In high school I had a math teacher, Mrs. Davies, who took her job seriously and expected her students to put forth the same degree of commitment (付出). Strict but fair, she held our attention with her great method. One of her ______ was for students who were more advanced academically. I chose to ______ it and soon realized that the course was a bit over my head. I ____ with the complex problems that others seemed to learn without much effort.
One Friday we were tested ______ our ability to use a theorem (定理) that no one in the class thoroughly understood. The teacher would ______ our papers based on our ability to progress through the problem which easily filled two pages of formulaic notations (公式符号). I was absolutely ______. Finally, I didn't use the required theorem. Instead, I decided to use more familiar theorems to arrive at an ______. I knew I had failed because I hadn't done the ______ assignment. I became resigned (顺从) to my fate.
Our test papers were ______ back the following Monday. Everyone received a "C" except for me. To my surprise, I received an "A". I ______ that there must be a mistake. I watched ______ as the teacher approached my desk, smiled, and asked for my test ______ back. She then went back to copy my work onto the blackboard, ______ the class how I had arrived at the correct answer. "Mathematics is meant to be a creative tool, pushing our minds to a rewarding answer," she said with confidence. ______ I didn't use the required theorem, she seemed really proud of how I'd worked through the problem. The class saw her fold my test paper and put it into her textbook. She announced that it would be ______ with future classes.
My teacher would have been justified (合理的) in giving me a ______ grade. Instead, she used the ______ to deeply influence a student who often struggled. And after forty years, I still cherish the ______. It helped change my self-image. I ______ up to a broad boundary of possibilities which has made my life an adventure. She understood that teaching went beyond strict demands and could be used to ______ Thank you, Mrs. Davies.
1.A.ways B.tasks C.tests D.classes
2.A.run B.take C.teach D.like
3.A.compared B.struggled C.connected D.argued
4.A.on B.at C.in D.for
5.A.explain B.collect C.print D.grade
6.A.tired B.curious C.lost D.satisfied
7.A.effect B.end C.answer D.interest
8.A.completed B.proved C.fixed D.required
9.A.handed B.held C.thrown D.dated
10.A.hoped B.assumed C.declared D.dreamed
11.A.angrily B.regretfully C.disappointedly D.nervously
12.A.paper B.score C.question D.method
13.A.helping B.following C.showing D.praising
14.A.Since B.Unless C.Though D.Because
15.A.shared B.exchanged C.practised D.checked
16.A.friendly B.failing C.corrected D.wrong
17.A.possibility B.creation C.intention D.opportunity
18.A.change B.memory C.school D.life
19.A.opened B.kept C.made D.looked
20.A.learn B.survive C.inspire D.manage
The importance of self-improvement often goes unnoticed. Truth is — you can’t run away from yourself. The idea should be to focus on continuous self-development at every stage of life.1.
Increase self-awareness
The first step of self-improvement asks you to become more self-aware. Self-awareness is an ongoing journey. As life goes on, you meet with different experiences and challenges. 2.. To be on the path of self-improvement, it’s important to never lose touch with yourself.
Improve strengths (优点)
Self-improvement lets you identify your personal strengths. 3.. It gives you a better understanding of what you are seeking and where you are likely to thrive (繁荣兴旺). It helps you set life goals and make them happen.
Step out of the comfort zone
Choosing to work on improving yourself requires you to step out of your comfort zone. It lets you face your fears, try new things, and challenge yourself. There will be times when you’ll discover a new side of your personality. 4.. Don’t let failures get you frustrated. And never get too comfortable in familiar spaces because life begins outside your comfort zone.
5.
People who’re invested in their continuous self-improvement come with an extremely positive attitude towards learning. Instead of being ignorant and escaping from their problems, they make it a point to learn from their mistakes to grow and succeed. This is a wonderful quality to have as having a learning attitude is instrumental in achieving success.
A.Improve mental health
B.Develop a learning attitude
C.And knowing your strengths is important
D.However, there will also be times when you’ll fail
E.They make you more aware of your personality, thoughts and feelings
F.After all, you can only achieve what you want when you know what you want
G.Here are some reasons why self-improvement is important regardless of your age
If you are reading this, you were probably born in the 2000s. The oh-ohs. The 21st century. That would make you young, creative, connected, global, and no doubt smart. Maybe good-looking, too. Right? But what do other people think about your generation?
Some adults worry that you’re more interested in the screen in front of you than the world around you. They think of you as the “face-down generation” because you use your phone so much and they wonder how you will deal with school, friends, and family. Are today’s teenagers too busy texting and taking selfies to become successful in real life—or “IRL”, as you would say?
Other adults worry that today’s youth are spoilt and don’t want to face the challenges of adult life. Many children born in the 1990s and 2000s were raised by “helicopter parents", who were always there to guide and help their children with a busy schedule filled with homework and after-class activities such as dancing, drawing, or sports. With parents who do everything for them, today’s youth seem to prefer to live like teenagers even when they are in their 20s or 30s.
With these taken into account, does the face down generation need a warning? Well, probably not. The fact is that many of today’s teenagers are better educated and more creative than past generations. They seem to be enthusiastic and willing to be become leaders. More young people than ever volunteer to help their communities. There are also brave young people such as Malala Yousafzai, the teenager who won the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize for pushing girls’ rights to go to school.
So if you’re one of the oh-ohs, there are reasons to be hopeful about the future. Things are looking up for the face-down generation. Chances are that you will do GR8 (great) and LOL (laugh out loud).
1.Which of the following words can not be used to describe the oh-ohs?
A.Creative. B.Caring.
C.Ignorant. D.Intelligent.
2.What does the underlined phrase “helicopter parents” in Paragraph 3 mean?
A.parents who are rich and travel by helicopter.
B.parents who always watch over their children.
C.parents who have a very busy schedule.
D.parents who only turn up when necessary.
3.What can we learn from the passage?
A.The writer is a member of the face-down generation.
B.The writer is optimistic about the future of the oh-ohs.
C.The oh-ohs are more good-looking than their parents.
D.The oh-ohs care about nothing other than their phones.
4.What can be a best title for the passage?
A.The “helicopter parents” B.The over-worried parents
C.The spoiled generation D.The face-down generation
Few people can resist the lure (诱惑) of a delicious ice cream, especially on a hot day. The only thing that spoils the fun is that the treat is hard to enjoy slowly, often ending up with a sticky melted mess. Now, researchers from Colombia's Pontificia Bolivariana University may have found an unlikely partner to help solve this age-old problem---cellulose fiber(纤维素) extracted from banana plant waste. Bananas, as you probably know, grow in bunches on a tree-like plant. Each bunch is attached to a central stalk, called a rachis(叶轴), which is thrown once the fruit has been harvested. The team, led by Dr. Robin Zuluaga Gallego, began extracting cellulose nanofibrils (CNFS) from powdered rachis. The tasteless, odorless macro fibers, thousands of times smaller than the width of a human hair were then added in various concentrations to 100 grams of ice cream mix.
With the right amount of CNFS mixed in, the dessert lasted longer in its frozen state than conventional ice cream, extending both its shelf life and the amount of time the treat can be enjoyed. Even more exciting was that the fibers increased the stickiness of low-fat ice cream to levels higher than the full-fat one. Since this is what determines the frozen treats’ creaminess and texture, CNFS could help create healthier ice cream without compromising on taste.
The researchers, who presented their findings at the American Chemical Society (ACS) meeting in New Orleans on March 21, 2018, next plan to investigate how different types of fat, such as coconut oil, affect the behavior of CNFS in other frozen treats.
The Colombian researchers are not the only one working on creating a slower-melting ice cream. In 2015, scientists at the University of Dundee in Scotland found that a naturally occurring protein called BSIA(Bacterial Surface Layer A) was remarkably effective in keeping the treat frozen for longer periods of time. With both teams competing to be the first to get to market, the future of everyone’s favorite dessert certainly looks promising.
1.What prevents people enjoying an ice cream slowly?
A.The hot weather.
B.A kind of fiber from banana.
C.The ice creams’ stickiness.
D.The ice creams’ quick melting.
2.Which is NOT a benefit of CNFS added to ice cream mix?
A.To improve its flavor.
B.To make it more healthy.
C.To reduce its fat content.
D.To make it melt more slowly.
3.What can be inferred from the last paragraph?
A.CNFS are more useful and effective than BSLA.
B.Ice cream with BSLA has been on sale at the market.
C.Slowly enjoying an ice cream will soon become a reality.
D.The Colombian research team has taken the lead in the competition with the Scottish team.
4.What's the author’s attitude towards the finding of CNFS?
A.Positive B.Casual
C.Defensive D.Suspicious.
Thirteen, for me, was a challenging year. My parents divorced and I moved to a new town with my father, far from my old family and friends. I was terribly lonely and would cry myself to sleep each night. To ease my sadness, my father purchased an old horse for me at a local auction. I named him Cowboy.
Cowboy was undoubtedly the ugliest horse in the world. But I didn’t care. I loved him beyond all reason.
I joined a riding club and suffered rude comments and mean snickers about Cowboy’s looks. I never let out about how I felt, but deep inside, my heart was breaking. The other members rode beautiful, registered horses.
When Cowboy and I entered the events where the horse is judged on appearance, we were quickly shown the gate. No amount of preparation and love would turn Cowboy into a beauty. My only chance to compete would be in the speed events. I chose the jumping race.
One girl named Becky rode a big brown horse in the race events. She always won the blue ribbons. Needless to say, she didn’t feel threatened when I competed against her at the next show. She didn’t need to. I came in next to last.
The stinging memory of Becky’s smirks(得意的笑) made me determined to beat her. For the whole next month I woke up early every day and rode Cowboy five miles to the arena. We practiced running and jumping for hours in the hot sun and then I would walk Cowboy home totally exhausted.
All of our hard work didn’t make me feel confident by the time the show came. I sat at the gate and sweated it out while I watched Becky and her horse charge through the course and finish in first place.
My turn finally came. I put on my hat, rubbed Cowboy’s neck and entered the arena. At the signal, we dashed toward the first fence, jumped it without trouble and raced on to the next one. Cowboy then flew over the second, third and fourth fences like a bird and I turned him toward the finish line.
As we crossed the line the crowd was shocked into silence. Cowboy and I had beaten Becky and her fancy horse by two seconds!
I gained much more than a blue ribbon that day. At thirteen, I realized that no matter what the odds, I’d always come out a winner if I wanted something badly enough to work for it.
1.The underlined expression “shown the gate” (paragraph 4) most probably means “_________”.
A.told how to enter the arena B.shown how to make the horse beautiful
C.removed from the competition early D.told to enter the timed-speed events
2.Why was the writer NOT confident of beating Becky?
A.He had not practiced enough.
B.He was an inexperienced rider.
C.He believed he was unpopular with the crowd.
D.Becky and her horse performed well in their turn.
3.What did the writer learn from his experience?
A.Life can sometimes be unfair.
B.A positive attitude will bring success.
C.Anything is possible if one tries hard enough.
D.One should not make judgments based on appearance.
4.The best title for the story is ________.
A.A Run to Remember B.A Horse’s Tale
C.Neck and Neck D.A Difficult Age
Great Activities for Nature Lovers
Hiking
One of the easiest and most accessible ways to get close to nature is by setting out on a good old fashioned hike. Hiking generally doesn't require any fancy equipment or special skills, just a piece of map and a thirst for adventure. This activity can be as relaxing as you make it.
Backcountry Camping
Why limit yourself to just a day hike when you can have a full weekend for a longer adventure? Backcountry camping involves packing your tent，sleeping gear ,food, and water on your back to set up camp in a remote location. I you’re an experienced hiker and camper ,this is an excellent way to test your survival skills and explore the wilderness.
Mountain and Road Biking
Unlike long hikes through the woods , biking allows you to cover more ground and travel farther in nature. Mountain biking typically involves riding up and down steep slopes , between trees , and over rocks. If this sounds too intense or your tires aren't suited for rugged terrain( 地形) , consider taking a road bike on paved trails through forest preserves or along country roads.
Gardening
Contrary to popular belief, you don't have to travel beyond your own backyard to experience the beauty of nature every day. If your personality is less adventurous or your mobility restricted, consider planting a garden to grow your own vegetables , fruit , herbs，or flowers. There's something truly satisfying about mixing up a salad with fresh ingredients you grow yourself. One of the best parts about spending time in gardening is that it doesn't have to break your budget and anyone can do it.
1.W hat do hikers need for hiking?
A.Practical skills. B.Necessary equipment.
C.A useful map. D.A relaxed mood.
2.W hat's NOT the advantage of gardening according to the text?
A.You don't need to go far to enjoy the beauty of nature.
B.It gives you a sense of satisfaction when cooking with fresh ingredients.
C.It doesn't take any energy or money to do it.
D.I’s easy to start it for anyone who likes it.
3.Which of the following can take you to travel farthest?
A.Hiking. B.Backcountry Camping.
C.Mountain and Road Biking. D.Gardening.
