四分之一美国人靠网络挣钱
About one in four Americans made money over the last 12 months by using their personal computers or other devices(设备) connected(连接) to the Internet. The Pew Research Center found that people are using the Internet to find extra(额外的) work. They go online to sell things such as used books and furniture or they offer to provide services such as babysitting, house cleaning or computer repairs.
About two percent of Americans made money from ride-sharing companies such as Uber and Lyft. When drivers are ready to pick up passengers, they use their ride-share company’s app. The app lets them know when passengers are ready to be picked up and how to reach them.
Some people make their homes, apartments, or rooms inside their homes, available for money to people visiting their cities. A popular website(网站) people use to make rooms available is www.airbnb.com.
Other people use apps on their computer devices that allow people to pay money to them to babysit, walk dogs or do repair or clean-up work.
Opinions about online working are different. Only 16 percent believe doing online work is necessary. But 37 percent says extra money made from online jobs makes their life easier. 68 percent say it is good for people who want flexibility in work, because they can plan their working hours according to their own needs.
1.What do some Americans do to make money through the Internet?
A Sell new books.
B Buy furniture.
C Provide services.
D Build houses.
解析：选C。C 细节理解题。根据第一段最后一句可知，一些美国人通过在网上卖旧书、旧家具以及提供服务来赚外快，故选 C。
2.Uber helps drivers know things EXCEPT _________.
A the time to pick up passengers
B the way to get to passengers
C guides to pay drivers
D passengers’ locations
解析：选C。C 细节理解题。根据第二段“when passengers are ready to be picked up”和“how to reach them”可知司机可以知道的是接送乘客的时间、地点和路线，未提及付费方面的信息，故选 C。
3.People can visit the website www.airbnb.com. _________.
A to book tickets
B to order food
C to buy something
D to rent rooms
解析：选D。D 细节理解题。根据第三段“A popular website(网 站 ) people use to make rooms available is www.airbnb.com.”可知人们可以用这个网站来使房间可供使用，即客人可以“租用”房间，故选 D。
4.The underlined word “flexibility” probably means _________in Chinese.
A 特殊性
B 灵活性
C 抗压性
D 柔韧性
解析：选B。B 词义猜测题。根据最后一段“because they can plan their working hours according to their own needs”可知flexibility意味着人们可以按照他们自己的需求来安排工作时间，也就是具有灵活性。故选 B。
5.What does the passage mainly talk about?
A How to rent rooms online.
B Uber and Lyft in America.
C Some Americans make money online.
D The Internet and part-time jobs.
解析：选C。C 主旨大意题。根据全文内容可知，文章围绕一些美国人靠网络赚钱的话题展开，故选 C。