Poet William Stafford once said that we are defined more by the detours (绕行路) in life than by the narrow road toward goals. I like this image. But it was quite by accident that I discovered the deep meaning of his words.
For years we made the long drive from our home in Seattle to my parents’ home in Boise in nine hours. We traveled the way most people do: the fastest, shortest, easiest road, especially when I was alone with four noisy, restless kids who hate confinement (限制) and have strong opinions about everything.
Road trips felt risky, so I would drive fast, stopping only when I had to. We would stick to the freeways and arrive tired.
But then Banner, our lamb was born. He was rejected by his mama days before our planned trip to Boise. I had two choices: leave Banner with my husband, or take him with me. My husband made the decision for me.
That is how I found myself on the road with four kids, a baby lamb and nothing but my everlasting optimism to see me through. We took the country roads out of necessity. We had to stop every hour, let Banner shake out his legs and feed him. The kids chased him and one another. They’d get back in the car breathless and energized, smelling fresh from the cold air.
We explored side roads, catching grasshoppers in waist-high grass. Even if we simply looked out of the car windows at baby pigs following their mother, or fish leaping out of the water, it was better than the best ride down the freeway. Here was life. And new horizons (见识).
We eventually arrived at my parents’ doorstep astonishingly fresh and full of stories.
I grew brave with the trip back home and creative with my disciplining technique. On an empty section of road, everyone started quarreling. I stopped the car, ordered all kids out and told them to meet me up ahead. I parked my car half a mile away and read my book in sweet silence.
Some road trips are by necessity fast and straight. But that trip with Banner opened our eyes to a world available to anyone adventurous enough to wander around and made me realize that a detour may uncover the best part of a journey—and the best part of yourself.
【小题1】Why did the author use to take freeways to her parents’ home?A．It was less tiring.B．It would be faster and safer.C．Her kids would feel less confined.D．She felt better with other drivers nearby.【小题2】The author stopped regularly on the country roads to .
A. relax in the fresh air
B. take a deep breath
C. take care of the lamb
C. let the kids play with Banner.
【小题3】What does the author discover from the trio according to Paragraph 6?A．Freeways are where beauty hides.B．Getting close to nature adds to the joy of life.C．Enjoying the beauty of nature benefits one’s health.D．One should follow side roads to watch wild animals.【小题4】Why did the author ask the kids to get out of the car on their way back home?A．To give herself some time to read.B．To order some food for them.C．To play a game with them.D．To let them cool down.【小题5】What could be the best title for the passage?A．Charm of the DetourB．The Road to BraveryC．Creativity out of NecessityD．Road Trip and Country LifeB
网友回答
(答案→)B
解析：
【文章大意】作者，通过一次带着小羊羔Banner去父母家的绕道旅行，发现绕道旅行非常有意思。这是一篇记叙文，作者采用总分总的方式对文章进行论述。第一段含蓄点出中心，最后一段重申中心。
【小题1】文章中的第二段“We traveled the way most people do: the fastest, shortest, easiest road, especially when I was alone with four noisy, restless kids who hate confinement (限制) and have strong opinions about everything.”明确给出了作者以前为什么喜欢走freeways(高速公路)，结合选项，只能选B。
【小题2】题干中问作者为什么有规律的停车。这显然是在谈作者的这次绕道旅行。结合第三段和第四段，我们发现是由于our lamb was born，并且第五段中有一句话“We had to stop every hour, let Banner shake out his legs and feed him.”，这都说明答案为C。
【小题3】第六段中的it was better than the best ride down the freeway和最后一段均说明作者很开心，这段旅程是生活中最美好的(best)。故答案为B。C错在文中根本没有提及健康问题。
【小题4】前面的那句话“everyone started quarreling”是作者asked the kids to get out of the car的原因。最接近的就是D。
【小题5】文章的第一段（we are defined more by the detours (绕行路) in life than by the narrow road toward goals. I like this image）和最后一段就说明绕道的魅力。