1 . In modern cities, it is now time as much as space that separates urban functions, as people’s lives are lived not only to different timetables, but also at wildly different rates. The mass timetable of the industrial city, with 9-5 office hours and silent Sundays, has gone. In its ______ is flexi-time, part-time working, Sunday shopping and the 24-hour city.

European cities are ______ these changes perhaps faster than British cities. In at least half a dozen cities in Italy, ______, you will find the Uffici Tempi--the Offices of Time. What they do is try to reorganise time more flexibly in the city, in order to meet new needs. This is particularly relevant for Italian women, an increasing number of whom have to ______ two timetables: work and home. Usually located in the Mayor’s office, the Uffici Tempi bring together transport providers, shop-owners, employers, trade unions, the police and other services to see how their efforts might be better ______. The main aim in all this is to increase the efficiency and productivity of the city. This can mean delaying the starting tunes in schools, offices and factories to avoid rush hours, or having shops opening later in the day but closing later too. One further ______ is that there can be more police about in the evening, patrolling the streets when people most need them.

In a number of German cities, people have been ______ whether the timetable of the future city should be 6x6 or 4x9--working hours, that is. Apparently male workers favour a four-day week, while women workers, on the other hand, favour ______ shorter working days. This would give employees more time in the afternoon to be with children or to get the shopping.

The ______ for public services to adapt to our changing lifestyles has been quite difficult for some of the staff involved. ______, who likes working evenings or Sundays? Nevertheless, many city centres are now open for shopping seven days a week, and a number of them now promote themselves as ‘24-hour cities’, where those with money can drink, eat, dance and even shop the whole ______.

Time is flexible, but buildings aren’t. The ______ between the structure of the city and its uses, over time, is a serious architectural and planning problem. ______ has become the key skill. We are slowly ______ the terms of dormitory suburbs and industrial districts, in favour of mixed- use areas, out-of-town retailing and working from home. There is no doubt that planning theory is being ______ by the changing nature of time in the modern city.

3 . Today the car is the most popular sort of transportation in all of the United States. It has completely _______ the horse as a means of everyday transportation. Americans use their cars for _______ 90% of all _______ business. Most Americans are able to buy cars. The average price of a _______ made car was 20,050 in 1950, 25,470 in 1960 and up to 30,750 _______ 1975. During this period American car manufacturers set about _______ their products and work efficiency. As a result, the yearly income of the _______ family increased from 1950 to 1975 less than the price of cars. For this reason _______ a new car takes a smaller _______ of a family’s total earnings today. In 1951 __________ it took 8.1 months of an average family’s __________ to buy a new car. In 1962 a new car cost 8.3 of a family’s annual earnings, by 1975 it only took 4.75 __________ income. In addition, the 1975 cars were technically superior to models from previous years. The __________ of automobile extends throughout the economy __________ the car is so important to Americans. Americans spend more money keeping their cars __________ than on any other item.

7 . In July, in Moss Point, Mississippi, a heroic act unfolded. Three teenage girls found themselves in a(n) _________ situation when they drove their car off a boat ramp (舷梯) and into the Pascagoula River. The driver had blindly _________ incorrect GPS directions, leading them into the _________.

Corion Evans, a 16-year-old who was hanging out with friends nearby, saw what happened and realized he _________ to help. In the dark, Evans and two brothers made their way to the river’s edge and saw the _________ catching the roof of the sinking car. Evans _________ jumped into the water, even though he _________ there were alligators (鳄鱼) in the area. He _________ brought the first girl to safety on the shore.

A police officer named Garry Mercer _________ and also jumped into the river to assist. However, one of the girls __________ and pulled Mercer underwater. Evans didn’t hesitate to jump back in and help both of them until they could stand. __________, another girl, Cora Watson, who couldn’t swim, was struggling to stay afloat. Evans heard her cries for __________ and managed to save her as well.

All three girls and Officer Mercer were taken to the __________ but were eventually released. Evans’ mother, Marquita Evans, wasn’t __________ with him for breaking curfew (宵禁) because he had a good reason — __________ lives.

9 . John Utsey went hiking with his two children one Saturday in August. While strolling along a trail (小路) in New Mexico’s Santa Fe National Forest, they heard someone calling out. About 600 yards away, they found a man ______ on the ground. He had spent 14 days waiting for ______ to arrive.

Two weeks earlier, the man ______ his back in the forest. Unable to stand or walk, he had to wait and hope ______ hikers would find him. As more days passed, he ______ by filling a water bottle from a stream by his side. When John found him, it was ______ that he wouldn’t be able to ______ for much longer.

After giving him all their food and water, John and his kids ______ back to the trailhead. The moment they had reception, John called 911. When the rescuers arrived, he ______ them straight to the ______ .

Because the man was in such bad ______ they built a fire to raise his body temperature before they tried to ______ him. The rescue team carried the man back down the trail. After nine long hours, he was ______ out of the woods!

Now, he’s getting the best ______ possible at a local hospital, where he can rest ______ and hopefully make a full recovery.

10 . Every Christmas, the firm I worked for raised money for disadvantaged kids. I’d dress up as Santa and ______ out with some colleagues to deliver gifts. Some years ago, we were returning and ______ right in front of the lights as they turned red.

I became aware of a car coming up behind us at speed. It ran ______ another vehicle and then they both came to a stop. I asked my workmates to ______ the police and fire department. In order not to put others at risk, I turned my truck sideways(向旁边) to block the traffic. Then I jumped out and ran to the cars. There was a loud bang and flames shooting from one car’s front. As a volunteer ______ , I knew the car’s battery had ______ and that there was no time to lose. Still wearing my costume, I ______ to tear the door open and walked the driver over to the safety of my truck.

Other than some cuts, he was fine. I left him with my workmates and went to check on the driver of the other car. ______ , he was also unhurt. Then I headed back to direct traffic around the ______ vehicle until the emergency services arrived. The first two police officers on the ______ laughed as they jumped out of their car. “What’s happened here, Santa? OK, you probably have ______ to make,” one of them said. “We will ______ from here.”

Weeks after the accident, I agreed to meet the guy I’d ______ from the car in a local park, where he was sitting with a girl, his daughter, Amber. It ______ out that she had been estranged(疏远的) from her mum and dad, but ______ home after the accident. What’s more, she was the girlfriend of Jordan, my son.