① With population increases and global urbanisation ever accelerating, much attention is focused on the sustainability of our cities and scarce attention is paid to the countryside.
② Rural life is associated with closely-knit communities, sense of belonging, and a simple, tranquil life. Yet whilst some or all of these elements exist in the countryside, so do conservatism and a lack of employment opportunities. And it is mostly due to the latter that rural communities are suffering. Attracted by the improved economics of urban areas, country-dwellers across the world are moving out, contributing to the excessive crowdedness of densely populated cities, and leaving the countryside in desolation.
③ So how can the countryside ensure its survival among these changes, or should it at all? Due to both the distance between residences and facilities and often intermittent public transport, those living in the countryside are heavier automobile users. Rural dwellers also use more energy maintaining their mostly detached buildings. We may be piled up like boxes in the city, but this brings energy efficiency that the countryside cannot match. Rural energy requirements result in higher carbon emissions per person than in the city, so it is actually irresponsible to endorse such a lifestyle choice.
④ Protecting the countryside is a hot topic. Those who have made their fortunes in the city often buy second homes in the countryside, visiting intermittently for a sample of a supposedly simple life. The side-effect of this is that house prices are pushed up due to increased demand, leaving them unaffordable for local people. A solution has yet to be found for this challenge, for market forces are further forcing residents out of the countryside. For those who believe in rural preservation, this is deplorable.
⑤ Whilst an idealised view of the countryside is common, the reality is that rural life has continuously evolved. Industrialisation brought an increase in divisions of labour, changing social links between rural people. The internet has introduced once foreign cultures into the countryside. Improved travel connections and affordability have made the world more accessible, creating a “global village”. Considering these changes, surely an evolving countryside is inevitable.
⑥ Perhaps the countryside should also prepare itself for massive population increases in the future. With cities across the world growing rapidly, how will the current urban generation respond to the inevitable social changes of mass urbanisation? Will the longing for a simpler life become stronger, fueling a rural renaissance?
⑦ As the world continues to urbanise, the voices calling for rural preservation may well grow louder, But change is inevitable. We know that the world is going to see new cities emerging from the dust and current cities growing into megacities, but the future of the countryside is less clear.
1.1. What has become of the rural areas nowadays?
A They are becoming somewhat deserted.
B They are being increasingly urbanised.
C They are closely-knit communities.
D They are haunted by conservatism.
解析：选A。A 细节理解题。第二段④句指出,受城市地区经济改善的吸引,世界各地的农村居民都在向外迁移,导致口密集的城市过度拥挤,徒留农村一片荒凉。A 项符合文意,They are becoming somewhat deserted 对应④中的leaving the countryside in desolation.
2.2. What does the author think of the rural lifestyle?
A It is unlikely to survive given the on-going changes.
B It is less energy-efficient compared to that in cities.
C It is highly dependent upon heavy automobiles.
D It is a choice more affluent people will endorse.
解析：选B。B 细节理解题。第三段③④句指出,农村居民需要使用更多的能源来维护他们的独立式住宅,而城市为“堆叠式”建筑,其能源效率是农村无法比拟的,也即农村的能源效率比城市低。B项契合文意,其中 less energyefficient compared to that in cities 准确概括 brings energy efficiency that the countryside cannot match 的内涵。
3.3. What does the author think of rich urban residents buying a second home in the countryside?
A It is bound to mar the traditional rural life.
B It adversely impacts rural social stability.
C It hinders rural economies’ revitalisation.
D It is detrimental to rural preservation.
解析：选D。D 细节理解题。第四段②至④句指出,在城里发了财的人通常会在农村购置第二套房子,但这会推高农村房价,使当地人无力负担,而这一困局尚未有解决方案,因为市场力量正在进一步迫使居民离开农村。⑤句作者就此评价道,对于那些相信应该保护农村的人而言,这是令人痛心的。可见富裕的城市居民在农村购买第二套住房不利于农村保护，D项契合文意。
4.4. What do we learn about the countryside with industrialisation and technological advances?
A It is destined to change gradually.
B It will present an idealised way of life.
C It is likely to embrace foreign cultures.
D It will become increasingly diversified.
解析：选A。A 细节理解题。第五段①句总括指出“虽然人们对农村往往抱有理想化的认知,但现实是农村生活在不断发展”。②③④句分述工业化和技术进步给农村带来的变化:工业化带来了劳动分工的增加,改变了农村人之间的社会联系:互联网将原本陌生的文化引入了农村:交通网络的改善便利了出行。(5)句总结指出这些变化将推动农村的持续发展。可见随着工业化和技术进步,农村注定要逐渐改变。A项契合文意,Itis destinedto change gradually 是对⑤句 surely an evolving countryside is inevitable 的同义替换。
5.5. What does the author think of the future of the countryside compared with cities?
A It is going to be harder for the locals.
B It is going to resemble that of cities.
C It is less likely to stay static.
D It is less easy to envisage.
解析：选D。D 推理判断题。末段③句中,作者指出对城市和农村未来的看法“城市将进一步发展(新城市出现,现有城市变成特大城市),而农村的未来却不那么明朗”,可见作者认为相比于城市,农村的未来不太容易想象。D项正确,其中less easy to envisage是对 less clear的近义替换,同时可排除B项。
