完形填空

　　Wise buying is a positive way in which you can make your money go further．The way you go about purchasing an article or a service can actually 　　1　　 your money or can add 　　2　　 the cost．

　　Take the 　　3　　 example of a hairdryer．If you are buying a hairdryer, you might think that you are making the 　　4　　 buy if you choose one whose look you like and which is also the cheapest 　　5　　 price．But when you get it home you may find that it 　　6　　 twice as long as a more expensive model to dry your hair．The cost of the electricity plus the cost of your time could well 　　7　　 your hairdryer the most expensive one of all．

　　So what principles should you adopt when you go out shopping?If you 　　8　　 your home, your car or any valuable 　　9　　 in excellent condition, you’ll be saving money in the long run．

　　Before you buy a new appliance, talk to someone who owns one．If you can, use it or borrow it to check whether it suits your particular 　　10　　．Before you buy an expensive item or a service, do check the price and what is on offer．If possible, choose from three items or three estimates．

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阅读理解

　　The cost of raising a child from birth to age 18 is about ＄ 160,140! That doesn't even touch college tuition．For those with kids, this figure might lead them thinking how much they could have banked．For others, that number might confirm the decision to remain childless．

　　But ＄160,140 isn't so bad if you break it down．It translates into ＄ 896.66 a year, ＄741.38 a month, or ＄171.08 a week．That's a mere ＄24.44 a day! Just over a dollar an hour．

　　Still, you might think the best financial advice says don't have children if you ever want to be "rich"．It is not．

　　What do you get for your ＄160,140?

　　●Naming rights．

　　●Giggles under the covers every night．

　　●More love than your heart can hold．

　　●Kisses and hugs．

　　●Endless wonder over rocks, ants, clouds, and warm cookies．

　　●A hand to hold usually covered with jam．

　　A partner for blowing bubbles, flying kites, and building sandeastles．

　　For ＄160,140, you never have to grow up! You get to finger-paint, carve pumpkins, play hide-and-seek, and never stop believing in Santa Claus．You have an excuse to keep reading the Adventures of Piglet and Pooh, watching cartoons , going to Disney movies, and wishing on stars．

　　For ＄160,140, you get to be a hero just for taking the training wheels off the bike, and coaching a baseball team that never wins but always gets treated to ice cream regardless．

　　You get a front row seat to history; to witness the first step, first word, first date, and first time behind the wheel．

　　You get to be immortal(不朽的)．

　　You get another branch added to your family tree．

　　You get an education in nursing, criminal justice and communications that no college can match．

　　You have all the power to correct a mistake, scare away the monsters under the bed, patch a broken heart, police a party, and love them without limits, so one day they will, like you, love without counting the cost．

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