Who's in control of your life? Who's pulling your strings? For the majority of us, it's other people-society, colleagues, friends, family or our religious community. We learned this way of operating when we were very young, of course. We were brainwashed. We discovered that feeling important and feeling accepted was a nice experience and so we learned to do everything we could to make other people like us. As Oscar Wilde puts it, "Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else's opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation."
So when people tell us how wonderful we are, it makes us feel good. We long for this, good feeling like a drug—we are addicted to it and seek it out wherever we can. Therefore, we are so eager for the approval (赞同) of others that we live unhappy and limited lives, failing to do the things we really want to. Just as drug addicts and alcoholics live worsened lives to keep getting their fix（一剂毒品）, we worsen our own existence to get our own constant fix of approval.
But, just as with any drug, there is a price to pay. The price of the approval drug is freedom—the freedom to be ourselves. The truth is that we cannot control what other people think. People have their own agenda, and they come with their own baggage and, in the end, they're more interested in themselves than in you. Furthermore, if we try to live by the opinions of others, we will build our life on sinking sand. Everyone has a different way of thinking, and people change their opinions all the time. The person who tries to please everyone will only end up getting exhausted (tired) and probably pleasing no one in the process.
So how can we take back control? I think there’s only one way make a conscious decision to stop caring what other people think. We should guide ourselves by means of a set of values—not values imposed from the outside by others, but innate values which come from within. If we are driven by these values and not by the changing opinions and value systems of others; we will live a more authentic, effective, purposeful and happy life.
1.What Oscar Wilde says implies that________.
A. most people have a variety of thoughts
B. we have thoughts similar to those of others
C. other people's thoughts are more important
D. most people's thoughts are controlled by others
2.What does the author try to argue in the third paragraph?
A. Changing opinions may cost us our freedom.
B. We may lose ourselves to please others.
C. We need to pay for what we want to get.
D. The price of taking the drug is freedom.
3. It can be concluded from the passage that_______.
A. it's better to do what we like
B. we shouldn't care what others think
C. we shouldn't change our own opinions
D. it's important to accept others' opinions
4.The author tries to persuade the readers to accept his arguments mainly by________.
A. analyzing causes and effects B. providing examples and facts
C. discussing questions D. making suggestions
The word “conservation” has a thrifty meaning. To conserve is to save and protect, to leave what we ourselves enjoy in such a good condition that others may also share the enjoyment. Our forefathers had no idea that human population would increase faster than the supplies of raw materials: most of them, even until very recently, had the foolish idea that the treasures were “limitless” and could “last forever”. Most of the citizens of earlier generations knew little or nothing about the complicated and delicate system that runs all through nature, and which means that, as in a living body, an unhealthy condition of one part will sooner or later be harmful to all the others.
Fifty years ago, nature study was not part of school work; scientific forestry was a new idea; wood was still cheap because it could be brought in any quantity from distant woodlands; soil destruction and river floods were not national problems; nobody had yet studied long-term climatic cycles in relation to proper land use; even the word “conservation” had nothing of the meaning that it has for us today.
For the sake of ourselves and those who will come after us, we must now set about correcting the mistakes of our forefathers. Conservation should be made part of everybody's daily life. To know about the water table (水位) in ground is just as important to us as a knowledge of the basic math formulas. We need to know why all watersheds (上游集水区) need the protection of plant life and why the running current of streams and rivers must be made to give their full benefit to the soil before they finally escape to the sea. We need to be taught the duty of planting trees as well as of cutting them. We need to know the importance of big, grown trees, because living space for most of man's fellow creatures on this planet is figured not only in square measure of surface but also in cubic（立方体的） volume above the earth. In a word, it should be our goal to restore as much of the original beauty of nature as we can.
1.The author's attitude towards the use of natural resources is_________.
A. positive B. uninterested C. optimistic D. critical
2.According to the author, the greatest mistake of our forefathers was that________.
A. they had no idea about scientific forestry
B. they had little or no sense of environmental protection
C. they were not aware of the importance of nature study
D. they had no idea of how to make good use of raw materials
3.To avoid repeating the mistakes of our forefathers, the author suggests that ________.
A. we plant more trees
B. natural sciences be taught to everybody
C. environmental education be given to everybody
D. we return to nature
4.How can you understand the underlined sentence in the last paragraph?
A. Our living space on the earth is getting smaller and smaller.
B. Our living space should be measured in cubic volume.
C. We need to take some measures to protect space.
D. We must preserve good living condition for both birds and animals.
A Beautiful Mind
A mathematician who goes mad is not a subject most directors consider commercially attractive, but then Ron Howard isn't among most directors. Despite an impressive list of credits, A Beautiful Mind is his most successful work to date, combining a psychological drama with a moving love story to produce a film that is as interesting as it is entertaining.
The Oscar winning Russell Crowe has put himself in line for further honours with his acting John Nash, the Nobel Prize-winning mathematician troubled by schizophrenia (精神分裂症). A Beautiful Mind pictures Nash as an unusual hero, not just because of his academic achievements but also because of the courage he displays while battling his illness.
In 1947, Nash was one of many great young minds at Princeton. “To find a truly original idea is the only way to distinguish myself,” the proud and determined student declared. His exploration of' such an idea afforded him little time for the normal socialising. His shyness and straightforward approach brought him few friends.
After finally hitting on a revolutionary new idea, Nash's career took off and his reputation was secured. He balanced research work with teaching, which is where he met the bright and beautiful student Alicia (Jennifer Connelly). Things in his life were going well when his talent for code breaking brought him to the attention of the military who employed him during the early stages of the cold war with Russia. However, the stress of his work made Nash's illness develop.
Crowe's performance is perfect. He and Connelly ignite (make something exciting) the film's passionate love story and Connelly's wonderful performance makes the audience moved by Alicia, whose courage, strength and faith in her husband are the primary reasons for his recovery.
1.This passage is most probably __________.
A. a book review B. a movie review
C. a movie poster D. an advertisement
2. Which can replace the underlined phrase hitting on in the fourth paragraph?
A. come up with B. come on
C. put on D. put up with
3. The following statements are true EXCEPT that ______.
A. John Nash did not go mad totally
B. Ron Howard is an outstanding director
C. the stress of the academic work caused Nash's illness
D. Nash's concentration on his work and his shyness brought him few friends
4.We can infer from the text that_________.
A. without Alicia, John Nash would not have recovered from schizophrenia
B. John Nash gave up his career when troubled by schizophrenia
C. Russell Crowe won another Oscar Award after this movie
D. John Nash volunteered to serve in the army
CLASSIC TOURS—COACH BREAK INFORMATION
Luggage
We ask you to keep a medium-sized suitcase per person, but a small holdall can also be taken onto the coach.
Seats
Requests for particular seats can be made on most coach breaks (巴士旅游) when booking, but since seats are booked on a first come, first serve basic, early booking is advisable. When bookings are made with us, you will be offered the best seats that are available on the coach at that time.
Travel Documents
When you have paid your deposit（订金）, we will send you all the necessary documents, so that you can receive them in good time before the coach break leaving date. Certain documents, for example, air or boat tickets, may have to be reserved and your guide will then give them to you during the break.
Special Diets
If you require a special diet, you must inform us at the time of booking with a copy of the diet. This will be told to the hotels on your coach break. The hotels for certain coach breaks are tourist class and they may not have the equipment to deal with special diets. Any extra costs must be paid to the hotel by yourself before leaving the hotel.
Accommodation
On any coach break there are only a limited number of single rooms. When a single room is available, it may be subject to an extra charge and this will be shown on the brochure page.
Entertainment
Some of our hotels arrange extra entertainment which could include music, dancing, films, etc. The nature and frequency of the entertainment presented is decided by the hotel and therefore not guaranteed and could be withdrawn if there is a lack of demand or insufficient numbers in the hotel.
1.If you want to choose certain seats of the coach, you should _________.
A. take little luggage B. avoid traveling in holidays
C. book your seat well in advance D. arrive early on the leaving date
2. It may be necessary to pay extra for_________.
A. single rooms B. particular seats
C. entertainment D. hand luggage
3.Where is the passage mostly taken from?
A. A fashion magazine. B. A business report.
C. A legal document. D. A travel brochure.
“This Friday we'll have the yearly Egg Drop Challenge,” said our science teacher, Mr. Baker. “You can work alone or with a partner.”
My friend, Cassie, and I smiled at each other. We always worked on projects 36 .
The 37 of the challenge was simple—to build a protective container to keep an egg from breaking when 38 the stadium wall.
I made my sandwich that afternoon while waiting for Cassie. 39 the butter-cream gave me an idea.
“I have a brilliant design for our 40 container!” I said when Cassie arrived. “We can 41 the egg with some butter-cream.”
“Why not put the egg in a basket with a parachute 42 ?” Cassie rolled her eyes. “The parachute is better than that stupid idea.”
I couldn't believe it. Of course we'd had our little 43 in the past, but she'd never called any of my ideas “ 44 ” before.
“Then I’ll build mine and you build yours!”
45 words had been out, our friendship was challenged.
When Friday finally arrived, I had to 46 Cassie’s Egg Force One looked pretty good. 47, my Egg-cellent Egg Cream didn't look quite scientific. We kids carried our containers up three stadium steps and dropped them over the side wall. Those whose eggs broke were out; those whose eggs survived 48 three more steps and dropped them again. This would go on till the last egg broke.
After four rounds, only Cassie and I were 49 . I let go of my box. I heard someone say “ew” after seconds. Had my egg broken? I raced down the 50 . The sidewalk was dotted with egg shells(蛋壳) from those 51 drops. Finally I found my little Egg-cellent Egg Cream.
“That looks like egg drop soup, Laura,” Cassie said. She was holding her Egg Force One. My 52 raced. Had she won? I looked at her basket. 53 .
“My egg bounced (弹起) 54 ,” she explained, pointing to a broken shell.
“A tie（平局）,” Mr. Baker said.
Cassie looked at me, and her glare（瞪眼） 55 . I laughed. She smiled…
1.A. patiently B. silently C. together D. alone
2.A. function B. goal C. reason D. result
3. A. rolled down B. pushed against C. thrown at D. dropped over
4.A. Spreading B. Boiling C. Baking D. Holding
5.A. butter B. sandwich C. cream D. egg
6. A. protect B. replace C. carry D. mix
7. A. followed B. covered C. attached D. supported
8.A. ideas B. fights C. worries D. challenges
9.A. wrong B. stupid C. brilliant D. scientific
10. A. Since B. While C. But D. And
11.A. explain B. deny C. admit D. prove
12. A. Therefore B. Anyway C. Otherwise D. Besides
13.A. paced down B. turned around C. walked up D. went back
14. A. left B. wanted C. chosen D. discovered
15.A. steps B. way C. wall D. sidewalk
16.A. intended B. unexpected C. failed D. desired
17.A. eyes B. hands C. feel D. heart
18.A. Lost B. Dirty C. Broken D. Empty
19.A. around B. out C. in D. down
20. A. returned B. remained C. increased D. softened
He lost his favorite watch, _________ made him very sad.
A. that B. it C. which D. as
