OnesummerIwasdrivingfrommyhometownofTahoeCityCaliforniatoNewOrleans.InthemiddleofthedesertIcameuponayoungmanstandingbytheroadside.Hehadhisthumboutandheldagascaninhisotherhand.Idroverightbyhim.Therewasatimeinthecountrywhenyou’dbeconsideredastupidpersonifyoupassedbysomebodyinneed.Nowyouareafoolforhelping.Withgangsdrugaddictsmurderersthieveseverywhere“Idon’twanttogetinvolved”hasbecomeanationalmotto.
SeveralstateslaterIwasstillthinkingaboutthehitch-hiker(免费搭车的人).Leavinghimstandinginthedesertdidnotbothermesomuch.WhatbotheredmewashoweasilyIhadreachedthedecision.Ineverevenliftedmyfootofftheaccelerator(加速器).
Doesanyonestopanymore?Iwondered.IrecalledBlancheDuBois’sfamilyline:“Ihavealwaysdependedonthekindnessofthestrangers”.Couldanyonerelyonthekindnessofthestrangersthesedays?OnewaytotestthiswouldbeforapersontojourneyfromcoasttocoastwithoutanymoneyrelyingonlyonthegoodwillofhisfellowAmericans.WhatkindofAmericanswouldhefind?Whowouldfeedhimshelterhimandcarryhimdowntheroad?
Theideainterestedme.
SoIdecidedtotravelfromthePacifictotheAtlanticwithoutapenny.Itwouldbeacashlessjourneythroughthelandofthealmightydollar.Iwouldonlyacceptoffersofridesfoodandaplacetorestmyhead.MyfinaldestinationwouldbeCapeFearinNorthCarolinaasymbolofallthefearsI’dhavetoconquerduringthetrip.
IroseearlyonSeptember61994andheadedfortheGoldenGateBridgewitha50-poundpackonmybackandasigndisplayingmydestinationtopassingvehicles:“America”.
ForsixweeksIhitched82ridesandcovered4223milesacross14states.AsItraveledfolkswerealwayswarningmeaboutsomeplaceelse.InMontanatheytoldmetowatchoutforthecowboysinWyoming;inNebraskatheysaidpeoplewouldnotbeasniceasinIowa.YetIwasamazedbypeople’sreadinesstohelpastrangerevenwhenitseemedagainsttheirownbestinterests.
1.Whydidtheauthordrivepasttheyoungmaninthedesertwithoutstopping?
A.Becausehefailedtonoticethisman.
B.Becausehewasdrivingtoofast.
C.Becausehewasafraidofbeingcheated.
D.Becausehetho