A long time ago there was a boy. He was smart, talented and handsome. _________, he was very selfish and his temper was so _________ that nobody wanted to be friends with him. Often he got angry and said various_________ things to people around him.
The boy's parents were very __________about his bad temper. They considered what they could do and one day the father had an idea. He called his son and gave him a hammer and a bag of_________.The father said: “Every time you get angry, take a nail and _________ it into that old fence as hard as you can.”
The fence was very_________and the hammer was heavy, nevertheless the boy was so angry that during the very first day he drove 37 nails.
Day after day, week after week, the number of nails was gradually_________. After some time, the boy started to understand that _________his temper is easier than driving nails into the fence.
One day the boy didn't __________hammer and nails any more as he learned to hold his temper perfectly. So he came to his father and told about his_________. “Now every time, when you hold your temper all day long,_________one nail,”his father said.
Much time has passed. At last the boy could be_________ of himself as all the nails were gone. When he came to his father and told about this, he_________to come and take a careful look at the fence. “You did a good job, my son,_________ pay your attention to the __________ that were left from the nails. The fence will _________ be the same. The same happens when you say hurtful things to people, as your words leave__________in their hearts like those holes in the fence. Remember, we need to _________everyone with love and respect. It is meaningless to say you are sorry, because the scars you leave will not _________.
1.A. Therefore B. However C. Besides D. Instead
2.A. violent B. generous C. gentle D. harmful
3.A. exhausting B. genuine C. hurtful D. terrifying
4.A. patient B. curious C. pleased D. concerned
5.A. coins B. seeds C. nails D. stones
6.A. drive B. place C. throw D. wipe
7.A. soft B. hard C. loose D. strong
8.A. decreasing B. increasing C. staying D. changing
9.A. preventing B. showing C. losing D. holding
10.A. hit B. need C. have D. take
11.A. belief B. admission C. achievement D. attention
12.A. pull out B. destroy C. change D. throw away
13.A. fond B. ashamed C. tired D. proud
14.A. agreed B. offered C. permitted D. wondered
15.A. so B. then C. thus D. but
16.A. holes B. tracks C. damage D. marks
17.A. still B. never C. sometimes D. always
18.A. wounds B. anger C. scars D. pain
19.A. award B. provide C. consider D. treat
20.A. exist B. last C. disappear D. grow
How Can I Fight Laziness?
Lazy people will never gain anything in life. However, laziness can be defeated once a few changes have been made in your mind.
1. Many people lack sleep constantly, since they stay up too late and get up too early to prepare for work. These people have little motivation once they arrive home. Laziness works hand in hand with a lack of motivation and a tendency to put off things. By adjusting your sleep schedule to provide a few more hours of meaningful rest, you can fight laziness throughout the day.
Another way to fight laziness is to change your mind from passive to active. Some people treat their lives as if they were pushed from task to task.2. Laziness appears when you no longer feel in charge of your own mind.
Some people fight laziness by removing the temptations(诱惑) that surround them. A television in the living room may provide entertainment, but watching too much TV often contributes to laziness.3.34. Complete a few tasks and reward yourself with what you enjoy,such as a good dinner or a film.
Laziness can also be a lasting problem at home. Couples and children may all have different energy levels, but laziness can be spread if not dealt with immediately.5. Be the first to collect and wash dishes after a meal. Others in the home may eventually follow your example and perform their own task. It is difficult to practice laziness when you are surrounded by motivated people.
6. Enough exercise and a balanced diet can help you to develop a healthy lifestyle, thus enabling you to have more energy and help lift your spirits.
A. To fight family laziness, set an example.
B. Knowing how to fight laziness is important.
C. One way to fight laziness is to get enough sleep.
D. Finally, taking exercise regularly can help you fight laziness.
E. With strong determination, you will be able to achieve your goal.
F. Create a reward system for yourself, just as parents do for a child.
G. Others take a more positive approach, viewing each task as a challenge they must overcome alone.
Parents often believe that they have a good relationship with their teenagers. But last summer, Joanna and Henry noticed a change in their older son: suddenly he seemed to be talking far more to his friends than to his parents. “The door to his room is always shut.” Joanna noted.
Tina and Mark noticed similar changes in their 14-year-old daughter. ”She used to cuddle up with me on the sofa and talk,” said Mark. “Now we joke that she does this only when she wants something. Sometimes she wants to be treated like a little girl and sometimes like a young lady. The problem is figuring out which time is which.”
Before age 11, children like to tell their parents what’s on their minds. “ In fact, parents are first on the list.” Said Michael Riera, author of Uncommon Sense for Parents with Teenagers. “This completely changes during the teen years.” Riera explained. “They talk to their friends first, then maybe their teachers, and their parents last.”
Parents who know what’s going on in their teenagers’ lives are in the best position to help them. To break down the wall of silence, parents should create chances to understand what their children want to say, and try to find ways to talk and write to them. And they must give their children a mental break, for children also need freedom, though young. Another thing parents should remember is that to be a friend, not a manager, with their children is a better way to know them.
1.What troubles Tina and Mark most is that______
A. their daughter isn't as lovely as before.
B. they can't read their daughter's mind exactly.
C. they don't know what to say to their daughter.
D. their daughter talks with them only when she needs help.
2.Which of the following best explains ”the wall of silence” in the last paragraph?
A. Teenagers talk a lot with their friends.
B. Teenagers do not want to understand their parents.
C. Teenagers do not talk much with their parents.
D. Teenagers talk little about their own lives.
3.What can be learned from the passage?
A. Parents are unhappy with their growing children.
B. Parents have suitable ways to talk with their teenagers.
C. Parents should be patient with their silent teenagers.
D. Parent should try to understand their teenagers.
The impression you make at the beginning of an interview is very important Employers often decide to hire someone in the first three minutes of the interview. They judge you by your appearance, attitude and manners.
A friendly smile when you walk into the room is important. A smile shows a confident and positive attitude.When you introduce yourself, make eye contact with the interviewer. Some interviewers offer a handshake. Others don't.
Try to be as natural as possible. But pay attention to your body language. The way you sit, walk, gesture,use your voice and show feelings on your face is all part of your body language. It makes the interviewer know how you feel about yourself and the situation you are in. Are you feeling positively about yourself？Your abilities? Your interest in the job？
Speak clearly and loudly enough. Show interest and enthusiasm in your voice. When you speak, look at the interviewer. Also, don't say negative things about yourself, or former employer.
Listen to questions carefully. If you don't understand a question, ask the interviewer to repeat or explain:
"I'm sorry, but I didn't catch that."
"I'm not sure exactly what you mean."
Almost everyone is nervous in a job interview. Interviewers know that. They don't expect you to be totally calm and relaxed. But they expect you to try to control your nervousness. They expect you to show confidence in your ability to do the job.
At the end of the interview, thank the interviewer for her or his time. It's a good idea to send a short thank-you letter right after the interview, or deliver it by hand.
Phone the company if you have not heard anything after one week. Ask if they have made a decision about the job.
Good luck!
1.It can be inferred from the passage that _____.
A. you should always put on a smile when meeting the employer
B. you should stand still with respect before the employer
C. the first impression is very important in an interview
D. employers understand and like employees' nervousness
2.Why should we pay attention to our body language？
A. Because it can help us win the employer's positive impression
B. Because it can help us feel about the employer
C. Because it is needed by our employer.
D. Because we need it to improve our feelings
3.The main purpose of the passage is _____.
A. to give you some advice on the art of finding a job
B. to tell right from wrong about job interviews
C. to explain why we should do something about an interview
D. to suggest not being shy in an interview
4.Which of the following can be the best title for the passage？
A. A Friendly Smile
B. Making a Good Expression
C. Don't Be Nervous
D. Sending a Thank-You Letter
Can you imagine being able to remember every single experience of your life and every word in your favorite book? That’s what Becky’s life is like.
Three years ago, Becky was reading a newspaper article which mentioned that it was impossible for people to remember the details of their life in the first three years.“What nonsense!” she thought, because she could clearly remember her life all the way back to when she was just 12 days old. Her parents had carried her to the driver’s seat of their car and laid her down for a photo. But it wasn’t nonsense. She was just one of only 80 known people suffering from a mysterious condition called HSAM（超忆症）.
Becky’s unusual case was shown on a program called 60 Minutes, where reporter Allison tested her ability by asking her about her favorite book series, Harry Potter, Allison would pick up a book and open a page and read her a line. Immediately Becky would name the book, chapter number, chapter name and could recite every word until Allison told her to stop.
Being able to remember every little detail is great, but as every HSAM suffer will tell you, it’s also tough to deal with it. We always forget things to get over sad experiences in our lives, but it’s something that people like Becky can’t do. Even walking on the street and lightly knocking into somebody can bring back bad memories from Becky’s childhood. Also, like Becky, people with HSAM never do well in school, because they have problems picking up the important information from what they've learnt.
Becky’s great brain could help scientists find a cure for terrible mental illnesses like Alzheimer’s.(老年痴呆症) Her condition could hold the secret to treating or even preventing Alzheimer’s.
1.Why was Becky asked questions on 60 minutes?
A. To help treat her illness.
B. To advertise Harry Potter.
C. To test her ability to remember.
D. To encourage other kids to read.
2.To Becky, forgetting painful experiences of her life is .
A. a heavy burden B. a happy thing
C. a great ability D. a big chance
3.Why does Becky do poorly in her school work?
A. She is always absent—minded in class.
B. She feels sad every time she begins to study.
C. She can't understand the teacher in class.
D. She remembers too much information and can't tell which is important.
4.What does the author want to say in the last paragraph?
A. There is a cure for Becky's illness.
B. Scientists have found a cure for Alzheimer’s.
C. Becky will suffer from another mental illness.
D. Becky’s case is helpful for scientists to treat Alzheimer’s.
Apple Seeds
Circulation(发行量): 1 Year, 9 Issues
Cover Price: $44.55
Price For You: $33.95
Product Description: Apple Seeds is an award winning magazine filled with stories for kids aged from 7 to 9. The cover is very soft, providing durability that allows each issue to be enjoyed for many years to come. Besides, there is a big surprise for you --- it's being sold at a more favorable discount than usual.
Better Life
Circulation: 1 Year, 12 Issues
Cover Price: $44.55
Price For You: $15.00
Product Description: Designed for those who have a strong interest in personal lifestyle, Better Life is America's complete home and family service magazine. It offers help with food, recipes, decorating, building, gardening, family health, money management, and education.
Humor Times
Circulation: 1 Year, 12 Issues
Cover Price: $36.00
Price For You: $11.95
Product Description: Humor Times Magazine is for those who love to laugh! Full of cartoons and humor columns, it shows up in your mailbox once a month and keeps you smiling all year round! In today's world, you need a reason to laugh. So let's find it in Humor Times.
News China
Circulation: 1 Year, 12 Issues
Cover Price: $47.88
Price For You: $19.99
Product Description: News China Magazine is the English edition of China Newsweek. The magazine covers the latest Chinese domestic news in politics, business, society, environment, culture, sports and travels, etc. It is the first comprehensive news magazine for readers interested in China.
1.What do we know about Apple Seeds?
A. The soft cover enables it to be read and kept long.
B. It can be purchased as an award for your children.
C. It offers the biggest discount among all the magazines.
D. The magazine is going to surprise you for many years.
2.Tom wants to beautify his house, so he may choose ______.
A. Apple Seeds B. Better Life
C. Humor Times D. News China
3.What kind of people may buy News China?
A. People who have an interest in Personal lifestyle of the Chinese.
B. People who have a strong sense of humor and love to laugh.
C. People who want to enlarge the knowledge of their kids.
D. People who are interested in China's politics, business and culture.
4.Which magazine may best help relieve your work stress?
A. Apple Seeds B. Better Life
C. Humor Times D. News China
