It is sometimes thought that the longing for material goods, the need to buy things, is a relatively modern invention. 1. Trade or shopping is certainly an ancient desire, and existed even before our ancestors used metal to make tools.
2. And we don't need shops or money to do it. Evidence from hunter-gatherers suggests that the exchange of food and other necessary things comes naturally, as well as the ability to keep a record of the credits involved. And once trade begins, the benefits are hard to resist.
Ancient local coastal people in northern Australia traded fish hooks, along a chain of trading partners, with people living 400 miles inland, who cut and polished local stone to make axes (斧子).
3. Finally, both groups of ''producers'', by concentrating on things they could produce and exchanging them for other things they needed, benefited as a result.
Trade in the necessities of life, such as food and simple tools, is not really surprising. What is surprising, though, is that our taste for unnecessary expensive objects also goes back a long way.
In South Africa, 100,000-year-old decorative dyes (染料) have been found in an area where none were produced. 4. Small round pieces of glass 76,000 years old were also found at the same place. The earliest jewellery known to us were not just random findings — they were grouped together in size and had holes like those used for threading onto a necklace.
Archaeologists argue that trade prepared the way for the complex societies in which we live today. 5. However, their modern equivalents — fast cars and expensive clothes — hold the same attraction for us as ''trade goods'' did for people 100,000 years ago.
A. Humans are born to trade.
B. These are powerful evidence for cash purchase.
C. In fact, its roots go back to the beginning of humanity.
D. However, first trade began from the exchange of objects.
E. Modern-day shoppers may not be impressed by ancient glass pieces.
F. It is thought that these goods were bought at least 30 kilometres away.
G. Every individual along the chain made a profit, even if he produced neither himself.
Taking charge of yourself involves putting to rest some common beliefs. At the top of the list is the notion that intelligence is measured by your ability to solve complex problems; to read, write and compute at certain levels; and to resolve abstract equations (方程式) quickly. This vision of intelligence asserts (断言) formal education and bookish excellence as the true measures of self-fulfillment. It encourages a kind of intellectual prejudice that has brought with it some discouraging results. We have come to believe that someone who is very good at some form of school discipline is ''intelligent''. Yet mental hospitals are filled with patients who have all of the professional certificates. A truer indicator of intelligence is an effective, happy life lived each day and each present moment.
If you are happy, if you live each moment for everything it's worth, then you are an intelligent person. Problem solving is a useful help to your happiness, but if you know that given your inability to solve a particular problem you can still choose happiness for yourself, or at a minimum refuse to choose unhappiness, then you are intelligent. You are intelligent because you have the ultimate weapon against the big N.B.D. — Nervous Break Down.
''Intelligent'' people do not have N.B.D.s because they are in charge of themselves. They know how to choose happiness over depression, because they know how to deal with the problems of their lives.
You can begin to think of yourself as truly intelligent on the basis of how you choose to feel in the face of trying circumstances. Everyone who is involved with other human beings in any social context has similar difficulties. Disagreements, conflicts and compromises are a part of what it means to be human. Similarly, money, growing old, sickness, deaths, natural disasters and accidents are all events which present problems to actually all human beings. But some people are able to make it, to avoid abandoning themselves to depression and unhappiness despite such occurrences, while others collapse or have N.B.D.s. Those who recognize problems as a human condition and don't measure happiness by an absence of problems are the most intelligent kind of humans we know; also, the most rare.
1.According to the author, the notion of intelligence measured in terms of one's ability to read, write and compute _____________.
A.will help remove intellectual prejudice B.is a widely held but wrong concept
C.will contribute to one’s self-fulfillment D.is the root of all mental suffering
2.It is implied in the passage that holding a university degree _____________.
A.does not mean that one is highly intelligent
B.may make one mentally sick and physically weak
C.does not indicate one's ability to write professional documents
D.may result in one's inability to solve complex real-life problems
3.The author thinks that an intelligent person knows _____________.
A.how to accept some common beliefs
B.how to persuade others to compromise
C.how to find the best way to achieve success in life
D.how to avoid depression and make his life worthwhile
4.According to the last paragraph, which statement is TRUE?
A.Difficulties are part of everyone's life.
B.Depression and unhappiness are unavoidable in life.
C.Everybody should learn to avoid challenging circumstances.
D.Good feelings can contribute to eventual academic excellence.
If I scratch your back and you scratch mine, then we're both better off as a result — so goes the principle of reciprocity. As humans, we are familiar with the concept. But do animals also help those who help them? The answer may be yes. A paper by Dolivo and Taborsky shows that Norway rats will only give as good as they get.
In their laboratory, Dolivo and Taborsky first trained rats to pull on a stick that drew a food item within reach of a rat in a neighboring cage separated from them by wire mesh (钢丝网).
They then introduced a further treatment in which an experimental rat was placed in a cage with other caged rats on either side. On one side the rat pulled a stick that provided pieces of carrot to the rat in the central cage, while the other pulled a stick that produced banana pieces.
In the following trials the focal rat (the one in the central cage) had the opportunity to repay the other rats using the same stick tool to deliver food items.
Now, the rats had typically turned their noses up at the carrot and showed a strong preference for the more desirable banana. On the basis that the banana-providing rat should therefore be remembered as the superior partner, the authors predicted that in the test phase (阶段) the focal rat would more readily provide help for banana-offering rats than for carrot-offering rats. This proved to be the case: the rats that had provided better help in the past received greater rewards - it seemed that they were behaving reciprocally.
Dolivo and Taborsky's experiments show that rats can recall the quality of help provided and by which rat, and adjust their behavior so as to invest more time and energy in helping those that helped them. It is apparent that we shouldn't undervalue the ability of animals to engage in reciprocity.
1.What does the underlined word ''reciprocit'' in Paragraph 1 probably refer to?
A.The act of being kind to other people. B.A cooperative exchange of favors.
C.A positive attitude to everything. D.The quality of being generous.
2.What would happen if a rat pulled the stick according to the text?
A.It would find some food in its own cage.
B.Other rats would be able to enter its cage.
C.Another rat in another cage would get food.
D.It would be able to enter a neighboring cage.
3.Which got more benefit from the focal rat in the experiments?
A.The rats that preferred carrot pieces.
B.The rats that preferred banana pieces.
C.The rats that had provided carrot pieces.
D.The rats that had provided banana pieces.
4.Which of the following might Dolivo and Taborsky agree with?
A.Some animals may return others' help.
B.Norway rats have very poor memories.
C.It is hard to explain the ability of animals.
D.Rats behavior is very uncommon.
I attended a party one night. During the dinner a man told a humorous story based on the quotation: "There's a divinity that shapes our ends, rough-hew them how we will.”
The storyteller mentioned that the quotation was from the Bible. I knew he was wrong. There couldn't be the slightest doubt about it. To get a feeling of importance and display my superiority, I appointed myself as an unwelcome committee member to correct him. He stuck to his guns. "What? From Shakespeare? Impossible! Absurd! That quotation was from the Bible.” And he knew it.
The storyteller was sitting on my right; and Frank Gammond, an old friend of mine, was seated on my left. Mr. Gammond had devoted years to the study of Shakespeare. So the storyteller and I agreed to submit the question to Mr. Gammond. Mr. Gammond listened, kicked me under the table, and then said,"Dale, you are wrong. The gentleman is right. It is from the Bible."
On our way home that night, I said to Mr. Gammond, “Frank, you knew that quotation was from Shakespeare. "Yes, of course," he replied, “Hamlet，Act Five, Scene Two. But we were guests at a happy time, my dear Dale. Why argue with the storyteller? Why prove to him he is wrong? Why not let him save his face? Always avoid your sharp angle." I learned a lesson I'll never forget. I not only had made the storyteller uncomfortable, but also had put my friend in an embarrassing situation. How much better it would have been had I not become argumentative.
Nine times out of ten, an argument ends with each of the contestants more firmly convinced than ever that he is absolutely right. You can't win an argument. You can't because if you lose it, you lose it; and if you win it, you lose it
1.What did the author do to get a feeling of importance at the party?
A. Tell a humorous story. B. Show off his rich knowledge.
C. Teach the storyteller a lesson. D. Correct the storyteller's mistake.
2.. Why did Frank Gammond kick the author under the table?
A. Because he didn't know much about the Bible.
B. Because he thought the author was really wrong.
C. Because he was thoughtful and wanted to stop the author.
D. Because he was humorous and played tricks on the author .
3.How did the author feel about the event that happened at the party?
A. Thankful. B. Regretful.
C. Satisfied, D. Confused.
4.What can be the suitable title for the passage?
A. You Can't Win an Argument B. You Can't Make Mistakes in Public
C. Do Have an Open Mind D. Mind Your Manners at a Party
Skydive Greene County
Come out and let us teach you how to skydive today! We are located in Xenia, Ohio and are within a reasonable driving distance of major cities in Ohio. Situated on a private airport, Skydive Greene County offers world-class training. We didn't start skydiving but we are Ohio's oldest skydiving school which opened in 1961!
Tandem Skydiving
Tandem skydiving is required if this is your first-time skydiving. After filling out paperwork and watching a short video, you will be ready to make your skydive. Somewhere around 11,500 feet you will be secured to your tandem instructor. The door will open and you exit the plane.
Your freefall with your instructor will last for approximately 40-50 seconds. We can almost guarantee this will be the most exciting minute of your life as you reach the speed of around 120 mph, falling for about two miles back to the earth!
Don't forget to have a video taken of your skydive to show all those that didn't think you would jump from an airplane!
Static Line Courses
Once you have made your tandem skydiving, you can move on to our Static Line Program. The Static Line Jump is the traditional way to learn to skydive. We have classes throughout the year. Every student will be led through the entire day by a licensed instructor. Never does the student feel unattended. Once training is over, students will make their first jump on that very same day!
Price
$165.00 Tandem skydiving only
$175.00 Static Line Course only
Invite one of our professional videographers on your skydive: $125.00 DVD with photos
Come to learn with the best and make a skydive today! For further information, please call us at (937) 372-0700 or visit our website www. greenecounty.com!
1.Skydive Greene County _____________.
A.offers training in major cities in Ohio
B.is the oldest skydiving school in the USA
C.guarantees every skydiver a freefall experience
D.requires all the students to receive one-day training
2.If you want to experience Tandem Skydiving only and a video taken of your skydiving, how much will you have to pay?
A.$165 B.$175
C.$300 D.$290
3.What's the author's purpose in writing the text?
A.To give a brief introduction to Skydive Greene County.
B.To attract readers to learn Skydiving in Skydive Greene County.
C.To make a comparison between Tandem Skydiving and Static Line Courses.
D.To convince the readers Skydive Greene County is the best place for skydiving.
阅读下面短文，根据其内容写一篇60词左右的内容概要。
Many things — genetics, environment, the food you eat, illness, sleep, even the seasons — influence your emotional state. But at the heart of it is how you regard yourself. If you have a healthy level of self-esteem (自尊), you not only deal with life's challenges better than people with low self-esteem, but you're probably more content, confident, and successful. You're probably also healthier. Studies show that positive self-esteem actually helps prevent people against depression and anxiety.Most people's sense of worth is rooted in their childhood — in the early approval or disapproval of parents, teachers, and friends. But as we get older, most of us judge ourselves by our sense of how effectively we're managing in the world, especially in the areas of love and work. Our ability to love and be loved can give our lives a sense of purpose and deep fulfillment. We can also find satisfaction and pride in work-related accomplishments, and the people we meet and work with can strengthen our sense of self and our role in life.
Once midlife comes along, however, our self-esteem can take a turn in response to changes in our lives. Marriage may change, children may leave home, and we may begin to cut back on work as we approach retirement. Of course, the view in the mirror may not be what it used to be, either.
If you find your self-esteem eroding (变弱) a bit, there are plenty of ways to build it back up again.
Reframe your identity. Redefine what you base your sense of self-worth on. Instead of “sales manager”, “stock market analyst”, or “mom”, start thinking of yourself as “community organizer”, “literacy volunteer”, “great cook”, “gifted gardener”, and more.
Talk back to your inner critic. Become conscious of how hard you're being on yourself, and fight against a negative attitude with some positive self-talk.
Take time for yourself. Read the paper, keep a journal, go for a swim. This is especially important for women, who are often so busy nurturing others that they neglect their own needs and interests. (346 words)
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