IusedtothinkthatlifeinJimThorpePennsylvaniawasfilledwithnever-changingroutines.Ihatedthateveryoneseemedtoknoweverythingabouteveryoneelse.Everyoneseemedtoenjoytalkingaboutotherpeopleandtheirlives.Ialsodidn’tlikethefactthatpeopleseemedveryclose-minded.Ifelttrapped.IfeltlikeIwasmissingoutonopportunities.Itseemedtomethatcitylifewouldbetheopposite.

ThenItookmyfirsttriptoNewYorkCity.Icouldn’twaittoexperiencethecity.HoweverwhenIarrivedintheBigAppleitwasn’tatallwhatIhadimagined.IknewitwashometothousandsofpeoplebutIhadn’thadtheleastexpectationtoseesomanypeopleonthestreetatonetime.Allthestreetswerefilledwithpeople.Ialsofeltalittlesurprisedtoseethateveryonewasinahurryandeverythingmovedatsuchafastpace.WhenItookthesubwayforthefirsttimeIsaidhellotothemiddle-agedwomannexttome.Shelookedatmewithdislikeanddidn’tsayaword.

AfterjustonedayIrealizedhowimportantmysmalltownistome.NowIappreciatethefamiliarfacesIseeeveryday.Ilikethefeelingofsecurityandbelongingmytownoffers.JimThorpegivesmeasenseofcommunityandtogethernessthatthecitydoesn’tprovide.Irealizejusthowmuchasimplehellodoesforastranger—itreallycanmakeyourdayalittlebetter.

Mybigtripshowedmethatmysmalltownreallyhasinstilled(注入)moralsandvaluesinmethatIdidn’tevenknowIhad.IwouldneverhaveknownwhatabigplacemytownholdsinmyheartifIhadnottakenthattriptoNewYorkCity.

24.HowdidtheauthorfeelaboutlifeinJimThorpeatfirst?

A.Peopletherecaredlittleaboutothers.

B.Peopletherelikedtoacceptnewthings.

C.Livingtherewasagreatdisadvantage.

D.Thereweremanychancesofcareerdevelopment.

25.WhatsurprisedtheauthormostinNewYorkCity?

A.Thegesturesofgreeting.

B.Themoderntransportation.

C.Thefastpaceoflife.

D.Thecrowdedstreets.

26.Whatmadetheauthorchangehis/herattitudestohis/herhometown?

A.TravellingtoNewYorkCity.

B.ThefamiliarfacesinJimThorpe.

C.Abigplaceinhis/hertown.

D.Everybodylikestalkingaboutothers.