Explain the meanings of the following words and phrases as they are used in the passage: Extol the virtues(l.6); illusion (l.7); superior to (l.8); maintains (l.9); glinting (l.10); tolerate (l.14); beyond me (l.15)
extol the virtues
extol = praise highly
praise 比extol 的语义要弱得多
virtue 美德 = advantage
illusion 幻觉，错觉 = false idea
superior 比......有优势， ==better than
maintain == hold
glinting 闪烁 = glisten
tolerate 忍受 == endure, bear, stand, put up with, suffer without complaining
beyond me == can not be understood by me
beyond my understanding
【Multiple choice questions】
Comprehension
1 What is the main difference between the writer and most of his friends?
a. they often visit the country but he has only spent one weekend there.
b. Unlike them, being brought up in the city, he can appreciate its worth.
c. In contrast to them, he finds city people friendlier than country people.
d. He thinks them hypocritical to maintain a preference for country life.
背熟 D 选项
think sb. hypocritical 认为某人很虚伪
maintain a preference for sth. 坚持一种想法
2 What advantage has the city dweller over the country dweller in terms of entertainment?（背熟）
a. He can entertain his country friends more often than they can him.
b. His choice of entertainment is wide and within easy reach of him.
c. As he travels by bus and not by train, he can see the latest plays.
d. He does not need a major operation when planning a visit to the theatre.
in terms of
have advantage over sb./ sth. 比 ......更具有优势
背熟
within easy reach of sb. 方便，容易达到
3 When he speaks of the beauty to be found in the city, the writer ____ .
a. alludes to the comparative cheerlessness of winter nights in the country
b. means that if more people settled in the city they would find peace
c. advertises the fact that the city is a warmer place than the country
d. implies that the country is less peaceful than the city at weekends
背熟
allude to = mean
Structure
4 I _____ and bred in the city and have always regarded … (ll.1-2)
a. being born b. had been born c. was born d. am born
5 He _____ talking about the friendly people … (ll.8-9)
a. never tires of b. is never tiring of c. is never tired d. is never tiring when
tire of 厌倦
never 频度副词，表示情况总是如此
I am tired of doing so. 我已经厌倦了这么做。
6 The latest exhibitions, films or plays are only _____ .( l.23)
a. by bus a short distance away b. a short distance by bus away
c. a short distance away by bus d. the distance of a short bus away
on only short bus right away 只有几站路的路程
7 ---- and stagger home loaded with _____ exotic items as they can carry. (ll.25-26)
a. as many of the b. as many c. so many d. the most