You may never know how valuable something is when it can not be fixed. And it could be a lovely moment you lose forever.

I grew up with very practical parents. My mother washed aluminum foil (铝箔纸) after she cooked in it, then reused it. She was the recycle queen, before they had a name for it.

My father was happier getting old shoes fixed than buying new ones. Their marriage was good. Their dreams focused. Their best friends lived so near. I can see them now, Dad in trousers, T-shirt and a hat and Mum in a house dress, lawn mower (割草机) in one hand, dishtowel in the other.

It was the time for fixing things — a curtain rod (杆), the kitchen radio, the oven door, the hem (褶边) in a dress — things we kept.

It was a way of life, and sometimes it made me crazy. I wanted just once to be wasteful. Waste somewhat meant affluence (富裕). Throwing things away meant you knew there would always be more.

But then my mother died, and on that clear summer’s night, in the warmth of the hospital room, I was struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn’t any more.

Sometimes what we care about most gets all used up and goes away… never to return. So, while we have it, it’s best we love it, care for it, fix it when it’s broken, and heal it when it’s sick.

This is true for marriage, old cars and children with bad report cards, dogs with bad hips, aging parents and grandparents. We keep them because they are worth it, because we are worth it.

1.The writer really wanted to tell us .

A. her mum was the recycle queen.

B. her dad liked fixing old shoes.

C. throwing things meant there would be more

D. we should cherish (珍惜) what we care about while we have it

2.What does the underlined word “struck” mean?

A. knocked B. touched C. stuck D. caught

3.Which of the following is NOT mentioned according to the passage?

A. Fixing things is a way of life.

B. Waste somewhat meant affluence.

C. The writer’s family was very poor.

D. The writer’s parents were practical.

More and more British people are deciding not to eat meat and animal products. As a result, vegetarianism(素食主义) is increasing in the UK. According to the Vegetarian Society, 2000 people are giving up meat and “going veggie(素食)” in Britain every week. There’s even a National Vegetarian Week organized every year to encourage people to try a meat-free lifestyle.

Vegetarians and vegans

Vegetarians are people who don’t eat or use any animal products. They are becoming more and more common in the UK culture. A recent survey showed that 3 million people (5.7 percent of the country’s population) were vegetarians.

A healthy diet

So why are British people cutting out meat? Many are unhappy about the poor treatment of animals and the effects of meat and fish production on the environment. Worries about food safety, for example mad cow disease, also play a part. Others choose to change their eating habits to get healthier. According to the Vegetarian Society, a meat-free diet could help prevent the certain cancers, as well as heart disease and high blood pressure(压力).

Organic(有机的) farming

Another rising trend appears in the UK’s food production. They want their food to be organically produced. Organic farmers use very few or no chemicals. Organic meat is produced without the use of drugs. Organically farmed animals also have more living space and more good food. According to the Soil Association, three out of every four UK families now buy some type of organic food.

Vegetarianism is becoming 1. in the UK

Vegetarianism is increasing in the UK 2. more and more British people are choosing to live a meat-free style.

Vegetarians and vegans

It is reported that the 3. of vegetarians in the UK is about 3 million .

A healthy diet

Some people are worried about food safety. They don’t think the meat they eat are safe enough.

A meat-free diet could help reduce the 4. of the certain cancers, as well as heart disease and high blood pressure.

Organic farming

Organic farmers use very few or no chemicals. Organic meat is produced without 5. drugs.

At present, about 75% of UK families buy some type of organic food.

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