1 . When you hear the word “culture”, you may think of nations or societies.     1     What is family culture? It is the combination (结合) of values, expectations, and experiences that describes a family and shapes the way its members get along with each other.

Everyone has a unique culture that determines who they are as a person. Your family culture helps you understand your traditions and explains the reason for your behavior every day. It’s important to you.     2     A deeper sense of unity and togetherness is important for a family culture. The following will help you understand how to uncover your cultural story with your family.

    3     You can find out what your family’s values are and what they stand for by looking at the traditions around those values. You can do this by talking to people you respect in your family or by using some simple Internet searches. Through looking into your family’s history, you will understand the context of their culture.

After this, it’s time to write a detailed description of your family’s culture.     4     So you need to take your time with this step. In this description, you need to give a specific account of your family’s culture, traditions, values, and history.

The last step is to share it with people. You can talk to your family about their culture and let them know that you’ve written down what they are like. You can also talk to friends who know little about your family’s culture.     5    

Exploring your family’s culture is an exciting process that will bring new meaning to everything you’ve ever held dear. So start your journey of uncovering it right now!

A．This is a key part of the process.

B．But every family has a culture, too.

C．Know how to talk with your family.

D．Start by researching your family’s history.

E．It also contributes to your family togetherness.

F．Then they can start a process of self-exploration.

G．So they will know better what your family is all about.

2 . For working parents with busy schedule, mornings are hell: preparing meals, ironing clothes, feeding the children, packing lunches, ensuring everyone has what they need for the day... But I’m pleased to say my perspective on mornings is sunnier than most parents, though being woken at 6 am by kids was hardly a welcome addition to the night owl like me.

The different views first arise partly from opinions on television. I don’t see the harm in letting my kids watch a bit of television before school, so long as they still make time to get dressed, eat breakfast and brush their teeth. This balance took years to achieve: a routine steadily drilled into them via daily practice -pause the TV program with complaints and screams-to fulfil each everyday activity; but, now they’ve observed that the quicker they perform their essential tasks, the quicker their entertainment will restart.

With morning necessities completed with speed and proficiency, then comes the 15-minute walk to school. In our family, it’s me and the dog who do the school run, and it’s actually one of my favourite times of the day. This quarter of an hour provides me privileged access to my kids when they’re at their freshest; rather than at the end of the day, when they’re tired, hungry and annoyed. They ask stimulating questions, “How is ice cream made?” “How long would it take to drive to Mars?”, but they usually can’t hear my answers over the drowning noise of the traffic.

Best of all, there’s the walk back: just me and the dog, enjoying the silence. A moment to recharge and reset, ahead of a day’s work, and I am grateful for the joy of my family, and perhaps more grateful still that someone has just taken them off my hands for the day. Oh, what a beautiful morning!

1. What do mornings mean to most working parents?

A．Peaceful moments.

B．Welcome additions.

C．Impressive memories.

D．Rushed routines.

2. How has the author’s family achieved a balance in their morning tasks?

A．With regular alarm.	B．With strict rules.
C．With a tight schedule.	D．With freedom and self-discipline.

3. Why does the author enjoy the 15-minute walk to school?

A．He can keep his children fit by walking.

B．He can spend quality time alone with children.

C．He can usually find a low-carbon way to get to school.

D．He can satisfy his children’s curiosity with his answers.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Parenting at Noon.	B．Reuniting with Children.
C．Walking on Sunshine.	D．Scheduling in the Morning.

3 . Dusting is particularly annoying. Nearly two-thirds of household dust content comes from the outdoors, some of which may contain harmful chemicals. So, keeping your home as dust-free as possible is important to improve overall health.     1    ？

In general, you should dust your home’s most exposed surfaces on a weekly basis. This means items such as tables, shelves, beds, dressers, counter-tops and windows.     2    . Use microfiber or natural-fiber cloths that will pick up the dust.

Change your bed sheets weekly, as dust mites (螨) especially love bedding.     3    . Every three to six months, clean behind and under furniture, and wash your bedding.

Since so much dust comes in from the outdoors, you can cut down on the amount gathering in your home by keeping doors and windows closed as often as possible, and placing carpets on both sides of doors.     4    , changing them for a pair of slippers or private house shoes.

Get rid of odds and ends, which can easily attract dust, and be careful how you handle clothes. Since clothes both collects dust and sheds (掉落) fibers, regularly wash any clothes or don’t throw clothing on the ground.

When you’re getting ready to clean a room, always work from the top down.     5    , the dust on the highest surfaces will drift down to everything you’ve just cleaned.

A．If you dust from the bottom up

B．How can we keep the home dust-free

C．Why should we keep the home dust-free

D．You can remove your shoes when you come home

E．You can buy some new shoes before you return home

F．Don’t use feather dusters that simply push the dust around

G．Items that don’t collect dust easily can go a month without cleaning

4 . How to Create a Home First Aid Kit

Emergencies can happen anytime, anywhere, so having a properly stocked first aid kit in your home is an easy but essential part of good emergency preparation. Here are some useful tips for you to personalize your own first aid kit.

Pick a good container. You can buy pre-filled first aid kits, and you can also buy empty first aid kit containers.    1    One good choice is a large, water-resistant, flexible plastic container with either a zipper (拉链) closure or a lid. Lunchboxes are also another good option.

    2    When your child is crying about a wound on her knee, you don't want your home kit buried on the back of a closet. Establish a clearly-defined, consistent spot for your first aid kit, on a visible closet shelf, for instance, and inform everyone in your home of its location.

Teach your family about the kit.     3     For younger children who shouldn’t try to use the items in the kit, teach them where it is located, so they could show a visitor, relative, babysitter, etc. For older children and adults, instruct them on when to retrieve (收回) the kit and how to use the various items in it.

Keep your kit up-to-date. No one wants to fetch a first aid kit and find the bandage box empty or the painkillers expired.     4     You’ve probably heard that you should check the batteries in your smoke detectors. This would also be a good opportunity to check the status of your first aid kit and restock it as needed.

Create a checklist to include with the kit. Stock your first aid kit and record every item on a sheet of paper you can keep it in the kit. Record amounts and expiration dates next to the listed items on the checklist you include in your kit.     5    

A．Make sure anyone who retrieves the kit knows what it includes and does not include.

B．Make sure everyone in your home knows the location of the kit and when to retrieve it.

C．Make your kit safely accessible.

D．But you almost already have a perfectly good first aid kit container in your home.

E．Keep track of supply amounts and expiration dates regularly.

F．Make your kit clearly recognizable.

G．Or you can buy a first aid kit in the store.

5 . Your family may have special traditions, particularly during this time of year as the holidays approach. Whether making cookies or watching a favorite holiday movie, these traditions can help you feel closer to the people you love. You can enjoy established traditions or create new ones together.     1    .

Consider current traditions.

Think about the traditions your family already has, then write them down. For example, shared traditions might be going to a favorite ice cream stand on vacation every summer or making a cherished family recipe.     2     There could be some they might have forgotten but may enjoy reviving (重新记起).

    3    

Next, gather the thoughts you and your family may have for brand-new traditions. Add those ideas to your list. For instance, you could discuss making a special once-a-year outing, like going to a nice restaurant. Traditions can also be super simple. For example, on Thanksgiving Day, you could volunteer at a soup kitchen to serve others. Also consider beginning new food traditions.

Get your relatives on board.

    4    . Think about who those people are in your family, whether it’s a parent, aunt, uncle, or grandparent. They can help you with creating the “guest list” for any special family gathering, picking a date and time, and planning a video call with loved ones who may live far away but still want to share in the fun.

Create a keepsake (纪念品).

Celebrating traditions is a great way to create family memories that last forever.     5     Then you can display one in a frame to remind your family all year long of the fun you had. You can also create a special DIY craft (工艺) or scrapbook. These visual reminders can strengthen the bond within the family.

A．Brainstorm new ideas.

B．Here’s how to get started.

C．Experience the joy of family gatherings.

D．Try to contact as many distant relatives as possible.

E．Consider taking photos while you’re spending time together.

F．Many families have members who love to organize and bring everyone together.

G．Ask older adults in your family what traditions they remember participating in as children.

6 . Children develop their habits and attitudes(态度)about money from their parents and how money is managed at home.

Giving kids pocket money is a great chance to teach children the value of money and help them understand about saving, spending and donating. Giving your children money can help them to make money decisions.     1    or save it up for something bigger. Paying pocket money is not appropriate for every family, so it is up to you if you prefer to use other ways to teach your children about money. Which jobs you pay for and the ones you don’t will be different from family to family.     2    .

Getting to know which family tasks you pay your kids for is important. Family jobs that you might not pay your children for could be things like setting the table for dinner,making their bed, washing up and tidying their room.     3    , like sorting washing, or sweeping the floors. Pocket money could be paid to encourage a good work ethic(伦理). If you set certain tasks for your kids and the tasks are not completed, you could choose not to pay pocket money for those jobs or pay them less.     4     .That is:you only get paid in full when you complete the job properly.

    5    . It’ll help you get an idea about what other people are doing. You can find out what jobs they pay their kids for, how much they are paying and how often they pay their kids. Getting other parents’ opinions can help you work out a system that suits your family.

A．Here are some suggestions

B．This will teach them a lesson

C．Talking to other parents can be useful

D．Managing å child’s pocket money is important

E．They can choose whether to spend their money now

F．There’re many reasons for not giving children·pocket money

G．Paid jobs could be tasks that a parent would have to do if they don’t do

7 . Your family may have special traditions. Whether making cookies, walking around to enjoy colorful lights, or watching a favorite holiday movie, these traditions can help you feel closer to the people you love.     1     Here’s how to get started.

Think about the traditions your family already has, then write them down. Ask older adults in your family what traditions they remember participating in as children.     2    

Next, gather the thoughts you and your family may have for brand-new traditions.     3     For instance, you could discuss making a special once-a-year outing, like going to a nice restaurant or seeing a show.

    4     Think about who those people are in your family. They can help you with creating the “guest list” for any special family gathering, picking a date and time, and choosing the setting. They can also help you plan a video call with loved ones who may live far away but still want to share in the fun.

Celebrating traditions is a great way to create family memories that last forever. Consider taking photos while you’re spending time together. If you try a new tradition, take time afterward to reflect on it. Did your family enjoy it? Is there anything you would do differently next time? The point of a tradition is to like it so much that you want to do it again.     5    

A．Add those ideas to your list.

B．Traditions can be super simple.

C．Therefore, keep up the traditions once you establish them.

D．You can enjoy established traditions or create new ones together.

E．It’s also OK to change it in a way that works best for your family.

F．Many families have members who love to bring everyone together.

G．There could be some they might have forgotten but may enjoy reviving.

8 . Improving your family life can help make your family members closer and prevent conflicts from getting in the way of everyone’s happiness.    1    Fortunately, there are lots of concrete steps you can take to make your time with your family more enjoyable and fulfilling.

Have meals together as often as possible.

Parents work and kids have after-school activities, so it’s tough to have breakfast and dinner together every day. However, do your best to eat together as often as possible.    2    When someone gets home from work or practice late, sit down with them while they have dinner, even if you’ve already eaten. Spending time together and having a conversation is more important than eating at the same time.

Do household chores together.

Few people actually enjoy doing chores, but sharing household responsibilities can help everyone in your family take pride in your home.    3    . For instance, whoever finishes folding their laundry first might get to pick out the movie you’ll watch together. Divide chores up into age-appropriate categories. After dinner, your youngest could wipe the table, your oldest could fill the dishwasher, and you could put away leftovers.

Avoid comparing your family to those you see on social media.

It can be easy to believe that because other people always look happy in their pictures and videos, they always feel that way.    4    If you start to envy someone else’s family, just remind yourself that you don’t know what their life is really like, and they likely have family arguments and other issues just like everyone else. Remember, even if someone else’s family takes more vacations or has more expensive things, it doesn’t mean they’re any happier than you and your family are.

Avoid harsh criticism and judgments.

Give each other permission to express emotions and act silly without fear of criticism or judgment.    5    If you’re a parent, offer positive, constructive criticism, and try to discourage your children from harshly judging each other. Instead of saying, “No, that’s not how you do that,” say, “Good try, but let me help you do this the right way.”

A．Remember, every family needs to work to keep their relationships healthy and strong.

B．When people expect harsh judgment, they tend to bottle things up and avoid sharing their feelings.

C．However, navigating family relationships requires patience, understanding, and effective communication.

D．Family meals are a key routine that helps you stay involved in each other’s lives.

E．When you are stressed, you’re more likely to make harsh judgments.

F．Try to make it as fun as possible, such as by playing music or having contests.

G．Developing a chore system in your family’s routine can make a big difference.

9 . Clever Ways to Organize Your Refrigerator

When you’re watching your grocery budget, a refrigerator can be your best friend. It’s great for people who only occasionally have time to cook. Because you can either buy ready-made meals or make up big batches periodically and divvy them up for convenient weeknight meals. The issue, of course, is freezer organization. Having wonderful food on hand is just annoying if you can’t actually find it when you want it!     1    

iDesign Linus Divided Refrigerator Storage Bin

A lot of the convenience foods we put into the refrigerator come in boxes.     2     This is because they tend to slide around and fall over. A clear storage bin with dividers (分隔物), like the one from iDesign, is just what you need.     3     So it’s small enough to be a good fit for refrigerators. The divider means boxed items will still stand upright. In most refrigerators, you’ll be able to fit two or more as needed, and they’ll slide out for easy access to items at the back.

YouCopia FreezeUp Refrigerator Bin

Another type of “problem packaging” is the stand-up, zipper-seal bags that many kinds of fruit and vegetables are sold in. They’re convenient to use, but there’s not really a good way to pile or organize them when they go back into the refrigerator. This refrigerator bin from YouCopia, with its four or six removable dividers, is just the thing to keep them in line. It’s clear and has a low wall at one side.     4     You can put those packages in and take out of the refrigerator without effort.

Removable Refrigerator Food Labels

Physical organizing isn’t the only kind you’ll need to do to get the most out of your refrigerator and its contents.     5     In this case labels will be needed. Labeling everything that goes into your refrigerator will help you keep track not just of the contents of each bag and package, but also to know which items need to be used up in which order. These labels from Chinco are just the thing. They’ll stick to storage bags or containers made of plastic and glass, but after they’ve been used, they’ll peel off easily and leave no residue (残留) behind.

A．It’s popular due to its small size.

B．It’s just 11 inches deep and 5 inches wide.

C．So it’s easy to see what you’ve got.

D．You need to make full use of your refrigerator.

E．Small boxes in particular can be a pain to store.

F．Now we have got the clever solutions to the problem.

G．You’ll also need to keep track of what’s in there.

10 . Dear Tom,

I’m going to Shanghai tomorrow morning. I plan to go shopping this afternoon, but I will be busy and maybe I will work late in the evening, so I need your help. Could you please go shopping for me this afternoon? Here are the things I need.

＊ a kilo of oranges ＊ some apple juice ＊ white sports shoes (Size 37) ＊ a notebook ＊ a black pen ＊ a purple T-shirt (Size M)

Oh, remember to buy some chocolate for our daughter Maggie. The money is in my handbag. It is on the wall, behind the door.

Thanks for helping!

Love,

Lucy

1. Why does Lucy need Tom’s help?

A．Because she is tired.	B．Because she isn’t fit.
C．Because she isn’t free.	D．Because she isn’t happy.

2. What doesn’t Tom need to buy?

A．Some apple juice.	B．A purple T-shirt.
C．A kilo of oranges.	D．A watch.

3. Where is Lucy’s handbag?

A．Behind the desk.	B．On the wall.
C．Behind the table.	D．Behind the chair.

4. Who is Tom?

A．Lucy’s father.

B．Lucy’s brother.

C．Lucy’s son.

D．Lucy’s husband.

5. Which of the following statement is TRUE?

A．Lucy wants a red pen.	B．The chocolate is for Tom.
C．The size of Lucy’s shoes is 37.	D．Tom is going to Shanghai tomorrow.