Famous Irish poet Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) once wrote: “Ah! Realize your youth while you have it.” He pointed out the important truth about how precious youth is in one’s journey through life.
However, the popular Internet slang word foxi—or “Buddhist”—is challenging this norm by encouraging young people to remain calm and peaceful and avoid conflict as much as possible—in other words, to live like a Buddha.
The phrase was reportedly created in Japan in 2014 to describe young men who no longer bother to start relationships with women or follow someone else’s life path. They prefer to stay in their own peaceful world without being disturbed and care little about passion and success.
Now, Chinese Internet users are paring the phrase with other words to describe a similar mindset. For example, “Buddhist students” are those who study just the right amount—they don’t cut class, but they don’t burn the midnight oil, either. There are also “Buddhist parents”, who interfere (干涉) little with their children’s lives and let them develop however they like—the opposite of “helicopter parents”.
In this fast-changing and competitive world, it’s only natural that people are seeking a spiritual anchor (精神支柱).
However, some would compare foxi with “demotivational culture”—a phrase that describes young people without aim and power. They say that foxi actually reflects the reality that young people are losing their will to fight. They are pretending to keep a healthy and wise attitude toward failure simply because they’re incapable of succeeding.
But no matter what, there is one thing that “Buddhist youngsters” should keep in mind: You may want to keep a calm mindset regarding failure, but you should also be passionate and positive about school, work and life.
After all, Wilde also wrote: “Live the wonderful life that is in you! Let nothing be lost upon you. Be always searching for new sensations (感觉). Be afraid of nothing.”
1.What is a Buddhist youngster unwilling to do?
A. Read books alone in a quiet place.
B. Complete assignments as instructed.
C. Get involved in a fierce competition.
D. Allow children to develop naturally.
2.What does the underlined word “demotivational” in paragraph 6 mean?
A. Aimless and powerless. B. Hopeless and realistic.
C. Discouraged and fearlful. D. Intelligent and positive.
3.What’s the author’s attitude towards “Buddhist”?
A. Supportive. B. Neutral. C. Critical. D. Doubtful.
Maureen stood by the lake. Suddenly the other children came running through the trees with sharp cries of excitement. They rushed up to the lake, leaning over the clear water, watching the crowds of tiny fish. Some children demanded loudly to go to the boats, but all at once those who had been left behind at the ice-cream stall (小摊) came running up to make some announcement or other, and they all left the water and dashed back the way they had come. With growing excitement, Maureen ran after them.
When she saw what had been run for, she stopped running. They were buying things again. The toy stall was open and they were crowding around it. Behind the stall a middle-aged woman was selling a great variety of small rubbish. She took money from the forest of small hands in exchange for little boats, plastic dolls, yellow pencils and rubbers, or anything. Maureen leaned against a tree, looking on. The idea of spending washed against her face like a strong current, trying to draw her in.
Nona Parker pushed out to the edge of the group and laid what she had bought on the ground so that she could see what money she had left in her white purse. Under Maureen's eyes lay a boat, a mouth organ, and little plates of doll’s food in coloured plaster—a brown load of bread, a joint of beef, a pink pudding—all tiny and terribly desirable. Maureen was so full of the wish for the things like that that she couldn't bear to look at them. She turned her head sharply. Her face against the tree, she shut her eyes and prayed eagerly for some money, for the price of a set of toy plates.
In a moment, she opened her eyes, but she didn't turn back to the stall. It was too painful to see the others buying whatever they wanted. She rubbed almost round the tree, her eyes on the ground. And there under her feet was a ten-pence piece.
1.Why did children dash back on hearing some announcement?
A. To watch tiny fish.
B. To buy new toys.
C. To collect various rubbish.
D. To see a middle-aged woman.
2.Maureen stopped running after the other children because she _______.
A. was too shy to push her way in
B. thought the other children were rich
C. knew the stall was selling rubbish
D. couldn't afford to buy anything
3.Maureen's strong desire for the plates of doll’s food grew when _______.
A. she happened to see what Nona had bought
B. Nona checked her remaining money
C. she saw other children buying things freely
D. Nona was pushed to the edge of the group
4.Seeing the others buying so many wonderful things, Maureen felt _______.
A. thrilled B. helpless C. curious D. annoyed
听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1.Why is the plane delayed?
A. The weather is bad.
B. The plane needs to be fixed.
C. Some passengers haven’t arrived.
2.How long will the flight last?
A. About six hours. B. About four hours. C. About three hours.
3.What information can be found in the brochure?
A. Safety instructions.
B. Meals being served for lunch.
C. Details about the entertainment.
4.What will passengers do next?
A. Get aboard. B. Watch a video. C. Get some sleep.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.What is the woman doing?
A. Complain about her school life.
B. Showing the man around campus.
C. Telling the man about her experience in college.
2.What classes did the woman choose in the beginning?
A. Classes that fit her major.
B. Classes that seemed interesting.
C. Classes she thought would be important for her career.
3.What does the woman say about college classes?
A. They get harder as you get older.
B. They are challenging in different ways.
C. They always involve the same kinds of preparation.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.Why did the man fall asleep?
A. He is sick. B. He works at night. C. His class was boring
2.Why does the man have to work?
A. To pay for school. B. To pay his debts. C. To pay his hospital bill.
3.Where will the man probably go next?
A. To a class.
B. To the financial aid office.
C. To the student employment office.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.Where are the speakers now?
A. In the United States. B. In Russia. C. In Canada.
2.What happens in the man's country?
A. People talk quickly.
B. The government solves problems well
C. Going to the bank often takes a short time
3.What is TRUE about the woman?
A. She wants to go to Russia.
B. She has never been abroad before
C. She thinks Americans are more relaxed
