How's your happiness quotient (指数) ? Science tells us that if you want to increase your "happiness quotient" every day, it's important to take time and accept the present blessings (恩赐) in your life.
I wanted to share a moment of feeling about some of my blessings and what's in my life to be grateful for as Thanksgiving approaches.
One of our family traditions at our Thanksgiving meal is to go around the table and to let each one share something we're especially thankful for.
I'm going to recite lots of things, including that I'm grateful for my health, my loving husband, and the wonderful relationship we share. My husband joins me for 3-mile walk to start our day. The exercise habit keeps our moods in check and the ups and downs of life easier to manage. We talk as we walk, sharing ideas, worries and good feelings too. Sometimes we argue a little until we figure out what to do. We always come up with something. What a blessing that is!
It is so much to be grateful for. I feel I am the luckiest woman alive. It's my wish for you that you'll be able to spot something in your life. I hope yet you will savor (体味) and appreciate it.
Many of us spend the holiday with our aging parents or other loved ones. In my work at AgthgParents. com, we just reminded everyone that you never know if there will be another Thanksgiving with these loved ones. We can't take the day for granted. Just be in the moment. We suggest that you verbally give thanks to your parents, no matter what conditions your aging parents may be in now. Do what you can to be tuned in to what you need as well as what your family needs.
1.What’s the best title for the text?
A. Why I'm so lucky? B. How I spend my Thanksgiving Day?
C. How to increase happiness quotient? D. What is happiness quotient?
2.The underlined word "spot" in Paragraph 5 can be replaced by "__________".
A. create B. discover C. do D. affect
3.From the author's experiences we can infer that __________.
A. she lives a happy life B. she should thank everyone
C. she had an unfortunate life D. she likes staying with the old
How often do you exercise? A new study found that most kids aged 12 to 15 weren't getting enough physical activity. The results were based on about 800 kids. As part of the study, the kids tracked and reported on their own activity levels, and took physical exams.
U. S. fitness guidelines suggest an hour or more of physical activity every day. According to the study, only 1in 4 U.S. kids get enough physical activity.
"It's certainly worrying to see that our kids have such a limited amount of physical activity each day,” said Dr. Stephen Pont. He is an expert on children's health.
Few kids in the study met the guidelines on physical activity that raises the heart rate and makes people breathe harder. Overall, about 25% said they got an hour of that kind of exercise every day. Kids also reported on which activities they did most often outside of school gym class--basketball for boys and running for girls.
The study found that fat teenagers were less active than normal-weight girls and boys. Fat girls were slightly less active than normal-weight girls, but levels were similar among overweight and normal-weight boys. The study also said that the percent of fat children aged 2 to 19 was 17%, or about 12.5 million kids.
"There's always room for improvement," said Tala Fakhouri, who was the leader of the study. She also said the results provide useful information to help with fitness campaigns such as Let's Move, which was initiated by Michelle Obama in 2010. To inspire kids to eat right and get in shape, Michelle visits schools and holds exercise events. She also calls on schools to offer regular gym classes.
The study also found kids who get physical education at school may get better grades.
1.What is the result of the new study?
A. 800 kids don't get enough physical activity.
B. Most U.S. kids don't get enough exercise.
C. Kids should get physical activity every day.
D. It's important to take physical exams.
2.Which of the following sports do girls like best?
A. Swimming. B. Basketball. C. Running. D. Gym.
3.What's the purpose of the campaign Let's Move?
A. To help kids to keep fit. B. To provide useful information.
C. To offer regular gym classes. D. To hold exercise events.
4.According to the study children with enough exercise may__________.
A. be less active than fat children B. be more willing to help others
C. do better in their studies D. try their best to get in shape
The British are known for their sense of humour. However, it is often difficult for foreigners to understand their jokes. The main point to remember is that the British often use understatement.
Understatement means saying less than you think or feel. For example, if someone gets very wet in a shower of rain, he might say, "It's a little damp(潮湿的)outside.”Or, if someone is very impolite and shouts at another person, someone else might say, "She isn't exactly friendly." Understatement is often used in unpleasant situation or to make another person look silly. Understatement plays an important part in British humour.
Another key to understanding British humour is that the British like to make fun of themselves as well as others. They often laugh about the silly and unpleasant things that happen to our everyday life when someone accidentally falls over in the street. They also like to make jokes about people from different classes of society. They like to make jokes about their accents, the way they dress and the way they behave. What's more, the British love to watch comedies about people who do not know how to behave in society. The comedy series Mr. Bean is a good example of this kind of humour. Mr. Bean is the character created by British actor Rowan Atkinson in 1990.
Mr. Bean doesn't talk often, and instead he uses his body movements and facial expressions to make people laugh. Perhaps what makes Mr. Bean so funny is that he does things that adults in the real world cannot do. Mr. Bean is popular in many countries around the world because you do not have to speak English to understand the humour. Because of this, many people have become familiar with the British sense of humour.
1.Why is it difficult for foreigners to understand British jokes?
A. The British often enlarge the fact.
B. British jokes are connected with many different cultures.
C. The British try to make out that something is less important than it is.
D. British jokes are not as funny as jokes in other countries.
2.The author explains understatement by__________.
A. using examples B. making comparisons
C. following time order D. describing a process
3.Mr. Bean makes people laugh by__________.
A. telling funny stories B. making jokes about others' accents
C. copying how others behave D. using his body movements and facial expressions
4.What can be the best title for the text?
A. British Humour in Comedy B. Humour in Different Cultures
C. Developing Your Sense of Humour D. Understanding British Humour
Visit Chicago Children's Museum
In brief:
This museum offers plenty of fun hands-on activities for kids. However, this is one of the few Chicago museums not "fun for the whole family" as adults and older kids will be bored to tears.
Address: 700 East Grand Ave. (Navy Pier), Chicago
Phone: 312- 527-1000
Public transportation:
CTA bus lines # 29 (State Street ), #65 (Grand Avenue), and # 66( Chicago Avenue) all serve Navy Pier.
Parking fees:
· Monday through Thursday: $ 20
· Friday through Sunday: $ 24
· Holidays: $ 24
Opening hours:
· Weekdays: 10 am- 5 pm
· Weekends: 10 am- 8 pm
Entrance fees:
·Adults: $12
·Children: $12
·Seniors (65+): $11
·Children (under 5): free
Activities:
Located at one of Chicago's top tourist attractions, Navy Pier, the museum offers three floors of activities for kids, including:
·Play It Safe--all about home safety
·Inventing Lab--provides parts and instructions for creating things
·Kids Town--a playroom recreating a Chicago neighborhood where kids can pretend to do things like shopping for groceries and driving a CTA bus
·Climbing Schooner--a three-floor climbing building
·My Museum--kids get to create various pieces of art that are "all about me"
·Skyline--kids learn about skyscrapers and design their own buildings
·Tree House Trails--a play area designed like a forest
·Waterways--water activities showing how pumps and dams work
1.How much will John (10), his parents (40) and sister (6) pay if they drive to the museum at 2 pm on Monday?
A. $ 36. B. $48. C. $ 56. D. $ 68.
2.Kids who are fond of creating works of art should choose __________.
A. Play It Safe B. Inventing Lab C. My Museum D. Skyline
3.If you go to Kids Town, you can __________.
A. go on a short trip to a forest B. buy some gifts for your friends
C. know more about pumps and dams D. experience Chicago neighborhood life
4.What can we know about Chicago Children's Museum?
A. It is a three-floor building.
B. It is not fit for adults or older kids.
C. It is the most popular museum in Chicago.
D. It is one of Chicago's top tourist attractions.
听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1.What was the speaker like five years ago?
A. He didn’t like talking too much. B. He spent much time outside.
C. He rarely watched TV.
2.What made the speaker start exercising?
A. His terrible shape. B. His friend’s encouragement.
C. His poor health.
3.What did the speaker start doing a year and a half ago?
A. Swimming. B. Playing tennis. C. Climbing mountains.
4.What do we know about the speaker?
A. He is still out of shape. B. He has bad habits. C. He has changed a lot.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.What does the man want to do?
A. Have a rest for a while. B. Book a room for two nights.
C. Have a seat in the hall.
2.What is happening while the two speakers are talking?
A. A man is checking out of the hotel. B. The porter is bringing in the man’s luggage.
C. The woman is helping at the check-out desk.
3.Which telephone can the man use?
A. The phone in the hall. B. The phone at the business center.
C. The phone on the woman’s desk.
4.What service does the man ask about at the end?
A. Free breakfast. B. Wake-up service. C. Do not disturb.
