A
(2019·湖北八校高三联考)The pumpkin(南瓜) theme is everywhere at Butler’s Orchard in Germantown, Maryland. It has thousands of pumpkins, including a pumpkin patch where people can pick their own pumpkin. There are also other things to do, like riding a pony, rushing down a slide or walking around a corn maze with its confusing winding pathways. Some children discover the big orange fruits way more than they think. Visitors can pick their own in season fruits, vegetables and flowers. Butler’s Orchard opened more than sixty years ago, as one of the first pick your own farms in the area.
Ken Merriam brought his children. He says Butler’s Orchard brings back good memories of growing up on a farm in Honduras.“It’s a little bit of what I used to have as a kid, so that’s why I think it’s nice to bring them over here. Get them out of the city.” Shirley Butler’s grandchildren who are in their 30s are now the third generation to run the farm. General manager Tyler Butler says children who usually only see pumpkins in grocery stores can learn how pumpkins are grown.
“I didn’t know pumpkins came from a vine. There are flowers on this vine. There are roots.”These little girls are learning about pumpkins during their first trip to a pumpkin patch to feel the nature and the fruits. For Tristan Piazza’s mother, the Fall Festival is an annual event. “My parents have always brought me. I bring my kid now. I hope he stays in the area and he can bring his kids.” Since family funds are hard to keep__afloat these days, Tyler Butler appreciates the tens of thousands of visitors who come to the Fall Festival each year.
【解题导语】 本文主要介绍了Butler自助果园的一些活动项目和它对于他人的家庭所起到的独一无二的作用。
1．At Butler’s Orchard, visitors can experience ________.
A．picking vegetables in person
B．growing vegetables by themselves
C．tasting fruits off season
D．selling pumpkins online
A 解析：细节理解题。根据第一段倒数第二句“Visitors can pick their own in season fruits, vegetables and flowers.”可知，游客可以在Butler果园里亲自采摘当令的水果、蔬菜和鲜花。故选A项。
2．Why did Ken Merriam take his children to the farm?
A．They want to run it.
B．They want to grow vegetables.
C．It reminds him of his childhood.
D．It provides them with fun activities.
C 解析：细节理解题。根据第二段第二句“He says Butler’s Orchard brings back good memories of growing up on a farm in Honduras.”可知，他带孩子来这里是因为这里让他想起了他的童年。故选C项。
3．Which of the following best explains “keep afloat”underlined in the last paragraph?
A．Guarantee. B．Earn.
C．Expand. D．Spend.
A 解析：词义猜测题。根据对画线短语所在句的理解可知，本句是说果园的经营者对来果园参加节日活动的游客表示感激，因为这些日子果园的资金有些周转不开，由此可推知，画线短语和guarantee“保证”含义相近。故选A项。
4．What’s the main idea of the passage?
A．The Fall Festival is an annual event.
B．Pumpkins at Butler’s Orchard are organic.
C．Pick your own farms are increasingly popular.
D．Butler’s Orchard strengthens the bond of the family.
D 解析：主旨大意题。通读全文可知，文章主要介绍了Butler果园的一些活动项目和它在巩固他人家庭关系上发挥的作用。故D项最能概括文意。
[长难句分析] It has thousands of pumpkins, including a pumpkin patch where people can pick their own pumpkin.(第一段第二句)
分析：本句是一个主从复合句。主句是It has thousands of pumpkins, 后面的动名词短语作状语，状语中含有where 引导的定语从句，修饰先行词a pumpkin patch, where在从句中作地点状语。
译文：这个果园有成千上万的南瓜，包括一个南瓜地，在那里人们可以采摘他们自己的南瓜。
