Like every language, American English is full of special expressions, phrases that come from the day-to-day life of the people and develop in their own way.
Our expression today is “to face the music”. When someone says, “Well, I guess I’ll have to face the music,” it does not mean he’s planning to go to the concert. It is something far less pleasant, like being called in by your boss to explain why you did this and did that, and why you didn’t do this or that. Awful music indeed, but it has to be faced. At sometime or another, every one of us has to face the music, especially as children. We can all remember father’s angry voice, “I want to talk to you.” and only because we did not obey him. What an unpleasant business it was!
The phrase “to face the music” is familiar to every American, young and old. It is at least 100 years old. And where did this expression come from? The first explanation comes from the American novelist, James Fenimore Looper. He said, in 1851, that the expression was first used by actors while waiting to go on the stage. When they got their cue(提示) to go on, they often said, “Well, it’s time to face the music.” And that was exactly what they did—facing the orchestra(管弦乐队) which was just below them. And an actor might be frightened or nervous as he moved on to the stage in front of an audience that might be friendly or perhaps hostile, especially if he forgot his lines. But he had to go out. If he did not, there would be no play. So the expression “to face the music” came to mean “having to go through something, no matter how unpleasant the experience might be, because you knew you had no choice.”
Other explanations about the expression go back to the army. When the men faced an inspection(视察) by their leader, the soldiers would be worried about how well they looked. Was their equipment clean, shiny enough to pass the inspection? Still the men had to go out and face the music of the band as well as the inspection. What else could they do?
Another army explanation is more closely linked to the idea of facing the results and accepting the responsibility for something that should not have been done. For example, when a man is forced out of the army because he did something terrible, he is dishonored. The band does not play. Only the drums tap a sad, slow beat. The soldier is forced to leave, facing such music as it is and facing the back of his horse. How many ways does the phrase “to face the music” comes from?
| A．1. | B．2. | C．3. | D．4. |
What’s the meaning of “to face the music”?
| A．To face something far less pleasant. | B．To face the stage. |
| C．To face the back of one’s horse. | D．To face one’s leader. |
The underlined word “hostile” means ________.
| A．unfriendly | B．dislike | C．unkind | D．unnecessary |
Have you ever had a doctor write you a prescription(处方) for three laps around a local trail（小径）? How about a prescription for sit-ups?
These treatments may not be as typical as the drugs that are usually used to treat our problems, but maybe they should be: a new report shows that regular exercise can be just as effective as prescription drugs for patients with depression and anxiety.
“Individuals who exercise report fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression, and lower levels of stress and anger, “ said the paper’s co-author, Jasper Smith, director of the Anxiety Research and Treatment Program at Southern Methodist University. “ Exercise may help patients with depression re-establish positive behaviors. For patients with anxiety disorders, exercise reduces their fears of fear and related bodily sensations such as a racing heart and rapid breathing.”
In a separate study, published in Physical Therapy journal, scientists studied 161 women who’ d recently given birth to babies, and decided them into two groups. New mothers tend to develop post-partum depression(产后抑郁), and the scientists wanted to find out whether exercise could prevent such problems. One group of women was given specialized exercises as part of an eight-week parenting education program, while the other was given only written education. The physical element seemed to do the trick; the researchers report that the number of women identified as “at risk” for post-partum depression was reduced by half in the exercising group.
Another recent study shows that even when a patient has a chronic illness like cancer or a heart condition, regular exercise can dramatically increase wellbeing by reducing anxiety. Researchers from University of Georgia analyzed 40 clinical trials involving almost 3,000 patients, and found that the patients who reported exercising regularly had a 20% reduction in symptoms of anxiety compared to those who didn’t exercise. As a result, they were more likely to follow their recommended treatment plan.
Of course, there are still some situations where prescription drugs are necessary, and we recommend you leave it to your doctor to determine when that may be. But in many cases, the best medicine may simply be to get up off the couch and go for a walk.Which of the following is the common method to treat depression and anxiety?
| A．Drug. | B．Exercise | C．Run. | D．walk |
Why does the writer mention another two studies?
| A．To compare the two studies to find their similarities. |
| B．To prove the theory: regular exercise can reduce people’s depression and anxiety. |
| C．To compare Jasper Smith’s study with the two ones. |
| D．To help those suffering from depression and anxiety get rid of them. |
What is the text mainly about?
| A．Why should we take more exercise? |
| B．Several studies about the problem of depression and anxiety. |
| C．Regular exercise can reduce the symptoms of depression and anxiety. |
| D．The relationship between regular exercise and physical health. |
A murder will occur this weekend in the peaceful seaside town of Langley, Washington. In fact, a murder has occurred there every February for the past 25 years. But don’t panic! It’s all part of the town’s yearly Mystery Weekend.
What began as a local event in 1984 now attracts visitors from over the U.S. and even abroad. Would-be detectives（侦探）arrive and check in at the visitor center on Saturday. There, they receive a packet, including a newspaper with details about the crime and information telling where to find clues（线索）. Participants then travel to various shops, restaurants and other downtown locations, picking up clues as they go. Along the way, they encounter and interview suspects played by local townspeople. Most Langley residents participate in some way in the Mystery Weekend, a true community（社区）event.
Amateur detectives have until Sunday at 4:00 p.m. to solve the crime and turn in their guesses. Then as everyone gathers, the murderer is found and arrested, and prizes are awarded for correct answers. It’s the perfect ending for a murder mystery and enormous fun for those who get to play detective.
For visitors, Mystery Weekend is not only fun but also a great introduction to the charms of Langley. It’s a very attractive community with historic buildings, exciting ocean views and above all, friendly people. Since Langley is on an island, a fun way to get there is by taking a car ferry to the nearby town of Clinton and then driving the rest of the way. Langley has a delightful selection of inns with bed and breakfasts that are open all year round. And activities in Langley aren’t limited to Mystery Weekend. There is also great hiking, biking, golfing and diving to enjoy. And for a special adventure, visitors can book on one of the whale – watching ships that leave nearby harbors each day.The second paragraph mainly tells us ________.
| A．where participants can pick up the clues |
| B．how the detectives try to clear up the case |
| C．when Mystery Weekend came into being |
| D．what people do during Mystery Weekend |
How can you get to Clinton according to the passage?
| A．By car. | B．By train. | C．By boat. | D．By plane. |
According to the passage, visitors in Langley can _____.
| A．book B& B inns open throughout the year to their own taste |
| B．take a ferry to Clinton for a special adventure |
| C．enjoy a wide variety of recreation like dancing and singing |
| D．feel secure to watch whales performing |
We learn from the text that Mystery Weekend_____ .
| A．aims to decrease crime rate |
| B．is an annual local event |
| C．is intended for detectives |
| D．offers visitors a chance to make money |
No one wants to look silly or do the wrong thing at a new job. It is important to make the right impression from the very first day. You will face new people. You will be in a new place. It may be difficult to know what to do. Here are five tips to help you make it through the first days at a new job:
1．First impressions can last forever. Make sure you make a good one. Before your first day, find out if your new job has a dress code (rules about what you can wear to work). If so, be sure to follow it. No matter what, always be neat and clean.
2．Get to work on time. Give yourself an extra 15 minutes to make sure you arrive on time.
3．Pay attention to introductions. One of the first things that your supervisor may do is to introduce you to co-workers. These co-workers will be important to you. They are the ones who will answer your questions when the boss is not around.
4．Ask a lot of questions. Make sure that your supervisor has told you what is expected of you. If he or she has not told you your duties, ask for a list. Set daily and weekly goals for yourself.
5．Never be the first one to leave. Observe what your co-workers do around quitting time (下班时间). It does not look good for you to be eager to leave.Before you arrive at work, you should __________.
| A．dress in a right way |
| B．introduce yourself quickly |
| C．know your duties |
| D．know your co-workers well |
According to the passage, which of the following statements is TRUE?
| A．You should be the first one to arrive at work. |
| B．You should ask your co-workers for your duties. |
| C．You should not be eager to go back home. |
| D．You are required to arrive 15 minutes earlier. |
In the fourth paragraph, the underlined word “supervisor” may be a “ ”
| A．visitor | B．teacher | C．workmate | D．leader |
What is the best title for this passage?
| A．Getting a New Job |
| B．Tips on How to Work |
| C．The First – day Work Tips |
| D．The Importance of Co-workers |
There are thousands of products of all colors and shapes in a supermarket, making you believe that they are worth a try．How? Packaging is the silent but persuading salesman．
There on the shelves, each bottle, can ,box, and jar has been carefully designed and measured to speak to the inner self of the consumer, because he/she is buying not only a product but also his/her belief in life．Scientists have studied consumer behavior recently and found that the look of the package has a great effect on the “quality” of the product and on how well it sells, because “consumers generally cannot tell between a product and its package．Many products are packages and many packages are products．”, as Louis Cheskin, the first social scientist studying consumers’ feelings for packaging, noticed．
Colors are one of the best tools in packaging．Studies of eye movement have shown that colours draw human attention quickly．Take V8 for example．For many years, the bright red color of tomatoes and carrots on the thin bottle makes you feel that it is very good for your body．And the word “green” today can keep food prices going up．
Shapes are another attraction．Circles often suggest happiness and peacefulness, because these shapes are pleasing to both the eye and the heart．That’s why the round yellow M signs of McDonald’s are inviting to both young and old．
This new consumer response to the colors and shapes of packages reminds producers and sellers that people by to satisfy both body and soul．According to the passage, _____ seems to be able to persuade a consumer to buy the product．
| A．the pleasing color of the package |
| B．he special taste of the product |
| C．the strange shape of the package |
| D．the belief in the product |
If a package or a product is round in shape, it can ____________．
| A．bring excitement to the consumers |
| B．attract the consumers’ attention |
| C．catch the eye movement of the consumers |
| D．produce a happy and peaceful feeling |
“And the word green today can keep food prices going up ” This sentence suggests that consumers today are _________．
| A．starting to notice the importance of new food |
| B．enjoying the beauty of nature more than before |
| C．beginning to like green vegetables |
| D．paying more attention to their health |
It can be inferred from the passage that V8 is a kind of ________．
| A．vegetable dish | B．healthy juice |
| C．iced drink | D．red vegetable |
When you were a child you had a pure mind which was free from worries and anxieties. However, as time goes by, you’re faced with so many problems in life. Below are five techniques that can help you get relaxed.
1. Mind your own business.
Yes, please mind your own business. When you start being concerned about things which are not related to you, you lose your control on your thought process, which often has negative results disturbing the mental peace. Basically, your mind starts wandering here and there. So next time an unnecessary thought comes to your mind, think whether this is really something you should be worrying for? If not, keep it away and focus on something positive, practical and fruitful.
2. Surround yourself with positive people.
Overlook negative comments and stay away from negative souls. When someone is negative, he spreads negativity and you get affected. Staying with such people will have long term influence on your character so think about your company.
3. Don’t think about others too much.
Remember: Small minds discuss people; Average minds discuss events; Higher minds discuss ideas and Great minds act in silence. Don’t allow your brain to compare yourself to others as this is an insult (侮辱) to yourself. Don’t be jealous; it’s a heart killing disease, get rid of it as soon as possible. When you are jealous you focus on finding faults in others even if they don’t have. This poisons your soul and steals the mental peace.
4. You can’t keep everyone happy.
Don’t be oversensitive (过于敏感的). Be natural in what you do. Be positive and constructive in your deeds and then don’t really care too much about others. Be aware, don’t apply this to too closed relations. Develop trust to build up powerful relationships.
5. Don’t believe yourself to be unlucky.
Remember this: Bad luck happens to everyone. It’s not your fault at all. Time, whether good or bad, passes quickly. Develop the power of not looking back into your past. Believe in the power of Now. Believe in your skills. Work hard and you will get what you have been entitled for. Be patient and see what has been planned for you.
With these recommendations, I believe if you can make it, it’s probable that you can bring changes in your lifestyle and get back your mental peace.This passage is written for those who want to _________.
| A．seek learning skills |
| B．find positive people as friends |
| C．make their mind pure |
| D．get mentally peaceful and relaxed |
The underlined word “Overlook” can be replaced by _________.
| A．Ignore | B．Pass | C．Master | D．Support |
The underlined sentence means _________.
| A．People with different minds do different things |
| B．people should discuss different aspects of life |
| C．people should never compare themselves with others |
| D．people should never be jealous, or they’ll be poisoned |
Which of the following should NOT be done according to the five techniques?
| A．Stay with positive people. |
| B．Care about the business of strangers. |
| C．Be sincere with others and never care too much about them. |
| D．Believe in the magic power of what the present can bring you. |
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