We would probably all be amazed if we watched a videotape of ourselves performing basically unconscious acts as we go about the business of the day. These unconscious acts consist of all the little personal habits that we don’t even think about, but definitely should. These are some of the things that present an image of who we are to others, and if we are careless in performing them, this image may well be other than we would like it to be.
Parents who insist that their children practice good manners and habits at home are doing them a great service, for these habits then become lifelong and the natural way they do things. It proves true that their unconscious actions will reflect a well-mannered person.
People who, for example, eat with both arms on the table at home will likely do so when out. Those who are lazy and slow in private will certainly be so in public. Children who are permitted to be disrespectful to their parents will follow suit with other adults, and will, most likely, become adults who are disrespectful of others. This is an area where the saying “practice makes perfect” may be applied.
There is an article about the actress, Audrey Hepburn, known for her beautiful carriage and posture. According to her biographer, her grandmother tied her neck to the back of her chair, at table, so that she would not drop down suddenly over her food, but rather would learn to put only small amounts of food on her spoon or fork and bring them to her mouth. This is a rather extreme “at home” method for the development of erect (直立的) posture, but it does illustrate the effectiveness of practicing good habits so that, when in public, they are instinctive.
1.Which of the following expresses the main idea of the passage?
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A．Parents should be responsible for their children’s good habits. |
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B．The actress is well known for her beautiful posture. |
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C．We should always be aware of our manners. |
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D．Without good manners, one can never be perfect. |
2.Those who eat with both arms on the table at home ______.
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A．will probably change the habit when eating out with their relatives |
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B．will probably have the same habit when they have meals in the restaurant |
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C．will feel embarrassed when having meals with so many strangers in public |
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D．will always put their arms on the table no matter where they eat |
3.The meaning of “practice makes perfect” in the third paragraph is ______.
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A．the more practice one has, the better job he will do |
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B．the more perfect one is, the more practice he needs |
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C．if one has enough practice, he will become perfect |
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D．perfect makes a person practice more |
4.Which of the following are NOT true?
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A．If we are not careful about our unconscious acts, the images of ourselves presented to others will be quite undesirable. |
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B．The good habits formed in one’s childhood will benefit him throughout his life. |
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C．If parents do not care about the disrespectful attitude adopted by their children towards themselves, their children might be disrespectful to others. |
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D．It is unlikely that a well-mannered person will not embarrass himself in public. |
People use their mouths for many things. They eat, talk, shout and sing. They smile and they kiss. In the English language, there are many expressions using the word “mouth.”
For example, if you say bad things about a person, the person might protest and say “Do not bad mouth me.” Sometimes, people say something to a friend or family member that they later regret because it hurts that person’s feelings. Or they tell the person something they were not supposed to tell. The speaker might say: “I really put my foot in my mouth this time.” If this should happen, the speaker might feel down in the mouth. In other words, he might feel sad for saying the wrong thing.
Another situation is when someone falsely claims another person said something. The other person might protest: “I did not say that. Do not put words in my mouth.”
Some people have lots of money because they were born into a very rich family. There is an expression for this, too. You might say such a person, “was born with a silver spoon in his mouth.” This rich person is the opposite of a person who lives from hand to mouth. This person is very poor and only has enough money for the most important things in life, like food.
Parents might sometimes withhold sweet food from a child as a form of punishment for saying bad things. For example, if a child says things she should not say to her parents, she might be described as a mouthy child. The parents might even tell the child to stop mouthing off.
But enough of all this talk. I have been running my mouth long enough.
1.In what kind of situation will a person say “Do not bad mouth me.” ?
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A．When he feels down. |
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B．When he feels regretful. |
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C．When he is spoken ill of. |
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D．When he feels innocent. |
2.If a person feels sorry for what he has said, he might say “ .”
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A．Do not bad mouth me |
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B．I really put my foot in my mouth this time |
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C．Do not put words in my mouth |
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D．Stop mouthing off |
3.If a person lives from hand to mouth, it implies .
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A．he is badly – off |
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B．he is hard – working |
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C．he is well – off |
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D．he has enough to eat |
4.By saying, “I have been running my mouth long enough”, the speaker means “ ”.
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A．I have run a long way |
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B．I have been a mouthy person |
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C．I have learned a lot |
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D．I have talked too much |
It was a cold winter. The day my husband fell to his death, it started to snow, just 31 any November day. His 32 , when I found it, was lightly covered with snow. It snowed almost every day for the next four months, while I sat on the couch and watched it 33 . One morning, I walked slowly 34 and was surprised to see a snow remover clearing my driveway and the bent back of a woman clearing my walk. I dropped to my knees and crawled back upstairs, 35 those good people would not see me. I was 36 . My first thought was, how would I ever 37 them? I didn’t have the 38 to brush my hair, 39 clear someone’s walk.
Before Jon’s death, I felt proud that I 40 asked for favors. I identified myself by my competence and 41 . So who was I if I was no longer capable? How could I 42 myself if I just sat on the couch every day and watched the snow fall?
Learning to receive the love and 43 from others wasn’t easy. Friends cooked for me and I cried. Finally, my friend Kathy said, “Mary, cooking for you isn’t a 44 for me; it makes me feel good to be able to do something for you.”
Over and over, I heard 45 words from the people who supported me during those 46 days. One wise man told me, “You aren’t doing nothing because being fully open to your 47 may be the hardest work you will ever do.”
I am not the person I 48 was, but in many ways I have changed for the 49 . I’ve been surprised to learn that there is incredible freedom coming form 50 one’s worst fear and walking away whole. I believe there is strength, for sure, in accepting a dark period of our life.
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I like to put everything so that I can find it easily.
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A．in time |
B．in place |
C．in all |
D．in general |
The term paper was due to December 1, but hard as he tried, he was unable to meet the _____ for it.
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A．challenge |
B．need |
C．deadline |
D．date |
Deputy Agriculture Secretary Kathleen Merrigan sees an epidemic (流行病) sweeping across America’s farmland. It has little to do with the usual challenges, such as flood, rising fuel prices and crop-eating insects. The country’s farmers are getting older, and there are fewer people standing in line to take their place. National agricultural census (普查) figures show that the fastest-growing group of farmers is the part over 65. Merrigan is afraid the average age will be even higher when the 2012 statistics are completed.
Merrigan, a former college professor, is making stops at universities across the country in hopes of encouraging more students to think about careers in agriculture. Aside from trying to stop the graying of America’s farmers, her work is made tougher by a recent blog posting that put agriculture at No. 1 on a list of “useless” college degrees. Top federal agriculture officials are talking about the posting, and it has the attention of agricultural organizations across the country.
“There couldn’t be anything that’s more incorrect,” Merrigan said. “We know that there aren’t enough qualified graduates to fill the jobs that are out there in American agriculture.”
In addition, a growing world population that some experts predict will require 70% more food production by 2050, she said.
“I truly believe we’re at a golden age of agriculture. Global demand is at an all-time record high, and global supplies are at all-time record lows,” said Matt Rush, director of the Texas Farm Bureau. “Production costs are going to be valuable enough that younger people are going to have the opportunity to be involved in agriculture. “
The Department of Agriculture has programs aimed at developing more farmers and at increasing interest in locally grown food. The National Young Farmers’ Coalition has also been pushing for state and federal policy changes to make it easier for new farmers.
Ryan Best, president of Future Farmers of America, has been living out of a suitcase, traveling the country and visiting with high school students about careers in agriculture. The 21-year-old Best hopes his message --that this is a new time in agriculture-- will motivate the next generation to turn around the statistics. “Never before have we had the innovations (创新) in technology which have led to agriculture in this country being the most efficient it has ever been,” he said. “There’s really a place for everybody to fit in. “
1.What is the new challenge to American agriculture?
A. Fewer and older farmers. B. Higher fuel prices.
C. More natural disasters. D. Lower agricultural output.
2.Why is Merrigan visiting universities across the country?
A. To draw federal agriculture officials’ attention.
B. To select qualified agriculture graduates.
C. To clarify a recent blog posting.
D. To talk more students into farming careers.
3.According to Matt Rush, American agriculture will provide opportunities for younger people because ________.
A. the government will cover production costs
B. global food supplies will be even lower
C. investment in agriculture will be profitable
D. America will increase its food export
4.What do the underlined words “to turn around the statistics” in the last paragraph mean?
A. To re-analyze the result of the national census.
B. To increase agricultural production.
C. To bring down the average age of farmers.
D. To invest more in agriculture.
