英语阅读练习3

阅读3

  • sustainability 可维持性
  • tranquil 恬静的
  • whilst 尽管
  • conservatism 保守主义
  • desolation 荒凉
  • intermittent 断断续续的
  • detached 分类的
  • endorse 赞同，支持
  • reindorsement 再次支持
  • supposedly 假定
  • deplorable 可悲的
  • idealized 理想的
  • accessible 可接近，可获取的，可使用的
  • fueling 推动
  • renaissance 复兴
  1. With population increases and global urbanization ever accelerating much attention is focused on the sustainability of our cities, and scarce attention is paid to the coruntryside.
  2. Rural life is associated with closely-knit communities, a sense of belonging, and a simple, tranquil life. Yet whilst some or all of these elements exist in the countryside, so do conservatism and a lack of employment opportunities. And it is mostly due to the latter that rural communities are suffering. Attracted by the improved economics of urban areas, country-dwellers across the world are moving out, contributing to the excessive crowdedness of densely populated cities, and leaving the countryside in desolation.
  3. So how can the countryside ensure its survival among these changes; or should it at all? Due to both the distance between residences and facilities and often intermittent public transport, those living in the countryside are heavier automobile users. Rural dwellers also use more energy maintaining their mostly detached buildings. We may be piled up like boxes in the city, but this brings energy efficiency that the countryside cannot match. Rural energy requirements result in higher carbon emissions per person than in the city, so it is actually irresponsible to endorse such a lifestyle choice.
  4. Protecting the countryside is a hot topic. Those who have made their fortunes in the city often buy second homes in the countryside, visiting intermittently for a sample of a supposedly simple life. The side effect of this is that house prices are pushed up due to increased demand, leaving them unaffordable for local people. A solution has yet to be found for this challenge, for imarket forces are further forcing residents out of the countryside. For those who believe in rural preservation, this is deplorable.
  5. Whilst an idealized view of the countryside is common, the reality is that rural life has continuously evolved. Industrialization brought an increase in divisions of labor, changing social links between rural
    people. The internet has introduced once foreign cultures into the countryside. Improved travel connections and affordability have made the world more accessible, creating a “global village.” Considering these changes, surely an evolving countryside is inevitable.
  6. Perhaps the countryside should also prepare itself for massive population increases in the future. With cities across the world growing rapidly, how will the current urban generation respond to the inevitable social changes of mass urbanization? Will the longing for a simpler life become stronger, fueling a rural renaissance?
  7. As the world continues to urbanize, the voices calling for rural preservation may well grow louder. But change is inevitable. We know that the world is going to see new cities emerging from the dust and current cities growing into megacities, but the future of the countryside is less clear.

问题

  • mar 破坏
  • hinder 阻碍 - hindrance
  1. What has become of the rural areas nowadays?

A. They are becoming somewhat deserted.

B. They are being increasingly urbanized.

C. They are closely-knit communities.

D. They are haunted by conservatism.

  1. What does the author think of the rural lifestyle?

A. It is unlikely to survive given the ongoing changes.

B. It is less energy-efficient compared to that in cities.

C. It is highly dependent upon heavy automobiles.

D. It is a choice more affluent people will endorse.

  1. What does the author think of rich urban residents buying a second home in the countryside?

A. It is bound to mar the traditional rural life.

B. It adversely impacts rural social stability.

C. It hinders rural economies’ revitalization.

D. It is detrimental to rural presevation.

  1. What do we learn about the countryside with industrialization and technological advances?

A. It is destined to change gradually.

B. It will present an idealized way of life.

C. It is likely to embrace foreign cultures.

D. It will become increasingly diversified.

  1. What does the author think of the future of the countryside compared with cities?

A. It is going to be harder for the locals.

B. It is going to resemble that of cities.

C. It is less likely to stay static.

D. It is easy to envisage.

翻译

  1. 随着人口增长和全球城市化进程的不断加速，人们的注意力大多集中在城市的可持续性上，而对农村的关注却很少。
  2. 乡村生活与紧密联系的社区、归属感以及简单宁静的生活相关。然而，尽管乡村存在这些元素中的一部分或全部，但同时也存在保守主义和缺乏就业机会的问题。而正是由于后者，农村社区正在遭受苦难。受到城市地区经济改善的吸引，世界各地的农村居民纷纷迁出，导致人口稠密的城市过度拥挤，而农村则陷入荒芜。
  3. 那么，在这些变化中，农村如何确保自身的生存呢？或者它是否应该生存下去呢？由于住所与设施之间的距离较远，而且公共交通通常是间歇性的，农村居民更多地使用汽车。农村居民在维护他们大多独立的建筑物时也会消耗更多的能源。我们在城市里可能像盒子一样堆积在一起，但这带来了农村无法比拟的能源效率。农村的能源需求导致人均碳排放量高于城市，因此支持这种生活方式的选择实际上是不负责任的。
  4. 保护农村是一个热门话题。那些在城市中发家致富的人经常在农村购买第二套住房，间歇性地去体验一种所谓的简单生活。这样做的副作用是，由于需求增加，房价被推高，使得当地人无法负担得起。目前还没有找到解决这个挑战的办法，因为市场力量正在进一步迫使居民离开农村。对于那些相信农村保护的人来说，这是令人遗憾的。
  5. 虽然对农村的理想化看法很常见，但现实是农村生活在不断演变。工业化带来了劳动分工的增加，改变了农村人之间的社会联系。互联网将曾经的外国文化引入了农村。交通连接的改善和可负担性使世界更加容易到达，创造了一个“地球村”。考虑到这些变化，农村的演变肯定是不可避免的。
  6. 也许农村也应该为未来的大规模人口增长做好准备。随着世界各地的城市迅速发展，当前的城市一代将如何应对大规模城市化带来的不可避免的社会变化？对更简单生活的渴望会变得更强烈，从而推动农村复兴吗？
  7. 随着世界继续城市化，呼吁保护农村的声音可能会越来越大。但变化是不可避免的。我们知道，世界将会看到新的城市从尘埃中崛起，现有的城市发展成特大城市，但农村的未来却不那么清晰。

答案

  1. A

contributing to the excessive crowdedness of densely populated cities, and leaving the countryside in desolation.

  1. B

We may be piled up like boxes in the city, but this brings energy efficiency that the countryside cannot match. Rural energy requirements result in higher carbon emissions per person than in the city, so it is actually irresponsible to endorse such a lifestyle choice.

  1. D

A solution has yet to be found for this challenge, for imarket forces are further forcing residents out of the countryside. For those who believe in rural preservation, this is deplorable.

  1. A

The internet has introduced once foreign cultures into the countryside. Improved travel connections and affordability have made the world more accessible, creating a “global village.” Considering these changes, surely an evolving countryside is inevitable.

  1. D

We know that the world is going to see new cities emerging from the dust and current cities growing into megacities, but the future of the countryside is less clear.