Question

After the holiday season，our guess is that you are tired from visiting the store and buying gifts. It is easy to get stuck，both spiritually and physically by having too much. This is why minimalism and living simply should be your resolution for 2018.

Economic development results in a lot of consumerism(消 費 ):get a good job,get a nice car, and settle into a beautiful house. But some people say that our lives could use a little lightening these days:We work and work and work to only buy and buy and buy—but does all that material wealth really lead to our happiness?Are we filling our time with unnecessary things，when we should be filling our time with friends，value，and service?

An article from the website，Becoming Minimalist， points out the problem with this cycle(循 環(huán) ) in the best way，“ Nobody really believes happiness is directly tied to the number of things we own. Yet almost all of us live like it. We get stuck in it. We work more hours than ever before， earn more income， but save less.”

Minimalism isn't all about ridding(擺 脫 )consumerism and products from your life. Minimalism is about finding your own sense of self and focusing on the things you love. It is about creating a lifestyle that is focused on only those people and things that enrich you.

These days，minimalistic living can come in many forms. We think the most practical form of minimalistic living for us is to follow our list:How You Can Live Lighter in 2018.

Purge Your Closet:Take a day and clear out all of your drawers and closets. If something doesn't have special meaning or adds no value to your life—give it away. Have only what you need and what you can see.

Test Those Limits:See how long you can go without shopping. Give yourself a limit，whether it be two weeks or six months，whether it be avoiding a certain mall or buying clothes. Then put your self?will to the test. After your allowed time，chances are you will realize all those extra blouses weren't worth it and you will set yourself up for future spending control.

Cut the Cord:This sometimes means giving up your modern technology:TV,cell phone,computer,etc. Limit yourself to only a few hours of TV per week，or only 30 minutes of social media per day. You'll make more time for the things and people that you love and clear out some unnecessary noise from your life.

Live to Your Goals:Find out what your life goals and values are. Then，see what may help you or stop you from achieving this goal. Cut out that which doesn't lead to your happiness and success and add more of what does.

Remember，a pared down lifestyle doesn't mean less success or less happiness. It represents your freedom to focus on the things in life that really matter.

1.The cycle “ people work and work only to buy and buy” shows .

A. people get stuck physically and spiritually

B. people don't believe wealth leads to happiness

C. people don't want to save more

D. people fall in love with buying

2.To practise minimalistic living，you should .

A. give away your drawers and closets

B. go to the shopping mall every six months

C. have 30 minutes of social media per day

D. discover your life goals and values

3.The words “ pared down”in the last paragraph probably mean “ ” .

A. free B. light C. popular D. convenient

4.Which of the following best explains the writer's opinion?

A. It might take you a long time to wait for the “ right”thing.

B. Clear out the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak.

C. Change yourself with the development of society.

D. Freedom is more important than success.

Answer 1