Five couples have been living side by side on Beasley Street in Pearce for 45 years.
In May 1968, five young couples moved into new houses there. Fortyfive years later, they are still there, and although most are now retired and their children have left home, the neighbours remain good friends.
Yesterday, they gathered at Mr. and Mrs. Miller’s house to share lunch, joined by relative (相对的) newcomers, the Browns, who moved there three decades ago. On either side of the Millers live the Blacks, the Greens, and the Whites. The only person missing the lunch was their neighbour, Kath Amon, who is travelling overseas.
When the five families moved in, there were a few houses there, and they could see cattle eating grass in the street outside their houses. Their children played all day at each other’s houses without their parents worrying about their safety.
“There are no children in the place now, since Pearce School closed, but we still enjoy it，” Mr. Black said.
The neighbours often feed each other’s pets. When someone goes on holiday they will water their plants.
Mrs. Brown said she first got to know the Miller family when she and Mrs. Miller took a writing course together, and the pair struck_up a friendship.
Mr. Black said as they got older he and his wife had considered moving to a small house, but finally decided against it.
“We’ve often discussed getting out and getting into a smaller unit or something, but all of us think, no, the neighbours are too good, it’s too good to leave，” he says.
36．When did the Browns move in?
A．In 1923. B．In 1968.
C．In 1938. D．In 1983.
37．What do the five families often do?
①They help each other by looking after pets.
②They have writing classes together.
③They help each other by watering plants.
④They let their children play at each other’s houses.
A．①②④ B．②③④
C．①③④ D．①②③
38．What does the underlined phrase “struck up” in the seventh paragraph probably mean?
A．Started. B．Finished.
C．Showed. D．Missed.
39．We can infer from the last two paragraphs that Mr. Black ________.
A．has developed a deep friendship with his neighbours
B．is so old that he can’t live alone
C．agrees with his wife’s opinion about moving out
D．can’t afford to buy a big house any more