Few people I know seem to have much desire or time to cook． Making Chinese（1） （ dish）
is seen as especially troublesome． Many westerners （2） come to China cook much less than in their own countries once they realize how cheap （3） can be to eat out． I still remember （4） （visit）a friend who'd lived here for five years and I （5） （shock） when I learnt she hadn't cooked once in all that time．
While regularly eating out seems to （6） （become）common for many young people in recent years， it's not without a cost． The obvious one is money； eating out once or twice a week may be（7） （afford）but doing this most days adds up． There could be an even（8） （high） cost on your health． Researchers have found that there is a direct link between the increase in food eaten outside the home and the rise in （9） （weigh）problems．
If you are not going to suffer this problem， then I suggest that the next time you go to your mums' home（10） dinner， get a few cooking tips from her． Cooking food can be fun． You might also begin to notice the effects not only on your health but in your pocket．
Some people believe that greed and selfishness has become the basis of modern society, and we should return to the old traditions of family and community, then we will have a better life. To that extent do you agree or disagree with the above opinion?
In this fast-paced world, many values are undergoing major changes. While people traditionally prioritize caring, sharing and generosity in life and work, modern people seem to be more self-absorbed and self-concerned.
Modern people act selfishly to survive the harsh competition of life. They say that it is a jungle out there. To survive, you have to fight with whatever means that come handy. Obviously greed and selfishness go perfectly well with such ideas. In a company, employees do everything they can to get better pay and higher position, even at the cost of colleagues. We are in any way advocating any selfish conduct. It is just that people are pressured to act in a certain way due to outside influences.
In spite of common practice, it is hard to conclude that modern society is built on greed and selfishness, both of which are not newly invented vocabulary. In ancient times people also did greedy and selfish things though such behaviors were more condemned then. But we can not ignore the fact that people in the past lived a relatively more isolated life and faced less pressure compared with their modern counterparts.
Are we happier to share with others and be generous to them? There is no fixed answer either. Some people take great pleasure helping and giving to others while others feel happy doing the opposite. But I personally think that people should not be too selfish. Caring for others can actually encourage the development of a mutually beneficial relationship.
In conclusion, modern people appear to be more self-centered than those in the past due to strong outside pressure. However, we should encourage people to know the importance of being caring and generous and to build a mutually beneficial relationship with others.
Are Modern People Becoming More Selfish？
| Main comparisons |
Contexts |
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In the past people put caring, sharing and generosity in the first |
| Nowadays, people seem to be more |
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People in the past appeared to be modest and self-effacing（谦逊的）. |
| People may strive to achieve their own |
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| The author’s understanding |
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Fierce |
| The author’s |
A relationship which can |
Society today tells us that automatic pencils are a lot better than manual ones which you have to sharpen every 5 seconds. Maybe this is true. However, there are some benefits from using an old-fashioned traditional pencil which you cannot get with an automatic one.
To be honest, it is quite convenient to use an automatic pencil with an easy press on the button. Meanwhile a manual pencil doesn’t enjoy any plus point. But it is sort of strange that manual pencils should be used in standardized tests today. Chances are that the manual pencil makes the line of grey look nicer.
Nowadays, it is always a battle of who has the newest, most high-tech gadget(小装置), from pencils, cars to clothes. The newer it is, it seems the more popular it becomes. If you walk around school, you will for sure find at least three out of ten people walking around with the latest iPhone 4S. If you are one of the luckier ones walking around with the newest Nokia phones, you will get laughed at.
Maybe an automatic pencil is better at the moment, but after using it for a while, usually the pencil will break. Most people lose them and don’t remember to carry extra lead(铅芯) to fill them up with, as it sometimes can do so much that it needs a lot of lead, just like an iPhone 4S needs to be charged after it has done so much work. As for the manual pencil, the lead will also run out but unlike the mechanical pencil it will last longer. Besides, the automatic pencil and the iPhone 4S are more likely to get stolen while the manual pencil along with the Nokia phone will be left alone and most likely-returned to you.
| Title |
Automatic Pencils |
| People’s |
●The newer-gadget like the iPhone 4s becomes more ●You will be |
| Advantages |
●We can use the automatic pencil more easily by ●The manual pencil is ●The manual pencil can last longer. |
| |
●The automatic pencils usually tend to ● People often ● |
I used to be the messiest person alive．Over the years, through watching others and by trial and error, I have finally found ways to come up with plans, organize them and follow through with them．
Make an outline of everything you need to have and do to make your plan happen．Make a list of all of the steps that need to be accomplished and think about what needs to be done．
Detail everything thoroughly and read over it so you can start coming up with some mental solutions of how to carry out your plans．
You should ensure that if for some reason way one doesn’t work, you have way two and way three to lean back on．Therefore, different ways are needed at hand．It’s just a matter of being organized．Chances are that there is always more than one way of doing things, and chances are that if one of those ways doesn’t work, one of the other ones will．
Commit yourself to finishing at least part if not all of your plan at once is also necessary．It will show that you not only have initiative to get things rolling, but that you are interested in the results obtained with making the move to get everything done．
If you make a commitment to finish before a specific time, make sure that you carry that out, and be sure to do everything in the way you said you would, within the time-frame you set for yourself．
Don’t try to tackle more things all at a time．All that does is delay your progress, distract you and make you lose your interest, motivation and energy．
Carrying out an effective plan requires being as organized as possible．You will only achieve this by sticking to the order of the plan and not deviating or trying to do more at a time．
Last but not least, you should never abandon things mid-project．It will only annoy everyone around you including yourself．Unfinished plans are a waste of time, energy and, in some cases, even money．
So, don’t be afraid of organization．The older we get, the more necessary it becomes to have the skills to follow through with confidence and to be able to carry through plans in an organized and manageable way．It pays to be organized, after all．
| Title: Tips on how to be |
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| Tips |
Details |
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| ◆List everything you need ◆List the |
To make your plan happen |
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| Prepare three |
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To |
| Do everything |
To show yourself you are determined to get things started and caring about the results. |
|
| Do one thing at once |
Stick to the order of your plan |
To save your interest, motivation and energy |
| Finish what you have started |
|
To get your plan |
| You shouldn’t be afraid of organization because it’s really worthwhile． |
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
阅读下面短文，根据所读内容在表格中的空白处填入恰当的单词。注意：每个空格只填一个单词。
New discoveries suggest that trade between Europe and Asia along the Silk Road probably began many centuries earlier than once thought. The findings add a fascinating new page to the epic(史诗) of the Silk Road, which spread far and wide in no time.
The latest and most surprising discovery is pieces of silk found in the hair of an Egyptian mummy(木乃伊) from about l,000 BC, long before regular traffic on the Silk Road and at least one thousand years before silk was previously thought to be used in Egypt. Other researches may extend human activity along this road back even further, perhaps a million years to the moving of human ancestors into eastern Asia.
The official origin of East-West trade along the road is usually placed in the late 2nd century BC when an agent of the Chinese Emperor Wu-di returned from a dangerous secret task across the desert into the remote high country of Central Asia. The agent, Zhang Qian, traveled as far as Afghanistan and brought back knowledge of even more distant lands such as Persia, Syria and a place known as Lijien, perhaps Rome. Historians(历史学家) have called this one of the most important journeys in ancient times. His journey opened the way for what have been thought to be the first indirect touches between the ancient world’s two super-powers, China and Rome. Chinese silk, first traded to Central Asia for war horses, was soon finding its way to the markets of Rome through a network of businessmen.
But the new discoveries show that Chinese silk apparently existed in the West long before the Han emperor started to organize trade over the Silk Road. The research could change thinking about the early history of world trade and provide comprehension into the mystery(谜) of just how and when Europe first realized the glorious culture at the other end of Eurasia.
| Title: New Discovery of the Silk Road |
|
| Introduction |
New findings about the |
| Discovery |
☆The silk thread found in the hair of an Egyptian mummy from about 1,000 BC makes all feel greatly ☆The discovery suggests the trade along the Silk Road may |
| Zhang Qian’s |
☆Being accepted as official ☆Opening the way for the first ☆ ☆Making Chinese silk |
| Summary |
☆Show the ☆Change thinking about the early history of word trade. ☆Help to solve the puzzle of Europeans’ first realizing |
There are ______ kinds of theme parks, with a different park for almost everything: food, culture, science, ___
___, movies or history. Some of them ___
___ having the biggest or longest roller coasters. ___
___ and whatever you like, there is a theme park for you.
In the fantasy ______ park of Disneyland, you may see Snow White or Mickey Mouse in a parade or on the street. Disneyland also has many exciting rides, from giant ___
___ ships to terrifying free-fall drops. With all these ___
___, it is ___
___ that tourism is increasing __
___ there is a Disneyland. Dollywood, being one of the most ___
___ theme park in the world, shows and celebrates America’s traditional southeastern culture.
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