六級閱讀填空習(xí)題 Passage 7

Remember when kids used to just go out and play, and grown-ups spent evenings sharing stories on the front porch? When the outdoors didn't compete with video games, and “stranger danger” wasn't such a grave concern for parents?

At some point, we all seemed to decide that letting children tear down the street on a dirt bike without a helmet didn't seem like such a good idea anymore. That's smart. But we also started to lock the gate and move our fun from the front yard to the backyard (or the TV room). We stopped meeting our neighbors; we became less friendly and more suspicious.

There's nothing more important than protecting your family, but isolation doesn't equal protection. Connecting with your neighbors not only lets you know the personalities that surround you, it also provides you with surprisingly positive and helpful resources in times of need.

So here's your task: make a map of your neighborhood (or better yet, print one out! GoogleMaps can provide an aerial photo of most U.S. neighborhoods and all the houses in it) and “fill it out”. Can you write down the names of the occupants of every household, including children, pets, and parents? See how many you can do, and then take a walk through the neighborhood and meet people. Find out who has children at the same school as yours or which homes have adults who stay at home all day. Learn who is the friendliest and who is lonely and in need of a neighborly hand. You may even discover who has a magic touch at gardening, or a great movie or music collection, or the best “crisis” kitchen (just in case you need a cup of sugar, a splash of olive oil, or a mug of freshly imported darkroast Costa Rican coffee).

If you live in an apartment, do exactly the same. Learn with whom you share a floor or a building. Have a casual mixer or just go door to door and introduce yourself with a smile and a handshake. Sharing the true reason for your visit—that you feel it's important to meet your neighbors and want them to know you as well—should dispel any suspicions.

Whether you live in an urban high-rise, or a suburban tract, or on a rural lane, chances are your neighbors will be thrilled by your friendliness. Perhaps a few dinners will come out of it. Perhaps you'll find a baby-sitter or a way to help a neighbor who is in need. And a year or two later, you may just find that your neighborhood has become a friendlier, more caring place.

1. According to the passage, what happened to people who stopped meeting with their neighbors?

2. According to the author, some people used to consider that _____ is an important way to protect their families.

3. To begin connecting with your neighbors, first you can _____ with the help of GoogleMaps.

4. How to dispel doubts of your neighbors while you are trying to get acquainted with them?

5. No matter where you live, there are possibilities that your neighbors are amazed by _____.