Millions of Americans began 2015 with the same resolution (决定) they started 2014 with, a goal of losing weight. However, setting weight loss as a goal is a mistake.
To reach our goal of losing weight — the output, we need to control what we eat —the input (输入). That is, we tend to care about the output but not to control the input. This is a bad way to achieve goals. The alternative is to focus your resolution on the input. Instead of determining to lose weight, try an actionable resolution: “I’ll stop having dessert for lunch,” or “I’ll walk every day for 20 minutes.” Creating a goal that focuses on a specific (具体的) input will likely be more effective than concentrating on the outcome.
Recently a new science behind incentives (激励), including in education, has been discussed. For example, researcher Roland Fryer wanted to see what works best in motivating children to do better in school. In some cases, he gave students incentives based on input, like reading certain books, while in others, the incentives were based on output, like results on exams. His main finding was that incentives increased achievement when based on input but had no effect when based on output. Fryer’s conclusion was that the incentives for inputs might be more effective because students do not know how to do better on exam, apart from general rules like “study harder”. Reading certain books, on the other hand, is a well-set task over which they have much more control.
As long as you have direct control over your goal, you have a much higher chance of success. For instance, if you want to spend more time with your family, don’t stop with this general wish. Think about an actionable goal that you could stick to, like a family movie night every Wednesday.
In the long run, these new goals could become a habit.
1.The writer thinks that setting weight loss as a goal is a mistake because _________.
A. it is focused too much on the result
B. it is hard to achieve for ordinary people
C. it is dependent on too many things
D. it is based on actionable decisions
2.In Roland Fryer’s research, some students did better than the others because ________.
A. they obeyed the general rules of learning
B. they benefited from reading certain books
C. they attached more importance to exams
D. they were greatly inspired by their instructors
3.According to the writer, which of the following statements is a good goal?
A. “I’ll study harder than before.”
B. “I’ll cut down my expense.”
C. “I’ll spend more time with my family.”
D. “I’ll walk every day for 15 minutes.”
4.The writer strongly believes that we should __________.
A. be optimistic about final goals and stick to them
B. focus more on the outcome and form good habits
C. create general goals that can balance the input and output
D. take specific actions that can be turned into good habits
Here is some must-know information from a handbook on how people behave in doing business in some countries.
In Brazil
Brazilians are warm and friendly. They often stand close when talking and it is common for them to touch the person on the shoulder. People often greet each other (particularly women) with light cheek kisses. Schedules tend to be flexible, with business meetings sometimes starting later than planned. But to be safe, be on time. Meals can last for hours—there’s no such thing as rushing a meal in Brazil.
In Singapore
Singaporeans shake hands when they meet and often also greet each other with a small, polite bow. Arriving late is considered disrespectful. So be on time. Efficiency (效率) is the goal, so meetings are fast-paced. Singaporeans are direct in their discussions, even when the subject is about money. Rank is important and authority is respected. People avoid disagreeing outright with someone with a higher rank.
In the United Arab Emirates
In the UAE, status is important, so the most senior or oldest should be greeted first with their titles. The handshake seems to be longer than elsewhere. So, do not pull away the handshake. People do not avoid entertaining in their homes, but they also hold business meals at restaurants. Touching or passing food or eating with your left hand is to be avoided.
In Switzerland
The Swiss tend to be formal and address each other by last name. They also are respectful of private lives. You should be careful not to ask about personal topics. Punctuality (守时) is important, so arrive at any meeting or event a few minutes early to be safe. The Swiss follow formal table manners. They also keep their hands visible at the table and their elbows(肘部) off the table. It is polite to finish the food on your plate.
1.The passage mainly deals with ________.
A. various types of communication
B. the atmosphere in workplace
C. living conditions and standards
D. customs and social manners
2.Why do Singaporeans avoid arguing with their boss?
A. They regard efficiency as the most important.
B. They dislike face-to-face communication.
C. They are supposed to obey the person of a higher rank.
D. They are used to having a fast-paced and direct talk.
3.In which country do people care about where to put their hands at the dinner table?
A. In Brazil. B. In Singapore.
C. In the United Arab Emirate. D. In Switzerland.
Let's do some sleep math. You lost two hours of sleep every night last week because of a big project due on Friday. On Saturday and Sunday, you slept in, getting four extra hours. On Monday morning, you were feeling so bright-eyed, and you only had one cup of coffee, instead of your usual two. But don't be cheated by your energy: You’re still carrying around a heavy load of sleepiness, or what experts call “sleep debt”.
Sleep debt is the difference between the amount of sleep you should get and the amount you actually get. It’s a deficit that grows every time we remove some minutes off our nightly sleep. “People get more and more sleep debt without noticing it,” says William Dement, founder of the Stanford University Sleep Research Centre. Studies show that such short-term lack of sleep leads to a foggy brain, worsened eyesight, and trouble remembering. Long-term effects include obesity, and heart disease. A survey reports that we’re losing one hour of sleep each night—more than two full weeks of sleep each year.
The good news is that, like all debts, sleep debt can be paid off with some work. Adding an extra hour or two of sleep a night is the way to catch up. For the long-term lack of sleep, take it easy for a few months to get back into a natural sleep pattern(模式). Go to bed when you are tired, and allow your body to wake you in the morning naturally (no alarm clock allowed).
As you pay off sleep debt, your body will come to a rest at a sleep pattern that is particularly right for you. Sleep researchers believe that although the exact genes (基因) remain to be discovered, genes do determine our individual sleep patterns. That probably means you can’t train yourself to be a “short sleeper” and you’re fooling yourself if you think you’ve done it, so earn back that lost sleep and follow the orders of your inner sleep needs. When you put away sleep debt, you become a superman.
1.The example of sleep math is used to show___________.
A. how you build up your sleep debt
B. how you can pay off sleep debts at weekends
C. why you need enough sleep every night
D. why you should drink coffee to stay energetic
2. What does the underlined word “deficit” in paragraph 2 refer to?
A. full sleep B. light sleep
C. deep sleep D. lack of sleep
3.Those in sleep debt for a long time are likely to suffer from____________.
A. failing eyesight B. poor memory
C. weak heart D. weight loss
4.It’s impossible to train oneself to be a “short sleeper” because _________.
A. one can only get their energy during long sleep
B. how one sleeps is determined when they were born
C. one will feel tired if their sleep is less than needed
D. one sleeps more when developing a natural sleep pattern
某国内英语杂志举行征文大赛，要求参赛的高中学生介绍一件自己珍藏的物品（如书信、礼物、照片……）。请你用英文写一篇字数为100-120的参赛稿，内容应包括：
1. 你得到这件物品的过程
2. 这件物品对于你的意义
注意: 文中不得以任何形式透露考生和学校等真实信息。
语法填空
阅读下列材料,在空白处填入适当的内容(一个词)或括号内单词的正确形式
Whether you are a fan of athletics or not, chances are ___1.__ you have heard of Usain Bolt--- the fastest man on the planet.
After the 29-year-old Jamaican had won victories in the 100- and 200-meter men’s dashes, Aug 29 saw him take home a third gold medal in a week at the 2015 World Athletics Championships in Beijing, ___2._ (lead) his national team to victory ___3.__ the men’s 4× 400 relay final.
___4._ Reuters put it, “When __5.___ comes to major championship sprinting(短跑)，Bolt simply has no equal.”This partly explains why the sprinter always ___6.___ (wild) celebrates his wins. After each match, he does the trademark “Lightening Bolt” pose---putting one arm into the sky, as if he were about to throw a bolt of lightning at the stars. ___7.___ 2012 London Olympics also saw him look back across the track at his competitors , do a couple of push-ups (俯卧撑)once he had stopped.
Some have called him a “showman”, but“ these will just add to the charm of Bolt---one of the most __8.__ (joy), self-confident athletes you’ll ever see”, wrote the Business Insider.
Indeed, now with six Olympic gold medals and 11 World Championships titles under his belt, the Jamaican star ___9._ (prove) “his ability to get the __10.__ (good) out of his huge natural talent”, Reuters noted.
课文填空
1.A bird had ______________________________ from the ground and then dropped it on to the wires.
2.He explained that his diet was so strict that he had to ______________________________. Then he showed me the contents of the parcel.
3.______________________________, the room is rather small, so I have temporarily put my books on the floor.
4.No one was ever bored watching him --- his subtle acting ______________________________.
5.He made people laugh at a time when they felt depressed, so they could ______________________________ their lives.
6.Unfortunately, his father died, leaving the family ______________________________.
7.The most universal facial expression is, of course, the smile --- its function is to show happiness and ______________________________.
8.She stepped back appearing surprised and put up her hands, ______________________________.
9.Classes or other large groups that let Futuroscope know their plans in advance can get ___________________________________.
10.If driving, Futuroscope is ______________________________ the freeway.
