閱讀理解
Darren and I had been teaching in Celbridge for three years before we took a career break. We enjoyed traveling around Ireland and working in a guesthouse on the Aran Islands. We'd seen an advertisement for a six-month posting for caretakers on Blascaod Mór — the Great Blasket — and decided we'd give it a go.
The Great Blasket is the largest of the six Blasket Islands off the west coast of County Kerry. The job would involve helping to run the island's three holiday cottages (小別墅), owned by a couple, Alice and Billy, who live in the town of Dingle on the mainland.
We didn't expect to hear anything after sending in our form, knowing that tens of thousands apply, but a week later we had a Zoom interview. That was basically Billy telling us we'd be mad to do it, going to an island with no electricity or hot water. But we're used to simple living, and the more Billy described it, the more we wanted this once-in-a-lifetime experience. About two weeks later, we were offered the job.
On April 1, we arrived on the windswept island. Guests rent the traditional cottages between April and the end of September, after which the seas are too stormy to get here. The last islanders left in 1953 because of a lack of access to emergency services.
We have settled into a rhythm (節奏) of seeing visitors. Some evenings, we invite the cottage guests to join us around a fire pit. We read books by islanders. We speak a decent amount of Irish, and sometimes speak it with locals and international visitors wanting to practice theirs. We haven't really felt lonely during our time here.
The time is flying by, and we leave on October 1. We'll be sad to go, but we'll try to make it back here every year for the rest of our lives. Applications to replace us will now be limited to 300. Our advice to anyone thinking of applying? Go for it.
1. What is the purpose of paragraph 2?
A. To introduce a new topic.
B. To add some background information.
C. To stress the challenge of the job.
D. To advise tourists to visit the Great Blasket.
2. How did the author feel about the job after the interview?
A. Worried.
B. Passionate.
C. Confused.
D. Refreshed.
3. What kept the author from feeling lonely?
A. Interaction with many guests.
B. The natural beauty of the surroundings.
C. The presence of other caretakers.
D. Regular contact with mainland friends.
4. What is the author's plan after their time on the island ends?
A. To apply for the next opportunity.
B. To explore other parts of the world.
C. To visit the island on a yearly basis.
D. To settle in Dingle.
答案：1. B
解析：第二段介紹了Great Blasket的位置、工作內容及房屋主人等信息，是背景信息，選B。
2. B
解析：根據第三段“the more Billy described it, the more we wanted this once-in-a-lifetime experience”可知，作者對這份工作充滿熱情，選B。
3. A
解析：根據第五段“Some evenings, we invite the cottage guests to join us... We speak a decent amount of Irish... We haven't really felt lonely”可知，與客人的互動讓作者不感到孤獨，選A。
4. C
解析：根據最后一段“we'll try to make it back here every year for the rest of our lives”可知，作者計劃每年回來，選C。
