八年级英语阅读重在抓细节、找同义替换。这篇以“美国农场100年变化”为素材，配5道常规选择题和可用写作语块，孩子自己读、自己对答案就行，也可作为课堂补充材料。
Life for farmers in the USA today is very different from that 100 years ago. In those days, farmers did not have many machines to help them. They had animals to help with the farm work. But animals work more slowly than machines. So farms then were much smaller than they are now.
Farmers also worked in a different way in the past. In those days, farmers grew fruits and vegetables and kept cows, pigs and chickens to feed their families. Today farmers grow things on the farms so they can sell them.
Farmers have a very special life in many ways. First of all, they can’t leave the job at the end of the day. They live on the farm and there is always work to do. Second, a lot of farm work is outdoors, so the weather is very important for farmers. It is also important for the success of their farms. If there is a lot of bad weather, farmers will lose money. So they always wish good weather all the year around. They know nature better than other people do.
Farm work changes with the seasons. Spring is a time for growing. In summer, farmers must take good care of the plants. Some plants may need water. Other plants may have problems with insects or diseases. Then in autumn, the fruits or plants are ready for picking. That is a very busy time for farmers. Winter is a time for rest or for work on the farm machines.
阅读选择题（共5小题）
1. Why were farms much smaller 100 years ago?
A. Farmers didn’t have enough land.
B. Animals worked more slowly than machines.
C. Farmers only grew food for animals.
D. There were too many machines.
2. In the past, farmers grew fruits and vegetables and kept animals mainly to ____.
A. sell them and make money
B. feed their own families
C. help other farmers
D. change the weather
3. Why is the weather very important for farmers?
A. Because most farm work is done outdoors and bad weather can make them lose money.
B. Because farmers love sunny days only.
C. Because machines can’t work in summer.
D. Because animals don’t like cold weather.
4. Which season is the busiest time for farmers to pick fruits or plants?
A. Spring.
B. Summer.
C. Autumn.
D. Winter.
5. What do farmers usually do in winter?
A. Grow new plants.
B. Pick fruits.
C. Have a rest or repair farm machines.
D. Sell all the animals.
要背的语块
1. life for farmers —— 农民的生活
2. be different from ... —— 与……不同
3. 100 years ago —— 100年前
4. have machines to help sb. —— 有机器帮助某人
5. farm work —— 农活，农场工作
6. grow fruits and vegetables —— 种植水果和蔬菜
7. keep cows, pigs and chickens —— 饲养牛、猪和鸡
8. feed their families —— 养活他们的家人
9. sell them (to make money) —— 把它们卖掉（赚钱）
10. take good care of the plants —— 好好照料植物
11. work in a different way —— 以不同的方式工作
12. change with the seasons —— 随季节变化
13. a time for growing / picking / rest —— 生长/采摘/休息的季节（时段）
14. be ready for picking —— 准备好被采摘
15. work on the farm machines —— 修理/操作农机
16. outdoors (adv.) —— 在户外
17. the success of their farms —— 农场的收成/成功
18. bad weather —— 坏天气
19. lose money —— 亏钱，损失金钱
20. wish good weather all the year around —— 希望全年都是好天气
21. know nature better than... —— 比……更了解自然
22. have problems with insects or diseases —— 遭受虫害或病害
23. need water —— 需要水分
24. in spring / summer / autumn (fall) / winter —— 在春/夏/秋/冬
高频句型（写作可用）
25. First of all, ... Second, ... —— 首先……其次……（列举理由）
26. There is always work to do. —— 总有活要干。
27. can’t leave the job at the end of the day —— 不能在一天结束时丢下工作
28. So ... were much smaller than they are now. —— 所以……比现在小得多（比较级句型）
答案：
1—5：B B A C C
简要解析
1. 文中说“animals work more slowly than machines. So farms then were much smaller”，选 B。
2. “...to feed their families”说明过去是为了养家，选 B。
3. 户外劳作 + 坏天气会亏钱，所以天气重要，选 A。
4. “in autumn, the fruits or plants are ready for picking. That is a very busy time”，选 C。
5. “Winter is a time for rest or for work on the farm machines”，选 C。
英语阅读不怕慢，先找题干关键词，再回原文定位。上面5题都在原文有直接依据，适合作为初二同步练习。
