Making Peace with Your Parents
As a teen, you’re going through big changes physically and mentally. Your interests are increasing. 1. Here is the challenge: Kids need to explore the world in new ways, and parents need to protect them from the dangers that are all out in that world. These conflicts can easily set off fireworks in otherwise calm houses. Sometimes conflicts can’t be avoided. But by paying attention to the building blocks of successful relationships, you can work towards making home a happy and healthy place for you and your parents.
For example, try to find a time to talk when your parents are not angry, tired, distracted or hungry. A good time to talk is when you’re all relaxed. Timing is everything. If the conversation begins to turn into an argument, you’d better calmly and coolly ask to stop the conversation for now. 2. Listen to what your parents are saying, and repeat it back to them. This shows them that you’re listening. 3. Respect is the building block of good communication. People who respect each other and care about each others’ feelings can disagree without getting things ugly. 4. How do you build trust? Trust comes by actually doing what you say you’re going to do. Some teens find that doing fun activities with their parents can improve their relationships. Sometimes we forget that parents are more than rule-maker—they’re interesting people who like to watch movies and go shopping—just like their teenagers!
What do you do if you are trying your best, but your relationship with your parents continues to be rocky? 5. You can find supportive adults, such as a teacher or a coach, who can lend an ear. Remember you can only change your own behavior. Your parents are the only ones who can change theirs.
A. You may consider seeking outside help.
B. And then you’ll be able to accept what your parents say.
C. You can pick it up again when everyone’s more relaxed.
D. Faced with the challenge, children don’t know what to do.
E. And your desire to take control of your own life is growing.
F. It also gives them a chance to clear things up if you’re not on the same page.
G. You are more likely to get along with your parents and have more independence if your parents believe in you.
Gregory Kloehn digs through dustbins every day, but not for the reason that most people would think. He isn’t homeless. In fact he is trying to help the homeless.
Gregory began his life as a sculptor. But he often felt that his sculpture (雕塑) which just stood in rich people’s houses for years, lacked a meaningful purpose. So in 2015 he decided to put his artistic energies into creating homes to sell—not ordinary homes but small structures built entirely from recycled materials.
The thought of creating homes for the homeless didn’t come to him until the year 2017, when a homeless couple asked him for a tarp(防水布). Instead of a tarp, Gregory offered them something better: a small home with a water tank, a kitchen and a tap for waste. They were so grateful that Gregory decided to focus his efforts on helping house the homeless population in his city. And soon his “Homeless Homes Project” was started.
Before starting a new home, Gregory goes hunting for materials by digging through dustbins. Everything he finds is usable—refrigerator doors become house doors; washing machine doors often serve as windows, and the tops of cars become strong roofs. He put wheels at the bottom for users to move their homes around easily. Each home takes two to three days to make.
So far Gregory has donated dozens of homes to the city’s most needy. While his small low- cost mobile homes are not the final solution to the problem of homelessness, they are really practical and do provide a warm and safe place for the homeless to stay in. They are simply a way for one man to do something nice for those in need of some help.
Gregory has written a book titled Homeless Architecture, where he explains techniques to build those homes and he is now working on weekend workshops. “A lot of people who hear about what I’m doing want to get involved,” he said. “Maybe we can meet someplace and put a couple of homes together. ”
1.Why did Gregory turn from making sculptures to creating homes?
A. He had no home to live in.
B. He had to make more money.
C. He wanted to help the homeless.
D. He lost interest in sculpture.
2.The author mentions the story in paragraph 3 to tell us ________.
A. how Gregory got the idea of “Homeless Homes Project”
B. Gregory’s small homes were popular among the homeless
C. the homeless couple asked Gregory to produce more homes
D. housing the homeless in a city was not an easy task
3.What can we learn from Paragraph 4?
A. It takes Gregory a long time to produce a home.
B. Gregory’s work needs imagination and creativity.
C. Everything in the dustbins will be used in Gregory’s work.
D. Gregory has great trouble hunting for materials for his small houses.
4.What can we infer from the last paragraph?
A. Gregory doesn’t need to make small homes now.
B. Gregory’s project will help more homeless people.
C. Gregory’s work will completely solve the homelessness problem.
D. A single person can make no differences to social problems.
Crying is the sign of the rawest of human emotions. We cry when we can’t hold inside what we feel any more. We cry when we’re at our best, and when we’re at our worst. I mean all of us, men included.
But we never see other men cry. In no western culture has it ever been acceptable for men to shed(流泪) more than a single tear, and even then it’s reserved for grand victories, defeats and deaths. Dutch research suggests that women cry between three and five times more than men. Generally men and women cry over the same things—deaths, break-ups and homesickness, primarily, but researchers believe that men cry more often than women when it comes to positive events.
I want to admit I’m a bit of a cryer. However, having never really experienced deaths in my life, a few weeks ago I experienced what it means to really, truly, pour my heart out in tears.
See, my dog was killed by a car right outside my house. Being a witness to this painful event left me in shock for a good hour, but then the floodgates opened. Over the next 48 hours, I might have cried 20 times. Once or twice I crouched(蹲) on the floor with my head in my hands and tears were the only outlet.
It is suggested in the book Adult Crying: A Biopsychosocial Approach that there’s certain pleasure in crying. It helps ease stress when there is no other way to express ourselves.
In those days after my dog’s death, I remember thinking, “I’ve got to stop this crying”. It felt unmanly. It felt like a sign of weakness. I’ve since realized that tears are for everybody. They show we have sympathy, allow us to get rid of stress and just feel.
1.What does the first paragraph mainly talk about?
A. Crying is an emotion beyond control.
B. Crying is a raw human emotion.
C. Crying is an emotion showing sadness.
D. Crying is an emotion showing happiness.
2.What’s the difference between men and women in crying according to Dutch research?
A. They cry over different matters.
B. They cry at different times of life.
C. Men are more likely to have tears of joy.
D. Women cry more often over deaths.
3.What did the author think of his crying over his dog’s death?
A. A sign of strength.
B. A sign of weakness.
C. A way of reducing emotional stress.
D. Behavior of being womanish.
4.What’s the best title for the text？
A. Men, it’s OK to cry sometimes
B. Men, never cry like women
C. Crying solves psychological problems
D. Crying explains differences between men and women
Women make better drivers than men for many reasons. Why is that, do you suppose? Wouldn’t you think that competing at who has better driving abilities is pointless? If you ask me, I’d like to say, men know that women are better drivers but do not have the courage to admit the truth—women are queens of the road.
Unlike men, women stop for directions when they have no idea as to where they are going. We don’t drive around for hours pointlessly wasting a tank of gas only to find ourselves heading in the wrong direction. Have you ever in a car with a man who is lost? He tells you to shut up when you begin to open your mouth. And every five minutes or so he takes a turn going forty-five miles per hour only to find out he’s made another wrong turn.
Speeding is what men do best on the road. Traffic is not a race. There is a reason why men get more speeding tickets than women. Not because we trick to get out of tickets but only because we don’t get pulled over as frequently. We don’t speed. We have more intelligence than senselessly to put our own lives as well as the lives of others in danger.
My largest issue with male drivers is how a majority of them drive with one hand on the wheel and the other hand doing only God knows what. The seat is backed as far as possible, and they’re totally lost into loud music beyond a necessary level. You don’t ever see women driving like that.
I feel that the above evidence more than proves my points that women are not only better drivers but also safer drivers than men. We women rule the road. Oh, and men, if you want to continue criticizing women for being bad drivers, bring it on. We know you lack confidence, or else you wouldn’t be wasting your valuable time making jokes about the ones you may choose to spend the rest of your days with.
1.If a woman driver feels lost, she will ________.
A. stop the car and ask people for help
B. tell the man next to her to shut up
C. take the wrong turns at a high speed
D. drive aimlessly for hours without stopping
2.In Paragraph 3, the writer tries to tell us that ________.
A. women always have more responsibility for lives
B. women often play tricks on the police in charge
C. men are more confident and more skillful in driving
D. men usually have to be pulled over to the roadsides
3.Which of the following about men drivers worries the writer most?
A. Making jokes about women.
B. Not paying full attention.
C. Not stopping for directions.
D. Getting more speeding tickets.
There are an unbelievable number of reasons to go to Greece; just like there are an unbelievable number of things to do once a traveler arrives there. Here is a look at just some of the great historical things to see when on holiday in Athens, Greece.
Agora
Agora lies in ruins now, but during its glory days it was a lively and active open marketplace where Greeks came to buy, sell, and exchange their goods and services. Agora has ties to common people of ancient Greece. Guided tours are available and there is also a small museum with many artifacts from this area on display.
Parthenon
One of the most famous landmarks in Athens is the legendary Parthenon. This building is still today admired by architects who are appreciative of the decorative design, as well as the engineering involved in its construction. Those interested in history will be impressed beyond belief with the opportunity to see this historic structure up close and personal.
Temple of Olympian Zeus
One of the most impressive monuments to see up close is the Temple of Olympian Zeus. Many people see this monument from far away, or even from the window of a taxi, and never stop for a first hand look themselves. This is a huge mistake as the size of it cannot truly be appreciated without visiting it up close.
Odeum of Herodes Atticus
Built into the hillside and providing a nice view of Athens is the Odeum of Herodes Atticus. This theater was constructed in the second century and was an important gathering place for both the upper and lower classes. It holds a little over 5,000 people, located just below the Acropolis, and is still used for performances to this day.
1.What did the ancient Greeks do in Agora?
A. They toured around.
B. They did business.
C. They visited museums.
D. They prayed for blessings.
2.Who will show the most interest in Parthenon?
A. Building designers.
B. Electrical engineers.
C. Ordinary visitors.
D. Religious people.
3.How can visitors fully appreciate the Temple of Olympian Zeus?
A. By looking in the distance.
B. By visiting up close.
C. By taking a bird’s-eye view.
D. By. seeing through a taxi window.
4.In what way is Odeum of Herodes Atticus different from the others?
A. It has great historical value.
B. It has ties to common people.
C. It still serves its original purpose.
D. It is famous for its architecture.
听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1.What is the passage mainly about?
A. The man hoped his daughters could understand him,
B. The man explained why he competed for the president.
C. The man wanted to get along well with his daughters.
2.What is true according to the passage?
A. The man keeps his daughters eating junk food.
B. The man’s wife and daughters might complain him.
C. The man had a little pity in his heart.
3.What made the man’s life change?
A. The births of his two daughters. B. The great nation. C. His great ambition.
