Question

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.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

3.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.

Answer

1.D

2.B

3.C

【解析】本文主要讲述的是现在生活快节奏，人们忙于赚钱而忽略了生活，文中以一对夫妻为例，建议人们放慢生活速度，改变生活方式，享受生活，陪伴家人。

1.整体理解题。通读本文可知，本文作者讲述的是关于赚钱与生活，写到了现代生活的快节奏，呼吁人们要注重生活，故选D。

2.细节题解题。由第四段“However, I think it’s made us stronger as a family, and the children are a lot happier. ”可知，. Daniel 和 Liz搬到农场之后，他们的家庭更坚固，更幸福了；故选B。

3.细节理解题。由第二段“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”可以理解，作者所说的“the long hours work culture to make more money is eating up their lives”意为长时间的工作占据了人们的生活，以致于给人们留出极少的时间来生活；故选C。