大学英语四级 CET 4 阅读练习2

My first day of retirement came at last! I cooked a great breakfast for my wife and me, leisurely read the paper, cleaned a bit of the house, and wrote a few letters to friends．On the second day, I cooked breakfast, read the paper …On the third day, ...This is retirement? I tried to tell myself that it was just the transition, that those golden moments were right round the corner, and that I would enjoy them soon enough．But something was missing. A former colleague asked a favor．A group of students was going to Jamaica to work with children in the poorest neighborhood．Would I interrupt my newfound \"happiness\" and return to the students, just this once? One trip．That's all．My bags were packed and by the door.

The trip was very inspiring．I was moved not only by the poverty I saw but also by the sense of responsibility of the young people on the trip．When I returned home, I offered to work one day a week with a local youth organization．The experience was so positive that I was soon volunteering nearly full-time, working with students across North America to assist them in their voluntary work.

Now，it seems, the tables have turned. Some days I am the teacher, other days I am the student．These young people have reawakened my commitment to social justice issues by challenging me to learn more about the situation in the world today, where people are still poor and suffer because of greed, corruption and war．Most importantly, they have given me the opportunity to continue to participate in helping to find solutions. In return, I help them do their charitable projects overseas. I've gone from running one school to helping oversee the construction of schools in twenty-one countries!

1．What did the writer expect to do after he retired? A．To stay away from busy schedules B．To write some great books C．To do some voluntary work D．To plan for his future

2．The underlined part \"the tables have turned\" （Paragraph 5 ） means that the writer ______.

A．improved the situation in his school B．felt happy to work with students again C．became a learner rather than a teacher D．changed his attitude toward his retired life

3．What does the writer think of his retired life now? A．Disappointing. B．Troublesome. C．Promising. D．Meaningful.

词汇及短语：

administrative:行政的, 管理的;经营的；后方勤务的 chore: 零星工作(尤指家常杂务) round the corner: 快到了，将要来临

ACD

答案解析：

1．What did the writer expect to do after he retired? A．To stay away from busy schedules B．To write some great books C．To do some voluntary work D．To plan for his future 解析：A正确

作者希望他退休以后做什么？ 第一段列出了他想做的事，最后一句说了他不想做的事，那就是不再做日程安排紧张的工作。2．The underlined part \"the tables have turned\" （Paragraph 5 ） means that the writer ______.

A．improved the situation in his school B．felt happy to work with students again C．became a learner rather than a teacher D．changed his attitude toward his retired life 解析：C正确

从这句话的后面可以知道，他从老师变成了学生，就是对这句的解释。

3．What does the writer think of his retired life now? A．Disappointing. B．Troublesome. C．Promising. D．Meaningful. 解析：D正确

文章最后一段是对主旨的升华，从作者的描述来看他认为自己做的事有益于社会的，因此是有意义的。

参考译文：

多年来一直担当一所高中的校长令我厌倦了预算会议，削减拨款等等许多行政琐事，我开始梦想退休。一个普通日子的早晨，当我坐在车上的时候，我的思绪开始游移。我想象陪我的孙子们玩耍，和我的妻子度过安静的夜晚，出门旅游，或是重读一些好书。我对自己说我不会参与任何委员会，不会上课，或是任何需要安排日程的事情。

我退休的这一天终于来到啦！我为妻子和自己烹制了一顿丰富的早晨，休闲地看报纸，稍事打扫了下房屋，给朋友写了几封信。第二天，我做早饭，看报纸……第三天……这就是退休生活了？我努力告诉自己这只是个过渡时期，好日子很快就会到来的，我会好好享受。但是一些东西消失了。

一位旧同事让我帮个忙。一群学生打算去牙买加，帮助极度贫穷地区的孩子。我是否要打断刚刚找到的“快乐”，回到学生中去，仅此一次？当是一次旅行了。就这样。行李打包好放在了门边。

这趟旅行很有启发性。我不仅因为我所见到的穷人而触动，也因为旅途中这些学生的责任感而感动。回到家后，我主动提出每周在一个当地青年组织中工作一天。这样的经历非常有积极意义，以至于我很快就自愿几乎全职工作，和学生们横穿北美去为他们的志愿者工作添一份力量。

现在，看来情况发生了转变。有些日子我是老师，其他的日子我是学生。这些年轻人唤醒了我对社会正义事业的责任感，从而不断挑战去了解现今世界的情况，人们因为贪婪，腐败和战争贫困潦倒，备受苦难。最重要的是他们给了我机会继续参与到帮助大军，寻找解决的办法。而作为回报，我帮助他们在海外做慈善项目。我从经营一所学校，到监督21个国家的学校建设！