Life isn’t always a walk in the park. 1. These tips are small things that happy people do to make life just a little bit better, and now you can too.
1. They turn mistakes into lessons.
2. While it’s easy to be upset when a new job just isn’t working out or a relationship falls apart, focusing on learning from what went wrong will help you turn a mistake into something productive.
2. They go offline.
Addiction to social media sites is a bad habit, and looking at pictures of other people’s amazing vacations and delicious desserts isn’t doing anything for you. Make a promise with yourself to remove them every day—you can read a book or call a friend. 3.
3. They ignore the small stuff.
Bad days happen. 4. You accidentally fall over a banana skin...There are plenty of cases where anger, disappointment, and anxiety are totally reasonable reactions, but they don’t have to be your final reactions. Learning to let go of the little things you can’t control will allow you to focus better on the positive aspects of life.
4. They plan trips.
Even if you can’t afford an overseas trip, there are plenty of affordable ways to get out there and see the world. Experiencing a new culture or food or a change in scenery is a great way to bring a little extra happiness into your life.
5. 5.
Instead of waiting for opportunities to fall into your lap, take control. Putting yourself out there can feel like a challenge, but once you take a risk, you will certainly be rewarded.
A. They ignore risks.
B. They take chances.
C. Mistakes are an inevitable part of life.
D. So how do happy people get through a rough day?
E. You spill coffee down your shirt before you are running out of the door.
F. So who can you turn to for help when you plan trips?
G. Just staying away from the Internet allows you to live your life instead of watching other people live theirs.
“Small enough to fit in your hands but too dangerous to hold” is a good description of the hedgehog. Though small, it is able to protect itself from attack or harm. Thousands of stiff, sharp spines cover the animal’s back and sides. Even though spines provide the hedgehog with effective protection, the animal’s most striking characteristic is its practice of curling up into a tight ball, with its spines sticking out in all directions. The hedgehog curls up if disturbed or frightened—only the strongest animals can open it. It also sleeps in this position, so it is rarely caught unprotected.
Hedgehogs can live in a wide range of climates and lands in East Africa. They must have dry shelters on well-drained soil and a good supply of insects. Nairobi, the capital of Kenya in East Africa, meets these habitat conditions, where hedgehogs are reported to be abundant. A hedgehog uses a small home range with an approximate 120-yard radius (半径范围) from its nest. The hedgehog makes loud noises if its range is invaded by another animal.
The hedgehog wakes up at dusk and begins its activities alone. It uses regular pathways, walking along on its short legs searching for food. A hedgehog will eat about one-third of its body weight in one night. Its favorite foods are insects, earthworms and snails, making it a welcome guest in many gardens—it is even kept as a pet. It is also known to eat eggs, small mammals, birds, frogs, reptiles, and roots. Although not completely immune to poison, hedgehogs have enough resistance to allow them to eat poisonous snakes.
1.While facing danger, the hedgehog ________.
A.stands straight up B.makes loud noises
C.goes back to its nest D.uses its spines for protection
2.The second paragraph is mainly about hedgehog’s ________.
A.appearance B.habitat C.diet D.hunting skills
3.According to paragraph 3, the hedgehog is ________.
A.active at night B.afraid of snakes
C.keeping away from gardens D.totally immune to poisons
4.It can be inferred from the text that ________.
A.there is a lot of rain in Nairobi
B.hedgehogs are cooperative animals
C.hedgehogs always stay on guard against danger
D.there is an increasing trend towards keeping pet hedgehogs
For some parents, hitting a child who misbehaves is a common punishment. In fact, they may think that a physical type of punishment is good for children and will teach them to behave in the future.
However, a leading group of child health specialists suggest that the opposite is true. These experts say that hitting is not only ineffective, but may even cause long-term harm to the child. The American Academy of Pediatrics recently changed its policy on physical punishment for a child. Released in October, the academy warns that hitting a child may have long-term effects. These effects include “aggression, brain changes, substance abuse and suicidal behavior in adulthood”. The report admits that not every child who is spanked will have these problems later in life. It makes this observation: “Although many children who were spanked become happy, healthy adults, current evidence suggests that hitting is not necessary and may result in long-term harm.”
In recent years, many American experts have been advising parents against the use of physical punishment. Many other countries have already banned corporeal punishment. Sweden was the first nation to do so in 1966. Earlier studies have shown that corporal punishment can also affect a child’s ability to think and learn. In 2012, a Canadian study found that hitting children can cause long-term developmental damage and may even lower a child’s intelligence test scores. The American Academy of Pediatrics also warns against using strong verbal abuse or shame to discipline a child. These types of punishment can also cause long-term problems for a child. Instead, they suggest other types of punishment that are appropriate for the age of the child.
For younger children, punishment could be taking away a favorite toy. For older children, a parent can limit the time the child spends watching television or playing with computers or electronic games.
1.What can we know according to the experts?
A.Spanking a child is not effective but harmful.
B.Sweden was the first country to spank a child in 1996.
C.The study from Canada found that spanking children can lower children’s grades.
D.Many American experts found spanking a child can cause anti-social behavior.
2.Which of the following best explains “discipline” underlined in paragraph 3?
A.Protect. B.Control. C.Persuade. D.Punish.
3.What does the author intend to say in the last paragraph?
A.We should take away younger children’s favorite toys as punishment.
B.As for older children, we need allow them to watch TV or play games.
C.Different children should be given different ways to punish.
D.It may be ineffective for younger or older children to have punishment.
4.What is the text mainly about?
A.A physical type of punishment.
B.The effects of punishment.
C.Different countries have different types of punishment.
D.How to punish the mischievous children.
The moment I was born, I seemed to be part of a set, as if my twin brother David and I were a package deal. We faced constant comparisons in our physical appearance. People were always comparing our personalities and academic performances as well! These constant comparisons made me decide not to go to the same university as my twin brother.
That is not to say we didn’t have good academic experiences in the past or didn’t get along. In eleventh grade, we were placed in the same math experimental class. I recall arriving early to the first class and being a bit disappointed when I saw David already seated at his desk. It is hard to avoid comparisons when we were in the same class. However, we found that we actually worked well together, in our own way. We would argue about the best way to solve a problem and debate its answer. As the year went on, I noticed that our teacher kept moving us closer and closer together. Our argument was actually productive.
However, we were two very different candidates. I was very involved in extracurricular(课 外的) activities, while David had better test scores than I did. I’m fond of writing while David enjoys playing computer games. I am currently studying English and French at McGill University, while David is studying computer science at Union College.
Besides escaping comparisons, there have been other benefits to going to different universities. The first one is that we are forced to talk to each other, as we no longer see each other every day. This is healthier for our relationship. The second, also the more important one, is that after having so many similar experiences together we can have our own experiences separate from one another.
Going to a different university has benefited me thus far. It allows for more personal growth, and I’m not attached to the label of being a twin.
1.Which of the following is the best title for the passage?
A.Why Do People Like to Compare Me with My Twin Brother?
B.Why Am I Choosing a Different University with My Twin Brother?
C.What Are Some Main Benefits of Being Twin Brothers at School?
D.How Can Twin Brothers Get Along Well with Each Other at School?
2.What can be inferred about the author?
A.He was fed up with people’s comparisons.
B.He was glad to hear people’s comparisons.
C.He is more handsome than David.
D.He was better at academic subjects than David.
3.What does the author think of him and David studying in the same math experimental class?
A.Boring. B.Harmful. C.Awful. D.Beneficial.
4.The author chose to go to a different university in order to ________.
A.avoid seeing David B.escape arguing with David
C.pursue a different experience D.strengthen bonds with David
Discover Nature Schools Programs
All programs include outdoor time, so please help children prepare with proper clothing, sunscreen and insect repellant(驱虫剂) as needed.
Each program is taught for a class with a minimum of 10 students and maximum of 125 students.
To schedule a program, please email deprograms@mdc. mo. gov.
Acorn to Oak(K-2 grade, 1. 5-2 hours)
From seed to shade tree, the oak(橡树) changes through the seasons and the years. Through exploration, students will understand the lifecycle of a tree. On a hike, students will explore various life stages of oak tree, taking a closer look. Creation of a tree relief sculpture using recycled wood products helps students review and represent their new knowledge.
Outdoor Sensations( K-2 grade, 1.5-2 hours)
The natural world is filled with sights, sound and smells. Students will see live animals and learn how wild animals rely on their senses to find food and survive. Spending time outside students will participate in various hands-on activities, focusing on each of their senses(not taste) to better experience the natural world.
Winged Wonders(3-5 grade, 3-4 hours)
Birds add color and sound to our world and fill an important ecological role. Students will learn the basics of bird identification, understand the role birds play in food chains and go bird watching using field guides and telescopes. Using hammer and nails, students will build a bird feeder, allowing them to attract birds at home.
Exploring Your Watershed(6-8 grade, 3-4 hours)
We all live in a watershed (流域) and depend on clean water. Examine how our actions shape the waterways around us. Interact with the Brush Creek Model and go on a hike to see first-hand some of the challenging water quality issues in an urban setting. Students will assess water quality using live fish to determine the health of an ecosystem.
1.According to the text, students who participate in Acorn to Oak can ________.
A.understand various uses of an oak tree
B.learn about characters of various trees
C.take a closer look at various trees
D.know different life stages of an oak tree
2.Which of the following programs helps students experience natural world through their different senses?
A.Acorn to Oak. B.Exploring Your Watershed.
C.Winged Wonders. D.Outdoor Sensations.
3.In the program Winged Wonders, students will ________.
A.learn how to build bird feeders
B.know how to cook birds as food
C.have teachers as their field guides
D.stay there at most two hours
听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1.Where is the speaker?
A.On a TV show. B.In a travel agency. C.Outside on a beach.
2.According to the speaker, what do Hawaiian people like to do?
A.Travel around the different islands.
B.Sit outside.
C.Grow vegetables.
3.What is special about the “Big Island”?
A.It’s well-known for volcanoes there.
B.It’s cheaper to fly there.
C.It’s very quiet there.
4.What does the speaker dislike about Hawaii?
A.The traffic. B.The cost. C.The weather.
