While Jeanne and Paul are generally a happily married couple, they do struggle over one point of (1)
. They disagree as to how their family should observe religious holidays.
“The emphasis on presents,” says Jeanne, “has made the season (2)
for all those mercenary retailers who overcharge at holiday time. Also, people who should be watching their expenses create unnecessary (3)
s in their budgets by squandering money on unimportant gifts.” She complains that exchanging presents at Christmas is practically (4)
, whether or not one believes in the holiday’s religious significance. Jeanne (5)
s to keep her home free of all such nonreligious customs and thus wants her children to (6)
from traditions such as gift-giving and dyeing Easter eggs. She feels the family’s money would be better spent if it were donated to a (7)
organization for helping the poor. Some of Jeanne’s neighbors assume that she is a(n) (8)
because of her lack of holiday spirit. They are wrong, however. Jeanne believes deeply in God and is (9)
with a church.
While Paul understands Jeanne’s concerns, he prefers the conventional way of celebrating holidays. “Children enjoy the customary (10)
s that are connected with the holidays,” he says. “What would Christmas be without a visit to Santa and gifts under the tree? What would Easter be without colorful eggs and an Easter egg hunt? These are pleasant practices that enhance the joy of the season.”
1. contention
2. lucrative
3. deficit
4. obligatory
5. abstain
6. abstain
7. charitable
8. Scrooge
9. affiliated
10. tradition