Being a mother is apparently not like it was in the good old days.
Today’s parents yearn for the golden age that their own mothers enjoyed in the 1970s and 1980s, researchers found. Mothers have less time to themselves and feel under greater pressure to handle work and family life than the previous generation. As a result, 88 per cent said they felt guilty about the lack of time they spent with their children.
The survey of 1,000 mothers also found that more than a third said they had less time to themselves than their mothers did – just three hours a week or 26 minutes a day. And 64 per cent said this was because they felt they ‘had’ to go out to work, while nearly a third (29 per cent) said they were under constant pressure to be the ‘perfect mother’, the report found.
Other findings showed social networking and parenting websites, as well as technology such as Skype, were important in providing help and support among female communities. Kate Fox, a member of the Social Issues Research Centre, which conducted the survey for Procter & Gamble, said: ‘With increasing pressure on mothers to work a “double shift”— to be the perfect mother as well as a wage-earner — support networks are more important than ever.
It comes as a separate report examining childcare in the leading industrialised nations found that working mothers in Britain spend just 81 minutes a day caring for their children as a ‘primary activity’. Mothers who stay at home, on the other hand, manage twice as much time – more than two and a half hours – looking after their offspring, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Critics say the pressure on women to work long hours, and leave their offspring in the hands of nurseries or childminders, is putting the well-being of their children at risk.
The study also reveals that, despite the fact that more and more modern mothers go out to work, the burden of childcare still falls on them - even if their husband is not in work. A father who is not in work tends to spend just 63 minutes a day looking after his child - 18 minutes less than a mother who goes out to work. Working fathers spare less than three quarters of an hour with their children.
What does the underlined phrase “yearn for” probably means ___________.
A.hate | B.forget | C.miss | D.control |
Which of the following problems is NOT mentioned in the passage?
A.Today’s mothers have less time left for their children and themselves. |
B.The working mothers can hardly strike the balance between work and family. |
C.Most of the mothers can not control their husbands nowadays. |
D.Modern fathers do not spend enough time with their children. |
From Para. 4, we can infer that ___________.
A.Skype is a very famous expert in studying social issues |
B.working mothers can seek help on line |
C.working mothers’ double shift is to be a wife and a mother |
D.Kate Fox has opened a website offering help to working mothers |
What critics say means that _____________.
A.it is wise for working mothers to put their kids in nurseries or childminders |
B.children do not like nurseries or childminders at all |
C.nurseries or childminders are dangerous places for children |
D.too much time in nurseries or childminders is bad for kids’ mental and physical health |
Have you ever picked a job based on the fact that you were good at it but later found it made you feel very uncomfortable over time? When you select your career, there's a whole lot more to it than assessing your skills and matching them with a particular position. If you ignore your personality, it will hurt you long-term regardless of your skills or the job's pay. There are several areas of your personality that you need to consider to help you find a good job. Here are a few of those main areas;
1) Do you prefer working alone or with other people?
There are isolating(使孤立)jobs that will drive an outgoing person crazy and also interactive jobs that will make a shy person uneasy. Most people are not extremes in either direction but do have a tendency that they prefer. There are also positions that are sometimes a combination of the two, which may be best for someone in the middle who adapts easily to either situation.
2) How do you handle change?
Most jobs these days have some elements of change to them, but some are more than others. If you need stability in your life, you may need a job where the changes don't happen so often. Other people would be bored of the same daily routine.
3) Do you enjoy working with computers?
I do see this as a kind of personality characteristic. There are people who are happy to spend more than 40 hours a week on a computer, while there are others who need a lot of human interaction throughout the day. Again, these are extremes and you'll likely find a lot of positions somewhere in the middle as well.
4) What type of work environment do you enjoy?
This can range from being in a large building with a lot of people you won't know immediately to a smaller setting where you'll get to know almost all the people there fairly quickly.
5) How do you like to get paid?
Some people are motivated by the pay they get, while others feel too stressed to be like that. The variety of payment designs in the sales industry is a typical example for this.
Anyway, these are a great starting point for you. I've seen it over and over again with people that they make more money over time when they do something they love. It may take you a little longer, but making a move to do what you have a passion for can change the course of your life for the better.
What is unnecessary in your job hunting?
A.Assessing your skills | B.Going to different areas |
C.Matching your skills with a position | D.taking your personality into consideration |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A.Isolating jobs usually drive people mad. | B.Interactive jobs make people shy easily. |
C.Extreme people tend to work with others. | D.Almost everyone has a tendency in jobs. |
What is the missing word about a job search in the following chart?
A.Design. | B.Changes. | C.Cooperation. | D.Hobbies. |
What is the best title for this passage?
A.Lifestyles and Job Pay | B.Jobs and Environment |
C.Job Skills and Abilities | D.Personalities and Jobs |
Between their crazy schedules and upside-down circadian(昼夜节律的) rhythms, teens have always been somewhat sleep-deprived(剥夺).Now technology is making it worse.
Teens are not just texting, instant-messaging and surfing Facebook all day; they’re sleeping with their cell phones or laptops, too.Or rather, not sleeping.And doctors and parents, many of whom raised in an era when phones were attached to walls, are concerned.
“So many teens are having sleep issues, and parents aren’t necessarily regulating the use of the electronic devices enough,” says Margie Ryerson, a therapist.“It’s impossible to wind down and relax the body, the mind, the senses and be ready to fall asleep.”
“We all know teens don’t get enough sleep in general,” says San Francisco.“As long as parents allow teens to have these devices in their bedrooms at night, teens will be tempted(诱惑) to use them.”… Teens would socialize 24/7 if they could.
Ryerson calls it the CNN syndrome of teenhood— round-the-clock reports on breaking news about everything, from homework to wardrobe choices to ice-cream cravings.
Sleep deprivation is linked to memory and concentration problems, anxiety and depression, and moodiness.“Many people assume these problems arise directly from adolescence, which is not really true,” he says.“The real issue is sleep deprivation.Late-night texting can certainly make the situation worse.”
“The psychology behind this constant contact is certainly understandable,” Ryerson says.“It comes from wanting to avoid being left out.They won’t be considered important and significant in their peer group, if they don’t know what’s going on.If they’re on top of everything, they belong,” she says.
“What helps, at least for younger kids,” says Ryerson, “is parental involvement.If all of their friends are all able to text into the early hours of the night, it is hard for a middle or high schooler to set the limit themselves.Often they appreciate parents stepping in.”
“As parents, we want our kids to be happy, healthy and responsible,” she says, “and the most necessary requirement for achieving balance is to first take care of ourselves physically — eating well, exercising and getting enough sleep.”
According to Ryerson, it seems that ____.
A.it is unnecessary to control teens’ using the electric devices |
B.parents possibly don’t control teens in using the electric devices |
C.there is no need for parents to make use of the electric devices |
D.parents don’t learn enough how to use the electric devices |
By saying the underlined part “the CNN syndrome of teenhood”(in Para5), Ryerson means _.
A.teens are affected by CNN news reports very much |
B.teens watch news report on CNN around the clock |
C.teens text to tell each other everything possible |
D.teens like the news report on CNN |
When teens felt depressed, people used to think it was because ____.
A.teens stayed up late to do homework |
B.teens were easily anxious in character |
C.teens didn’t have enough sleep at night |
D.teens were going through a period of growth |
Why do teens keep texting all the time?
A.To have a sense of being accepted by others. |
B.To keep informed of what is going on in the world. |
C.To spread important news among their group. |
D.To reduce the pressure from parents and schools. |
Scores of farms across he country are opening up to overnight guests.The best have all the appeal of a first-rate inn(小旅馆) — plus here a moo, there a moo.
Sure, you and your kids have a plan for the theme parks.In the meanwhile, why not make a little hay(干草)? Farm stays are fast becoming the great American alternative to the pre-packaged vacation.
LIBERTY HALL FARM
Rochester, Vt.; 802/767-3926; www.libertyhillfarm.com.Adults $75, teens $50, kids 12 and under $35, including breakfast and dinner; shared baths.
Beth and Bob Kennett run a farm straight out of a storybook.You’ll find Beth in the kitchen, rolling out dough(生面团) for a pie.Bob’s busy with other work.Guests sleep in seven sunny bedrooms right in the farmhouse and can participate in any of the farm jobs.Maybe you and your kids won’t be up at 6 am to meet the milk truck, but you can help with the milking twice a day, collect eggs, and pick sweet corn and wild blackberries in season.
HULL-O FARM
Durham, N.Y.; 518/239-6950; www.hull-o.com; Adults $110, kids 10-14 $60, 5-9 $50, 2-4 $35, under 2 free, including breakfast and dinner; private baths.
It started in 1993 as a way to bring in some extra money at a time of falling milk prices.But soon after Frank and Sherry Hull opened their Catskill Mountains dairy farm to overnight visitors, they discovered they loved it.As you drive up, Sherry greets you on the porch(入口处) of the 1825 farmhouse with a cow-shaped cookie jar.Before long your kids are playing around with the cows, sheep, ducks, goats and getting ready for a hayride.
MERAMEC FARM CABINS
Bourbon, Mo.; 573/732-4765; http://www.wine-mo.com Doubles with private bath $75, $10 per additional person.Trail and riding fees extra.
Climb on the back of the Ford pick up and catch up with the herd.One gentle cow named Cricket will even let the kids sit on her back.At the barn(牲口棚) Carol will introduce you to the horses — 15 Missouri Fox Trotters — and lead you on a ride over the hills and down along the spring-fed Meramec River, where everyone swims.Grab a fishing pole and head back to the river.When you have your fill of the wild, try Carol and Dave’s favorite restaurants, within 20 miles of the farm.
The underlined sentence in the first paragraph implies that _____.
A.you can enjoy the best cuisine at the first rate restaurant |
B.some farms provide country experiences as well as good accommodations |
C.farm work is hard, but you can enjoy it a lot, playing with the animals |
D.if you want to hear a cow’s cry, please stay on a best farm |
We can learn from the three ads that ____.
A.Hull-O Farm was not built for overnight visitors |
B.Frank and Sherry Hull run a farm out of a storybook |
C.kids can sit on a gentle cow’s back on Hull-O Farm |
D.you can’t milk a cow if you get up late on Liberty Hill Farm |
The Browns have a 13-year-old son and 11-year-old daughter.If they stay on Liberty Hill Farm for one night, how much will they pay?
A.$175. | B.$220. | C.$235. | D.$250. |
Who will be most likely interested in the webpage?
A.Kids who want to find pleasure in the theme parks. |
B.People who expect to be employed on the farm. |
C.Those who plan to have family vacations on working farms. |
D.Researchers who are interested in raising cows on farms. |
Do you enjoy reading? Do you read newspapers or magazines? Chances are, if you do any of these activities, your pre-school child is on his way to becoming a reader.
The process of learning to read is complex, and one of the most important things to know is that parents can help their children learn to read. As children have conversations with adults, they hear both new and familiar words and their vocabulary grows.
There are many opportunities for adults and children to talk together, such as when riding in the car or in a bus, doing housework like fixing dinner, or bathing and getting ready for bed. A major part of conversation is listening. When children talk, adults listen and respond. Then children listen and respond, and so the flow of conversation happens.
Have you watched you pre-school child pretend to read to his younger sisters or brothers? Have you read his favorite story over and over? These experiences tell children that reading is fun. And when things are fun and they are repeated, your child will see letters. He begins to connect them to familiar words, especially the letters that make up his name. A natural next step for him to take is to write the letters.
When children see parents make a grocery list, they want to use a pencil and paper to make their own list. To encourage these beginning writing activities, have pencils, markers, crayons and scrap paper within your children’s reach.
The more children get connected with talking, listening, reading and writing, the easier it is for them to become active readers. While you as a parent have a big influence on these early behaviors, it is important to remember that opportunities for literacy experiences happen when you and your child share in the basic routines(日常生活)of everyday life.
The third paragraph tells us that parents can talk with their children__________.
A.during daily routines | B.only in quiet places |
C.in their spare time | D.when they are eager to walk |
During the process of learning to read, children may _________.
A.copy the action of the adults. |
B.prefer to talk with those of their own age. |
C.show no interest in reading at all. |
D.waste a lot of paper and other materials. |
When do children want to learn to write?
A.When their parents ask them to do so. |
B.When they believe they can write well. |
C.When they know what they want to know |
D.When they can connect letters with familiar words. |
The passage is written to _____________.
A.talk about parents’ influence on their children’s behavior |
B.encourage parents to set a good example to their children |
C.advise parents to make reading a part of their children’s daily life |
D.make parents believe in the importance of early reading |
As one comes to some crossroads, he or she sees a sign which says that drivers have to stop when they come to the main road ahead. At other crossroads, drivers have to go slow, but they do not actually have to stop unless, of course, there is something coming along the main road; and at still others, they do not have either to stop or to go slow, because they are themselves on the main road.
Mr. Williams, who was always a very careful driver, was driving home from work one evening when he came to a crossroad. It had a “SLOW” sign. He slowed down when he came to the main road, looked both ways to see that nothing was coming, and then drove across without stopping completely.
At once he heard a police whistle, so he pulled into the side of the road and stopped. A policeman walked over to him with a notebook and a pen in his hand and said, “You didn’t stop at that crossing.”
“But the sign there doesn't say ‘STOP’.” answered Mr. Williams, “It just says ‘SLOW’, and I did go slow.”
The policeman looked around him, and a look of surprise came over his face. Then he put his notebook and pen away, scratched his head and said, “Well, I’m in the wrong street!”
When he was stopped by a policeman, he ____.
A.was driving at a high speed | B.was driving onto the main road |
C.was going to stop his car | D.was pulled into the crossroad |
Though slowly, Mr. Williams continued driving at the crossing because________ .
A.he saw a “STOP” sign in the opposite street |
B.he paid no attention to the traffic rules |
C.he didn't have to stop |
D.he was eager to get home |
Looking round Mr. Williams, the policeman was surprised because__________ .
A.he met a mad man |
B.he realized that he himself was mistaken |
C.Mr. Williams dared to speak to him like that |
D.Mr. Williams would not apologize to him |
What does “scratch” in the last paragraph mean?
A.to rub the skin of (the head) for uncertainty |
B.to strike (the head ) for regret |
C.to nodded for sure |
D.to look back to search for something |
To Chinese immigrants, in the mid-1800s, California was “The Land of the Golden Mountain.” In their homeland they had heard the words, “There’s gold in California.” They sailed 7,000miles to join the gold rush and strike it rich.Between 1849 and 1882, more than 30,000 Chinese came to California.Most were men.They had been farmers in China.They came here to be miners and laborers.They ended up doing many other jobs, too.
Like many other immigrants, they did not plan to stay in America.They came because of their ties to their homeland and their families.They planned to return to China with their fortunes and help their families.
Only a few Chinese gold miners struck it rich.Most picked over the areas that had been mined already.But still, white miners resented the Chinese.Slowly, they drove the “yellow peril” from the mining camps.
By the end of the 1850s, many Chinese returned home.Those who stayed found other jobs.
Few women had come west in the gold rush.The Chinese saw a good business opportunity.They began doing the jobs women would have done.Many became house servants.Many more opened laundries.
The Chinese opened restaurants.Chop suey and show mein are popular Chinese-American dishes.The Chinese probably created these dishes to serve to the white miners.
Other Chinese became fishermen, farmers, and even cigar makers.
Why did Chinese go to America in the mid-1800s?
A.Because they could find good jobs there. |
B.Because they had found gold there. |
C.Because they could open laundries and restaurants there. |
D.Because they heard there was gold there. |
The underlined word “resented” mean “________”.
A.liked | B.helped | C.hated | D.served |
Which of the following was NOT mentioned in the passage?
A.Some Chinese became drivers. |
B.Many Chinese opened shops to help wash clothes. |
C.Many Chinese picked gold around the old mines. |
D.Many Chinese returned to China by the end of the 1850s. |
Which should be the title of the passage?
A.Early Chinese immigrants in America |
B.Dream to strike it rich |
C.The difference between men and women |
D.Gold miners in America |
Liu Hui is very excited. The students in a school in Shanghai will go to the USA with his parents during the Spring Festival.
“Overseas touring has always been a dream for me,” he said happily.
Nowadays, Chinese people enjoy longer holidays, such as the three “Golden Week Holidays”(the Spring Festival, May Day and National Day). They have more time to travel. Rising incomes also make travelling abroad realistic for ordinary Chinese people.
Nearly 7 million Chinese travelled overseas in 2001, according to the National Tourism Administration(国家旅游局). The most common problem travellers face is how to choose the best routes(路线).
By the end of 2002, Chinese citizens were allowed to travel to 19 foreign countries and regions at their own expense.
The top 10 places included Hong Kong, Macao and Thailand. European countries are also becoming increasingly popular.
“More and more Chinese people have shown interest in travelling to Europe, particularly France and Finland,” said Tan Wen, a general manager of China Youth Travel Service. “Sooner or later, there will be a peak(高峰) in European tours.”
Another consideration is choosing the right travel agencies and finding the best price. The China Consumers’ Association(CCA,中国消费者协会)offered tips to consumers on choosing the right travel agencies to help prevent a relaxing vacation from turning into a costly disaster.
“Price should not be the single most important factor in choosing a travel agency,” said Zhang Yuanchao, CCA vice-secretary general. Consumers are advised to choose large State travel agencies with good reputations and official approval to organize overseas tour groups.
Zhang’s association dealt with more than 5, 000 complaints about travel agencies(旅行社) last year. And the majority of the complaints were about random changes in travel routes, bad tour guides, and forced shopping.
Travellers were warned to look carefully at their contracts with agencies and to buy travel insurance(保险).
How many reasons are given in the article as to why ordinary Chinese people are traveling abroad more today?
A.Two. | B.Three. | C.Four. | D.Five. |
According to the passage, what is the biggest problem Chinese travelers face when going overseas?
A.Choosing the best travel agent. |
B.Deciding the best way to get to the places they want to go to. |
C.Traveling to Europe. |
D.Cost. |
According to the passage, what seems to be the most common result of choosing a bad travel agency?
A.People buy more souvenirs than they had planned to. |
B.People spend more money than they had planned to. |
C.People go to different places than they had palnned to. |
D.People complained more than they had planned to. |
The underlined part “random changes” probably means that .
A.the travelers agreed with the changes. |
B.the travel agency didn’t make any changes. |
C.the travel agency refused to changes the routes. |
D.the travel agency changed the routes or time without following the original plan. |
I got married in 2008. My husband and I are very emotional and have loads of dreams in life. Now I want to share a hidden part of my life.
After one month of my marriage, I started working because I could not sit home. To accomplish our dreams, we are both working hard day and night in spite of belonging to a good family. Life is very strange. When any turn happens, one cannot know.
I started working because I was very ambitious. I used to wonder about people who worked to earn their bread but I never knew in my wildest dreams that I would be part of the crow who work to earn a livelihood.
I was blessed with a daughter in November, 2009. She was just three months and 15 days old when I rejoined my job. My husband supported me and my family supported me but I never wanted to work again because I belonged to a family where a mother should give her full attention to her child.
Keeping all the values aside that I learnt from my parents, I went back to work and will work till my last breath.
I missed my daughter every second. She has started recognizing and throwing expressions for likes and dislikes. I cannot share my feelings with anyone, as I do not want anyone to know that I am broken completely from inside.
My husband and my daughter are my greatest strength but I ignore them just to earn money and fulfill my dreams that I have.
If one day, my daughter complains to someone about her mom, please tell her that she is my reason for survival and happiness and she is the only one who brings smile to my face.
The author began to work after her marriage mainly because ____.
A.She expected to prevent herself from doing housework |
B.She hoped to achieve her dream |
C.She wanted to support her husband |
D.She wanted to make her own bread |
After her daughter’s birth, the author thought ____ in the beginning.
A.she should work harder |
B.she should continue her career as she used to |
C.she should stop working and care for her child |
D.she should become a more ambitious mother |
From the passage, we can know that the author’s daughter ____.
A.lives together with her mom now |
B.hasn’t begun to learn to speak so far |
C.always makes her mom heartbroken |
D.has given much comfort to her mom |
The author wrote this passage in order to ____.
A.complain about her present life |
B.show her love for her daughter |
C.keep a diary of her daughter’s growth |
D.present the hardships of a working mother |
What is the best title of this passage?
A.The secret of a working mother |
B.A working family is continuing |
C.A husband’s support for his wife’s career |
D.The comparison between the family and career for a mother |
Walking down any of Shanghai’s main shopping streets this week, newcomers might think the locals have been celebrating Christmas for centuries. Christmas may not be a customary holiday in China, but businessmen in Shanghai know it will bring something more valuable than tradition: people are willing to spend money. Most Chinese may feel little connection with the Christmas celebration, but with most shops offering discount (折扣), the message couldn’t be clearer-- it is the season to part with one’s hard-earned cash.
Much of that marketing drive is directed towards thousands of foreigners and foreign companies that call Shanghai home. But for Shanghai’s 13 million locals, regardless of personal interest, there seems no avoiding the season’s commercial greetings. Along some major roads, nearly every shop window displays some symbols to the holiday: a man-made fir tree(杉树) with lights, or a snowman.
With an increasing number of westerners arriving in the city for work, young Shanghainese, eager to keep pace with the latest western fashions, have begun to show their interest in Christmas. But some people still don’t think Christmas is an important festival in China. At least it is less important than the New Year and China’s Spring Festival.
Why are people willing to spend money during Christmas?
A.They have earned a lot of money. |
B.Goods are much cheaper during this period of time. |
C.It is time for shops to sell goods. |
D.Businessmen like Christmas. |
Which of the following statements is TRUE?
A.Christmas is the season people will hold their hard-earned money tightly. |
B.Most Chinese people think they have something to do with Christmas. |
C.Christmas is the season for common people to earn money. |
D.Few Chinese people feel they are connected with Christmas celebrations. |
Why do some young Shanghainese show great interest in Christmas?
A.They think themselves connected with Christmas celebrations. |
B.They think Christmas is more important than New Year’s Day. |
C.They want to follow the up-to-date western fashions. |
D.They want to part with their hard-earned cash during Christmas. |
From the first paragraph we know that _______.
A.It is difficult for most people to earn money. |
B.It is easy for most people to earn money. |
C.Only foreigners in Shanghai celebrate Christmas. |
D.Christmas will be as important as China’s Spring Festival. |
When someone gives you advice, listen without judgment, try to find value in what you’re hearing, and say “Thank you”.This wise advice is easy to understand yet hard to practice.I’ll give you an example from my life when I totally blew it in terms of practicing what I teach.
In my work I travel constantly.I always put off going to the airport until the last second.My wife, Lynda, was sitting next to me in the front seat.I was racing along and not paying much attention.Lynda cried out, “Look out! There is a red light up ahead.”
Being a trained behavioral science professional --- who teaches others the value of encouraging advice --- I naturally screamed at her, “I know there is a red light up ahead! Don’t you think I can see?” When we arrived at the airport, Lynda didn’t speak to me.I wondered why she seemed mad at me.
During the flight to New York, I did a cost-benefit analysis.I asked myself, “What was the cost of just listening when Lynda called out the warning? Zero.” I then reasoned, “What was the potential benefit? What could have been saved?” Several potential benefits came to mind, including her life, my life, and the lives of other people.
I landed in New York feeling ashamed of myself.I immediately called Lynda and told her my cost-benefit story.I convinced her, “The next time you help me with my driving, I am just going to say, ‘Thank you.’”
A few months passed, and I had long forgotten the incident.Again, I was racing off to the airport, when Lynda cried out, “Look out for the red light!” I was embarrassed, and then shouted, “Thank you!”
I’m a long way from perfect, but I’m getting better.My suggestion is that you get in the habit of asking the important people in your life how you can do things better.And be ready for an answer.Some people may tell you things like “Look out for the red light.” When this happens, remember that there is possibly some potential benefit.Then just say, “Thank you.”
What do we know about the author?
A.He is expert at behavioral science. |
B.He is gifted in cost-benefit analysis. |
C.He always takes his wife’s advice. |
D.He often runs the red traffic light. |
The underlined part “blew it” in Paragraph 1 probably means “__________”.
A.lost personal judgment | B.forgot the practical method |
C.became annoyed with the adviser | D.failed to say “Thank you” |
It can be inferred from the passage that people __________.
A.should give their opinions patiently |
B.tend to be defensive when given advice |
C.had better study behavioral science |
D.intend to follow others’ suggestions |
The purpose of the passage is to advise people to __________.
A.do a cost-benefit analysis in daily life |
B.discover potential benefits |
C.learn from the author’s experiences |
D.treasure others’ suggestions |
Birds don’t need lessons in building nests. Fish don’t need coaching to learn how to swim. All animals have instincts. They’re born with natural abilities to do certain things. Wild animals also learn by copying their parents and practicing. And pets learn through training.
But instincts and training aren’t the only keys to animals’ behavior. Scientists say animals’ thoughts and feelings also influence their actions. Animals often make choices, plans, and sensible changes. They can help others and solve problems. Some even make and use tools!
If animals could talk, what would they say about their thoughts and feelings? A gorilla (大猩猩) born in captivity (关在笼子里) has helped answer that question. Koko, a gorilla, was taught to use sign language . She has learned hundreds of words!
Koko once had a pet cat she named All Ball. “Koko love Ball,” she signed. “Soft good cat.” One time, she blamed the cat for biting her by signing “You bad dirty toilet!” When her pet died, Koko cried. “Sad for sleeping cat,” she signed.
Koko calls herself “fine animal gorilla”. She uses sign language to argue, joke, and ask and answer questions.
“Most animals can’t use words to tell us their thoughts,” says Dr. Jonathan Balcombe. “But Koko shows us that animals have their own ideas and feelings.” Dr. Balcombe is a scientist at the Humane Society of the United States. He says there’s even more to discover about animals through field studies. In field studies, people watch animals in their natural environment.
“Scientists who study animals’ natural behaviors learn how animals live and think,” Balcombe says. “That knowledge can help others respect every animal who shares the planet with us.”
The underlined word “instincts” in the first paragraph probably refers to the ability that _____.
A.animals copy their parents | B.animals learn by practicing |
C.animals are born with | D.animals learn through training |
Sports is not only physically challenging, but it can also mentally challenging. Criticism(批评)from coaches(trainers), parents, and other teammates, as well as pressure to win can create too much anxiety or stress for young athletes. Stress can be physical, emotional, or psychological, and research has showed that it can lead to burnout. Burnout has been described as dropping or quitting of an activity that was at one time enjoyable.
The early years of development are critical years for learning about oneself. The sport setting is one where valuable experiences can take place. Young athletes can, for example, learn how to cooperate with others, make friends, and gain other social skills that will be used throughout their lives. Coaches and parents should be aware(realize), at all times, that their feedback(反馈)to youngsters can greatly affect their children. Youngsters may take their parents’ and coaches’ criticisms to heart and find a flaw(缺陷) in themselves.
Coaches and parents should also be cautious(careful) that youth sport participation does not become work for children. The outcome of the game should not be more important than the process of learning the sport and other life lessons. In today’s youth sport setting, young athletes may be worrying more about who will win instead of enjoying themselves and the sport. Following a game, many parents and coaches focus on(pay more attention to) the outcome and find fault with youngsters’ performances. Positive reinforcement should be provided in spite of the outcome. Research shows that positive reinforcement motivates and has a greater effect on learning than criticism. Again, criticism can create high levels of stress(pressure), which can lead to burnout.
According to the passage sport is positive for young people in that
A.it can help them learn more about society |
B.it teaches them how to set realistic goals for themselves |
C.it enables them to find flaws in themselves |
D.it can provide them with valuable experiences |
According to the passage parents and coaches should
A.help children to win every game |
B.pay more attention to letting children enjoy sports |
C.enable children to understand the positive aspect of sports |
D.train children to deal with stress |
The author’s purpose in writing the passage is
A.to persuade young children not to worry about criticism |
B.to emphasize the importance of positive reinforcement to children |
C.to discuss the skill of combing criticism with encouragement |
D.to teach young athletes how to avoid burnout |
I went on line to check if my pay was in my bank account(账户). To my amazement I discovered that not only had I been paid, but a company I’d never worked for had also paid me! I know I would have been beside myself (情绪失控) if my own salary was not in my account, so I tried to get the money back to the right person. Easier said than done.
The bank couldn’t help as it “wasn’t a bank problem.” The human-resource department at the company that paid me was unable to help as I didn’t have enough details. I rang the bank again. Thankfully I had a sympathetic call operator who gave me a name, so I again rang the company “Daniel” worked for.
I expected the bank would contact me to arrange to take the money from my account and repay Daniel. I heard nothing for a month and the money remained in my account when Daniel called, explaining he’d tried to get back his money but had been unsuccessful as neither the bank nor his company felt it was their error. He had rung to ask if I could speak to the bank, but after chatting for a few minutes we realized we could probably fix this problem ourselves.
We decided I would take the money from my account and he would pick it up from me. Due to my busy job I was unable to meet Daniel personally but he left me a lovely bottle of wine in exchange for what was rightfully his. I never had any intention of keeping Daniel’s pay but red tape(繁琐手续)made it difficult to do the right thing. It all came down to two people being able to do what a huge bank and a large company couldn’t do — admit a mistake has occurred and fix it.
What was the attitude of the author towards the extra money in his bank account?
A.He didn’t know what to do with it. | B.He felt lucky to get it. |
C.He thought of keeping it for himself. | D.He wanted to return it to the right person. |
How was the problem solved in the end?
A.The author and Daniel solved the problem themselves. |
B.It cost Daniel a lovely bottle of wine to get back his money. |
C.The author gave the money back to the company. |
D.The call operator offered to solve their problem. |
From the passage we can infer that _________.
A.the bank could solve the problem soon and easily with the red tape |
B.some large organizations usually have troublesome official rules |
C.Daniel didn’t know the error until he contacted the author |
D.it was easy for a company to have a mistake which had occurred fixed |
I'll be a photographer. I'm going to bring bits of Australia back home with me. I told myself this before, yet I feel so doubtful on this plane that's flying me thousands of miles away. I was so confident yesterday .But today I don't belong to this plane where men sit with briefcases reading newspapers. They're all adults.
I've never been out of the US. And now ,I'm traveling into Australia alone, a world I know nothing about. A part of me recognizes it as home.
I remember little about my mother, but I remember she had an Australian accent and golden hair. She wan fun and she would often take us to New Jersey beaches, where we would spend the whole day taking walks along the shore. My mom told me that in Australia, Christmas was always spent on the beach with friends and family, and everyone wore Santa hat with their bathing suits. It never got cold and bitter there. My mom was different and I was proud of her.
I don't know how she met my father. but after they met several years, they got married and moved into an apartment in New Jersey. Then I was born and we were a perfect family of three who went out to dinner and watched movies in the dark and loved each other.
I know things have been hard on my father since my Mom died years ago. It's hard for me, too, and I have to experience the wonderful place my mom grew up in and loved. My mom talked about Australia so much and now I have to see this place.
This is an adventure.
How did the author feel when he was on the plane?
A.Confident | B.Foolish |
C.Doubtful | D.Childish |
The author traveled to Australia alone mainly because he wanted to__.
A.search his fortune there | B.find more about his mother |
C.look for his grandparents there | D.find more about this wonderful place |
The third paragraph is mainly concerned with__.
A.the author's first impression of Australia |
B.the author's brief impression of his mother |
C.the reason why the author loved his mother |
D.the difference between his mother and father |
What can we learn from the passage?
A.The author writes this passage to honor his mother. |
B.The author decides to learn taking photos in Australia. |
C.The author had a good time when his mother was still alive. |
D.The author didn't like to live with his father after his mother died. |
Where did the author most probably write this passage?
A.In America. | B.In Australia. | C.At home | D.On the Plane |