Question

According to a recent survey, the modem housewife spends an average of 60 hours a week on household work compared to 46 to 52 hours some 50 years ago; and a far greater part of her __ hours are spent in shopping.

In grandma’s __, the butcher, the baker and the grocer’s shop were just __. Today’s housewife goes to the __ at least twice a week-- __ the stores are so big, so crowded and so far away that each trip __ anything up to three hours.

I don’t think we have to go as far back as 50 years for confirmation of the great __ in shopping patterns. It is only 23 years __ I moved from one of the most beautiful High Streets in Buckinghamshire-a lovely wide street where almost every __ is listed as an architectural jewel. Wandering back last week I __ to think about the changes. Of some 15 shops, 12 have turned __ to antiques or something similar. So shops that had been in the High Street for generations are __ forever -- and a way of life has gone with them.

I love the __ of those old shops, the gossip and the chatter while __ to be served, the arrival of new neighbors and the births and deaths all swiftly __. We were part of a neighborhood--made so by our __ meetings--and we stayed friends.

Soon after my daughter was married she returned to live in this same High Street. “Why, Fiona,” __ the postwoman when she walked into the tiny P.O. store which __ survives, “how lovely to see you! You haven’t changed a bit.” Fiona was a __ girl when we left and the postwoman hadn’t seen her for 13 years or more.

See what I __? It could never happen in a supermarket!

1.A. busy B. spare C. happy D. extra

2.A. name B. home C. day D. way

3.A. outside the town B. in the distance C. on the way D. around the corner

4.A. countryside B. supermarket C. park D. restaurant

5.A. so B. but C. though D. because

6.A. takes B. provides C. saves D. contains

7.A. time B. fun C. idea D. change

8.A. that B. until C. since D. when

9.A. building B. garden C. neighbor D. customer

10.A. forgot B. hated C. paused D. managed

11.A. back B. over C. up D. on

12.A. lost B. ruined C. missed D. kept

13.A. business B. friendliness C. tidiness D. fairness

14.A. helping B. preparing C. waiting D. offering

15.A. reminded B. recorded C. reviewed D. reported

16.A. daily B. rare C. official D. private

17.A. asked B. said C. whispered D. announced

18.A. hardly B. also C. even D. still

19.A. little B. nice C. shy D. lovely

20.A. doubt B. guess C. mean D. remember

Answer 1