How to Make a Budget

Most likely, you aren’t the family breadwinner. But doing a small job or getting a weekly allowance (零花钱) would put some money in your pocket. For kids and grown-ups alike, money is easy to spend. If you aren’t careful, it can be gone in no time.

Being responsible with your money is an important skill to learn ----and the sooner you start the better. Whether you are tracking your spending or saving for something special, creating a budget can help you deal with your expenses and plan for the future. All you need are paper and a pencil --- and some self-control.

First, take a look at our sample monthly budget. Then, use a separate sheet of paper to plan your own. In the first two columns (栏), list your sources (来源) of income and how much you expect to earn from them. In the third and fourth columns, list what you expect to spend your money on and the amount.

The left-hand total should be more than or equal to the right-hand total. If it is, you have an effective budget.

Sample Monthly Budget

Budgets are not complex, but sticking to them can be tough. When planning your budget, be

realistic about your expenses. If you know that you drop $18 at a movie, don’t write $12 in

that space simply because you wish you were spending less

If you are eyeing a big purchase, such as a $150 skateboard, spend less and save more until you have the total amount. No matter how attractive it may be, avoid spending your savings. One day, you will thank yourself!

Who is the passage written for?w

   A. Children.      B. Parents.        C. Breadwinners.       D. Bank managers.

The purpose of making a budget is to help people _________.

   A. learn to be realistic             B. increase their saving

   C. manage their money well        D. test their power-control

What should people do when planning a budget?w

   A. Fill in the expenses as they really are.

   B. Avoid spending money on expensive things.

   C. Set aside a fixed amount of money as savings.

   D. List income and expenses on two pieces of paper.

Which of the following budgets is effective?

   A.

B.

C.

D.

根据所给中文或首字母写出相应单词的正确形式（每格一词）。

76. In case of __________（紧急情况）, to stay calm is the most important thing.

77.   In order to make ____________ (准备) for the coming competition, he devotes his spare time to reading every day.  

78.   The exam turned out to be quite __________（有挑战的）for all the students, including Tom, who always came out first in exams.

79.   Now that you are a college student, you should learn to be              （独立的）of your parents’ help.

80.   I was extremely __________（尴尬的）about his comments on my new hairstyle, not knowing what to say.

81.   The pills the doctor gave me aren’t w__________. I still have a headache and a temperature after taking them for two days.

82.   My little brother was s__________ from an upset stomach because of eating something that was not clean.

83.   Because of the misunderstanding, I feel she is very d__________ with me.

84.   They are having a heated a____________ over whether smoking is bad for the health.

85.   According to the school rules students are f____________ to use mobile phones at school. 

根据所给中文或首字母写出相应单词的正确形式（每格一词）。

76. In case of __________（紧急情况）, to stay calm is the most important thing.

77.   In order to make ____________ (准备) for the coming competition, he devotes his spare time to reading every day.  

78.   The exam turned out to be quite __________（有挑战的）for all the students, including Tom, who always came out first in exams.

79.   Now that you are a college student, you should learn to be              （独立的）of your parents’ help.

80.   I was extremely __________（尴尬的）about his comments on my new hairstyle, not knowing what to say.

81.   The pills the doctor gave me aren’t w__________. I still have a headache and a temperature after taking them for two days.

82.   My little brother was s__________ from an upset stomach because of eating something that was not clean.

83.   Because of the misunderstanding, I feel she is very d__________ with me.

84.   They are having a heated a____________ over whether smoking is bad for the health.

85.   According to the school rules students are f____________ to use mobile phones at school. 

It doesn't come as a surprise to you to realize that it makes no difference what you read or study if you can't remember it．You just waste your valuable time． 1   One dependable aid that does help you remember what you study is to have a specific purpose or reason for reading．

    Why does a clerk in a store go away when your reply to her offer to help is, "No, thank you．I'm just looking．"? Both you and she know that if you aren't sure what you want, you are not likely to find it．But suppose you say instead, "Yes, thank you．I want a pair of sun glasses．" She says, "Right this way, please．"

    __2_ If you choose a book, "just looking" for nothing in particular, you are likely to get just that—nothing．But if you do know what you want, you are almost sure to get it．Your reasons will vary; they will include reading or studying "to find out more about", "to understand the reasons for" and "to find out how"．

    __3__ Before you start to study, you say to yourself something like this, "I want to know why Stephen Vincent Benet happened to write about America"．Because you know why you are reading or studying, you relate the information to your purpose and remember it better．

    4  At least two important processes go on at the same time．As you read, you take in ideas rapidly and accurately．But at the same time you express your own ideas to yourself as you react to what you read．You have a kind of mental conversation with the author．

    This additional process of thinking about what you read includes evaluating it, relating it to what you already know, and using it for your own purposes．__5__ One part of critical reading, as you have discovered, is distinguishing between facts and opinions．Facts can be checked by evidence, Opinions are one's own personal reactions．Another part of critical reading is judging sources．Still another part is drawing accurate inferences．

    A．Maybe you have already discovered some clever ways to keep yourself from forgetting．

    B．It is important for students to have a positive attitude to their study．

    C．You remember better when you know what you' re reading．

    D．In other words, a good reader is a critical reader．

    E．It’s quite the same with your studying．

    F．Reading is not one single activity．

    G．This is the way it works．