8 . Italy’s cheap old homes continue to appeal to hundreds of interested buyers, among whom was Roy Patrick, a 67-year-old British who deals in antiques in Italy. Patrick bought an old school house in the mountain village of Carrega for $16,500. It’s both an adventure and a joy.

Patrick bought the property quite by accident. When told about the wonders of the village, he toured there to take a look and was instantly struck by the 1930s school building. “The house is particular and the view is unique: The way the sun goes down over the mountains, you’d say ‘wow’. It’s a fantastic wonderland,” says Patrick.

The property was offloaded by the local government to boost the populations of communities in decline. Since the purchase, he’s been visiting every two weeks and finds it has many charms. “Top of the list is the friendliness of the local residents, followed by the breathtaking views I get out of the windows looking across the valley,” he adds.

Patrick’s initial encounter with his new home was less than promising. He had to climb through a window to open up the building, which had been shut for decades and whose door was jammed, with the keys nowhere to be found.

However, a later structural disaster turned into a positive story. When an unstable chimney (烟囱) collapsed due to a heavy snow, a neighbor volunteered to climb onto his roof to make it safe. The locals are so welcoming that they are ready to help newcomers.

During the restoration needed to make the old school habitable, Patrick unexpectedly unearthed a great many treasures: dusty piles of old text books, inkwells, pupil registers and other historical items.

Patrick has some advice for those with the thought of buying a house in Carrega: There is absolutely nothing, just great views, pure air and clean surroundings. No bars, supermarkets, or restaurants. A vehicle is essential to move around. However, Carrega does spring to life in the summer when vacationers arrive to relax. “There are nights when people throw a party with loud music,” says Patrick. “Otherwise it’s just singing birds and total silence.”

1. What led to Patrick’s purchase of the old schoolhouse?

A．The locals’ friendly attitude.	B．Its location and rising value.
C．Its uniqueness and surroundings.	D．The government’s housing welfare.

2. What was the government’s intention of selling the property?

A．To attract more settlers.	B．To boost local tourism.
C．To preserve village traditions.	D．To reform education system.

3. What’s one of Patrick’s added bonuses of getting the house?

A．Acquiring more personal space.	B．Digging up some historical finds.
C．Enjoying a more active social life.	D．Getting free home decoration service.

4. How does it feel most of the time living in Carrega?

A．Quiet.	B．Lively.
C．Modern.	D．Convenient.

9 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Our ancestors did it out of necessity, but we are returning to their ways out of a desire to preserve the planet     1     future generations. Claire Jackson investigates the return of our make-do-and-mend and it turns out that “fast” fashion has been replaced by a “slow” fashion     2    (move).

Reports that 300,000 tons of     3    (use) clothing ends up in UK landfill every year have led to a comeback of make-do-and-mend, encouraging increasing numbers of people to take a renewed interest in maintenance,     4    (buy) second-hand and to choose quality over quantity.

“There used to be a feeling of shame attached to wearing second-hand clothes,” reflects Anita Taylor, a shop owner. “We’re now meeting people     5     are sourcing their clothes from agencies such as ours, having committed to not buying anything new for a year.”

In days gone by, wearing a     6    (visible) mended jacket would have been considered an embarrassment, but now it may be prized for     7    (it) beauty and practicality.

Despite the growing interest in mending, basic sewing skills — particularly among younger generations —     8    (be) surprisingly scarce(不足的). If you really can’t fix something, you can always repurpose it. By the way, it’s all     9     matter of taste. No matter     10     my mother-in-law may say, I happen to like my silver bracelet made out of an old fork very much.

10 . Our economy runs on consumption, especially during the holidays—we as consumers are overwhelmed by emails and ads about the newest holiday gifts. Buying a brand new gift for a loved one, we may feel generous and not feel the environmental impact. But with millions of people doing the same, the resources spent really add up.

Journalist Annalise Griffin recommends people rethink the value of gift-giving and shop in an effective eco-friendly way.

A gift doesn’t have to be expensive, says Griffin. In the holiday shopping rash, it’s easy to forget why we give in the first place. She thinks it’s wise to adopt a more open-minded approach. For instance, pack a gift box with homemade cookies or get the whole family in on the act of paring down by tie-dyeing（扎染）white clothes from a local secondhand store. They may not be pricey but the love behind it counts.

As for green shopping, Griffin practices her way of buying used items instead of new ones. She mentions several websites and online communities where people can buy, give away or trade secondhand items. Her go-to for shopping for clothes and housing items include the more familiar eBay and Poshmark. For vintage（复古）goods, she recommends shopgoodwill. com.

Whether we’re making a commitment to cutting out extra spending or showing concern for the environment, it’s vital to share our ideas with the loved ones. It may be hard to convince a teenager not to buy the latest iPhone, so having these conversations early on can go a long way.

1. What is the author’s purpose of writing Paragraph 1?

A．To clarify the meaning of holiday consumption.

B．To argue for the use of emails and advertisements.

C．To raise the problem brought by gift shopping.

D．To complain about waste in our everyday life.

2. What does the underlined phrase “paring down” in Paragraph 3 probably mean?

A．Reducing the expenses.	B．Protecting the environment.
C．Spending the holidays.	D．Sharing the housework.

3. Which gift is Griffin most likely to recommend?

A．A brand new suitcase.	B．A secondhand book.
C．An expensive vintage bag.	D．An outdated iPhone.

4. What message does the author seem to convey in the passage?

A．Without gifts, without love.	B．Great gifts always look cheap.
C．Bargaining matters when you shop.	D．Give meaningful gifts without buying new.