What does the word “home” mean to you? How do you say the word in French? In Spanish? In your language? Although people usually know what the word means, it often has no exact translation. It’s not surprising really, because the idea of home differs from country to country, and from person to person. A home is more than a roof and four walls. It’s the cooking, eating, talking, playing and family living that go on inside, which are important as well. And at home you usually feel safe and relaxed.
But it’s not just that homes look different in different countries, they also contain different things and reveal（显示） different attitudes and needs. For example, in cold northern Europe, there’s a fire in the living room or kitchen and all the chairs face it. In the south, where the sun shines a lot and it’s more important to keep the heat out, there are small windows, cool stone floors and often no carpets. We asked some people about their homes.
How often do people move house in your country?
“In my country many people don’t stay in one place for a very long time. They often move every ten years or so.”
Cheryl, Boston, USA
What are typical features of homes in your country?
“In Britain, even in town there’s always a garden and sometimes a cellar（地下室）. We have separate bedrooms and living rooms. But we don’t often have balconies (阳台). The weather isn’t warm enough!”
— Pat, Exeter, England
【小题1】Which one is true according to the passage?A．People in Britain seldom have balconies because it’s so hot outside.B．“Home” is a place where you feel safe and relaxed.C．Although homes look different in different countries, they have the same needs.D．Houses in northern Europe always have big windows and cool stone floors.【小题2】The word “home” has no exact translation because .A．people can’t find this word in the dictionaryB．no one knows what it isC．it has different meanings in different countriesD．people can’t understand each other very well【小题3】You can at home according to the passage.A．eat, play, and teach studentsB．cook, talk, and play games C．swim, eat, and make friends D．do nothing【小题4】Why is it important to keep the heat out of the houses in southern Europe?A．Because they want to breathe fresh air outside.B．Because there’s a fire in the living room.C．Because they wear heavy clothing all day long.D．Because the sun there shines a lot.B
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(答案→)B
解析：文章大意：家，不只是一座房子，它是吃饭、谈话、玩乐及家庭生活进行的地方。在家里，你通常会感到安全放松。但家的概念在不同的国家，不同的人心里又是不一样的。
【小题1】B细节理解题。题目意思为：根据这篇文章，下面哪一个表述是正确的？这种题，我们只能一个选项一个选项地去核对。A英国人很少有阳台，因为外面太热。根据选项中的People in Britain seldom have balconies, 到文中去找信息源。最后一段But we don’t often have balconies (阳台). The weather isn’t warm enough!我们不常有阳台，气候不太温暖。由此可知，A选项是错误的。B家是一个你能感到安全和放松的地方。第一段And at home you usually feel safe and relaxed. 由此可以判断B选项是正确的。至此，后面两个答案，看一遍以后，如果不十分肯定，就可以直接排除了，但如果有可信之处，则要与B进行比较，哪一个更好。
【小题2】细节理解题。C根据题干中的no exact translation 到文中去找信息源。第一段Although …, it often has no exact translation. …, because the idea of home differs from country to country, and from person to person. 它常常没有准确的翻译，因为家的概念各国不同，各人不同。由此可知，C选项正确。
【小题3】B细节理解题。根据题目及选项可以知道，此题是问“你在家能做些什么”。第一段It’s the cooking, eating, talking, playing and family living that go on inside,由此可知，应该选B。
【小题4】D细节理解题。根据题目中southern Europe，去文中寻找信息源。第二段For example, in cold northern Europe,… In the south, where the sun shines a lot and it’s more important to keep the heat out, 可知答案应该是D。