Two years ago ,Shirley, wife, mother and doctor, found herself worn out. She got up earlier, and went to bed later, just to meet everyday 36 , but lacked 37 for the things that mattered most She and her husband, a lawyer, began searching for ways to 38 their lives. “We had to decide what was really 39 ” says Shirley. They knew they wanted more time to 40 with their three- year -old son, to exercise and eat right, and to develop friendship.
So the couple chose to live more simply，shopping with care for necessities and enjoying inexpensive 41 such as reading, cooking and going to the park.
Then Shirley 42 her job and began working part time. She printed business cards that 43
“At your service, buy 44 a little time” and helped clients (客户）with personal tasks like shopping, paying bills and 45 parties. “I still work hard, but being able to control my hours makes a 46 ，” she says，“ I can spare time to take my son to the 47 or play basketball with him. My stress and headaches are 48 ’’
Shirley and her husband are 49 alone in wanting to 50 and live a satisfying Life. A survey found that 54 percent of parents say they have little time with their children, and 47 percent of married couples 51 that they lack time together. 52 does the time go?
For most people， 53 and muting (通勤)take up most of the day. Simplifying means being 54 of the ways we use money, time and energy, and finding ways to make things easier. Then we have to gain 55 over Life and have time for the pleasures.
【小题1】A．activitiesB．servicesC．demandsD．exercises【小题2】A. time B. strength C. money D, ability
【小题3】A．leadB．simplifyC．adaptD．consider【小题4】A_ fortable B. interesting C. important D. hard
【小题5】A．studyB．helpC．meetD．play【小题6】A．pleasuresB．placesC．tasksD．goods【小题7】A．foundB．receivedC．tookD．quit【小题8】A．readB．wroteC．showedD．told【小题9】A_ us B. yourself C. children D herself
【小题10】A. attending B. organizing C. having D going
【小题11】A．lifeB．resultC．balanceD．difference【小题12】A．officeB．hospitalC．parkD．school【小题13】A．goneB．betterC．strongD．obvious【小题14】A．a bitB．far fromC．much tooD．more than【小题15】A．keep paceB．settle downC．take offD．slow down【小题16】A. expect B. doubt C. plain D, imagine
【小题17】A．HowB．WhenC．WhereD．Why【小题18】A. traveling B. reading C. shopping D, working
【小题19】A．awareB．afraidC．proudD．sure【小题20】A．valueB．controlC．successD．experienceC
网友回答
(答案→)C
解析：本文通过一对夫妻追求慢生活的故事告诉我们生活中有比工作更重要的事情，让我们多花点时间来陪自己的孩子和家人，这才是生活的真谛。
【小题1】C 名词辨析。A活动B服务C要求D练习；她起早贪黑就是为了满足日常的生活需要。
【小题2】A 名词辨析。A时间B力气C钱D能力；他们缺少时间去做真正重要的事情。
【小题3】B 动词辨析。A带领B简化C适应D考虑；他们寻找方法来简化他们的生活。
【小题4】C 形容词辨析。我们不得不做出决定：生活中什么才是最重要的？
【小题5】D 动词辨析。A学习B帮助C遇见D玩；固定搭配paly with sb与某人玩耍。
【小题6】A 名词辨析。A快乐B地方C任务D货物；他们喜欢一些很简单的快乐的事情如读书等。
【小题7】D 动词辨析。A发现B收到C带走D放弃；指她放弃了原来的工作而开始做兼职工作。
【小题8】A 动词用法。Read可以表示通知，布告或者卡片上写着…；相当于say。
【小题9】 B 词义辨析。Yourself你自己；乐意为你服务，给你节省一点时间。Save yourself…
【小题10】B 动词辨析。A参加B组织C有D去；她的兼职工作中就包括组织聚会。
【小题11】D 固定搭配。Make a difference起作用；那个控制自己的时间会起很大的作用。
【小题12】C 上下文串联。根据41空后的going to the park说明可知是陪儿子去公园玩耍。
【小题13】A 形容词辨析。指作者以前很多的毛病都没有了。Gone 消失，不见了。
【小题14】B 短语辨析。A一点；B一点也不；C…得多；D超过；她和她的丈夫在这方面一点也不孤单。很多人都和他们一样抱怨时间太少。
【小题15】D 短语辨析。A保持节奏B定居C起飞D减慢速度；和放慢生活的节奏方面，她和她的丈夫并不孤单，很多人和他们一样都希望能让自己慢一点。
【小题16】C 动词辨析。A期待B怀疑C抱怨D想象；很多人都抱怨他们在一起的时间太少了。
【小题17】C 句意分析。他们想知道：时间都到哪里去了？
【小题18】D 句意分析。对于大部分的人来说，工作占据了大部分的时间。
【小题19】A 固定搭配。Be aware of…意识到…；简单化就意味着注意自己使用时间，花钱的方式。
【小题20】B 名词辨析。A价值观B控制C成功D经验；我们不得不控制住我们的生活，让自己有时间去做一些让自己感觉快乐的事情。