Most of the women I know, including myself, are starved for time. I sometimes try to do the chores all without asking (or paying) for assistance. I grew up in a household where my parents took care of all the chores including the housekeeping, lawn maintenance (草坪养护), etc. Looking back, I’m sure they had to make sacrifices to do things for my sister and me. But I think we all can agree on time savers as a positive, welcome contribution.
I made a decision about 5 years ago that I would hire a lawn maintenance service, so that Ted didn’t have to spend his time while home on the weekends taking care of our yard. I didn’t think twice about it and still feel it is money well spent. His travel schedule is very busy and by paying for this service, I get to spend more quality time with my significant other!
When it came to doing something similar for myself, I struggled. I kept telling myself that others are able to keep up with much more than my demands & schedule. I cast the idea back and forth of hiring a housekeeper for over three years, before I decided to take the step.
True to my nature I researched my options online, asked some coworkers and friends for recommendations and made a decision to take a meeting with a nationally known chain. I met with one of their sale representative in my house and decided to move forward. She said that she wasn’t there to push the cleaning services. Instead, she was there to tell me how much time I’d save by purchasing her service.
I decided to keep a spring cleaning and then once a month after that. Ultimately I only ended up keeping up this particular service for about 4 months due to some quality concerns, but I would definitely do it again and am in the market for a new housekeeping service. I loved having some time for me and no longer feel guilty for paying.
1.Why does the author mention his parents in paragraph 1?
A.She wishes her parents to help her do the chores.
B.She thinks the traditional cleaning concept should be changed.
C.She decides to learn from her parents to do the chores by herself.
D.She wants to reward her parents for their sacrifice for her.
2.What can we learn from paragraph 2 and 3?
A.The author had to take care of the yard before she paid for the service.
B.The author’s husband was not willing to do the housework.
C.The author paid for the service for herself without hesitation.
D.The author loves her husband very much.
3.What touched the author and made her decide to buy the service for herself?
A.Her coworkers and friends persuaded her.
B.The quality of the service is perfect.
C.The service can save her a lot of time.
D.The price of the service is lower than any others.
4.What does the author mainly intend to tell us?
A.Women should take more responsibility for the household.
B.We should choose the cleaning services carefully.
C.To save time, it is worth paying for the cleaning services.
D.It’s important to keep the house clean and tidy.
假定你是李华，你的加拿大朋友Allen来信询问你校学生参与劳动实践活动的情况。请给他回信，内容包括：
1. 劳动实践内容（如家务劳动、校园劳动、校外劳动等）及其意义；
2. 你最常参与的劳动实践活动，并谈谈感受。
注意：1. 词数100左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
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假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧) ），并在其下面写岀添加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（\）划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2.只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
I have been decided to become a pilot since I am a little kid. Each time I see a plane flying across sky, I feel extremely excited but want to fly it. That is why I believe It can make me happily and free. To make my dream come true, I have to be physically fit by keeping a healthy diet and work out regularly. Besides, I must work hard to make great progresses with my studies. Although it is not that easy to being a pilot, I'll never give up my dream and spare no effort to realize them.
阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。
A painting with a 1.(long) of 1014. 37 meters has received a Guinness World Record title for the longest drawing by an individual artist. The record was announced at the Simatai Great Wall on Saturday, 2. is surrounded by the verdant (草木苍翠的) mountains of an early autumn, and the painter folded the painting with great care 3. the presence of many viewers.
4. took artist Guo Feng two months to complete the black-and-white painting named Yongsheng in Chinese, meaning living forever. Clearly 5. (inspire) by the view of the Great Wall from the sky, he wanted to call for peace and harmony in the world. In fact, Guo Feng is 6. (familiar) to the public as a music producer than as a painter. And one of his songs, Let the World Be Filled with Love, has enjoyed great popularity all over the country for 7.(decade).
The painting is made up of 10 sub-themes, and was created 8.(large) using marker pens. "I 9.（draw） for more than 10 hours a day over the past months and sometimes I began working at 4 am,” said Guo. "Creating the work on the Great Wall was an unprecedented (空前的) lonely and quiet time for me 10. (look) into my past, today and the future,” he added.
When our girls are brave, they are free to explore in their learning and in life. That exploration leads to the _______ of their talents, passions and weaknesses. On Saturday night we saw one of our students act so bravely that it took my _______ away.
One of the lead characters of our show, Blue Stockings, was played by a science teacher, Ben Walker. _______, Ben broke his nose very badly playing football on Saturday and consequently couldn't _______ . Ella Jones, a Year 11 student and part of the cast, who _______ to rest on Saturday, was _______ to play Ben's role.
Think about that. She had three hours' _______ , playing a role of a _______ she had never played before, in front of a paying audience, and if she couldn't _______, she would reduce the impact of the whole play. Not the end of the world, but it would be ________ for all concerned.
I would have __________. But Ella rose to the ______________. She said, “I was astonished； ____________, I figured the show must go on and I wanted to ________. I wasn't scared __________ I arrived at the theatre and realized how much there was to ________. It wasn't just about lines, but it was the stagecraft (舞台表演技巧). I was ________ about the other actors because I know how ________ it is to perform a role with someone who isn't as invested, especially if it is an emotional scene.”
Asked how the show __________, Ella said, “It was amazing, and the audience seemed to love the male character I played for the first time.” She added, “Just because you're scared doesn't mean you can’t be ________. Anyway, I made it.”
1.A.discovery B.change C.growth D.control
2.A.pain B.breath C.faith D.concern
3.A.Secretly B.Hopefully C.Unsurprisingly D.Unfortunately.
4.A.coach B.perform C.survive D.retire
5.A.refused B.decided C.happened D.promised
6.A.asked B.forced C.trained D.reminded
7.A.wait B.interval C.notice D.judgment
8.A.director B.woman C.man D.teacher
9.A.take it away B.look it up C.make it out D.carry it off
10.A.encouraging B.disappointing C.rewarding D.amusing
11.A.run B.agreed C.shared D.failed
12.A.power B.challenge C.danger D.threat
13.A.besides B.therefore C.however D.instead
14.A.win B.quit C.resist D.help
15.A.until B.unless C.so that D.the moment
16.A.put away B.hand in C.work out D.take over
17.A.doubtful B.confident C.curious D.worried
18.A.easy B.tough C.embarrassing D.interesting
19.A.sounded B.improved C.started D.went
20.A.brave B.proud C.calm D.shy
Easy Ways to Give Yourself a Fresh Start
It doesn't need to be complicated or challenging to turn a fresh page on each new day.
Whenever we mark a new year — by turning the calendar, returning to school or celebrating a holiday — we are looking for a fresh start. 1. But how? Here are some easy ways to connect with that feeling of starting fresh, whether it’s a new year or simply a new day in our life.
2. This means you have realized what serves your life now and what can stay in your past. Or invest in a new pen and a new notebook. Having fresh supplies can stimulate even the common task of creating your to-do list.
Moreover, you can learn something new by opening a book you've been expecting to read, searching a question that's been on your mind, enrolling in a class that motivates your interest. Of course you can simply ask a friend for a fresh idea about an issue. 3.
Take a break from technology — for an hour, a day, or a week. 4. You should be able to put some space between yourself and digital routines.
One reason we sometimes struggle to start fresh is that you get stuck reflecting on worrisome thoughts about the past, the future or even the present. 5. Allow these thoughts into your day only at a brief (30 minutes or less), specific time. The rest of the time, focus on what you are doing that's new and positive.
How do you give yourself that “fresh start” feeling?
A.Electronic Products might not be serving you best.
B.Newness or the freshness can guide us on a positive path.
C.Limit your daily “worry time” and make an appointment with yourself.
D.All of us enjoy newness, but what is it that leads to a sense of freshness?
E.Realizing your past mistakes, you should move forward with enthusiasm.
F.Increasing your knowledge on any topic means taking your mind into a fresh area.
G.First, even letting go of a single box or bag of items can give you a refreshing sense.
