As you move around your home, take a good look at the things you have. It is likely that your living room will have a television set and a video, and your kitchen a washing machine and a microwave oven. Your bedroom drawers will be filled with almost three times as many clothes as you need. You almost certainly own a car and possibly a home computer, holiday abroad at least once a year and eat out at least once a week.

         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 trouble large numbers of people around the world. They feel that the long hours work culture to make more money is eating up their lives, leaving them very little time or energy for family or pastimes. Many are turning to other ways of living and downshifting is one of them. Six percent of workers in Britain took the decision to downshift last year.

         One couple who downshifted is Daniel and Liz. They used to work in central London. He was a newspaper reporter and she used to work for an international bank. They would go to work by train every day from their large house in the suburbs, leaving their two children with a nanny. Most evenings Daniel wouldn’t get home until eight or nine o’clock and nearly twice a month he would have to fly to New York for meetings. They both earned a large amount of money but began to feel that life was passing them by.

　　Nowadays, they run a farm in the mountains of Wales. “I always wanted to have a farm then,” says Daniel, “and we took almost a year to make the decision to downshift. It’s taken some getting used to, but it’s been worth it. We have to think twice now about spending money on car repairs and we no longer have any holidays. However, I think it’s made us stronger as a family, and the children are a lot happier.

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

1.The passage tells us that            .

A．people seldom work long hours to make money

B．people hardly buy more things than necessary

C．people are sure everything they own is in the right place

D．people realize there is more to life than just making money

2.When Daniel was a reporter he ___.

A．lived in central London       B．disliked his job

C．missed his children     D．was well paid

3.Daniel and Liz both agree that the move to the farm ____.

A．was easy to organize B．has improved family life

C．was extremely expensive   D．has been a total success

4.What does the author mean by saying"the long hours work culture to make more money is eating up their lives" in the second paragraph ?

A．People work long hours to earn their living.

B．To make more money through hard work is the aim of people's life.

C．Long hours of hard work occupy too much of people's life.

D．People spent too much time and money eating meals.

5.The underlined word "downshifting" in the second paragraph refers to _________.

A．repairing your car by yourself

B．spending money carefully

C．moving out to the countryside to live a simpler and better life

D．living in a big house in the suburbs and dining out once a week

O．Henry Museum

Hours                    Location

   Wednesday - Sunday       409 East Fifth Street

  Noon   5:00 p．m．      Austin, Texas 78701

   Free Admission            （512） 472-1903

The aim of the O． Henry Museum is to collect, preserve, and interpret artifacts （手工艺品） and       archival（档案）materials relative to the author, for literary, educational, and historical purposes     that are accessible to the public． The museum was established in 1934, under the authority of   the City of Austin, and is both a National Register Property and a National Literary Landmark．

The O． Henry Museum is open Wednesday through Sunday, noon to 5:00 p．m． Admission is free． Tours are also available for free． Please contact the museum at least one week in advance to schedule a tour for a group of 10 or more． Metered parking is available on the street in front of the museum． The museum's gift shop has for sale t-shirts, coffee mugs. DVDs, and an array of books by and about O． Henry．

GROUP TOURS

We ask for one week advance notice of groups larger than 10 people, including schools, church groups, and organizations．

DONATIONS

 Donations greatly benefit the museum and its programs． Inquire about contributing．

VOLUNTEER

Contact us about volunteering at the museum． We are currently in need of a gardener and a volunteer docent （讲解员） ．

STAFF

Valerie Bennett, Curator

valerie．bennett@ci．austin．tx．us

Michael Hoinski, Culture & Arts Education Specialist

michael．hoinski@ci．austin．tx．us

Elizabeth Taylor, Docent

64． Which of the following is TRUE?

       A． Before you enter the museum, you should first buy a ticket

       B． Your working voluntarily in the museum is appreciated.

       C． You can drink coffee in the museum's gift shop．

       D． You can have a tour in the museum the whole day．

65． If a school teacher plans to take her class to visit the museum.         .

       A． her students should donate some money to the museum

       B． she should prepare well to be her students' guide

       C． they must go there on a workday

       D． her plan should be scheduled

66． What can we know about the museum from the text?

       A． It is owned by O． Henry．

       B． It is an art museum．

       C． It belongs to a famous author.

       D． It is in memory of O． Henry.

       As you move around your home, take a good look at the things you have. It is likely that your living room will have a television set and a video, and your kitchen a washing machine and a microwave oven. Your bedroom drawers will be filled with almost three times as many clothes as you need. You almost certainly own a car and possibly a home computer, holiday abroad at least once a year and eat out at least once a week.

       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 trouble large numbers of people around the world. They feel that the long hours work culture to make more money is eating up their lives, leaving them very little time or energy for family or pastimes. Many are turning to other ways of living and downshifting is one of them. Six percent of workers in Britain took the decision to downshift last year.

       One couple who downshifted is Daniel and Liz. They used to work in central London. He was a newspaper reporter and she used to work for an international bank. They would go to work by train every day from their large house in the suburbs, leaving their two children with a nanny. Most evenings Daniel wouldn’t get home until eight or nine o’clock and nearly twice a month he would have to fly to New York for meetings. They both earned a large amount of money but began to feel that life was passing them by.

　　Nowadays, they run a farm in the mountains of Wales. “I always wanted to have a farm then,” says Daniel, “and we took almost a year to make the decision to downshift. It’s taken some getting used to, but it’s been worth it. We have to think twice now about spending money on car repairs and we no longer have any holidays. However, I think it’s made us stronger as a family, and the children are a lot happier.

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

71．The passage tells us that            .

       A．people seldom work long hours to make money

       B．people hardly buy more things than necessary

       C．people are sure everything they own is in the right place

       D．people realize there is more to life than just making money

72．When Daniel was a reporter he ___.

　　A．lived in central London                        B．disliked his job

　　C．missed his children                              D．was well paid

73．Daniel and Liz both agree that the move to the farm ____.

　　A．was easy to organize                           B．has improved family life

　    C．was extremely expensive                     D．has been a total success

74．What does the author mean by saying“the long hours work culture to make more money is eating up their lives” in the second paragraph ?

       A．People work long hours to earn their living.

       B．To make more money through hard work is the aim of people’s life.

       C．Long hours of hard work occupy too much of people’s life.

       D．People spent too much time and money eating meals.

75．The underlined word “downshifting” in the second paragraph refers to _________.

　　A．repairing your car by yourself

　　B．spending money carefully

　　C．moving out to the countryside to live a simpler and better life

　　D．living in a big house in the suburbs and dining out once a week