I am a worrier. I worry from the moment I wake to the moment I sleep.
Around a year ago, I found my worries ______ me clown and down. I needed a way to reduce my ______ and make them disappear. Then a brilliant idea occurred to me. Instead of worrying about whatever ______ itself to my consciousness at any given moment, and unless I had a ______ and urgent worry to deal with. I’d ______ myself to worrying about imaginary things. This new system ______ me quite well for a while ______ the day last month when the captain of the plane I was travelling on failed in his landing ______ at Shannon Airport, because there was “a problem” with the landing gear (起落架). We ______ for a while. Then the captain announced the Issue still couldn’t be solved and that the crew would take us through the ______ for an emergency landing,.
Suddenly my mother’s voice was in my head: “In the ______ of an emergency, put your head between your legs and kiss your ass goodbye.” I laughed silently at my mother’s joke. and I wondered why I wasn’t ______. I suddenly realized I was experiencing a complete and total absence of worry, as there was absolutely nothing I could do to ______ the problem with the plane.
As the runway rose to meet our planes ______ underbelly (下腹部) and the firefighters ______ to meet us, I felt a strange and beautiful ______. And as the plane landed perfectly because, as it ______, the problem was with a sensor and not with the landing gear and people ______ and hugged one another, I realized I wasn’t a ______ at all. The absence of worry I had just experienced was ______ an absence of any possibility of control. So I’m a control freak, wanting to control everything. And now I’m terribly worried about that.
1.A. took B. dragged C. put D. calmed
2.A. joys B. hop C. sorrows D. fears
3.A. presented B. recommended C. contributed D. committed
4.A. secret B. constant C. abstract D. specific
5.A. expose B. reduce C. restrict D. attach
6.A. served B. treated C. inspired D. instructed
7.A. since B. after C. until D. before
8.A. test B. attempt C. rescue D. adventure
9.A. taxied B. dived C. swung D. circled
10.A. requirement B. procedure C. preparation D. arrangement
11.A. gesture B. event C. memory D. light
12.A. thrilled B. amazed C. terrified D. discouraged
13.A. identify B. change C. accept D. explore
14.A. sick B. serious C. soft D. flat
15.A. fled B. marched C. raced D. approached
16.A. excitement B. nervousness C. calmness D. astonishment
17.A. ruled out B. brought out C. made out D. turned out
18.A. cheered B. responded C. wept D. complained
19.A. fighter B. worrier C. loser D. commander
20.A. naturally B. strangely C. relatively D. actually
Eyesight plays a very important role in our daily life． Every waking moment， the eyes are working to see the world around us． Over forty percent of Americans worry about losing eyesight， but it's easy to include steps into our daily life to ensure healthy eyes． Here are five suggestions for a lifetime of healthy eyesight：
Schedule yearly exams．1.Experts advise parents to bring babies 6 to 12 months of age to the doctor for a careful check． The good news is that millions of children now can have yearly eye exams and following treatment， including eye- glasses．
Protect against UV rays． Long-term stay in the sun creates risk to your eyes． No matter what the season is， it's extremely important to wear sunglasses．2.
Give your eyes a break． Two-thirds of Americans spend up to seven hours a day using computers or other digital products．3.Experts recommend that people practice the 20/20/20 rule： every 20 minutes， take a 20-second break and look at something 20 feet away．
4.As part of a healthy diet， eat more fruits and vegetables each day． Vitamins C and E help protect eyesight and promote eye health．
Practice safe wear and care of contact lenses （隐形眼镜）． Many Americans use contact lenses to improve their eyesight． While some follow the medical guidance for wearing contact lenses， many are breaking the rules and putting their eyesight at risk．5.Otherwise， you may have problems such as red eyes， pain in the eyes， or a more serious condition．
A．Eat your greens．
B．Eye care should begin early in life．
C．They can properly protect your eyes．
D．Stay in good shape by taking more vitamins．
E．Parents usually don't care about their own eyesight．
F．Always follow the doctor's advice for appropriate wear．
G．This frequent eye activity increases the risk for eye tiredness．
Honey from the African forest is not only a kind of natural sugar, it is also delicious. Most people, and many animals, like eating it. However, the only way for them to get that honey is to find a wild bees' nest and take the honey from it. Often, these nests are high up in trees, and it is difficult to find them. In parts of Africa, though, people and animals looking for honey have a strange and unexpected helper—a little bird called a honey guide.
The honey guide does not actually like honey, but it does like the wax in the beehives(蜂房). The little bird cannot reach this wax, which is deep inside the bees' nest. So, when it finds a suitable nest, it looks for someone to help it. The honey guide gives a loud cry that attracts the attention of both passing animals and people. Once it has their attention, it flies through the forest, waiting from time to time for the curious animal or person as it leads them to the nest. When they finally arrive at the nest, the follower reaches in to get at the delicious honey as the bird patiently waits and watches. Some of the honey, and the wax(蜂蜡), always falls to the ground, and this is when the honey guide takes its share.
Scientists do not know why the honey guide likes eating the wax, but it is very distance away. They will quickly arrive whenever a beekeeper is taking honey from his beehives, and will even enter churches when beeswax candles are being lit.
1.Why is it difficult to find a wild bees' nest?
A. It's small in size. B. It's hidden in trees.
C. It's covered with wax. D. It's hard to recognize.
2.What do the words "the follower" in Paragraph 2 refer to?
A. A bee. B. A bird.
C. A honey seeker. D. A beekeeper.
3.The honey guide is special in the way ______.
A. it gets its food B. it goes to church
C. it sings in the forest D. it reaches into bees' nests
4.What can be the best title for the text?
A. Wild Bees B. Wax and Honey
C. Beekeeping in Africa D. Honey-Lover's Helper
阅读理解。
Proudly reading my words, I glanced around the room, only to find my classmates bearing big smiles on their faces and tears in their eyes. Confused, I glanced toward my stone-faced teacher. Having no choice, I slowly raised the report I had slaved over, hoping to hide myself. “What could be causing everyone to act this way?”
Quickly, I flashed back to the day Miss Lancelot gave me the task. This was the first real talk I received in my new school. It seemed simple: go on the Internet and find information about a man named George Washington. Since my idea of history came from an ancient teacher in my home country, I had never heard of that name before. As I searched the name of this fellow, it became evident that there were two people bearing the same name who looked completely different! One invented hundreds of uses for peanuts, while the other led some sort of army across America. I stared at the screen, wondering which one my teacher meant. I called my grandfather for a golden piece of advice; flip (掷) a coin. Heads—the commander, and tails—the peanuts guy. Ah! Tails, my report would be about the great man who invented peanut butter, George Washington Carver.
Weeks later, standing before this unfriendly mass, I was totally lost. Oh well, I lowered the paper and sat down at my desk,burningto find out what I had done wrong. As a classmate began his report, it all became clear, “My report is on George Washington, the man who started the American Revolution.” The whole world became quite! How could I know that she meant that George Washington?
Obviously, my grade was awful. Heartbroken but fearless, I decided to turn this around. I talked to Miss Lancelot, but she insisted: No re-dos; no new grade. I felt that the punishment was not justified, and I believed I deserved a second chance. Consequently, I threw myself heartily into my work for the rest of the school year. Ten months later, that chance unfolded as I found myself sitting in the headmaster’s office with my grandfather, now having an entirely different conversation. I smiled and flashed back to the embarrassing moment at the beginning of the year as the headmaster informed me of my option to skip the sixth grade. Justice is sweet!
1.What did the author’s classmates think about his report?
A. Controversial. B. Ridiculous.
C. Boring. D. Puzzling.
2.Why was the author confused about the task?
A. He was unfamiliar with American history.
B. He followed the advice and flipped a coin.
C. He forgot his teacher’s instruction.
D. He was new at the school.
3.The underlined word “burning” in Para. 3 probably means _______.
A. annoyed B. ashamed
C. ready D. eager
4.In the end, the author turned things around _______.
A. by redoing his task
B. through his own efforts
C. with the help of his grandfather
D. under the guidance of his headmaster
The Basics of Math—Made Clear
Basic Math introduces students to the basic concepts of mathematics, as well as the fundamentals of more tricky areas. These 30 fantastic lectures are designed to provide students with an understanding of arithmetic and to prepare them for Algebra(代数) and beyond.
The lessons in Basic Math cover every basic aspect of arithmetic. They also look into exponents(指数), the order of operations, and square roots. In addition to learning how to perform various mathematical operations, students discover why these operations work, how a particular mathematical topic relates to other branches of mathematics, and how these operations can be used practically.
Basic Math starts from the relatively easier concepts and gradually moves on to the more troublesome ones, so as to allow for steady and sure understanding of the material by students. The lectures offer students the chance to “make sense” of mathematical knowledge that may have seemed so frightening. They also help students prepare for college mathematics and overcome their anxiety about this amazing—and completely understandable—field of study.
By the conclusion of the course, students will have improved their understanding of basic math. They will be able to clear away the mystery(神秘性) of mathematics and face their studies with more confidence than they ever imagined. In addition, they will strengthen their ability to accept new and exciting mathematical challenges.
Professor H. Siegel, honored by Kentucky Educational Television as “the best math teacher in America,” is a devoted teacher and has a gift for explaining mathematical concepts in ways that make them seem clear and obvious. From the basic concrete ideas to the more abstract problems, he is master in making math lectures learner-friendlier and less scary.
With a PhD in Mathematics Education from Georgia State University, Dr. Siegel teaches mathematics at Central Arizona College. His courses include various make-up classes and a number of lectures for future primary school teachers.
If the course fails to provide complete satisfaction to you, you can easily exchange it for any other course that we offer. Or you can get your money back.
1.What does the course Basic Math mainly cover?
A. Algebra. B. College Mathematics.
C. Arithmetic. D. Mathematics Education.
2.What benefits can students expect from Basic Math?
A. Stronger imaginative ability.
B. Additional presentation skills.
C. More mathematical confidence.
D. Greater chances of becoming teachers.
3.What can we learn about Professor H. Siegel?
A. He is a guest lecturer at Kentucky Educational Television.
B. He is to deliver 30 lectures in Basic Math.
C. He works in Georgia State University.
D. He specializes in training teachers.
4.Where is the passage most likely to have been taken from?
A. A news report. B. A book review
C. A lesson plan. D. An advertisement
Podcasts (播客)
The B S. Report
Designed for the sports fan with a sense of humor, the B.S. Report is hosted by the sportswriter Bill Simmons. Simmons show is in very loose and free form and it’s not uncommon for him to go almost a whole show without even mentioning sports.
Wait, Wait…… Don’ t Tell Me
One of the most popular Programs on National Public Radio, Wait. Wait... Don’t Tell Me is now available as a podcast. The show is a news program in the form of a game show. Each week a group of humorists and writers join host Peter Sagal in Chicago, where they are quizzed on the weeks most important and funny news stories. Listeners also get to call in to play different news-related games for a prize
The Moth
The Moth is a weekly podcast run by a nonprofit art organization. The show is made up of recordings of “true stories told before a live audience without notes”. Each week. the group releases short 10-20 minute tales told by people from all walks of life. Past Presenters have included writers, comedians, scientists, and even New York City police officers.
Film spotting
Film spotting is a weekly podcast and is a must-listen for any movie fan. The show is focused on movie reviews, but hosts Adam Kempenaar and Matty Robinson do more than just tell their listeners which new movie is worth seeing. They also discuss and examine the film as an art form. The how doesn’t just focus on current movies, either, as the hosts frequently discuss old films as part of theme marathons.
1.If you are a police officer. you can take part in ________.
A. The B.S.Report B. Wait, Wait...Don’t Tell Me
C. The Moth D. Film spotting
2.What do The Moth and Film spotting have in common?
A. They are weekly programs B. They are open to everyone
C. Their hosts tell stories to the listeners. D. They are nonprofit arts organizations
3.Which of the following is TRUE?
A. You can play games in The B. S. Report.
B. People can tell stories in The Moth
C. Adam Kempenaar just tells their listeners old movies.
D. The Moth is available only in New York
