and comfortable.
C. Though homes look different in places, they have the same needs.
D. Houses in Europe always have big windows and cool stone floors.
closer you get to the end of the roll the (76) it spins.”
My mother moved a lot when she was growing up on account of Grandpa being in the army. She hated having to adjust to new schools and make new friends. That’s why I thought she was joking when she put forward the idea of moving. But she was completely serious. “For just the two of us,” my mother said, “an apartment in the city will suit our needs much better.” Personally, I think she’s lost her mind. I guess I can understand why she would want to move, but what about me and what this house means to me?
ooked at my house, you might think it was just another country house. But to me it is anything but standard. I moved into this house with my parents ten years ago. I can still remember that first day like it was yesterday. The first thing I noticed was the big front yard. To me it seemed like an ocean of grass—I couldn’t wait to dive in. The backyard was full of gnarled (扭曲的, 粗糙的) and scary trees that talk on windy nights. But I grew to like them and the shadows they cast in my room. My father and I even built a small tree house, where I often go to remember all the wonderful times we had before Father’s death. 
was growing up because of ________.
hardly