Choosing the Right Resolution
Millions of Americans began 2014 with the same resolution they started 2013 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 construct goals. The alternative is to focus your resolution on the input. Instead of resolving 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 well-specified 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 an exam, aside 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. And it's easier to start again if you fail, because you know exactly what you need to do.
If yo want to cut down on your spending, a good goal would be making morning coffee at home instead of going to a cafe, for example. This is a well-specified action-based goal for which you can measure your success easily. Spending less money isn't a goal because it's too general. Similarly, if you want to spend more time with your family, don't stop with this general wish. Think about an actionable habit that you could adopt and 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 hard to achieve for most Americans |
| B．it is focused too much on the result |
| 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 all the general rules |
| B．they paid more attention to exams |
| C．they were motivated by their classmates |
| D．they were rewarded for reading some books |
According to the writer, which of the following statements is a good goal?
| A．“I'll give up dessert.” |
| B．“I'll study harder.” |
| C．“I'll cut down my expenses.” |
| D．“I'll spend more time with my family.” |
The writer strongly believes that we should .
| A．develop good habits and focus on the outcome |
| B．be optimistic about final goals and stick to them |
| C．pick specific actions that can be turned into good habit |
| D．set ambitious goals that can balance the input and output |
Does handwriting matter? Not very much, according to many educators. However, scientists say it is far too soon to declare handwriting is not important. New evidence suggests that the link between handwriting and educational development is deep.
Children not only learn to read more quickly when they first learn to write by hand, but they are also better able to create ideas and remember information. In other words, it’s not only what we write that matters — but how.
A study led by Karin James, a psychologist at Indiana University, gave support to that view. A group of children, who had not learned to read and write, were offered a letter or a shape on a card and asked to copy it in one of three ways: draw the image on a page but with a dotted outline（虚线）, draw it on a piece of blank white paper, or type it on a computer. Then the researchers put the children in a brain scanner and showed them the image again.
It was found that when children had drawn a letter freehand without a dotted outline or a computer, the activity in three areas of the brain were increased. These three areas work actively in adults when they read and write. By contrast, children who chose the other two ways showed no such effect. Dr. James attributes the differences to the process of free handwriting: Not only must we first plan and take action in a way but we are also likely to produce a result that is variable. Those are not necessary when we have an outline.
It’s time for educators to change their mind and pay more attention to children’s handwriting.What do scientists mean by saying “it is far too soon to declare handwriting is not important”?
| A．Handwriting is not very important to children. |
| B．Handwriting should not be ignored at present. |
| C．Handwriting has nothing to do with education. |
| D．Handwriting can not be learned in a short time. |
Which is NOT the children’s task in the experiment?
| A．Copy the image on a page but with a dotted outline. |
| B．Draw the image on a piece of blank white paper. |
| C．Put a brain scanner and show the image again. |
| D．Type the image directly on a computer. |
What does “that view” in Para. 3 refer to?
| A．How we write is as important as what we write. |
| B．A group of students should know what to write. |
| C．Children create ideas and remember information. |
| D．Children read quickly when they write by hand. |
According to the passage, the author obviously _______ giving up handwriting.
| A．is for | B．doesn’t care about |
| C．is responsible for | D．is against |
Medical Center：
The staff of the Medical Center aim to provide convenient and comprehensive medical care to students and staff of the university. The center is well equipped and the staff here are trained to deal with a broad range of medical problems. Both female and male doctors as well as nursing staff are available for consultation. Also，all kinds of medicines are sold here and are cheaper for students than other drugstores.
Opening Hours：24 hours from Monday to Sunday
Phone：(412)396--6649 Fax：(412)396—6648
Diving Centre：
Our experienced instructors offer one-month courses in deep-sea diving for beginners. There are two evening lessons a week, in which you learn to breathe underwater and use the equipment safely. You only need swimming costume and towel. Reduced rates for couples.
Opening Hours：Monday and Friday：6：30 p．m．—8：30 p．m．
Phone：(412)396—6312 Fax：(412)396—6706
Riding School：
You can start horse—riding at any age. Choose private or group lessons any weekday
between 9 a．m．and 8：30 p．m．(3：30 p．m．on Saturdays). There are 10 kilometers of tracks and paths for leisurely rides across farmland and open country. You will need a riding hat.
Opening Hours：Monday through Friday：9：00 a．m．—8：30 p．m．
Phone：(412)396—6754 Fax：(412)396—6752
Sailing Club：
Our Young Sailor’s Course leads to the Stage 1 Sailing qualification. You’ll learn how to sail safely and the course also covers sailing theory and first aid. Have fun with other course members , afterwards in the clubroom. There are 10 weekly two-hour 1essons (Tuesdays 6 p．m．～8 p．m．).
Opening Hours：Tuesdays：6：00 p．m．—8：00 p．m．
Phone：(412)396—6644 Fax：(412)396—6644
Watersports Club：
We use a two-kilometer length of river for speedboat racing, and water-skiing, A beginners’ course consists of ten 20-minute lessons. You will learn to handle boats safely and confidently, but must be able to swim. The club is in a convenient central position and is open daily from 9 a．m to 4 p．m，with lessons all through the day.
Opening Hours：Monday through Friday：9：00 a．m．—4：00 p．m．
Phone: (412)396—6899 Fax396—6890If you want to swim and enjoy activities which are fast and a bit dangerous, you should join ________ .
| A．Diving Centre | B．Riding School |
| C．Sailing Club | D．Watersports Club |
If you want to experience a new activity in the countryside in the mornings，you may fax ________.
| A．(412)396—6648 | B．(412)396—6752 |
| C．(412)396—6876 | D．(412)396—6706 |
If you are planning to explore the ocean depths, you should attend your lessons at ______ .
| A．Monday through Friday：7：00 a．m．—10：00 p．m． |
| B．24 hours from Monday to Sunday |
| C．Monday and Friday：6：30 p．m．—8：30 p．m． |
| D．Tuesdays：6：00 p．m．—8：00 p．m． |
Which is NOT the convenience that the Medical Center provides?
| A．Nursery for newly-born babies. |
| B．Well trained staff members. |
| C．Good equipment. |
| D．Various less expensive medicines. |
I was going to die in Antarctica, I was certain. A picture of my frost-covered body, pale and lifeless, filled my mind as I glanced around. In all directions spreads the empty wilderness of Antarctica, the only feature being the division between snow and sky. I sadly stared at my team, who were rapidly disappearing from my sight．
It happened in the year 2009 when I was head of an adventure attempting to reach the South Pole. The team was made up of ordinary women from all around the world—from Jamaica, India, Singapore and Cyprus—many of whom had never seen snow, or spent a night in a tent, before we set off. Our aim was to be the most international all-female team to reach the South Pole．
By the time I realized that my sledge was firmly stuck, the team were already a long way ahead of me. I called out to Era, my teammate from Brunei, who was next in line. Getting no response, I called again, but my shouts were carried away in the opposite direction by the wind. I had stood and watched the line for a while as it marched away from me, confident that at any moment one of my teammates would look behind her. Seconds passed. Nothing. I was gradually being left alone．
I pushed my sledge again, my strength suddenly increased when I thought of a cold, lonely death. This time the sledge moved a little. I kicked at the ice with my ski-pole and boot, desperately trying to break the sledge free and pushed again. The sledge shot forward, knocking me off balance. I struggled to my feet and set off after the team．
I caught up just as they realized I wasn't there. As we continued, my panic slowly faded. I found myself laughing to myself as I noticed Reena checking behind her every few paces. In fact for the whole of the rest of the day each member of the team glanced over her shoulder every few minutes. They were not going to risk losing me again.What can we know from the first paragraph?
| A．The author's poor physical condition． |
| B．The wonderful sights of Antarctica． |
| C．The rough natural conditions of Antarctica． |
| D．The author's regret of being left alone． |
What's the main idea of the second paragraph?
| A．Brief introduction about the adventure. |
| B．How the author became the team leader. |
| C．The process of selecting the team members. |
| D．Complete information about the team members. |
What made it possible for the author to get her sledge out of the ice?
| A．The shouts of her teammates. |
| B．The strong desire to live on. |
| C．A sudden change in wind direction. |
| D．The natural beauty ahead in Antarctica. |
Why did the team form the habit of looking behind?
| A．Because they were expecting their team leader's arrival. |
| B．Because their team leader demanded them to do so. |
| C．Because they were afraid there might be danger coming from behind. |
| D．Because they wanted to make sure their team leader was following. |
In the US, people prefer waiting for a table to sitting with people they don’t know. This means a hostess may not seat a small group until a small table is available, even if a large one is. If you are sitting at a table with people you don’t know, it is impolite to light up a cigarette without asking if it will disturb them.
At American restaurants and coffee shops you are usually served tap water before you order. You may find the bread and butter is free, and if you order coffee, you may get a free refill.
Most cities and towns have no rules about opening and closing time for stores or restaurants, though they usually do make rules for bars. Especially in large cities, stores may be open 24 hours a day.
Serving in restaurants is often large, too large for many people. If you can’t finish your meal but would like to enjoy the food later, ask your waitress or waiter for a “doggie bag”. It may have a picture of a dog on it, but everybody knows you’re taking the food for yourself.
Supper and dinner are both words for the evening meal. Some people have “Sunday dinner”. This is an especially big noon meal.
Tips are not usually added to the check. They are not included in the price of the meal, either. A tip of about 15% is expected and you should leave it on the table when you leave. In some restaurants, a check is brought on a plate and you put your money there. Then the waiter or waitress brings you your change.Which statement is true?
| A．American people like sitting with people they don’t know. |
| B．A hostess always seats a small group at a large table. |
| C．American people never sit with people they don’t know. |
| D．American people will not light a cigarette if the people who sit at the same table mind their smoking. |
What is served before you order?
| A．Bread. | B．Butter. | C．Coffee. | D．Cold water. |
What do American people always do when servings are too large for them?
| A．They take the food home with a “doggie bag” for their dogs. |
| B．They leave the food on the table and go away. |
| C．They take the food home with a “doggie bag” and enjoy the food later. |
| D．They ask the waitress or waiter to keep the food for them. |
What can you learn about “tips” according to the passage?
| A．Customers often add tips to their check. |
| B．The price of the meal usually includes the tip. |
| C．People are not expected to pay tips in addition. |
| D．Tips are supposed to be left on the table when customers leave |
Do you like chocolate? Maybe most people do. A box of it can be a great gift. Buy one for a friend and give it as a surprise. See how happy that person gets.
Say you just got a box of chocolate. Which piece do you pick first? A man has studied people’s choices. He says they tell something about the person. Did you choose a round piece? You are a person who likes to party. Did you choose an oval (椭圆形的) shape? You are a person who likes to make things. Picking a square shape shows something else. The person is honest and truthful. You can depend on him or her.
What kind of chocolate do you pick? Maybe you like milk chocolate. This shows you have warm feelings about the past. Dark chocolate means something else. A person who chooses it looks toward the future. What about white chocolate? Would you choose it? If so, you may find it hard to make up your mind. Some people like chocolate with nuts. These are people who like to help others.
Do you believe these ideas? Can candy tell all these things? It doesn’t really matter. There is one sure thing about eaters of chocolate. They eat it because they like it.This passage mainly tells us ______.
| A．why people like chocolate |
| B．almost everyone likes chocolate |
| C．about different kinds of chocolate |
| D．different choices may show different characters |
Picking a round shape of chocolate shows that a person ______.
| A．can be depended on |
| B．likes singing, dancing and drinking |
| C．is good at making things |
| D．likes to do something for others |
From this passage we can say that a helpful man may choose chocolate ______.
| A．with nuts | B．with coffee |
| C．in square shape | D．in oval shape |
The last paragraph suggests that the writer ______.
| A．believes all the information about chocolate |
| B．does not believe the information about candy |
| C．is trying to get you to believe these information |
| D．doesn’t think it important whether you believe the ideas |
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