A
I'm now living in the south of France with my husband Keith and three small children, and I feel like a fish out of water everywhere but one place-the Saturday street market.It's been operating in our small town of Sommieres since the 13th century,but we've only lived here for three months.
From Monday to Friday,life is all about the kids.I'm busy helping my children deal with life in a French school.It's not easy,and their stress is the whole family's stress,as Keith and I are occupied with the daily school runs,piles of homework and school notes in French.
But on Saturday,the market is for me.I feel so peaceful as I walk along the quiet street toward the busy town square.The knife-sharpening man is there, operating a machine that looks like it dates from the Industrial Revolution.There' re street musicians with guitars and microphones,and the sound of beautiful songs fills the air.And the food,of course,is delicious.The cheese man doesn't speak-he just points and cuts,offering a piece from his knife.Lines come out of the door for fresh bread at the bakery.Organic vegetables,herbs and desserts are a feast for the eyes,before being put into the bag to be enjoyed later for lunch.The noises and smells of the market are unfamiliar and thrilling,but their procedures are clear to me.This is part of why I love the place so much:Unlike during the week,when I'm constantly faced with my own difficulties,I know how this place works.My terrible French isn't the barrier to communication that it is in other circumstances.
At school and in the village,I can't joke or join a conversation,and although the other parents at the school are kind,I'm an outsider.But at the market,I'm just another customer with a basket.Surrounded by day trippers,I feel like a local- greeting people I know and petting dogs.
My Saturday experiences allow me to hope that in the near future I'll feel equally confident in my everyday life.Until then,Saturdays prepare me for the coming week of school runs.
1. What does the author mean by saying “I feel like a fish out of water”?
A. She feels uncomfortable in new surroundings.
B. She feels free out of her daily housework.
C. She feels lonely without her children.
D. She feels unable to make a living in another country.
2. What can be learned about the author's life during weekdays?
A. She learns French together with her children.
B. She devotes herself to her children in a French school.
C. She runs to school every day to help her children.
D. She tries to balance her job and the housework.
3. Why does the author like going to the Saturday market?
A. She wants to get away from her family's stress.
B. She can talk with other customers freely there.
C. She feels relaxed and comfortable there.
D. She tries to gain confidence in the busy atmosphere.
【答案】1. A 2. B 3. C
【解析】
【分析】
本文是一篇记叙文。文章讲述了作者为了逃离生活琐事，在周六集市寻求平静和生活希望的故事。
【1题详解】
词句猜测题。文章第一段提到I feel like a fish out of water everywhere but one place — the Saturday street market.(除了周六集市，我在其他地方都感觉自己是a fish out of water) ，再根据文章二三段内容可知，作者很喜欢周六集市，觉得在那里自己感觉很放松。也就说明作者在其他地方都感觉不自在。结合作者开头就提到自己的住所，所以I feel like a fish out of water应该是指“自己在新的住所很不舒服，格格不入”。故选A。
【2题详解】
细节理解题。根据From Monday to Friday, life is all about the kids. I’m busy helping my children deal with life in a French school.(从周一到周五，生活都是关于孩子的。我正忙着帮助孩子们应付在法国学校的生活 )可知，作者在工作日全身心地投入到她在法国学校的孩子们身上。故选B。
【3题详解】
推理判断题。根据第三段中的But on Saturday, the market is for me. I feel so peaceful as I walk along the quiet street toward the busy town square.(但在周六，市场是为我准备的。当我沿着安静的街道走向繁华的城市广场时，我感到如此平静)及This is part of why I love the place so much: Unlike during the week, when I’m constantly faced with my own difficulties, I know how this place works. My terrible French isn’t the barrier to communication that it is in other circumstances.(这是我如此热爱这个地方的部分原因：不像在工作日，我总是要面对自己的困难，我知道这个地方是如何运作的。我糟糕的法语并不像在其他情况下那样成为交流的障碍)由此可推知，作者喜欢去星期六的市场，是因为在那里能感到放松和舒适。故选C。
【点睛】一般来说，解答细节理解题时都可采用“寻读法”。也就是说，考生不必通篇细看原文，而常常可采取“带着问题找答案”的方法，先从问题中抓住关键性词语。然后以此为线索，快速地捕捉和理解事实或细节，恰当地运用略读、查读等技巧，在文章中寻找与此问题相关的段落、语句，仔细品味，对照比较，确定答案。如第2小题，What can be learned about the author’s life during weekdays? 关于作者在工作日的生活，我们可以了解到什么。根据From Monday to Friday, life is all about the kids. I’m busy helping my children deal with life in a French school.(从周一到周五，生活都是关于孩子的。我正忙着帮助孩子们应付在法国学校的生活)可知，作者在工作日全身心地投入到她在法国学校的孩子们身上。故选B。
