We Americans are wasteful people, not used to saving. Early settlers, our forefathers set us an example of wasting everything, for they thought nature’s resources were so plentiful that none of them ever imagined that natural materials would be used up in time. Within a few years of the first Virginia settlement, for example, pioneers burned down their houses when they were ready to move west. They burned down their houses with only one aim to get the nails（釘子）for future use. No one ever gave a thought to the priceless hardwoods that went up in smoke. As a people we destroy many valuable things that other people save. I noticed this when I was living in Britain. I received a letter from one England’s largest banks. It was enclosed in a used envelope（信封）that had been readdressed to me. Such a practice would be unthinkable in the United States. American banks, even the smallest, always use expensive stationery（信箋）with the names of all twenty - eight vice – presidents lists on side of the page.
【小題1】According to the passage, we know the writer is ________ .

We Americans are wasteful people, not used to saving. Early settlers, our forefathers set us an example of wasting everything, for they thought nature’s resources were so plentiful that none of them ever imagined that natural materials would be used up in time. Within a few years of the first Virginia settlement, for example, pioneers burned down their houses when they were ready to move west. They burned down their houses with only one aim to get the nails（釘子）for future use. No one ever gave a thought to the priceless hardwoods that went up in smoke. As a people we destroy many valuable things that other people save. I noticed this when I was living in Britain. I received a letter from one England’s largest banks. It was enclosed in a used envelope（信封）that had been readdressed to me. Such a practice would be unthinkable in the United States. American banks, even the smallest, always use expensive stationery（信箋）with the names of all twenty - eight vice – presidents lists on side of the page.

1.According to the passage, we know the writer is ________ .

A. a Chinese   B. a Japanese   C. an Englishman    D. an American

2.The writer thought their forefathers ________ .

A. set a good example       B. wasted many natural resources

C. knew natural resources would be used up in time  

D. made the best use of natural materials

3. Which of the following statements is wrong?

A. The writer lives in Britain now.   

B. American banks use expensive stationery.

C. Americans are not used to saving.

D. The writer’s forefathers burned down their houses in order to get the nails.

4.The purpose of the passage is to ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­________ .

A. wish Americans not to waste        B. tell us the English are a good people

C. warn Americans against saving      D. encourage people to work hard.

We Americans are wasteful people, not used to saving. Early settlers, our forefathers set us an example of wasting everything, for they thought nature’s resources were so plentiful that none of them ever imagined that natural materials would be used up in time. Within a few years of the first Virginia settlement, for example, pioneers burned down their houses when they were ready to move west. They burned down their houses with only one aim to get the nails（釘子）for future use. No one ever gave a thought to the priceless hardwoods that went up in smoke. As a people we destroy many valuable things that other people save. I noticed this when I was living in Britain. I received a letter from one England’s largest banks. It was enclosed in a used envelope（信封）that had been readdressed to me. Such a practice would be unthinkable in the United States. American banks, even the smallest, always use expensive stationery（信箋）with the names of all twenty - eight vice – presidents lists on side of the page.

1. 1.

   According to the passage, we know the writer is ________ .

   1. A.
      a Chinese
   2. B.
      a Japanese
   3. C.
      an Englishman
   4. D.
      an American
2. 2.

   The writer thought their forefathers ________ .

   1. A.
      set a good example
   2. B.
      wasted many natural resources
   3. C.
      knew natural resources would be used up in time
   4. D.
      made the best use of natural materials
3. 3.

   Which of the following statements is wrong?

   1. A.
      The writer lives in Britain now.
   2. B.
      American banks use expensive stationery.
   3. C.
      Americans are not used to saving.
   4. D.
      The writer’s forefathers burned down their houses in order to get the nails.
4. 4.

   The purpose of the passage is to ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­________ .

   1. A.
      wish Americans not to waste
   2. B.
      tell us the English are a good people
   3. C.
      warn Americans against saving
   4. D.
      encourage people to work hard.

We Americans are wasteful people, not used to saving. Early settlers, our forefathers set us an example of wasting everything, for they thought nature’s resources were so plentiful that none of them ever imagined that natural materials would be used up in time. Within a few years of the first Virginia settlement, for example, pioneers burned down their houses when they were ready to move west. They burned down their houses with only one aim to get the nails（釘子） for future use. No one ever gave a thought to the priceless hardwoods that went up in smoke. As a people we destroy many valuable things that other people save. I noticed this when I was living in Britain. I received a letter from one England’s largest banks. It was enclosed in a used envelope（信封） that had been readdressed to me. Such a practice would be unthinkable in the United States. American banks, even the smallest, always use expensive stationery（信箋）with the names of all twenty - eight vice – presidents lists on side of the page.

1. According to the passage, we know the writer is     .

A．a(chǎn) Chinese              B．a(chǎn) Japanese            C．a(chǎn)n Englishman      D．a(chǎn)n American

2. The writer thought their forefathers     .

A．set a good example

B．wasted many natural resources

C．knew natural resources would be used up in time

D．made the best use of natural materials

3. The used envelope suggests that     .

A．the English look down upon the Americans    B．the English banks are very poor

C．the English try their best to save           D．the English like using used envelopes

4. Which of the following statements is wrong?

A．The writer lives in Britain now.

B．American banks use expensive stationery.

C．Americans are not used to saving.

D．The writer’s forefathers burned down their houses in order to get the nails.

5. The purpose of the passage is to     .

    A．wish Americans not to waste             B．tell us the English are a good people

    C．warn Americans against saving           D．encourage people to work hard