When John was growing up, other kids felt sorry for him. His parents always had him weeding the garden, carrying out the garbage and delivering newspapers. But when John reached adulthood, he was better off than his childhood playmates. He had more job satisfaction, a better marriage and was healthier. Most of all, he was happier. Far happier.
These are the findings of a 40-year study that followed the lives of 456 teenage boys from Boston. The study showed that those who had worked as boys enjoyed happier and more productive lives than those who had not. ＂Boys who worked in the home or community gained competence(能力) and came to feel they were worthwhile members of society,＂ said George Vaillant, the psychologist(心理学家) who made the discovery. ＂And because they felt good about themselves, others felt good about them.＂
Vaillant’s study followed these males in great detail. Interviews were repeated at ages 25,31 and 47. Under Vaillant, the researchers compared the men’s mental-health scores with their boyhood-activity scores. Points were awarded for part-time jobs, housework, effort in school, and ability to deal with problems.
The link between what the men had done as boys and how they turned out as adults was surprisingly sharp. Those who had done the most boyhood activities were twice as likely to have warm relations with a wide variety of people, five times as likely to be well paid and 16 times less likely to have been unemployed. The researchers also found that IQ and family social and economic class made no real difference in how the boys turned out.
Working — at any age — is important. Childhood activities help a child develop responsibility, independence, confidence and competence — the underpinnings(基础) of emotional health. They also help him understand that people must cooperate and work toward common goals. The most competent adults are those who know how to do this. Yet work isn’t everything. As Tolstoy once said, ＂One can live magnificently in this world if one knows how to work and how to love, to work for the person one loves and to love one’s work.＂
1.What do we know about John?
A.He enjoyed his career and marriage.
B.He had few childhood playmates.
C.He received little love from his family.
D.He was envied by others in his childhood.
2.Vaillant’s words in Paragraph 2 serve as .
A.a description of personal values and social values
B.an analysis of how work was related to competence
C.an example for parents’ expectations of their children
D.an explanation why some boys grew into happy men
3.Vaillant’s team obtained their findings by .
A.recording the boys’ effort in school
B.evaluating the men’s mental health
C.comparing different sets of scores
D.measuring the men’s problem solving ability
4.What does the underlined word ＂sharp＂ probably mean in Paragraph 4?
A.Quick to react. B.Having a thin edge.
C.Clear and definite. D.Sudden and rapid.
5.What can be inferred from the last paragraph?
A.Competent adults know more about love than work.
B.Emotional health is essential to a wonderful adult life.
C.Love brings more joy to people than work does.
D.Independence is the key to one’s success.
CUYAHOGA COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Bay Village Branch, 502 Cahoon Road, 440-871-6392.
The Egyptian Pyramids, 7 pm Sept. 17. Join us as Don King, a long-time student of Egyptology, discusses the pyramids and presents the possible theories of the construction, design and mysteries surrounding these ancient wonders. Join us as local villager, Tom Bell, discusses his book “My Dad Is a Freak: a Memoir”, 7 pm Sept. 27.
Fairview Park Branch, 21255 Lorain Road, 440-333-4700 or cuyahogalibrary. org.
Dress for Success, 7 pm Sept. 17. First impressions count. Some job recruiters (招聘人员) use appearance to determine self-esteem, respect, confidence and organizational skills. Learn how to dress to emphasize your strengths and improve your employ ability. Registration (注册) required.
Music Study Groups, 1:15-2:45 pm Wednesdays, Sept. 19-Nov. 28. Explore current con- cert music performed by The Cleveland Orchestra at Severance Hall through informal lectures and listening. Classes are designed for both new and experienced music lovers and are led by Dr Rose Breckenridge.
Practical Herbs, 7 pm Oct. 3. Famous doctor Sarah Hurt will talk about growing, drying and storing herbs (药草) and how to use them. Registration required.
North Olmsted Branch, 27403 Lorain Road. 440-777-6211 or cuyahogalibrary. org.
Job Club, 1:30-3 pm Tuesdays. Join Jim Hansen for helpful tips on job search strategies (策略) and interviewing. Anyone who is job hunting or looking to change careers is welcome.
Olmsted Falls Library, 7850 Main St., Olmsted Falls. 440-235-1150 or cuyahogalibrary. org.
Family Story-time, 7-7:30 pm Wednesdays, through Nov. 27. Join us for rhymes, songs, finger-plays and a story or two. For children ages birth through age 8 with their caregivers.
Huntington Practice SAT Test, 10 am to 1 pm Sept. 15 and 4-5 pm Sept. 26. Get ready for college by taking a practice SAT exam. Discuss strategies to improve your score, and get tips on preparing for the real exam. Registration required.
1.There are many activities for you to choose on Sept. 17 EXCEPT ________.
A.listening to a speech which is about music
B.discussing about ancient Egyptian pyramids
C.attending a program about how to prepare for exams
D.learning about how to leave a good first impression on others
2.If you want to study some medical knowledge, you can call ________.
A.440-871-6392 B.440-333-4700
C.440-777-6211 D.440-235-1150
3.If you want to learn how to educate your children, you should contact ________.
A.Bay Village Branch B.Fairview Park Branch
C.North Olmsted Branch D.Olmsted Falls Library
4.In order to help yourself find a new job soon, you’d better go to ________.
A.Bay Village Branch and Fairview Park Branch
B.North Olmsted Branch and Olmsted Falls Library
C.Fairview Park Branch and Olmsted Falls Library
D.Fairview Park Branch and North Olmsted Branch
5.It is learned from the passage that ________.
A.you can study music for more than one month in Fairview Park Branch
B.you can get the information about the four branches on the Internet
C.you can choose to take part in all the mentioned events in the afternoon
D.both Don King and Jim Hansen are college professors
In the 1860s, John Roebling, a creative engineer, launched the idea of building a bridge connecting Manhattan with Brooklyn, New York. ______, other bridge building experts thought that this was ______ and told Roebling to forget the idea.
John ______ about it all the time and he knew deep in his heart that it ______ be done. He then ______ the dream with his son, Washington, an up-and-coming engineer. Working together, the father and the son made a ______ of how it could be done and studied the problems they might ______.
After these preparations, they hired their crew and began to build their ______ bridge. The project started well, but a(n) ______ on the site took the life of John Roebling. Washington was ______ and left with a certain amount of brain damage. He wasn’t able to move or even talk. However, Washington did not ______ and still wanted to complete the bridge. One day, an idea ______ him. All he could do was to move one ______ and he decided to make the best use of it.
He ______ his wife’s arm with that finger, ______ to her that he wanted her to call the engineers again. Then he used the ______ method of touching her arm to tell the engineers what to do. Then the project was underway again. For 13 years, Washington tapped out (敲打出) his ______ with his finger on his wife’s arm, until the Brooklyn Bridge was finally ______.
Perhaps this is one of the best examples of a never-give-up attitude that ______ a terrible physical disability and achieves an impossible ______.
1.A.Anyway B.Though C.Therefore D.However
2.A.suitable B.impossible C.easy D.available
3.A.thought B.talked C.told D.took
4.A.would B.could C.must D.should
5.A.hid B.shared C.realized D.kept
6.A.plan B.decision C.map D.way
7.A.face B.find C.ask D.cause
8.A.traditional B.fashionable C.dream D.future
9.A.event B.accident C.thing D.fight
10.A.injured B.dead C.sad D.nervous
11.A.give out B.take up C.take in D.give up
12.A.beat B.happened C.occurred D.hit
13.A.stick B.hand C.finger D.eye
14.A.waved B.felt C.touched D.held
15.A.pointing B.indicating C.arguing D.shouting
16.A.different B.other C.same D.usual
17.A.plans B.speeches C.methods D.instructions
18.A.completed B.appeared C.decorated D.rebuilt
19.A.overcomes B.acquires C.fights D.removes
20.A.award B.fortune C.status D.goal
I lied yesterday, ______I should make an apology to you. I’m very sorry.
A.which B.for which C.whom D.for whom
By the time your habit of managing time is developed, you better decisions about how to spend your time in your future career.
A.will have made B.will be made
C.are to make D.have been making
You can’t put this yellow tablecloth ______ that table — it’ll look embarrassing!
A.on B.above C.up D.over
