We may have hosted some difficult house guests once or on even more occasions. Are you still worrying about how to deal with them? Here below are some tips on how to deal with those difficult house guests.
You’ve been waiting an hour to eat breakfast but your guests are still sleeping.
“Unless you adjusted a time for breakfast the evening before, let your guests sleep-in and enjoy your breakfast without them. If possible, keep their breakfast warm. Or better yet, when entertaining it’s always a good idea to have cold breakfast (as well as lunch, dinner and snack) food on-hand.”
——Pamela Eyring，president and director of The Protocol School of Washington
Your guest’s teenage son is a Facebook addict and hogs your computer all day long.
“If you have a guest whose fingers are fixated to your keyboard, kindly let him know that you are expecting work email and give him enough time to finish using it.”
——Ummu Bradley Thomas, founder of the Freddie Bell Jones Modeling and Finishing School, Inc.
Your couch surfing, unemployed nephew has been here a month and is showing no sign of leaving.
“There is nothing wrong with saying ‘John, you have been here a month and have not put in any applications. What can I do to help you get your resume together? I would like to make a plan that will assist you in getting back on your feet and allow me to eventually have my extra room back for guests that will soon be arriving.’”
——Diane Gottsman, owner of The Protocol School of Texas
Your guests expect you to accompany them to every single tourist attraction in your city. It’s tiring and expensive.
“If your guests didn’t offer to treat you, politely decline and offer to meet them afterwards for dinner or drinks. That way they know you enjoy their company.”
——Pamela Eyring, president and director of The Protocol School of Washington
You gave your friend a closet shelf for her stuff but her clothes are thrown all over the place.
“You should simply say ‘I am happy to have you use my closet but your clothes seem to have a mind of their own. Would you mind keeping your clothes on the top shelf? It would make it easier for me to find my things when I am in a rush and looking for them. Thank you.’”
——Diane Gottsman, owner of The Protocol School of Texas
1.According to Ummu Bradley Thomas, which of the following is the best way to deal with the guests?
A．Kindly explaining to him you need to use the computer.
B．Politely asking him to stop using the computer at once.
C．Introducing other toys to him to play with.
D．Simply letting him keep using the computer as he likes.
2.The passage gives the following tips EXCEPT that _______.
A．declining the guests’ requests if you hate to accompany them everywhere
B．reminding them to keep their clothes on the top shelf
C．trying to offer at least one dish based on his or her preferences
D．keeping their breakfast warm or having cold breakfast food on-hand
3.Which of the following is the best title for this passage?
A．How to Entertain Your Guests
B．How to Keep Good Personal Relations
C．How to Find the Best Solution
D．How to Deal with Difficult House Guests
4.In which section of a magazine can we most probably see this passage?
A．Science B．Society C．Economy D．Education
The drug store was closing for the night. Young Alfred Higgins, the shop-assistant, was ready to go home. Mr. Carr, the boss, stared at him and said: “Hold on, Alfred. Maybe you'd be good enough to take the things out of your pockets and leave them here before you go.”Alfred's face got red. After a little hesitation, he took out what he had stolen. Mr. Carr said, “Maybe I should call your mother and let her know I'm going to have to put you in prison.”
Alfred thought his mother would come rushing in, eyes burning with anger. But, to his surprise, she arrived wearing a smile. “Hello, I'm Alfred's mother. Is he in trouble?”she said. Mr. Carr was surprised, too. He had expected Alfred's mother to come in nervously, shaking with fear, asking with wet eyes for a mercy for her son. But no, she was most calm, quiet and pleasant and was making Mr. Carr feel guilty…. Soon Mr. Carr was shaking his head in agreement with what she was saying. “Of course”, he said, “I don't want to be cruel. You are right. Sometimes, a little good advice is the best thing for a boy at certain times in his life and it often takes the youths long time to get sense into their heads.”And he warmly shook Mrs. Higgins's hand.
Back home, without even looking at Alfred, she said, “You are a bad luck. It is one thing after another, always has been. Why do you stand there so stupidly? Go to bed.”In his bedroom, Alfred heard his mother in the kitchen. There was no shame in him, just pride in his mother's strength. He felt he must tell her how great she was. As he got to the kitchen, he saw his mother drinking a cup of tea. He was shocked by what he saw. His mother's face was a frightened, broken one. It was not the same cool, bright face he saw earlier in the drug store. As she lifted the tea cup, her hand shook. And some of the tea splashed on the table. Her lips moved nervously. She looked very old. He watched his mother without making a sound. The picture of his mother made him want to cry. He felt his youth coming to an end. He saw all the troubles he brought his mother in her shaking hand and the deep lines of worry in her grey face. It seemed to him that this was the first time he had ever really seen his mother.
1.The reason why Mr. Carr felt guilty was that ________.
A．he found Alfred was in fact innocent
B．he should have called a policeman in first
C．Alfred's mother appeared polite and gentle
D．he thought he was partly responsible for it
2.Which of the following is probably said by Mrs. Higgins while talking to Mr. Carr?
A．“Please, for God's sake, you know, he is just a kid.”
B．“I can't believe it! You are treating my son like that!”
C．“You know, it takes time for a youth to truly grow up.”
D．“Punishment makes sense because it teaches about the law.”
3.What does the underlined phrase "his mother's strength"(Para. 3) refer to?
A．Mrs. Higgins's calmness and communicating skills.
B．Mrs. Higgins's attitude towards parental sufferings.
C．Mrs. Higgins's love and care for her son Alfred.
D．Mrs. Higgins's greatness as a woman.
4.After the incident, young Alfred would probably ________.
A．feel ashamed of her mother
B．change his attitudes towards life
C．learn to live an independent life
D．hate Mr. Carr for hurting her mother
Every year Chris Brogan posts his three words for a new year. many others and I have followed his lead for the past three or four years. They helped me a lot. My words for last year were “passion”, “focus” and “delegate” and I stayed true to them. This year, 2013, my goals are more personal and less professional.
FOCUS
Focus is making a repeat appearance on my list this year because I’m too much of a multitasker. The problem is that I have trouble finishing one thing with so many things calling me. When I was working as a writer, all my projects were handled via a schedule, I’m putting a fitness and housekeeping routine into my schedule.
HEALTH
I get so busy taking care of everyone else, and I forget to take care of myself and this has to change. My health suffers and my weight suffers. I have to get my health in check , not only for me but because I promised my 9-year-old son. I’ll make good food and lifestyle choices. I miss being thin, and it’s time to get it back.
CELEBRATE
What good is having it if I’m not taking time to enjoy it? I have a wonderful job, a happy family, and so much to be thankful for. So how come I spend all my time working? Last summer my family took our first vacation in four years, the best thing I’ve done for myself and my family in a long time. This year, I’m making sure to take time to enjoy life and celebrate its many blessings.
Do you have any words for 2013?
1.The underlined word “multitasker” probably refers to a person who .
A．makes a living by writing
B．always fails to finish a task on time
C．has several things to do at the same time
D．pays more attention to fitness and housekeeping
2.Why does the writer have “HEALTH” as one of his three words?
A．He wants to take better care of others.
B．He’s gaining weight and feeling bad.
C．He did not take any exercise in the past.
D．He got the idea from his son.
3.What can we learn from the passage?
A．The word “CELEBRATE” can remind the writer to enjoy life.
B．The writer has a vacation with his family every four years.
C．The word “FOCUS” can help the writer focus on his family.
D．The writer used to be overweight for lack of exercise.
4.The best title for the passage might be .
A．Three Words for 2013 B．Health Should Go First
C．Keep Organized D．Goals for 2013
When I was in my early twenties, I moved away from my home state of Wisconsin to attend graduate school. I chose to go to the University Of Arizona in Tucson and 36 there. Upon landing in early June, I was shocked by the lack of 37 and the burning desert heat. After less than two days in that 38 I called my parent to question whether I had made the 39 choice and to announce that I was 40 considering coming home. My father, in a calm and 41 voice, indicated that I always had a 42 . I could always come home and be welcome there. But in fact, we both 43 I wouldn’t come home at the time. Needless to say, I chose to 44 .
Many years have passed. My father’s 45 words remain with me. Knowing that I can always 46 , I’ve been able to 47 several challenging situations -unemployment, divorce and even the 48 of my only son. I have also used these words in many cases where others need to know that someone 49 and that they do have a choice.
Whether 50 is earthly, spiritual, or some sense of calm, knowing that we can come home will be just enough to 51 us on our way.
It 52 me, in a way, of the prodigal son（回头的浪子） who found 53 and love upon returning home. While we don’t have to be like him and hit bottom in life, it is good to know that we can wander and experience pains and 54 in life but we still have a home where love, support and comfort 55 .
1. A．flew B．drove C．walked D．cycled
2. A．blue B．yellow C．brown D．green
3. A．family B．refuge C．environment D．desert
4. A．new B．right C．last D．difficult
5. A．naturally B．fortunately C．obviously D．seriously
6. A．gentle B．weak C．supportive D．pleasant
7. A．choice B．dream C．friend D．request
8. A．pretended B．expected C．knew D．forgot
9. A．graduate B．regret C．return D．continue
10. A．surprising B．encouraging C．interesting D．moving
11. A．wander outside B．hang around C．come home D．move away
12. A．face up to B．get away with C．make sure of D．look out for
13. A．return B．growth C．arrival D．loss
14. A．worries B．cares C．leaves D．stays
15. A．health B．marriage C．church D．home
16. A．help B．stop C．protect D．teach
17. A．informs B．reminds C．warns D．rids
18. A．comfort B．interest C．food D．money
19. A．regrets B．complaints C．sufferings D．pleasures
20. A．survive B．exist C．fall D．disappear
for the free tickets, I would not have gone to the films so often.
A．If it is not B．Were it not C．Had it not been D．Should it not be
—Do you know they got to know each other?
—It was last year they both taught Chinese in Scotland.
A．when it was that; when B．when was it that; that
C．when was it that; when D．when it was that; that
