I read somewhere that we spend a full third of our lives waiting. But where are we doing all of this waiting, and what does it mean to an impatient society like ours? To understand the issue, let’s take a look at three types of “waits”.
The very purest form of waiting is the Watched-Pot Wait. It is without doubt the most annoying of all. Take filling up the kitchen sink(洗碗池) as an example. There is absolutely nothing you can do while this is going on but keep both eyes fixed on the sink until it’s full. During these waits, the brain slips away from the body and wanders about until the water runs over the edge of the counter and onto your socks. This kind of wait makes the waiter helpless and mindless.
A cousin to the Watched-Pot Wait is the Forced Wait. This one requires a bit of discipline. Properly preparing packaged noodle soup required a Forced Wait. Directions are very specific. “Bring three cups of water to boil, add mix, simmer three minutes, remove from heat, let stand five minutes.”I have my doubts that anyone has actually followed the procedures strictly. After all, Forced Waiting requires patience.
Perhaps the most powerful type of waiting is the Lucky-Break Wait. This type of wait is unusual in that it is for the most part voluntary. Unlike the Forced Wait, which is also voluntary, waiting for your lucky break does not necessarily mean that it will happen.
Turning one’s life into a waiting game requires faith and hope, and is strictly for the optimists among us. On the surface it seems as ridiculous as following the directions on soup mixes, but the Lucky-Break Wait well serves those who are willing to do it. As long as one doesn’t come to rely on it, wishing for a few good things to happen never hurts anybody.
We certainly do spend a good deal of our time waiting. The next time you’re standing at the sink waiting for it to fill while cooking noodle soup that you’ll have to eat until a large bag of cash falls out of the sky, don’t be desperate. You’re probably just as busy as the next guy.
1.While doing a Watched-Pot Wait, we tend to ___________.
A.keep ourselves busy
B.get absent-minded
C.grow anxious
D.stay focused
2.What is the difference between the Forced Wait and the Watched-Pot Wait?\
A.The Forced Wait requires some self-control.
B.The Forced Wait makes people passive.
C.The Watched-Pot Wait needs directions.
D.The Watched-Pot Wait engages body and brain.
3.What can we learn about the Lucky-Break Wait?
A.It is less voluntary than the Forced Wait.
B.It doesn’t always bring the desired result.
C.It is more fruitful than the Forced Wait.
D.It doesn’t give people faith and hope.
4.What does the author advise us to do the next time we are waiting?
A.Take it seriously.
B.Don’t rely on others.
C.Do something else.
D.Don’t lose heart.
5.The author supports his view by _________.
A.exploring various causes of “waits”.
B.describing detailed processes of “waits”.
C.analyzing different categories of “waits”
D.revealing frustrating consequences of “waits”
In some islands north of Scotland, if head lice (头虱) left their host, he became sick and feverish. Therefore, sick people had lice put in their hair intentionally. There was a method in their madness： As soon as the lice had settled in again, the patient improved. The story explains the confusion of cause and effect. If the lice leave the sick host, it is because he has a fever and they simply get hot feet，and when the fever breaks，they return. Such false causality (假因果关系）misleads us every day.
Consider the headline: “Fact: Women Who Use Shampoo XYZ Every Day Have Stronger Hair.” It says very little -- least of all, that the shampoo makes your hair stronger. It might simply be the other way round: women with strong hair tend to use Shampoo XYZ -- and perhaps that’s because it says “especially for thick hair” on the bottle.
Another example: Scientists found that long periods in the hospital did harm to patients. But, clearly, patients who are dismissed immediately are healthier than those who must stay on for treatment.
Recently I read that students get better grades at school if their homes contain many books. This study was surely a shot in the arm for booksellers, but it was also false causality. This simple truth is that educated parents tend to value their children's education more than uneducated ones do, and they often have more books at home. In short, a dust-covered copy War and Peace alone isn't going to influence anyone's grades; what counts is parents' education levels, as well as their genes.
There was also the supposed relationship between the birth rate and the numbers of stork (鹳）pairs in Germany. Both were in decline, and if you plot (描绘） them on a graph (曲线图)，the two lines of development from 1965 to 1987 appeared almost the same. Does this mean the storks actually bring babies? Obviously not. This was a purely accidental connection.
In conclusion: Connection is not causality. Take a closer look at linked events: Sometimes what is presented as the cause turns out to be the effect, or just the other way round， and sometimes there is no link at all -- just like with storks and babies.
1.According to the first paragraph, people in some islands north of Scotland _________.
A. found a way to get rid of head lice
B. used an effective method to keep flt
C. made head lice a part of their life
D. died due to infections with head lice
2.Which is an example of false causality?
A. Women with strong hair tend to use a certain shampoo.
B. The birth rate and the stork population are connected.
C. Longer periods in the hospital benefit patients.
D. Lice can make a person sick and feverish.
3.The underlined phrase “ a shot in the arm” in Paragraph 4 means _______.
A. pain B. defeat
C. guidance D. encouragement
4.According to the author, students get better grades probably because ______.
A. their homes are full of books
B. they have read War and Peace
C. their educated parents value education
D. their parents are successful booksellers
5.We can draw the conclusion from the passage that _______.
A. connection arc pure accidents
B. cause and effect are interdependent
C. connections are mostly cause and effect
D. linked events may turn out to be unrelated
The Governor’s School is described as a unique opportunity for high school students to involve themselves in math, science, and technology. When I signed up for computer programming, I expected to learn about coding (编程). However, what I didn’t expect was that I would also learn how to build strong friendships.
Just before I went there, I didn't know what to expect in the school, feeling quite at a loss. A sense of uncertainty about my future was flooding over me. On the first day, the students awkwardly moved around at the opening ceremonies. Although it is embarrassing to admit, I hadn't been able to succeed in my friendship in the past because I was too focused on myself. This time, I got rid of the desire to share personal stories and instead was eager to ask others about themselves.
After sunset on the second night, I heard three girls trying to recall the schedule for an upcoming museum trip. After effective communication, I knew they were Bree, Megan and Avery. Bree and Avery were in environmental science， and Megan was studying mathematics.
We had a lot in common among us four, such as our love for movies, which strengthened our friendships. Meanwhile, we were able to introduce each other to new activities. Bree introduced us to anime (日本动漫). Enthusiastically, Megan encouraged us to play tennis. Avery and I kept the other two motivated to work out at the gym. The fact that none of us was particularly skilled with equipment resulted in shared laughter almost every day.
After four weeks, I left with the ability to successfully code an educational computer game. More importantly, I also left with knowledge about the code of friendship -- the fact that I could make more friends in a month by showing interest in them than I could in a year by trying to attract others’ interest in me.
1.The author went to the Governor's School to originally learn how to _______.
A. code computer programs
B. make friends with others
C. develop her personal hobby and interest
D. share her personal stories with others
2.The author had failed in her friendship mainly because _________.
A. she was embarrassed to stay with her friends
B. she cared little about others
C. she longed to know about others
D. she focused her attention on her study
3.What can we learn from the passage?
A. Avery studied mathematics in the school.
B. The four girls had a wonderful time at school.
C. Though the four girls had nothing in common, they became good friends.
D. Before going to the Governor's School, the author had the basic knowledge about computers.
4.According to the author, the success code of friendship is _____.
A. getting others to be interested in her
B. adding more laughter to others’ life
C. keeping others motivated by stories
D. becoming more interested in others
5.What does the author tell us in the passage?
A. Her interest in the Governor’s School.
B. A close relation with three schoolmates.
C. Her experience in the Governor’s School.
D. Big changes in her study.
Beaches are not only great for lying on and doing water sports，and in fact one of the best ways of enjoying them is a classic beach walk. Here at iWantSun.co.uk we’ve been searching the globe to find you the world’s best and most famous beach walks，and here’s our pick of the top. Click on the most interesting walks and join our tourist program.
The Footpath of the Gods, Amalfi Coast，Italy
The name says it all really and you truly feel excited there, walking along this wonderful mountain path, which offers some of the most striking views on (he planet. The path begins at the town of Bomerano to charming Positano along the UNESCO World Heritage area of the Amalfi Coast. The whole walk will take you about four and a half hours to complete and pass over narrow rocky paths.
Sydney's Great Coastal Walk, Australia
Sydney's coastline is one of the most beautiful and diverse landscapes in the world. Here you have national parks, historic sites, shining and quiet beaches all in one place. Sydney's Great Coastal Walk runs all the way from Barrenjoey in the north to Royal National Park in the south and takes an unbelievable seven days to complete. However, if you're not up to doing the full walk, there are many different parts of the walk that you can do right in the city itself. Walking from the city9s famous Bondi Beach to the sweeping curve (大半径曲线）of Brone Beach takes just an hour, which takes in some top sceneries.
Great Ocean Walk, Australia
The Great Ocean Walk covers 104 km along Victoria's famous Great Ocean Road, located on the southern coast of Australia, from the holiday town Apollo Bay to the splendid Twelve Apostles. The Twelve Apostles are the area's famous stone landmarks which stand out like giants from the sea. The walk passes through a range of landscapes and sights, from national park, famous surfing spots and deserted beaches, to wild coastlines, waterfalls, lush (茂盛的）forests, historic lighthouses. Day walks and shorter three-hour walks such as The Wreck Beach Walk or the Lighthouse Cemetery and Lookout Walk can also be enjoyed.
So next time when you're looking for a beach holiday, don't just think about the holiday towns and the sand, but consider a more active sun holiday. If you have interest in any of the above places, please contact us, and we can give you the best services.
1.When you arrive at Amalfi Coast,_________.
A. the scenic beauty can fill you with charm
B. the walking can be started from Positano
C. you must be fed up with the footpath
D. narrow rocky paths may trap you
2.What are the distinct characteristics of Sydney's Great Coastal Walk?
A. It takes more than a week to complete the walk.
B. It provides visitors with a variety of great landscapes.
C. It really has the longest coastline in the world.
D. It starts from Royal National Park in Che south.
3.From the Great Ocean Walk, Australia we can know that _______.
A. most visitors have to finish the 104 km walk quickly
B. the Twelve Apostles stand below the surface of the sea
C. Apollo Bay is at the end of the Great Ocean Walk
D. visitors have various walking choices there
4.Where can we probably read the passage?
A. travel magazine. B. A handbook to tourists.
C. An online advertisement. D. A poster in a foreign travel agency.
5.The author intends to ________.
A. introduce the beautiful beaches in Australia
B. present the wonderful beaches in the world
C. tell us the ideal tourist destination for health
D. ask us to join the tourist program
I was called into the principal’s office but I had no idea what I had done wrong. When I arrived, my brother Brian was there. He had been ____. Brian grasped my hand and said , “Amanda has been in a car accident.”
Every inch of my body went ____ as I realized what he had said. My sister was injured. One question sounded over and over in my head--how ____ this have happened? ____ she was only 17, Amanda was one of the safest drivers I knew. I felt shocked and terrified.
My brother and I ____ immediately for the hospital my sister was in. When we arrived, my sister’s face was ____ from the eyebrows up and you could see blood everywhere. She was ____ to several machines. My mom and dad stood at her side crying.
My sister looked up at me with blood-filled eyes, where I expected to see fear, I saw ____ She said to me, “I love you, Rence.” I suddenly realized how ____ I tell my sister I love her. I tried to ____ her, but she wasn’t listening any more, because some doctors were taking her away to the x-ray room.
As they ____ my sister I wanted to scream out, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t move, speak or even cry until she was around the corner. Then the ____ came.
Though everyone kept telling me she would be ____, something made me worried. Every moment that passed allowed the doubt in my mind to grow ____. Finally, the doctor walked down the hall and stood quietly in front of us. It was then ____ the long-awaited words came. Amanda was going to be okay.
My heart leaped as I realized I ____ had a sister. She would need a lot of plastic surgery (整容手术), but she was ___
A year later, even though my sister and I quarrel sometimes, every time I see her face and ____ the large scar that stretches across it, I remember to tell her that I ____ her. I remember when I almost didn’t have the ____ to tell her again how much I love her.363
1.A. whispering B. shouting C. crying D. sighing
2.A. frozen B. excited C. confused D. relaxed
3.A. need B. might C. must D. could
4.A. Only if B. Even though C. In case D. Now that
5.A. cared B. witched C. kicked D. left
6.A. covered B. painted C. operated D. repaired
7.A. applied B. attached C. related D. adjusted
8.A. belief B. trouble C. strength D. shyness
9.A. frequently B. much C. soon D. rarely
10.A. answer B. refuse C. persuade D. hug
11.A. gave up B. wheeled away C. tamed to D. picked up
12.A. confidence B. sweats C. sympathy D. tears
13.A. angry B. disappointed C. fine D. dissatisfied
14.A. thinner B. bigger C. weaker D. higher
15.A. that B. what C. when D. which
16.A. still B. ever C. even D. never
17.A. ill B. afraid C. alone D. alive
18.A. feel B. make C. touch D. spot
19.A. cheat B. move C. love D. help
20.A. mood B. chance C. time D. courage
（2017·天津）Nowadays, cycling, along with jogging and swimming, ___________ as one of the best all-round forms of exercise.
A. regard B. is regarded
C. are regarded D. regards
