That day, I followed my Beijing daily routine of coming home from Tsinghua University. I was______enough to experience a friendly casual meeting. When entering the______I heard “Wait! Wait!". As I held the lift doors open, a woman______rushed in and thanked me. When I _____in Chinese, she was surprised. After chatting, she______to help me with my Chinese, and then we______names and numbers.
As 1 told my flatmates about the experience, they didn't hesitate to express their_____. From the western point of view, experiences like these are dangerous.______，to be “more Chinese”, I stayed in touch with my lift friend.
The following week she______me to go for milk tea with her and her______. I thought that the girl would________the opportunity to practice English. However, most of our _____was in Chinese! They even went to great length to help me practice______my Chinese is only middle level. Our next_______was when we gathered together to make dumplings. They made me______completely at ease in their home.
After these______meet-ups I have spent lots of time with the family, and I feel that they have become my own______abroad. Fortunately, I didn't let our western point of view act as a______. This experience has made my stay in China______. I feel like this simple difference in______is something we in the west can learn from Chinese culture.
1.A.satisfied B.lucky C.brave D.eager
2.A.lift B.dormitory C.apartment D.office
3.A.madly B.swiftly C.blindly D.elegantly
4.A.apologized B.clarified C.opposed D.replied
5.A.compromised B.offered C.struggled D.refused
6.A.gave B.mentioned C.remembered D.exchanged
7.A.admiration B.desire C.concern D.interest
8.A.Therefore B.Yet C.Also D.Thus
9.A.forced B.invited C.allowed D.expected
10.A.daughter B.colleague C.relative D.flatmate
11.A.abandon B.seize C.get D.own
12.A.description B.conversation C.speech D.argument
13.A.as B.so C.if D.unless
14.A.performance B.vacation C.trip D.meeting
15.A.behave B.pretend C.look D.feel
16.A.initial B.recent C.difficult D.familiar
17.A.parent B.community C.family D.group
18.A.challenge B.barrier C.signal D.message
19.A.unforgettable B.embarrassing C.changeable D.disturbing
20.A.privilege B.restriction C.competence D.attitude
Do you have any problem with time? Start doing these and you will see the difference.
● Write it down
Don’t rely on your memory to keep track of every little detail. 1.. Write down the things you need to do in a small notebook, or use online tool to create and update your “to-do” list.
●2.
Working for long periods without a break can waste your time. It is more efficient to work or study for a shorter period of time, take a break, and then go back to work. You may get more done in a focused 45-minute session.
● One thing at a time
3.. Do one thing at a time, and do it well. As the Chinese proverb says, “One cannot manage too many affairs. Like pumpkins in the water, one pops up while you try to hold down the other.”
● Schedule email time
On your cell phone you get a notification every time someone sends you an email. If so, you have to check your email many, many times a day.4.. Schedule time to check your email. It doesn’t matter when.
● Choose to say “No”.
It’s easy to become overwhelmed if we say “yes” to everything. Think about the task before you commit to it. Do you need to do it? Can someone else do it? Avoid saying “yes” to every request.5..
● Keep a goal journal
Write down your goals in a journal and evaluate them regularly. Mark your progress for each goal. Be sure to take the necessary step to achieve your goals.
A.Make a list first.
B.Don’t ignore the breaks.
C.Turn that notification off.
D.This takes time away from more important tasks.
E.Don’t forget to focus on your task.
F.Memory may make mistakes sometimes.
G.Every time we switch from one task to another, we lose focus.
To have a second child or not, this is a question.
A concern about only one child is whether one child necessarily means a lonely child. Many parents of only one child feel guilty of their decision to have only one child. There are no other children in the family for the child to associate with, which may lead to the child feeling lonely at times.
Another common argument against having just one child may be more spoiled than one with sisters or brothers. Many people believe that a single child will not have learned to negotiate with others, and respect the give-and-take involved in many relationships. Some think this may leave the child unable to get along well with people of his or her own age.
Despite these arguments, the number of parents choosing to have only one child is increasing in the world. For some single-child parents, the pressures of devoting time and energy to raising a second child can result in them selecting to have no more children. For other parents, the financial burden of having a second child may be the major consideration. Another important consideration is the increasing age at which women give birth to children.
Advocates of single-child families argue that there are advantages for the child as well as the parents. With just one child, the parents can give, and the child can receive, more quality time and attention,
However, there is no simple answer to the question of whether or not to have a second child. The circumstances affecting each set of parents are unique. The important thing, in the end, is to make a decision that both the wife and the husband feel confident.
1.What are the advantages of children with brothers or sisters?
A.Less loneliness and better social abilities. B.Less pressure and better energy.
C.More respect and greater family wealth. D.Higher intelligence and more attention.
2.What prevent some parents from having a second child according to the passage?
A.Work pressure. B.The disagreement between parents and children.
C.Limited time, energy and money. D.The health and wealth of the first child.
3.What can we learn from the passage?
A.The birth of a second child makes many parents guilty.
B.The number of single-child parents is decreasing.
C.Family circumstances have little effect on parents’ decision.
D.Nowadays women delay giving birth to children.
4.How is the passage developed?
A.By providing examples. B.By listing suggestions.
C.By offering descriptions. D.By analyzing reasons.
I don't think I can recall a time when I wasn't aware of the beauty of the ocean. Growing up in Australia, I had the good fortune of having the sea at my side. The first time I went to Half Moon Bay, I suddenly had the feeling of not being able to feel the ground with my feet anymore.
For my 10th birthday, my sister and I were taken out to the Great Barrier Reef. There were fish in different colors, caves and layers of coral. They made such an impression on me. When I learned that only 1 percent of Australia's Coral Sea was protected, I was shocked. Australian marine life is particularly important because the reef have more marine species than any other country on the earth. But sadly, only 45% of the world's reefs are considered healthy.
This statistic is depressing, so it's important to do everything to protect them. The hope that the Coral Sea remains a complete eco system has led me to take action. I’ve become involved with the Protect Our Coral Sea activity, which aims to create the largest marine park in the world. It would serve as a place where the ocean's species will all have a safe place forever.
Together, Angus and I created a little video and we hope it will inspire people to be a part of the movement. Angus also shares many beautiful childhood memories of the ocean as a young boy, who grew up sailing, admiring the beauty of the ocean and trying to find the species.
1.From the underlined sentence in Para.1, we can learn the author_______
A.had a wonderful impression of Half Moon Bay B.seldom went surfing at the sea
C.forgot his experiences about the ocean D.never went back to his hometown
2.According to the second paragraph, Australian marine life________
A.is protected better than that in other oceans
B.is escaping from the Coral Sea gradually
C.depends on reefs for living greatly
D.may be faced with danger
3.The Protect Our Coral Sea activity is intended to_______
A.raise more teenagers environmental awareness
B.contribute to a complete eco-system
C.prevent more marine species being endangered
D.set up a large nature reserve for reefs
4.Angus and the author created a little video to__________
A.bring back to people their memory of ocean species
B.urge more people to take action to protect the marine species
C.inspire more people to explore the secret of the ocean
D.share their childhood experiences about the ocean
Father was diagnosed with brain cancer during the second half of my senior year. It is a time when all the big events in a girl’s life are happening. However, though in poor condition, father managed to be present at every occasion. His doctor said that by focusing on all my future events, it helped my dad live longer. I guess so because nine days after my high school graduation, my father died.
For the next week after his funeral, I didn’t leave my room or even to shower. Finally, my mom stormed in and said, “Megan, get up. I have something for you to read.” My father’s doctor had sent my mother a letter. It contained the typical “I am sorry for your loss” sentences. But this letter was far from typical. I could physically see the pain this loss had caused him. In his letter, he wrote about how my father inspired him to change his life and the way he worked. He expressed his desire to become a person like my father, who cared more for the people around him and put everyone else first.
After I finished reading it, I decided to live my life. I went outside and got a job as a summer camp advisor. I worked from dawn to dark every day that summer. I gave everything I had to the kids and slowly they helped to heal(治愈) me without even realizing what they were doing.
My summer mirrored parts of the life my father led in his last few days. I had spent the summer months giving myself to children. It was not the senior summer I had always imagined. It wasn’t all about me. I had learned the final lesson my father was teaching me, that in order to lead a rich and happy life, you must learn how to give yourself to others. By helping them you really are helping yourself.
1.The doctor sent the author’s mother a letter mainly to ________.
A.encourage the author’s mother to live a happy life
B.appreciate the author’s father’s influence on him
C.mourn the author’s father’s death
D.show typical concern for the family
2.What do we know about the author’s senior summer?
A.She got a job as her father had expected.
B.She gained quite a lot while helping the kids.
C.She worked hard every day to forget her father.
D.She spent it the way she had always wanted.
3.Which word can best describe the author’s father?
A.Fearless. B.Generous C.Cautious. D.Selfless.
4.Which of the following could be the best title for the passage?
A.Dad's Final Lesson B.My Senior Summer
C.My Father's Death D.An Important Letter
Britain's Haunted(闹鬼的) Castles
Muncaster Castle
Muncaster Castle is haunted by the ghost(鬼) of a mysterious White Lady as well as by Tom who worked in the castle 400 years ago and now likes to play tricks on visitors. Parties of 6-8 people can arrange for an all-night ghost sit in the Tapestry Room. Scientists and researchers also conduct field experiments here and you can participate in one of these yourself with an all- night watch. The castle will be closed from Jan. 1 to Feb.12.
Chillingham Castle
This castle has a wealth of frightening stories to entertain visitors. Ghost tours cost 20 pounds per person and run in the evening all year round. The castle also occasionally has ghost-themed special events such as dinner evenings where a ghost hunter visits and relates some of his experiences in the field.
Tutbury Castle
Tutbury Castle is more of a ruin than a functioning building, having been largely destroyed during the English civil war. Queen Mary of Scots spent much of her imprisonment here and her ghost has been spotted on several occasions. Tutbury is only open to the public from Easter until September but special arrangements can be made for large parties at other times. The castle also runs ghost hunts which can involve overnight stays in the Great Hall or King's bedroom.
Berre Pomeroy Castle
The Castle in Devon is now no more than an attractive ruin but it is said to be one of the most haunted spots in Britain. Both White and Blue Lady ghosts have been seen in the grounds. The first is believed to be starved to death by a cruel sister, the identity of the other is unknown. The castle is open to the public from March until October but only during the day.
1.Which castles can you visit, if you go to Britain in December?
A.Berre Pomeroy Castle & Tutbury Castle.
B.Muncaster Castle & Berre Pomeroy Castle.
C.Muncaster Castle & Chillingham Castle.
D.Berre Pomeroy Castle & Chillingham Castle.
2.The white ghost in Berre Pomeroy Castle__________.
A.likes to play tricks on visitors B.once worked in the castle
C.is the ghost of Queen Mary D.is believed to die of starvation
3.Where does this passage probably come from?
A.A science fiction. B.A student textbook.
C.A travel magazine. D.A business report.
