In the fall of 2017, when Paula Aldridge needed to get a job, she found herself at a crossroads. The 50-year-old wasn’t sure she would ever work again, due to health issues.
But Aldridge’s life and career journey started to turn around after she connected with Goodwill of Central Iowa’s skills training programs. These programs are tailored to help people develop the kind of specific, real-world skills they need to get and keep a job, through a combination of detailed instruction and hands-on experience.
When Aldridge first connected with Goodwill in September 2017, she was dealing with several barriers to immediate employment. Transportation was challenging, as she didn’t have a driver’s license or own a car. Aldridge also had a limited work history with long employment gaps (间断) , meaning she missed out on learning important skills, such as working a credit card machine. On top of that, her physical health issues were also a problem.
According to Kayleigh Duff, a career specialist at Goodwill of Central Iowa, the biggest barrier Aldridge had to overcome was from within. “She said outwardly that she had all of this confidence and that she knew how strong a worker she was, but I don’t think she truly believed it herself.”
Thankfully, Aldridge had plenty of people on her side to provide motivation and guidance. She originally started off in the food service training program but was eager to enter the retail (零售) skills program, since she had previously worked at the Salvation Army and Subway. When Aldridge mentioned her interest in retail, Duff recognized that her go-getting attitude would be a perfect match for the program.
The seven-week retail skills training is a systematic program combining classroom instruction with on- the-job experience at a Goodwill store. As Aldridge progressed and graduated from the program, she became more confident in her abilities.
Duff said it was great to see how Aldridge grew into the devoted, driven worker she is today. “She has this strong desire, this longing to succeed. And she knows that she’s able to do that, although she has fallen short in the past.”
1.What can be learned about Goodwill’s training programs?
A.They combine theory with practice.
B.They guarantee a good job for participants.
C.They are designed mainly for the unemployed.
D.They were established in the autumn of 2017.
2.What was the biggest problem Aldridge faced according to Duff?
A.Poor health. B.Poor working skills.
C.A lack of confidence. D.A lack of a driver’s license.
3.Why did Aldridge change her training program?
A.She wanted to attend a more systematic program.
B.She wanted to gain some hands-on experience.
C.She was more interested in retail.
D.She followed Duff’s advice.
4.What’s the main idea of the text?
A.A 50-year-old devotes herself to Goodwill.
B.Goodwill helps a 50-year-old turn her life around.
C.Goodwill training programs spring up around the world.
D.Success is closely linked to appropriate training programs.
Inventions That Will Make Your 2019 a Lot More Interesting
Each year there are countless new products and inventions on the market. Here are some of the most exciting products to come out over the year.
Xbox Adaptive Controller
The Xbox Adaptive Controller is here to make the gaming world more accessible. Microsoft developed the Xbox Adaptive Controller to help those with limited hand and arm mobility (移动的能力) play games. It connects device (设备) such as switches, buttons and joysticks (操纵杆) to create a unique custom controller experience. The product itself was inspired by previous efforts made by groups like the Cerebral Palsy Foundation.
Gravity Blanket
Gravity is in here to help you deal with your anxiety. Starting off as a Kickstarter campaign, the company Gravity has created a therapeutic (治疗的) weighted blanket engineered to be around 10% of your body weight. The super comfortable blanket helps those who have a sleeping problem, and those who may be stressed, or deal with anxiety.
Solar Charged Jacket
If you are a night runner, this one is for you. Created by U.K.-based sporting goods company Vollebak, the Solar Charged Jacket absorbs light during the day and gives off its “green energy” for those who need to be safe after dark.
LynQ
Getting separated from friends or family members at an event or a festival can be annoying. LynQ helps you find your loved ones when you get separated from the group. Unlike smartphones, this compass- like device does not need any Wi-Fi to stay connected. It is a great tool for family vacations.
1.What do we know about the Xbox Adaptive Controller?
A.It makes it easier for users to play games. B.It gives users a shared game experience.
C.It is intended for disabled game lovers. D.It consists mainly of remote joysticks.
2.Which of the following is fit for those who find it hard to fall asleep?
A.The Xbox Adaptive Controller. B.The Solar Charged Jacket
C.The Gravity Blanket D.LynQ.
3.In what way is LynQ different from a smartphone?
A.It is powered by solar energy.
B.It requires no Internet connection.
C.It is used to improve family relationships.
D.It responds to family members more quickly.
受某英文报的委托,你最近对高中生的英语阅读兴趣做了一次调查。请根据以下信息,用英语为该报写一篇120词左右的短文。短文的标题及首句已为你写好。
调查内容:在新闻、故事、科普,学习方法四种英文文章中,学生最喜欢哪一种调查范围:江苏省淮安市的10所中学调查主题:选择各类英语文章人数百分比
调查对象:高中生
调查人数: 1,000
调查方式: 访谈
调查结果:(见下图)
Reading Interests of Senior Middle School Students
Recently a survey has been done to find out the reading interests of senior middle school students.
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单词拼写
1.Lions and house cats evolved from the same_________(祖先).
2.So far,scientists haven't come up with any_____(令人信服的)explanation as to why dinosaurs die out.
3.You didn't seem very_________(热情)about the party;don't you want to go tonight?
4.We sat outside in the___________(灿烂的)sunshine,breathing the fresh country air.
5.Thanks to the_______(先进)technology,we live in an age of bettered communication.
课文背诵
1) 1.with these physical changes,there come many psychological changes.Boys and girls 2.to be different in this 3.Many boys become risk-takers---they want to find their own limits and the limits of the world around them,but may not have the 4. to make good choices in their 5..At the same time,girls often want someone-- anyone--to talk to,as they try to deal with their strong feelings.
2)Some people in Dover also say that they saw aliens that night."It's happened to me!'said Mrs.Mavis Wood."The aliens took me 6.the UFO so that they could do research on me. Luckily,they returned me home without any 7.The whole experience was terrible! I haven't been sleeping well since I returned home.I think Justin was taken away by them,too. When asked about the 8.that Justin was taken by aliens,Detective Sam Peterson, who has taken charge of the case,told joumnalists,'Sometimes people make up such amazing stories. There's really no hard 9.that aliens took him.So, 10.we have not dismissed the idea,we are looking into other......
语法填空
Once you become addicted to smoking, you may find 1. difficult for you to quit. Firstly, you may become 2.(physical) addicted to nicotine. one of the hundreds of harmful chemicals that consist in cigarettes. Secondly, you may develop the habit of 3.(smoke) and finally become mentally addicted to it. You may believe that you will only feel good when you smoke and may find all kinds of negative emotions in you when you stop smoking.
Smoking may have all kinds of harmful 4. (effect) on the health of both the smokers themselves and non-smokers around them. It not only affects your physical fitness, but also does harm 5. your heart and lungs and 6.(cause) a variety of diseases. So, It’s important to quit smoking and live a 7. (healthy) life than before.
To quit smoking, you should be well-prepared and make 8. list of all the benefits you may get after quitting. But 9. you feel really bad, you should consult a doctor or chemist 10.(seek) some professional help. Remember, if you keep trying, you will eventually succeed.
