阅读理解。
Hidden in our subconsciousness (潜意识) is a perfect mental picture. We see ourselves on a long trip that
goes across the continent. We are traveling by train. Out the windows, we think in the passing scene of cars
on nearby highways, of children waving at a crossing, of cattle feeding on a distant hillside, of smoke pouring
from a power plant, or row upon row of corn and wheat, of flat lands and valleys, of mountains and rolling
hills, of city skylines and village halls.
But uppermost in our minds is the final destination. On a certain day at a certain hour, we will pull into the
station. Bands will be playing and flags waving. Once we get there, so many wonderful dreams will come true
and the pieces of our lives will fit together like a completed jigsaw puzzle. How restlessly we pace the aisles,
condemning (谴责) the minutes for loitering (虚度)- waiting, waiting, waiting for the station.
"When we reach the station, that will be it!"we cry."When I'm 38." "When I buy a new 450SL Mercedes
Benz!" "When I put the last kid through college." "When I have paid off the debt!" "When I get a promotion."
"When I reach the age of regent, I shall live happily ever after!"
Sooner or later, we must realize there is no station, no one place to arrive at once and for all. The true joy
of life is the trip. The station is only a dream. It constantly outdistances us.
"Relish (appreciate) the moment" is a good motto, actually it isn't the burdens of today that drive man mad.
It is the regret over yesterday and the fear of tomorrow. Regret and fear are twin thieves who rob us of today.
So stop pacing the aisles and counting the miles. Instead, climb more mountains, eat more ice-cream, swim
more rivers, watch more sunsets, laugh more and cry less. Life must be lived as we go along. Then the station
will come soon enough.
1. Why does the author describe the mental picture?
A. To lead us into a perfect world.
B. To let people enjoy the scenery.
C. To introduce an actual trip of his.
D. To compare it to our life's journey.
2. How do people feel when they're on their trip?
A. Puzzled.
B. Happy.
C. Relaxed.
D. Impatient.
3. What does the author mean by "Regret and fear are twin thieves who rob us of today" in Line 2 Paragraph 5?
A. Regret and fear are responsible for the loss of today.
B. We must be careful of the two thieves: regret and fear.
C. Regret and fear stop us from enjoying our present life.
D. We're frequently challenged by the two: regret and fear.
4. Why does the author write the passage?
A. To teach us a good lesson.
B. To tell us the right attitude to life.
C. To advise us to forget our worries.
D. To stop us wandering along the aisles.
