Passage One

Questions 46 to 50 are based on the following passage.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

46. 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.

47. 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.

48. 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.

49. 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.

50. 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.

答案解析：

46. 由题干中的关键词“rural areas nowadays”定位到第二段。第二段提到“Attracted by the improved economics of urban areas, country-dwellers across the world are moving out...and leaving the countryside in desolation.”，即受城市地区经济改善的吸引，世界各地的农村居民都在搬离……，使农村陷入荒凉，所以现在农村地区有些被遗弃了，选A。更多题库内容，请微信搜索英语巴士小程序。

47. 由题干中的关键词“rural lifestyle”定位到第三段。第三段提到“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.”，即农村的能源需求导致人均碳排放量高于城市，因此支持这种生活方式选择实际上是不负责任的，说明与城市相比，农村生活方式能源效率较低，选B。

48. 由题干中的关键词“rich urban residents buying a second home in the countryside”定位到第四段。第四段提到“The side-effect of this is that house prices are pushed up due to increased demand, leaving them unaffordable for local people...for market forces are further forcing residents out of the countryside. For those who believe in rural preservation, this is deplorable.”，即这样做的副作用是，由于需求增加，房价被推高，使当地人买不起……因为市场力量正进一步迫使居民离开农村。对于那些相信农村保护的人来说，这是令人遗憾的，说明富有的城市居民在农村购买第二套住房对农村保护不利，选D。

49. 由题干中的关键词“countryside with industrialisation and technological advances”定位到第五段。第五段提到“Whilst an idealised view of the countryside is common, the reality is that rural life has continuously evolved...Considering these changes, surely an evolving countryside is inevitable.”，即虽然对农村的理想化看法很常见，但现实是农村生活一直在不断演变……考虑到这些变化，农村不断发展演变肯定是不可避免的，说明随着工业化和技术进步，农村注定会逐渐改变，选A。

50. 由题干中的关键词“future of the countryside compared with cities”定位到最后一段。最后一段提到“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.”，即我们知道，世界将看到新的城市从尘埃中崛起，现有的城市将发展成特大城市，但农村的未来却不太明朗，说明与城市相比，农村的未来更不容易想象，选D。