If you come across two drivers who stop in the middle of the road in this richly forested island community, they’re probably arguing — about how to improve the local fairgrounds (游乐场), or property taxes, or the teen drop-in center. They argue about everything in South Whidbey, Washington, and that’s a good thing.
“Don’t bother to honk your horn (按喇叭),” resident Susan Knickerbocker says. “When they’re done, they’ll be done. They won’t move before that, so you just wait it out.”
This frequent scene is one sign that people care deeply about their town. “We argue passionately about where we want our community to go,” says Josh Burnett, who writes for the South Whidbey Record. “But at the end of the day, we’ll all say hi and shake hands at the farmers’ market on the weekend.”
That love for debate — passionate and constructive — has made South Whidbey residents intensely proud. Because, as stubborn as they are, everyone gets to work. That’s how they have created a first-class food bank and a no-kill animal shelter; developed new methods for residents to make — and accept — donations of veterinary (兽医的) services, oil changes, and advice on paying medical bills; and more. One group of volunteers is well-known for rescuing abused horses.
Another resident, Linda Briere, wrote on the Reader’s Digest Facebook page, “The love of country, joy of living, and the let-the-other guy-live-but-with-a-helping-hand make me proud.”
Of course, working for the greater good is what many communities do. What’s unusual about South Whidbey is that residents pull together despite the kinds of cultural differences that make progress difficult in so many other parts of the country. South Whidbey is home to sizable populations of farmers, artists, Christians, retired vets, Republicans, Democrats, and independents, and the clash (碰撞) of ideas inspires them.
The one thing they never disagree on is that their island is profoundly special.
【小题1】How does the writer lead in Para.1?| A．By making comparisons. | B．By giving examples. |
| C．By providing statistics. | D．By offering possibilities. |
| A．Give suggestions. | B．Wait until they finish. |
| C．Ask them to shake hands. | D．Prevent them from fighting. |
| A．Passionate for their hometown. | B．Proud of farmer’s market. |
| C．Satisfied with their property taxes. | D．Ridiculous in their behavior. |
| A．Its beautifully forested surrounding. |
| B．Some people with different cultures. |
| C．The special feature of the community. |
| D．Its brief history and different customs. |
