Now, perhaps, more than ever before, people are wondering what life is all about, and what it is for. Seeking material success is beginning to trouble large numbers of people around the world. They feel that the long hours work culture to make more money is eating up their lives, leaving them very little time or energy for family or pastimes. Many are turning to other ways of living and downshifting is one of them. Six percent of workers in Britain took the decision to downshift last year.

　　One couple who downshifted is Daniel and Liz. They used to work in central London. He was a newspaper reporter and she used to work for an international bank. They would go to work by train every day from their large house in the suburbs, leaving their two children with a nanny. Most evenings Daniel wouldn’t get home until eight or nine o’clock and nearly twice a month he would have to fly to New York for meetings. They both earned a large amount of money but began to feel that life was passing them by.

　　Nowadays, they run a farm in the mountains of Wales. “I always wanted to have a farm then,” says Daniel, “and we took almost a year to make the decision to downshift. It’s taken some getting used to, but it’s been worth it. We have to think twice now about spending money on car repairs and we no longer have any holidays. However, I think it’s made us stronger as a family, and the children are a lot happier.

　　Liz, however, is not quite sure. “I used to enjoy my job, even though it was hard work and long hours. I’m not really a country girl, but I suppose I’m gradually getting used to looking after the animals. One thing I do like, though, is being able to see more of my children. My advice for other people wanting to do the same is not to think about it too much or you might not do it at all.”

【河北省武邑中学2016届高考英语一轮复习单元检测：18】相关文章：

★ 【北京专用】2014届高考英语一轮复习方案课时作业：必修3 Unit 3 The Million Pound Bank Note

★ 【浙江专用】2014届高考英语一轮复习课时作业(三十四)选修7Unit 4《Sharing》

★ 天津市武清区杨村第四中学2016届高考英语一轮复习语法专题十三《名词性从句》课件外研版

★ 湖南省长沙县实验中学2016届高三英语二轮复习书面表达复习重点话题指导专题15 生活习惯话题指导（学生版）

★ 【人教版】2014届高考英语一轮复习指导考点针对练：必修5 unit2《The United Kingdom》

★ 【优化方案】2017届高考英语二轮复习全国卷Ⅱ题型重组训练：第19组（含解析）

★ 【北京专用】2014届高考英语一轮复习方案课时作业：选修6 Unit 4 Global warming

★ 2017届高考英语二轮复习大题冲关秘籍阅读理解七选五：考纲解读（含解析）

★ 河南省三门峡市2014高考英语一轮（暑假）基础训练（8）附答案

★ （全国通用）2014届高考英语一轮单元复习 限时强化训练十一