Have you ever noticed that the more you have the more you want? Let’s face it. Thinking our life is good enough doesn’t come naturally to many people. When we have high expectations of everything in life we will run into disappointment. Only when we are aware that needs are different from desires can we live with satisfaction. Here are a few ideas to help you be happier with what you have and who you are.
Focus on what you are thankful for. Most people want things to be better than they are, or when things are going well, we forget to appreciate what we have. Learn to reflect on how much better things are than they could be. Focus on what you are thankful for. Write down 5 things you are grateful for right now.
When we hold onto regrets from decisions we have made, it can really poison our well-being. Many people regret something they can no longer change, which ends up holding them back from moving forward in a more positive manner. What happened in the past is done and gone, so work to stay present and be mindful of the current moment to find more joy and fulfillment.
When we use other people as the measuring stick for our personal success and quality of life we are likely to be less satisfied. Social comparisons can provide useful information when we try to learn from others, but they also hold our perspective in a discontented position. Compare yourself less with others so you can be satisfied more.
When you are focused on your big ambitions and future goals you might elide the daily pleasures that surround you. Learn to slow down and absorb the wonder and beauty around you. Stay present and focus on the task you’re undertaking at the moment. Don’t let the life pass you by because you’re always on the go and distracted by ambition.
Practice looking at life through the lens of contentment and it will become more natural.
1. How can we live with contentment?
A. To change our lifestyle.
B. To have a motivation in life.
C. To give less attention to what we are grateful for.
D. To realize the difference between needs and desires.
2.What’s the main idea of Paragraph 3?
A. Make wise decisions. B. Know the present situation
C. Let go of regrets. D. Remember the past.
3.The underlined word “elide”(in Paragraph 5) probably means “__”.
A. enjoy B. change C. create D. neglect
4.What should you do to put yourself in a good mood?
A. Make time for simple pleasures.
B. Learn from successful people.
C. Focus on your future goals.
D. Create chance to learn more.
I was born in Korea, and my family came over to America when I was 10. I’m the middle child of three girls, and my parents moved so we would experience a different life. They did it for our education and to give us more of a chance than they had. We moved to Staten Island, and I went to the High School of Performing Arts in New York City. My parents were depressed when I told them I wanted to be an actress. My father suggested I try premed (医学预科). But after they saw me in plays they were really proud.
I graduated from Boston University and was doing theater in New York when I got cast in a Korean miniseries (电视连续剧). We started shooting the show in New York, and then went to Korea to finish it up. They said I would be there for three weeks, but it ended up being two months. The miniseries took off, and overnight, I became recognizable. It was sort of like Lost. It blew up. Then amazing projects were offered to me. I kept thinking, “ I’ll do one more and then go back to the US.” I ended up staying for seven years.
Some people described me as the Julia Roberts of Korea, which is a bad comparison because she’s the queen of romantic comedy. I became famous in Korea for a dramatic role in a film called Shiri. I played a “La Femme Nikita” type of role. I was the girl with the gun—all action．
1. The writer’s parents moved to America so as to _________.
A. offer a good chance to their children.
B. receive a good education in performing
C. seek a successful life in America
D. film a Korean miniseries
2. When the writer announced her decision to become an actress, her parents_____.
A. were both in favor of her B. felt very ashamed of her
C. didn’t agree at first D. took it for granted
3. What is the second paragraph mainly about?
A. The author’s performing life in America.
B. The difficulties of filming abroad.
C. The popularity of the miniseries Lost.
D. The author’s first performing breakthrough.
4.The writer referred to the Julia Roberts of Korea as a bad comparison to show______.
A. she looked down upon Julia Roberts.
B. she disliked to be compared with others
C. she had a different style of performing
D. she was better at dramatic roles than Julia
假如你是李越，母校将为高一新生举办主题为“What to do in building a good relationship between parents and teenagers？”的英语沙龙活动，特邀请你参加。请你用英语写一篇100~120个词的发言稿，就以下内容要点，谈谈你的看法。
内容要点：1.影响我们与父母和谐相处的原因；
2.提出建议并说明理由。
注意：发言稿的开头和结尾已给出（不计入词数）。
Good morning, everyone! It is my honor to be here to share with you my opinion on what to do in building a good relationship between parents and teenagers.
下面文中共有10处语言错误，要求你在错误的地方增加、删除或修改某个单词。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写上该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（﹨）划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写上修改后的词。
注意：1. 每处错误及其修改均仅限一词;
2. 只允许修改10处, 多者(从第11处起)不计分。
Dear Susan,
I’m very glad to hear you were coming to visit me the next Friday. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to meet you at the airport although I have classes in the afternoon. You won’t find difficult to get to the city concert. The airport bus leaves every 30 minute and will take you direct to the Friendship Hotel. My class will be over by then or I will pick him up there. I will take you to a hot-pot restaurant for dinner and we will talk with our plan for the weekend over dinner. Having a pleasant trip and see you on Friday.
A. A shocking report
B. Solution to the terrifying result
C. What is global warming?
D. Many shocking things were found.
E. Greater danger of extinction
F. A careful analysis biologically
1.
The earth is getting warmer. People burn coal, oil and gas and this produces carbon dioxide, methane (沼气) and nitrous oxide. These gases, called “greenhouse gases”, prevent the heat of the sun from leaving the earth’s upper atmosphere and this makes the earth warmer.
2.
A few weeks ago a group of scientists produced a report about global warming and the natural world. They wanted to find out if global warming was dangerous for plants and animals. According to what they found, the scientists say that during the next 50 years about 25% of land animals and plants will become extinct. More than a million plant and animal species will be extinct by 2050.
3.
More than 10% of all plants and animals will become extinct. It is too late to save many plants and animals because of the greenhouse gases that are already in the atmosphere. But the scientists say if we control greenhouse gases now, we could save many more plants and animals from extinction.
4.
The scientists studied some regions of the world with a very rich biology. These were Europe, Australia, Central and South America, and South Africa. Their studies showed that species living in mountainous areas had a better chance of survival because they could move uphill, to get cooler. In flat areas, such as deserts, plants and animals would have to move a very long distance to get cooler, so they are in greater danger of extinction.
5.
The scientists found that half of the 24 species of butterflies they studied in Australia would soon become extinct. 60% of the species in the Kruger National Park in South Africa would also die out, and more than 100% of the 300 South Africa plant species they studied would also become extinct. One of the plants in danger of extinction is the national flower of South Africa, the King Protea. They studied 163 tree species in the Cerrado region of Brazil and found that 70 would become extinct. Many of the plants and trees that live in the region live nowhere else in the world. In Mexico, they studied 1,870 species and found that more than 30% of these were in danger of extinction.
Among various programs, TV talk shows have covered every inch of space on daytime television. And anyone who watches them regularly knows that each one is different in style. But no two shows are more opposite in content, while at the same time standing out above the rest, than the Jerry Springer and Oprah Winfrey shows.
Jerry Springer could easily be considered the king of "rubbish talk". The topics on his show are as surprising as can be. For example, the show takes the ever-common talk show titles of love, sex, cheating, and hate, to a different level. Clearly, the Jerry Springer show is about the dark side of society, yet people are willing to eat up the troubles of other people's lives.
Like Jerry Springer, Oprah Winfrey takes the TV talk show to its top. But Oprah goes in the opposite direction. The show is mainly about the improvement of society and different quality of life. Contents are from teaching your children lessons, managing your work week, to getting to know your neighbors.
Compared to Oprah, the Jerry Springer show looks like poisonous waste being poured into society. Jerry ends every show with a "final word". He makes a small speech about the entire idea of the show. Hopefully, this is the part where most people will learn something very valuable.
Clean as it is, the Oprah show is not for everyone. The show's main audience are middle-class Americans. Most of the people have the time, money and ability to deal with life's tough problems. Jerry Springer, on the other hand, has more of a connection with the young adults of society. These are 18-to 21year-olds whose main troubles in life include love, relationship, sex, money and drug. They are the ones who see some value and lessons to be learned through the show's exploitation.
1.Compared with other TV talk shows, both the Jerry Springer and the Oprah Winfrey shows are ______.
A. more interesting B. more detailed
C. more formal D. unusually poplar
2.Though the social problems Jerry Springer talks about appear unpleasant, people who watch the shows ______.
A. are ready to face up to them
B. show disbelief in them
C. remain cold to them
D. are willing to get away from them
3.Which of the following is likely to be a topic of the Oprah Winfrey show?
A. A new type of robot. B. National hatred.
C. Family income planning. D. Street accident.
4.What is the advantage of the Jerry Springer show?
A. The show exposes the dark sides of society.
B. Jerry sums up the whole idea of the show.
C. The show pours poisonous waste into society.
D. Jerry talks about the improvement of society.
5.We can learn from the passage that the two talk shows ____.
A. have become the only ones of its kind
B. exploit the weaknesses in human nature
C. appear at different times of the day
D. attract different people
