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　26　large numbers of people around the world.They feel that the long-hour work culture to make more money to buy more things is　27　up their lives，leaving them very little   28   or energy for family or hobbies.Many are turning to   29 　ways of living and downshifting is one of them.

Six percent of the workers in Britain took the decision to　30　last year.One couple who downshifted are Daniel and Liz.They　31　to work in central London.He was a newspaper reporter and she worked for an international bank.They　32　go to work by train every day from their large house in the suburbs，　33　their two children with a nanny.Nearly twice a month Daniel had to　34　New York for meetings.They both earned a large amount of  money　35　began to feel that life was passing them by.

Nowadays，they run　36　in the mountains of Wales.“I always wanted to have one here，”says Daniel，“and we took almost a year to　37　to downshift.It’s taken some time getting used to，but it’s been　38　it.We have to think　39　now about spending money on car repairs and we no longer have any　40　.However，I think it’s made us stronger as a family，and the children are a lot　41　.”

Liz，however，is not quite sure.“I used to enjoy my job，　 42　it was hard work and long hours.I’m not really a country girl，but I suppose I’m　43　getting used to looking after the animals.One thing I do　44　，though，is being able to see more of my children.My advice for other people wanting to do the　45　is not to think about it too much or you might not do it at all.”

26.A.trouble                 B.attract                       C.encourage                  D.frighten

27.A.putting                 B.looking                            C.building                    D.eating

28.A.money                  B.material                    C.spirit                         D.time

29.A.other                    B.simple                       C.free                          D.many

30.A.retire                    B.downshift                  C.rest                           D.travel

31.A.wanted                 B.liked                         C.used                          D.planned

32.A.should                  B.would                       C.might                        D.could

33.A.keeping                B.sending                     C.letting                       D.leaving

34.A.fly                       B.walk                         C.move                        D.run

35.A.and                      B.so                             C.but                           D.however

36.A.company                     B.farm                         C.house                        D.school

37.A.discuss                 B.study                        C.have                         D.make

38.A.worthy                 B.worth                        C.worthless                   D.worthwhile

39.A.once                     B.twice                        C.hardly                       D.worriedly

40.A.money                  B.holidays                    C.friends                      D.difficulties

41.A.more bored          B.more worried             C.happier                            D.cleverer

42.A.even though          B.when                        C.as if                          D.unless

43.A.directly                B.particularly                C.especially                  D.gradually

44.A.doubt                   B.admire                      C.like                           D.admit

45.A.job                       B.research                    C.experiment                D.same

Jack Baines is a self-made millionaire, but his beginnings were very lowly. He was the youngest of eight children. His father had a  16  in a cotton mill (纱厂), but he was often  17  to work because of poor health. The family couldn’t  18  to pay the rent or bills, and the children often went  19 . After leaving school at the age of 14, Jack was  20  what to do when Mr Walker, his old teacher, offered to lend him ￡100 to start his own 21 .
　　It was just after the war. Raw materials were not enough, and Jack saw a  22 in scrap metal(废弃金属). He bought bits of metal and stored it in an old garage. When he had built up a large amount, he sold it and  23  plenty of money.
　　Jack  24  working hard. After one year he succeeded in  25  the ￡100.
　　By the time Jack was 30 years old he had  26  his first million, and he wanted to  27  this achievement by doing something “ 28 ”. With all his money it was  29  to build a beautiful home for himself and his parents. In 1959, “Baines Castle” was built in the  30  of the Lancashire countryside. It was one of the finest buildings in the country.
　  Jack has recently sold “Baines Castle” for ￡500 million,  31  Jack still can’t get used to  32  the good life. He can  33  be found drinking with the locals at the local pub（酒吧）.
“I remember being very  34  as a child, but never  35  as a child,” says Jack, “and I will never forget where I came from and who I am.”

完形填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）
阅读下面短文，从短文后所给各题的四个选项（A、B、C和Ｄ）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
I used to be ashamed of my grandma. I know that's a　 31　 thing to say, but it was true until today, so I have to　 32　 it.  
The　 33　 started when my friend Katy found Grandma's false teeth floating in a glass on the bathroom sink. I was so used to seeing them that I　 34　 took notice of them. But Katy shouted, laughing and　35　 to talk to them. I  had to get down on my knees and　36　 her to shut up so my grandma wouldn't　37　 and get hurt.  
After that happened, I　38　 there were a million things about Grandma that were embarrassing（令人窘迫）.  
Once she took Jill and me out to Burger King.　39　 ordering our hamburgers well-done, she told the person behind the counter, "They'll have two Whoppers (巨无霸) well-to-do. " Jill burst out laughing, but I almost　 40　.
After a while, I started wishing I could　 41　 Grandma in a closet. I even complained to my parents. Both my parents said I had to be careful not to make Grandma feel　 42　 in our home.
Then last Wednesday, something happened that 43　 everything completely. My teacher told us to help find interesting old people and 44　 them about their　45　 for a big Oral History project. I was trying to think of someone when Angie pushed me gently.  
"Volunteer your grandmother," she whispered. "She's 46　 and rich in experience."
That was the last thing I ever thought Angie would say about my grandma.
This is how I ended up on　47　 today interviewing my own grandmother before the whole school assembly (集合). All my friends and teachers were listening to her　48　 she was a great heroine. I was　49　 of my grandma and hoped she would 50　 know that I had been ashamed of her.
31. A. funny      B. common       C. terrible         D. clear
32. A. admit     B. receive         C. refuse  D. show
33. A. quarrel  B. accident       C. trouble         D. adventure
34. A. already  B. always C. simply  D. hardly
35. A. enjoying          B. pretending  C. imagining　 D. continuing
36. A. warn      B. demand        C. advise  D. beg
37. A. mind       B. hear     C. see       D. fall
38. A. expected        B. declared       C. realized　　　D. doubted
39. A. Because of     B. Except for    C. Such as 　　 D. Instead of
40. A. died        B. cheered        C. disappeared　　D. suffered
41. A. meet      B. avoid    C. arrange 　　　D. hide
42. A. independent  B. inconvenient        C. unwelcome　D. unfamiliar
43. A. changed         B. finished        C. stopped　　　D. Prepared
44. A. interview        B. report  C. tell        D. write
45. A. news      B. lives     C. advantages  D. achievements
46. A. free        B. popular         C. interesting    D. embarrassing
47. A. show     B. stage   C. duty　　　　　 D. time
48. A. and then         B. even if C. so that　　　　 D. as if
49. A. sure        B. proud   C. ashamed　　　 D. afraid
50. A. never     B. even     C. still　　　　　 D. once

Jack Baines is a self-made millionaire, but his beginnings were very lowly. He was the youngest of eight children. His father had a  16  in a cotton mill (纱厂), but he was often  17  to work because of poor health. The family couldn’t  18  to pay the rent or bills, and the children often went  19 . After leaving school at the age of 14, Jack was  20  what to do when Mr Walker, his old teacher, offered to lend him ￡100 to start his own 21 .

　　It was just after the war. Raw materials were not enough, and Jack saw a  22 in scrap metal(废弃金属). He bought bits of metal and stored it in an old garage. When he had built up a large amount, he sold it and  23  plenty of money.

　　Jack  24  working hard. After one year he succeeded in  25  the ￡100.

　　By the time Jack was 30 years old he had  26  his first million, and he wanted to  27  this achievement by doing something “ 28 ”. With all his money it was  29  to build a beautiful home for himself and his parents. In 1959, “Baines Castle” was built in the  30  of the Lancashire countryside. It was one of the finest buildings in the country.

　  Jack has recently sold “Baines Castle” for ￡500 million,  31  Jack still can’t get used to  32  the good life. He can  33  be found drinking with the locals at the local pub（酒吧）.

“I remember being very  34  as a child, but never  35  as a child,” says Jack, “and I will never forget where I came from and who I am.”

1.                A．job            B．work           C．company D．house

2.                A．able           B．glad            C．unable   D．eager

3.                A．offer           B．like            C．expect   D．afford

4.                A．wrong          B．hungry         C．ill   D．bad

5.                A．seeing         B．wondering      C．doubting  D．preparing

6.                A．school          B．farm           C．business  D．store

7.                A．problem        B．purpose        C．future    D．principle

8.                A．spent          B．borrowed       C．wasted   D．earned

9.                A．enjoyed        B．preferred       C．promised D．hated

10.               A．developing      B．saving          C．repaying   D．paying

11.               A．given          B．made          C．taken D．lost

12.               A．remember      B．honor          C．celebrate  D．recognize

13.               A．common        B．simple         C．interesting     D．grand

14.               A．impossible      B．possible        C．obvious   D．basic

15.               A．ground         B．front           C．spot  D．heart

16.               A．so             B．and            C．or    D．but

17.               A．using          B．sparing         C．living D．keeping

18.               A．often          B．never          C．sometimes D．seldom

19.               A．rich           B．poor           C．healthy    D．well

20.               A．proud          B．satisfied        C．unhappy   D．happy

My wife and I spent a few weeks in London last year. We went there in autumn. We think it is the   31   season to visit England. The weather is usually quite good   32   there aren’t too many   33   in October. We stayed in a small   34   in the West End. We     35  most of our sightseeing (观光) on foot. We went to look at the places which all travelers    36. We went   37   and spent too much money. What we liked most was going to the   38   . We don’t have the chance to see such   39   plays at home. A lot of people say English   40   is very bad. We didn’t think so. It is   41   that most of the restaurants are French, Italian or Chinese, but had some very   42    meals. In fact, we   43    our holiday so much that we have already decided to   44    there again this year. We are going to take our umbrellas as well,    45   I’m sure we’ll need them sometimes.
31. A. busiest 　   B. working 　              C. best 　　　             D. hottest
32. A. and 　　  B. or 　　　　            C. as 　　　　            D. so
33. A. players    B. travelers 　              C. places 　　              D. things
34. A. station 　         B. hotel 　　        C. office 　　              D. cinema
35. A. missed      B. showed 　　            C. used 　　　            D. did
36. A. live 　　         B. stay 　　　             C. visit 　　　             D. work
37. A. shopping           B. fishing 　　            C. swimming 　           D. climbing
38. A. shops 　            B. cinemas 　              C. restaurants 　    D. theatres
39. A. well 　            B. wonderful         C. terrible 　　            D. sad
40. A. language           B. film 　　　             C. clothes 　　            D. food
41. A. impossible   B. true 　　　             C. important 　            D. necessary
42. A. delicious　　 B. poor 　　　         C. fresh 　　　            D. expensive
43. A. spent 　　 B. enjoyed 　        C. paid 　　　             D. finished
44. A. live 　　　 B. eat 　　　        C. go 　　　　            D. spend
45. A. although 　　    B. but 　　                  C. because 　　           D. so