Two years ago, Shirley, wife, mother and doctor, found herself worn out. She got up earlier, and went to bed later, just to meet everyday ____, but lacked ____ for the things that mattered most.
She and her husband, a lawyer, began searching for ways to ___ their lives. “We had to decide what was really ____,” says Shirley. They knew they wanted more time to ____ with their threeyearold son, to exercise and eat right, and to develop friendship.
So the couple chose to live more simply, shopping with care for necessities and enjoying inexpensive ____ such as reading, cooking and going to the park.
Then Shirley ____ her job and began working part time. She printed business cards that ____ “At your service, buy ____ a little time” and helped clients (客户) with personal tasks like shopping, paying bills and ____ parties. “I still work hard, but being able to control my hours makes a ____,” she says, “I can spare time to take my son to the ____ or play basketball with him. My stress and headaches are ____.”
Shirley and her husband are ____ alone in wanting to ____ and live a satisfying life. A survey found that 54 percent of parents say they have little time with their children, and 47 percent of married couples ____ that they lack time together. ____ does the time go?
For most people, ____ and commuting (通勤) take up most of the day. Simplifying means becoming ____ of the ways we use money, time and energy, and finding ways to make things easier. Then we have to gain ____ over life and have time for the pleasures.
A.activities B.services C.demands D.exercises
A.time B.strength C.money D.ability
A.lead B.simplify C.adapt D.consider
A.comfortable B.interesting C.important D.hard
A.study B.help C.meet D.play
A.pleasures B.places C.tasks D.goods
A.found B.received C.took D.quit
A.read B.wrote C.showed D.told
A.us B.yourself C.children D.herself
A.attending B.organizing C.having D.going
A.life B.result C.balance D.difference
A.office B.hospital C.park D.school
A.gone B.better C.strong D.obvious
A.a bit B.far from C.much too D.more than
A.keep pace B.settle down C.take off D.slow down
A.expect B.doubt C.complain D.imagine
A.How B.When C.Where D.Why
A.traveling B.reading C.shopping D.working
A.aware B.afraid C.proud D.sure
A.value B.control C.success D.experience