Everyone procrastinates．We put things off because we don’t want to do them, or because we have too many other things on our plates．Putting things off—big or small—is part of being human.
But procrastination does have consequences．When your procrastination leaves you feeling discouraged, it is time to take action, and one of the best ways to get rid of it is to make an un-schedule.
An un-schedule is a weekly calendar of all the ways in which your time is already accounted for．You consider not only your timed commitments such as classes and meetings, but also your untimed activities such as meals, exercise, time with friends, and the like．Once you have made your un-schedule, you may be able to see your time is often filled with more activities than you realize, for instance, that you really don’t have five hours to spend writing on the night before your paper is due．Procrastinators’ views of time tend to be unrealistic, and the un-schedule can help you outline a realistic plan．By planning accordingly, you will not only get a better night’s sleep, you may also end up with a better paper．
The un-schedule might also be a good way to get started on a larger project, such as a term paper or an honors paper．You may think that you have “all semester” to get the writing done, but if you really map out how much time you have available to write on a daily and weekly basis, you will see that you need to get started sooner, rather than later．In addition, the un-schedule may reveal especially busy weeks or months, which will help you budget time for long-term projects.
Perhaps most importantly, the un-schedule can help you examine how you spend your time．You may be surprised at how much time you spend watching television, and decide to make a change．It’s especially important that you build time for fun activities into your un-schedule．Otherwise, you will procrastinate in order to steal time for relaxation.
You can also use the un-schedule to record your progress towards your goal．Reward yourself for your small successes．Seeing what you’ve achieved will help reinforce（强化）the productive behavior, and you will feel more motivated in the following process.
As you explore ways to conquer procrastination, don’t expect overnight transformation．You developed the habit over a long time; you aren’t going to stop magically．But you can change the behavior, bit by bit．If you start to make an un-schedule now, you will eventually develop new habits．
From Paragraph 2, we can know that procrastinators __________.
| A．usually have sleeping problems |
| B．tend to be unrealistic in daily life |
| C．spend more time in doing exercise |
| D．often fail to notice untimed activities |
Which of the following statements best reflects an un-schedule?
| A．“Now I have more time for fun.” |
| B．“I can start my big project later.” |
| C．“I’ll treat myself to a movie for my progress.” |
| D．“I’m going to have more time to finish my paper.” |
According to the writer, people need to make an un-schedule because of their __________．
| A．interests in doing things differently |
| B．determination to try out new things |
| C．inability to manage time properly |
| D．lack of concentration on a project |
The author writes the passage to __________.
| A．show concerns |
| B．offer suggestions |
| C．express dissatisfaction |
| D．make comments |
In our life, we have rarely expressed our gratitude to the one who’d lived those years with us.In fact, we don’t have to wait for anniversaries to thank the ones close to us—the ones so easily overlooked. If I have learned anything about giving thanks, it is this: give it now！While your feeling of appreciation is alive and sincere, act on it. Saying thanks is such an easy way to add to the world’s happiness.
Saying thanks not only brightens someone else’s world, but it also brightens yours. If you’re feeling left out, unloved or unappreciated, try reaching out to others. It may be just the medicine you need.
Of course, there are times when you can’t express gratitude immediately. In that case don’t let embarrassment sink you into silence—speak up the first time you have the chance.
Once a young minister, Mark Brian, was sent to a remote parish of Kwakiutl Indians in British Columbia. He had been told that the Indians did not have a word for thank you. But Brian soon found that these people had exceptional generosity. Instead of saying thanks, it is their custom to return every favor with a favor of their own, and every kindness with an equal or superior kindness. They do their thanks.
I wonder if we had no words in our vocabulary for thank you, would we do a better job of communicating our gratitude? Would we be more responsive, more sensitive and more caring?
Thankfulness sets in motion a chain of reaction that transforms people all around us—including ourselves, for no one ever misunderstands the melody of a grateful heart. In the first paragraph the writer mainly encourages us .
| A．to express our sincere thanks timely to those around us |
| B．never to overlook our close friends in daily life |
| C．to wait for a proper occasion to show our gratitude |
| D．to increase the world’s happiness by saying thanks |
When we say something for what others do for us, it ______.
| A．is good for both us and people who help us |
| B．benefits the people who do something for us |
| C．wastes our and our friends’ time at the same time |
| D．does harm to both us and people who help us |
According to the writer, could be the best way to prevent ourselves from being left out.
| A．seeing a doctor to find the right medicine we need |
| B．expressing our gratitude in an easy way |
| C．speaking up the moment we have the chance |
| D．showing others actively we are willing to help them |
Mark Brain’s story is mentioned in the passage in order to show the fact that .
| A．the Indians didn’t have any words for appreciation |
| B．the Indians were particularly generous to others |
| C．some people may express their gratitude through different approaches |
| D．Mark Brain set the Indians an example to show saying thanks is very important |
237 West Palmdale Boulevard
Fresno, California 93706
AmToy Corporation
Suite 15
TransAm Building
San Francisco, California 94115
November 20,2010
Dear Sirs,
As a concerned parent, I am writing to protest your recent advertisement for Electro-Robo seen in local media in California. Specifically, I am referring to newspaper and magazine ads (attached to this letter) published the week of November 15.
Children respond to your type of advertising in an immature way; that is, they are unable to understand how expensive some toys are for middle class parents. Further, your product is violent in nature. Your advertisement gives children the impression that it’s fine to have “two guns and laser eyes.” You also suggest that children need your toy to protect them “when you go outside.” This is not a healthy attitude for children to have.
I hope you will stop advertising your product in such a way that may harm our children.
Sincerely yours,
(Mrs.) Alma Hernandez
President, Parents for Non violent Toys
Enclosed Advertisement:
| It’s Here! Ready for You, Now! It’s Electro Robo! Every boy dreams of being in control of a robot, and AmToy can make your dream come true! Electro-Robo is the world’s first fully automatic robot with radio control. Standing 80 centimeters tall, Electro-Robo is like a friend at home. He can walk, talk, and even shake your hand! He has two guns and laser eyes to help you defend yourself when you go outside with him. Every boy needs Electro-Robo! Ask your Mom and Dad to buy Electro-Robo for your birthday or for Christmas, which is coming up soon. Imagine that you are in control of your friend for life, Electro- Robo! Available at all toy stores and department stores NOW! |
What is the purpose of the letter?
| A．To complain about a broken toy. | B．To order a gift for Christmas. |
| C．To oppose the advertising. | D．To apply for a job in a toy company. |
Why does the writer of the letter feel that Electro-Robo is violent?
| A．It bears arms. | B．It is expensive to buy. |
| C．It is 80 centimeters tall. | D．It is controlled by radio waves. |
Electro-Robo can do all the following EXCEPT________.
| A．shaking hands | B．sitting down | C．talking | D．walking |
I was waiting for a phone call from my agent. He had left a message the night before, telling me that my show was to be canceled. I called him several times, but each time his secretary told me that he was in a meeting and that he would call me later. So I waited and waited, but there was still no call. Three hours passing by, I became more and more impatient. I was certain that my agent didn’t care about my work, and he didn’t care about me. I was overcome with that thought. I started to shout at the phone,“ Let me wait, will you? Who do you think you are?”
At that time I didn’t realize my wife was looking on. Without showing her surprise, she rushed in, seized the phone, tore off the wires, and shouted at the phone, “Yeah! Who do you think you are? Bad telephone! Bad telephone!” And she swept it into the wastebasket.
I stood watching her, speechless. What on earth?
She stepped to the doorway and shouted at the rest of the house, “Now hear this! All objects in this room — if you do anything to upset my husband, out you go!”
Then she turned to me, kissed me, and said calmly, “Honey, you just have to learn how to take control. ” With that, she left the room.
After watching a crazy woman rushing in and out, shouting at everything in sight, I noticed that something in my mood had changed. I was laughing. How could I have trouble with that phone? Her antics helped me realize I had been driven crazy by small things. Twenty minutes later my agent did call. I was able to listen to him and talk to him calmly. Why did the author shout at the telephone?
| A．He was mad at the telephone. | B．He was angry with his agent. |
| C．He was anxious about his wife. | D．He was impatient with the secretary. |
What did the author’s wife do after she heard his shouting?
| A．She threw the phone away. | B．She shouted at him. |
| C．She called the agent. | D．She said nothing. |
What made the author laugh?
| A．His changeable feelings. | B．His wife’s suggestion. |
| C．His own behavior. | D．His wife’s sweet kiss. |
What does the underlined word “antics” refer to?
| A．Smart words. | B．Anxious feelings. |
| C．Surprising looks. | D．Unusual actions. |
After moving to the United States , immigrant groups trying to fit in tend to choose high calorie fatty foods in an attempt to appear more American , a new study finds . That’s one reason why immigrants approach US levels of obesity within 15 years of moving to America.
The researchers also did an experiment that measured whether or not the threat of appearing un-American influenced respondents’ food choices . After being questioned about their ability to speak English , 75 percent of Asian-Americans identified a typical American food as their favorite. Only 25 percent of Asian-Americans who had not been asked if they spoke English did the same.
When their American identiy was called into question during a follow-up study, Asian-American participants also tended to choose typical American dishes , such as hamburgers and cheese sand wiches In that experiment , 55 Asian-Americans were asked to choose a meal from a local Asian or American restaurant . Some participants were told that only Americans could participate in the study. Those who chose the more typical American fare ended up consuming an extra 182 calories , including 12grams of fat and 7 grams of saturated fat(饱和脂肪).
“People who feel like they need to prove they belong to a culture will change their habits in an attempt to fit in , ”said Sauna Cheryan ,an anthor of the study and assistant professor of psychology at the University of Washington.” If immigrants and their children choose unhealthy American foods over healthier traditional foods across their lives , this process of fitting in could lead to poorer health .Cheryan added.
Social pressures , the study concluded , are at the heart of the problem. “In American society today , being American is associated with being white . Americans , who don’t fit this image even if they were born here and speak English , feel that pressure to prove that they’re American,” said Cheryan.The author wants to show that .
| A．more and more Asians enjoy high-calorie snacks |
| B．immigrants tend to eat American junk food to fit in |
| C．most Americans are at the risk of heart disease |
| D．all the American people have a bad eating habit |
According to the survey, .
| A．Asian-Americans care less about their health |
| B．25 percent of Americans like junk food |
| C．choosing food is related to Asian-American’s situation |
| D．immigrants are forced to eat junk food |
The underlined word “fare” in Paragraph 4 most probably means “ ”.
| A．food offered as a meal | B．a person taking a taxi |
| C．money spent on food | D．an arranged thing to do |
According to Sauna Cheryan, .
| A．what immigrants have done is ridiculous |
| B．American traditional foods are healthier |
| C．immigrants risk their health in order to fit in |
| D．American culture affects immigrants deeply |
Which of the following should take the blame for the bad eating habit?
| A．The situation of employment. | B．The traditional culture. |
| C．The American government. | D．The pressures from society. |
Efforts to reduce the damage from the huge oil spill(漏油)in the Gulf of Mexico are under way . How can you help ?A number of organizations are recruiting(招聘)volunteers.
The Deep Water Horizon response team is looking for help in identifying shoreline and animals affected . Oiled wildlife should not be captured but instead reported at 1-866-557-1401. To report areas with oil ashore or to leave contact information to volunteers in the affected areas , call 1-866-448-5816.
The National Wildlife Federation is looking for volunteers and support to help spot distressed or oiled wildlife , and to assist in the cleanup and restoration efforts along the coast of Louisiana. You can text the word “NWF” to 20222. That’ss donate ＄10 to the National Wildlife Federation through your phone bill.
United Way has launched the Gulf Recovery Fund . which is providing emergency assistance and long-term recovery support for the communities affected by this oil spill . Those who need help or want to volunteer can dial 2-1-1.You can donate to this fund by going to liveunited . org/gulfrecovery.or text the word “United” to 50555 to donate ＄10 from your mobile phone.
The First Response Team of America is working with the National Guard in Southern Louisiana to build dams to hold back the oil from the fragile coastal habitats . Their founder , Tad Agoglia —who was named a CNN Hero in 2008—has made their work on the oil . spill their top Priority(首位)until the disaster is contained.They are looking for volunteers . Call 941-388-3010.
AmenCares is providing medical care and supplies to oilspill victims along the Gulf , and is funding and assisting mental health assessments and counseling needs for the immediate and long-term health and mental health issues affecting children as a result of this disaster . Mental health experts are in great demand . The Children’s Health Fund can be reached at 1-800-535-7418.If you see an oiled bird in the Gulf of Mexico . you are supposed to .
| A．catch it | B．raise it at home |
| C．call 1-866-557-1401 | D．shoot at it |
.If you text the word . “NWF”to 20222 with your cellphone , you will .
| A．donate＄10 to the Nationas Wildlife Federation |
| B．get a free gift |
| C．donate＄10 to United Way |
| D．have a chance of winning a trip to France |
Which of the following organizations are providing medical care?
| A．United Way and AmenCares. |
| B．The Deep Water Horizon and The National Wildlife Federation. |
| C．The National Wildlife Federation and The Children’s Health Fund. |
| D．AmeriCares and The Children’s Health Fund. |
We can infer that Tad Agoglia .
| A．is a person with the social responsibility |
| B．is an engineer on dam –building |
| C．is the founder of AmeriCares |
| D．should be responsible for the oil spill |
If you are good at treating mental health problems and willing to volunteer ,you can dial the telephone number .
| A．1-800-486-4357 | B．1-800-535-744 |
| C．1-866-448-5816 | D．941-388-3010 |
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