Some people will do just about anything to save money. And I am one of them. My family’s last vacation was a good to prove it. It was my six-year-old son’s winter break from school, and we were home from Fort Lauderdale after a week-long trip. The flight was , and Delta, the airline, offered us $400 per person in credits to give up our seats and leave the next day. I had meetings in New York, so I had to . But that didn't mean my husband and my son couldn't stay. I took my nine-month-old and took off for home.
The next day, my husband and son were offered more to take an even later flight. Yes, I encouraged — okay, ordered — them to wait it out at the , to "earn" more Delta Dollars. Our total take: $1,600. Not bad, huh?
Now some people may think I'm a bad mother and not such a great wife either. But as a big-time bargain hunter, I know the value of a . And these days, a good deal is something few of us can afford to .
I've made living looking for the best deals and the worst tricks. I have been the consumer reporter of NBC's Today show for over a decade. So far, I feel proud that I have written a couple of including one titled Tricks of the Trade: A Consumer Survival Guide. And I really do what I in.
I tell you this because there is no in getting your money’s worth. Honestly, I’m also when it comes to shoes, clothes for my children, and expensive restaurants. But I wouldn't hesitate to spend on a good haircut. It keeps its shape longer, and it's the first thing people . And I will also spend on a classic piece of furniture. lasts.
A．sample B．excuse C．situation D．example
A．leaving B．heading C．getting D．arriving
A．overbooked B．overcrowded C．overworked D．overpowered
A．get on B．get over C．get back D．get away
A．seats B．credits C．bargain D．value
A．flight B．office C．school D．airport
A．dollar B．time C．family D．work
A．pass up B．pass down C．pass along D．pass on
A．expanding B．expecting C．exposing D．explaining
A．dictionaries B．newspapers C．novels D．books
A．believe B．put C．give D．come
A．harm B．shame C．doubt D．shock
A．generous B．tightfisted C．joyful D．patient
A．notice B．realize C．know D．understand
A．Satisfactory B．Quantity C．Ability D．Quality
I had the meanest mother in the world． other kids ate candy, I had to have cereal（谷物食品），eggs or toast．While others had cakes and French fries，I had to eat a sandwich．But at least，I wasn’t in my suffering．My sisters and two brothers had the same mean mother as I did．
My mother knowing where we were at all times and who our friends were ．She insisted if we said we’d be gone an hour, then we be gone one hour or —not one hour and one minute．She made us wear the clothes made by herself，just to money．Now you can see how she was．
The is yet to come．We had to be in bed by 9：00 each night and at 7：45 the next morning．We had to wash dishes． beds，and learn to cook．I believe she lay at night thinking up mean things to do to us．
Through the years，things didn’t a bit．We could not lie in bed，pretending to be“ ”like our friends did to miss school．Our friends’ report cards had beautiful colors on them，black for passing，red for ．My mother, ，would only be content with black marks．
As the years by，we graduated from high school．Out of the four children，a couple of us higher education than university level．With our mother us pushing and demanding， of us was allowed to drop out of school．She forced us to grow up into educated and honest adults．
Now I'm trying to my three children．I'm filled with when my children call me mean．Because，you see，I thank God，he gave me the meanest mother in the whole world．
A．While B．As C．Unless D．If
A．weak B．alone C．happy D．lucky
A．replied to B．went on C．insisted on D．took up
A．not B．more C．so D．less
A．make B．collect C．save D．get
A．funny B．mean C．kind D．interesting
A．worst B．best C．least D．last
A．off B．away C．up D．out
A．make B．arrange C．place D．fold
A．active B．asleep C．alive D．awake
A．develop B．improve C．happen D．assess
A．sick B．sad C．honest D．ambitious
A．success B．progress C．courage D．failure
A．however B．otherwise C．besides D．moreover
A．came B．pulled C．went D．filled
A．attended B．wanted C．attained D．approached
A．before B．in C．about D．behind
A．none B．all C．both D．neither
A．raise B．meet C．change D．bring
A．apology B．pride C．shame D．anger
“Kevin, we are getting a divorce,” said my mother．My heart plunged．I was 9 years old and I thought that my life was going to ．My brother and I were going to move with my mother to southern California．My dad was to in New Jersey because of work．My family was splitting apart．
Now that my mom is a single parent, I do my own , make dinner and do extra chores around the house． it was hard at first, I now recognize the positive that this responsibility had on me．My mother gave me these chores and duties so that I would learn to become and trustworthy．
I strive to display these in all aspects of my life, and have seen the benefits．When I was only 11 years old, my told me that he was selecting me as soccer team captain because of my determination and ability to get my teammates to themselves．We lost the championship, but I won the play award for keeping my team together．
I am always to be an individual and not participate in anything that I feel is wrong．I am, for example, extremely proud of my decision not to drink alcohol． , I don’t feel the need to drink to have fun, and I stand by my decision even when others try to me．
My mom and dad both found new and happily remarried．I am close to my father, even though he lives 4,800 km away．I thought my parents’ divorce was going to be the worst thing that happened to me．Ironically （讽刺的是）, it turned out to be the ．I wasn’t willing to let it ruin my life without putting up a fight, and was my family．
At age 9, I struggled with the confusion and of divorce．Today, at age 16, I understand that can bring opportunity and success, and that hard work, determination and self-control can turn your worst time into your best time．
A．fall apart B．give away C．pick up D．take off
A．drop B．remain C．call D．break
A．housework B．farming C．cooking D．laundry
A．Although B．Because C．If D．Since
A．attitude B．experience C．effect D．situation
A．self-centered B．self-absorbed C．self-disciplined D．self-concerned
A．skills B．difficulties C．emotions D．qualities
A．father B．headmaster C．coach D．brother
A．enjoy B．teach C．prove D．push
A．fierce B．fair C．close D．decisive
A．determined B．reminded C．relieved D．amazed
A．Fortunately B．Surprisingly C．Personally D．Consequently
A．cheat B．pressure C．please D．delight
A．families B．jobs C．kids D．partners
A．still B．not C．rarely D．less
A．never B．ever C．even D．almost
A．best B．worst C．busiest D．first
A．so B．such C．as D．neither
A．significance B．memory C．pain D．emergency
A．families B．barriers C．parents D．routines
The first time I saw Suzy Khan, I knew I had to help her．She was really small for her age of 12．The boy in my class often about her and laughed their heads off．She would open a book, pretending to read, with tears dropping on the open page．
All I knew was that she was an orphan （孤儿） from Africa．She had just been adopted by a family in town who that the best way for her to learn American ways of life was to be with American kids．I looked down at this girl and promised myself that somehow I would help her．
But how could I help her in with us? There had to be a ．
One day, when I went into the classroom, I saw that Suzy had her geography book to a picture of a train, and in her notebook, she had made a（n） copy．
I was surprised and thought that she could do something in the coming show．So, I took her to see the art teacher, Miss Parker, and showed her what Suzy had ．“why, it’s wonderful,” said Miss Parker, who then showed us a poster she had painted the talent show．“I need more of these, but I just don’t have enough ．Could you help me, Suzy?”
On the day of the talent show, Suzy’s were everywhere ---- all over the hall and all over the school, each one different．
“And finally,” said Mr. Brown, the schoolmaster, at the end of the show, “we have a （n） award．I’m sure you’ve all noticed the wonderful posters．” Everyone nodded．“One of our own students them．”
I could hear everyone whispering．“Who in our school could draw well?”
Mr. Brown waited a while before saying, “ this student worked so hard on the posters, she deserves a ,too．Our mystery（神秘） artist is our new student ---- Suzy Khan!”
Mr. Brown thanked her for all the wonderful posters and gave her a professional artist’s set．“Thank you,” she cried．
I , at that time when I was looking at her excited face, she’d probably never anything in her whole life．
Everyone started to their hands．Suzy Khan gave them a shy smile and the applause was deafening．I knew then Suzy was going to be all right．
A．joked B．cared C．forgot D．worried
A．reported B．decided C．complained D．questioned
A．rich B．proud C．tiny D．popular
A．come B．fall C．fit D．tie
A．manner B．pattern C．choice D．way
A．read B．taken C．opened D．put
A．free B．perfect C．final D．extra
A．art B．talk C．quiz D．talent
A．colored B．written C．carved D．drawn
A．at B．after C．for D．around
A．room B．time C．paper D．interest
A．gifts B．books C．photos D．posters
A．special B．academic C．national D．royal
A．painted B．found C．printed D．collected
A．very B．that C．quite D．too
A．If B．Though C．Unless D．Since
A．prize B．rank C．rest D．place
A．replied B．realized C．remembered D．regretted
A．offered B．valued C．owned D．controlled
A．clap B．wave C．raise D．shake
One Friday, a businessman decided to ask his boss for a salary raise．Before going to , he told his wife about it．All day long he felt and uneasy．Finally, in the late afternoon, he gathered the courage to approach his employer．To his , the boss agreed to give him a raise．
That evening, the husband arrived home and was surprised to see a beautiful table set with their best china and candles．Smelling the aroma （香味）of the wonderful meal, he that someone from the office had called his wife and tipped her off （透露消息）．
Finding her in the kitchen, he eagerly the details of his good news．When they sat down to the meal, next to his plate he found a note that read: ''Congratulations, darling．I knew you'd get the ．This dinner is to show you how much I love you．''
After dinner, on his way to the to help his wife serve dessert, he noticed a second card had slipped out of his wife's pocket．Picking it up, he read: ''Don't worry about not getting the raise．You it anyway．This dinner is to show how much I love you．"
A．school B．work C．home D．dinner
A．nervous B．relaxed C．curious D．dangerous
A．anger B．disappointment C．sorrow D．delight
A．careful B．cheerful C．helpful D．wonderful
A．deserted B．burned C．lighted D．used
A．heard B．found C．guessed D．forgot
A．shared B．told C．knew D．talked
A．position B．note C．raise D．news
A．office B．living-room C．kitchen D．study
A．donate B．devote C．demand D．deserve
The family had just moved to Rhode Island, and the young woman was feeling a little depressed on that Sunday in May．After all, it was Mother's Day-and 800 miles her from her parents in Ohio．
She had called them that morning, to wish her a happy Mother's Day and her mother had how colorful their backyard was spring had arrived．Later, she told her husband how she those lilacs in her parents' yard．“I know where we can find some,” he said．“Get the and come on．” So off they went．
Some time later, they stopped at a hill and there were lilacs all round．The young woman rushed up to the nearest and buried her face in the flowers．Carefully, she some．
Finally, they returned to their car for the home．The woman sat smiling, surrounded by her ．
When they were near home, she shouted “stop,” got off quickly and to a nearby nursing home．She went to the end of the porch （门廊）, where a（n） patient was sitting in her wheelchair, and put the flowers into her lap．The two , bursting into laughter now and then．Later the young woman turned and ran back to he ．As the car pulled away, the woman in the wheelchair with a smile, and held the lilacs ．
“Mom,” the kids asked, “ did you give her our flowers?” “It is Mother's Day, and she seems so while I have all of you．And anyone would be by flowers．”
This satisfied the kids, but not the husband．The next day he some young lilacs around their yard．
I was the husband．Now, every May, our yard is full of lilacs．Every Mother's Day our kids purple lilacs．And every year I remember that smile of the lonely old woman．
A．moved B．kept C．separated D．made
A．learned B．mentioned C．imagined D．realized
A．as if B．so that C．now that D．even if
A．grew B．missed C．watered D．showed
A．cars B．kids C．clothes D．lilacs
A．yard B．hill C．bush D．door
A．bought B．picked C．set D．raised
A．break B．holiday C．trip D．dinner
A．friends B．memory C．honor D．flowers
A．responded B．pointed C．drove D．hurried
A．elderly B．loving C．serious D．sensitive
A．hesitated B．waited C．chatted D．sat
A．family B．mother C．path D．home
A．nodded B．left C．waved D．continued
A．sadly B．politely C．quickly D．tightly
A．why B．when C．how D．where
A．lonely B．confused C．alone D．patient
A．calmed B．persuaded C．disappointed D．cheered
A．arranged B．planted C．dried D．hid
A．find B．gather C．receive D．sell