If you have failed in the past to try to make big changes in life, try again now, one tiny step at a time.
Every year it's the same. As December comes to an end, you think about the new year and all the ways you want to improve your life. But as you start to write down your hopes for the new year, you think about the last year. You excitedly write down all the changes you are going to make, but by the end of January those ideas get lost in your busy life.
Here's a suggestion: Forget the too big, hard-to-achieve goals and just think about the small ones. “We often think that we have to do everything in big steps, even though it's so hard for us to reach it.” said Robert Maurer, who recently wrote the book One Small Step Can Change Your Life. “What we try to do is to begin with such a small step that we can’t find any excuse not to do it.”
“Kaizen”, a Japanese word, is used to mean to change behavior and attitudes (态度). During World War II, American factory managers were able to increase productivity by trying small, continuous improvements instead of sudden changes. After the war, the idea was brought to a rebuilding (重建) Japan. It made Japan develop fast. The Japanese called it “kaizen”, which means “improvement”.
Maurer studied the idea and did some experiments with it. “Kaizen” could possibly help people succeed in doing everything.
1.At the end of December, people usually ___________ .
A. plan for the last year B. fail to make big changes
C. try to lose their ideas D. think about the new year
2.Robert Maurer wrote a book to tell us ___________ .
A. we should do everything in big steps
B. how to find a small step without any excuse
C. we should try a lot of sudden changes
D. how to change one’s life with one small step
3. The underlined part “increase productivity” in the passage means “___________ “.
A. 增加成本 B. 提高待遇 C. 提高生产率 D. 增加出口量
4. The writer of the passage suggests we should ___________ .
A. take a tiny step to achieve big goals
B. make changes at the end of the year
C. do few experiments with “kaizen”
D. do things with hard-to-achieve goals
5. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A. You can't find any excuse not to reach a big goal.
B. You can achieve your goals if you are not too busy.
C. ”Kaizen” was brought to Japan during World WarⅡ.
D. Robert Maurer studied “kaizen” and found it helpful.
根据短文内容，判断下列句子的正误，正确的用“T”，错误的用“F”。（每小题1分，共5分）
There are many wetlands (湿地) in China and some of them have become the world's important wetlands.
The Chinese Yellow Sea Wetlands are among them. They
are in Yancheng, Jiangsu Province. They are home for many different kinds of
birds and animals. The world's largest Milu Deer Nature Reserve (自然保护区) is in them. More than 700 Milu de
er
live freely there. There are not many red-Crowned cranes in the world, but
every winter you can see some in the red-Crowned Nature Reserve in the Yellow
Sea Wetlands.
The temperature in the wetlands is usually neither too high nor too low. There is a lot of rain and sunshine, too. They are really good places for wildlife (野生动物). Offering food and home for some special kinds of animals and birds is not the only reason why we need to protect wetlands. Wetlands are important because they also prevent flood. But some people want to change the wetlands to make more space for farms and buildings. This means there will be less and less space for wildlife.
Luckily, more and more people are beginning to realize the importance of wetlands and wildlife. Every year, on February 2nd, many activities are held to tell people more about wetlands.
1.The Chinese Yellow Sea Wetlands are in the west of China.
2.Usually the weather in the wetlands is pleasant.
3.February 2nd is the world's wetlands Day.
4.We must protect wetlands only because they can offer food to the animals and birds.
5.Wetlands are valuable resources of land on the earth.
Long ago, in a small village of Wakefield lived two farmers, Harry and Peter. Harry was very hard working while Peter was , Every day Harry got up early and came home late, but Peter walked around for fun.
One summer there was no and the crops（庄稼）were dying. Harry thought, “I must do something to save these crops, or they shall die.” With this in mind, he went out to find a river so that he could dig a canal (沟渠) to his field. He walked on and on, feeling tired and thirsty. After a search, he found a river full of blue water. He was very happy. He started digging a canal to his field. it was noon his wife sent their daughter to bring Harry home lunch. But Harry did not go. He did not want to leave his work unfinished. He completed his work at night. He was very satisfied.
He went home and had a good meal and into a sound sleep.
Peter did the same. But he was not at all determined (有决心的). He also digging a canal to his field but he didn't have his work completed. His field did not get water and all his crops died.
Harry’s field would be watered when needed. He had a good harvest because of his hard work.
1.A. cruel B.1azy C. careless
2.A. rain B. wind C. cloud
3.A. dream B. problem C. thought
4.A. quick B. long C. slow
5.A. When B. Although C. Unless
6.A. to B. for C. with
7.A. early B. late C. deep
8.A. fell B. looked C. turned
9.A. stopped B. forgot C. started
10.A. clean B. fresh C. enough
—What did our geography teacher say?
—She told us that the earth ___________ around the sun.
A. moves B.
moved 
C.
has moved
—What’s the low-carbon (低碳的) lifestyle like?
—Save ___________ energy, produce ___________ carbon.
A. less; more B. less; less C. more; less
—How about going hiking this weekend?
—Sorry, I prefer ___________ rather than ____________.
A. staying at home; go out B. to stay at home; go out C. to go out; stay at home
