I watched the two of them, both one year old, on the floor, surrounded by candy. He crawled on his hands while she sat there looking at birthday dress. The colourful fishier pinata(彩罐)had just been broken and the candy littered the ground. Both of their kids were too young to realise that they were sitting, and crawling around in a collection of wrapped sugar goodies. They were surrounded with edible(可食用的)goodies but had no clue!
Suddenly I saw the life metaphor(比喻). If we are the “babies” and the candy is “opportunity”, often we don’t recognise it because the opportunity comes wrapped as hard work. We may not give the wrapper the time of day, unless we realise that inside there’s a piece of delicious candy.
Every tree starts as a seed. Every person who becomes well-known was once someone nobody “knew”. So what changed for these people? Did the world suddenly wake up and find they have the potential to succeed? Of course not. These people worked for long periods of time before they saw any payoff.
It can be disheartening when you’re starting out. There’s a huge learning curve for almost everything. Just when you feel like you’re making rapid progress, you realise there’s more to learn. Every new door opens to a brand-new room, with another door at the end.
When I was in recovery from my eating disorder, there were many opportunities that I didn’t recognise as candy. At first, I didn’t see therapy(治疗)leading anywhere. It was only by going to therapy every week for a year that I was finally able to realise the opportunities. I had the opportunities to examine and adjust my thinking, and to challenge the negative mindsets I had about my life.
When I look back, I find that many of the opportunities that allowed positive growth didn’t always appear easy or fun. They often appeared as something that looked like hard work. But when we focus, consistently show up, and put in hard work, it will result in candy.
1.Why do many people miss their opportunities according to the author?
A.Their hard work fails to pay off.
B.They don’t work hard consistently.
C.They haven’t realised their potential.
D.They don’t value their opportunities.
2.What does the author think of the learning process according to Paragraph 4?
A.It is often interesting for most people.
B.It is often long and hard for most people.
C.You can speed it up with the help of others.
D.You can predict your progress from its start.
3.How did the author’s eating disorder affect emotionally?
A.She lacked hope for her life sometimes.
B.She was unwilling to do therapy at first.
C.She refused to change her eating habits.
D.She liked eating candy very much.
4.What would be the best title for the text?
A.Power of Positive Thinking
B.Candy and Achievements
C.Hard Work Leads to Success
D.Opportunities Come Candy-wrapped
Bill Bowerman was a track coach. He wanted to help athletes run faster. So he had learnt how to make running shoes. He had also started a shoe company with a friend. It was 1971.Running shoes at the time were heavy. They had spikes(鞋钉)on the sole(鞋底). The spikes tore up the track and slowed down runners.
To make a lighter shoe, Bill tried the skins of fish. To make a better sole, he wanted to replace the spikes. Bill dug through his wife Barbara's jewelry box. He hoped to find a piece of jewelry with an interesting pattern. He would then copy the pattern onto the new soles. Nothing worked. Bill was defeated.
Then, one Sunday morning, Barbara made Bill waffles(华夫饼)for breakfast. Bill watched her cook.
He studied the criss-cross pattern on a waffle iron.
Inspiration struck. The pattern on the waffle iron was just what Bill was looking for. The squares were flatter and wider than sharp spikes. The pattern would help the shoes hold any surface without tearing into it.
When Barbara left the house, Bill ran to his lab. He took the liquid chemicals that, when mixed, would harden into the sole of a shoe. He poured the mixture into the waffle iron---and the Waffle Trainer was born.
Bill’s company put the Waffle Trainer on market in 1974.It was a huge hit. Maybe you’ve heard of that company---it’s called Nike. And today it’s worth around $100 billion.
It was the waffle iron that had changed the course of Bill’s life---and helped turn Nike into a well-known name. Today, the waffle iron is kept at Nike headquarters. It serves as a reminder that if we keep trying, we can find a solution to even the most difficult problems. And those solutions can come from unlikely places, even the breakfast table.
1.What shortcomings did the old-style running shoes have?
A.They were hard to wear. B.They were too large.
C.They were impractical. D.They were easy to break.
2.Where did Bill get the inspiration to invent the famous Waffle Trainer?
A.From the skins of the fish. B.From his wife’s jewelry.
C.From the colour of the iron. D.From his wife’s cooking tools.
3.What can we learn from Bill’s success?
A.A cheerful wife is the joy of life.
B.Two heads are better than one.
C.Where there’s a will, there’s a way.
D.A bad workman quarrels with his tools.
4.What can be a suitable title for the text?
A.Waffles and Nike B.Inspiration and Invention
C.A Great Inventor D.A Well-Known Company
Summer is coming and you might be delighted in the stories and images these summer picture books bring.
Sun, Sun by Brad Gray
For this rhyming celebration of fun in sun, all your family needs to take in summer’s very best. Life-like illustrations light the senses and bring back memories of summer’s past and dreams of the summers to come.
Available from Amazon, $9.99
When We Go Camping by Margriet Ruurs
What goes into camping? Setting up tents and looking at stars? Sure, but there’s also so much more! Get to know nature and all the mystery and wonder she brings as a family goes on an outdoor adventure. As educational as it is fun, this image-rich story will lead your child to explore deeper into the woods than ever before.
Available from Amazon, $ 8.93
The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzoli
Ever wonder what would happen if you swallowed a watermelon seed? A crocodile has wondered (and worried) about it quite a bit! Will he grow a watermelon in his belly? Will he sprout crazy vines (藤)? He’s not quite sure, but when the concerned crocodile accidentally swallows a seed, his imagination takes over and amusement arises!
Available from Amazon, $ 9.95
Three Little Words by Amy Novesky Dory
“Just keep swimming!” message of perseverance is perfect for anyone who has ever felt like they were drowning. Follow Dory’s an unforgettable adventure as she finds her way in this beautiful water color adventure of friendship and survival.
Available from Amazon, $ 12.06
1.Which book do you buy if you enjoy sleeping outdoors?
A.Sun, Sun B.When We Go Camping C.The Watermelon Seed D.Three Little Words
2.What troubles the crocodile in The Watermelon Seed?
A.A plant might grow in his body.
B.He shouldn't have eaten the watermelon.
C.A seed won't come out of his stomach.
D.He doesn't know how to take care of the plant.
3.What message does Three Little Words give its readers?
A.Swimming is dangerous. B.Adventure is interesting.
C.Never give up. D.Swimming is useful.
听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1.What percentage of the Indian youth are hopeful for the future?
A.53%. B.49%. C.20%.
2.What do most Chinese young people worry about?
A.Energy. B.Technology. C.Environment.
3.What is the speaker doing?
A.Giving a lesson. B.Hosting a show. C.Broadcasting news.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.Why is the woman dissatisfied with the man?
A.He didn’t talk with her.
B.He came here late again.
C.He ignored her messages.
2.What’s the biggest problem of having a mobile phone in the woman’s view?
A.Wasting much time.
B.Doing harm to our health.
C.Distracting us from real life.
3.What does the one who uses the phone first need to do?
A.Take a photo. B.Send a message. C.Buy some coffee.
4.How does the man feel about keeping off the phone?
A.Nervous. B.Relaxed. C.Painful.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.Why does Mr. Cook make the call?
A.To change an appointment.
B.To make an appointment.
C.To confirm an appointment.
2.What did Mr. Cook forget?
A.The name of the dentist.
B.The problems with his teeth.
C.The time of his last check-up.
3.When will Mr. Cook visit Beautiful Smile Dentistry?
A.Next Tuesday. B.Next Thursday. C.Next Friday.
