A father's job is unique. If parents had job descriptions, mine would read: organize bills, play dates,
laundry, meals, carpool, snacks and outings. The only thing on my husband's description would be the
word "fun" written in big red letters along the top.
    Our parenting styles complement each other. His style is a nonstop adventure where no one has to
worry about washing their hands, or eating vegetables. I'm too busy worrying to be fun. Besides, every
time I try, I am constantly outdone by my husband.
    I bought my children bubble gumflavored toothpaste, and I taught them how to brush their teeth.  
They thought it was neat until my husband taught them how to rinse(瀨口)by spitting out water between
their two front teeth like a fountain.
    I tried singing fun songs as I washed behind my children's ears during bath time. They enthusiastically
sang and clapped until their father came in and taught them how to catapult (彈射) the soap into the sink
with the washcloth.
    I took the children for a nature walk to corral (把……趕入……) a slow ladybug(瓢蟲)into my son's
insect cage. I was "cool" until their father came home, spent two minutes in the backyard, and captured
a beetle the size of a Chihuahua (吉娃娃,一種產(chǎn)于墨西哥的狗).
     I try to tell myself I am a good parent even if my husband does things I can't do. I can make sure my
children are safe. But I can't wire the VCR so my children can't watch their favourite video.
     I can carry my children in my arms when they are tired and kiss them good night. But I can't flip
them upside down so they can walk on the ceiling or prop them on my shoulders so they can see the
moths flying inside the light fixture.
     I can take them to doctor appointments, but I'll never go into the wilderness to fish. I'll even sit in the
first row of every Little League game, but I'll never teach my children how to hit a home run or slide into
first base.
     I can do a lot of things for my children, but no matter how hard I try, I can never be their father.

1. What's the job of the mother in the passage?

A.  Looking after children,  going shopping and doinghousework.
B. Going shopping and sending her children to school.
C.  Playing with her children and going to school with them.
D. Working in the office and taking care of her children and husband.

2. The father will do the following EXCEPT   ________ according to the passage.

A. going wild to fish with the children
B. making appointments with doctors
C. flipping the children upside down
D. teaching the children how to hit a home run

3. What's the best title for the passage?

A. Mothers Have a Unique Job
B. Children Are Very Important
C. Fathers Have a Unique Job
D. Parents Have Gentle Children

     Adam Smith was the first person to see the importance of the division of the labor. He gave us
an example of the process by which pins were made in England.
    One man draws out the wire, another strengthens it, a third cuts it, a fourth points it, and a fifth
gives it a head. Just to make the head requires two or three different operations. The work of making
pins is divided into about eighteen different operations, which in some factories are all performed by
different people, though in others the same man will sometimes perform two or three of them.
    Ten men, Smith said, in this way, turned out twelve pounds of pins a day or about 4,800 pins a
worker. But if all of them had worked separately and independently without division of labor, they
certainly could not have made twenty pins in a day and not even one.
    There can be no doubt that division of labor is an efficient way of organizing work.  Fewer people
can make more pins. Adam Smith saw this, but he also took it for granted that the division of labor is
itself responsible for economic growth and development and it accounts for the difference between
expanding economies and those that stand still. In fact, the division of labor adds nothing new, and it
only enables people to produce more of what they already have.

1. According to the passage, Adam Smith was the first person      to ________.

A. take advantage of the physical labor
B. introduce the division of labor into England
C. understand the effects of the division of labor
D. explain the causes of the division of labor

2. Adam Smith saw that the division of labor ________.

A. enabled each worker to design pins more quickly
B. increased the possible output of per worker
C. increased the number of people employed in factories
D. improved the quality of pins produced

3. Adam Smith mentioned the number 4,800 in order to ________. 

A. show the advantages of the old labor system
B. stress how powerful the individual worker was
C. show the advantages of the division of labor
D. stress the importance of increasing production

4. According to the writer, Adam Smith's mistake was in believing that the division of labor ________.

A. was an efficient way of organizing work
B. was an important development in methods of production
C. finally led to economic development
D. increased the production of existing goods

     Moving at any time of a year is difficult, but if you have a flexible schedule and are not on a
specific timeline, there are several factors to consider when deciding when to move. Keep in mind
that these factors could also be part of a negotiation deal with your employer if you are being
relocated or if starting a new position.
     If you have children at home, it is best to work around the school calendar.  Summer is an ideal
time, as children have completed another grade and have said their goodbyes to school friends.
Planning to move directly following the end of school, however, does not give your children time
to adapt to the idea of moving, to say goodbye to neighborhood friends and their home. When
setting the date, allow a few weeks at the new destination for children to unpack and meet new
neighborhood friends. They will be better prepared for the school year if they have time to make
their new house their home.  Too much change can be detrimental to performance and emotional
wellbeing.
     What works best for your children also works best for you. As part of the settling in process,
take a few days for you and your children to check out the new school, meet some teachers and
find appropriate transportation. Both you and your children will be better prepared, leading to a
smoother transition.
    When possible, avoid moving before major holidays, such as Christmas, since part of such
holidays is being with family and friends. Birthdays, and other family events can also be difficult.
Give yourself enough time in your new place before the holiday season begins to meet new people
and feel a sense of community. Better yet, save your move for immediately following a holiday.
Holidays provide a perfect opportunity for goodbyes and final gettogethers.
     Most people would agree that summer is the best time to move. Children are out of school, the
weather is almost guaranteed to be perfect and friends are available to help. If this is your ideal time
to move, make sure you check moving company schedules and rates before confirming your move
date.  Most companies have peak times and will charge higher rates accordingly. Also, if you are
planning to move at peak times, you will need to be better organized to ensure that a moving company
or a moving truck is available for the date and times you require. Keep in mind that the level of the
service often changes between the summer months, when students replace fulltime experienced movers,
and offseason.
     As much as summer could cost you more, winter, as common sense indicates, is also not an ideal
time to move. Travel is difficult, both for you and your family, along with the moving company.  Items
kept overnight in a truck under freezing conditions may result in damaged goods.  If you are moving
from one climate to another, water damage may occur when the mode of transport that is moving your
household items travels from a cold environment to a warmer climate. Freezing and thawing cause the
most damage if items are not properly sealed.

1. According to the passage, before moving children usually ________.  

A. meet new neighborhood friends
B. pack their package
C. say goodbye to neighborhood friends
D. complete their grades

2. What is the disadvantage of moving in summer?

A. The weather.
B. Moving company schedules.
C. The changeable level of the service.
D. Without friends' help.

3. According to the passage, when is the best time to move? 

A. Winter.                  
B. Vacations.
C. Major holidays.            
D. Summer.

     Shoppers who carefully plan their visit to the grocery store  can save money on their grocery bills.
 _1__
Shoppers should visit the grocery store on a full stomach  by scheduling their trip immediately after a
large meal. If that's not possible, they should find something healthy to eat while preparing a grocery
list.  __2__
     Although having a list and sticking to it is the most important factor in saving money, shoppers must
prepare lists wisely in order to save.   __3__ Many special buys are announced  through the local
newspapers, so buying the "grocery issue" is  worth the investment(投資). However, it's important to
remember that many newer, more expensive products first offered  through coupons(優(yōu)惠券) may
not yield enough savings for shoppers to  give up the product they usually buy.
     __4__ Once at the store, the shopper who wants to save  money should follow a few more rules.
The shopper should not stay longer than necessary, because bills go up each minute the shopper is in
the store. So, setting a time limit and a cost limit can hold down the bill.   __5__  If the grocery list is
a short one, some shoppers choose to use the small handheld basket instead of the roomy grocery cart.
A. A carefully planned list should include in season produce and any items on sale or discounted
     through coupons.
B. Of course, the shopper should stick strictly to the shopping list and resist the temptation
     to buy additional items.
C. People who are full are less tired and more likely to buy what they want.
D. Now that the shopper has completed the grocery list, it's time to leave for the store.
E. You should keep your shopping list carefully in case you can exchange it for coupons.
F. Most shoppers are less persuaded to buy extra goods when they are not hungry.
G. Shopping when not hungry, sticking to a grocery list, and following a few simple rules will
     cut down the grocery bill.