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A simple piece of clothesline hangs between some environmentally friendly Americans and their neighbors.

     On one side stand those who see clothes dryers (干衣機) as a waste of energy and a major polluter of the environment. As a result, they are turning to clotheslines as part of the “what-I-can-do environmentalism (環境保護主義).”

     On the other side are people who are against drying clothes outside, arguing that clotheslines are unpleasant to look at. They have persuaded Homeowners Associations (HOAs) access the U.S. to ban outdoor clotheslines, because clothesline drying also tends to lower home value in the neighborhood. This has led to a Right-to-Dry Movement that is calling for laws to be passed to protect people’s right to use clotheslines.

     So far, only three states have laws to protect clothesline. Right-to-Dry supporters argue that there should be more.

     Matt Reck, 37, is the kind of eco-conscious (有生態意識的) person who feeds his trees with bathwater and reuses water drops from his air conditioners to water plants. His family also uses a clothesline. But on July 9, 2007, the HOA in Wake Forest, North Carolina, told him that a dissatisfied neighbor had telephoned them about his clothesline. The Recks paid no attention to the warning and still dried their clothes on a line in the yard. “Many people say they are environmentally friendly but they don’t take matters into their own hands,” says Reck. The local HOA has decided not to take any action, unless more neighbors come to them.

     North Carolina lawmakers are saying that banning clotheslines is not the right thing to do. But HOAs and housing businesses believe that clothesline drying reminds people of poor neighborhoods. They worry that if buyers think their future neighbors can’t even afford dryers, housing prices will fall.

     Environmentalists say such worries are not necessary, and in view of global warming, that idea needs to change. As they say, “The clothesline is beautiful. Hanging clothes outside should be encouraged. We all have to do at least something to slow down the process of global warming.”

Multiple choices:1. One of the reasons why supporters of clothes dryers are trying to ban clothesline drying is that ______.A. clothes dryers are more efficient     B. clothesline drying reduces home valueC. clothes dryers are energy-saving     D. clothesline drying is not allowed in most U.S. states2. Which of the following best describes Matt Reck?A. He is a kind-hearted man.          B. He is an impolite man.C. He is an experienced gardener.     D. He is a man of social responsibility.3. Who are in favor of clothesline drying?A. Housing businesses.B. Environmentalists.C. Homeowners Associations.          D. Reck’s dissatisfied neighbors.4. What is mainly discussed in the text?A. Clothesline drying: a way to save energy and money.B. Clothesline drying: a lost art rediscovered.C. Opposite opinions on clothesline drying.D. Different varieties of clotheslines.

閱讀賞析:     這篇閱讀理解的主題非常有趣，切入角度很獨特：我們是否應該立法禁止用晾衣繩來晾曬衣服。這在我們看來是有點滑稽，有點小題大作，但在美國卻成為一個討論熱點。由此我們可以看到一個比較真實的美國：一個環保意識很強，而人情淡漠的國家；一個法律至上，而事實上法律又常常被利益集團所利用，而做出有悖于情理之規定的國家。以上矛盾的對立面往往會從自己的角度，千方百計找到合理的論據，并通過自己的院外游說團影響國會的立法和政府的決策。這是當代真實的美國。如果大家能從文中讀出這些背景信息，那么問題自然迎刃而解了。

答案解析:1. B。由第三段中的because clothesline drying also tends to lower home value in the neighborhood，可知B為正確答案。2. D。從第五段中的Matt Reck, 37, is the kind of eco-conscious person ... 和Reck所發表的言論：Many people say they are environmentally friendly but they don’t take matters into their own hands，可知Matt Reck是一個有責任心的環保主義者。3. B。由最后一段中environmentalists的觀點可知，他們是贊成和鼓勵使用clotheslines的。故答案為B。4. C。由文章第二、三段中On one side ... On the otherside ... 以及后面雙方針鋒相對的觀點可知C為正確答案。