2009年到2012年專八真題閱讀理解.doc.doc

112012年專八閱讀理解PARTIIREADINGCOMPREHENSION(30MIN)Inthissectiontherearefourreadingpassagesfollowedbyatotalof20multiple-choicequestionsReadthepassagesandthenmarkthebestanswertoeachquestiononANSWERSHEETTWO.TEXTAIusedtolookatmyclosetandseeclothesThesedays,wheneverIcastmyeyesuponthestacksofshoesandhangersofshirts,sweatersandjackets,Iseewater.Ittakes569gallonstomanufactureaT-shirt,fromitsstartinthecottonfieldstoitsappearanceonstoreshelvesApairofrunningshoes?1,247gallons.Untillastfall,Idbeenoblivioustomywaterfootprint,whichisdefinedasthetotalvolumeoffreshwaterthatisusedtoproducegoodsandservices,accordingtotheWaterFootprintNetworkTheDutchnonprofithasbeenworkingtoraiseawarenessoffreshwaterscarcitysince2008,butitwasthroughtheGreenBlueBookbyThomasMKostigenthatIwasabletoseehowmyownactionsfactoredin.Iveinstalledgray-watersystemstoreusethewastewaterfrommylaundry,machineandbathtubandrerouteittomylandscape-systemsthatsave,onaverage,50gallonsofwaterperdayIvesetuprainbarrelsandinfiltrationpitstocollectthousandsofgallonsofstormwatercascadingfrommyroofIveevenenteredthelastbastionofgreendom-installingacompostingtoilet.Sufficetosay,IvebeenfeelingprettysatisfiedwithmyselfforallthedrinkingwaterIvesavedwiththesebig-ticketprojects.NowIrealizethatmydailyconsumptionchoicescouldhaveanevenlargereffectnotonlyonthelocalwatersupplybutalsoglobally:1.1billionpeoplehavenoaccesstofreshwater,and,inthefuture,thosewhodohaveaccesswillhavelessofit.Toseehowmuchvirtualwater1wasusing,IloggedontotheGreenBlueBookwebsiteanduseditswaterfootprintcalculator,enteringmydailyconsumptionhabitsTallyingupthewaterfootprintofmybreakfast,lunch,dinnerandsnacks,aswellasmydailydoseofover-the-counteruppersanddowners-coffee,wineandbeer-Imusing512gallonsofvirtualwatereachdayjusttofeedmyself.Inaword:alarming.EvenmorealarmingwashowmuchhiddenwaterIwasusingtogetdressedImhardlyaclotheshorse,butthefewnewitemsIbuyonceagaintrumpedtheamountofwaterflowingfrommyfaucetseachdayIfImseriousaboutsavingwater,IrealizedIcouldmakesomesimplelifestyleshiftsLookingmorecloselyattheareasinmylifethatusethemostvirtualwater,itwasfoodandclothes,specificallymeat,coffeeand,oddly,bluejeansandleatherjackets.Beingamotorcyclist,Iownanunusuallylargeamountofleather-bootsandjacketsinparticularAllofitisenormouslywaterintensiveIttakes7,996gallonstomakealeather.jacket,leatherbeingabyproductofbeefIttakes2,866gallonsofwatertomakeasinglepairofbluejeans,becausetheyremadefromwater-hoggingcotton.CrunchingthenumbersfortheamountofclothesIbuyeveryyear,itlooksalotlikemyfriendsswimmingpoolMyentireclosetisborderlineOlympic.Gulp.MylateresolutionistobuysomeitemsusedUnderwearandsocksare,ofcourse,exemptfromthisstrategy,but1havenoproblemshoppinglessandalsoshoppingatGoodwillInfact,IdbeendoingthatforthepastyeartosavemoneyMyclothesoutrageouswaterfootprintjustreintbrceditforme.12Moreconsciouslivingandsubstitution,ratherthansacrifice,aretheprevailingideaswiththewaterfootprintItsoneImtrying,andthatshadanunusualupsideIhadahamburgerrecently,andIenjoyeditalotmoresinceitisnowanoccasionaltreatratherthanaweeklyhabit.(Onegallon=3.8litres)11Accordingtothepassage,theWaterFootprintNetworkAmadetheauthorawareoffreshwatershortage.BhelpedtheauthorgettoknowtheGreenBlueBook.Cworkedforfreshwaterconservationfornonprofitpurposes.DcollaboratedwiththeGreenBlueBookinfreshwaterconservation.12Whichofthefollowingreasonscanbestexplaintheauthorsfeelingofself-satisfaction?AHemadecontributiontodrinkingwaterconservationinhisownway.BMoneyspentonupgradinghishouseholdfacilitieswasworthwhile.CHishousewasequippedwithadvancedwater-savingfacilities.DHecouldhavemadeevengreatercontributionbychanginghislifestyle.13Accordingtothecontext,.howmvownactionsfactoredinmeansAhowIcouldcontributetowaterconservation.BwhateffortsIshouldmaketosavefreshwater.Cwhatbehaviourcouldbecountedasfreshwater-saving.DhowmuchofwhatIdidcontributedtofreshwatershortage.14Accordingtothepassage,theauthorwasmorealarmedbythefactthatAhewashavingmoremeatandcoffee.Bhisclothesusedevenmorevirtualwater.Cgloballytherewillbelessfreshwater.Dhislifestylewastooextravagant.15MyentireclosetisborderlineOlympicisanexampleofAexaggerationBanalogy.CunderstatementDeuphemism.16Whatisthetoneoftheauthorinthelastparagraph?ASarcasticBIronicCCriticalDHumorous.DTEXTBInhernovelofReunion,AmericanStyle,RonaJaffesuggeststhataclassreunionismorethanasentimentaljourney.Itisalsoawayofansweringthequestionthatliesatthebackofnearlyallourminds.DidtheydobetterthanI?Jaffesobservationmaybemisplacedbutnotcompletelylost.AccordingtoastudyconductedbysocialpsychologistJackSparacino,theoverwhelmingmajoritywhoattendreunionsarentthereinvidiouslytocomparetheirrecentaccomplishmentswiththoseoftheirformerclassmates.Instead,theyhope,primarily,torelivetheirearliersuccesses.Certainly,afewreturntoshowtheirformerclassmateshowwelltheyhavedone；othersenjoyobservingthechangesthathaveoccurredintheirclassmates(notalwaysinthemselves,ofcourse).Butthemajoritywhoattendtheirclassreunionsdosotorelivethegoodtimestheyrememberhavingwhentheywereyounger.Inhisstudy,Sparacinofoundthat,ashighschoolstudents,attendeeshad13beenmorepopular,moreoftenregardedasattractive,andmoreinvolvedinextracurricularactivitiesthanthoseclassmateswhochosenottoattend.Forthosewhoturnedupattheirreunions,then,theoldtimeswerealsothegoodtimes!ItwouldappearthatAmericanshaveaspecialfondnessforreunions,judgingbytheirprevalence.Majorleaguebaseballplayers,fraternitymembers,veteransgroups,highschoolandcollegegraduates,andformerBoyScoutsallholdreunionsonaregularbasis.Inaddition,familyreunionsfrequentlyattractbloodrelativesfromfarawayplaceswhospendconsiderablemoneyandtimetoreunite.Actually,intheiraffectionforreunitingwithfriends,familyorcolleagues,Americansareprobablynodifferentfromanyotherpeople,exceptthatAmericanshavecreatedamind-bogglingnumberandvarietyofinstitutionalizedformsofgatheringstofacilitatethesatisfactionofthisdesire.Indeed,reunionshaveincreasinglybecomeformaleventsthatareorganizedonaregularbasisand,intheprocess,theyhavealsobecomebigbusiness.ShellNorrisofClassReunion,Inc.,saysthatChicagoalonehas1,500highschoolreunionseachyear.Aconservativeestimateonthenationallevelwouldbe10,000annually.Atonetime,allhighschoolreunionswereorganizedbyvolunteers,usuallyfemalehomemakers.Inthelastfewyears,however,asmoreandmorewomenhaveenteredthelabourforce,alumnireunionsareincreasinglybeingplannedbyspecializedcompaniesratherthanbypart-timevolunteers.ThefirstcollegereunionwasheldbythealumniofYaleUniversityin1792.GraduatesofPennsylvania,Princeton,Stanford,andBrownfollowedsuit.Andbytheendofthe19thcentury,most4-yearinstitutionswereholdingalumnireunions.Thevarietyofcollegereunionsisimpressive.AtPrinceton,alumniparadethroughthetownwearingtheirclassuniformsandsingingtheiralmamater.AtMariettaCollege,theygatherforadinner-danceonasteamshipcruisingtheOhioRiver.Clearly,thethoughtofcruisingonasteamshipormarchingthroughthestreetsisusuallynot,byitself,sufficientreasonforlargenumbersofalumnitoreturntocampus.Alumniwhodecidetoattendtheirreunionsshareacommonidentitybasedontheyearstheyspenttogetherasundergraduates.Forthisreason,universitiesthatsomehowestablishacommonbondforexample,becausetheyarerelativelysmallorespeciallyprestigious-tendtodrawsubstantialnumbersoftheiralumnitoreunions.Inanefforttoenhancethiscommonidentity,largercollegesanduniversitiesfrequentlybuildtheirclassreunionsonparticipationinsmallerunits,suchasdepartmentsorschools.Ortheyencourageaffinityreunionsforgroupsofformercheerleaders,editors,fraternitymembers,musicians,membersofmilitaryorganizationsoncampus,andthelike.Ofcourse,noteveryalumnusisfondofhisorheralmamater.Studentswhograduatedduringthelate1960smaybeespeciallyreluctanttogetinvolvedinalumnievents.Theywerepartofthegenerationthatconductedsit-insandteach-insdirectedatuniversityadministrators,protestedmilitaryrecruitmentoncampusandmarchedagainstestablishmentpolitics.Ifthisgenerationhasacommonidentity,itmayfalloutsideoftheiruniversityties-orevenbehostiletothem.Evenastheyentertheirmiddleyears,alumniwhocontinuetoholdunpleasantmemoriesofcollegeduringthisperiodmaynotwishtoattendclassreunions.17.Accordingtothepassage,SparacinosstudyA.providedstrongevidenceforJaffesstatement.B.showedthatattendeestendedtoexcelinhighschoolstudy.C.foundthatinterestinreunionswaslinkedwithschoolexperience.D.foundevidenceforattendeesintensedesireforshowingoffsuccess.18.WhichofthefollowingisNOTmentionedasadistinctfeatureofU.S.classreunions?A.U.S.classreunionsareusuallyoccasionstoshowoffonesrecentsuccess.14B.Reunionsareregularandformaleventsorganizedbyprofessionalagencies.C.Classreunionshavebecomeaprofitablebusiness.D.Classreunionshavebroughtaboutavarietyofactivities.19.Whatmainlyattractsmanypeopletoreturntocampusforreunion?A.Thevarietyofactivitiesforclassreunion.B.Thespecialstatustheiruniversityenjoys.C.Sharedexperiencebeyondthecampus.D.Sharedundergraduateexperienceoncampus.20.TherhetoricalfunctionofthefirstparagraphistoA.introduceRonaJeffesnovel.B.presenttheauthorscounterargument.C.serveaspreludetotheauthorsargument.D.bringintofocuscontrastingopinions.21.Whatisthepassagemainlyabout?A.Reasonsforpopularityand(non)attendanceforalumnireunions.B.AhistoricalperspectiveforalumnireunionsintheUnitedStates.C.AlumnireunionsandAmericanuniversitytraditions.D.Alumnireunionanditssocialandeconomicimplications.TEXTCOnetimewhileonhiswalkGeorgemetMr.Cattanzaracominghomeverylatefromwork.Hewonderedifhewasdrunkbutthencouldtellhewasnt.Mr.Cattanzara,astocky,bald-headedmanwhoworkedinachangeboothonanIRTstation,livedonthenextblockafterGeorges,aboveashoerepairstore.Nights,duringthehotweather,hesatonhisstoopinanundershirt,readingtheNewYorkTimesinthelightoftheshoemakerswindow.Hereaditfromthefirstpagetothelast,thenwentuptosleep.Andallthetimehewasreadingthepaper,hiswife,afatwomanwithawhiteface,leanedoutofthewindow,gazingintothestreet,herthickwhitearmsfoldedunderherloosebreast,onthewindowledge.OnceinawhileMr.Cattanzaracamehomedrunk,butitwasaquietdrunk.Henevermadeanytrouble,onlywalkedstifflyupthestreetandslowlyclimbedthestairsintothehall.Thoughdrunkhelookedthesameasalways,exceptforhistightwalk,thequietness,andthathiseyeswerewet.GeorgelikedMr.Cattanzarabecauseherememberedhimgivinghimnickelstobuylemonicewithwhenhewasasquirt.Mr.Cattanzarawasadifferenttypethanthoseintheneighbourhood.Heaskeddifferentquestionsthantheotherswhenhemetyou,andheseemedtoknowwhatwentoninallthenewspapers.Hereadthem,ashisfatsickwifewatchedfromthewindow.Whatareyoudoingwithyourselfthissummer,George?Mr.Cattanzaraasked.lseeyouwalkinaroundatnight.Georgefeltembarrassed.Iliketowalk.Whatareyoudoininthedaynow?Nothingmuchjustnow.Imwaitingforajob.Sinceitshamedhimtoadmitthathewasntworking,Georgesaid,Imreadingalottopickupmyeducation.Whatareyoureadin?Georgehesitated,thensaid,IgotalistofbooksinthelibraryonceandnowImgonnareadthemthissummer.Hefeltstrangeandalittleunhappysayingthis,buthewantedMr.Cattanzaratorespecthim.Howmanybooksarethereonit?Inevercountedthem.Maybearoundahundred.15Mr.Cattanzarawhistledthroughhisteeth.Ifigureifldidthat,Georgewentonearnestly,itwouldhelpmeinmyeducation.1dontmeanthekindtheygiveyouinhighschool.Iwanttoknowdifferentthingsthantheylearnthere,ifyouknowwhatImean.Thechangemakernodded.Stillandall,onehundredbooksisaprettybigloadforonesummer.Itmighttakelonger.Afteryourefinishedwithsome,maybeyouandIcanshootthebreezeaboutthem?saidMr.Cattanzara.WhenImfinished,Georgeanswered.Mr.CattanzarawenthomeandGeorgecontinuedonhiswalk.Afterthat,thoughhehadtheurgeto,Georgedidnothingdifferentfromusual.Hestilltookhiswalksatnight,endingupinthelittlepark.ButoneeveningtheshoemakeronthenextblockstoppedGeorgetosayhewasagoodboy,andGeorgefiguredthatMr.Cattanzarahadtoldhimallaboutthebookshewasreading.Fromtheshoemakeritmusthavegonedownthestreet,becauseGeorgesawacoupleofpeoplesmilingkindlyathim,thoughnobodyspoketohimpersonally.Hefeltalittlebetteraroundtheneighbourhoodandlikeditmore,thoughnotsomuchhewouldwanttoliveinitforever.Hehadneverexactlydislikedthepeopleinit,yethehadneverlikedthemverymucheither.Itwasthefaultoftheneighbourhood.Tohissurprise,GeorgefoundoutthathisfatherandhissisterSophieknewabouthisreadingtoo.Hisfatherwastooshytosayanythingaboutit-hewasnevermuchofatalkerinhiswholelife-butSophiewassoftertoGeorge,andsheshowedhiminotherwaysshewasproudofhim.22.Intheexcerpt,Mr.CattanzarawasdescribedasamanwhoA.wasfondofdrinking.B.showedawideinterest.C.oftenworkedovertime.D.likedtogossipafterwork.23.ItcanbeinferredfromthepassagethatA.Mr.CattanzarawassurprisedatGeorgesreadingplan.B.Mr.CannazarawasdoubtfulaboutGeorgethroughout.C.Georgewasforcedtotellalieandthenregretted.D.Georgeliedatthebeginningandthenbecameserious.24.AfterthestreetconversationwithMr.Cattanzara,GeorgeA.remainedthesameasusual.B.becamemorefriendlywithMr.Cattanzara.C.begantolikehisneighboursmorethanever.D.continuedtoreadthebooksfromthelist.25.WecantellfromtheexcerptthatGeorgeA.hadaneitherclosenordistantrelationshipwithhisfather.B.wasdissatisfiedwithhislifeandsurroundings.C.foundthathissisterremainedskepticalabouthim.D.foundhisneighbourslikedtopoketheirnoseintohim.TEXTDAbrahamLincolnturns200thisyear,andhesbeginningtoshowhisage.Whenhisbirthdayarrives,onFebruary12,CongresswillholdaspecialjointsessionintheCapitolsNationalStatuaryHall,awreathwillbelaidatthegreatmemorialinWashington,andawebcastwilllinkschoolclassroomsforateach-inhonouringhismemory.Admirableastheyare,though,theeventswillstrikemanyofusLincolnfansasinadequate,evenhalfhearted-andanothersignthatourappreciationforthe16thpresidentandhistowering16achievementsisslippingaway.AndyoudonthavetobeaLincolnenthusiasttobelievethatthisissomethingwecantaffordtolose.ComparethisyearscelebrationwiththeLincolncentennial,in1909.Thatyear,Lincolnslikenessmadeitsdebutonthepenny,thankstoapprovalfromtheU.S.SecretaryoftheTreasury.Communitiesandcivicassociationsineverycomerofthecountryeruptedinparades,concerts,balls,lectures,andmilitarydisplays.Westillfeeltheeffectstoday:Themomentumunloosedin1909ledtotheLincolnMemorial,openedin1922,andtheLincolnHighway,thefirstpavedtranscontinentalthoroughfare.Thecelebrantsin1909hadafewinspirationswelacktoday.LincolnspresidencywasstillalivingmemoryforcountlessAmericans.In2009wearefartherintimefromtheendoftheSecondWorldWarthantheywerefromtheCivilWar；familiesstillfeltthelossoflovedonesfromthatawfulnationaltrauma.ButAmericansin1909hadsomethingmore:anunembarrassedappreciationforheroesandanacutesenseofthewaythatevenlong-deadhistoricalfigurespressinonthepresentandmakeuswhoweare.Onestorywillillustratewhatlmtalkingabout.In2003agroupoflocalcitizensarrangedtoplaceastatueofLincolninRichmond,Virginia,formercapitaloftheConfederacy.Theideatouchedoffafirestormofcontroversy.TheSonsofConfederateVeteransheldapublicconferenceofcarefullyselectedscholarstoreassessthelegacyofLincoln.Theverdict-nosurprise-wasnegative:Lincolnwaslabeledeverythingfromaracisttotalitariantoatellerofdirtyjokes.Icoveredtheconferenceasareporter,butwhatreallyunnervedmewasacounter-conferenceofscholarstorefutetheearlierone.ThesescholarsdrewapictureofLincolnthatonlyourtouchy-feelyagecouldconjureup.Themanwhooversawthemostsavagewarinourhistorywasdescribed-byhisadmirers,remember-asnonjudgmental,unmoralistic,comfortablewithambiguity.IfeltthewayafriendofminefeltaswelaterwatchedtheunveilingoftheRichmondstatueinasubduedceremony:Buthessosmall!ThestatueinRichmondwasindeedsmall；likenearlyeveryLincolnstatueputupinthepasthalfcentury,itwaslife-sizeandwasplacedatgroundlevel,aconsciousrejectionoftheheroic-approachableandhuman,yes,butnotsomethingtolookupto.TheRichmondepisodetaughtmethatAmericanshavelostthelanguagetoexplainLincolnsgreatnesseventoourselves.EarliergenerationssaidtheywantedtheirchildrentobelikeLincoln:principled,kind,compassionate,resolute.TodaywewantLincolntobelikeus.ThishelpstoexplainthelongstringofrecentbooksinwhichwritershavepresentedaLincolnmadeaftertheirownimage.WevehadLincolnashumoristandLincolnasmanic-depressive,Lincolnthebusinesssage,theconservativeLincolnandtheliberalLincoln,theemancipatorandtheracist,thestoicphilosopher,theChristian,theatheist-LincolnovereasyandLincolnscrambled.Whatsoftenmissing,though,i,sthetimelessLincoln,theLincolnwhomallgenerations,ourownnolessthanthatof1909,canlayclaimto.Luckyforus,thosememorializersfromacenturyago-and,throughthem,Lincolnhimself-haveleftusahin,tofwheretofindhim.TheLincolnMemorialisthemos,tvisitedofourpresidentialmonuments.HereiswherewefindtheLincolnwhoendures:inthewordsheleftus,definingthecountryweveinherited.HereistheLincolnwhocanbeendlesslyrenewedandwho,200yearsafterhisbirth,retainsthepowertorenewus.26.TheauthorthinksthatthisyearscelebrationisinadequateandevenhalfheartedbecauseA.noLincolnstatuewillbeunveiled.B.nomemorialcoinswillbeissued.C.nosimilarappreciationofLincolnwillbeseen.17D.noactivitiescanbecomparedtothosein1909.27.Accordingtothepassage,whatreallymakesthe1909celebrationsdifferentfromthisyears?A.Respectforgreatpeopleandtheirinfluence.B.Varietyandmagnitudeofcelebrationactivities.C.StructuresconstructedinmemoryofLincoln.D.TemporalproximitytoLincolnspresidency.28.Intheauthorsopinion,thecounter-conferenceA.rectifiedthejudgmentbythosecarefullyselectedscholars.B.offeredabrandnewreassessmentperspective.C.cameupwithsomewhatfavourableconclusions.D.resultedinsimilardisparagingremarksonLincoln.29.Accordingtotheauthor,theimageofLincolnconceivedbycontemporarypeopleA.conformstotraditionalimages.B.reflectsthepresent-daytendencyofworship.C.showsthepresent-daydesiretoemulateLincoln.D.revealsthevarietyofcurrentopinionsonheroes.30.Whichofthefollowingbestexplainstheimplicationofthelastparagraph?A.Lincolnsgreatnessremainsdespitethepassageoftime.B.Thememorialissymbolicofthegreatmansachievements.C.EachgenerationhasitowninterpretationofLincoln.D.PeoplegettoknowLincolnthroughmemorializers.閱讀部分TEXTA11.C.workedforfreshwaterconservationfornonprofitpurposes.12.C.Hishousewasequippedwithadvancedwater-savingfacilities.13.A.howIcouldcontributetowaterconversation.14.D.hislifestylewastooextravagant.15.A.exaggeration.16.D.Humorous.TEXTB17.C.foundthatinterestinreunionswaslinkedwithschoolexperience.18.A.U.S.classreunionsareusuallyoccasionstoshowoffonesrecentsuccess.19.D.Sharedundergraduateexperienceoncampus.20.D.bringintofocuscontrastingopinions.21.A.Reasonsforpopularityand(non)attendanceforalumnireunions.TEXTC22.B.showedawideinterest.23.A.Mr.CattanzarawassurprisedatGeorgesreadingplan.24.A.remainedthesameasusual.25.B.wasdissatisfiedwithhislifeandsurroundings.TEXTD26.D.noactivitiescanbecomparedtothosein1909.27.B.Varietyandmagnitudeofcelebrationactivities.28.D.resultedinsimilardisparagingremarksonLincoln.29.D.revealsthevarietyofcurrentopinionsonheroes.30.A.Lincolnsgreatnessremainsdespitethepassageoftime.182011年專八閱讀理解IIREADINGCOMPREHENSIONInthissectiontherearefourreadingpassagesfollowedbyatotalof20multiple-choicequestions.ReadthepassagesandthenmarkthebestanswertoeachquestiononANSWERSHEETTWO.TEXTAWheneverwecould,JoanandItookrefugeinthestreetsofGibraltar.TheEnglishmanshomeishiscastlebecausehehasnotmuchchoice.ThereisnowheretositinthestreetsofEngland,noteven,aftertwilight,inthepublicgardens.Theclimate,veryoften,doesnotevenpermithimtowalkoutside.Naturally,hestaysindoorsandcreatesacocoonofcomfort.ThatwasthewaywelivedinLeeds.Thesesouthernpeople,ontheotherhand,lookoutwards.TheGibraltarianhomeis,typically,asmallandcrowdedapartmentupseveralflightsofdarkanddirtystairs.Init,one,twooreventhreeoldpeopleshareafewill-litroomswiththeyoungfamily.Oncehehaseaten,changedhisclothes,embracedhiswife,kissedhischildrenandhisparents,thereisnothingtokeepthesouthernmanathome.Hehurriesout,takingevenhisbreakfastcoffeeathislocalbar.Hecomeshomelateforhisafternoonmealafteranappetitivehourathiscaf.Hesleepsforanhour,dresses,goesoutagainandstaysoutuntillateatnight.Hiswifedoesnotmisshim,forsheisout,tooatthemarketinthemorningandintheafternoonsittingwithothermothers,baby-mindinginthesun.TheusualGibraltarianhomehasnositting-room,living-roomorlounge.Theparlourofourworking-classhouseswouldbeanintolerablewasteofspace.Easy-chairs,sofasandsuch-likefurnitureareunknown.Therearenobookshelves,becausetherearenobooks.Talkinganddrinking,aswellaseating,aredoneonhardchairsroundthedining-table,betweenasideboarddecoratedwiththebestglassesandaninevitabledisplaycabinetfulloffamilytreasures,photographsandsouvenirs.Theelaboratechandelieroverthistableproclaimsitasthehubofthehouseholdandofthefamily.HearthandhomemakesverylittlesenseinGibraltar.Oneshomeisonestownorvillage,andoneshearthisthesunshine.Ournortherntownsaredormitorieswithcubicles,bycomparison.Whenwecongregat