While I was on a trip to Papua New Guinea to take underwater photographs, I asked a local dive guide to help me find a pygmy sea horse(侏儒海马). I wanted to take a picture of it. These sea horses can be red or yellow-and-orange. The red pygmy sea horse lives on only one type of coral, a red sea fan that grows at depths below ninety feet.
This depth made the job even tougher. As the pressure on my body increased, I had to breathe harder, which used my air supply faster. So the deeper I dived, the shorter my time underwater.
I had a lot to do. First, I had to find the pygmy sea horse’s special type of fan .Then I had to look over the whole fan with my magnifying glass(放大镜) to see if a sea horse lived on it. If not, I had to find another fan—all the while keeping an eye on my oxygen supply. The second fan rewarded me with a find. The dive guide held the magnifying glass so I could have my first look at the tiny fish.
My next challenge was to focus my camera on such a small subject. The dive guide pointed at the tiny creature. I looked through the viewfinder(取景物) on my large underwater camera housing(相架), found the guide’s finger, and followed it to the sea horse.
It was hard to hold ourselves steady because both of us were floating in mid-water, but our system worked. I could hardly contain my excitement as I focused on the eyes of the cutest sea horse imaginable.
1.What do we learn about the red pygmy sea horse?
A．It lives on red sea fans only. B．It swims very quickly.
C．It lives nine feet deep. D．It usually floats in mid-water.
2.From Paragraph 3 we learn .
A．how the author swam under water B．how the author found a sea horse
C．why the author dived with a guide D．why the author used a magnifying glass
3.While the author was taking pictures of the sea horse, .
A．she felt extremely nervous B．her camera didn’t work well
C．the guide helped focus the camera D．the sea horse was swimming away
4.Why did the author write the passage?
A．To study the natural habitat of sea animals.
B．To explain why sea horses are endangered.
C．To tell us how to be an underwater photographer.
D．To show us how she took pictures of a sea horse.
Jenna, a popular girl from Westwood Middle School, had graduated first in her class and was ready for new 1 in high school.
2 , high school was different. In the first week, Jenna went to tryouts(选拔赛)for cheerleaders(啦啦队队员). She was competing against very talented girls, and she knew it would be 3 for her to be selected. Two hours later, the 4 read a list of the girls for a second tryout. Her heart 5 as the list ended without her name. Feeling 6 , she walked home carrying her schoolbag full of homework.
Arriving home, she started with math. She had always been a good math student, but now she was 7 . She moved on to English and history, and was8 to find that she didn’t have any trouble with those subjects. Feeling better, she decided not to 9 math for the time being.
The next day Jenna went to see Mrs. Biden about being on the school 10 . Mrs. Biden wasn’t as 11 as Jenna. “I’m sorry, but we have enough 12 for the newspaper already. Come back next year and we’ll talk then.” Jenna smiled 13 and left. “Why is high school so 14 ?” she sighed.
Later in 15 class, Jenna devoted herself to figuring out the problems that had given her so much 16 . By the end of class, she understood how to get them right. As she gathered her books, Jenna decided she’d continue to try to 17 at her new school. She wasn’t sure if she’d succeed, but she knew she had to 18 . High school was just as her mom had said: “You will feel like a small fish in a big pond 19 a big fish in a small pond. The challenge is to become the 20 fish you can be.”
1. A．processes B．exercises C．challenges D．decision
2. A．Therefore B．Besides C．Otherwise D．However
3. A．difficult B．interesting C．boring D．easy
4. A．editor B．judge C．candidate D．boss
5. A．jumped B．raced C．stopped D．sank
6. A．strange B．lonely C．awful D．happy
7. A．struggling B．complaining C．working D．improving
8. A．ashamed B．relieved C．shocked D．disappointed
9. A．put up B．give up C．worry about D．prepare for
10. A．committee B．team C．radio D．newspaper
11. A．enthusiastic B．realistic C．sympathetic D．artistic
12. A．speakers B．writers C．cheerleaders D．readers
13. A．widely B．brightly C．excitedly D．weakly
14. A．similar B．familiar C．different D．ordinary
15. A．physics B．math C．English D．history
16. A．pleasure B．sorrow C．trouble D．hope
17. A．fit in B．get around C．stay up D．look out
18. A．swim B．escape C．ask D．try
19. A．in return for B．instead of C．in terms of D．in case of
20. A．slimmest B．gentlest C．best D．smallest
The flooding the bridge, so we can’t walk across it forever.
A．damaged B．destroyed C．harmed D．hurt.
In the good care of the nurses, the boy is recovering from his heart operation.
A．quietly B．actually C．practically D．gradually
Interviewing someone for a job is not as easy as it looks. First, as the interviewer, you’re tasked with finding the person who will not only do the job well but also fit in well with the other employees.
You have to make an evaluation of abstract qualities that can’t be found on a résumé. Because you have to repeat the process for every potential employee, you end up asking question after question, applicant after applicant.
Still, interviewers need to be told something: “What is your biggest weakness?” is not a good question. It just isn’t.
Now, job seekers have to understand that interviewers want to find some way to know what makes an applicant different from others. Asking questions that are seemingly impossible to answer is one way to see who can think creatively. Then what may be a proper way to respond to such a question?
Honesty, with a twist(新手法)
“‘What are your three strengths and three weaknesses?’ is a classic, but not too many people know how to answer this,” says Kenneth C. Wisnefski, founder and CEO of WebiMax, an online marketing company.
“As an interviewer, we want to hear strengths that describe initiative(主动性), motivation and dedication. The best way to respond is to include these qualities into specific ‘personal statements.’
“Similarly, weaknesses should be positioned as a strength that can benefit the employer.”
“I like to hear applicants state an exaggerated strength, and put an interesting twist on it. An example of this is, ‘My initiative is so strong, that sometimes I take on too many projects at a time.’”
This answer leads with a strength that employers want —initiative —and still acknowledges that you’re not perfect.
Although you might consider this acknowledgement too honest, it works because it proves you’re being honest.
Honesty, with progress
When you consider what your weaknesses are, think about how you have attempted to overcome them. No one is perfect, so pretending that you are a perfectionist will come across as insincere.
Debra Davenport, author of “Career Shuffle,” believes citing(引用) examples are the best approach.
“My preferred response for this question is to tell the truth without damaging the applicant’s image.” Davenport explains.
“A better response might be, ‘I’ve had some challenges with work-life balance in the past and I realize that a life out of balance isn’t good for me, my family or my employer. I’ve taken the time to learn better time and project management, and I’m also committed to my overall wellness.’”
The answer adds some dimension to the question, and proves you’ve thought beyond the answer. You’ve actually changed your behavior to address the situation, even if you haven’t completely overcome the weakness.
Put yourself in the interviewer’s shoes
However you decide to answer, Debra Yergen, author of “Creating Job Security Resource Guide,” recommends job seekers imagine themselves sitting on the other side of the desk.
“If you were doing the hiring, what would you be looking for? What would be your motivation for asking certain questions? Who would you be trying to weed out? If you can empathize (共鸣) with the interviewer, you can better understand what they want and need, and then frame your qualifications to meet their needs for the position you seek.”
Once you consider what the goal of the question is and figure out what your honest answer is, you’ll be able to give the best possible answer to a tricky question.
|
Job Interviews |
|
|
Tasks for a job interviewer |
☆ Find the person both doing the job well and 1. along well with other employees. ☆2. abstract qualities of applicants by asking one question after another. |
|
3. to interviewees for replying to a tricky question |
☆ Understand that the interviewers want to 4. between applicants and that asking a question seemingly impossible to answer is one way to see an applicant’s 5. . ☆ Be 6. and inventive when asked about your weaknesses, and respond properly. ☆ Never 7. you are perfect, which may be believed to be insincere. ☆Try to show that you’ve changed a lot 8. you haven’t completely get rid of your weaknesses. ☆ Put yourself in the interviewer’s shoes and have a better 9. of their needs for the job. |
|
Conclusion |
☆ With the goal of the question 10. into account and the honest answer in your mind, you will be able to give the best possible answer. |
“世界读书日（每年的4月23日）”，假定你是李华，你的加拿大网友Peter成立一个网上“读书俱乐部”，邀请世界各地中学生参加。假定你对读书特感兴趣，希望加入该俱乐部，请用英文写一封自荐信，要点如下：
1．你对此事情的看法，并表达积极参加的愿望；
2．陈述自己的有利条件，如痴迷于读书，中英文阅读和写作能力强等；
3．若成为会员，会给其他会员提供更多帮助并使自己读更多的书。
注意：1．不要逐词逐句地翻译；
2．为使语句连贯，可以适当增加细节；
3．词数100左右。开头和结尾已给出，不计入总数。
Dear Peter,
I’m Li Hua. I’d like to join your “Reading Club” on the Internet. ……
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
Please consider my request, and I’m looking forward to your early reply.
Yours sincerely,
Li Hua
