A
For the past two years I have been travelling and living abroad.Home has become more of a feeling than a place.I feel at home when I am with my family in London, but I also feel at home in Italy with friends I love.Home is no longer a picture of a house with a front door and some windows.It is more complicated than that.
This is one of the reasons that celebrating the new year has become very important for me.I do not care about “New Year's resolutions(新年计划)” — living abroad has made me constantly reconsider what kind of person I want to be and how I will live my life, so I don't feel the need to plan for change: I live for change.
New Year's Eve has become my time to reconnect with the friends, which makes me feel at home.Every year we try to reunite wherever we are, and remember the time when we knew each other so well that we felt like a family.It is a moment to reconnect and get to know each other again.Last year, we travelled to a cottage in Ireland where we had no Internet and no neighbours.In the middle of the countryside, away from our constantly changing lives, we were able to become like a little family again.
This year, we went to Barcelona.It was a very big change.We were surrounded by culture and life and joy.There were bars and parties.It was different, but one thing stayed very much the same — I felt at home again and we felt like a family again.
A lot of people feel that New Year's Eve cannot live up to expectations.Ideas such as the “New Year's kiss” and “resolutions” create a lot of pressure for people to have a night to remember, a night that will change their lives and perhaps make the next year worth living.I think those people are missing the point.Why can't New Year be about friends?
语篇解读:本文是一篇夹叙夹议文。作者经常通过和朋友们一起旅游来庆祝新年,并因此而有家的感觉。
1.What does the underlined word “It” in Paragraph 1 refer to?
A.Family. B.Living abroad.
C.Home. D.Staying with friends.
解析:选C 代词指代题。根据第一段倒数第二句Home is no longer a picture of a house with a front door and some windows.可知,家不再是一幅有前门和一些窗户的房子的图画;结合画线词所在句可知,该句的主语It指代前一句中的Home。故C项正确。
2.Why doesn't the author care about “New Year's resolutions”?
A.New Year's resolutions cannot be reached.
B.His lifestyle makes him always ready for change.
C.It's meaningless to make any big changes in life.
D.Making New Year's resolutions creates much pressure.
解析:选B 细节理解题。根据第二段第二句I do not care about “New Year's resolutions(新年计划)” — living abroad has made me constantly reconsider what kind of person I want to be and how I will live my life, so I don't feel the need to plan for change: I live for change.可知,作者的生活不断变化,所以他认为没有必要在意新年计划,故B项正确。
3.What does the author try to convey through his experiences in Ireland and Barcelona?
A.Life is peaceful and enjoyable.
B.Living abroad is a happy experience.
C.Staying with friends makes one feel at home.
D.Travelling abroad enriches one's life experience.
解析:选C 细节理解题。根据第三段尾句In the middle of the countryside, away from our constantly changing lives, we were able to become like a little family again.可知,和朋友待在乡村的中心,远离不断变化的生活,作者找到了家的感觉;根据第四段尾句It was different, but one thing stayed very much the same — I felt at home again and we felt like a family again.可知,作者和朋友们在一起,感觉又回到了家,感觉他们像一家人。据此可知,文中提及作者和朋友在爱尔兰和巴塞罗那的经历旨在说明和朋友待在一起能让人找到家的感觉。故C项正确。
4.Which of the following can be the best title for the text?
A.New Year's Celebration:How?
B.True Friendship:What?
C.Living Abroad:Comfortable or Complicated?
D.Change:Plan It or Make It?
解析:选A 标题归纳题。通读全文可知,文章主要讲述了作者由于常年旅居在国外,对于庆祝新年和新年计划有着不同的思考:有朋友的地方就有家的感觉,变化着的生活不需要新年计划,故A项最适合作文章标题。