Winning the lottery (彩票) is not the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow for many past winners. Sad stories do exist in large numbers for the past lottery winners and that's why some financial experts say "70 percent of lottery winners will squander away (乱花) winning within a few years." Some end up losing all within two years, family relationships destroyed or even worse.
Wayne Schenk was an old soldier diagnosed with lung cancer. When he won a million dollars in a lottery he thought his troubles were over and he would get the advanced medical treatment that might save his life. But Lottery officials refused to pay him the total sum in a single payment and they said they could not make an exception to the regulations. When Schenk died in 2007, he'd only received one payment of $34,000.
Another lottery winner, Billy Bob Harrell, Jr. killed himself two years after winning 31 million dollars in the Texas lottery in 1997.He'd spent large amounts of money and given large amounts away, but he didn't end me expected peace that should have come with the freedom of money.
Other lottery winners have ended up in prison for crimes. Many suffer bankruptcy (破产) after the big jackpot (头奖) is spent and given away, including some of the eight people who won the 365 million Powerball in 2006.
The examples given paint a sad picture of what can happen if you win a big lottery jackpot, but fortunately, these examples don't tell the stories of all jackpot winners.
1.What is the main idea of the first paragraph?
A. Most lottery winners use up money quickly.
B. Most lottery winners don't really end up well.
C. Winning lottery means relationships destroyed.
D. Financial experts are against the lottery industry.
2.Why did lottery officials refuse to give Wayne Schenk the million dollars in one payment?
A. He was diagnosed with lung cancer.
B. He was unwilling to give away his money.
C. They had to observe the official rules.
D. They didn't want to disturb his peace.
3.The author supports his main idea by ____.
A. giving examples B. making comparisons
C. listing numbers D. listing reasons
4.In the following paragraph, the author will probably talk about_____.
A. advice given by financial experts
B. happy stories of the lottery winners
C. conclusion drawn by the author
D. regulations about lottery winning
There are two basic ways to see growth: one as a product, the other as a process. People have generally viewed personal growth as an external（外部的） result or product that can easily be identified and measured. The worker who gets a promotion, the student whose grades improve, the foreigner who learns a new language--- all these are examples of people who have measurable results to show for their efforts.
By contrast, the process of personal growth is much more difficult to determine, since by definition it is a journey and not the specific signposts or landmarks along the way. The process is not the road itself, but rather the attitudes and feelings people have, their caution or courage, as they go through new experiences and unexpected obstacles. In this process, the journey never really ends; there are always new ways to experience the world, new ideas to try, new challenges to accept.
In order to grow, to travel new roads, people need to have a willingness to take risks, to be faced with the unknown, and to accept the possibility that they may “fail” at first. How we see ourselves as we try a new way of being is essential to our ability to grow.
These feelings of insecurity and self – doubt are both unavoidable and necessary if we are to change and grow. If we do not face and overcome these internal fears and doubts, if we protect ourselves too much, then we cease to grow. We become trapped inside a shell of our own making.
1.A person is generally believed to achieve personal growth when______..
A．he has given up his smoking habit
B．he has made great efforts in his work
C．he is interested in making anything new
D．he has tried to determine where he is on his journey
2.In the author’s eyes, one who views personal growth as a process would______.
A．judge his ability to grow from his own achievements
B．succeed in climbing up the social ladder
C．face difficulties and take up challenges
D．aim high and reach his goal each time
3.When the author says “a new way of being” (para. 3), he is referring to _____.
A．a new way of taking risks
B．a new approach to experiencing the world
C．a new system of adapting to change
D．a new method of finding ourselves
4.For personal growth, the author may not support __________.
A．curiosity and more chances
B．being quick in self – adaptation
C．open – minded to new experiences
D．avoidance of internal fears and doubts
The New York Aquarium (水族馆) offers a diverse collection and nice viewing experience for all our guests. Whether you’re observing penguins on their rocky coastline home or swimming underwater, looking at a coral reef (珊瑚礁) under the water, or cheering on California sea lions at the theater, you’ll find plenty to see and do during your visit. Your underwater adventure is waiting for you! This summer, head out to Coney Island to learn about the underwater world at the New York Aquarium.
Just off the Coney Island in Brooklyn, the New York Aquarium features more than 300 marine (海洋的) species, such as dolphins and seals. Meet some of our mammals and fish, and learn about their natural history, biology, and cultural roles.
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Hours |
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Summer hours May 28 – Sept. 5 |
10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. , Monday–Friday 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. , Weekends & Holidays |
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Fall hours Sept. 6 – Nov. 6 |
10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. , Monday–Friday 10:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. , Weekends & Holidays |
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Winter hours Nov. 7 – Mar. 31 |
10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. , Daily |
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Spring hours Apr. 1– May 27 |
10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. , Monday–Friday 10:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. , Weekends & Holidays |
Total Experience Ticket
Adult $18.00
Child (Ages 3-12) $14.00
Senior (65+) $15.00
Groups (at least ten visitors) $8.00
﹡Includes admission to our 4-D Theater Plus General Admission.
﹡Children under 3 years old are free!
﹡To receive the group rate, you must make a reservation at least two weeks in advance of your group’s visit. Please call 718-741-1818.
Friday Afternoon Special
Admission on Fridays beginning at 3:00 p.m. is by donation. Suggested donation is $13 for adults, $9 for children, and $10 for seniors. Every dollar you give supports our work in caring for animals at the aquarium.
Aquarium Parking
Car $13.00
Bus $13.00
Please note:
﹡Due to rising costs, the Wildlife Conservation Society reserves the right to change all fees without notice.
﹡All Aquarium buildings and exhibits are wheelchair-accessible.
﹡For further information, please call 718-265-3454.
1.Which animal can’t visitors probably see at the New York Aquarium?
A. Penguins. B. Pandas. C. Dolphins. D. Seals.
2.Six adults (including a man of 68) and two children (aged 2 and 10) are going to visit the New York Aquarium on Sunday. They will have to pay ______________ at least.
A. $144 B. $133 C. $64 D. $119
3.The donation is used to ______________.
A. help the poor people
B. help to save the endangered animals in the wild
C. care for animals at the aquarium
D. help the disabled visitors
4.Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
A. You can visit the New York Aquarium at 5:30 p.m. on Christmas.
B. A visitor in a wheelchair can get around at the New York Aquarium.
C. Visitors can enjoy free parking service on Friday.
D. To enjoy the group rate, visitors must make a reservation at least two weeks in advance by sending an e-mail.
On a cold winter day, I waited in line to see my hero, Jack Canfield, the author of The Success Principles, who was going to deliver a speech on his new book.
During his talk, Jack 41 his wallet, pulled out a hundred-dollar bill, and said, ‘‘Who wants this?” 42 shot up in the audience; people leaned forward to see whom Jack would 43 . But I jumped up, ran up the 44 to the stage, and grabbed the bill. As I was launching myself in the air, 45 raced through my mind — was I about to be humiliated(羞辱) in front of 800 people? Would they 46 security guards and take me from the stage? 47 my desire for bold （大胆的）action was louder than any 48 voice. As I got the bill from his hand, he said, “That’s it! We can’t wait for the 49 to come to us. We must take 50 to create what we want!’’
After his talk, I 51 to formally meet Jack and boldly asked for his personal e-mail address. Over the next months, I sent him emails 52 my points of view and dreams with him. He kindly e-mailed back lots of encouragement. But my life got busy 53 other things. I stopped e-mailing Jack.
A year later, my dreams had worn away. I thought Jack would inspire me into action, like a giant arrow that would show me the way.
I e-mailed him, and then again — but got no 54 . As I sat down at my computer to 55 my e-mails, I 56 woke up. What was I doing? I was waiting! Now I remembered the crowd, most likely 57 that hundred-dollar bill, while they sat glued to their chairs.
Usually we all have a “Jack” for whom we wait — whether it’s a person, a place or a thing. We 58 believe the gifts of life are just around the corner, and that everything will come in a(n) 59 way. So we don’t try. We 60 . But as Wayne Gretzky said，“You’ll always miss 100% of the opportunities you don’t take!” So I stopped waiting and started my writing career.
Now what are you waiting for?
1.A. brought in B. reached for C. took over D. handed in
2.A. Cheers B. Shouts C. Heads D. Hands
3.A. offer B. trust C. like D. choose
4.A. path B. road C. steps D. route
5.A. thoughts B. opinions C. ideas D. plans
6.A. ask B. call C. demand D. order
7.A. And B. So C. But D. Or
8.A. noisy B. doubtful C. meaningful D. helpful
9.A. opportunities B. consequences C. results D. aims
10.A. step B. measure C. way D. action
11.A. expected B. tried C. permitted D. managed
12.A. stating B. describing C. presenting D. sharing
13.A. with B. in C. about D. over
14.A. news B. message C. response D. reaction
15.A. check B. examine C. inspect D. review
16.A. gradually B. suddenly C. immediately D. slowly
17.A. desiring B. claiming C. begging D. dreaming
18.A. particularly B. honestly C. falsely D. correctly
19.A. difficult B. impressive C. early D. natural
20.A. give up B. put up C. take up D. set up
--- So you missed the lecture given by Professor Smith.
---- ____.I got there 30 minutes before it finished.
A. Not exactly B. Not really C. Not a little D. Not at all
---- Our holiday cost a lot of money.
---- Did it ? Well, that doesn’t matter_______ you enjoyed yourself.
A. as long as B. unless C. as soon as D. though
