I used to think that life in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, was filled with never-changing routines. I hated that everyone seemed to know everything about everyone else. Everyone seemed to enjoy talking about other people and their lives. I also didn’t like the fact that people seemed very close-minded. I felt trapped. I felt like I was missing out on opportunities. It seemed to me that city life would be the opposite.
Then I took my first trip to New York City. I couldn’t wait to experience the city. However, when I arrived in the Big Apple, it wasn’t at all what I had imagined. I knew it was home to thousands of people, but I hadn’t had the least expectation to see so many people on the street at one time. All the streets were filled with people. I also felt a little surprised to see that everyone was in a hurry and everything moved at such a fast pace. When I took the subway for the first time, I said hello to the middle-aged woman next to me. She looked at me with dislike and didn’t say a word.
After just one day, I realized how important my small town is to me. Now I appreciate the familiar faces I see every day. I like the feeling of security and belonging my town offers. Jim Thorpe gives me a sense of community and togetherness that the city doesn’t provide. I realize just how much a simple hello does for a stranger — it really can make your day a little better.
My big trip showed me that my small town really has instilled(注入) morals and values in me that I didn’t even know I had. I would never have known what a big place my town holds in my heart if I had not taken that trip to New York City.
4. How did the author feel about life in Jim Thorpe at first?
A. People there cared little about others.
B. People there liked to accept new things.
C. Living there was a great disadvantage.
D. There were many chances of career development.
5. What surprised the author most in New York City?
A. The gestures of greeting.
B. The modern transportation.
C. The fast pace of life.
D. The crowded streets.
6. What made the author change his / her attitudes to his /her hometown?
A. Travelling to New York City.
B. The familiar faces in Jim Thorpe.
C. A big place in his / her town.
D. Everybody likes talking about others.
7. What would be the best title for the passage?
A. Love of my small town
B. A sense of community
C. A pleasant trip to New York City
D. Differences between big cities and small towns