（一）

Cassandra Feeley finds it hard to manage on her husband's income. So this year she did something more than a hobby: She planted vegetables in her yard. For her first garden, Ms. Feeley has put in 15 tomato plants, and five rows of a variety of vegetables. The family's old farm house has become a chicken house, its residents arriving next month. Last year, Ms. Rita Gartin kept a small garden. This year she has made it much larger because, she said, “The cost of everything is going up and I was looking to lose a few pounds, too; so it's a win??win situation all around.”

They are among the growing number of Americans who, driven by higher living costs and a falling economy (经济), have taken up vegetable gardening for the first time. Others have increased the size of their existing gardens. Seed companies and garden shops say that not since the 1970s has there been such an increase in interest in growing food at home. Now many gardens across the country have been sold out for several months. In Austin, Tex., some of the gardens have a three-year waiting list.

George C. Ball Jr., owner of a company, said sales of vegetable seeds and plants are up by 40% over last year, double the average growth of the last five years. Mr. Ball argues that some of the reasons have been building for the last few years. The big one is the striking rise in the cost of food like bread and milk, together with the increases in the price of fruits and vegetables. Food prices have increased because of higher oil prices. People are now driving less, taking fewer vacations, so there is more time to garden.

1.What does the word “residents” in Paragraph 1 probably refer to?

A.chickens

B.tomatoes

C.gardens

D.people

2.Why is vegetable gardening becoming increasingly popular?

A.More Americans are doing it for fun.

B.The price of oil is lower than before.

C.There's a growing need for fruits.

D.The cost of living is on the rise.

3.Which of the following might be the best title for the text?

A.Family Food Planning

B.Banking on Gardening

C.A Belt??tightening Move

D.Gardening as a Hobby

【答案】

1.A　词义猜测题。根据前半句可知，这家的农舍变成了鸡舍，所以下个月要住进来的应该是“鸡”。

2.D　推理判断题。根据第一段最后一句中的“The cost of everything is going up”和第二段第一句中的“higher living costs and a falling economy”以及最后一段第三句中的“the striking rise in the cost of food like bread and milk，together with the increases in the price of fruits and vegetables”可以看出，种植蔬菜流行的原因是生活费用的提高。

3.B　主旨大意题。纵观全文可知，很多人种植蔬菜不仅是出于爱好，更重要的是为了节省生活费用，所以应选B项，bank作为动词是“存款”的意思。