A
Last year, I lived in Chile（智利） for half a year. I lived with a Chilean family and had the responsibilities（责任） of any Chilean teenager. I had good days and bad days I didn’t understand.
Chuquicamata, my host community（社区）, is a mining camp. When I arrived there, I was scared. It was so different from what I was used to. There were lots of dogs on the streets, and there was no downtown, few smoothly paved streets, and little to do for entertainment（娱乐）. Rain was not seen very often, earthquakes and windstorms were frequent.
I had studied Spanish for two and a half years and was always one of the best students in my class. But in my first week in Chile I was only able to communicate and needed one person to whom I could explain my shock. I couldn’t speak the thoughts in my head and there were so many.
Most exchange students experience this like me. Culture shock presents itself in everything from increased aggression towards the people to lack of appetite (食欲). I was required to overcome all difficulties.
As time passed, everything changed. I began to forget the words in English and to dream in Spanish and love Chilean food. I got used to not depending on expensive things for fun. Fun in Chuquicamata was being with people. And I took math, physics, chemistry, biology, Spanish, art, and philosophy.
But the sacrifices（牺牲，奉献） were nothing compared to the gain. I learned how to accept and to succeed in another culture. I now have a deeper understanding of both myself and others.
21. The author came to Chile last year with the purpose of ____.
A. paying a visit to Chile as a tourist
B. experiencing Chilean life as a teacher
C. studying Chilean culture as a college student
D. studying knowledge as an exchange student
22. On arriving in Chile, why did the author feel frightened?
A. Because he did not know how to get along with the local people.
B. Because it was full of dangers like earthquakes and windstorms.
C. Because the living conditions were worse than what he was used to.
D. Because it was not convenient for him to shop there.
23. In the first week in Chile, the author ______.
A. was not used to eating Chilean food
B. had some friends to have a chat with
C. couldn’t communicate with people
D. couldn’t express his thoughts in English
24. What did the author most probably think of his life in Chile?
A. Wonderful and worthwhile.
B. Difficult but meaningful.
C. Difficult and meaningless.
D. Boring and disappointing.
