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【阅读理解】Reading: The Alley That Breathed Again
In 2019, Elena, a 34-year-old urban ecologist, stood in a narrow alley holding a questionnaire. A boy on a rusty bicycle finally stopped and said, 'You're the third person this week. The last two gave up.' Her hand trembled as she smiled.
The alley smelled of damp malt and old laundry. For decades, officials had treated it as a dump. They overexploited the soil, buried organic waste under synthetic layers, and let a factory smother the air with combustion fumes.
A longitudinal study Elena analyzed showed that average summer temperatures here exceeded the city mean by 7.2 degrees Celsius. Residents complained of humidity, lingering smells, and a strange bulge in the wall near the old chapel.
Elena's goal was simple: listen first, plant later. She began with a verbal contract, not a legal one. 'No bulldozers,' said Mrs. Okonkwo, a retired nurse of 68 who had lived in the alley since 1978. 'And no fancy cafes.' Elena agreed.
She enlisted Tariq, a 41-year-old mechanic who ran a repair shop from his lounge. Together they mapped every resident, every fixture, every fault. The process was messy. Elena's dictation was imprecise; Tariq's handwriting was worse.
But the work had an unexpected effect. People began to notice small improvements. A desolate corner was decorated with floral pots. A community chest was set up for tools. The local council, initially recalcitrant, agreed to fund a pilot after a heated controversy over budget approval.
The first summer was brutal. A heatwave accelerated the crisis. The new plants—a mix of classical Mediterranean species—would not survive without constant water. Elena had to simplify her design, removing three beds and substituting drought-resistant variations.
Enthusiasm faded. Some residents alleged she was an invader, a do-gooder who would eventually devalue their homes. 'You're not from here,' said one. 'You don't understand our destiny.' Elena felt the emotional weight.
She had secured a grant of £48,000, but the money came with stringent guidelines and endless verification. The pressure would frustrate anyone.
Then came the turning point. Tariq discovered that the bulge in the wall was caused by a hidden spring—a natural mechanism that had been entombed for over a century. He and Elena enlisted a hydrogeologist. The water was clean.
The discovery prompted a revival. Residents volunteered in shifts. They used a flask to test the water, a vacuum pump to clear debris, and a small shuttle to carry soil. The work was tough, but a sense of solidarity grew. Even Mrs. Okonkwo joined, though she refused to pamper the plants. 'They must be tough,' she said. 'Like us.'
By 2022, the alley had changed. Temperatures had dropped by 3.1 degrees. The air smelled of mint and rain. A mural—a cosmic tortoise carrying a garden on its back—covered the old factory wall. The mural's creator was a 19-year-old resident named Sam, who had previously been cautioned for graffiti.
Property values rose by 18%, which worried Elena. Two families sold and left. The rest stayed. The council announced a city-wide programme, accrediting the alley as a premier example. Elena was asked to lead it. She hesitated.
Last week, I visited. Elena was in the alley, kneeling beside a bed of lavender. A girl of about seven was watching her. 'What's that?' the girl asked. 'A remedy,' Elena said. 'For what?' The girl waited. Elena looked at the mural, at the chest, at the alley that had once been moribund. 'For the feeling that nothing can be fixed,' she said. The girl considered this. Then she picked up a small trowel and began to dig.
Questions
1. What was the main reason Elena chose to start with a verbal contract instead of a legal one?
A. She wanted to avoid the strict guidelines attached to her grant. B. She prioritized listening to residents' concerns before making formal plans. C. She believed that legal contracts would frighten the residents away. D. She had not yet received approval from the local council to proceed legally.
2. How did the discovery of the hidden spring affect the residents' attitude toward the project?
A. It made them suspect that Elena was hiding the true source of the water. B. It caused some residents to demand immediate increases in property values. C. It led to a revival of volunteer work and a stronger sense of solidarity. D. It convinced Mrs. Okonkwo to take full responsibility for watering the plants.
3. What does the word 'recalcitrant' in the sentence 'The local council, initially recalcitrant, agreed to fund a pilot...' most likely mean?
A. Stubbornly resistant B. Easily persuaded C. Openly hostile D. Financially generous
4. What can be inferred about Elena's feelings when she was asked to lead the city-wide programme?
A. She was confident that she could handle the pressure and verification. B. She was eager to expand the project to other parts of the city. C. She felt uncertain because of the possible negative effects of the alley's success. D. She was worried that the programme would displace more residents.
5. Which of the following best serves as a title for the passage?
A. How a Community Garden Changed Property Values B. The Alley That Learned to Heal Itself C. The Hidden Spring of a City Alley D. A Battle Against Rising Temperatures