About ten years ago when I was an undergraduate in college in New York, I was working as a practice student at my University’s Museum of Natural History. One day while I was working at the cash register in the gift shop, I saw an elderly couple come in with a little girl in wheelchair.
As I looked closer at this girl, I saw that she was seated on her chair. I then realized she had no arms or legs, just a head, neck and the trunk of the human body. She was wearing a little white dress with the patterns of red roses and yellow dots.
As the couple wheeled her up to me I was looking down at the register. I turned my head toward the girl and gave her a wink(眨眼示意). As I took the money from her grandparents, I looked back at the girl, who was giving me the most beautiful, largest smile I have ever seen
All of a sudden her handicap was gone and all I saw was this beautiful girl, whose smile just melted me and almost instantly gave me a completely new sense of what life is all about. I immediately felt full of hope and confidence. She took me, a poor, unhappy college student, into her world, a world of smiles, love and warmth.
That was ten years ago, but I still remember it clearly as if it happened just yesterday. I’m a successful business person now and whenever I get down and think about the troubles of the world, I think about that little girl and the remarkable lesson about life that she taught me.What was the writer a decade ago?
| A．A worker working in a university. |
| B．A teacher teaching in a college. |
| C．A clerk working in a museum. |
| D．A university student who had not yet taken a degree. |
What does the underlined world “handicap” in Paragraph 4 probably mean?
| A．Life difficulty. | B．Troublesome problem. |
| C．Failure in work. | D．Physical disability. |
How did the writer probably feel before meeting the disabled girl?
| A．She felt full of hope. |
| B．She was filled with confidence. |
| C．She felt unhappy because of poverty. |
| D．She felt life was beautiful. |
Which of the following title suits this passage best?
| A．A Disabled Girl. |
| B．A Disabled Girl’s Smile. |
| C．Full of Hope. |
| D．Full of Confidence. |
Millions of Americans began 2015 with the same resolution (决定) they started 2014 with, a goal of losing weight. However, setting weight loss as a goal is a mistake.
To reach our goal of losing weight — the output, we need to control what we eat —the input (输入). That is, we tend to care about the output but not to control the input. This is a bad way to achieve goals. The alternative is to focus your resolution on the input. Instead of determining to lose weight, try an actionable resolution: “I’ll stop having dessert for lunch,” or “I’ll walk every day for 20 minutes.” Creating a goal that focuses on a specific (具体的) input will likely be more effective than concentrating on the outcome.
Recently a new science behind incentives (激励), including in education, has been discussed. For example, researcher Roland Fryer wanted to see what works best in motivating children to do better in school. In some cases, he gave students incentives based on input, like reading certain books, while in others, the incentives were based on output, like results on exams. His main finding was that incentives increased achievement when based on input but had no effect when based on output. Fryer’s conclusion was that the incentives for inputs might be more effective because students do not know how to do better on exam, apart from general rules like “study harder”. Reading certain books, on the other hand, is a well-set task over which they have much more control.
As long as you have direct control over your goal, you have a much higher chance of success. For instance, if you want to spend more time with your family, don’t stop with this general wish. Think about an actionable goal that you could stick to, like a family movie night every Wednesday.
In the long run, these new goals could become a habit.The writer thinks that setting weight loss as a goal is a mistake because _________.
| A．it is focused too much on the result |
| B．it is hard to achieve for ordinary people |
| C．it is dependent on too many things |
| D．it is based on actionable decisions |
In Roland Fryer’s research, some students did better than the others because ________.
| A．they obeyed the general rules of learning |
| B．they benefited from reading certain books |
| C．they attached more importance to exams |
| D．they were greatly inspired by their instructors |
According to the writer, which of the following statements is a good goal?
| A．“I’ll study harder than before.” |
| B．“I’ll cut down my expense.” |
| C．“I’ll spend more time with my family.” |
| D．“I’ll walk every day for 15 minutes.” |
The writer strongly believes that we should __________.
| A．be optimistic about final goals and stick to them |
| B．focus more on the outcome and form good habits |
| C．create general goals that can balance the input and output |
| D．take specific actions that can be turned into good habits |
Here is some must-know information from a handbook on how people behave in doing business in some countries.
In Brazil
Brazilians are warm and friendly. They often stand close when talking and it is common for them to touch the person on the shoulder. People often greet each other (particularly women) with light cheek kisses. Schedules tend to be flexible, with business meetings sometimes starting later than planned. But to be safe, be on time. Meals can last for hours—there’s no such thing as rushing a meal in Brazil.
In Singapore
Singaporeans shake hands when they meet and often also greet each other with a small, polite bow. Arriving late is considered disrespectful. So be on time. Efficiency (效率) is the goal, so meetings are fast-paced. Singaporeans are direct in their discussions, even when the subject is about money. Rank is important and authority is respected. People avoid disagreeing outright with someone with a higher rank.
In the United Arab Emirates
In the UAE, status is important, so the most senior or oldest should be greeted first with their titles. The handshake seems to be longer than elsewhere. So, do not pull away the handshake. People do not avoid entertaining in their homes, but they also hold business meals at restaurants. Touching or passing food or eating with your left hand is to be avoided.
In Switzerland
The Swiss tend to be formal and address each other by last name. They also are respectful of private lives. You should be careful not to ask about personal topics. Punctuality (守时) is important, so arrive at any meeting or event a few minutes early to be safe. The Swiss follow formal table manners. They also keep their hands visible at the table and their elbows(肘部) off the table. It is polite to finish the food on your plate.The passage mainly deals with ________.
| A．various types of communication |
| B．the atmosphere in workplace |
| C．living conditions and standards |
| D．customs and social manners |
Why do Singaporeans avoid arguing with their boss?
| A．They regard efficiency as the most important. |
| B．They dislike face-to-face communication. |
| C．They are supposed to obey the person of a higher rank. |
| D．They are used to having a fast-paced and direct talk. |
In which country do people care about where to put their hands at the dinner table?
| A．In Brazil. | B．In Singapore. |
| C．In the United Arab Emirate. | D．In Switzerland. |
Let's do some sleep math. You lost two hours of sleep every night last week because of a big project due on Friday. On Saturday and Sunday, you slept in, getting four extra hours. On Monday morning, you were feeling so bright-eyed, and you only had one cup of coffee, instead of your usual two. But don't be cheated by your energy: You’re still carrying around a heavy load of sleepiness, or what experts call “sleep debt”.
Sleep debt is the difference between the amount of sleep you should get and the amount you actually get. It’s a deficit that grows every time we remove some minutes off our nightly sleep. “People get more and more sleep debt without noticing it,” says William Dement, founder of the Stanford University Sleep Research Centre. Studies show that such short-term lack of sleep leads to a foggy brain, worsened eyesight, and trouble remembering. Long-term effects include obesity, and heart disease. A survey reports that we’re losing one hour of sleep each night—more than two full weeks of sleep each year.
The good news is that, like all debts, sleep debt can be paid off with some work. Adding an extra hour or two of sleep a night is the way to catch up. For the long-term lack of sleep, take it easy for a few months to get back into a natural sleep pattern(模式). Go to bed when you are tired, and allow your body to wake you in the morning naturally (no alarm clock allowed).
As you pay off sleep debt, your body will come to a rest at a sleep pattern that is particularly right for you. Sleep researchers believe that although the exact genes (基因) remain to be discovered, genes do determine our individual sleep patterns. That probably means you can’t train yourself to be a “short sleeper” and you’re fooling yourself if you think you’ve done it, so earn back that lost sleep and follow the orders of your inner sleep needs. When you put away sleep debt, you become a superman.The example of sleep math is used to show___________.
| A．how you build up your sleep debt |
| B．how you can pay off sleep debts at weekends |
| C．why you need enough sleep every night |
| D．why you should drink coffee to stay energetic |
What does the underlined word “deficit” in paragraph 2 refer to?
| A．full sleep | B．light sleep |
| C．deep sleep | D．lack of sleep |
Those in sleep debt for a long time are likely to suffer from____________.
| A．failing eyesight | B．poor memory |
| C．weak heart | D．weight loss |
It’s impossible to train oneself to be a “short sleeper” because _________.
| A．one can only get their energy during long sleep |
| B．how one sleeps is determined when they were born |
| C．one will feel tired if their sleep is less than needed |
| D．one sleeps more when developing a natural sleep pattern |
My name is Amy. I’m a 25-year-old graduate student who likes yoga, home-decorating shows and eating spoonfuls of peanut butter straight from the jar. Oh yeah, and I’m an iPhone addict.
I wasn’t always an addict. In fact, for many years I told myself I didn’t want a fancy cellphone. They seemed like too much work, always ringing and demanding attention. I was perfectly content with my simple cellphone, and I didn’t feel like changing my mind any time.
However, about a year ago, I found myself envious of all those proud iPhone owners, holding their shiny new phones and showing them off to all their friends. I started to eavesdrop on conversations about “iPhone apps”, feeling like a tourist listening to a language I couldn’t speak.
Eventually I couldn’t ignore my iPhone instinct (本能) any longer, and I welcomed my new iPhone into my life. I instantly fell in love with the little bundle of joy, and could no longer imagine a life without it.
To my surprise, I suddenly found myself with a whole new circle of friends—other iPhone owners I could go to for advice and support as I learned the various functions of my new device. They responded to my iPhone-related queries when my other friends couldn’t, and didn’t roll their eyes when I bragged（吹牛）about all the things little Eloise (yes, I named her) could do.
For a couple months I built my new life with Eloise. However, I realized I had a problem when one day I found myself Google-mapping my way to my mailbox, which happens to be right outside my front door.
When I reflected upon the past few months, I couldn’t believe I didn’t see this coming. All the warning signs were there. Eloise slept right beside me and was the first thing I reached for in the morning. I checked my e-mail about 20 times a day. I also experienced attachment anxiety when I left poor Eloise in the changing room at the gym. What if she rang and needed my response? Or, even worse, what if a careless gym-goer knocked her out of my bag and caused her screen to crack?
Once I admitted I had a problem, things started to change. What used to feel like friendly messages now felt like constant complaining to respond. I hated that I could no longer leave the house without Eloise in my hand. Eventually, I felt angry with Eloise so much that I wanted to throw her at the wall.
I decided something had to be done. But, as I quickly realized, iPhones are like cigarettes and not easy to quit.
Then, while taking the bus to work one day, I was unexpectedly forced to quit—at least temporarily. When I reached into my purse to grab Eloise, I found her overcome by fever. My head swam with panic as I attempted to solve the problem, but without result. I couldn’t call anyone for advice. I couldn’t Google whether this had happened to any fellow iPhone owners. The Apple Store was closed by the time I finished work, so I headed home with fear into an Eloise-less night. But, after a couple hours without any text alerts, push notifications, or even good old-fashioned phone calls, I felt ... calmer. Without my electronic bed partner, I drifted off into the deepest sleep I’d had in months. The next morning, I read the news from the simplicity of the newspaper, instead of from my iPhone. I even noticed the cherry blossoms blooming.
My goodness, what had I been missing? The passage is mainly about ___________.
| A．how I changed my attitude towards iPhone |
| B．why I was content with my iPhone |
| C．how my simple cellphone changed my lifestyle |
| D．why I preferred to use iPhone eventually |
The phrase “ eavesdrop on” ( Paragraph 3) is closer in meaning to __________.
| A．adapt suddenly to | B．join unwillingly in |
| C．listen secretly to | D．argue fiercely in |
IPhones’__________ can not be listed among the reasons why the writer was addicted to it.
| A．diverse application | B．excellent service |
| C．bundle of joy | D．good company |
When did the writer get to know that she had to tear herself away from her iPhone?
| A．She needed her iPhone to lead her to the mailbox. |
| B．She slept with her iPhone beside her every night. |
| C．She checked and read her e-mails too frequently. |
| D．She dared not leave her iPhone alone at the gym. |
What message does the writer pass on at the end of the passage?
| A．She considered throwing away her iPhone regretful. |
| B．She looked forward to starting her new life with Eloise. |
| C．She thought it of little benefit to have a simple cellphone. |
| D．She was aware that she had to kick the habit of being addicted to her iPhone. |
How often one hears children wishing they were grown up, and the old wishing they were young again! Each age has its pleasure and its pains, and the happiest person is the one who enjoys what each age gives him without wasting any time in useless regrets.
Children is a time when there are few duties to make life hard. If a child has good parents, he is fed, looked after, and loved whatever he may do. It’s impossible for him to be given so much again in his life without having to do anything in return. Besides, life is always giving new things to the child. A child finds pleasure in playing in the rain, or in the snow. His first visit to the seaside makes him wild. But a child has his pains; he is not so free to do as he wishes. He is continually being told not to do this, not to do that, or being punished for what he has done wrong. His life is therefore not perfectly happy.
When the young man starts to make his own living, he becomes free from the rules of school and parents; but at the time he is forced to accept duties. He can no longer expect others to pay for his food, his clothes and his room, but has to work if he wants to live comfortably. If he spends most of his time playing about in the way that he used to as a child, he will go hungry. And if he breaks the law of society as he used to break the laws of his parents, he may go to prison, lf, however, he works hard, keeps out of trouble, and has good health, he can have the great happiness of seeing himself make steady progress in his job and of building up his own position in society.
Old age has always been thought of as the worst age to be, but it is not necessary for the old to be unhappy. With old age should come wisdom and the ability to help others with advice wisely given. They can have the joy of seeing their Children making progress in life; they can watch their grandchildren growing up around them and, perhaps, best of all, they can, if their life has been a useful one, feel the happiness of having come through the battle of life safely and of having reached a time when they can lie back and rest, leaving others to continue the fight. The main reason children wish they were grown up, and the old wish they were young again is that ___________.
| A．both are satisfied with the strong points at their ages |
| B．both enjoy the strong points at the other age by looking back or looking forward |
| C．the human beings should be like this |
| D．regrets and happiness both exist whether they are young or old |
According to the second paragraph, the writer thinks that __________.
| A．life for a child is comparatively easy |
| B．a child should enjoy the equal freedom with seniors |
| C．if much is given to a child, he is expected to do something in return |
| D．a child’s greatest dissatisfaction lies in the trouble he makes |
Which of the following is NOT needed for a youth man to be happy?
| A．Hard work. | B．freedom from troubles. |
| C．Wealth. | D．Health. |
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