In many countries, it is not unusual for families of different backgrounds to live together in shared space. However, in the United States, this idea may still be considered odd.

But this type of housing, called co – housing, is gaining popularity in the United States, too. Co – housing complexes are popping up across the country. For many people, this way of life is a relief to the busy modern lifestyle. A co – housing community (社区) has privately owned houses and shared land. There is often a “common house” with a kitchen and dining room, meeting room, and maybe a workshop or library or music room. About 25 co – housing communities have been built in recent years, and 150 more are planned.

In co – housing complexes, everyone helps take care of children and elderly residents. It’s also a place where residents shop, cook, and eat together. Residents of co – housing complexes like its sense of shared community. Children have other kids to play with, which many families like. Other residents like the feeling of living in a ‘village”. residents also say that they can live in co – housing for less money than they would pay for nearby apartments.

Some people may think that co – housing might be like a 1960s “hippie” commune. But after they learn about it,                          . This is because privacy is still important to residents. They have individual houses, not one big house, as old – style communes did. Although they share the responsibilities of the community, each family still lives its own life. Will this trend catch on? It probably will never become the most popular form of housing in the United States, but for many, it’s the answer to many of the problems of a busy modern life.

1．Which sentence in the passage is the closest in meaning to the following one?

    Co – housing communities are coming up suddenly and unexpectedly all over the United States.

2．What’s the best title of the passage? (within 10 words)

3．For what purpose does the author write paragraph 3? (within 15 words)

4．Fill in the blank in the last paragraph with a proper sentence. (within 10 words)

6．Translate the underlined sentence in the last paragraph into Chinese.

While I was on a trip to Papua New Guinea to take underwater photographs, I asked a local dive guide to help me find a pygmy sea horse(侏儒海马). I wanted to take a picture of it. These sea horses can be red or yellow-and-orange. The red pygmy sea horse lives on only one type of coral, a red sea fan that grows at depths below ninety feet.
This depth made the job even tougher. As the pressure on my body increased, I had to breathe harder, which used my air supply faster. So the deeper I dived, the shorter my time underwater.
I had a lot to do. First, I had to find the pygmy sea horse’s special type of fan .Then I had to look over the whole fan with my magnifying glass(放大镜) to see if a sea horse lived on it. If not, I had to find another fan—all the while keeping an eye on my oxygen supply. The second fan rewarded me with a find. The dive guide held the magnifying glass so I could have my first look at the tiny fish.
My next challenge was to focus my camera on such a small subject. The dive guide pointed at the tiny creature. I looked through the viewfinder(取景物) on my large underwater camera housing(相架), found the guide’s finger, and followed it to the sea horse.
It was hard to hold ourselves steady because both of us were floating in mid-water, but our system worked. I could hardly contain my excitement as I focused on the eyes of the cutest sea horse imaginable.
【小题1】What do we learn about the red pygmy sea horse?

While I was on a trip to Papua New Guinea to take underwater photographs, I asked a local dive guide to help me find a pygmy sea horse(侏儒海马). I wanted to take a picture of it. These sea horses can be red or yellow-and-orange. The red pygmy sea horse lives on only one type of coral, a red sea fan that grows at depths below ninety feet.

This depth made the job even tougher. As the pressure on my body increased, I had to breathe harder, which used my air supply faster. So the deeper I dived, the shorter my time underwater.

I had a lot to do. First, I had to find the pygmy sea horse’s special type of fan .Then I had to look over the whole fan with my magnifying glass(放大镜) to see if a sea horse lived on it. If not, I had to find another fan—all the while keeping an eye on my oxygen supply. The second fan rewarded me with a find. The dive guide held the magnifying glass so I could have my first look at the tiny fish.

My next challenge was to focus my camera on such a small subject. The dive guide pointed at the tiny creature. I looked through the viewfinder(取景物) on my large underwater camera housing(相架), found the guide’s finger, and followed it to the sea horse.

It was hard to hold ourselves steady because both of us were floating in mid-water, but our system worked. I could hardly contain my excitement as I focused on the eyes of the cutest sea horse imaginable.

1.What do we learn about the red pygmy sea horse?

A．It lives on red sea fans only.                B．It swims very quickly.

C．It lives nine feet deep.                    D．It usually floats in mid-water.

2.From Paragraph 3 we learn        .

A．how the author swam under water          B．how the author found a sea horse

C．why the author dived with a guide           D．why the author used a magnifying glass

3.While the author was taking pictures of the sea horse,        .

A．she felt extremely nervous                B．her camera didn’t work well

C．the guide helped focus the camera          D．the sea horse was swimming away

4.Why did the author write the passage?

A．To study the natural habitat of sea animals.

B．To explain why sea horses are endangered.

C．To tell us how to be an underwater photographer.

D．To show us how she took pictures of a sea horse.

While I was on a trip to Papua New Guinea to take underwater photographs, I asked a local dive guide to help me find a pygmy sea horse(侏儒海马). I wanted to take a picture of it. These sea horses can be red or yellow-and-orange. The red pygmy sea horse lives on only one type of coral, a red sea fan that grows at depths below ninety feet.
This depth made the job even tougher. As the pressure on my body increased, I had to breathe harder, which used my air supply faster. So the deeper I dived, the shorter my time underwater.
I had a lot to do. First, I had to find the pygmy sea horse’s special type of fan .Then I had to look over the whole fan with my magnifying glass(放大镜) to see if a sea horse lived on it. If not, I had to find another fan—all the while keeping an eye on my oxygen supply. The second fan rewarded me with a find. The dive guide held the magnifying glass so I could have my first look at the tiny fish.
My next challenge was to focus my camera on such a small subject. The dive guide pointed at the tiny creature. I looked through the viewfinder(取景物) on my large underwater camera housing(相架), found the guide’s finger, and followed it to the sea horse.
It was hard to hold ourselves steady because both of us were floating in mid-water, but our system worked. I could hardly contain my excitement as I focused on the eyes of the cutest sea horse imaginable

1. 1.

   What do we learn about the red pygmy sea horse?

   1. A.
      It lives on red sea fans only
   2. B.
      It swims very quickly
   3. C.
      It lives nine feet deep
   4. D.
      It usually floats in mid-water
2. 2.

   From Paragraph 3 we learn        

   1. A.
      how the author swam under water
   2. B.
      how the author found a sea horse
   3. C.
      why the author dived with a guide
   4. D.
      why the author used a magnifying glass
3. 3.

   While the author was taking pictures of the sea horse,        

   1. A.
      she felt extremely nervous
   2. B.
      her camera didn’t work well
   3. C.
      the guide helped focus the camera
   4. D.
      the sea horse was swimming away
4. 4.

   Why did the author write the passage?

   1. A.
      To study the natural habitat of sea animals
   2. B.
      To explain why sea horses are endangered
   3. C.
      To tell us how to be an underwater photographer
   4. D.
      To show us how she took pictures of a sea horse