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　　Now, perhaps, more than ever before, people are wondering what life is all about, and what it is for．Seeking material success is beginning to 　　1　　 a large number of people around the world．They feel that the longtime work culture to make more money to buy more things is 　　2　　 up their lives, leaving them very little 　　3　　 or energy for family or hobbies．Many are turning to 　　4　　 ways of living and downshifting(过田园式生活)is one of them．

　　Six percent of the workers in Britain took the decision to 　　5　　 last year．One couple who downshifted are Daniel and Liz．They 　　6　　 to work in central London．He was a newspaper reporter and she worked for an international bank．They 　　7　　 go to work by train every day from their large house in the suburbs, 　　8　　 their two children with a nanny(保姆)．Nearly twice a month Daniel had to 　　9　　 to New York for meetings．They both earned a large amount of money 　　10　　 began to feel that life was passing them by．

　　Nowadays, they run a 　　11　　 in the mountains of Wales, “I always wanted to have one here,” says Daniel, “and we took almost a year to 　　12　　 the decision to downshift．It’s taken some time getting used to, but it’s been 　　13　　 it．We have to think 　　14　　 now about spending money on car repairs and we no longer have any 　　15　　．However, I think it’s make us stronger as a family, and the children are a lot 　　16　　．”

　　Liz, however, is not quite sure．“I used to enjoy my job, 　　17　　 it was hard work and long hours．I’m not really a country girl, but I suppose I’m 　　18　　 getting used to looking after the animals．One thing I do 　　19　　, though, is being able to see more of my children．My advice for other people wanting to do the 　　20　　 is not to think about it too much or you might not do it at all．”

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　　I was six when I joined my father and two elder brothers at sunrise in the fields of Eufaula, Okla．　　1　　 the time I was eight, I was helping Dad fix up old furniture．He gave me a cent for every nail I 　　2　　 out of old boards．

　　I got my first 　　3　　 job, at JM’s Restaurant in town, when I was 12．My main responsibilities(职责)were 　　4　　 tables and washing dishes, 　　5　　 sometimes I helped cook．

　　Every day after school I would 　　6　　 to JM’s and work until ten．Even on Saturdays I 　　7　　 from two until eleven．At that age it was difficult going to work and 　　8　　 my friends run off to swim or play．I didn’t necessarily like work, but I loved what working 　　9　　 me to have．Because of my 　　10　　 I was always the one buying when my friends and I went to the local Tastee Freez．This made me 　　11　　．

　　Words that I was trust-worthy and hard-working 　　12　　 around town．A local clothing store offered me credit(赊账)　　13　　 I was only in seventh grade．I immediately 　　14　　 a ＄68 sports coat and a ＄22 pair of shoes．I was 　　15　　 only 65 cents an hour, and I already owed the storekeeper ＄90!So I learned 　　16　　 the danger of easy credit．I paid it 　　17　　 as soon as I could．

　　My first job taught me self-control, responsibility and brought me a 　　18　　 of personal satisfaction few of my friends had experienced．As my father, 　　19　　 worked three jobs once told me, “If you 　　20　　 sacrifice(奉献)and responsibility, there are not many things in life you can’t have．” How right he was．