高三英语阅读理解限时训练（3）AHowwouldyouliketocomehomeafteralongday,openthedoor,andwalkintoanelephant?That’swhatyouwoulddoifyoulivedinElephantHouseinMargete,NewJersey.Theelephant-shapedhousewasbuiltin1881byJamesLafferty.In1962,HerbertGreenbuiltachicken-shapedhouse.SarahWinchestertriedtobuildaghost-proofhouseinSanJoseCalifornia.Workersbuiltfakechimneys,doorsthatopenontoblankwallsandstairsthatleadnowhere.Manyroomsweretorndownandthenrebuiltinanewwaytoconfusetheghosts.Ittook38yearstocompletethehouse!Somehousesarebuiltofstrangematerials.AhouseinPigeonCove,Massachusetts,isbuiltofmorethan100,000newspapers.InCanada,GeorgePatbuiltahouseentirelyoutofbottles.Somehomesstandforgreatwealthandpower.ThePalaceofAlhambrainSpainisoneofthemostbeautifulhomesintheworld.Themanwhobuiltitlovedwater.Astreamrunsthroughall9acres(英亩)ofthepalace.Ineachroomthereisasmallpoolofsparklingwater.WealthyAmericansdesigndreamhouses,too.In1895,CorneliusVanderbiltbuiltandmovedintoahousenamedtheBreakers.Hecalledithissummercottage.Itcost$10milliontobuildandhaswallsdecoratedwithgold.This“summercottage”couldhold60guestscomfortably.Dreamhousesdon’thavetobeexpensive.AmannamedBaldaserabuiltahousewith90roomsforaboutonly$200bydiggingundertheearth.Baldaseraworkedalone.Hespentabout40yearscompletinghisundergroundhouse.41.Thepassagemainlytalksabout.A.oldhousesB.buildingmaterialsC.buildinghistoryD.unusualhouses42.ThebuilderofthePalaceofAlhambraisprobablyproudof.A.theshiningpoolsintheroomsB.hisspecialpersonalityC.hismothercountrySpainD.thelargeareaofhishouse43.TheBreakerswasbuilt.A.in1884bySarahWinchesterB.in1992byGeorgePatC.in1895byCorneliusVanderbiltD.in1962byHerbertGreen44.Baldaserabuilthishome.A.withoutanytoolsB.withoutspendingmuchmoneyC.withhisfamilyD.withmuchhelpfromothersBAlongweekendisagreatopportunitytodosomethingalittledifferent.用心爱心专心1Manypeopleusealongweekendforagetaway,ashorttriptoleavethestressoftheireverydaylivesbehindandexplore,learn,orrelax.HotelRomanceManyhotelsandresortsfeaturesomethingspecialtostartthegetaway,suchaschampagne,flowers,orafruitbasketintheroomonarrival.Getawaypackagesusuallyincludearoomwithsomethingspecial,aheartshapedbed,forexample.Additionalobenefitscouldberoomservicemealsorotherprivatedining,plusticketsordiscountsforlocalattractions.VisitaSpaSpagetawayscantakeplaceatalocationthatfocusesonlyonspaservicesoratahotelthatoffersaspaasoneofitsfeatures.Somespasemphasizetreatmentsfitfortheirgeographicareaoralocalattraction.Aspainagrapegrowingregionmightprovidegrapejuicemasks,orahotelnearahotspringcouldoffermineralbaths.Mostspasofferarangeofmassage,healthandbeautytreatments,soaspagetawaycanberelaxingwithotherbenefits.LearnaSkillAlongweekendmaynotbeenoughtimetobecomeanexpertatsomethingnew,butitprovidesawayforpeopletobegintheirexplorations.Someorganizationsofferintensivecoursesthatlasttwoorthreedays.Peoplewithspecialinterestscangetawayfromtheirroutineswhilelearningsuchthingsashowtomakebeer,speakanewlanguage,ortakebetterphotos.HelpOthersSomeorganizationscooperatewithbusinessestohaveaccommodations(住宿)andactivitiesforshort-termvolunteers.Mostvolunteervacationsinvolveecologyfriendlyorcharityactivities.Avolunteergetawayisawaytorelievestressandhelpothersatthesametime.StayinaNationalParkForthosewhowanttorelaxinaruralenvironment,anationalparkfitsthebill.Mostnationalparksprovidecampingareasforten...
