Master Your Deadlines
The struggle begins in high school, sometimes earlier. Deadlines, and lots of them, start to pile up. At college, the pressure sometimes leads to last-minute rush an unsatisfactory work. At work, failing to meet deadlines can easily get you fired. 1. Here are a few best practices.
▪Assign deadlines to what matters.
If the task isn’t of high importance, don’t set a specific deadline. In this way, you are able to keep it on your radar for a while without feeling pressured. 2.This will provide just enough pressure to ensure you get it done.
▪3..
Set a personal deadline for yourself a day or two before the actual deadline. 4. If you’re working with a group of people, add in even more time to account for potential follow-ups and the need for approvals.
▪Keep communicating.
5. This means letting others know when something is taking longer than expected, when a delivery didn’t come in, when a client is not providing the necessary information, etc. Although it may feel embarrassing to admit that something is not on schedule, being honest is much better for relieving your stress.
A. Whenever you feel challenged to finish work on time, communicate
B. But handled properly, deadlines can actually improve productivity
C. But if an activity is urgent, set a deadline immediately
D. In this way, you’11 never have to stay up late and feel stressed
E. Finish your project as early as possible
F. Plan for flexible hours
G. So if anything takes longer than expected, you can still wrap it up and submit it on time
Why do you go to the library? For books, yes—but you like books because they tell stories. You hope to get lost in a story or be transported into someone else’s life. At one type of library you can do just that—even though there's not a single book.
At a Human Library, instead of books, you can "borrow" people. People with unique life stories volunteer to be the "books." For a certain amount of time, you can ask them questions and listen to their stories, which are as fascinating as any you can find in a book. (If you attend, make sure to review the habits that make you a good listener.) Many of the stories have to do with some kind of depressing topic. You can speak with a refugee, a soldier suffering from PTSD (创伤后遗症), a homeless person and a woman living with HIV. The Human Library encourages people to take time to truly get to know and learn from someone they might otherwise make a snap judgement about. According to its website, the Human Library is "a place where difficult questions are expected, appreciated and answered."
The Human Library Organization came to be in Copenhagen, Denmark in 2000. Romni Abergel and his colleagues hosted a four-day event during a major Northern European festival. After the success of this event, Abergel founded the Human Library Organization, hoping to raise awareness among youth about depression, which has been growing ever since.
Though there a few permanent human libraries, most aren’t place at all, but events. Though many do take place at physical libraries, you don't need a library card—anyone can come and be part of the experience. There have been human library events all over the globe, in universities and in pubs, from Chicago to Tunis to Edinburgh to San Antonio. Check out the organization's Facebook page to see when the Human Library might be arriving near you.
1.What shall we do before going to the Human Library?
A. Go over some listening habits. B. Get a library card.
C. Make an appointment. D. Bring a book.
2.What does the underlined word “snap" in paragraph 2 mean?
A. True. B. Quick.
C. Obvious. D. Wrong.
3.Why did Ronmi Abergel found the Human Library Organization?
A. He expected to answer different questions.
B. He wanted young people to pay attention to depression.
C. He successfully held an event in Northern Europe.
D. He had set up the Human Libraries all over the world.
4.What is the best title of the text?
A. A Library in Denmark B. Human Library Organization
C. Human Library Is Near You D. "Borrow" People Instead of Books
Reducing plastic waste isn't easy because the cheap material is found in almost every household item. Now, a delicious and nutritious solution has come up to help reduce our dependence on this environmental hazard.
David Christian, the co-founder of Evoware, says the idea of creating the biodegradable (生物降解的) products came from concern at the country's high pollution rate. Indonesia is home to four of the world's worst polluted rivers. Since single-use packaging is a large contributor to the problem, Evoware decided to deal with that first.
After investigating various materials, the company settled on seaweed. Unlike corn, commonly used for biodegradable containers, seaweed does not require resources like water or large amounts of space. Since Indonesian farmers already harvest more seaweed than they can sell, it's easy for the company to find the material.
Though they will not reveal their production process, Evoware says the seaweed packaging contains no chemicals and is safe to consume. The company has also invented single-use cups, which can break down 30 days after they're thrown away.
While replacing plastic with the seaweed products may seem appealing to most of us, it is a hard-sell in Indonesia. According to Christian, “The awareness to reduce single-use plastic is still very low. This makes our bioplastic unnecessary.” Also a factor is the cost, which is higher than using plastic. Hopefully, Evoware will succeed in convincing Indonesians and people worldwide that switching to their products will be helpful to protecting our beautiful planet.
1.What problem did Evoware decide to deal with first?
A. Ways to clean the four worst polluted rivers.
B. How to deal with single-use packaging.
C. Means to contribute to the country's economy.
D. What nutritious materials for people to use.
2.Why did Evoware choose seaweed?
A. It could be found everywhere in his country.
B. It was most commonly used for packaging.
C. It didn't require much space and was easy to get.
D. It grew thickly in most of the polluted rivers.
3.What can we infer from Christian's words?
A. Sometimes it's hard to get people to reduce the use of plastics.
B. Their seaweed products have won government support.
C. Their new products have received worldwide popularity.
D. The cost of making seaweed products will be lowered soon.
4.What does the underlined word “hard-sell” (in Para. 5) refer to?
A. Something lasting long. B. Something commonly seen.
C. Something easy to get. D. Something hard to accept.
Phil White has just returned from an 18,000-mile, around-the-world bicycle trip. White had two reasons for making this epic journey. First of all, he wanted to use the trip to raise money for charity, which he did. He raised ＄70,000 for the British charity, Oxfam. White's second reason for making the trip was to break the world record and become the fastest person to cycle around the world. He is still waiting to find out if he has broken the record or not.
White set off from Trafalgar Square, in London, on 19th June 2004 and was back 299 days later. He spent more than l,300 hours in the saddle(车座)and destroyed four sets of tyres and three bike chains. He had the adventure of his life crossing Europe, the Middle East, India, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and the Americas. Amazingly, he did all of this with absolutely no support team. No jeep carrying food, water and medicine. No doctor. Nothing! Just a bike and a very, very long road.
The journey was lonely and desperate at times. He also had to fight his way across deserts, through jungles and over mountains. He cycled through heavy rains and temperatures of up to 45 degrees, all to help people in need. There were other dangers along the road. In Iran, he was chased by armed robbers and was lucky to escape with his life and the little money he had. The worst thing that happened to him was having to cycle into a headwind on a road that crosses the south of Australia. For 1,000 kilometres he battled against the wind that was constantly pushing him. This part of the trip was slow, hard work and depressing, but he made it in the end. Now Mr. White is back and intends to write a book about his adventures.
1.When Phil White returned from his trip, he________.
A. broke the world record B. destroyed several bikes
C. collected money for Oxfam D. travelled about 1,300 hours
2.What does the word "epic" in Paragraph l most probably mean?
A. Very long and difficult. B. Very slow but exciting.
C. Very smooth but tiring. D. Very lonely and depressing.
3.During his journey around the world, Phil White _______.
A. fought heroically against robbers in Iran
B. experienced the extremes of heat and cold
C. had a team of people who travelled with him
D. managed to ride against the wind in Australia
4.Which of the following words can best describe Phil White?
A. determined. B. independent.
C. modest. D. imaginative.
OPENINGS AND PREVIEWS
Antlia Pneumatica
In a new play by Anne Washburn, directed by Ken Rus Schmoll, a group of estranged friends gather at a Texas farm house to bury one of their peers. (Peter Jay Sharp, 416 W. 42nd St. 212-279-4200. In previews.)
Bright Star
Steve Martin and Edie Brickell wrote this bluegrass-and-Americana musical, in which a magazine editor meets a soldier returning from the Second World War. Walter Bobbie directs. (Cort, 138 W. 48th St. 212-239-6200. In previews.)
The Crucible
Ivo van Hove directs Arthur Miller’s classic drama about the Salem witch trials, starring Saoirse Ronan, Ben Whishaw, Ciaran Hinds, and Sophie Okonedo. (Walter Kerr, 219 W. 48th St. 212-239-6200. In previews.)
Dry Powder
John Krasinski, Claire Danes, and Hank Azaria star in Sarah Burgess’s play, in which an executive at a private-equity firm (私人股本公司) tries to rebound from a P.R. disaster. Thomas Kail directs. (Public, 425 Lafayette St. 212-967-7555. In previews. Opens Oct. 28, 2017)
The Father
Frank Langella stars in a play by the French writer Florian Zeller, translated by Christopher Hampton and directed by Doug Hughes for Manhattan Theatre Club, about an eighty-year-old man who is losing his grip on his own life story. (Samuel J. Friedman, 261 W. 47th St. 212-239-6200. Previews begin Oct. 28, 2017)
1.If you’re interested in American music, where can you get entertained?
A. Peter Jay Sharp, 416 W. 42nd St. B. Walter Kerr, 219 W. 48th St.
C. Cort, 138 W. 48th St. D. Public, 425 Lafayette St.
2.If you want to preview a play now, which of the following is not available?
A. Dry Powder B. The Crucible
C. Bright Star D. The Father
3.The author’s purpose of writing the passage is to ________ .
A. entertain B. inform
C. persuade D. describe
假定你是李华，你校计划于下周五2点到5点在学校大礼堂举办中国经典诗歌朗诵比赛。请你用英语给留学生朋友James写一封信，
内容包括：1介绍比赛；2.邀请他前往观看；3.自荐当他的翻译。
注意：1.词数100左右；
2.可以适当增加细节，使行文连贯。
Dear James,
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Yours sincerely,
Li Hua
