题型:任务型阅读 题类:常考题 难易度:普通
In 2015, motorcyclist Robert Jan kicked off a three-month solo(独自的) ride from the Netherlands to India.
1 One day when he was watching a TV show about a man documenting his travels across countries, Robert decided he wanted to do something similar. About a decade later, he got his driver's license. 2 Two years after that, Robert began a solo motorcycle trip from his home in the Netherlands to India. He traveled more than 10,000 miles in just under three months.
Robert, who is today a 30-year-old graphic designer (平面设计师), began planning the trip in September 2014, shortly after his graduation from Willem de Kooning Academy. 3 He secured the necessary paperwork, got cash, and supported the adventure through a graphic design job. He and his blue motorcycle—which he nicknamed Perry—took off in late August of 2015.
4 He met fellow travelers along the way and slept outside, all the while writing about his experience on his blog, Going Eastwards.
But the three-month adventure also came with its challenges. Sometimes, he would go miles without spotting a much-needed gas station, and money eventually grew scarce(不足的). 5 In the end of November, Robert finally reached Mumbai, India. There, he shipped his bike back to Houten in the Netherlands and put himself on a plane back home.
“Took 81 days to get there,” he posted on Instagram, “back within 18 hours.”
A. And in 2013, he bought his first motorcycle.
B. From a young age, Robert has been an adventurer.
C. By the time he arrived, all the beds were occupied.
D. They helped Robert get the motorcycle out of the freezing cold water.
E. Riding through 14 countries, Robert met a diverse set of people and landscapes.
F. Closer to the end of the trip, the motorcycle broke down—but a local helped him out.
G. He spent the next several months reading stories of motorcycle adventurers like Paul van Hoff and Gordon G. May.
This Way to Dreamland Daydreaming means people think about something pleasant, especially when this makes them forget what they should be doing. Daydreamers have a bad reputation for being unaware of what's happening around them. They can seem forgetful and clumsy{#blank#}1{#/blank#}They annoy us because they seem to be ignoring us and missing the important things.But daydreamers are also responsible for some of the greatest ideas and achievements in human history{#blank#}2{#/blank#}Can you imagine what kind of world we would have without such ideas and inventions?So how can you come up with brilliant daydreams and avoid falling over tree roots or otherwise looking like a fool?First, understand that some opportunities(机会) for daydreaming are better than others. Feeling safe and relaxed will help you to slip into daydreams.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}And if you want to improve your chances of having a creative idea while you're daydreaming, try to do it while you are involved in another task—preferably something simple, like taking a shower or walking, or even making meaningless drawings.It's also important to know how to avoid daydreams for those times when you really need to concerntrate. “Mindfulness”, being focused, is a tool that some people use to avoid falling asleep.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}Finally, you never know what wonderful idea might strike while your mind has moved slowly away.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}Always remember that your best ideas might come when your head is actually in the clouds.
A. Having interesting things to think about also helps. |
B. They stare off into space and wander by themselves. |
C. Without wandering minds, we wouldn't have relatively, Coke or Post-it notes. |
D. At one time, daydreaming was thought to be a cause of some mental illnesses. |
E. It involves slow, steady breathing for self-control that helps people stay calm and attentive. |
F. Daydreams are often very simple and direct, quite unlike sleep dreams, which may be hard to understand. |
G. Therefore, it's a good idea to keep a notebook or voice recorder nearby when you're in the daydream zone. |
Should I live in the city or the suburbs?
There are three different kinds of areas you can live in: urban, suburban, and rural. You can describe living in a rural area as living out in the sticks or the county. This type of living is seen as idyllic (田园生活的) for those seeking reprieve (暂时缓解) from crowds. Rural areas generally have small, self-sustaining populations.
Urban living is city living: active nightlife, full of noise, sophisticated public transit system and sometimes small and expensive city apartments. Urban areas tend to be densely (密集地) populated and have more intense traffic and pollution as a result.
For those seeking an intermediary between urban and rural living, the suburbs might be just the thing. Suburbs are large residential areas away from the core of town yet close enough to the city center.
Can you afford to live in the city?
Choosing whether to live in the city or the suburbs is often a matter of budget — where can you afford to live? By and large, living in the city is more expensive than living in the suburbs, though that's not always the case. For instance, in Las Vegas, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and a few other cities, suburban living is not always better on your wallet.
Your lifestyle influences your happiness in the city or suburbs.
For someone who enjoys five-star restaurants, vibrant (充满活力的) nightlife, and fast-paced living, residing in an urban hub is a dream come true. On the other hand, if you find crowds and tons of noise unbearable, then a large city might feel like purgatory (炼狱).
Your lifestyle is one of the primary considerations in deciding where you ought to live. If you are into fishing, hiking, and spending time outdoors, then realize that you may have to drive several hours to enjoy your hobbies if you choose city living.
Is your career better suited for the city or suburbs?
Your career should also strongly influence your choice about whether to live in the city or in the suburbs. For example, if your job is in landscape, you might find it difficult to find work in the city because there is not a high demand for landscape artists. The fact of the matter is that most city homes don't have large yards with grass to cut, and competition for landscaping contracts is probably fierce. Similarly, a business executive (主管) may find that the suburbs do not offer the convenience afforded by city living.
The debate of whether to live in the suburbs or the city is long lasting and never-ending. When it all boils down to it, it is a matter of preference and budget, so go with your gut (决心) and you'll make the right choice.
Passage outline |
Supporting details |
{#blank#}1{#/blank#} of living in three kinds of areas |
◆ Living in rural areas helps people escape from {#blank#}2{#/blank#}streets and public transportation. ◆ Living in urban are can mean active nightlife but has many {#blank#}3{#/blank#} like noise, pollution and so on. ◆ The suburbs might appeal to those seeking to achieve a {#blank#}4{#/blank#} between urban and rural living. |
Affordability |
Generally, city living {#blank#}5{#/blank#} more than suburban living, but in some cases, urban living is less expensive. |
Lifestyle |
◆ When choosing where to live, you should take your lifestyle into {#blank#}6{#/blank#}. ◆You can settle in a big city if you prefer modern life. However, if you want to {#blank#}7{#/blank#} your hobbies like fishing and hiking, you'd better avoid city living. |
Career |
◆ Your profession plays a great role in helping you {#blank#}8{#/blank#} on where to live. ◆ A landscape artist has difficulty finding work in the city while a business executive finds it not {#blank#}9{#/blank#} to live in the suburbs. |
Conclusion |
Anyway, you'll make the right decision if you {#blank#}10{#/blank#} your choice on your preference and budget. |
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