Learning matters in living a full and rich life. You can take your passing interest in art and explore it more deeply. You can also improve your career prospects by learning new skills. 1.
1. They expand their library of books regularly.
As businessman Jim Rohn remarked, “Some people read so little they have rickets of the mind.” People with non-stop learning are often found browsing for books on Amazon. 2. Lifelong learners also ask friends and family for book suggestions, especially for non-fiction titles.
2. 3.
Deep engagement with learning makes the experience more valuable and easier to remember. Fortunately, this tip is easy to use. Simply take a few minutes during a class break to write down some questions about the material. If you are taking a business course, you can always ask questions about how to apply the material to your career goals.
If you are uncomfortable asking questions in front of other people, there are other options. 4.
3. They learn to earn.
5. Lifelong learners view their education as an investment with several components. For example, project management professionals are required to pursue ongoing education in three areas: leadership, technical knowledge and management.
If you are seeking to increase your income, consider learning sales and marketing skills. Those skills make a great difference even if you are not in a traditional sales job.
A.They learn from experiences that help them grow.
B.To discover the benefits of lifelong learning, read on.
C.They take the time to ask questions when they take courses.
D.Continuing education is vital to maintain your career growth.
E.Moreover, they like visiting their local library or book stores.
F.However, reading can not only broaden our vision but also cultivate our taste.
G.You can send questions by email or ask for an appointment to discuss the matter in depth.
The values of artistic works, according to cultural relativism(相对主义), are simply reflections of local social and economic conditions. Such a view, however, fails to explain the ability of some works of art to excite the human mind across cultures and through centuries.
History has witnessed the endless productions of Shakespearean plays in every major language of the world. It is never rare to find that Mozart packs Japanese concert halls, as Japanese painter Hiroshige does Paris galleries, Unique works of this kind are different from today’s popular art, even if they began as works of popular art. They have set themselves apart in their timeless appeal and will probably be enjoyed for centuries into the future.
In a 1757 essay, the philosopher David Hume argued that because“the general principles of taste are uniform(不变的) in human nature,”the value of some works of art might be essentially permanent. He observed that Homer was still admired after two thousand years. Works of this type, he believed, spoke to deep and unvarying features of human nature and could continue to exist over centuries.
Now researchers are applying scientific methods to the study of the universality of art. For example, evolutionary psychology is being used by literary scholars to explain the long-lasting themes and plot devices in fiction. The structures of musical pieces are now open to experimental analysis as never before. Research findings seem to indicate that the creation by a great artist is as permanent an achievement as the discovery by a great scientist.
1.According to the passage, what do we know about cultural relativism?
A.It introduces different cultural values.
B.It explains the history of artistic works.
C.It relates artistic values to local conditions.
D.It excites the human mind throughout the world.
2.In Paragraph 2, the artists are mentioned in order to show that _____ .
A.great works of art can go beyond national boundaries
B.history gives art works special appeal to set them apart
C.popular arts are hardly distinguishable from great arts
D.great artists are skilled at combining various cultures
3.According to Hume, some works of art can exist for centuries because_____ .
A.they are results of scientific study
B.they establish some general principles of art
C.they are created by the world’s greatest artists
D.they appeal to unchanging features of human nature
4.Which of the following can best serve as the title of the passage?
A.Are Artistic Values Universal?
B.Are Popular Arts Permanent?
C.Is Human Nature Uniform?
D.Is Cultural Relativism Scientific?
Scientists have discovered that rats have adapted to modern human life, even adapting their diets to the cities they live in.
The scientists claim that it could be possible that humans and rats have had similar changes in their genetic make-up, due to modern city life. The downside of the changes in the DNA is that they could make rats susceptible to the same health problems as humans, such as pollutants and sugary foods.
The study showed that rats’ diets have also adapted to their environment. In New York, you can see them eat bagels and beer; in Paris, they like croissants and butter. They adapt in amazing ways. The scientists also analyzed the genomes (基因组)of 29 New York rats and compared them with those of nine brown rats from Heilongjiang Province, north-east China. The finding showed that dozens of rat genes had been through major DNA changes over the centuries, as the rats spread from Asia to Europe and America, and from the countryside and into cities.
The changed genes were associated with diet, behavior, and movement, which added pressures and challenges for the rat to overcome. This could reflect the fact that urban rats have to move through highly artificial environments that are very different from natural habitats. So these gene changes might have evolved to help them move more easily through underground channels and pipes.
As the rats are closely associated with city-living humans, the scientists believe that it is possible that similar changes have happened in both species.
In October 2019, scientists used rats to successfully test an enzyme(酶) that could be used to help people quit smoking. Two groups of rats were trained to self-administer nicotine, and over two weeks their nicotine intakes increased, suggesting addiction. Then, one group of rats was given the enzyme, which led to a decreased nicotine intake. The scientists say that the enzyme could be developed for human use in the future.
1.Which of the following best explains the underlined phrase “susceptible to” in paragraph 2?
A.Not likely to be cured of. B.Being disease-resistant to.
C.Very likely to be affected by. D.Being thoroughly exposed to.
2.What does the author intend to show in the third paragraph?
A.Rats in the city are particular about their food.
B.Rats in different cities have different genetic make-up.
C.Rats are distributed in every continent of the earth.
D.Rats have been adjusting themselves to the environment.
3.What is the purpose of testing an enzyme on rats?
A.To explore rats’ survival ability. B.To help people stop smoking.
C.To learn more about city rats. D.To tell apart nicotine and enzyme.
4.What is the best title of this text?
A.Rats Have Adapted to Modern Human Life
B.Rats in the City Have Varieties of Diets
C.Rats Are More Adaptable than Humans
D.Rats Have the Same Genetic Make-up to Humans
That morning，I dropped our eldest at kindergarten and returned home to let our two younger children play while I worked on my medical report. It was wonderful, but it hit me that my career in hospital wasn't making a difference in anyone's life. I needed something that would stretch my limits and push me to grow. My career enabled me to work from home. I could work from home, and become a foster（领养）mother, providing safety for a child who needed it desperately.
On Monday morning, I picked up the phone and dialed the number I had googled for the nearest Department of Children’ Services. The man on the other end was receptive to my questions and explained the next step of training, involving eight weeks of classes designed to prepare and educate foster parents. We continued through all the classes, the home visits , background checks, and seemingly endless steps.
Five long months after we were approved , the phone Tang. In the middle of the night , I woke my husband and rushed to East Tennessee Children's Hospital- Our placement was waiting for us in the emergency room, sick and lack of nutrition. It didn't take long for us to realize the full depth of her suffering. Six months later, her half-brother came to us by our request. We now had five children under our care.
On August 12, 2016, our family of seven walked into a small courtroom. The children's lawyer and social worker were there. With just a few words, our adoption was finalized. These two amazing children weren't going home, because they were already home. We are their forever family5 and they are our forever children. We may not be able to change the entire world, but we have changed the world entirely for our new children.
1.How did the author feel about her hospital work?
A.Unusually demanding. B.Lacking in motivation.
C.Filled with challenges・ D.Packed with chances.
2.What led the author to decide to adopt children?
A.She wanted to make a difference in other people.
B.She felt sympathetic for abused children she knew.
C.She felt confident about her ability to raise children.
D.She experienced training to raise children properly.
3.What does the underlined word "placement" in Para.3 refer to?
A.The child to be adopted. B.The need to get trained.
C.The approval of adoption. D.The official at the hospital
4.Why did the author appear at the courtroom?
A.To put the adopted kids elsewhere.
B.To receive another adopted child.
C.To begin the kids5 adoption in her home .
D.To make the adoption officially legal,
BEST BODY FITNESS
About us
You don’t want just gym membership. You want membership that means something. And that means you need support, expert help and a community.
Best Body Fitness isn’t just a gym: it’s full-service fitness membership made for you.
Here’s how it works:
STEP ONE: Your assessment
We begin with an assessment session. This is a chance for you to see what we do at Best Body. Our assessment plans are no-cost and no-risk. We’ll also make a training plan specifically for you.
STEP TWO: Your training
When you decide to become a Best Body member, we show you what to do, how to do it and why you are doing it. After a few sessions with an expert private trainer you will feel comfortable working out on your own. But don’t worry, we’ll always be nearby if you have questions.
STEP THREE: Your membership
Membership works on a month-to-month basis. There are no sign-up fees and no cancellation fees. Start and stop whenever you want. And the best part? Our fees are the most competitive in the whole downtown area.
STEP FOUR: Your community
At Best Body Fitness, we see everyone as part of a big team. And when you work with a team, you can do great things. Join any of our specialized classes, led by expert instructors. Come to our nutrition classes. Participate in our regular social events. Everything is included in your fee.
Finally, share some reasons why our members have chosen us over any other fitness centre in the city.
It’s so EASY
Easy to start, stop, cancel or refund membership
Easy to access — we’re open 24/7, we never close
Easy to do exercise — we have lots of equipment, no long wait
Easy to find — in the centre of town, near public transport and with parking
1.Which statement about Best Body Fitness is correct?
A.It provides you with a fitness assessment after training.
B.It offers you a customized training plan.
C.It allows you to work out without any fees.
D.It asks you to work out on your own.
2.What is the best part of Best Body Fitness?
A.Its price is quite good. B.Its time is enough.
C.Its classes are no-risk. D.Its trainers are experienced.
3.What type of writing does this text probably belong to?
A.News report. B.Speech.
C.Announcement. D.Advertisement.
假定你是李华，你的英国笔友David对中国传统文化很感兴趣，他想让你给他推荐一本关于这方面的书。请 你给他回一封邮件,向他推荐我国的四大名著之---《西游记》。内容包括：
1.《西游记》简介；
2.推荐理由。
注意：1.词数100左右；
2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
参考词汇：徒弟 disciple,佛经 Buddhist scriptures
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