TV Shows and Long Bus Trips
Long bus rides are like television shows. They have a beginning, a middle, and an end— with ads thrown in every three or four minutes. The ads are unavoidable. They happen whether you want them or not. Every couple of minutes a billboard appears outside the bus window.“Buy Super Clean Toothpaste.”“Drink Good’n Wet Root Beer.”“Fill up with Pacific Gas.” Only if you sleep, which is equal to turning the television set off, are you spared the unending cry of “You Need It! Buy It Now!”
The beginning of the ride is comfortable and somewhat exciting, even if you’ve traveled that way before. Usually some things have changed—new houses, new buildings, sometimes even a new road. The bus driver has a style of driving and it’s fun to try to figure it out the first hour or so. If the driver is particularly daring, the ride can be as exciting as a suspense(悬念) story. Will the driver pass the truck in time? Will the driver move into the right or the left-hand lane?After a while, of course, the excitement dies down. Sleeping for a while helps pass the middle hours of the ride. Food always makes bus rides more interesting. But you’ve got to be careful of what kind of food you eat. Too much salty food can make you very thirsty between stops.
The end of the ride is somewhat like the beginning. You know it will soon be over and there’s a kind of expectation and excitement in that. The seat, of course, has become harder as the hours have passed. By now you’ve sat with your legs crossed, with your hands in your lap, with your hands on the arm rests—even with your hands crossed behind your head. The end comes just at the right time. There are just no more ways to sit.

1. 1.

   According to the passage, what do the passengers usually see when they are on a long bus trip?

   1. A.
      Buses on the road.
   2. B.
      Films on television.
   3. C.
      Advertisements on billboards.
   4. D.
      Gas stations.
2. 2.

   What is the purpose of this passage?

   1. A.
      To talk about the similarities between long bus trips and TV shows.
   2. B.
      To persuade you to take a long bus trip.
   3. C.
      To display the differences between long bus trips and TV shows.
   4. D.
      To describe the billboards along the road.
3. 3.

   The writer of this passage would probably favor      

   1. A.
      bus drivers who weren’t caring.
   2. B.
      driving alone.
   3. C.
      a television set on the bus.
   4. D.
      no billboards along the road.
4. 4.

   The writer feels long bus rides are like TV shows because     

   1. A.
      the ads both on TV shows and on the billboards along the road are fun.
   2. B.
      they both have a beginning, a middle, and an end, with commercials in between.
   3. C.
      the drivers are always daring on TV shows just as they are on buses.
   4. D.
      both traveling and watching TV are not exciting.
5. 5.

   The writer thinks that the end of the ride is somewhat like the beginning because both are   

   1. A.
      exciting.
   2. B.
      comfortable.
   3. C.
      tiring.
   4. D.
      boring.

Long bus rides are like television shows. They have a beginning, a middle, and an end with commercials (商业广告) thrown in every three or four minutes. The commercials are unavoidable. They happen whether you want them or not. Every couple of minutes a billboard glides by outside the bus window. “Buy Super Clean Toothpaste.” “Drink Good Wet Root Beer.” “Fill up with Pacific Gas. “Only when you have fallen asleep, which is equal to turning the television set off, can you get separated from the unending cry of “You Need It! Buy It Now!”
As for the ride itself, the beginning of it is comfortable and somewhat exciting, even if you’ve traveled that way before. Usually some things are keeping changing out of the windows — various houses, crop fields, attractive bridges, … and sometimes even a small accident. Your bus driver may have a unique style of driving and it’s fun trying experience it the first hour or so. If the driver is particularly reckless (鲁莽的) or daring, the ride can be as thrilling (惊心动魄的) as an adventurous story. Will the driver pass the truck in time? Will the driver move into the right or the left hand lane? After a while, of course, the excitement dies down. Sleeping for a while helps pass the middle hours of the ride. Food always makes bus rides more interesting. But you’ve got to be careful of what kind of food you eat. Too much salty food can make you very thirsty between stops.
The end of the ride is somewhat like the beginning. You know the riding will soon be over and there’s a kind of expectation and excitement with that. The seat, of course, has become harder for the hours having passed. By now you may sit with your legs crossed, or with your hands in your lap, or with your hands on the arms, or even with your hands crossed behind your head. That is to say that the end comes just at no more ways to sit.
【小题1】According to the passage, what do the passengers usually see when they are on a long bus trip?

Long bus rides are like television shows. They have a beginning, a middle, and an end with commercials (商业广告) thrown in every three or four minutes. The commercials are unavoidable. They happen whether you want them or not. Every couple of minutes a billboard glides by outside the bus window. “Buy Super Clean Toothpaste.” “Drink Good Wet Root Beer.” “Fill up with Pacific Gas. “Only when you have fallen asleep, which is equal to turning the television set off, can you get separated from the unending cry of “You Need It! Buy It Now!”

As for the ride itself, the beginning of it is comfortable and somewhat exciting, even if you’ve traveled that way before. Usually some things are keeping changing out of the windows — various houses, crop fields, attractive bridges, … and sometimes even a small accident. Your bus driver may have a unique style of driving and it’s fun trying experience it the first hour or so. If the driver is particularly reckless (鲁莽的) or daring, the ride can be as thrilling (惊心动魄的) as an adventurous story. Will the driver pass the truck in time? Will the driver move into the right or the left hand lane? After a while, of course, the excitement dies down. Sleeping for a while helps pass the middle hours of the ride. Food always makes bus rides more interesting. But you’ve got to be careful of what kind of food you eat. Too much salty food can make you very thirsty between stops.

The end of the ride is somewhat like the beginning. You know the riding will soon be over and there’s a kind of expectation and excitement with that. The seat, of course, has become harder for the hours having passed. By now you may sit with your legs crossed, or with your hands in your lap, or with your hands on the arms, or even with your hands crossed behind your head. That is to say that the end comes just at no more ways to sit.

1.According to the passage, what do the passengers usually see when they are on a long bus trip?

A．Buses on the road.                      B．Films on television.

C．Advertisements on the billboards.           D．Gas stations.

2.What is the purpose of this passage?

A．To give the writer’s opinion about long bus trips.

B．To persuade you to take some long bus riding.

C．To explain how bus trips and television shows differ.

D．To describe the billboards along the road.

3.The writer of this passage would probably prefer ______.

A．those reckless bus drivers

B．driving with no one around

C．a television set on the bus

D．no billboards along the road

4.The writer feels long bus rides are like TV shows because ______.

A．the commercials both on TV shows and on billboards along the road are fun

B．they both have a beginning, a middle and an end, with commercials in between

C．the drivers are always reckless on TV shows just as they are on buses

D．both traveling by bus itself and watching TV programs on bus are not exciting.

5.The writer thinks that the end of the ride is somewhat like the beginning because both are .

A．exciting           B．comfortable        C．tiring             D．boring

Long bus rides are like television shows. They have a beginning, a middle, and an end with commercials (商业广告) thrown in every three or four minutes. The commercials are unavoidable. They happen whether you want them or not. Every couple of minutes a billboard glides by outside the bus window. “Buy Super Clean Toothpaste.” “Drink Good Wet Root Beer.” “Fill up with Pacific Gas. “Only when you have fallen asleep, which is equal to turning the television set off, can you get separated from the unending cry of “You Need It! Buy It Now!”

As for the ride itself, the beginning of it is comfortable and somewhat exciting, even if you’ve traveled that way before. Usually some things are keeping changing out of the windows — various houses, crop fields, attractive bridges, … and sometimes even a small accident. Your bus driver may have a unique style of driving and it’s fun trying experience it the first hour or so. If the driver is particularly reckless (鲁莽的) or daring, the ride can be as thrilling (惊心动魄的) as an adventurous story. Will the driver pass the truck in time? Will the driver move into the right or the left hand lane? After a while, of course, the excitement dies down. Sleeping for a while helps pass the middle hours of the ride. Food always makes bus rides more interesting. But you’ve got to be careful of what kind of food you eat. Too much salty food can make you very thirsty between stops.

The end of the ride is somewhat like the beginning. You know the riding will soon be over and there’s a kind of expectation and excitement with that. The seat, of course, has become harder for the hours having passed. By now you may sit with your legs crossed, or with your hands in your lap, or with your hands on the arms, or even with your hands crossed behind your head. That is to say that the end comes just at no more ways to sit.

46. According to the passage, what do the passengers usually see when they are on a long bus trip?

A. Buses on the road.                  B. Films on television.

C. Advertisements on the billboards.      D. Gas stations.

47. What is the purpose of this passage?

A. To give the writer’s opinion about long bus trips.

B. To persuade you to take some long bus riding.

C. To explain how bus trips and television shows differ.

D. To describe the billboards along the road.

48. The writer of this passage would probably prefer ______.

A. those reckless bus drivers              B. driving with no one around

C. a television set on the bus              D. no billboards along the road

49. The writer feels long bus rides are like TV shows because ______.

A. the commercials both on TV shows and on billboards along the road are fun

B. they both have a beginning, a middle and an end, with commercials in between

C. the drivers are always reckless on TV shows just as they are on buses

D. both traveling by bus itself and watching TV programs on bus are not exciting.

50. The writer thinks that the end of the ride is somewhat like the beginning because both are .

A. exciting       B. comfortable        C. tiring                   D. boring