阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从各题所给的四个选项(A、B、C、D)中，选出最佳选项，并在答题纸上将该选项标号涂黑。
My grandparents built and lived in a small 600-square-foot cottage for most of their adult lives. They actively practiced living a 21 life. Saving and avoiding overspending was their life 22 for their whole life. 23 seeking satisfaction through material items, they chose to spend 24 time together, with family, and in nature.
Over the years my grandparents noticed 25 changes in their munity. Every year more farmland was 26 to build larger and larger homes. With houses’ prices 27 , many of their neighbors sold their little homes and lands. 28 only their small house was still on the block, surrounded by a sea of tall buildings. Countless family members 29 my grandparents to expand their home. But they didn’t want a bigger place and were 30 with what they had.
In many ways, I’ve modeled my life after my grandparents. Through their example I learned an important 31 : It is absolutely possible to live a small and fulfilling life.
My grandparents lived in a small home, but they owned a(n) 32 garden. They loved gardening deeply because it not only 33 their grocery bill, but also improved their health and gave them a(n) 34 to be outside. They said, “ 35 you live in a small home or an apartment, you don’t have to give up gardening.”
My grandparents avoided lifestyle creep(攀比) by paying for their own home in cash and building it themselves. They also recycled and 36 everything. For instance, they drove the same car for over 15 years and didn’t buy anything new until their stuff was 37 worn out.
My grandparents taught me that living well on 38 isn’t about feeling bad for myself. 39 , it’s about giving yourself the time, freedom, and money to seek your dreams. You know: Being debt free, living in a smaller home, and others are a few ways to 40 your life.
【小题1】A．dullB．simpleC．singleD．busy【小题2】A．attitudeB．experienceC．principleD．standard【小题3】A．Rather thanB．More thanC．Other thanD．Apart from【小题4】A．shopping B．workC．breakD．quality【小题5】A．obvious B．delicateC．enjoyableD．flexible【小题6】A．improved B．ruined C．discoveredD．distributed【小题7】A．taking up B．making upC．going upD．turning up【小题8】A．Probably B．SuddenlyC．InstantlyD．Eventually【小题9】A．forcedB．encouraged C．persuadedD．ordered【小题10】A．contentB．angryC．cautiousD．familiar【小题11】A．lessonB．theory C．truthD．sentence【小题12】A．smallB．specialC．ordinaryD．huge【小题13】A．reduced B．handledC．checkedD．handled【小题14】A．platformB．stageC．excuse D．solution【小题15】A．As ifB．Even ifC．Only ifD．What if【小题16】A．sewedB．createdC．soldD．reused【小题17】A．thoroughlyB．generallyC．nearly D．hardly【小题18】A．more B．less C．better D．worse【小题19】A．What’s moreB．As a resultC．On the wholeD．On the contrary【小题20】A．riskB．manageC．limitD．destroyB
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(答案→)B
解析：本文通过对祖父母简朴生活的细微的描述，作者悟出了来自祖父母的生活哲学：适时地返朴归“简”吧！返朴归“简”既是一种生活方式，也是一种生活态度。抛开繁杂和过多的物质束缚，用一颗知足的心去拥抱简单而充实的生活，我们将和快乐不期而遇。简单的快乐，你值得拥有！
【小题1】B根据上文“lived in a small 600-square-foot cottage”中的“small”可以推断祖父母生活的简朴(simple)。dull呆板的，枯燥的；single单身的，唯一的；busy忙碌的。
【小题2】C节俭和避免过度的花费是他们的人生信条/原则(principle)。上文的“Saving and avoiding overspending”从逻辑意义上说不是一种“attitude态度”，也不是什么“experience 经验，经历”更不是什么“standard标准”。
【小题3】A Rather than而不是；More than不仅仅；Other than除了；Apart from除了。把下一题和这一题联系起来考虑。我们将句子改成“They chose to spend 24 time together, with family, and in nature 23 seeking satisfaction through material items”就比较容易选出答案。
【小题4】D上下文字面意思是：他们选择了和家人在一起共度珍贵时光，享受大自然，而不是去追求物质上的满足。quality time珍贵时光；shopping购物；work工作；break休息。本句译文：比起通过物质来寻求满足，他们更愿意和家人在一起共度珍贵时光，享受大自然。
【小题5】A 根据下文的描述“Every year more farmland was 26 to build larger and larger homes. ”说明他们所居住的社区发生了“obvious明显的”变化。delicate微妙的；enjoyable愉快的，快乐的；flexible灵活的，易弯曲的，柔韧的。这些年来，我的祖父母注意到他们所在的社区发生了非常明显的变化。
【小题6】B根据下文的“to build larger and larger homes”推断应该是“毁掉农田来建造房子”。improved改善；ruined毁坏；discovered发现；distributed分配。每年，越来越多的农田被毁掉，用以建造越来越大的房子。
【小题7】C根据下文“many of their neighbors sold their little homes and lands.”的描述说明房地产的价格在上升。go up上升；take up拿起，继续，接受（提议），占去。make up组成，补足，弥补，编造；turn up出现，调大(声音)。随着房地产价格的节节攀升，他们的很多邻居都卖掉了自己的小房子和土地。
【小题8】D 由于“很多邻居都卖掉了自己的小房子和土地”，所以最终的结果是“only their small house was still on the block, surrounded by a sea of tall buildings.(街区就只剩下祖父母家的小房子，而周围全是高楼大厦)”Eventually终于，最后；Probably也许；Suddenly突然；Instantly立刻。
【小题9】B面临“街区就只剩下祖父母家的小房子，而周围全是高楼大厦”的情况所以“很多家庭成员鼓励(encouraged)祖父母扩建他们的房子”。本题的最大干扰项是C项persuaded劝服，但是从下文看，祖父母并没有被劝服。forced迫使；ordered命令。
【小题10】A be content with=be satisfied/pleased with对感到满意；angry生气；cautious小心的，谨慎的；familiar熟悉的。但他们并不想要一个更大的地方，也非常满足于拥有的一切。
【小题11】A learn a lesson学习一课；在很多方面，我一直效仿我祖父母的生活。从他们身上我学到了重要的一课：我们可以过一种简单而满足的生活。theory理论；truth真相；sentence句子。
【小题12】D与上文“My grandparents lived in a small home”中的“small”形成对比，故用“huge巨大的”。我祖父母家的房子虽小，却拥有一个巨大的花园。small小的；special特殊的；ordinary普通的。
【小题13】A grocery意为“食品杂货”的意思。根据常识，花园里可以种植蔬菜、水果等来供自己吃，这样就可以“减少(reduced)鲜蔬杂货的开销”。handled处理；checked检查，核对；added增加。他们热爱园艺，因为这不仅能减少鲜蔬杂货开销，……
【小题14】C 根据常识“护理花园”就要到室外去，而拥有自己的花园确实是“走出户外”绝佳理由/借口(excuse)。Platform平台；stage舞台；solution解决方法。……而且还可以改善他们的健康状况，还提供了一个进行户外活动的理由。
【小题15】B 上下文有让步关系。As if 似乎，好像；Even if即使；Only if只是；What if要是……又怎样，如果……将会怎么样。即使你住在一个小房子或者小公寓里，你也不必放弃园艺。
【小题16】D跟上文中的“recycled循环利用”相匹配的词只有“reused重复使用”。sewed缝纫；created发明创造；sold销售，卖。他们还尽量重复使用和循环利用所有东西。
【小题17】A祖父母一生过着简朴的生活，再结合上文“他们的车一开就是15年多”我们可以推断“家里的东西在没有完全(thoroughly)用坏之前绝不买新的”。generally一般地；nearly几乎；hardly几乎不。
【小题18】B living well on less= living a simple life。More更多；better 更少；worse更糟糕。我的祖父母告诉我过简朴的生活不是亏待自己/并不心疼自己。feel bad for心疼。
【小题19】D下文所说与上文所说正好相反(On the contrary)“相反，它能赋予你时间、自由和金钱去追求梦想”。What’s more况且；As a result结果；On the whole总的说来。 D.
【小题20】B下文所说都是生活中的真谛。没有负债，住小一点的房子以及其它就是经营你生活的一些方法。risk冒险；manage经营，管理；limit限制；destroy破坏。