No budget for your vacation? Try home exchanges ---- swapping houses with strangers. Agree to use each other’s cars, and you can save dollars on car rentals (租賃費(fèi)), too.
Home exchanges are not new. At least one group, Intervac, has been facilitating such an arrangement since 1953. But trading online is gaining popularity these days, with several sites in operation, including Home Exchanges. Founded in 1992, with some 28,000 listings, this company bills itself as the world’s largest home exchange club, reporting that membership has increased 30% this year.
The annual fee is usually less than US$100. Members can access thousands of listings for apartments, villas, suburban homes and farms around the world. Initial contact is made via e-mail, with subsequent communication usually by phone. Before a match is made, potential swappers tend to discuss a lot.
However, the concept may sound risky to some people. What about theft? Damage? These are reasonable causes for concern, but equally unlikely. As one swapper puts it, “Nobody is going to fly across the ocean or drive 600 miles to come steal your TV. Besides, at the same time they’re staying in your home, you are staying in their home.”
Exchange sites recommend that swappers discuss such matters ahead of time. They may fill out an agreement spelling out who shoulders which responsibilities if a problem arises. It does not matter if the agreement would hold up in court, but it does give the exchangers a little satisfaction.
Generally, the biggest complaint among home exchangers has to do with different standards of cleanliness. Swappers are supposed to make sure their home is in order before they depart, but one person’s idea of “clean” may be more forgiving than another’s. Some owners say if they come back to a less-than-sparkling kitchen, it may be inconvenient but would not sour them on future exchanges.
小題1:What is the second paragraph mainly about? 
A．How to exchange homes.
B．The biggest home exchange agency Intervac.
C．The fact that home exchanges are not new.
D．A contrast between Intervac and Home Exchanges.
小題2:How do home exchangers normally begin their communication?
A．By phone.B．Via a matchmaker.
C．By e-mail.D．Via a face-to-face meeting.
小題3:What is recommended in the passage to deal with the concerns about theft and damage?
A．One can file a lawsuit in court.
B．Both parties can trade online.
C．One can damage the home of the other party in return.
D．Both parties can sign an agreement beforehand.

小題1:C
小題2:C
小題3:D

試題分析：文章大意：文章論述了假期時(shí)人們?yōu)榱藴p少開支，相互簽訂協(xié)議交換房子住的事。
小題1:C主旨大意題。第二段主要講述了“交換房子住”這種現(xiàn)象是如何越來(lái)越流行的。故C正確。
小題2:C細(xì)節(jié)理解題。由文章第三段第三句Initial contact is made via e-mail,  with subsequent communication usually by phone可知。故C正確。
小題3:D細(xì)節(jié)理解題。由文章第五段前兩句. . . swappers discuss such matters ahead of time. They may fill out an agreement. . . 可知。故D正確。
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A．Gas played a major part in the 20th century.
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A．change the rules of the game
B．open markets in their backyards
C．build pretty facilities along the coast
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B．discuss the importance of oil and natural gas
C．call for better use and development of natural gas
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A．Maxie shows her anxiety to the author.
B．Maxie really wishes the author a good day.
C．Maxie encourages the author to stay happy.
D．Maxie really worries about the author’s security.
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A．The salesgirl is rude.
B．The salesgirl is bored.
C．The salesgirl cares about me.
D．The salesgirl says the words as a routine.
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C．give his blessing to youD．share his pleasure with you
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A．sincerelyB．a(chǎn)s thanks
C．a(chǎn)s a habitD．encouragingly
小題5: What is the best title of the passage?
A．Have a Nice Day — a Social Custom
B．Have a Nice Day — a Pleasant Gesture
C．Have a Nice Day — a Heart-warming Greeting
D．Have a Nice Day — a Polite Ending of a Conversation

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