假设你是红星中学学生李华。你的美国朋友Jim在给你的邮件中询问你的高三生活情况。...

Develop Note-Taking Skills

Speech students are often amazed at how easily their teacher can pick out a speaker’s main points, evidence, and techniques. Of course, the teacher knows what to listen for and has had plenty of practice. But the next time you get an opportunity, watch your teacher during a speech. Chances are she or he will be listening with pen and paper. 1.

Unfortunately, many people don’t take notes effectively. Some try to write down everything a speaker says. They view note taking as a race, pitting their handwriting agility(敏捷) against the speaker’s rate of speech. 2. But soon the speaker is winning the race. The speaker pulls so far ahead that the note taker can never catch up. Finally, the note taker admits defeat and spends the rest of the speech grumbling in frustration.

3. They arrive armed with pen, notebook, and the best of intentions. They know they can’t write down everything, so they settle comfortably in their seats and wait for the speaker to say something that grabs their attention. Every once in a while the speaker rewards them with a joke, a dramatic story, or a startling fact. Then the note taker seizes pen, jots down a few words, and leans back dreamily to await the next fascinating tidbit(趣闻). By the end of the lecture the note taker has a set of tidbits—and little or no record of the speaker’s important ideas.

As these examples illustrate, they don’t know what to listen for, and they don’t know how to record what they do listen for. 4. But once you know what to listen for, you still need a sound method of note taking.

Although there are a number of systems, most students find the key-word outline best for listening to speeches. As its name suggests, this method briefly notes a speaker’s main points and supporting evidence in rough outline form. By separating main points from sub-points and evidence, the outline format shows the relationships among the speaker’s ideas. 5. But with a little effort you will become a better note taker.

A.Perfecting this taking requires practice.

B.Some people go to the opposite extreme.

C.As the speaker starts to talk, the note taker starts to write.

D.Taking effective notes usually helps you receive higher grades.

E.Most inefficient note takers suffer from one or both of two problems.

F.When note taking is done properly, it is sure to keep track of a speaker’s ideas.

G.The solution to the first problem is to focus on a speaker’s main points and evidence.

What a Messy Desk Says About You

For some time, psychologists have been studying how personality traits affect health and health-related choices. Not surprisingly, they have found that people blessed with innate conscientiousness, meaning that they are organized and predictable, typically eat better and live longer than people who are disorderly. They also tend to have immaculate offices.

What has been less clear is whether neat environments can produce good habits even in those who aren’t necessarily innately conscientious. To find out, researchers at the University of Minnesota conducted a series of experiments. In the first experiment, they randomly assigned a group of college-age students to spend time in two office spaces, one of which was very neat, the other wildly cluttered (乱堆) with papers and other work-related stuff. The students spent their time filling out questionnaires unrelated to the study. After 10 minutes, they were told they could leave with an apple or a chocolate bar. Those students who sat in the orderly office were twice as likely to choose the apple as those who sat among the mess.

A second experiment, however, found that working in chaos has its advantages, too. In this one, college students were placed in a messy or a neat office and asked to dream up new uses for Ping-Pong balls. Those in messy spaces generated ideas that were significantly more creative, according to two independent judges, than those in offices where stacks of papers and other objects were neatly arranged.

The results were something of a surprise, says Dr. Vohs, the leader of the study. Few previous studies found much virtue in disorder. The broken window theory, proposed decades ago, holds that even slight disorder and neglect can encourage indifference and poor discipline.

But in the study by Dr. Vohs, disordered offices encouraged originality and a search for novelty. In the final portion of the study, adults were given the choice of adding a health “boost” to their lunchtime smoothie that was labeled either “new” or “classic.” The volunteers in the messy space were far more likely to choose the new one; those in the tidy office generally chose the classic version. “Disorderly environments seem to inspire breaking free of tradition,” Dr. Vohs and her co-authors conclude in the study, “which can produce fresh insights.”

The implications of these findings are also practical. “My advice would be, if you need to think outside the box for a future project”, Dr. Vohs says, “then let the clutter rise and free your imagination. But if your primary goal is to eat well or to go to the gym, pick up around your office first. By doing this, the naturally messy can acquire some of the discipline of the conscientious.”

1.The underlined word “immaculate” in paragraph 1 probably means ______.

A.messy B.tidy

C.terrible D.comfortable

2.Which of the following can best explain the broken window theory?

A.Chaos begets chaos. B.Misfortune may be an actual blessing.

C.Bad news has wings. D.When a door shuts, a window opens.

3.Which of the following will Dr. Vohs probably agree with?

A.More virtue exists in organized people.

B.Creativity results from tidiness and discipline.

C.Disorderly surroundings help to create new ideas.

D.Workers’ good habits guarantee the success of a project.

4.What can we conclude from the study results?

A.The naturally neat people tend to be very creative.

B.A messy office will cause quite low working efficiency.

C.Environments can affect people’s way of thinking and behavior.

D.People’s personalities are determined by their working environments.

    The Song Dynasty(960-1279) is often referred to as the Chinese Renaissance(文艺复兴). For about three and a quarter centuries, under its rule, China enjoyed a period of economic growth with great artistic and intellectual achievements.

One of the most important factors in the Song Renaissance was the printing press which made for a rebirth of classical Confucian learning. By the 10th century,printers were producing a large number of copies of the classical Confucian texts. With this increase in the production of books, education spread and became widely available.

Printing also had its greatest influence on the Chinese political system. In the Song Dynasty, govemment examinations became the most important way to political power in China. For almost 1,000 years, China was govemed by men who had done very well in examinations. Thousands of students studied for the exams, and thousands of inexpensive books were required. Without printing, such a system would not have been possible.

The Song period was also the golden age of Chinese painting. Emperor Huizong(1101-1125) was a talented painter who encouraged the arts. A royal painting academy was created and many fine artists were supported. The period is best known for nature subjects and landscape paintings. Guo Xi used perspective in his paintings and The Quict Valley is one of his best-known works. One of the greatest landscape painters of the period was Fan Kuan. His masterpiece, Travelling among Mountains and Gorges, is one of the most famous Chinese paintings. Completed around the year 1000, it was inspired by the power of nature and the relative insignificance of humans.

1.When was the Chinese Renaissance?

A.Immediately after the Renaissance in Europe. B.During the Song Dynasty.

C.At the time of Confucius. D.in the year 1,000.

2.What contributed to spreading the ideas of Confucius?

A.The spread of education to the middle classes.

B.People’s new interest in classical texts.

C.The development of painting.

D.The printing press and a wide availability of books.

3.How did people become politicians at the time?

A.Only members of the wealthy class could go into politics.

B.A small number of powerful families ran the country.

C.Only members good at painting were supported by the royalty.

D.There was a special exam system to select politicians.

4.From the passage we can know the painter of Travelling among Mountains and Gorges is ＿＿＿．

A.Guo Xi

B.Emperor Huizong

C.Fan Kuan

D.Confucius

    As the Camp Fire continued, killing at least 85 people and displacing thousands more in Northern California, Madison waited there.

Gaylord, the Anatolian shepherd mix’s owner, was not able to get to her home in Paradise, when the fire began to spread, meaning Madison was left behind. For weeks, all Gaylord could do was pray for Madison’s safety, according to California-based animal rescue organization Paw Print Rescue.

Sullivan, a volunteer with the organization, had already helped locate Madison’s brother Miguel in a different city. But Madison was even more difficult to find. Sullivan spotted Madison a few times in a canyon (峡谷), apparently guarding his land, and put out fresh food and water regularly in hopes that the dog would turn up, according to a Facebook post by Sullivan. She even placed an article of clothing that smelled like Gaylord near the home “to keep Madison’s hope alive until his people could return,” Sullivan wrote.

When the evacuation (疏散) order was lifted last week and Gaylord went back to her home—which had been ruined by the fire—her prayers were answered: Madison was there, seemingly protecting what little remained of his family’s home. “Well, I’m so happy to report that Gaylord was allowed to return to her home today and THERE MADISON WAS!!!! He had stayed to protect what was left of his home, and never gave up on his people!” Sullivan wrote in the comment on her Facebook post. “I’m so happy I’m crying as I write this! He didn’t give up through the storms or the fire!” she added.

Soon afterward, Madison was reunited with Miguel for the first time since the fire broke out. An emotional Gaylord said in an interview with the network that she was overcome with joy to see Madison waiting for her. She also expressed how grateful she was to Sullivan. Gaylord said fighting through tears, “You could never ask for better animals. He is the best dog.”

1.What did Madison do during the Camp Fire?

A.He rescued Sullivan.

B.He waited for Gaylord.

C.He stayed with Miguel.

D.He ran away from Paradise.

2.Why did Sullivan place an article of clothing smelling like Gaylord near the home?

A.To keep Madison warm.

B.To get Madison to turn up.

C.To help Madison remember his owner.

D.To encourage Madison not to give up.

3.Where was Madison finally found?

A.In a different city. B.In a canyon.

C.At a camp. D.At his home.

4.What quality is emphasized in this story?

A.Patience. B.Unity.

C.Devotion. D.Wisdom.

    If you've always wanted to start your own herb or vegetable garden but don't have the yard space or the "green thumb" to pull it off, there's now another option. The OGarden Smart is an indoor gardening system that grows up to 90 plants at one time—20 of which are safe to eat.

Strawberries, green beans, peppers, green onions, and cherry tomatoes are just a few of the fruits and vegetables the OGarden can grow. Up to 30 potted plants can be placed on a lower shelf, where the seeds are allowed to germinate (发芽). Once they germinate, the plants can then be moved to the turning wheel up above, which holds up to 60 plants at a time. It takes about 30 to 40 days to harvest the produce, depending on the type of plant grown.

The system is self-watering and uses automatic LED lights to provide the right amount of sunlight, no matter what season it is. The only work that's required is planting the seeds and refilling the water tank once a week.

The OGarden Smart is the second product introduced by company co-founders Pierre Nibart and Pierre-Etienne Bourget, of Quebec, Canada. The original OGarden appeared in 2017, and the Smart upgrade adds a few new features, including automatic watering, automatic LED lighting, and a water warning system. Some reviewers of the original OGarden commented that the system is easy to use, and that the vegetables taste better than store-bought produce.

The OGarden Smart will set you back $859 Canadian dollars (about $650 USD) if you order it on Kickstarter at a discounted rate, but the company's founders are quick to point out that it will help you save money in the long-run. The system lets you grow organic (有机的) produce at a small part of the price you'd pay at your local grocery store.

To see some of the buying options available, check out the project's Kickstarter page. Any orders that are placed will be delivered this May.

1.What is the OGarden Smart?

A.A self-watering system.

B.A water warning system.

C.An indoor gardening system.

D.An automatic lighting system.

2.What can you learn about the OGarden Smart from the passage?

A.It can be used all year round.

B.It grows up to 60 plants at a time.

C.It is designed for people who have a yard.

D.It moves the plants from the shelf automatically.

3.The OGarden Smart can help you save money in the long-run mainly because of its _______.

A.automatic upgrade

B.free after-sales service

C.low energy consumption

D.harvest of organic produce