My mom takes pride in the fact that I was talking in three and four word sentences before I was ten months old. Some say it’s a gift while others simply think I talk too much.
As my thirties came to a close, I found myself reflecting on my life. I’m very happy and have no significant regrets. However, when I looked back on those times of difficulty, I saw a clear common denominator(特征); I didn’t seem to know when to stop talking. Whether it was hurting someone’s feelings, or having carelessly told a secret, the incident could have been avoided had I closed my mouth sooner. So I decided to practice the power of quiet.
To take this step, I needed to understand how people could sit comfortably in a group and not talk. Why does my husband feel completely content to say nothing in a conversation? He’s highly intelligent and has wonderful opinions but he’ll sit quietly and just listen. Even when he’s asked a pointed question, he’ll answer with few words while still communicating effectively. What a talent!
Can you imagine being happy just listening? In surveying those I know who talk less than I do, I got two answers—they either didn’t feel confident enough to speak up, or they just didn’t feel the need to participate in the conversation. Of course there were other reasons for not talking, but these were the two most popular answers.
The first one didn’t work for me. I’m just fine letting people know what I think about them, and hopefully it will make the conversation much more interesting. The second one didn’t work either. I do feel the need to participate. I feel it physically like an electrical pulse through my body; sometimes it’s so strong that it causes me to behave badly in the form of interrupting or speaking in an unusually loud voice. I had to look further.
An interesting thing happened on this journey to the power of quiet. During my weekly yoga class, it came to me like an answer so clear that the words rang in my head like soft, heavenly bells.
I talked too much so people would know I cared about them. It was my way of taking care of those I love. I decided before my fortieth birthday, that from that day forward, those around me would know I loved them, and cared what they thought and felt, but I was going to practice the power of quiet.
As my forty-second birthday approaches, I can say that deciding to talk less has been more about focusing on quality rather than quantity. I’ve found that listening more shows those who I care about that I really do care how they feel. Now when I break in, it means more to them. Oh, sure, I still have my short periods of talking too much, but for the most part this has been one resolution that I can call a success.
1.In Paragraph 3 the writer mentions her husband mainly ________.
A. to show how one communicates effectively
B. to explain the reason for his silence in a conversation
C. to give her high opinion of his communication skills
D. to give an example of those who have the power of quiet
2.By “I had to look further”, the writer means she had to ________.
A. look into the future in order to succeed in practicing the power of quiet
B. try harder to prevent herself from talking too much
C. find out other reasons why she should talk less
D. survey people in other areas who talk little
3.Which of the following best describe the writer’s character?
A. Kind but pessimistic.
B. Selfless but proud.
C. Loving and active.
D. Stubborn and sensitive.
With fuel costs rising and airlines finding more fees to impose on travelers every day, airfare isn’t getting any cheaper. Since you can’t drive to all your dream destinations, flying is the only way to go sometimes and, undeniably, the fastest. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to find the most affordable fares and also avoid paying as many extra charges as possible when you plan ahead.
Getting the best fare. Airlines put out their fare sales on Tuesday morning, making this day the best day to book a flight for less.
Fly during the least popular times. Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday are the slowest days to fly, which means cheaper deals than the rest of the week. You can also find reduced rates on early morning flights, since many people don’t like to get up before the sun to get to the airport. Earlier boarding times can also considerably cut down your chances of getting bumped on an overbooked flight or delayed because of other delayed flights or mechanical issues.
Choose your seat later. Some airlines charge you to pick your seat when you book online, adding even more to the bottom line of your ticket cost. If you show up early on your travel day, you can still get suitable seats. Some of the best seats get held back until flight day, unless others are willing to pay extra for them ahead of time, so you still have the chance at one of those.
Fly on holidays. You already know that summer is the most expensive time to fly, and even though most other times are more affordable, the days surrounding holidays can be crazy. Save big if you’re willing to travel on major holidays, such as Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Don’t wait until the last-minute to book. Many travelers don’t know that there’s a sweet spot for booking and getting the best price on your tickets. Book too early or too late and you could end up paying more than you need to. The best time to book is between three months and six weeks from when you want to travel.
Avoiding extra fees Airlines will charge for just about anything these days. Some have even toyed around with charging customers for using the restroom. All those extra fees can certainly add up, but there’s no reason to pay them if you don’t have to. Here are some tips to keep money in your wallet once you get to the airport.
Avoid the upgrade it's not necessary. Sometimes upgrades are free, but mostly you will be charged for seeking a last-minute bump to first class, and the cost can be hefty.
Fly carry-on only. Baggage fees vary wildly, but almost all airlines charge them and charge big. Why pay for your clothes to fly with you? If everyone in your travel party checks a bag, your bill can be astronomical before you ever even get to your destination. It’s easy to reduce the amount of stuff you pack: Make sure all your clothing coordinates, so you can take less and still make more outfit combinations, take only two pair of shoes, plan to do a bit of laundry on your trip and bring only travel-sized toiletries.
Pack your own snacks. Unless you’re flying internationally, it’s rare your flight comes with a free meal. Snacks on the plane are not cheap and almost never healthy. Don’t rely on what’s on the small menu and instead tuck some of your own snacks — granola bars, homemade muffins, fruit and trail mix all make fantastic travel foods — into your bag and eat a lot better, and cheaper, than other passengers.
Do you have a tried and true method of getting the best deal on your flights? Let us know.
1.Tuesday is the best to book a ticket at a lower cost for ________.
A. fewer people travel on Tuesday.
B. the flights are slower than usual.
C. fare sales are usually announced on Tuesday.
D. flights are seldom delayed on Tuesday.
2.Which of the following will help to cost you less for a flight?
A. Book your flight on Thursday.
B. Travel surrounding Christmas.
C. Pick your seat the moment you book online.
D. Book early morning flights.
3.The underlined word “hefty” here has the same meaning as ________.
A. largeB. heavyC. fierceD. acceptable
4.To save the cost for the flight, you should ________.
A. check whether the upgrade is free before you bump to the first class
B. make sure your clothes and shoes are fit for a lot of walk
C. share your own snacks with other passengers
D. plan to do the washes on flight
Worlds of Fun
Location: Worlds of Fun is located off Highway 435 in Kansas City, Missouri.
History: Worlds of Fun was opened on May 26, 1973, at a cost of 25 million dollars. Loosely themed around the Jules Verne book, Around the World in Eighty Days, the park was founded by Hunt Midwest Company. In 1982, Hunt Midwest bought a nearby waterpark, Oceans of Fun. In 2013, Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun were combined to a one ticket admission, providing all guests with access to 235 acres of amusement and water rides.
Hours: Worlds of Fun is open from April through Halloween.
Tickets: Buy and print online. Always try to buy your tickets in advance, to save time when you get to the park.
Reservations: Worlds of Fun sells “Fast Lane” cards that save riders’ time by allowing them to bypass the majority of wait for most of rides and attractions including Mamba, Prowler, and Patriot. Ride as many times as you want all day long.
Strategy: Most visitors tend to begin the day with Prowler, the hottest attraction in the park. Use that tendency to your advantage and head to the Patriot first. After that, try the Dragons. Then work your way back to the Prowler. After riding the Prowler, there is only one coaster left, Mamba. Hit it next. If the park is not very crowded, you can ride Boomerang on the way to Mamba. After riding Mamba, head back for a ride on the Wolf. By then you will have tried most of the popular rides and attractions in the shortest possible time.
News: In 2017, Worlds of Fun is adding Steel Hawk, a ride that will take guests up 301 feet in the air and spin them at a 45-degree angle for a 60-second flight. Wait to have a try!
1.When did Hunt Midwest’s two parks start to share one ticket?
A. In 1937.B. In 2013.C. In 1982.D. In 2014.
2.With a “Fast Lane” card, the visitor can ________.
A. save some money
B. buy tickets online
C. avoid lining up for long
D. enjoy all the rides for free
3.What is talked about in the part of Strategy?
A. The hottest attractions in the park.
B. The highest ride in the park.
C. The most popular tour season.
D. The best visiting route.
4.According to the passage, by beginning with ________ a visitor can try most of the popular rides and attractions in the shortest possible time.
A. ProwlerB. DragonsC. PatriotD. Wolf
假设你叫李华，你的一个朋友John刚从美国归来，邀请你参加本周日在他家举办的朋友聚会，但你不能参加，请你根据以下要点给他写一封电子邮件:
1. 表达想参加的意愿；
2. 忙于准备高考；
3. 由于感冒，身体不适；
4. 表示歉意并另约时间。
注意：可适当添加细节以使行文连贯；词数100左右，开头和结尾已给，不计入总字数。
Dear John,
I’m extremely sorry to tell you that _______________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
Best wishes,
Yours,
Li Hua
假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。错误涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（\）划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1. 每处错误及其修改仅限一词。
2. 只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
My four-year-old son ran down the stairs very excitedly in Christmas morning and went straight for the gifts under the tree. And, to my surprise, the first gift he grabbed was a gift he had been made for his father and me. He stood there with joys and patience as we opened our gift. When I saw the gift, that was a hand-made wreath made his small handprints, I started to cry. My husband leaned over and asked how I was crying. I said I can not believe the thoughtfulness of this child. My son was most exciting about giving us the present he had made for us. I felt proud for him. That is actually the best gift I received for Christmas.
1.The history students hoped to compare the ________(文明) of ancient China and Japan.
2.What a ________(巧合)！I wasn't expecting to see you here.
3.Animals can become unusually ________(好斗的) when they are upset by a sudden environmental change.
4.The company has been ________(转变) from a family business to a multimillionpound operation.
5.________(担着) with the necessities, we made it convenient for our travel.
6.Everyone in my office likes Smith, because he is very ________(灵活的) in dealing with relations.
7.The heating system in the hotel has an __________(自动的) temperature control.
8.It's __________(不合法的) to read other people's private letters without their permission.
9.It's a pity that there were only more than one hundred ________(幸存者) in the earthquake that happened in Lushan country.
10.In nature，there are lots of violent ______(现象) which man is still unable to deal with.
11.Countless people have made great ______(贡献) to the development of our nation.
12.Large quantities of money were ________(捐助) to the drought-hit areas in the south of China in the spring of 2010.
13.There are three ________ (候选人) standing in the election of the director.
14.Interest is the best teacher, so a lack of interest is a(n) ________ (保证) of failure.
15.A number of ________ (潜在的) buyers have expressed interest in the company and placed an order for some of its products.
