Once upon a time, there was a man from the State of Chu who loved his sword very much. One day, he was sitting in a boat preparing 1.(cross) a river, when he accidentally 2.(drop) his sword into the water. The people on board reminded him that he should go into the water to find his beloved sword back. The man felt 3.(anxiety), too. 4., he turned a deaf ear to that. And instead, he 5.(immediate) took out a knife and made a notch(刻痕) on the side of the boat 6. his dear sword fell. The people wondered why he did so. He said proudly the notch could help get his sword back. Shortly after the 7.(arrive) at the shore, he entered the water just beneath the notch he made. After rather a long time, he returned empty-handed. Without doubt, he was laughed at in public and his story became 8. well-known joke in China.
Today the idiom 9.(relate) to the story is used to describe a person who stick 10. strict rules without considering a changing environment.
A few years ago, an elderly woman entered my video store, along with her daughter. The______was showing an air of impatience,______her watch every few seconds. If the daughter had possessed a rope, she would have ______ her mother to it as a means of pulling her along.
The old woman began to pick DVDs herself. I walked over and asked ______I could help her find something. The woman smiled up at me and showed me a________on a piece of paper.______rushing off to find the DVD for the woman, I asked her to______with me so I could show her where she could find it and I wanted to enjoy her______for a moment. Something about her movements ______ the memories of my own mother, who’d _____. As we walked along the back of the store, I described what was on the shelves: old television shows, action movies, cartoons, science fiction. The woman seemed glad of the unrushed “trip" and ______ conversation.
I said to her daughter,“_____some advice?”“ Of course not,” said the daughter. “____her” I said. “When she’s gone, it’s those precious ______that will come back to you. Times like this, I know.” It was_______ .I still missed my mom and remembered the times when I’d used my impatience to make her______ .
Together they ____ their way toward the store’s exit. They stood there for a moment, side by side,______the holiday crowds. Then the daughter glanced over and looked at her mother lovingly. And slowly, she placed her arm with apparently unaccustomed affection ______ her mother’s shoulders and______guided her back into the crowd.
1.A. mother B. daughter C. merchant D. waitress
2.A. checking B. fixing C. adjusting D. removing
3.A. accustomed B. fastened C. applied D. devoted
4.A. why B. when C. how D. if
5.A. receipt B. ticket C. title D. tip
6.A. Instead of B. Regardless of C. Apart from D. As to
7.A. jog B. trade C. walk D. communicate
8.A. holiday B. time C. stay D. company
9.A. called on B. called for C. called up D. called in
10.A. died away B. passed away C. moved away D. given away
11.A. meaningless B. convincing C. serious D. casual
12.A. Offer B. Lack C. Mind D. Prepare
13.A. Seize B. Cherish C. Forgive D. Leave
14.A. chances B. feelings C. moments D. presents
15.A. true B. appropriate C. reasonable D. impossible
16.A. puzzled B. astonished C. desperate D. upset
17.A. took B. made C. felt D. headed
18.A. observing B. expecting C. approaching D. following
19.A. around B. against C. beneath D. down
20.A. deliberately B. hurriedly C. randomly D. gently
Fun doesn’t have to be expensive
Everyone likes to have fun, but not everyone has much money to spend. Here are some free or cheap ways to enjoy yourself.
Go outside
Going outside in good weather can be a lot of fun if you don’t want to stay at home. 1. If you live in a city, you can go window-shopping. Or you can explore an old part of town and admire the buildings.
Try a hobby
While you’re out, take pictures of things you find. Planning and taking pictures can make you aware of the beauty all around you. Photographic equipment can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. You probably already own a camera or a cell phone that can take pictures. Other creative hobbies can also be done with basic materials. 2.
Find an event
Libraries often hold free public events. 3. And while you’re there, borrow a book or movie for free. Museums and universities also hold free events.
If you can’t find a free event, you can volunteer at an event that requires tickets. People who organize concerts and plays need help. 4. Sometimes they reward volunteers with free tickets.
Meet a friend
Relationships are often the best things in life. 5. For example, invite a friend for a walk, an event or a time working on your hobby. Hosting doesn’t have to be difficult. If your friend comes in the afternoon, you don’t have to serve a meal. You can sit and talk, play board games or card games or watch a movie together.
A. A friend in need is a friend indeed.
B. Stop by one to find out what’s going on.
C. Hike or bicycle with a friend on a nearby path or in a park.
D. Whatever you do, find a friend to share it with.
E. It’s a good idea to stay at home to watch a movie.
F. You can set up or take down chairs or greet visitors.
G. Drawing and writing require nothing more than a pencil and paper.
A new study suggests that washing dishes by hand is healthier than using a dishwasher.
Nobody likes doing the dishes, but it turns out that doing this task might pay off in an unexpected way. According to a new study published in the Journal of Pediatrics, washing dishes by hand instead of using a dishwasher might prevent the development of allergies (过敏).
Researchers in Sweden surveyed the parents of 1,029 children aged 7 and 8. They discovered that children whose families hand-washed the dishes instead of using a machine were less likely to have allergies.
Earlier research has shown that dishes washed by machine are cleaner than those washed by hand. So why would kids who eat with slightly dirtier plates be better when it comes to preventing allergies? One explanation is based on a theory known as the “hygiene hypothesis,” which says the reason why kids develop allergies is that their environment is actually too clean. Your immune system keeps you healthy by fighting germs like viruses and bacteria. But when you have allergies, it overreacts and tries to fight ordinary things like pollen(花粉) or certain foods.
Being exposed to germs, especially early in life is good training for the immune system, says the lead author of the study, Dr. Bill Hesselmar of Queen Silvia Hospital in Sweden. “You stimulate the immune system in various ways and it becomes tolerant.”
This study shows that while using the dishwasher might be easier, the old-fashioned method of cleaning up could be better for your health.
1.What is the benefit of washing dishes by hand?
A. Hand-washed dishes are cleaner than those washed by machine.
B. Washing dishes by hand is easier than washing by machine
C. Washing dishes by hand costs less time than washing by machine
D. Washing dishes by hand might reduce the chance of developing allergies
2.What does the underlined word “it” in paragraph 4 refer to?
A. bacteria B. germs
C. the immune system D. allergy
3.Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?
A. Using a dishwasher can prevent us from having allergies.
B. Exposure to germs early in life may improve kids’ immune system.
C. Our immune system can only fight bacteria and viruses.
D. Children should use dirty plates when they have meals.
4.What is the main idea of the passage?
A. The clean environment accounts for kids’ developing allergies.
B. Whether parents should wash dishes by hand or use a dishwasher.
C. Washing dishes by hand may prevent kids from getting allergies.
D. What “hygiene hypothesis” is and how our immune system works.
Blind imitation is self-destruction. To those who do not recognize their own unique worth, imitation appears attractive; to those who know their strength, imitation is unacceptable.
In the early stages of skill or character development, imitation is helpful. When I first learned to cook, I used recipes and turned out some tasty dishes. But soon I grew bored. Why follow someone else’s way of cooking when I could create my own? Imitating role models is like using training wheels on a child’s bicycle; they help you get going, but once you find your own balance, you fly faster and farther without relying on them.
In daily life, imitation can hurt us if we subconsciously (下意识地）hold poor role models. If, as a child, you observed people whose lives were bad, you may have accepted their fear and pain as normal and gone on to follow what they did. If you do not make strong choices for yourself, you will get the results of the weak choices of others.
In the field of entertainment, our culture praises and admires celebrities. Those stars look great on screen. But when they step off screen, their personal lives may be disastrous. If you are going to follow someone, focus on their talent, not their bad character or unacceptable behaviors.
Blessed is the person willing to act on their sudden desire to create something unique. Think of the movies, books, teachers, and friends that have affected you most deeply. They touched you because their creations were motivated by inspiration not desperation. The world is changed not by those who do what has been done before them, but by those who do what has been done inside them. Creative people have an endless resource of ideas. The problem a creator faces is not running out of material; it is what to do with the material knocking at the door of imagination.
Study your role models, accept the gifts they have given, and leave behind what does not serve you. Then you can say, “I stand on the shoulders of my ancestors’ tragedies and declare victory, and know that they are cheering me on.”
1.Imitation proves useful when you _______.
A. know you are unique B. lose the balance of life
C. begin to learn something new D. get tired of routine practice
2.To avoid the bad result of imitation, we should _______.
A. forget daily fear and pain B. choose the right role models
C. ask others for decisions D. stay away from stars
3.According to the author, the world moves on because of those who are _______.
A. desperate to influence others with their knowledge
B. ready to turn their original ideas into reality
C. eager to discover what their ancestors did
D. willing to accept others’ ideas
4.What is the author's purpose in writing this passage?
A. To highlight the importance of creativity.
B. To criticize the characters of role models.
C. To compare imitation with creation.
D. To explain the meaning of success.
I had been following the yellowish-green markers for a “popular and easy” three-mile out-and-back hike. Immediately after the trailhead(山道的起点), the trail became very rocky and steep. But having read information about the hike, I knew within five minutes, I was supposed to reach the hike’s first overlook.
However, the overlook never arrived. Instead, I found myself lost in the woods. Pulling out my cellphone, I saw it read “no service”. I checked the last text message I’d sent to my mom. It read, “Conference ended…going for a small hike before my flight home this afternoon.” I put my phone away and kept moving and yelling, “Help! Is anybody out there?” Every so often, I’d stop to listen, but I never heard a reply.
I got out my phone again. The battery was running out fast as it searched for a signal. I struggled to find a place where I could get service. When I did, I called my mom. It went through! In a shaky voice, I said, “Mom?” And then the call dropped. More than 1,500 miles away, my mom instantly knew something was wrong. She called the Denver Police Department and was directed to the US Forest Service.
This was how I was introduced to John, an operator from the US Forest Service. Following John’s instruction on the phone, I finally escaped from the woods. I breathed a sigh of relief. Then my phone rang, and it was John, making sure I was still going in the right direction. “By the way,” he said, “we’ve had your mother on hold this whole time. We know once you get down the mountain, you will absolutely want to give her a call.”
1.What did the author do while finding the trail rocky and steep?
A. He yelled for help. B. He continued walking.
C. He returned to the start. D. He found the first overlook.
2.When did the author tell his mom about the hiking?
A. After he got lost. B. After John’s call.
C. After a conference. D. After the call dropped.
3.How did the author’s mom know he was in danger?
A. The author called and told her about it.
B. The author’s flight didn’t arrive on time.
C. She learned it from the US Forest Service.
D. She sensed something unusual on the phone.
4.What can we learn from the last paragraph?
A. The author’s mom was on line waiting.
B. John came to the woods for the author.
C. John lost touch with the author’s mom.
D. The author went in the wrong direction.
