Question

【题目】阅读理解
People aren't walking any more—if they can figure out a way to avoid it.
I felt superior about this matter until the other day I took my car to mail a small parcel. The journey is a matter of 281 steps. But I used the car. And I wasn't in any hurry, either. I had merely become one more victim of a national sickness: motorosis.
It is an illness to which I had thought myself immune (免疫的) , for I was bred in the tradition of going to places on my own two legs. At that time, we regarded 25 miles as a good day's walk and the ability to cover such a distance in ten hours as a sign of strength and skill. It did not occur to us that walking was a hardship. And the effect was lasting. When I was 45 years old I raced—and beat—a teenage football player the 168 steps up the Statue of Liberty.
Such enterprises today are regarded by many middleaged persons as bad for the heart. But a wellknown British physician, Sir Adolphe Abrahams, pointed out recently that hearts and bodies need proper exercise. A person who avoids exercise is more likely to have illnesses than one who exercises regularly. And walking is an ideal form of exercise—the most familiar and natural of all.
It was Henry Thoreau who showed mankind the richness of going on foot. The man walking can learn the trees, flowers, insects, birds and animals, the significance of seasons, the very feel of himself as a living creature in a living world. He cannot learn in a car.
The car is a convenient means of transport, but we have made it our way of life. Many people don't dare to approach Nature any more; to them the world they were born to enjoy is all threat. To them security is a_steel_river thundering on a concrete road. And much of their thinking takes place while waiting for the traffic light to turn green.
I say that the green of forests is the mind's best light. And none but the man on foot can evaluate what is basic and everlasting.
（1）What is the national sickness?
A.Walking too much.
B.Traveling too much.
C.Driving cars too much.
D.Climbing stairs too much.
（2）The author mentions Henry Thoreau to prove that ________.
A.middleaged people like getting back to nature
B.walking in nature helps enrich one's mind
C.people need regular exercise to keep fit
D.going on foot prevents heart disease
（3）What is compared to “a steel river” in Paragraph 6?
A.A queue of cars.
B.A ray of traffic light
C.A flash of lightning
D.A stream of people.
（4）What is the author's intention of writing this passage?
A.To tell people to reflect more on life.
B.To recommend people to give up driving.
C.To advise people to do outdoor activities.
D.To encourage people to return to walking.

Answer 1

【答案】
（1）C
（2）B
（3）A
（4）D
【解析】本文主要介绍了现代人对汽车的依赖，分析了步行的种种好处。号召大家回到步行这种好的方式上来。
(1)C 　细节理解题。从第二段作者去281步远的地方都要开车，说自己是这种全国性疾病的牺牲品。故本题答案为C项。
(2)B　 推理判断题。从第五段的第二句“The man walking can learn the trees,flower, insects, birds and animals, the significance of seasons, the very feelof himself as a living creature in a living world, He cannot learn in a car.”可知，Henry Thoreau在大自然中步行丰富了自己的头脑。
(3)A　短语词义猜测题。由上下文可知，“Tothem security is a steel river thundering on a concrete road.”意为：对他们来说，安全就是在一条具体的公路上排一大排长队的汽车。故A项为正确答案。
(4)D　 写作目的题。从文章的最后一句话可知，作者说了步行的种种好处，倡导人们多去步行。故本题答案为D项。