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阅读理解

　　I believe that my country, Poland, is a perfect example for a place where food is particularly important．When we were little children, we began to understand how much a loaf of bread meant to our parents－to some it might sound silly but for me the custom of kissing bread before you started cutting it was simply amazing．It's not so common nowadays to treat food that way, since you hardly ever bake your own bread．Besides, everyone would call you crazy if you tried to kiss every bread roll before you ate them! But though we no longer make our food from scratch(起点), some customs have been kept－that's why I feel so sorry every time I have to throw any food away－even though I no longer live with my parents and nobody would blame me for this anymore!

　　Many people of our nation are still working as farmers, eating what they grow and harvest and therefore enjoying everything more．It's widely known that you value more anything that needs your effort in the first place．In most homes in Poland, especially those of farmers, the whole family would try and have their meals together－extremely difficult now, but so rewarding(值得)! You can share other members' troubles and successes, give your children some attention, or just sit down for a moment instead of rushing through life aimlessly．Furthermore, your body, and stomach in particular will be very grateful(感激)for such a time!

　　In Poland, a wedding, Christmas or even a birthday is celebrated with a great meal．Women in the house get together and cook, sometimes for a few days before the event, and the extremely good or unusual food will be remembered and widely talked about．

　　You cannot over-value the importance of food in the country．What's more, almost everyone in Poland will be as interested in the topic as I am．

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阅读理解

　　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．”

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