Now you’re a fool for helping. “I don’t want to get involved” seems to have become a national motto. One summer I was driving from my hometown of Tahoe City, California to New Orleans, Louisiana. In the middle of the desert, I passed a young man standing by the roadside. He had his out and held a gas can in his other hand. I drove right by him. There was a time you’d be called a jerk (混蛋) for passing by somebody . Several days later I was still about the hitchhiker (搭便车的人), about how I didn’t even lift my foot the accelerator (加速踏板) for him. “Does anyone stop any more?” I wondered. I recalled Blanche DuBois’s famous line—”I have always depended on the kindness of strangers.” Was that these days? One way to test this would be for a person to journey the US without any money, just on the good will of others. What would happen? Would he find food, shelter and support? The idea intrigued (激起兴趣) me. The week I 37, I realized that I had never done something truly crazy. I decided to really do it: travel from the Pacific to the Atlantic without a penny. I would only accept of rides, food and places to sleep. For six weeks I hitched 82 rides and covered 4,223 miles across 14 states. I was treated kindly I went. I was by people’s readiness to help a stranger. In Oregon, a house painter named Mike the cold weather and asked if I had a coat. I didn’t, so he gave me a big green army-style jacket. A lumber-mill worker in Michigan named Tim invited me to a dinner with his family in their shabby house. Then he offered me a tent. I refused, but Tim insisted, packing it into my bag himself. I found people were generally compassionate. Hearing I had no money and would take none, people bought me food or with them whatever they happened to have. Those who had the to give often gave the most. I’m to all the people I met for their rides, their food, their shelter and their gifts. My faith in ordinary folks was . I was proud to live in a country where people were still willing to help. In spite of everything, you can still depend on the of strangers. 小题1: A．thumb B．finger C．foot D．hand 小题2: A．that B．where C．which D．when 小题3: A．in danger B．in need C．in trouble D．in favor 小题4: A．worrying B．considering C．bringing D．thinking 小题5: A．off B．on C．away D．from 小题6: A．interesting B．possible C．necessary D．important 小题7: A．across B．through C．in D．over 小题8: A．basing B．relying C．insisting D．relating 小题9: A．seemed B．got C．became D．turned 小题10: A．But B．So C．And D．Howeve 小题11: A．jobs B．supplies C．helps D．offers 小题12: A．nowhere B．everywhere C．anywhere D．somewhere 小题13: A．frightened B．annoyed C．disappointed D．amazed 小题14: A．noted B．saw C．felt D．sensed 小题15: A．simple B．rich C．delicious D．interesting 小题16: A．supplied B．offered C．shared D．provided 小题17: A．fewest B．most C．least D．best 小题18: A．careful B．grateful C．hopeful D．helpful 小题19: A．created B．reminded C．renewed D．returned 小题20: A．kindness B．happiness C．fairness D．brightness