17．I used to believe in the American dream that meant a job，credit，success．I wanted it and worked toward it like everyone else，all of us separately chasing the same thing．
One year，through a series of unhappy events，it all fell apart．I found myself homeless and alone．I had my truck and﹩56．I searched the countryside for some place I could rent for the cheapest possible amount．I came upon a deserted cottage in a small remote valley．I hadn't been alone for 25years．I was scared，but I hoped the hard work would distract and heal me．
I found the owner and rented the place for﹩50a month．The locals knew nothing about me．But slowly they started teaching me the art of being a neighbor．They dropped off blankets，tools and canned deer meat and began sticking around to chat．They would ask if I wanted to meet cousin Albie or go fishing．They started to teach me a belief in a different American dream，not the one of individual achievement but of neighborliness．Men would stop by with wild berries，ice cream，truck parts to see if I needed some．The women on that mountain worked harder than any I'd ever met．They taught me how to store food in the stream and keep it cold and safe．I learned to keep enough for an extra plate for company．
What I had believed in，all those things I thought were necessary for a civilized life，were non-existent in this place．Up on the mountain，my most valuable possessions were my relationships with my neighbors．
After four years in that valley，I moved back into town．I saw a lot of people were having a really hard time，losing their jobs and homes．With the help of a real estate broker（房地产经纪人） I chatted up at the grocery store，I managed to rent a big enough house to take in a handful of people．It's four of us now，but over time I've had nine come in and move on to other places from here．We'd all be in shelters if we hadn't banded together．
The American dream I believe in now is a shared one．It's not so much about what I can get for myself； it's about how we can all get by together．
56．Before a series of unhappy events happened，the writerB．
A．had a well-paid job B．worked hard for his American dream
C．worked hard and liked to share D．felt hopeless about his American dream
57．What does the underlined sentence"I learned to…"in Paragraph 3most probably mean？B
A．The writer learned to run a company．
B．The writer learned to share with others．
C．The writer learned to keep enough plates．
D．The writer learned to save money for his company．
58．Why did the writer rent a big house？C
A．To make some money． B．To show off his wealth．
C．To share with those people in need． D．To make friends with his neighbors．
59．The writer mainly tells us aboutD．
A．his unhappy experiences B．the friendly people in the valley
C．the change of his living conditions D．his new idea of the American dream．
分析 本文是一篇夹叙夹议的文章．本文主题围绕作者对于美国梦的认识变化而展开．首先讲述了作者曾经以为美国梦就是追求个人的成功；后来，在遭遇一系列不幸后，作者在乡村生活四年的经历和感受使得作者对美国梦的有了新的认识和深刻感悟，也就是如何实现大家共同的成功．
解答 56．B 细节理解题．根据第二段中"through a series of unhappy events，it all fell apart．…but I hoped the hard work would distract and heal me．"可知，虽然一系列的不幸使得作者的梦想破碎，但作者认为努力工作会分散注意力和治愈（内心的）伤痛．故选B．
57．B 推断题．根据第三段中的"The locals knew nothing about me．But slowly they started teaching me the art of being a neighbor．They dropped off blankets，tools and canned deer meat and began sticking around to chat．They would ask if I wanted to meet cousin Albie or go fishing．They started to teach me a belief in a different American dream，not the one of individual achievement but of neighborliness．"可知，尽管当地人对我是一无所知，但是，他们却教我与邻居相处的艺术，这儿的人友善，睦邻友好，给作者提供了很多帮助，作者对美国梦的全新认识：美国梦不是仅仅实现个人的成功，而是关于我们如何通过共同奋斗都能获得成功．故选B．
58．C 细节理解题．根据第四段中"Up on the mountain，my most valuable possessions were my relationships with my neighbors"可知，在这个山上，我最珍贵的财产是我和邻居们的关系，大家互相帮助，友好、善良，作者认为美国梦应该是通过共同奋斗获得成功，因此作者也想帮助别人，故选C．
59．D 细节理解题．根据最后一段"The American dream I believe in now is a shared one．It's not so much about what I can get for myself； it's about how we can all get by together"可知，作者对美国梦的全新认识，故选D．
点评 解答细节理解题时，一个常用的方法就是运用定位法，即根据题干和选项中的关键词从原文中找到相关的句子，与选项进行比较从而确定答案；推理判断题既要求学生透过文章表面文字信息推测文章隐含意思，又要求学生对作者的态度、意图及文章细节的发展作正确的推理判断，力求从作者的角度去考虑，不要固守自己的看法或观点．
