假如你叫李华，你的美国笔友John在来信中谈到低碳生活这个话题。最近几个月你校倡导学生过低碳生活、过节约生活、做有责任感的公民，引导学生从出行、购物、用水、家电和餐具使用等方面反省自己的生活方式。请你用英文给John回信。回信要点如下：
1.你对低碳生活的理解；
2.你校开展的活动；
3.你最近生活方式的改变(至少选取三个方面)
注意：1.词数120左右；
2.参考词汇：低碳生活low carbon life(style)
3.信的开头和结尾已为你写好(不计入总词数)
Dear John,
How are things going? In your last letter you talked about low carbon life. Now I’d like to share my understanding of it and my experience in the past few months.
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I’m really glad to communicate with you about this topic.
Yours，
Li Hua
Criticism (批评) is everywhere in life. It is up to you to decide how to react to it. Learn how to deal with criticism and lead a happier and more relaxing life.
Ask yourself how the criticism will affect you. Will you lose your job because of the criticism? Will you lose what is important to you because you are criticized? Will life stop existing if your opinions are not accepted? Surely not! So, don’t worry about it. Instead, remember that some criticism actually helps you make some improvements.
You absolutely cannot stop what people say. What you can do, however, is to change the way you react to criticism. If you let it upset you, then the blame is on you. You have the right to decide what to do with the criticism you receive.
Don’t be afraid to accept criticism. No one likes to be told that he is wrong. Yet, every single person has, at one time or another, been blamed for something. Realize that it’s normal. You may have received some strong criticism, but it doesn’t mean that you are foolish, or that you don’t have the ability to do something properly. If you are afraid to put your work out for others to see, you’ll never know if you are a capable person. Try not to think of it in that way and don’t take it seriously. If you can learn to be optimistic, you will remove some stress and nervousness about what people think, thus becoming happier.
Consider where the criticism comes from. It may help you step back and examine what causes the criticism. Is the critic just trying to offer constructive criticism? It is much easier to accept correction or guidance from someone that has good intentions. This type of criticism is known as valid criticism, because there is a valid point or reason to it. On the other hand, there are critics that offer their advice just to be negative. This is commonly referred to as invalid criticism because it is often not of any use at all.
Do your best. And if someone doesn’t like what you’ve done, so what? It’s either valid criticism or invalid criticism. But you have the power to decide how you will allow it to affect you.
Title: How to deal with criticism
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The author’s opinion about criticism |
Criticism is a (n) 1._____ part of life and it is up to you to decide your reaction to it. |
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2.______of dealing with criticism |
●Understand the3._____that criticism has on you: 1) Some criticism won’t make a difference to you, so don’t feel 4._____ about it. 2) Some criticism can help you5._____. ●Change the way you respond to criticism and try not to be upset about it. ●Accept criticism 6._____ :Receiving criticism doesn’t mean you are stupid or you are7._____ to do things. ●Be optimistic about criticism and you will become less stressed or 8._____. ●Think about the 9._____for criticism: It may be valid criticism or invalid criticism. |
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10._______ |
Take criticism as it is and remember you decide how you respond to it. |
In the near future, we may be using our eyes to operate our smart-phones and tablets, even when it comes to playing popular games like Fruit Ninja.
The Gaze Group has been developing eye-controlled computer technology for nearly 20 years. But those devices have been firstly designed to help those with disabilities, and are very expensive.
“After a while, we figured out that probably the best way is to go for a mass-market way,” says Gaze’s Sune Alstrup Johansen. “where everybody would have this available."
Johansen and some of his colleagues have formed a new company, the Eye Tribe, which is hoping to develop the technology on a mass commercial level.
The technology works with the help of the computing device toward the user’s face. After making sure of the user’s eye movements, the technology is then able to easily find where a person’s eyes are moving, and then allow the eyes to control a cursor(光标).
“Our software can then determine the location of the eyes and know where you’re looking on the screen to make sure what you’re looking at, ” reads an explanation on the Eye Tribe site.
There has been a gradual change toward hands-free technology in recent years, particularly in the gaming world. Recently Xbox released the Kinect device, which lets users control their Xbox and play certain games using only their hands, legs and voices. But still, most of these devices have been more of a gimmick than a practical way to use one’s hands to control a mobile device. Johansen said a replaceable filter(滤光器)would be a cheap, convenient way for most consumers.
And even as companies like The Eye Tribe work to create such a product for the average user, making the eye-controlled technology more accessible and less expensive will have similar benefits for physically disabled users.
For more articles on modern science，please CLICK here．
1.Which of the following is the main idea of the passage?
A. An introduction of eye-controlling technology
B. An introduction of a new device.
C. An introduction of smart-phones
D. An introduction of a new technology for the disabled.
2.The underlined word “gimmick” probably means ___________.
A. a way B. a trick C. a lie D. a dream
3.According to the passage, we can learn that ___________.
A. the eye-controlling technology was first developed for the blind
B. the present developing of the technology will bring no good
C. the eye-controlling technology is only intended for the disabled people
D. there is no such a phone as we can use only with our eyes at present
4.This passage is probably taken from ___________.
A. an experiment report B. a science fiction
C. a science website D. a school textbook
Aggressive pedestrians are in fact as dangerous as careless drivers. They cause traffic accidents, injury and death. These dangerous walkers can be seen in any big city all over the world. About 69% of last year’s pedestrian deaths in the US occurred in urban areas. They cross streets ignoring “DON’T WALK” signals, suddenly appear without warning from behind parked vehicles, walk slowly at crossroads with cell phones attached to heads, blocking traffic.
These pedestrians and drivers share a common disregard for the rules of the road, both for selfish reasons. The drivers believe in the power of their machines. If their machines can go faster, they believe they have the right to go faster. If their machines are bigger, they believe they have the right to push smaller vehicles aside. Aggressive pedestrians, on the other hand, believe in the primacy(首位) of the individual, the idea that they are first in any environment, under any circumstances, even when they are on foot in a roaring tide of steel and rubber.
Last year, an estimated 5,220 pedestrians died in traffic accidents. Some 69,000 pedestrians were injured. On average, that worked out to one pedestrian killed in a traffic crash every 101 minutes, and one injured every eight minutes.
The good news is that the accident rate is dropping. For example, the number of pedestrians killed last year was 24 percent less than the number killed in traffic accidents a decade earlier. The bad news is that the basic causes of pedestrian deaths remain pretty much the same----disregard for traffic signals, inattention and crossing roads under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Alcohol, in fact, was involved in 46 percent of the traffic accidents that resulted in pedestrian deaths. Of those, 31 percent of the pedestrians were found to be drunk.
The bottom line is that the pedestrians must do more to protect their lives as well as the lives of other road users. They can start by obeying traffic signals, using marked cross-walks and calling a cab when they’ve had too much to drink.
1.The passage is mainly about _____.
A. what the traffic rules of the road about pedestrians were
B. why so many Americans were killed on roads last year
C. how aggressive pedestrians cause traffic accidents
D. who are to blame for pedestrian deaths, drunk drivers or the aggressive pedestrians
2.What is the pedestrians’ selfish reason for traffic jams?
A. They believe individuals are always first.
B. They know all drivers are skilled and with great care.
C. They think traffic rules have nothing to do with them.
D. They guess all vehicles will slow down at crossroads.
3.What was NOT the basic cause of pedestrian deaths in the US a decade ago?
A. Disregard for traffic signals
B. Paying no attention to surroundings.
C. Overspeeding driving.
D. Crossing roads drunk.
4.What word can best describe the author’s attitude to the traffic accidents caused by pedestrians?
A. Excited. B. Cold. C. Unconnected. D. Concerned
Are you an optimist? Do you look at your glass and see it as half full? Do you believe that every cloud has a silver lining and that things generally turn out for the best? Do you believe that if something is meant to be, it will be? If you reply “yes” to all of these questions, then you are an optimist. You probably are enthusiastic, cheerful and outgoing. You may be successful at work and in love.
But you may be misguided because things don’t turn out for the best. You may believe that when one door closes another one opens (for example, you may fail to obtain a new job; another chance will come around soon). Wrong. When one door closes, another door slams (砰然关上) in your face. That’s bitter reality.
Now a book has been published which confirms what pessimists (悲观者) have suspected all along. It’s called The Positive Power of Defensive Pessimism. Its author argues that defensive pessimism can lead to positive results. Defensive pessimism is a strategy used to manage fear, anxiety and worry. Defensive pessimists prepare for the things by setting low outcomes for themselves. They carefully consider everything that may go wrong and plan for ways to handle these problems. And this gives them a sense of control. Lawrence Sanno, a psychology professor, says, “What’s interesting about defensive pessimists is that they tend to be very successful people, so their low opinion of the situation’s outcomes is not realistic. They use it to motivate themselves to perform better.”
So far, so good. This is not rocket science. Defensive pessimists prepare carefully and consider what might go wrong, whether at work, on date or even in a sports game. It makes sense to have a back-up plan. There are many sayings in English urging caution. For example, “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” And “Don’t count your chickens until they hatch.” To have a confident and optimistic approach to life’s problems is good. But listen to what Woody Alien, the American comedian says, “Confidence is what you have before you understand the problem.”
There are pros and cons to being an optimist and a pessimist. Don’t feel bad if you see the glass half empty. You are a realist. But lighten up and hook up with someone who sees the same glass half full.
1.What’s the passage mainly about?
A. The benefits of defensive pessimism.
B. A book that has recently been published.
C. The dangers of being too optimistic.
D. How to become successful in life.
2.The underlined sentence “This is not rocket science” (Para. 4) means __________.
A. there is no real proof B. it is quite simple to understand
C. the cost is not so high D. it’s not a dangerous thing to do
3.Which of the following English expressions would a defensive pessimist believe?
A. Whatever will be, will be. B. The glass is half full not half empty.
C. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. D. Every cloud has a silver lining.
4.The writer would probably describe himself as __________.
A. a realist B. an optimist C. a defeatist D. a scientist
Have you ever considered all the English expressions that include words about clothes? Let’s see if I can name a few proverbs “off the cuff” since I haven’t prepared for it.
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English expressions with “pants” |
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People wear pants to cover the lower part of their bodies. We sometimes say that people who are restless or nervous have “ants in their pants.” They might also “fly by the seat of their pants” -- they use their natural sense to do something instead of their learned knowledge. Sometimes, people may “get caught with their pants down” -- they are found doing something they should not be doing. And, in every family, one person takes control. Sometimes a wife tells her husband what to do. Then we say “she wears the pants in the family.” |
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When people want to say something about money |
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Pants usually have pockets to hold things. Money that is likely to be spent quickly can “burn a hole in your pocket.” Sometimes you need a belt to hold up your pants. If you have less money than usual, you may have to “tighten your belt” -- you may have to live on less money and spend your money carefully. But once you have succeeded in budgeting your money, you will have that skill “under your belt.” I always praise people who can save their money and not spend too much. I really “take my hat off to them.” Yet, when it comes to my own money, I spend it “at the drop of a hat” — immediately, without waiting. And sadly, you cannot “pull money out of a hat” —you cannot get money by inventing or imagining it. |
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English expressions with “shoes” |
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Boots are a heavy or strong kind of shoes. People who are “too big for their boots” think they are more important than they really are. I dislike such people. I really do. You can bet your boots on that! Yet, truly important people are hard to replace. Rarely can you “fill their shoes” -- or replace them with someone equally effective. |
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English expressions with “shirt” |
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My father is an important person. He runs a big company. He wears a suit and tie and a shirt with sleeves that cover his arms. Some people who do not know him well think he is too firm and severe. They think he is a real “stuffed shirt.” But I know that my father “wears his heart on his sleeve” —he shows his feelings openly. And, he knows how to “keep his shirt on”—he stays calm and never gets angry or too excited. |
1.What is this passage mainly about?
A. Which words can be used to describe my father.
B. Why English expressions include words about clothes.
C. What people mean when they use some proverbs.
D. How to say English correctly and properly.
2.Which of the following proverbs are not related to money?
A. tighten one’s belt B. take one’s hat off to them
C. burn a hole in one’s pocket D. get caught with their pants down
3.Tim often considers himself the most important person in the world, which is far from the truth .We may say ______.
A. he “wears his heart on his sleeve ”. B. he “bet his boots on that ”.
C. he is “too big for their boots”. D. he “ fill their shoes”.
4.If you want to praise somebody for his calmness when facing danger, you may say______.
A. “Amazing! How can you keep your shirt on at that time!”
B. “You really fill your shoes”
C. “Awesome ! You wear your heart on your sleeve!”
D. “Cool! You are truly a stuffed shirt”.
