Question

【题目】 As prices and building costs keep rising, the "do-it-yourself" trend（趋势）in the US continues to grow.

"We needed furniture for our living room," says John Ross, "and we just didn't have enough money to buy it. So we decided to try making a few tables and c_______." John got married six months ago, and like many young people these days, he and his wife struggle to make a home at a time w_______ the cost of living is very high. The Rosses took a 2-week DIY course for $280 at a night school. Now they build all their furniture and make repairs a_______ the house.

Jim Hatfield has three boys and his wife died. He has a full-time job at home, as w_______ as in a shoe making factory. Last month, he received a car repair bill for $420. "I was deeply upset about it. Now I've finished a car repair course, I should be able to fix the car by myself."

John and Jim are not unusual people. Most families in the country are doing everything they c_______ to save money so they can fight the high c_______ of living. If you want to become a "do-it-yourself" expert, you can go to DIY classes. And for those who don't have time to take a course, there are books that tell you how you can do things by y_______.

【1】________

【2】________

【3】________

【4】________

【5】________

【6】________

【7】________

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】chairs

【2】when

【3】around

【4】well

【5】can

【6】cost

【7】yourself

【解析】

随着价格和建筑成本的不断上涨，美国的“自己动手”趋势继续增长，作者主要列举了两个家庭为了节约费用而动手自制用品。

【1】句意：所以我们决定试着做几张桌椅。

根据上文We needed furniture for our living room需要家具，结合首字母提示，可知此处指桌椅，chair椅子，根据数量a few可知填写复数，故填chairs。

【2】句意：他和他的妻子在生活成本很高的时候，为安家而苦苦挣扎。

根据上文he and his wife struggle to make a home at a time可知此处指在那个时候生活成本在增长，when代替指前面的时间at a time，故填when。

【3】句意：现在他们把所有的家具都造好，并在房子周围修缮。

make repairs修缮，根据上文他们刚刚辛苦成家，可知此处指围绕房子进行修缮，around环绕，在周围，结合句意及首字母提示，故填around。

【4】句意：他在家和制鞋厂都有一份全职工作。

as well as此外，还；此处指他不仅要顾家而且还要在鞋厂工作，结合首字母提示，故填well。

【5】句意：这个国家的大多数家庭都在尽其所能地省钱。

they c___5___作everything的定语，指为了省钱做他们能做的事情，can能，结合首字母提示，故填can。

【6】句意：以便能与高昂的生活费用作斗争。

根据Most families in the country are doing everything they c___5___ to save money可知此处表示为了与高昂的生活费作斗争，cost费用，结合首字母提示，故填cost。

【7】句意：有些书会告诉你如何自己动手。

by oneself 靠自己；此处主语是you，所以反身代词用yourself，结合句意及首字母提示，故填yourself。