During March break, I had an opportunity to go to Ecuador on a mission trip. In Quito, the capital city, slums dominate, stray dogs exist on every street comer and walls topped with broken glass or nails frame the city streets. Most of the city seems to be held together by pure will, from the one room shack resting on the side of a mountain, to a wall leaning so far over. It doesn't feel safe to walk beside.
In North America, we try to hide our problems behind shiny glass and steel buildings. We cover our emotions with stuff (物质). The world sees the proud face put forth by the cities and economies of the western world. In reality, something important is lacking beneath our skyscrapers. Personally, what the average family cares about is what you own and what you do for a living. Families fall apart and the days of knowing your neighbors are long gone.
In Ecuador, many people face problems: poverty, abuse, alcoholism, unemployment and broken homes. Yet they are the happiest, most optimistic people I have ever met. They are always smiling and greeting people. If you get close enough, they'll pull you into a hug and talk to you in Spanish even though you can't understand a single word.
As I worked alongside the Ecuadorians, it became clear that the things North Americans are missing are the relationships and sense of community that hold the people together. These are the key elements to our happiness.
The people of Ecuador lack so much, yet they have so much more to give. The children are raised by a community, and their expressions of love are far more effective than our North American attempts to love our children with stuff. The Ecuadorian people help each other in all ways possible. They pulled me in and shared their love with me. In one of the strangest places I have ever been, I felt at home.
In North America, we need to share and give love like the people of Ecuador. Under our mask of steel and glass, we are more damaged than some of the least privileged people in the world. I went on this trip to help people, but in the end, they helped me more than I could ever help them.
1. Which is the best title for this passage?
A. Discovering What We lack B. Bringing Happiness to the Poor
C. Helping for Love in Return D. Building International Relationship
2. Which of the following sentences can be put in the blank in Paragraph 1?
A. People don't share many common interests in North America and Ecuador.
B. North America is very unique from Ecuador but also similar in some ways.
C. The differences between the North American world and Ecuador are vast.
D. Some serious economic problems exist in North America and Ecuador.
3. Which of the following is TRUE?
A. Ecuadorians are blind to their social problems.
B. Material needs are overstressed in North America.
C. Ecuadorians love their children with stuff more effectively.
D. Emotional problems are obvious to be noticed in North America.
4. The writer convinces the readers by .
A. explaining causes B. predicting results
C. analysing problems D. making comparisons