Flash Mob: The Pop Culture
If you see a group of people dancing and singing on the street or in the railway station, you don’t need to feel surprised. They are a flash mob. Who are they? Are they mobs (暴民)? Actually, a flash mob is a group of people who gather suddenly in a public place, do something unusual for a brief period of time, and then quickly separate.
A flash mob is usually organized with the help of the Internet or other digital communications networks. At a predetermined time, they gather and perform some tasks such as exchanging books, coming together to look at the sky, waving their hands and yelling something at the top of their lungs for 30 seconds. Then, they quickly disappear before the police can arrive.
Bill Wasik, senior editor of Harper’s Magazine, organized the first flash mob in Manhattan in May 2003 and the first successful flash mob gathered on June 3, 2003 at Macy’s department store. More than one hundred people stepped onto the ninth floor carpet department of Macy’s department store, gathering around an expensive carpet. Following this flash mob, about 200 people flooded the lounge of the Hyatt hotel and applauded for about fifteen seconds.
Flash mob gatherings can sometimes shock people. Such an activity might seem amusing, but it might also frighten people who are not aware of what is taking place. They also have enormous economic potential, such as using flash mobs to advertise a product.
People use it to do many things. For example, in 2009, Michael Jackson’s fans took part in a flash mob to remember him. Hundreds of his fans gathered outside the railway station in Liverpool. They were singing and dancing Michael’s famous song “Beat It” together. And in another example, some people took part in a flash mob to tell more people not to use negative words.
Flash mobs give people from all walks of life an opportunity to come together to create a memory.
| A．Don’t be confused by their name. |
| B．People are attracted by the silly and harmless activities. |
| C．The flash mob is now becoming more and more popular. |
| D．Using mobile phones, the flash mob can change their gathering place. |
E.A later mob saw hundreds of people in Central Park making bird noises.
F.The messages may be forwarded to friends, who forward to more people.
G.Undoubtedly, flash mobs can serve as good political tools in any direction.
Kids with special needs refer to any kid who might need extra help because of a medical, emotional, or learning problem. For example, kids who can not walk need wheelchairs. They not only need equipment that helps them get around, but they might need to have ramps (坡道) or elevators available. _______
Kids with an illness would have special needs, too. _______ Kids with sight problems might need Braille books to read. Kids with hearing problems might need hearing aids.
______ It might be harder to do normal things—like learning to read or just getting around the school. The good news is that parents, doctors, nurses, teachers, and others can help. The goal is to help kids be as independent as possible.
Other kids also can be a big help. How? By being a friend. Kids who use a wheelchair or have lots of health problems want friends just as you do. But meeting people and making friends can be difficult. _______ Be sure to tell a teacher if you see someone being bullied (欺辱）or teased.
______ Being friendly to kids with special needs is one of the best ways to be helpful. As you get to know them, they may help you understand what it's like to be in their shoes. And you'll be helping fill a very special need, one that everybody has—the need for good friends.
| A．Some kids might laugh at or make fun of them. |
| B．It is good manners to offer help to kids with special needs. |
| C．Life can be challenging for a kid with special needs. |
| D．They also might need to get a special bus to school. |
E. They might need medicine or other help as they go about their daily activities.
F. Also, try to be helpful if you know someone with special needs.
G. Someone could have trouble with anxiety, but you wouldn't know it unless told about it.
Many people think of guys as being carefree when it comes to their appearance. But in fact, a lot of guys spend plenty of time in front of the mirror. .
Body image is a persons opinions and feelings about his or her own body and physical appearance. . You appreciate your body for its capabilities and accept its imperfections.
So, what can you do to develop a positive body image? Here are some ideas:
Recognize your strengths. Different body types are good for different things. What does your body do well? Maybe your speed, strength, or coordination makes you better than others at a certain sport. That may be basketball, table tennis, mountain biking, dancing, or even running. Or perhaps you have non-sports skills, like drawing, painting, singing, playing a musical instrument, writing, or acting. .
Exercise regularly. Exercise can help you look good and feel good about yourself. Good physiques (体形) don’t just happen. . A healthy habit can be as simple as exercising 20 minutes to one hour three days a week. Working out can also lift your spirits.
Respect your body! Practicing good habits --- regular showering; taking care of your teeth, hair, and skin; wearing clean clothes, and so on --- can help you build a positive body image. . Your body is just one part of who you are. Your talent for comedy, a quick wit (智慧), and all the other things make you unique. So try not to let small imperfections take over.
| A．Use this as an opportunity to discover what you’re good at. |
| B．Be yourself. |
| C．They care just as much as girls do about their body image. |
| D．Just explore talents that you feel good about. |
E. They take hard work, regular workouts, and a healthy diet.
F. The good news is that self-image and body image can be changed.
G. Having a positive body image means feeling satisfied with the way you look.
Everybody gets stressed from time to time. Some ways of dealing with stress—like screaming or hitting someone—don’t solve much. But other ways, like talking to someone you trust, can lead you to solving your problem or at least feeling better.
Try taking these four steps the next time you are stressed:
(1) Get support. When you need help, reach out to the people who care about you. Talk to a trusted adult, such as a parent or other relatives. They might have had similar problems, such as dealing with a test, or the death of a beloved pet.
(2) Don’t take it out on yourself. Sometimes when kids are stressed and upset they take it out on themselves. Oh, dear, that’s not a good idea. Remember that there are always people to help you. Don’t take it out on yourself.
(3) Try to solve the problem. After you’re calm and you have support from adults and friends, it’s time to get down to business. Even if you can’t solve it all, you can solve a piece of it.
(4) Be positive. Most stress is temporary (暂时的). Remember stress does go away, especially when you figure out the problem and start working on solving it.
These steps aren’t magic, but they do work. And if you can stay positive as you make
your way through a tough time, you’ll help yourself feel better even faster.
| A．Ask for a helping hand to get you through the tough situation. |
| B．Notice your friends’ feelings and find a way to help them. |
| C．Different people get rid of stress in different ways. |
| D．Ah, it feels so good when the stress is gone. |
E. You need to figure out what the problem is.
F. And don’t forget about your friends.
G. Then, find a way to calm down.
Ways to have a happy school life
Your schooldays should be some of the best and happiest days of your life. How can you gain the most from them, and ensure you do not waste this wonderful opportunity to learn?
Be positive about school. Don't say things are difficult or boring. Join in lots of activities. Go round the school with a big smile.
Expect to work. School is not a holiday camp. If you are not working, you are wasting your time at school, Teachers cannot make everything enjoyable.
Keep fit. If you do not eat a good breakfast, you will be thinking about food in class. If you go to bed late and do not have enough sleep, you will be sleepy in class,
Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today. If you get behind the class, it is very difficult to get back in front. You cannot finish a race if you rest all the time.
Everyone will fail in some tests, lose some matches and have bad days. Don't make small problems seem very big and important.
Set study targets. Try to make progress bit by bit. Think of small targets: "I will speak in class four times this week." or "I will get two more marks this week."
Follow my advice, and have a happy school life!
A. If your last grade was a D, work for a C.
B. We are expected to get a perfect score.
C. Play some sports to keep your body strong.
D. Don't be too disappointed if things sometimes go badly.
E. Be interested in school-life and your school subjects.
F. Do not say you will do things tomorrow.
G. No pains, no gains.
Imagination is the ability to form a mental image of something that is not perceived (感知) through the five senses. It gives the ability to look at any situation from a different point of view, and to mentally explore the past and the future.
Though too much daydreaming may make one impractical, a certain degree of daydreaming provides temporary happiness, calmness and relief from stress.
Imagination is not limited only to seeing pictures in the mind. It includes all the five senses and the feelings. One can imagine a sound, a taste, a smell, a physical sensation or a feeling. Others find it easier to imagine a feeling. And some are more comfortable imagining the sensation of one of the five senses.
A developed and strong imagination never makes you impractical. And it is a great tool for recreating and remodeling your world and life.
Imagination has a great role and value in everyone’s life. It is much more than just idle (懒散的) daydreaming. For example, we use our imagination whenever we plan a party, trip, our work or a meeting. We use it when we describe an event, write a story or cook a cake.
| A．This is actually what most of us do, because we don’t use the power of imagination correctly. |
| B．We all use it, whether consciously or unconsciously, in most of our daily affairs. |
| C．It makes it possible to experience a whole world inside the mind. |
| D．This ability has various forms, one of which is daydreaming. |
E. On the contrary, it strengthens your creative abilities.
F. However, imagination may have some disadvantages.
G. For some people it is easier to see mental pictures.
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