No budget for your vacation? Try home exchanges ---- swapping houses with strangers. Agree to use each other’s cars, and you can save dollars on car rentals (租赁费), too.
Home exchanges are not new. At least one group, Intervac, has been facilitating such an arrangement since 1953. But trading online is gaining popularity these days, with several sites in operation, including Home Exchanges. Founded in 1992, with some 28,000 listings, this pany bills itself as the world’s largest home exchange club, reporting that membership has increased 30% this year.
The annual fee is usually less than US$100. Members can access thousands of listings for apartments, villas, suburban homes and farms around the world. Initial contact is made via e-mail, with subsequent munication usually by phone. Before a match is made, potential swappers tend to discuss a lot.
However, the concept may sound risky to some people. What about theft? Damage? These are reasonable causes for concern, but equally unlikely. As one swapper puts it, “Nobody is going to fly across the ocean or drive 600 miles to e steal your TV. Besides, at the same time they’re staying in your home, you are staying in their home.”
Exchange sites remend that swappers discuss such matters ahead of time. They may fill out an agreement spelling out who shoulders which responsibilities if a problem arises. It does not matter if the agreement would hold up in court, but it does give the exchangers a little satisfaction.
Generally, the biggest plaint among home exchangers has to do with different standards of cleanliness. Swappers are supposed to make sure their home is in order before they depart, but one person’s idea of “clean” may be more forgiving than another’s. Some owners say if they e back to a less-than-sparkling kitchen, it may be inconvenient but would not sour them on future exchanges.
【小题1】What is the second paragraph mainly about? A．How to exchange homes.B．The biggest home exchange agency Intervac.C．The fact that home exchanges are not new.D．A contrast between Intervac and Home Exchanges.【小题2】How do home exchangers normally begin their munication?A．By phone.B．Via a matchmaker.C．By e-mail.D．Via a face-to-face meeting.【小题3】What is remended in the passage to deal with the concerns about theft and damage?A．One can file a lawsuit in court.B．Both parties can trade online. C．One can damage the home of the other party in return.D．Both parties can sign an agreement beforehand.C
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(答案→)C
解析：文章大意：文章论述了假期时人们为了减少开支，相互签订协议交换房子住的事。
【小题1】C主旨大意题。第二段主要讲述了“交换房子住”这种现象是如何越来越流行的。故C正确。
【小题2】C细节理解题。由文章第三段第三句Initial contact is made via e-mail, with subsequent munication usually by phone可知。故C正确。
【小题3】D细节理解题。由文章第五段前两句. . . swappers discuss such matters ahead of time. They may fill out an agreement. . . 可知。故D正确。