A
A while back I caught a news report on something called couchsurfing and the network of trusting souls who make this phenomenon possible.They offer to put up (留宿) travelers free of charge and help them on their ways.At first, it sounded unbelievable.I mean, inviting strangers into one's home for one or two nights? Give me a break.
However, I was intrigued. I decided to investigate.The only way to truly learn about this phenomenon was to dive in.So I planned a trip to Finland, a country I've always wanted to explore.I would couchsurf at every stop there.
If ever any anxiety existed when stepping into the unknown, it disappeared when my first host met me at the train station.Ari looked like my idea of a typical Finn: tall and blueeyed.Finns were also supposed to be famously reserved (寡言少语的)．Ari was anything but.He was a live wire, giving me an enthusiastic welcome and hiking with me to his apartment, where he showed me the sleeping sofa, served me tea and engaged me in warm conversations.He also handed me a key to come and go as I pleased.
If this was what couchsurfing was all about — trust and friendship — then I had gotten off to a good start.As I boarded my next train to continue my journey I began to think about this couchsurfing idea.What urged these people to open their homes to strangers? I concluded that there was a desire to lend a hand to likeminded folks who might enrich their own lives.
Seven cities in 14 days.Seven hosts.Seven new friends.If couchsurfing taught me anything, it's this: Most people are good and generous.Where will couchsurfing take me next? Who knows? But I can't wait to find out.
语篇解读：本文是一篇记叙文。文章讲述了我在探索“沙发冲浪”时获得了友情和信任。
1．What does the underlined word “intrigued” in Paragraph 2 mean?
A．Relaxed. B．Disgusted.
C．Interested. D．Embarrassed.
解析：选C 词义猜测题。根据画线词后一句I decided to investigate.可推断出作者应该对沙发冲浪很感兴趣，才会决定去调查，所以intrigued与interested具有相同含义。故选C。
2．What can we know about Ari?
A．He was reserved like most Finns.
B．He talked less but he was friendly.
C．He treated the author as a friend.
D．He saw off the author at the train station.
解析：选C 推理判断题。根据第三段中的He was a live wire, giving me an enthusiastic welcome and hiking with me to his apartment, where he showed me the sleeping sofa, served me tea and engaged me in warm conversations.He also handed me a key to come and go as I pleased.可知，Ari把作者当作朋友。故选C。
3．Why did people offer couchsurfing to strangers?
A．To take an adventure with strangers.
B．To exchange houses for a short time.
C．To learn more about others' family lives.
D．To enrich their own lives by helping others.
解析：选D 细节理解题。根据倒数第二段中的What urged these people to open their homes to strangers? I concluded that there was a desire to lend a hand to likeminded folks who might enrich their own lives.可知，作者得出结论：向陌生人提供沙发冲浪是为了通过帮助别人来丰富自己的生活。故选D。
4．What can be the suitable title for the text?
A．Travel on Trust and Couches
B．A Free Travel in Finland
C．Experiences in Strangers' Houses
D．A Plan for Couchsurfing
解析：选A 标题归纳题。通读全文可知，本文主要讲述了作者从初步了解到亲身体验“沙发冲浪”——在旅游时，由一个陌生的当地人提供免费吃住并担当导游，基于相互信任和共同趣味建立起来的一种旅游模式，再到得出感悟的全过程。全文围绕两个关键词couchsurfing (指在陌生当地家庭基于信任共同生活一两天)和travel展开，故选A。
