When John was growing up, other kids felt sorry for him. His parents always had him weeding the garden, carrying out the garbage and delivering newspapers. But when John reached adulthood, he was better off than his childhood playmates. He had more job satisfaction, a better marriage and was healthier. Most of all, he was happier. Far happier.
These are the findings of a 40-year study that followed the lives of 456 teenage boys from Boston. The study showed that those who had worked as boys enjoyed happier and more productive lives than those who had not. ＂Boys who worked in the home or community gained competence(能力) and came to feel they were worthwhile members of society,＂ said George Vaillant, the psychologist(心理学家) who made the discovery. ＂And because they felt good about themselves, others felt good about them.＂
Vaillant’s study followed these males in great detail. Interviews were repeated at ages 25,31 and 47. Under Vaillant, the researchers compared the men’s mental-health scores with their boyhood-activity scores. Points were awarded for part-time jobs, housework, effort in school, and ability to deal with problems.
The link between what the men had done as boys and how they turned out as adults was surprisingly sharp. Those who had done the most boyhood activities were twice as likely to have warm relations with a wide variety of people, five times as likely to be well paid and 16 times less likely to have been unemployed. The researchers also found that IQ and family social and economic class made no real difference in how the boys turned out.
Working — at any age — is important. Childhood activities help a child develop responsibility, independence, confidence and competence — the underpinnings(基础) of emotional health. They also help him understand that people must cooperate and work toward common goals. The most competent adults are those who know how to do this. Yet work isn’t everything. As Tolstoy once said, ＂One can live magnificently in this world if one knows how to work and how to love, to work for the person one loves and to love one’s work.＂
1.What do we know about John?
A. He enjoyed his career and marriage.
B. He had few childhood playmates.
C. He received little love from his family.
D. He was envied by others in his childhood.
2.Vaillant’s words in Paragraph 2 serve as .
A. a description of personal values and social values
B. an analysis of how work was related to competence
C. an example for parents’ expectations of their children
D. an explanation why some boys grew into happy men
3.Vaillant’s team obtained their findings by .
A. recording the boys’ effort in school
B. evaluating the men’s mental health
C. comparing different sets of scores
D. measuring the men’s problem solving ability
4.What does the underlined word ＂sharp＂ probably mean in Paragraph 4?
A. Quick to react. B. Having a thin edge.
C. Clear and definite. D. Sudden and rapid.
5.What can be inferred from the last paragraph?
A. Competent adults know more about love than work.
B. Emotional health is essential to a wonderful adult life.
C. Love brings more joy to people than work does.
D. Independence is the key to one’s success.
阅读理解。
Every man wants his son to be somewhat of a clone, not in features but in footsteps. As he grows you also age, and your ambitions become more unachievable. You begin to realize that your boy, in your footsteps, could probably accomplish what you hoped for. But footsteps can be muddied and they can go off in different directions.
My son Jody has hated school since day one in kindergarten. Science projects waited until the last moment. Book reports weren’t written until the final threat.
I’ve been a newspaperman all my adult life. My daughter is a university graduate working toward her master’s degree in English. But Jody? When he entered the tenth grade he became a “vo-tech” student(技校学生). They’re called “motorheads” by the rest of the student body.
When a secretary in my office first called him “motorhead”, I was shocked. “Hey, he’s a good kid,” I wanted to say. “And smart, really.”
I learned later that motorheads are, indeed, different. They usually have dirty hands and wear dirty work clothes. And they don’t often make school honor rolls(光荣榜).
But being the parent of a motorhead is itself an experience in education. We who labor in clean shirts in offices don’t have the abilities that motorheads have. I began to learn this when I had my car crashed. The cost to repair it was estimated at $800. “Hey, I can fix it,” said Jody. I doubted it , but let him go ahead, for I had nothing to lose.
My son ,with other motorheads,fixed the car. They got parts(零件）from ajunkyard, and ability from vo-tech classes. The lost was $25 instead of $80.
Since that first repair job, a broken air-conditioner, a non-functioning washer and a non-toasting toaster have been fixed. Neighbors and co-workers trust their car repairs to him.
These kids are happiest when doing repairs. They joke and laugh and are living in their own relaxed world. And their minds are bright despite their dirty hands and clothes.
I have learned a lot from my motorhead: publishers need printers, engineers need mechanics, and architects need builders. Most important, I have learned that fathers don’t need clones in footsteps or anywhere else.
My son may never make the school honor roll. But he made mine.
1.What used to be the author’s hope for his son?
A. To avoid becoming his clone.
B. To resemble him in appearance.
C. To develop in a different direction.
D. To reach the author’s unachieved goals.
2.What can we learn about the author’s children?
A. His daughter does better in school.
B. His daughter has got a master’s degree.
C. His son tried hard to finish homework.
D. His son couldn’t write his book reports.
3.The author let his son repair the car because he believed that_______.
A. His son had the ability to fix it.
B. it would save him much time.
C. it wouldn’t cause him any more loss
D. other motorheads would come to help.
4.In the author’s eyes, motorheads are _______.
A. tidy and hardworking B. cheerful and smart
C. lazy but bright D. relaxed but rude
5.What did the author realize in the end?
A. It is unwise to expect your child to follow your path.
B. It is important for one to make the honor roll.
C. Architects play a more important role than builders.
D. Motorheads have greater ability than office workers.
A Language Programme for Teenagers
Welcome to Teenagers Abroad! We invite you to join us on an amazing journey of language learning.
Our Courses
Regardless of your choice of course, you’ll develop your language ability both quickly and effectively.
Our Standard Course guarantees a significant increase in your confidence in a foreign language, with focused teaching in all 4 skill areas — speaking, listening, reading and writing.
Our Intensive Course builds on our Standard Course, with 10 additional lessons per week, guaranteeing the fastest possible language learning(see table below).
Course Type | Days | Number of Lessons | Course Timetable |
Standard Course | Mon-Fri | 20 lessons | 9:00-12:30 |
Intensive Course | Mon-Fri | 20 lessons | 9:00-12:30 |
10 lessons | 13:00-14:30 |
Evaluation
Students are placed into classes according to their current language skills. The majority of them take an online language test before starting their programme. However, if this is not available, students sit the exam on the first Monday of their course.
Learning materials are provided to students throughout their course, and there will never be more than 15 participants in each class.
Arrivals and Transfer
Our programme offers the full package — students are taken good care of from the start through to the very end. They are collected from the airport upon arrival and brought to their accommodation in comfort. We require the student’s full flight details at least 4 weeks in advance.
Meals/Allergies(过敏)/Special Dietary Requirements
Students are provided with breakfast, dinner and either a cooked or packed lunch (which consists of a sandwich, a drink and a dessert). Snacks outside of mealtimes may be purchased by the student individually.
We ask that you let us know of any allergies or dietary requirements as well as information about any medicines you take. Depending on the type of allergies and/or dietary requirements, an extra charge may be made for providing special food.
1.How does Intensive Course differ from Standard Course?
A. It is less effective. B. It focuses on speaking.
C. It includes extra lessons. D. It gives you confidence.
2.When can a student attend Standard Course?
A. 13:00-14:30 Monday. B. 9:00-12:30 Tuesday.
C. 13:00-14:30 Friday. D. 9:00-12:30 Saturday.
3.Before starting their programme, students are expected to ___________.
A. take a language test B. have an online interview
C. prepare learning materials D. report their language levels
4.With the full package, the programme organiser is supposed to _________.
A. inform students of their full flight details
B. look after students throughout the programme
C. offer students free sightseeing trips
D. collect students’ luggage in advance
5.Which of the following may require an extra payment ?
A. Cooked dinner. B. Mealtime dessert.
C. Packed lunch. D. Special diet.
完形填空
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从各题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选春最佳选项。
The journey my daughter Cathy has had with her swimming is as long as it is beautiful.
Cathy suffered some terrible____in her early childhood. After years of regular treatment, she____became healthy.
Two years ago, while Cathy was watching the Olympics, a dream came into her sweet little head—to be a swimmer. Last summer, she wanted to____out local swim team. She practiced hard and finally____it. The team practice,____was a rough start. She coughed and choked and could hardly____her first few weeks. Hearing her coughing bitterly one night, I decided to____her from it all. But Cathy woke me up early next morning, wearing her swimsuit____to go! I told her she shouldn’t swim after a whole night’s coughing, but she refused to____and insisted she go .
From that day on, Cathy kept swimming and didn’t____a single practice. She had a____intention within herself to be the best she could be. My ten—year—old was growing and changing right before my eyes, into this____human being with a passion and a mission. There were moments of____of course: often she would be the last swimmer in the race. It was difficult for Cathy to accept that she wasn’t a____---ever. But that didn’t stop her from trying.
Then came the final awards ceremony at the end of the year. Cathy didn’t expect any award but was still there to____her friends and praise their accomplishments. As the ceremony was nearing the end, I suddenly heard the head coach____, “The highest honor goes to Cathy!” Looking around, he continued, “Cathy has inspired us with her____and enthusiasm.____skills and talents bring great success, the most valuable asset(财富)one can hold is the heart.”
It was the greatest____of my daughter’s life. With all she hade been____in her ten years, this was the hour of true triumph(成功).
1.A. failure B. pressure C. loss D. illness
2.A. usually B. finally C. firstly D. frequently
3.A. improve B. train C. join D. contact
4.A. increased B. found C. created D. made
5.A. however B. therefore C. otherwise D. instead
6.A. use B. survive C. save D. waste
7.A. pull B. tell C. hide D. fire
8.A. afraid B. nervous C. ready D. free
9.A. take off B. set off C. give up D. show up
10.A. attend B. miss C. ban D. Start
11.A. rich B. weak C. firm D. kind
12.A. trusted B. determined C. experienced D. embarrassed
13.A. frustration B. delight C. excitement D. surprise
14.A. beginner B. learner C. partner D. winner
15.A. cheer on B. compete with C. respond to D. run after
16.A. admitting B. explaining C. announcing D. whispering
17.A. humor B. will C. honesty D. wisdom
18.A. Although B. Since C. Once D. Because
19.A. discovery B. choice C. influence D. moment
20.A. through B. under C. across D. around
（2016 •天津）I was wearing a seatbelt. If I hadn’t been wearing one, I_________.
A. were injured B. would be injured
C. had been injured D. would have been injured
I hate it when she calls me at work—I’m always too busy to _____ a conversation with her.
A. carry on B. break into
C. turn down D. cut off
