A Harvard study of their graduates over thirty years found that there were only a small percentage (3%) of them who actually wrote down their goals-and these were the most successful! You can be certain that every one of those students had repeatedly heard the value of goal setting. Yet only 3% actually wrote down their goals consistently. Imagine what you can do if you both write down your goals and, then, focus on them consistently, until they are accomplished!
What is it that causes the "New Year's Resolution Syndrome"? People make resolutions, work hard at them for a few weeks, maybe even a few months, and then forget them. Next year, they make the same New Year's resolutions. That is the syndrome. So why do so many people do it?
They may be making goals that are too global, and too unrealistic. The elephant analogy (比喻) is still the best one I know of to illustrate good goal setting. "How do you eat an elephant? One spoonful at a time." So it is with goals. Make spoon size goals and accomplish them easily. Once you've mastered this, get a bigger spoon!
You may have too many people in your life who consciously or subconsciously are unwilling or unable to support you to reach your goals. Surround yourself with people who want you to have what you want for yourself. Support each other and you'll all achieve your highest goals.
We must be careful not to confuse busyness with progress. Be selective about how you use your time and what you focus on. Success often comes when you know what to leave out, rather than what to include in your life.
Goal setting is like the pig and chicken who were out for a walk in town early one morning. The chicken became really excited when she saw a sign that said "Ham & Eggs, $2.99". She said to the pig, "Look, we've got double billing again." The pig grunted and said, "That's all right for you to say. For you, it's all in a day's work. For me, it's total commitment." Goal setting is all in a day's work. Goal achievement is total commitment.
1.What can we learn from Paragraph 1?
A.Few Harvard students know the importance of setting goals.
B.Writing down goals is unhelpful in achieving them.
C.A very small percentage of Harvard students can succeed.
D.Keeping working on goals eventually leads to victory.
2.What can we know about New Year's resolutions?
A.They are really difficult to achieve.
B.Most people give them up halfway.
C.They should be different from year to year.
D.Most people make no effort to achieve them.
3.According to the elephant analogy, when setting goals, we should _.
A.ask for others' advice
B.set great and worthy goals
C.break a big goal into smaller pieces
D.refer to the goals we set earlier
4.What does the story of the pig and chicken imply?
A.Rome is not built in one day.
B.When the cat is away, the mice will play.
C.The early bird catches the worm.
D.Birds of a feather flock together.
5.What can be the best title for this passage?
A.Goals only work when you do!
B.Surroundings contribute to success!
C.Ways to make New Year's resolutions
D.Suggestions for setting realistic goals
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.
"I didn't hear them call my name," explained Shelley Hennig to Active Teens (AT) as she talked about that exciting moment on national television when she won the honor of Miss Teen USA 2004. "Are you ready?" is what she heard. Then she said, "I shook my head no, and then they said ‘yes’ and it was announced again."
It was four days after that life changing moment for the seventeen-year-old high school student from Destrehan, Louisiana----she was still on cloud nine．
"I was so shocked! I never believed that it could actually really happen." Present in the audience(观众)that day were: her mother and father, older brother, her friends, and her dance teacher.
Understanding why members of her family and her friends would be there, AT asked why her dance teacher had traveled so far to see her compete (比赛)."She's always been my role model．I've danced with her since I was six. She's been through so many difficulties and came through them all. I've learned to get over bad life's experiences and learned how to move on because of her."
One of those bad life's experiences for Shelley happened three years ago when her brother Brad was killed in a drunk driving accident. He was 18. She found writing helped her get through the rough days. She said, "I write a lot about my brother. I write a lot, a lot, a lot...”
As Miss Louisiana Teen, she traveled around the state speaking to teens (青少年) about the dangers of drinking and driving. In her role as Miss Teen USA, Sheiley will continue to speak to youth about safe driving, in addition to many other things to help the youth.
When AT asked Miss Teen USA if she had any advice for our readers, she said, "Don't let anyone change you. Hang out with people that make you feel good about yourself. That way, it is easy to be yourself."
1.What do the words “on cloud nine” in Paragraph 2 probably mean?
A.frightened B.very happy
C.troubled D.very angry
2.Shelley takes her dance teachers as a role model mainly because she is .
A.strict B.friendly
C.determined D.experienced
3.How many children did the Hennigs have according to the text?
A.1. B.2.
C.3. D.4.
4.What did Shelley often do after she became Miss Louisiana Teen?
A.She visited drunken drivers.
B.She made speeches on safe driving.
C.She gave dance performance.
D.She helped other teens with their studies.
5.What suggestion does Shelley give to the teens?
A.Meet friends whenever possible.
B.Be yourself with the support of friends.
C.Go easy on yourself and others.
D.Have a good role model.
Societies all over the world name places in similar ways. Quite often there is no official naming ceremony but places tend to be called names as points of reference by people. Then an organized body steps in and gives the place a name. Frequently it happens that a place has two names: One is named by the people and the other by the government. As in many areas, old habits die hard and the place continues to be called by its unofficial name long after the meaning is lost.
Many roads and places in Singapore（新加坡）are named in order that the pioneers will be remembered by future generations. Thus we have names such as Stamford Road and Raffles Place. This is in keeping with traditions in many countries ---- in both the West and the East.
Another way of naming places is naming them after other places. Perhaps they were named to promote friendships between the two places or it could be that the people who used to live there were originally from the places that the roads were named after. The mystery is clearer when we see some of the roads named in former British bases. If you step into Selector Airbase you will see Piccadilly Circus ---- obviously named by some homesick Royal Air Force personnel.
Some places were named after the activities that used to go on at those places. Bras Basah Road is an interesting example, “Base Basah” means “wet rice” in Malay（马来语）. Now why would anyone want to name a road “Wet Rice Road”? The reason is simple. During the pioneering days, wet rice was laid out to dry along this road.
A few roads in Singapore are named by their shapes. There is “Circular Road” for one. Other roads may have part of their names to describe their shapes, like “Paya Lebar Crescent”. This road is called a crescent（月牙） because it begins on the main road, makes a crescent and comes back to join the main road again.
1.We learn from Paragraph 1 that _____.
A.the government is usually the first to name a place
B.many places tend to have more than one name
C.a ceremony will be held when a place is named
D.people prefer the place names given by the government
2.What does the underlined phrase “die hard” in Paragraph 1 probably mean?
A.Change suddenly. B.Change significantly.
C.Disappear mysteriously. D.Disappear very slowly.
3.Which of the following places is named after a person?
A.Raffles Place. B.Selector Airbase.
C.Piccadilly Circus. D.Paya Lebar Crescent.
4.Bras Basah Road is named _______.
A.after a person B.after a place C.after an activity D.by its shape
5.What can be inferred from the passage?
A.Some place names in Singapore are the same as in Britain.
B.Some places in Singapore are named for military purposes.
C.The way Singaporeans name their places is unique.
D.Young Singaporeans have forgotten the pioneers.
Double Trouble
When I was eight, I wanted a toy and needed $10 to buy it. But, as usual, I was broken. I decided to ask my 11-year-old sister, Kathleen, for a loan. I went to her room, _______her for the cash. Laughing, she agreed to_______ me the money, but added, “I will charge you 10 percent compound interest every ______until you pay me back.”
“Compound interest---what’s that?” I asked.
“Well, interest is what you call the_______money borrowers have to pay back on a loan,” she explained. “Compound interest means that the interest payments get bigger and bigger the______you take to pay back the loan. To repay the loan, you will need to give me $11 after one month. If you wait two months to pay me back, your______ will grow from $10 to $11. So I’ll be charging you interest on $11. Then I will add that interest to the $11 you already owe me, for a _____of $12.10. That’s what you’ll owe after two months.”
“Sure. I get it,” I said. Though truthfully, I was getting ______.
Kathleen lent me the money, and I bought the toy. My birthday came a month later, and my mom gave me $10. _____,that was just the amount I needed to buy another toy I wanted ______. I put off paying my sister for a month. After another month, I_______about the loan.
Several months later, on Christmas morning, my sister and I each found a $02 bill in our stockings. I was just putting it into my pocket ______Kathleen tapped me on the shoulder.
“Sorry, kiddo. That’s mine. I’m ______on your debt.”
“Huh?” Then I remembered the loan. “Hey! How can it be that much? I ______borrowed $10.”
“True,” she said, “but interest has been compounding for eight months. Now you _____me $21.43.” She paused, then added. “You can pay me the $1.43.”
I ______to believe that a $10 loan could more than double so quickly. Much to my ______, my sister got her pencil and tablet and showed me exactly how it all added up.
My head _____as I tried to keep track of Kathleen’s ______, but this time, I got the basic idea of compound interest. I ______the hard way that borrowing money can be “double trouble” in no time.
1.A.blaming B.begging C.searching D.preparing
2.A.pay B.send C.lend D.hand
3.A.month B.year C.week D.day
4.A.little B.same C.enough D.extra
5.A.shorter B.longer C.more D.less
6.A.cash B.saving C.note D.debt
7.A.total B.cost C.number D.bill
8.A.encouraged B.shocked C.confused D.satisfied
9.A.Gradually B.Obviously C.Unfortunately D.Hopefully
10.A.seriously B.anxiously C.secretly D.desperately
11.A.forgot B.knew C.talked D.cared
12.A.after B.until C.while D.when
13.A.carrying B.collecting C.relying D.focusing
14.A.normally B.nearly C.only D.really
15.A.owe B.offer C.take D.give
16.A.decided B.refused C.pretended D.managed
17.A.relief B.delight C.annoyance D.regret
18.A.turned B.nodded C.stuck D.hurt
19.A.calculations B.excuses C.directions D.discoveries
20.A.explored B.learned C.explained D.questioned
I can _______the house being untidy, but I hate it if it’s not clean.
A.come up with B.put up with
C.turn to D.stick to
