9．Sometimes the things that we believe are holding our families together really aren't．Need proof？Let me share our story．My family is a fairly typical American foursome．Ten years ago，we moved into our dream house-a big，three-story historic home-thinking it would bring us the joy we desired．It was a beautiful place，but as our children grew up，our sense of togetherness began to fade away．In the big dream house，we scattered in different directions．
One day when my daughter，Hannah，was 14，she became upset about the differences between the world's haves and the have-nots．She challenged us to be"a family that makes a difference in the world，even if it's a small difference．"My wife，Joan，asked her，"What are you willing to sacrifice？Your house？Your room？"Hannah said yes to both．After talking it over as a family，we decided to sell our house and move to one that was half its size and price-and donate the money to charity．
First，we needed to figure out where our money would go，a process that took about a year．We finally chose The Hunger Project，a U．S．-based nonprofit that works with villagers in Africa，Asia and South America and helps them move from poverty to self-reliance．
Before we downsized，we were a little worried．Had we made too big a sacrifice？Two years later，I can tell you：It's the best move we have ever made．
As we worked together on our family project，those interconnected moments became more frequent．The more we shared，the more we laughed，teased and bonded．As Hannah said the other day，"We learned how to really trust each other．"
We don't expect anyone else to copy what we did and sell their home．But most people can find some commodity in their lives they could give up，whether it's time （halving the hours of TV you watch each week and volunteering instead？） or stuff （donating half the clothes in your closet？）．Like us，your family could set out to make a small difference in the world-and transform yourselves in the process．
51．Why couldn't the dream house bring the author the happiness as he had expected？A
A．Because the happy family feeling of closeness became less strong．
B．Because the dream house was too big for his family．
C．Because his children didn't like the dream house at all．
D．Because his children have grown up and want to be independent．
52．According to the second paragraph，HannahC．
A．showed no concern about the poor
B．was unwilling to give up her house
C．was a very sympathetic person
D．thought individuals have little effect on the world
53．It can be implied thatB．
A．the author regretted selling his house and giving money away
B．the author made a well-considered decision to donate the money
C．the Hunger Project aims to help the poor by continually giving them money
D．the feeling of togetherness was gained again by living in a smaller house
54．In order to make a difference in the world，the author calls on other familiesC．
A．to sell their houses
B．not to watch TV
C．to do something they can
D．to sell half the clothes
55．What's the best title of the passage？B
A．What Togetherness Is
B．Why We Gave Away Our Home
C．What We Should Do for Our Home
D．Why We Are Not Satisfied with Our Life．
分析 文章写了作者和家人住在梦寐以求的大房子里却不幸福，在富有同情心的女儿的影响下全家卖掉大房子，搬入小房子，日子幸福多了，然后家人把卖房子的一半所得捐给慈善组织，为改变这个世界做出了贡献，呼吁人们尽力帮助贫困地区的人．
解答 ACBCB
51：A 细节题．由第一段最后两句"It was a beautiful place，but as our children grew up，our sense of togetherness began to fade away．In the big dream home，we scattered in different directions．"可知大房子让家庭的归属感消失了，家庭成员分散在这个家的不同方向上，因此大房子没有给作者的家带来快乐，A项符合题意．故正确答案为A．
52：C 推断题．由第二段第一句"One day when my daughter，Hannah，was 14，she became upset about the differences between the world's haves and the have-nots．"可知 Hannah 对富人和穷人之间的差别感到不安．由下文可知，她愿意放弃自己家的大房子和自己的房间来改变世界．由此可见，Hannah 是个有同情心的人．C项符合题意．故正确答案为C．
53：B 细节题．由第三段第一句"First，we needed to figure out where our money would go，a process that took about a year．"可知作者和家人花了一年时间来考虑把钱捐给谁，最后做出了一个让他们满意的决定．由此可见，他们做出的决定是经过充分考虑的，B项符合题意．故正确答案为B．
54：C 推断题．由最后一段第二句"But most people can find some commodity in their lives they could give up，whether it's time （halving the hours of TV you watch each week and volunteering instead？） or stuff （donating half the clothes in your closet？）．"可知，作者呼吁其他人做一些力所能及的事，付出一些时间和物质来帮助贫困地区的人，C项符合题意，故正确答案为C．
55：B 主旨题．文章先写了作者和家人住在梦寐以求的大房子里却不幸福．接着写了在富有同情心的女儿的影响下全家卖掉大房子，搬入小房子，日子幸福多了．然后写了家人把卖房子的一半所得捐给慈善组织，为改变这个世界做出了贡献．结尾呼吁人们尽力帮助贫困地区的人．B项紧扣文意，突出文章主题，且能吸引读者，所以B项符合题意．其他项均与文章内容无关．故正确答案为B．
点评 做阅读时经常犯错的主要原因是，仅凭读过文章后残留在脑海中的一丝印象来勾选答案，这样便很容易掉入出题人故意设布下的题目陷阱．所谓阅读理解，对于题目的理解一定要忠实于原文，因此，每一道题都应该与原文作全面的对比与核查，再得出答案．也就是说，阅读理解的每一道题目，在原文都应该有明确的出处，我们把这一出处叫做原文相关句，（1）排除与原文相关句主题不一致的选项（2）排除与原文相关句态度相反的选项 （3）排除用于过于极端或负面的选项（4）注意结合文章主旨和主题去排除．
