My son was playing with a bottle of bubbles. Dip the loop in the bottle, pull it out, and blow it to make bubbles. He understood the principle but was vainly _______ to blow bubbles. He would dip and dip and blow and blow, but alas, no _______. He _______ me the bottle and loop and asked me, “Daddy, can you make bubbles?”
I hadn’t blown bubbles in years. I am a _______ by education, fairly well-trained in surfactant (活性剂) technology. However, all that knowledge is completely _______. I was having no more _______ than my son. I dipped and puffed, _______ no bubbles.
After several _______ attempts, I changed strategies. _______ puffing on the loop of soapy water, I just gently breathed on it. My son ________ with delight as a big beautiful bubble formed and ________ away. I explained to him, “Son, you can’t blow hard. You must ever so ________ breathe on the loop to make bubbles.” He ________ his urgent desire to make big bubbles by blowing hard and followed my advice. Big bubbles!
There are some things that you can get with ________, but other things only ________ from the gentleness of a soft breath.
1.A.trying B.managing C.expecting D.acting
2.A.changes B.bubbles C.results D.drops
3.A.lent B.handed C.threw D.cast
4.A.researcher B.professional C.chemist D.parent
5.A.out of date B.of no use C.in doubt D.in trouble
6.A.trial B.confidence C.patience D.success
7.A.even B.thus C.somehow D.still
8.A.fruitless B.tough C.unwilling D.difficult
9.A.Despite B.Without C.On D.Except
10.A.screamed B.nodded C.rushed D.flew
11.A.escaped B.floated C.burst D.bounced
12.A.silently B.slightly C.eagerly D.gently
13.A.freed B.fueled C.contained D.reduced
14.A.brain B.action C.force D.science
15.A.survive B.separate C.jumped D.arise
Politeness is the practical application of good manners, the goal of which is to make all of the parties relaxed and comfortable. It's a flexible management of words and actions, by which we make other people have a better opinion of us and themselves. It seeks to build a positive relationship. 1..
However, in the rush of daily life being polite is social behavior that we find rare nowadays. 2.. They don’t even take the time to look around. This has led to the loss of simple social rules some might take for granted and that are particularly powerful.
3., people become less and less attentive to others’ feelings, for human interaction (互动) is almost lost. Take for instance the rudeness we tolerate when a person is looking at his phone when talking to us.
Being polite is not just a simple social elegance. 4.. These days “Please” and “Thank You” are forgotten. And not many people are aware that these two simple words can easily open or close any door to us. Unfortunately, they often forget to say these words.
Hope is not lost. There are many ways we can improve our behavior to achieve skills in politeness. There are simple things we can do to be considered as a polite and well-mannered person.5., they will respect you back. Just make a change in our behavior to start. Use simple words like “Excuse me”, “Please”, and “Thank you” every day. Be kind to receive kindness. Care and politeness will get you far in all aspects of life.
A.As technology progresses
B.People have become more self-absorbed
C.As long as you show your politeness for people
D.Since for many people being polite remains a challenge
E.Many languages have specific means to show politeness
F.It aims to respect a person’s need to be liked and understood
G.It’s also about being kind, caring and respectful to another person
A decade ago, colored lights danced around the living room on New Year’s Eve and happy music was played. Upstairs, the children were asleep. But I wasn’t feeling happy. In mid-December, my husband and I had been informed that he had cancer and that he was going to die. He had less than a year left, the doctors said.
In the years since that painful season, I have come to look back upon New Year’s Eve. New Year’s Eve brings a halt to the endless commitments that fill our daily lives and a chance to reflect. New Year’s Eve is full of possibility and anticipation. What will be the surprising experiences and delightful successes in the coming year? But also, what disappointments are waiting for us in the next twelve months?
In many ways, New Year’s Eve and the days that surround it are a line between past and future. That line is made up of a series of moments of transition (过渡) that take us out of the old and into the new. Transition can be challenging for many of us. It’s about letting go of the familiar and diving headlong (迅猛地) into the unfamiliar.
Just as, back then, I had to face letting go of the life I had led with my beloved husband and stepping into a new world as a widowed mom, I find that each year I have to step out of the version of me that suited the year that is ending and ease into the version of me who will rise to the goals I am holding for myself for the year ahead.
Last year at this time, I sat in a chair in southern France and drank in the stillness (沉静) and beauty of the countryside around me. The three children I had brought into this world talked and laughed around the table beside me as we enjoyed a lunch of bread and cheese.
I was filled with a sense of joy and I had a glowing (热情洋溢的) heart that was full of hope. It was another ending and another beginning. May we all transition into the best of what lies ahead. May we all find happiness in this holiday season.
1.What causes author’s unhappiness on New Year’s Eve a decade ago?
A.The pressure she faced in her work.
B.The health problem her husband faced.
C.The information received from her family.
D.The relationship between her and her husband.
2.What does the underlined word “halt” most probably mean?
A.End.
B.Start.
C.Change.
D.Meaning.
3.What’s the author’s attitude towards the thing people should do at New Year?
A.Set challenging goals for the next year.
B.Break with daily routines and form a new habit.
C.Spend more time with family members.
D.Think about the past and get ready for the future.
4.What’s the main purpose of writing the passage?
A.To memorialize her husband.
B.To show how she got through a hard time.
C.To share her view of New Year’s Eve.
D.To remind us that uncertainty is part of life.
Compassion and love are concepts that are often thought to be felt by humans only. As the most intelligent creatures to ever walk the earth, we tend to assume that we are the only ones who can feel emotions. We forget that the speechless beings who live here with us - animals - also have the same capability.
During a cold night in Ontario, Canada, a passer-by spotted something on the side of the road that made her stop -a shaking dog curled up in the snow.
When she approached the pup, she discovered that she wasn’t alone-she was cuddling five orphaned black kittens to keep them warm.
The dog surely could have found a safer place to stay for the night, but she chose instead to help not just herself but other stray animals as well.
The Good Samaritan called Pet and Wildlife Rescue and an animal control officer picked them up. When they got to the shelter, it was apparent that a close bond had already been formed between the dog and the orphaned kittens. The staff decided to name the kind dog Serenity in honor of her selfless act.
“It’s truly heartwarming!” a shelter spokesperson told The Dodo. “It had been a very cold night so these kittens would have had a very hard time surviving.”
Aside from requiring treatment for worm and flea infections, the orphaned kittens are now safe. Just like a proud and doting mother, Serenity insisted on checking on her babies regularly to oversee their progress.
The good news is that the kittens are now living with a foster family who will care for them until they are old enough to be adopted. Serenity, on the other hand, is still looking for a family.
According to the shelter, she loves zooming around in the yard and is big on playing. She is also quite jumpy, so she would do best in a home without small children.
1.What did the passer-by see on the road?
A.A dog curled up in the snow.
B.Five kittens were in the snow alone.
C.A dog was warming five kittens in the snow.
D.A dog found a safe place to stay for the night.
2.What does the underlined word “she” in paragraph 3 refer to?
A.The passer-by. B.The dog.
C.The kitten. D.The spokesperson.
3.Where is the dog Serenity now?
A.Living in the shelter. B.Being adopted by a family.
C.Staying with the kittens. D.Playing with some children.
4.What can we draw from the story?
A.Animals and humans should live in harmony.
B.A sad end can be turned into a positive one.
C.Animals have the same capability with humans.
D.Animals can feel compassion and love like humans.
Vijay Gupta is known to classical music lovers across the United States. He serves as first violinist for the Los Angeles Philharmonic. In that job, he often plays to large crowds, including many very rich people. When he is not performing, he organizes concerts for homeless people. 'They have reminded me why I became a musician, he said.
Last week, Gupta was recognized for being a founder and the artistic director of Street Symphony. The group has performed at homeless shelters, jails and halfway houses for about eight years. Gupta is among the 25 winners of the 2018 MacArthur Fellowship, commonly known as the “genius grant.” Each winner will receive $625,000 over five years to use as they wish. The money is coming from a private group, the John D. and Katherine T. MacArthur Foundation. It awards grants (补助金)to people whose work it considers exceptional and that “inspires hope in us all.” Gupta said he got the idea for Street Symphony while teaching Nathaniel Ayers, a trained musician whose mental illness led to homelessness.
The 31-year-old grant winner said he does not know yet how he will spend the money. He has been a performer since age seven and the award will give him "space to breathe, plan and look ahead.”
Another winner is Rebecca Sandefur, an associate professor of sociology and law in the University of Illinois. The Associated Press says her research actively supports new ways to involve poor communities in the U.S. justice system.
47-year-old Sandefur created the first national mapping of civil legal aid providers. It shows which states had the financial resources to provide such aid and which did not. She also found that the cost of legal services is only one of the things preventing poor people from getting lawyers. Among the others are fears about unfairness in the legal system. Sandefur noted that a lot of attention has been paid to problems with the criminal justice system, but more attention must be paid to the civil side of the law, which also affects millions of people.
1.Why did Gupta win the award?
A.For his achievements in classical music.
B.For performing for large crowds.
C.For organizing a group playing for the homeless.
D.For the friendship with Nathaniel Ayers.
2.What do we know about Mac Arthur Fellowship?
A.It is founded by the government.
B.It offers $625,000 to 25 winners in 2018.
C.It allows the winners to use the money freely.
D.It awards people who make great contributions to society.
3.What was the extraordinary thing that Sandefiir did?
A.She made it easier to get legal help for the poor.
B.She made the legal system fairer.
C.She paid more attention to the criminal justice system.
D.She offered legal aids to the poor freely.
4.Which can be the best title for the passage?
A.Grants winners, inspiring the poor
B.The city homeless, in need of help
C.Vijay Gupta , an extraordinary violinist
D.MacArthur Foundation, awarding exceptional work
Being stuck at home doesn't mean that learning stops. In fact, it’s just the opposite. Here are some activities and resources to foster kids' imagination and build their curiosity at home.
Let's Get Down to the Science
The science lab at school may be closed, but you can still put on goggles and a white lab coat and learn at home. This Test Tube Experiment Kit will make you feel like a genius in no time. Kids will get the chance to learn about basic chemistry, physics, and more by creating pop-resistant bubbles, bouncy balls, and other objects.
To Infinity（无穷）and Beyond
Earth is a part of the Milky Way galaxy, but did you know there are around 100 million galaxies in the universe? There are so many fun and fascinating things to learn about space that the possibilities truly go to infinity and beyond. A great way start your child's educational space adventure is with this Real Life Sticker and Activity Book.
Take a Walk on the Wild Side
Biology class is in session! Here's your chance to get up close and personal with a great white shark without putting on a wetsuit. This 4D Great White Shark Anatomy Kit allows you to get an inside look at what makes these predators of the deep so powerful. And then take an even deeper dive into a shark's world with I Am Shark .
Take advantage of this time at home and find new ways to keep exploring the world around you.
1.What is common among these activities above?
A.They are all performed outdoors.
B.They are all associated with physics.
C.They are all carried out by the way of experimenting.
D.They all recommend some resources for kids to study.
2.Which book favors children interested in stars?
A.This Test Tube Experiment Kit.
B.Real Life Slicker and Activity Book.
C.4D Great White Shark Anatomy Kit.
D.I Am Shark .
3.The shared goal of the activities is to .
A.gain financial benefits B.save kids from boredom
C.explore new technologies D.inspire kids to study at home
