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A． Decide to Be Happy B． Lower Your Expectations C． Learn to Enjoy the Moment D． Look for the Good in Everything E． Let People Deal with Their Own Problems F． Focus More on What You Can Control Than on What You Can’t |
So many times I hear people say that they will be happy once a certain event occurs. They think that once they move into a new house, start their new job, travel or retire they will be happy. But it doesn’t work that way.
If you truly want to be happy, here’s what to do.
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You are not just a victim of circumstances or your emotions. Think about it this way. If you are in a horrible argument with someone, and the person you most respect enters the room, what will happen? The fighting will likely stop immediately, your mood will change, and so will your behavior. You do have control, and you are the one who decides how you will face the day!
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We are never disappointed unless we have expectations. If you base your emotions on the need for certain things to happen, you will likely be let down most of the time. Instead, work hard, and treat everything good that happens as a bonus for which you can be thankful.
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Don’t get too wrapped up in issues involving friends or family. We are each responsible for our own lives, and even when someone makes a bad mistake, it is not up to you to make things better. And remember that worry doesn’t help anyone!
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You might not be satisfied with your income, but there’s no point complaining about it. Improve your diploma so that you can get a better job in the future. You may have an incurable illness, such as diabetes, but the fact that it’s incurable doesn’t mean that it cannot be managed.
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You don’t have to be a Pollyanna(盲目乐观者)about life, but you can see the bright side of almost every situation if you just make a point of looking for it. Happiness is not an uncatchable mouse! Once you have made up your mind that you are going to be happy despite what is going on around you, the task becomes easier. One of the key things to remember is that happiness doesn’t come from outside but begins on the inside and actually spread outward, and can influence everyone around you in a positive manner.
Combining families with kids can be tough and offers even more unexpected problems. You just don’t know how things will shake out until everyone is under one roof, trying on new roles with name that start with “step”. This is what happened to Sheila and Will, and Sheila’s 8-year-old daughter Ashley. After the couple got married, and Will became the member of the new family, things got worse than expected. How did they make it work? Read the full version of the story here.
Shelia’s Turn: When Shelia and Will were dating, he seemed like kids, especially Ashley. He’d bring her presents, play games with her. But after the wedding, things took a turn. Will suddenly became a super strict stepfather, scolding Ashley for watching too much cartoons, constantly picking fights and punishing her for offenses as small as spilling milk. Shelia’s thought about leaving Will, but soon after they married, they had a son, Billy. Will adores his well-behaved boy, but Ashley hates him. Shelia doesn’t know what to do--- her daughter is miserable, but leaving her husband might mean losing her son.
Will’s turn: Will was so excited to be a male role model in Ashley’s life. He didn’t just want to be a guy living in her house; he wanted to treat her like his own daughter, which, to Will, meant giving Ashley more rules and help her learn responsibility. He’d always felt that Shelia let Ashley loose on everything. But after the wedding, Will was surprised that Shelia didn’t want him to do that. If Will takes away Ashley’s TV privileges or tells her to clean up her room, Shelia just lets Ashley do what she likes and does it herself. Will was tired of this and he’d rather take his son and go.
The advisor’s turn: The counselor(顾问) quickly recognized their conflict as a classic case of unspoken, hidden expectations. Before the wedding, when it was just Shelia and Will, everything was easy. But now, everyone in their big family is competing for attention, and the couple never sat down and discussed the biggest issue---their child-upbringing philosophies(育儿经). The counselor suggested Shelia allow Will to give some rules on Ashley but Will’s punishments couldn’t be extreme. Once Ashley saw that her mom and stepdad had become a united front, she cooperated more.
1.The text is most likely to be found in a book about______.
A. popular science B. historical events
C. social problems D. political systems
2.The reasons for Ashley’s dislike of Will are as follows except_____?
A. Will often picked fights with Ashley.
A. Ashley often spilled milk on the floor.
B. Will always punished her for bad behaviors.
C. Ashley was stopped watching too many cartoons.
3.What can we know about Will?
A. Will has a good intention.
B. Will does not love children
C. Will does not love Shelia any more
D. Will’s way of parenting is very perfect.
4.It can be inferred from the passage that the advisor’s attitude to their problem?
A. Negative B. Objective C. Critical D. . Subjective
It is common and usual to see people freak out when they face challenges in their life. We all pass in different life problems and challenges. No one is free of life problems. Only a dead man faces no problem. As long as you are alive, challenges are everywhere.
How do you face problems and challenges in your life? Problems and challenges are the building blocks of your personality. They make you who you are. Besides, whether what happened in your life builds or destructs you depends on how you look at it. If you take your problems as troubles, they will be troubles and may cause destruction. If you take them as constructive tools, you are going to be built up on them.
Problems are everywhere. No one can avoid them. And they are good too. They open up a different look and opportunity if you are willing to see. When you face troubles, do not frustrate or freak out. Just cool yourself to think in a different direction. Think in a positive way. Every problem has its own good as well as bad sides. Focus on the good one. Look at the bright side.
Besides, there is always a good person, perhaps your mom or dad, or one of your friends, right beside you who can turn everything into your best if you are willing to turn to them. No matter what happens, they will be there to help you. Trust them and they will never let you down. All you need to know is that you are loved wherever you are.
1.What’s the meaning of the underlined phrase “freak out” in Paragraph 1 ?
A. feel shy. B. stay calm. C. keep up. D. feel upset.
2.In Paragraph 2, the writer implies that______
A. problems cause troubles B. attitude is everything
C. challenges can be avoided D. personalities are built on failures
3.According to the last paragraph, when we're in trouble, we _______.
A. can only depend on our parents B. are not alone
C. should only believe ourselves D. are not confident
4.What’s the writer’ purpose to write the passage?
A. To encourage. B. To compare. C. To prove. D. To explain.
The young boy saw me, or rather, he saw the car and quickly ran up to me, eager to sell his bunches of bananas and bags of peanuts. Though he appeared to be about twelve, he seemed to have already known the bitterness of life. “Bananas 300 naira. Peanuts 200 naira.” He said in a low voice. I bargained him down to 200 totals for the fruit and nuts. When he agreed, I handed him a 500 naira bill. He didn’t have change, so I told him not to worry. He said thanks and smiled a row of perfect teeth.
When, two weeks later, I saw the boy again, I was more aware of my position in a society where it’s not that uncommon to see a little boy who should be in school standing on the corner selling fruit in the burning sun. My parents had raised me to be aware of the advantage we had been afforded and the responsibility it brought to us.
I pulled over and rolled down my window. He had a bunch of bananas and a bag of peanuts ready. I waved them away. “What’s up?” I asked him.
“I…I don’t have money to buy books for school.” I reached into my pocket and handed him two fresh 500 naira bills. “Will this help?” I asked. He looked around nervously before taking the money. One thousand naira was a lot of money to someone whose family probably made about 5,000 naira or less each year. “Thank you, sir.” he said. “Thank you very much!”
When driving home, I wondered if my little friend actually used the money for schoolbooks. What if he’s a cheat? And then I wondered why I did it. Did I do it to make myself feel better? Was I using him? Later, I realized that I didn’t know his name or the least bit about him, nor did I think to ask.
Over the next six months, I was busy working in a news agency in northern Nigeria. Sometime after I returned, I went out for a drive. When I was about to pull over, the boy suddenly appeared by my window with a big smile ready on his face.
“Oh, gosh! Long time.”
“Are you in school now?” I asked.
He nodded.
“That’s good,” I said. A silence fell as we looked at each other, and then I realized what he wanted. “Here,” I held out a 500 naira bill. “Take this.” He shook his head and stepped back as if hurt. “What’s wrong?” I asked. “It’s a gift.”
He shook his head again and brought his hand from behind his back. His face shone with sweat. He dropped a bunch of bananas and a bag of peanuts in the front seat before he said, “I’ve been waiting to give these to you.”
1.What was the author’s first impression of the boy?
A. He seemed to be poor and greedy.
B. He seemed to have suffered a lot.
C. He seemed younger than his age.
D. He seemed good at bargaining.
2.The second time the author met the boy, the boy ______.
A. told him his purpose of selling fruit and nuts
B. wanted to express his thanks
C. asked him for money for his schoolbooks
D. tried to take advantage of him
3.Why did the author give his money to the boy?
A. Because he had enough money to do that.
B. Because he had learnt to help others since childhood.
C. Because he held a higher position in the society.
D. Because he had been asked by the news agency to do so.
4.Which of the following best describes the boy?
A. Brave and polite. B. Kind and smart.
C. Honest and thankful. D. Shy and nervous.
1.What will be exhibited in Geneva?
A. A watch B. A kind of shoes. C. A bracelet. D. A photo.
2.A newly-developed car has been produced by ________.
A. Vans and Hermes B. Christian Dior
C. Champion Motorsport D. Panerai
3.It can be inferred that ________.
A. Goose liver is the favorite food of the Japanese people.
B. Some children have built up a toy-brick-liked building.
C. Mixing up olive oil with ordinary oil makes high-quality oil.
D. Badly behaved designers used not to get what they deserved.
During the first week of the term, every student was given a job for which they would be responsible for the rest of that school year.
Some jobs were more 26 than others, and the children were eager to be given one of the best ones. And the teacher would 27 who had been most responsible during the previous year. Among them Rita 28 . During the previous year she had followed all the teacher’s 29 perfectly.
But that year there was a big 30 . Each child received one of the normal 31 , like cleaning the blackboard. But Rita’s job was very 32 . She was given a little box containing some sand and one ant. And even though the teacher 33 that this ant was a very special ant, it 34 Rita. Most of her classmates felt sorry for her and even her father 35 Rita to ignore it. 36 , Rita preferred to show the teacher her error by making the unimportant task into a special job.
“ I will turn this little task into 37 great,” Rita said to herself.
So Rita started 38 her little ant. She gave the ant the best food, and it grew bigger than anyone had expected…
One day, the teacher 39 a man to the students and said he would tell them a 40 piece of news. The man said, “ Today they have announced the winner of the 41 , and this class is the winner! This class has been chosen to accompany me on a 42 to the tropical rainforest to investigate all kinds of insects. 43 all the schools of this region, it is this one that has best 44 for the little ant given to you. Well done!”
That day the class was filled with joy. Everyone 45 Rita and thanked the teacher. And many children learnt that to be given the most important tasks you have to know how to be responsible for even the smallest tasks.
1.A. interesting B. possible C. necessary D. creative
2.A. realize B. doubt C. argue D. consider
3.A. stood up B. stood out C. stood for D. stood by
4.A. opinions B. concerns C. instructions D. experiments
5.A. curiosity B. movement C. surprise D. chance
6.A. tasks B. promises C. dreams D. purposes
7.A. different B. ordinary C. familiar D. valuable
8.A. hoped B. insisted C. agreed D. guessed
9.A. annoyed B. inspired C. satisfied D. disappointed
10.A. supposed B. forced C. encouraged D. admitted
11.A. Therefore B. Otherwise C. However D. Moreover
12.A. something B. nothing C. everything D. anything
13.A. developing B. studying C. comforting D. writing
14.A. introduced B. exposed C. appealed D. connected
15.A. terrible B. confusing C. wonderful D. foolish
16.A. competition B. challenge C. conference D. negotiation
17.A. journey B. vacation C. meeting D. story
18.A. Between B. Along C. Besides D. Among
19.A looked B. paid C. cared D. worked
20.A. prized B. congratulated C. respected D. celebrated
