We let ourselves believe that life will be better once we are married, have a baby, then another. Then we get frustrated because our children are not old enough and that all will be well when they are older. Then we are frustrated because they reach teenage years and we must deal with them. Surely we'll be happier when they grow out of the teen years.
We tell ourselves our life will be better when our spouse (配偶) gets his/her act together, when we have a nicer car, when we can take a vacation, when we finally retire. The truth is that there is no better time to be happy than right now. If not, then when? Your life will always be full of challenges. It is better to admit as much and to decide to be happy in spite of it all.
For the longest time, it seemed that life was about to start—real life.
But there were always some obstacles along the way, an ordeal (苦难) to get through, some work to be finished, some time to be given, a bill to be paid. Then life would start. I finally realized that those obstacles were part of life. Little by little, that point of view also helped me see that there isn't any road to happiness.
Happiness is the road. So, enjoy every moment. And keep in mind that __________. So stop waiting for school to end, for a return to school, to lose ten pounds, to gain ten pounds, for work to begin, to get married, for Friday evening, for Sunday morning, waiting for a new car, for your mortgage(借款) to be paid off, for spring, for summer, for fall, for winter, for the first or the fifteenth of the month, for your song to be played on the radio, to die, to be reborn… before deciding to be happy.
Happiness is a voyage, not a destination. There is no better time to be happy than… NOW! Live and enjoy the moment.
1.The most proper title for the passage should be______.
A. Happiness Is a Frustration B. Happiness Is a Destination
C. Happiness Is a Dream D. Happiness is a Process
2.The first two paragraphs mainly tell us_______.
A. life is a worthwhile but challenging voyage
B. so long as you believe you can, you can
C. people tend to think the future will be brighter than now
D. people feel confused about their life
3.The writer thinks _______is a real happiness
A. setting our imagination free B. enjoying our present life
C. finding our own shortcut to success D. facing obstacles and challenges bravely
4.Which of the sayings can fill in the blank in the fourth paragraph?
A. time waits for no one
B. time is money
C. tomorrow is another day
D. time can work wonders
From
school to band Practice, the Venturi Eclectic is an Earth-friendly way to get
where you want to go. This battery-powered, zero-emission (meaning it doesn't
pollute the air) vehicle runs mainly on renewable energy. Solar panels on the
Eclectic's roof absorb sun rays when you're driving. On windy days, you can
connect a machine to the car's roof that collects energy from the wind while
you're parked. The Eclectic's top speed is 28 miles an hour; the battery lasts
for 31 miles before it needs to be recharged. Zipping (迅速行进) around the neighborhood has never been better.
Here's
an eco-friendly way to tell time: Simply fill the Bedol Water-powered Clock's
tank (箱) with water, add some lemon juice, and the clock will
display the time without the need for environmentally harmful batteries. There
are two sets of metal electrodes (电极) inside the water
tank. Water contains ions (离子) that carry
negative and positive charges. These ions complete a charge between the
electrodes, creating enough energy to power the clock. Just refill the tank
every few weeks, and this clock will keep on ticking.
Bloodhound
SuperSonic Car (SSC) will be the first car to attempt to break the
l,000-mile-an-hour barrier. (The current record is 763 miles an hour.) A
concept for now, the rocket-shaped car gets its original push to 350 miles an
hour from a jet engine. Then a rocket fires up, pushing the SSC past 1,000
miles an hour. In order to keep the car streamlined (流线型的), the driver lies back at a 45-degree angle (角度).
You’re having a blast at your friend’s birthday party. But when it's time to bring out the cake, everyone crowds around, blocking your view. No worries. Throw the Triops into the air, and this clever camera captures the view from above. The Triops can take three pictures at once, each from different angles. You can also record sounds and command the Triops to start shooting whenever it hears that noise. That's one smart camera.
1.What is the common characteristic of the Venturi Eclectic and the Bedol Water-powered Clock?
A. They don't need batteries. B. They are difficult to operate.
C. They can be powered by water. D. They are environmentally friendly.
2.According to the passage, the Venturi Eclectic .
A. is popular with businessmen B. is suitable for a long trip
C. can turn wind into energy D. has only a little gas emission
3.The underlined phrase “having a blast” in the last paragraph probably means .
A. looking at a picture B. enjoying yourself
C. blowing out a candle D. recording sounds
4.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A. The Triops is sensitive to sounds.
B. The driver of the SSC must be of great size.
C. The color of the Bedol Water-powered Clock is like that of lemon.
D. The SSC doesn’t have anything to do with a rocket actually.
NewYork Tuesday April 12—Dustin Hoffman fan Pamela Crack got the shock of her life when the movie star telephoned her as she was doing her housework.. Crack, 58, said she was “flabbergasted” when she picked up the phone and heard the star at the other end.
“It’s not every day you get a Hollywood superstar phoning you when you’re doing the housework,” Crack told The Sun, “It was a moment I’ll never forget.”
Hoffman was in the back of a London taxi driven by Crack’s husband, Dave, when he made the call after being told Pamela was a fan. Dave Crack later became the star of Hoffman’s speech at the Bafta award ceremony Sunday, where the 62-year-old American actor presented the Best Film award.
“He said to give him a mention,” Hoffman told the audience to a burst of laughter. “Cheers Dave.” Taxi driver Crack said the Hollywood star was a joy to drive from the moment he got into the taxi eating a cheese and tomato sandwich.
“I said ‘You’re that Dustin Hoffman, aren’t you?’ and he said, ‘Yes I am—would you like a sandwich?’ I was a bit surprised but I took a sandwich from him and ate it hungrily.”
1.How did Dustin Hoffman learn that Pamela was a fan?
A. He learned it at a dinner party.
B. He learned it from Dave Crack.
C. He learned it when he was at the Bafta ceremony.
D. He learned it when he was watching a Hollywood movie.
2.What does the underlined word “flabbergasted” in the first paragraph probably mean?
A. pleased. B. honored. C. frightened. D. surprised.
3.What was Hoffman doing when he talked about Dave Crack?
A. He was riding in a taxi.
B. He was presenting the Best Film award.
C. He was talking to Pamela on the phone.
D. He was eating a cheese and tomato sandwich.
4.
Which of the
following is the correct order of events mentioned in the article?
a. Hoffman mentioned Dave’s name in his speech at the ceremony.
b. He got into Dave Crack’s taxi in London.
c. He telephoned Pamela Crack.
d. He talked to Dave Crack.
A. bdca B. bdac C. cbda D. cdba
Valentine’s Day may come from the ancient Roman feast of Lupercalia. 36 the fierce wolves roamed nearby, the old Romans called 37 the god Lupercus to help them. A festival in his 38 was held on February 15th. On the eve of the festival the 39 of the girls were written on 40 of paper and placed in jars. Each young man 41 a slip. The girl whose name was 42 was to be his sweetheart for the year.
Legend 43 it that the holiday became Valentine’s Day 44 a Roman bishop named Valentine. Emperor Claudius II 45 the Roman soldiers NOT to marry or become engaged. Claudius felt married soldiers would 46 stay home than fight. When Valentine 47 the Emperor and secretly married the young couples, he was put to death on February 14th, the 48 of Lupercalia. After his death, Valentine became a 49 . Christian bishop moved the holiday from the 15th to the 14th—Valentine’s Day. Now the holiday honors Valentine 50 of Lupercus.
Valentine’s Day has become a major 51 of love and romance in the modern world. The ancient god Cupid and his 52 into a lover’s heart may still be used to 53 falling in love or being in love. But we also use cards and gifts, such as flowers or jewelry, to do this. 54 to give flower to a wife or sweetheart on Valentine’s Day can sometimes be as 55 as forgetting a birthday or a wedding anniversary.
1.A. While B. When C. Though D. Unless
2.A. upon B. back C. off D. away
3.A. honor B. belief C. hand D. way
4.A. problems B. secrets C. names D. intentions
5.A. rolls B. piles C. works D. slips
6.A. cast B. caught C. drew D. found
7.A. given B. chosen C. elected D. delivered
8.A. tells B. means C. makes D. has
9.A. after B. since C. as D. from
10.A. ordered B. appealed C. imagined D. believed
11.A. other B. simply C. rather D. all
12.A. disliked B. resisted C. defeated D. dishonored
13.A. celebration B. arrangement C. feast D. eve
14.A. goat B. saint C. model D. weapon
15.A. because B. made C. instead D. learnt
16.A. part B. representative C. judgment D. symbol
17.A. story B. wander C. arrow D. play
18.A. describe B. require C. demand D. alarm
19.A. Keeping B. Disapproving C. Supporting D. Forgetting
20.A. constructive B. damaging C. strengthening D. responding
—Got your driving license?
—No. I _______ too busy to have enough practice, so I didn’t take the driving test last week.
A. was B. have been C. were D. had been
Although Jane agrees with me on most points, there was one on which she was unwilling to _______.
A. give out B. give in C. give away D. give off
