【原创】Recently a series of reports appeared online in the United States and the United Kingdom lamenting(叹息) the “Lazy French”. A new labor law in France had apparently banned organizations from e-mailing their employees after 6 p.m. In fact, it turned out to be more a case of “lazy journalists” than “lazy French”: as The Economist explained, the “law” was not a law at all, but a labor agreement aimed at improving health among a group of professionals.
Brits and Americans have long suspected that the French are goofing off(吊儿郎当) while they – the good corporate soldiers—continue to toil away. They are proud about it, too. In the age of the smartphone, there’s no such things as “downtime”(停工期), and we claim that we are happier—and more productive – for it.
Are we, though? After reviewing thousands of books, articles and papers on the topic and interviewing dozens of experts in different fields, I don’t think so. When we are checking business news in bed or responding to co-workers. But, actually, we’re mostly just getting the small, easy things done. Being busy is not equal to being effective.
And let’s not forget about the surrounding play, which often distracts us from accomplishing our most important tasks. Facebook and Twitter report that their sites are most active during office hours. After all ,the employee who’s required to respond to her boss on Sunday morning will think nothing of responding to friends on Wednesday afternoon. Constant connection means that we’re “always at work”, yes, but also that we’re “never at work”—fully.
Some parts of the workforce do rely on constant connection. But others should be given proper breaks. The great technology historian, Melvin Kranzberg, said, “Technology is neither good nor bad, and nor is it neutral(中立的).” That statement should become a real principle of the information age. We must actively decide on our levels of technology engagement at different times to maximize productivity, success and happiness.The author mentions “lazy French” at the beginning of the passage in order to __________.
| A．criticize them for how they work |
| B．introduce the subject of working styles |
| C．show the way they work |
| D．explain how they differ from Americans and Brits |
Why did the author review many materials and interview many experts?
| A．It was his work to do that. |
| B．He needed to prepare plenty of materials for his work. |
| C．He wanted to prove that his working style was correct. |
| D．He wanted to find out which way of working was better. |
What can we conclude from the passage?
| A．We should make better use of technology. |
| B．Being busy makes us happier and more productive. |
| C．Small tasks can be done at home, but important ones must be done in the office. |
| D．In terms of working style, we should learn from the French. |
We all make excuses.
But the successful ones are those who can kill the excuses like the miserable maggots they are.
I’m too tired. I don’t have the time. I don’t feel motivated. I’d rather do nothing. I don’t have the money, equipment, space. I can’t because …
We’ve all made the excuses. Here’s how to kill them.
See the positive. Excuses are usually made because we don’t feel like doing something — we’re accentuating the negative. Instead, see the fun in something, the joy in it. And maintain a positive attitude, or you’ll never beat the excuses.
Take responsibility. Excuses are ways to get out of owning up to something. If we don’t have the time, money, equipment, etc., then it’s not our fault, right? Wrong. Take responsibility, and own the solution.
Find a solution. Just about every problem has a solution. Don’t have time? Start with just 5-10 minutes. Make the time. Wake earlier. Do it during lunch. Don’t have the energy? Do it when you have higher levels of energy. You’re smart. Figure out the solution.
See your goal. This is your motivation — your reason for doing it. Sure, you could just lay on the couch, but if you think about why you really want to pursue a goal, you’ll be motivated. Visualize that goal and just get started.
Be accountable. Have a workout partner, a project partner, a team, someone to report to. If you have to meet a coach or partner, you’re more likely to do something.
Watch this. Then go an do it. How many tips mentioned in the text to prevent excuses?
| A．Four | B．Three | C．Six | D．Five |
The second paragraph is developed mainly by _______
| A．providing common examples. |
| B．following the order of time. |
| C．making comparisons of excuses. |
| D．analyzing common excuses |
The definition of the underlined word” visualize” would most probably be ______
| A．to view the outline of something by means of an X-ray. |
| B．to weaken or spoil the quality or efficiency of something. |
| C．to form a mental image of something incapable of being viewed. |
| D．to express the formal image of something capable of being seen. |
Why do you need a partner according to the passage?
| A．because you are likely to make a report to someone. |
| B．because it’ll be more possible for you to do something wih a partner. |
| C．because you need a coach to help you do something. |
| D．because you like to do something with a partner or a coach. |
With so many unique attractions, world-famous museums and skyscrapers, there is always plenty to do in New York. However, sightseeing in New York City might not be the easiest or the cheapest experience.
This is why our team of real, life-long New Yorkers have created the New York Pass. If you want to discover the best of what this amazing city offers as well as save time and money during your visit, the New York Pass is something you should be interested in. In 2012, New York Passes have been used over 2,500,000 times. Get your Pass today and join the big savings it offers:
| Product |
Original Price |
| One-day adult pass |
$85 |
| One-day child pass (age 4-12) |
$60 |
| Two-day adult pass |
$130 |
| Two-day child pass (age 4-12) |
$110 |
| Three-day adult pass |
$180 |
| Three-day child pass (age 4-12) |
$140 |
| Seven-day adult pass |
$230 |
| Seven-day child pass (age 4-12) |
$165 |
The purpose of this passage is to _________.
| A．promote New York Pass |
| B．introduce New York Pass |
| C．introduce New York attractions |
| D．show New York attractions tickets fee |
What could be the lowest price for a Three-day adult pass and a Two-day child pass?
| A．$290. | B．$246.5 . | C．$263. | D．$ 273.5. |
Which of the following is true about New York Pass?
| A．Its holders can save up to $1300 entrance fees. |
| B．Its holders needn’t pay for the attractions it covers. |
| C．Its holders needn’t queue to enter the attractions it covers. |
| D．It can be picked up at Times Square at any time after you order it. |
The underlined phrase “are entitled to” most probably means “are given________ of”.
| A．the name | B．the privilege | C．the title | D．the honor |
Even a small reduction in salt in the diet can be a big help to the heart. A new study used a computer model to predict how just three grams less a day would affect heart disease in the United States.
The result: 10% fewer heart attacks, 8% fewer strokes, 4% fewer deaths, 11% fewer new cases of heart disease, and 240 billion dollars in health care savings.
Researchers found it could prevent 100,000 heart attacks and 92,000 deaths every year.
The study is in the New England Journal of Medicine. Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo at the University of California, San Francisco was the lead author. She says people would not even notice a difference in taste with three grams, or one half teaspoon, less salt per day. The team also included researchers at Stanford and Columbia University.
Each gram of salt contains four hundred milligrams of sodium（钠）, which is how foods may list their salt content.
The government says the average American man ears ten grams of salt a day. The American Heart Association advises no more than three grams for healthy people. It says salt in the American diet has increased fifty percent since the nineteen seventies, while blood pressures have also rise. Less salt can mean a lower blood pressure.
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is leading effort called the National Salt Reduction Initiative. The idea is to put pressure on food companies and restaurants. Critics call it government interference.
Mayor Bloomberg has already succeeded in other areas, like requiring fast food places in the city to list calorie information. Now a study by the Seattle Children’s Research Institute show that the calorie information on the menu can influence what parents order for their children.According to the passage, what disease is not related to salt in diet?
| A．Cancer. | B．Stroke. | C．Blood pressure. | D．Heart attack. |
It can be inferred from the passage that________.
| A．all the heart diseases result from eating too much salt |
| B．the American Heart association suggest less than 3 grams of salt a day for everyone |
| C．how much salt is contained in certain food is measured by the amount of sodium |
| D．the less salt one eats, the healthier he will be |
The National Salt Reduction Initiative aims to________.
| A．attract the public attention to the problem |
| B．require fast food places to list salt information |
| C．inform people of the harm that salt does to health |
| D．put pressure on food companies and restaurants |
The last paragraph mainly tells us________.
| A．Bloomberg has made some other efforts to improve people’s health |
| B．Bloomberg is very successful in his career |
| C．parents must pay great attention to calorie information |
| D．a new study is being done about calorie information |
Rocky Lyons was five years old when his mother, Kelly, was driving along the country road with him. He was asleep on the front seat of their truck, with his feet resting on her lap. As his mom drove carefully down the winding country road, she turned onto a narrow bridge. The truck hit a rock and slid off the road. She attempted to bring it back up onto the road by pressing hard on the gas pedal and turning the steering wheel to the left. But Rocky’s foot got caught between her leg and the steering wheel and she lost control of the truck.[ X.JTYJY.COM/]
The truck fell into a 20-foot ravine（峡谷）. When it hit bottom, Rocky woke up. “What happened, Mama?” he asked. “Our wheels are pointing toward the sky.”
Kelly was seriously wounded and blinded by blood. “I’ll get you out, Mama,” announced Rocky, who had surprisingly escaped injury. He climbed out from under Kelly, slid through the open window and tried to yank（用力拉）his mother out. But she didn’t move.
“Just let me sleep,” begged Kelly, who was out of consciousness. Rocky insisted, “Mom, you can’t go to sleep.”
Rocky managed to push Kelly out of the truck and told her he’d climb up to the road and stop a car to get help. Fearing that no one would be able to see her little boy in the dark, Kelly refused to let him go alone. Instead they slowly moved up to the road. The pain was so great that Kelly wanted to give up, but Rocky wouldn’t let her.
Rocky kept repeating the inspirational phrase, “I know you can, I know you can.” When they finally reached the road, Rocky broke into tears seeing his mother’s torn face clearly for the first time. Waving his arms and shouting, “Please stop!” the boy stopped a truck. His mother was sent to hospital.
It took 8 hours to rebuild Kelly’s face. She looks quite different today---“I used to have a straight long nose, thin lips and high cheekbones; now I’ve got a flat cheeks and much bigger lips”--- but she has few scars and has recovered from her injuries.
Rocky’s heroics were big news. Everyone was surprised at this little boy’s power. “It’s not like I wanted it to happen,” The boy explained. “ I just did what anyone would have done.” “If it weren’t for Rocky, I’d have died,” said his mother.According to the text, Rocky and Kelly _________ .
| A．were lost on a country road |
| B．had limited time to find their way |
| C．were involved in a truck accident |
| D．knew little of what happened to them |
When he woke up, Rocky ___________ .
| A．was frightened by his mother’s blood |
| B．found his mother had fallen asleep |
| C．was stuck against the door of the truck |
| D．found the car was turned over |
What happened to Kelly at last?
| A．She passed away. |
| B．She survived and recovered from injuries. |
| C．She became a hero. |
| D．She had a different life. |
What is the best title for the text?
| A．A Boy and His Mother | B．How to Behave Well？ |
| C．I Think I Can | D．Nothing is Lost |
When students and parents are asked to rate(排名) subjects according to their importance, the arts are unavoidably at the bottom of the list. Music is nice, people seem to say, but not important. Too often it is viewed as only entertainment, but certainly not an education priority(优先). This view is shortsighted. In fact, music education is beneficial and important for all students.
Music tells us who we are. Because music is an expression of the people who create it, it reflects their thinking and values, as well as the social environment it came from . Rock music represents a lifestyle just as surely as does a Schubert song. The jazz influence that George Gershwin and other musicians introduced into their music is obviously American because it came from American musical traditions. Music expresses our character and values. It gives us identity(身份) as a society.
Music provides a kind of perception(感知)that cannot be gained any other way. Science can explain how the sun rises and sets. The arts explore the emotive(情感的)meaning of the same phenomenon(现象). We need every possible way to discover and respond to our world for one simple but powerful reason: No one way can get it all.
The arts are forms of thought as powerful as maths and science. They are ways we human beings “talk” to each other. They are the language of civilization(文明) through which we express our fears, our curiosities, our hungers, our discoveries, our hopes. The arts are ways we give form to our ideas and imagination so that they can be shared with others. When we do not give children some important way of expressing themselves such as music, we take away the meanings that music expresses from our children.
Science and technology do not tell us what it means to be human. The arts do. Music is an important way we express human suffering, happiness, the meaning and value of peace and love.
So music education is far more necessary than people seem to realize.According to Paragraph 1, students
| A．regard music as a way of entertainment |
| B．disagree with their parents on education |
| C．view music as an overlooked(被忽视的) subject |
| D．prefer the arts to science |
In Paragraph 2, the author uses jazz an example to
| A．compare it with rock music |
| B．show music identifies(身份) a society |
| C．introduce American musical traditions |
| D．prove music influences people’s lifestyles |
According to the passage, the arts and science .
A. approach the world from different angles(角度)
B. explore different phenomena of the world
C express people’s feelings in different ways
D. explain what it means to be human differently What is the main idea of the passage ?
| A．Music education deserves(值得) more attention. |
| B．Music should be of top education priority(优先). |
| C．Music is an effective communication tool. |
| D．Music education makes students more imaginative. |
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