Holiday gift buying can feel a little empty, when all of those endless lists, long lines at the shopping center and dollars spent lead to a 5-miute excitement of flying wrapping paper. 1.The following tips can help make gift giving more meaningful for both the giver and the receiver.

1.Know the person

The most important thing in the exchanging of gifts is that it shows you really know the person well, and you really care about them. 2.

2.Donate in their name

3.Research suggests that happier people give more to others, and that giving more makes people happier. Moreover, charity-related happiness is highest when people give in a way that promotes social connection. So, try giving to the less fortunate in someone’s name this holiday season.

3.Give handmade goods or hand-me-downs

4.A study suggests that people feel that homemade items show more love, and love is what they want to express to the gift receiver.

Family heirlooms(传家宝)may be another good girl option. A 2009 study found that when families hand down even a very depersonalized thing—money—through the generations, the symbolic value of the cash is greater than the numerical value alone.

4.Provide chances for participation

If there’s a golden rule of girls, though, it's this:5.People who receive experiential girls, such as concert tickets or a zoo membership, feel more connected to the girl giver than people who received material girls.

A. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

B. Give experiences rather than objects.

C. New and store—bought is not always best.

D. That is always beyond their expectation.

E. That means catering to another’s pleasure.

F. Giving gifts to friends or to charity is linked to happiness.

G. Start listing every person you plan to give a holiday gift

When I was growing up,I was ashamed to be seen with my father.He was severely disabled and very_______. When we would walk together,he put his hand on my arm for_______,and people would stare.I would be afraid of the unwanted_______.If he ever noticed or was bothered,he never let_______his feelings.It was_______to coordinate(使协调)our steps,and because of that,we didn't_______much as we went along.But as we started out,he always said,“You set the _______.I will try to follow you.”Our usual walk was to or from the subway,which was_______he got to work. He went to work,despite sickness or bad weather.He almost never missed a day,and would_______it to the office even if others could not.

He never talked about himself as an object of________.Nor did he show any envy of the more fortunate or ________. What he looked for________others was a “good heart”,and if he found one,the________was good enough for him.Now that I am older,I believe that is a proper________by which to judge people,though I________don't know exactly what a “good heart” is.

He has been gone many years now,________I think of him often.I wonder if he________I was unwilling to be seen with him during our________.If he did,I am sorry for my feeling________to be with him in public and how I regretted it.I think of him when I complain about trifles(琐事),when I am envious of another's good fortune,and when I don't have a “good heart”.

At such times I put my hand on his arm to________my balance,and say,“You set the pace,and I will try to follow you.”

1.A. strong B. energetic C. short D. handsome

2.A. balance B. strength C. comfort D. courage

3.A. care B. attention C. situation D. friendship

4.A. in B. down C. off D. out

5.A. easy B. difficult C. possible D. necessary

6.A. see B. tell C. say D. give

7.A. rule B. time C. step D. pace

8.A. how B. why C. when D. where

9.A. get B. make C. take D. walk

10.A. joy B. faith C. belief D. pity

11.A. poor B. painful C. able D. hardworking

12.A. on B. in C. at D. with

13.A. owner B. keeper C. winner D. other

14.A. method B. value C. standard D. level

15.A. already B. also C. ever D. still

16.A. so B. but C. now D. then

17.A. sensed B. smelled C. agreed D. recognized

18.A. walks B. talks C. stays D. visits

19.A. afraid B. proud C. ashamed D. disappointed

20.A. find B. refill C. have D. regain

When Pat Jones finished college,she decided to travel around the world and see as many foreign places as she could _____ she was young.Pat wanted to visit Latin America _____,so she got a job _____ an English teacher in a school in Bolivia.Pat spoke a little Spanish,_____ she was able to communicate with her students even when they didn’t _____ much English.

A sentence she had read somewhere stuck in her mind;if you dream _____ a foreign language,you have really mastered(掌握)it.Pat repeated this sentence to her students and _____ that some day she would dream in Spanish and they would dream in _____.

One day,one of her _____ students came up and explained in Spanish that he had not done his homework.He had ______ early and had slept ______.

“What does this have to do with your ______?”Pat asked.

“I dreamed all night,Miss Jones.And my dream was in English.”

“In English?”Pat was very ______,since he was such a bad student.She was ______ secretly jealous(嫉妒的).Her ______ was still not in Spanish.But she encouraged(鼓励)her young student.“Well,______me about your dream.”

“All the people in the dream ______ English.”the student said.“And all the signs were in English.All the newspapers and magazines and all the TV programs were in English.”

“But that’s ______,”said Pat.“What did all the people say to you?”

“I’m sorry,Miss Jones.That’s ______ I slept so badly.I didn’t ______ a word they said.It was a nightmare(噩梦)!”

1.A. because B. while C. if D. since

2.A. first B. at first C. last D. at last

3.A. for B. of C. as D. like

4.A. and B. but C. so D. yet

5.A. say B. know C. read D. write

6.A. in B. about C. of D. for

7.A. thought B. realized C. hoped D. wanted

8.A. English B. Spanish C. Russian D. German

9.A. bright B. excellent C. best D. worst

10.A. got up B. gone to bed C. fallen asleep D. woken up

11.A. well B. soundly C. badly D. heavily

12.A. English B. language C. dream D. homework

13.A. surprised B. worried C. pleased D. excited

14.A. yet B. seldom C. also D. still

15.A. study B. class C. word D. dream

16.A. answer B. write C. tell D. ask

17.A. read B. liked C. spoke D. learned

18.A. wonderful B. terrible C. funny D. strange

19.A. how B. why C. when D. because

20.A. hear B. understand C. know D. remember

How do you know if the perfect house you have found is in the perfect neighborhood?When driving by on a sunny Sunday afternoon,you cannot see the true nature of the area.All too often people will fall in love with a house without taking the nearby area into consideration.This can lead to serious problems and cause you to regret the decision to buy.

Before buying a house it is wise to do some research on the area it is located in.Do you know what the crime rate is for the area?How are the schools?What is the average age of your neighbors?Is there a “party house” next door?Does the quiet street turn into a busy shortcut during the rush hour?Is there a known drug house?These things should all be considered before a final decision is made.

Making several visits to the house at various times and on different days can help you know a lot about the area.Sit in front of the house with your windows rolled down and just listen to the activity,take a walk around the block and observe the sights,sounds,and smells.Be sure to go to judge how loud things can get on a weekend evening.

You will also need to find out if the neighborhood is improving or on the decline (下降).Are stores and services closing or have new businesses been opening up?These are things that will affect the resale value of your house.Also check with local governments to discover if any developments are planned for the area.

The best advice is not to let your heart rule your head.Do your homework, and make sure your dream house is in your dream neighborhood.

Theme

Do your homework,and ensure your 1. neighborhood.

Problems

·When driving by on a sunny Sunday afternoon, you cannot see the true nature of the area.

·People don’t 2. the nearby area, which can 3. serious problems and they will regret having 4. to buy the house.

Ways to help you buy a desirable house

Researching the area

Before making a final decision, you should consider such factors as whether the crime rate is high, and what the ages on 5. of the neighborhood are.

6. the house

7. down the windows, listen to the activity, walk around the block, and so on.

·Make a 8. on how loud things can get on a weekend evening.

Finding out if the neighborhood is improving or declining

·Many things will have an 9. on the resale value of your house.

Check whether local governments have plans to 10. the area.

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