Dear editor,

　　One day last month after I received my salary, I went shopping with my little son. 1 in the crowded store, I had my wallet stolen. And my whole salary was 2 with it.

　　I was so angry that I almost lost 3 of myself. What 4 I do? We were not very rich. The money was really not a 5 sum 6 my family, it would affect our life greatly. How could I tell my wife?

　　I felt very sad and even 7 for losing the money when I got back home. To make 8 for my unforgivable mistake, I 9 all my strength to give our house a thorough cleaning and then prepared a wonderful meal and cooked a special dish my wife loved to please her.

　　When she came home, I 10 a smile to 11 her. She was surprised to see the neat house and delicious meat. We sat 12 the table and began to eat. I told my story 13 . She did not respond. It was as if she had not heard my words.

　　“I’ve lost my salary,”I murmured to her again.

　　“I 14 .”She did not shout at me as I bad expected. She did not lose her 15 . 16 I was afraid she was trying hard to 17 her anger.

　　A moment later, my wife was still silent and seemed to be 18 her favourite dish At last I could not help asking,“I’ve lost the money. Why not shout at me?”

　　She raised her eyes, looking at me and 19 ,“Oh, on the contrary, I’m thinking about 20 to comfort you. It’s the thief who is to blame.”

　A few months ago, it wasn't unusual for 47-year-old Carla Toebe to spend 15 hours per day online. She'd wake up early, turn on her laptop and chat on Internet dating sites and instant-messaging programs – leaving her bed for only brief breaks. Her household bills piled up, along with the dishes and dirty laundry, but it took constant complaints from her four daughters before she realized she had a problem.
　　"I was starting to feel like my whole world was falling apart – kind of slipping into a depression," said Carla. "I knew that if I didn't get off the dating sites, I'd just keep going," detaching (使脱离) herself further from the outside world.
　　Toebe's conclusion: She felt like she was "addicted" to the Internet. She's not alone.
　　Concern about excessive Internet use isn't new. As far back as 1995, articles in medical journals and the establishment of a Pennsylvania treatment center for overusers aroused interest in the subject. But as reliance on the Web grows, there are signs that the question is getting more serious attention: Last month, a study published in CNS Spectrums claimed to be the first large-scale look at Internet overuse. The American Psychiatric Association may also consider listing Internet addiction in the next edition. And scores of online discussion boards have popped up, on which people discuss negative experiences tied to too much time on the Web.
The new CNS Spectrums study was based on results of a nationwide telephone survey of more than 2,500 adults. Like the latest survey, this one was conducted by Stanford University researchers. About 6% of respondents reported that "their relationships suffered because of excessive Internet use." About 9% attempted to conceal "nonessential Internet use," and nearly 4% reported feeling " still occupied by the Internet when offline."
　　"The Internet problem is still in its early stage," said Maressa Orzack, a Harvard University professor. No single online activity is to blame for excessive use, he said. "They're online in chat rooms, checking e-mail, or writing blogs. The problem is not limited to porn (色情) or gambling websites.”
　　“Excessive Internet use should be defined not by the number of hours spent online but in terms of losses.”said Maressa Orzack. "If it's a loss where you're not getting to work, and family relationships are breaking down as a result, then it's too much."
　　Since the early 1990s, several clinics have been established in the U. S. to treat heavy Internet users. They include the Center for Internet Addiction Recovery and the Center for Internet Behavior.
　　The website for Orzack's center lists the following among the psychological symptoms of computer addiction:
　　● Having a sense of happiness or excitement while at the computer.
　　● Longing for more and more time at the computer.
　　● Neglect of family and friends.
　　● Feeling empty, depremssed or irritable when not at the computer.
　　● Lying to employers and family about activities.
　　● Inability to stop the activity.
　　● Problems with school or job.
　　Physical symptoms listed include dry eyes, backaches, skipping meals, poor personal hygiene (卫生) and sleep disturbances.
　　“People who struggle with Internet overuse maybe depressed or have other mood disorders.” Orzack said. When she discusses Internet habits with her patients, they often report that being online offers a "sense of belonging, and escape, excitement and fun," she said. “Some people say relief…because they find themselves so relaxed.”
　　Some parts of the Internet seem to draw people in more than others. Internet gamers spend countless hours competing in games against people from all over the world. One such game, called World of Warcraft, is cited on many sites by posters complaining of a "gaming addiction."
　　Andrew Heidrich, an education network administrator from Sacramento, plays World of Warcraft for about two to four hours every other night, but that's nothing compared with the 40 to 60 hours a week he spent playing online games when he was in college. He cut back only after a full-scale family intervention (干预), in which relatives told him he'd gained weight.
　　“There's this whole culture of competition that sucks people in with online gaming, ”said Heidrich, now a father of two. People do it at the expense of everything that was a constant in their lives." Heidrich now visits websites that discuss gaming addiction regularly “to remind myself to keep my love for online games in check”.
　　Toebe also regularly visits a site where posters discuss Internet overuse. In August, when she first realized she had a problem, she posted a message on a Yahoo Internet addiction group with the subject line:“I have an Internet Addiction.”
　　“I'm self-employed and need the Internet for my work, but I'm failing to accomplish my work, to take care of my home, to give attention to my children,”she wrote in a message sent to the group. “I have no money or insurance to get professional help; I can't even pay my loan and face losing everything.”
　　Since then, Toebe said, she has kept her promise to herself to cut back on her Internet use. "I have a boyfriend now, and I'm not interested in online dating," she said by phone last week. "It's a lot better now."
【小题1】 What eventually made Carla Toebe realize she was spending too much time on the Internet?

短文改错

完形填空

　　It had been a tiring day and I was looking forward to a quiet evening. My 1 would not be back until late and I had 2 to sit comfortably(舒适地)in a chair in the 3 room and read a good book. I put the children to bed 4 and prepared a sandwich and a cup of coffee for myself. Soon I was seated comfortably with my 5 in front of me and the sandwich and the cup of coffee on a small table beside me.

　　I was just beginning to 6 when the telephone rang. I put down my book and hurried to 7 it. By the time I got back to the living room, my coffee was 8 . I ate the sandwich and began 9 cold coffee with the book 10 open to the first page. 11 there was a loud knock at the front 12 . It surprised me so much that I spilled(洒)some coffee on my skirt. The man at the door was looking 13 a certain address and 14 me to give him some information. It 15 me a long time to explain something to him. After that, I sat down again and 16 to read a whole page without further interruption(打扰)—until the baby woke up. He started 17 at the top of his voice, 18 I run upstairs quickly. He was still awake(醒着的)at 11 o'clock when my husband came back. I really wanted to throw something 19 him when he asked me if I had spent a 20 evening!

1．

[　　]

2．

[　　]

3．

[　　]

4．

[　　]

5．

[　　]

6．

[　　]

7．

[　　]

8．

[　　]

9．

[　　]

10．

[　　]

11．

[　　]

12．

[　　]

13．

[　　]

14．

[　　]

15．

[　　]

16．

[　　]

17．

[　　]

18．

[　　]

19．

[　　]

20．

[　　]