Passage 5
　　In taking up a new life across the Atlantic, the early European settlers of the United States did not abandon the diversions with which their ancestors had traditionally relieved the tedium of life. Neither the harshness of existence on the new continent nor the scattered population nor the disapproval of the clergy discouraged the majority from the pursuit of pleasure.

　　City and country dwellers, of course, conducted this pursuit in different ways. Farm dwellers in their isolation not only found it harder to locate companions in play but also, thanks to the unending demands and pressures of their work, felt it necessary to combine fun with purpose. No other set of colonists took so seriously an expression of the period, "Leisure is time for doing something useful." In the countryside farmers therefore relieved the burden of the daily routine with such double-purpose relaxations as hunting, fishing, and trapping. When a neighbor needed help, families rallied from miles around to assist in building a house or barn, husking corn, shearing sheep, or chopping wood. Food, drink, and celebration after the group workprovided relaxation and soothed weary muscles.

　　The most eagerly anticipated social events were the rural parties. Hundreds of men, women, and children attended from far and near. The men bought or traded farm animals and acquired needed merchandise while the women displayed food prepared in their kitchens, and everyone, including the youngsters, watched or participated in a variety of competitive sports, with prizes awarded to the winners. These events typically included horse races, wrestling matches, and foot races, as well as some nonathletic events such as whistling competitions. No other occasions did so much to relieve the isolation of farm existence.

　　With the open countryside everywhere at hand, city dwellers naturally shared in some ofthe rural diversions. Favored recreations included fishing, hunting, skating, and swimming. But city dwellers also developed other pleasures, which only compact communities made possible.

　　26. What is the passage mainly about?

　　A) Methods of fanning used by early settlers of the United States.

　　B) Hardships faced by the early settlers of the United States.

　　C) Methods of buying, selling, and trading used by early settlers of the United States.

　　D) Ways in which early settlers of the United States relaxed.

　　27. What can be inferred about the diversions of the early settlers of the United States?

　　A) They followed a pattern Begun in Europe.

　　B) They were enjoyed more frequently than in Europe.

　　C) The clergy organized them.

　　D) Only the wealthy participated in them.

　　28. Which of the following can be said about the country dwellers' altitude toward "the pursuit

　　of pleasure" ?

　　A) They felt that it should help keep their minds on their work.

　　B) They felt that it was not necessary.

　　C) They felt that it should be productive.

　　D) They felt that it should not involve eating and drinking.

　　29. What is meant by the phrase "double-purpose" in the 4th sentence in paragraph 2?

　　A) Very frequent.

　　B) Useful and enjoyable.

　　C) Extremely necessary.

　　D) Positive and negative.

　　30. What will the author probably discuss in the paragraph following this passage?

　　A) The rural diversions enjoyed by both urban and rural people.

　　B) Leisure activities of city dwellers.

　　C) Building methods of the early settlers in rural areas.

　　D) Changes in lifestyles of settlers as they moved to the cities.

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　　Passage 5

　　文章大意：

　　早期的歐洲移民來到美國后，雖然生活條件艱苦，但他們并沒有放棄追求歡樂的想法。在這方面，城市和鄉(xiāng)村的居民又有區(qū)別。在第二段和第三段中，作者主要講述了鄉(xiāng)村居民的娛樂方式。由于居住地相隔較遠，還有工作的壓力，都使他們認為很有必要將娛樂和工作相結(jié)合。于是他們的娛樂活動多為狩獵和釣魚等等。有時鄰居們也會互相幫忙建造房屋和谷倉等等，之后聚餐飲酒共同慶祝。另外最使他們感到快樂的是鄉(xiāng)村聚會，男女老少各自分工參與各項競技活動，這是他們最好的放松。而在最后一段，作者使用過渡句轉(zhuǎn)入對城市居民娛樂活動的描述。

　　答案解析：

　　[26]D全文主要講述了鄉(xiāng)村和城市的美國早期移民娛樂的方式。

　　[27]A第一段第一句說明從歐洲來到美國的早期移民沒有放棄他們的祖先使生活豐富多彩的各種娛樂方式。

　　[28]C第二段第二句，鄉(xiāng)村居民在生活需求及工作壓力下，認為娛樂應(yīng)和目的相結(jié)合。第三句中在殖民者中流行的那句話也說明了這個答案。

　　[29]B根據(jù)上題，第二段第三句中農(nóng)民們用這種雙重目的的娛樂，如打獵、釣魚等方式來減輕生活壓力，這個“double-purpose”就是把娛樂和工作結(jié)合。

　　[30]B第二、第三段描述了鄉(xiāng)村娛樂方式，第四段過渡說明城市居民也有自己的娛樂方式，在下面的段落中作者當然是要詳細說明城市的娛樂方式了。