Detours
绕路
Poet William Stafford once said that we are defined more by the detours(绕行路) 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.
诗人威廉•斯塔福德曾经说过, 实现目标的过程中通常我们要多绕一些路，在路上比我们直接到达目的地要收获更多的东西。我喜欢这种意象。但我发现他的话语的深层含义是源于一次偶然。
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.
多年来，我们长期从西雅图的家开9小时的车到我父母在博伊西的家。我们走的是大多数走的路：最快，最短，最简单的路，尤其是当我独自一人和四个吵闹的，不安分的，讨厌约束又有强烈的意见的孩子的时候。
Road trips felt risky，so I would drive fast, stopping only when I had to. We would stick to the freeways and arrive tired.
公路旅行是有风险的，所以我开得很快，只有不得已的情况我才会停下来。不然我们就会坚持行驶在高速公路上直到疲惫的到达目的地。
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.
但后来班纳,我们的小羊羔儿出生。在我们计划去博伊西前几天，它被它妈妈抛弃了。我有两个选择:离开班纳和我丈夫,或者带它在我身边。我丈夫为我做出了决定。
That is how I f ound 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 c old air.
这就是为什么我发现在路上有四个孩子,一只小羊羔,可我永远用乐观来对待他们。我们出于需要选择了乡村小路。我们不得每小时停一次,让班纳伸展腿脚，给它喂食。孩子们一个又一个地追逐他。他们上气不接下气地回到汽车，生气勃勃，贪婪的呼吸着冷空气。
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(见识)．
我们探索着道路, 在齐腰高的草中捉蚱蜢。即使我们只是从车窗看着宝宝跟着他们的猪妈妈身后,或鱼跳出水面,也比沿着高速公路飞驰着棒多了。这是生活。以及新视野。
We eventually arrived at my parents' doorstep astonishingly fresh and full of stories.
我们带着惊人的新鲜感和许多故事，最终到达我父母的家门口。
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.
我在回家途中变得勇敢，并且创新性运用管教技巧。在一段空荡荡的路上,每个孩子都开始吵闹。我就停下车,命令所有孩子们下车,告诉他们走到前面和我见面。我在半英里远的地方停好车子，在一片静谧中读我的书。
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 journey—and the best part of yourself.
有些公路旅行是需要快速和直达的。但那次旅行班纳打开我们的眼界，让我们到达一个足以让任何人徘徊的世界，让我意识到绕路可能会发现旅途中最好的部分-----以及自己最好的的一部分。
46．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.
47．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
D．let the kids play with Banner
48．What does the author discover from the trip 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.
49．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.
50．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
【答案】
本文是一篇记叙文。主要通过作者的经历向读者解释了一个生活哲理：在实现目标的过程中通常我们要多绕一些路。在路上比我们直接到达目的地要收获更多的东西。
46．B 细节理解题。根据第二段“We traveled the way most people do: the fastest, shortest, easiest road, especially when I was alone with four noisy…”可知作者在回父母家的路上，为了早点到达而选择了高速，而一个女性单独带着四个孩子走高速也是为了安全。故选 B。
47．C 细节理解题。根据第五段第三句“We had to stop every hour, let Banner shake out his legs and feed him.”可知，作者停下来是为了照顾小羊羔Banner。故选C。
48．B 推理判断题。根据作者在第六段的描述可知，作者沿着乡村小路走时，接近自然，既欣赏了美丽的景色，也为自己的旅程增加了快乐。故选B。
49．D 细节理解题。根据第八段“…everyone started quarreling…ordered all kids out and told them to meet me up ahead.”可知，孩子们在车上争吵起来，作者命令他们下车，走着去前面找作者。这样做的目的是让孩子们冷静下来。故选D。
50．A 主旨大意题。作者在第一段借著名诗人William Stafford的话来揭示本文的主题：the detour。再根据下文的描述，展示了作者在乡村的路上获得的快乐，由此可知本文的题目既要有detour又要有与joy相关的词汇，选项A正好符合。