Question

In the early days of human history, people survived by hunting wild animals, or gathering wild grains and plants for food. Then, some people learned to grow crops and raise animals for food. They were the first farmers.

From the sixteenth century on, the word “farm” has meant agricultural land. But a much older meaning of the word “farm” is linked to economics. The word “farm” comes from the Latin word “firma”, which means an unchanging payment. Experts say the earliest meaning of the English word “farm” was a yearly payment made as a tax or rent.

Farmers in early England did not own their land. They paid every year to use agricultural lands. In England, farmers used hawthorn trees along the edges of houses. They called this row of hawthorns a hedge. Hedging fields was how careful farmers marked and protected them. Soon, people began to use the word “hedging” to describe steps that could be taken to protect against financial loss. Hedging is common among gamblers who make large bets. A gambler bets a lot of money on one team. But, to be on the safe side, he also places a smaller bet on the other team, to reduce a possible loss.

You might say that someone is hedging his bet when he invests in several different kinds of business. One business may fail, but likely not all. Farmers know that it is necessary to make hay while the sun shines. Hay has to be cut and gathered when it is dry. So a wise farmer never postpones gathering his hay when the sun is shining. Rain may soon appear. A wise person copies the farmer. He works when conditions are right.

1.We can know from the 3rd paragraph that farmers in early England _________.

A. had land of their own    B. paid to use hawthorn trees every year

C. used hedging fields    D. often suffered from financial loss

2.Which of the following is wise?

A. A mother tries to sleep as soon as her baby is quiet

B. Hay has to be cut and gathered before it is dry

C. Put off gathering hay when the sun is shining

D. Gather hay as it is rainy

3.If a boy is carefully listening to his teacher in class, he learns to _________.

A. become a wise farmer    B. hedge his bet

C. gather his hay    D. make hay while the sun shines

Answer

1.C

2.A

3.D

【解析】

本文是一篇说明文，语言在发展过程中把农业生活中的一些词汇涵盖其中了，文章介绍了与农业行为相关的词汇，如hedging，make hay when the sun is shining等。

1.细节理解题。根据第三段前五句Farmers in early England did not own their land. ……They called this row of hawthorns a hedge. Hedging fields was how careful farmers marked and protected them.可知早期英国的农民是没有土地的，他们付钱租用土地，并用山楂树作为土地的边界，农民们就使用这种用山楂树作为边界的土地进行耕种。故C项正确。

2.细节理解题。根据文章最后一段Farmers know that it is necessary to make hay while the sun shines. Hay has to be cut and gathered when it is dry. So a wise farmer never postpones gathering his hay when the sun is shining. Rain may soon appear.可知当阳光灿烂的时候，人们制作干草。所以当阳光好的时候人们会把干草收起来，以防下雨。所以BCD三项是错误的。根据文章最后两句“A wise person copies the farmer. He works when conditions are right.”可知聪明人会在适合的时候做适合的事情。A项“当孩子安静的时候母亲会努力睡一会”属于适合的时候做适合的事情。故A项正确。

3.推理判断题。根据文章最后一段第四句“So a wise farmer never postpones gathering his hay when the sun is shining.”可知农民们在阳光好的时候收干草。D项就是指在正确的时候做正确的事情，题干中“男孩上课认真听讲”即属于这类活动。故D项正确。