Financial Education-Awareness Dilemma
When it comes to financial education, the majority of today's youth will regard it as a necessity for certain specific people who want to make their career in the financial world. 1. Actually, elementary financial education is a must for all, as money transaction is an essential part of our day-to-day life.
Suppose you have $100 in a saving account that pays simple interest at the rate of 2%per year. lf you leave the money in the account, how much will you have accumulated after 5 years: more than $102, exactly $102, or less than $102? The test might look simple, but only half of the people surveyed gave the correct answer.
2.The explanation goes as follows: People with low levels of financial literacy suffer from that lack of knowledge at every stage of their lives. Researchers on this subject say people with a high degree of financial literacy are more likely to plan for their retirement. 3.
On the contrary, people who have a lower degree of financial literacy tend to borrow more, accumulate less wealth, and pay more in fees related financial products. They are less likely to invest, more likely to experience difficulty with debt, and less likely to know the terms of their mortgages and other loans. Thus, the cost of this financial ignorance is very high. 4.
What is the solution? 5. Like reading and math, financial education must become part of the core curriculum in our schools. Likewise, parents should engage in regular, constructive conversations about money matters. This will give their kids a solid foundation for financial well-being, which will keep on giving returns throughout the course of their lives.
A. Financial education must start early.
B. However, they miss an important point.
C. Why does each of us have to face a financial challenge?
D. Why does financial literacy matter so much in our society'?
E. Rich people are generally better educated on financial management.
F. Besides, these people have more than double the wealth of people who don’t.
G. For example, they frequently make late credit card payments, overspend their credit limit, etc.
“If I only had a little humility, I’d be perfect,” the media giant Ted Turner supposedly said sometime in the 1990s. Why be modest? Aristotle said: “All men by nature desire to know.” Intellectual humility is a particular instance of humility, since you can be down-to-earth about most things but still ignore your mental limitations.
Intellectual humility means recognising that we don’t know everything. Actually, it means we should acknowledge that we're probably biased in our belief about just how much we understand and seek out the sources of wisdom that we lack.
The Internet and digital media have created the impression of limitless knowledge at our fingertips. But, by making us lazy, they have opened up a space that ignorance can fill. The psychologist Tania Lombrozo of the University of California explained how technology enhances our illusions (错觉) of wisdom. She argues that the way we access information is critical to our understanding — and the more easily we can recall an image, word or statement, the more likely we’ll think we’ve successfully learned it, and so withdraw from effortful cognitive processing. Logical puzzles presented in an unfriendly font (字体), for example, can encourage someone to make extra effort to solve them. Yet this approach runs counter to the nice designs of the apps and sites that populate our screens, where our brain processes information in a “smooth” way. What about all the information that presents online? Well, your capacity to learn from it depends on your attitudes. Intellectually humble people don’t hide or ignore their weaknesses. In fact, they see them as sources of personal development, and use arguments as an opportunity to refine their views. People who are humble by nature tend to be more open-minded and quicker to resolve disputes, since they recognise that their own opinions might not be valid.
At the other end of the scale lies intellectual arrogance. Such arrogance almost always originates from the egocentric bias – the tendency to overestimate their own virtue or importance, ignoring the role of chance or the influence of other people’s actions on their lives. This is what makes these people credit success to themselves and failure to circumstance. From an evolutionary perspective, intellectual arrogance can also be seen as a way of achieving dominance through forcing one’s view on others. Intellectually arrogant people hardly invest mental resources in discussion or working towards group consensus, thus making it hard for groups to work successfully.
The Thrive Center for Human Development in California, which seeks to help young people tum into successful adults, is funding a series of major studies about intellectual humility. Their hypothesis is that humility, curiosity and openness are key to a fulfilling life. “Without humility, you are unable to learn,” Laszlo Bock, Google’s Head of People Operations, notes.
1.The passage is mainly about ______.
A.the harm arrogance does to us
B.the key elements to a fulfilling life
C.the significance of intellectual humility
D.the way people access information online
2.Technology enhances our illusions of wisdom because it ______.
A.enables people to think critically
B.offers too much unreliable information
C.allows easy access to abundant information
D.makes it hard for people to recall information
3.According to Para.3, intellectually humble people ______.
A.value others’ opinions more than their own
B.use online information to better themselves
C.are unwilling to show their strengths
D.prefer to solve difficult problems
4.The author will probably agree that ______.
A.intellectual arrogance is the result of evolution
B.intellectually arrogant people often lack team spirits
C.successful people are often unaware of their limitations
D.circumstances don’t favor intellectually arrogant people
One day, gardeners might not just hear the buzz of bees among their flowers, but the whirr of robots, too. Scientists have managed to turn an unassuming drone (无人机) into a remote-controlled pollinator (授粉媒介) by attaching horsehairs coated with a special, sticky gel to its underbelly.
Animal pollinators are needed for the reproduction of 90% of flowering plants and one third of human food crops. Chief among those are bees — but many bee populations in the United States have been in steep decline in recent decades. Thus, the decline of bees isn't just worrisome because it could disrupt ecosystems, but also because it could disrupt agriculture and economy. People have been trying to come up with replacement techniques, but none of them are especially effective yet.
Scientists have thought about using drones, but they haven't figured out how to make free-flying robot insects that can rely on their own power source without being attached to a wire. “It’s very tough work,” said senior author Eijiro Miyako, a chemist at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology. His particular contribution to the field involves a gel, one he’d considered a mistake 10 years before and stuck in a storage cabinet. When it was rediscovered a decade later, it hadn’t dried up or degraded at all. “I was so surprised because it still had high viscosity,” Miyako said.
The chemist noticed that when dropped, the gel absorbed an impressive amount of dust from the floor. Miyako realized this material could be very useful for picking up pollen (花粉). He and his colleagues chose a drone and attached horsehairs to its smooth surface to mimic a bee’s fuzzy body. They coated those horsehairs in the gel, and then controlled the drones over lilies, where they would pick up the pollen from one flower and then deposit the pollen at another one, thus fertilizing it.
The scientists looked at the hairs under a scanning electron microscope and counted up the pollen grains attached to the surface and found that the drones whose horsehairs had been coated with the gel had about 10 times more pollen than those that had not been coated with the gel.
Miyako does not think such drones would replace bees altogether, but could simply help bees with their pollinating duties. There’s a lot of work to be done before that's a reality, however. Small drones will need to become more controllable and energy efficient, as well as smarter, with better GPS and artificial intelligence.
1.What does the underlined word “viscosity” in Para.3 probably mean?
A.Hardness. B.Stickiness.
C.Flexibility. D.Purity.
2.We can learn from the passage that ______.
A.bees disrupt both agriculture and economy
B.scientists have invented self-powered robot insects
C.bees in the United States are on the edge of extinction
D.Miyako found the special feature of the gel by chance
3.A drone works best in picking up pollen when ______.
A.its body is made like a bee’s
B.its GPS works more efficiently
C.some flowers are coated with the gel
D.horsehairs with the gel are attached to it
4.According to Eijiro Miyako, the drones ______.
A.are not yet ready for practical use
B.may eventually replace bees in the future
C.are much more efficient than bee pollinators
D.can provide a solution to economic depression
My Grandpa Forgets Who I Am
A few days ago I visited my grandfather in hospital. He has Alzhemier’s—a degenerative disease that usually starts slowly and gets worse over time. I thought I was prepared to see him. I knew chances were slim that he'd actually recognize me.
He didn’t. As a matter of fact, he had no idea that he even had grandchildren. But he was excited that somebody came to visit him. I tried to explain to him who I was. But after he told me multiple times that he didn’t have grandchildren, I gave up. And my heart broke into a million little pieces.
I was tired of explaining things to him. So I just smiled. He smiled back. It's a genuine smile. Like a long time ago, when he’d take me by the hand and made this big world a little bit less scary for me. Now I have to take his hand.
We sat in silence for a little while, before he told me to call my grandma. This was the first time I had tried so hard to hold back tears. My grandma died four years ago and he didn't remember. He thought she was stuck on her way to pick him up.
My grandpa used to be a strong, hard-working man. He was the person you turned to when you needed your car fixed, your tires changed or something heavy to be carried. Sadly, that man left this world a long time ago, and left behind a man that is lost and scared.
I want to help him. I want to make him feel better. I want to tell him about his old life, and how great it was. So I sat with him and I held his hand, and every once in a while I told him how good he looked and how much I liked the color of his shirt and how it brought out the blue in his eyes. I told him that my grandma was on her way whenever he asked about her, and I made sure the glass in his hand was always filled with water.
I can’t take away his pain. I can’t help him remember. I can’t make the disease go away. All I can do is hold on to the memories—hold on for both of us.
1.When the author first saw her grandpa in hospital ______.
A.she gave up on him
B.they were both excited
C.he didn’t recognize her
D.they talked about the past
2.The author was close to tears because ______.
A.grandma died about four years ago
B.grandpa needed to be taken care of
C.grandma didn’t make it to the hospital
D.grandpa believed grandma was still alive
3.Which of the following best describe the author?
A.Tolerant and merciful.
B.Considerate and patient.
C.Warm-hearted and grateful.
D.Strong-minded and generous.
4.The author wrote this passage to ______.
A.show pity towards her grandpa
B.record memories of her grandpa
C.express deep love for her grandpa
D.call on further study on Alzheimer’s
Every week there are amazing things to do in Los Angeles with kids! We’ve collected a list of what we think are the most fun, most interesting family events in LA at the beginning of 2020—and hopefully will result in LA parents and kids having the best time together as a family!
Kids Were Activities
Vroman’s Bookstore 695 E. Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91101
Vroman’s Bookstore is hosting special Kids Week Activities all week long from Monday, Jan. 6th through Friday, Jan. 10th. Different activities are planned each day including an Art Extravaganza (on Tuesday) and Superhero Day (on Wednesday). All activities are free, but reserve in advance to make sure there are enough supplies and materials available for everyone. Check the website for a schedule of events.
Into the Woods
Hollywood Bowl 2301 N. Highland Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90068
Enjoy a performance of Into the Woods happening at the Hollywood Bowl on Friday, Jan. 10th (8:00 pm), Saturday, Jan. 11th (8:00 pm), and Sunday, Jan. 12th (7:30 pm). Be a part of “an enchanted world of magic beans, towering giants, and handsome princes.” Tickets are available online.
Family Sandcastle Building Day
Cabrillo Marine Aquarium 3720 Stephen M. White Dr., San Pedro, CA 90731
Head to the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium on Saturday, Jan.11th 10:00 am to 3:00 pm for Family Sandcastle Building Day. Bring your favorite sandcastle building tools and your creativity to this free event.(The sand on the beach will already be thoroughly wet down and ready for creative builders!)
Outdoor Art Moves, Winter 2020 & 826LA@Hammer: Who's Got the Art? Hammer Museum 10899 Wilshire BIvd, Los Angeles, CA 90024
The Hammer Museum is hosting two different special events on Sunday, Jan.12th. At both 11:00 am & 1:00 pm, children aged 5 and above can participate in Outdoor Art Moves, Winter 2020 led by movement director Zoe Rappa -port. Families will“discover relationships between nature, art, and the creative process” during these special movement activities. Free popsicles will be available after the program.
Also happening at 11:00 am is 826LA@Hammer: Who's Got the Art? Children aged 8-14 will help “inspect the galleries, correct clues, and crack the case of a legendary mystery theft." This workshop is designed for up to 20 students, so reservations are encouraged.
1.Which activity needs to be booked in advance?
A.Kids Week Activities. B.The performance Into the Woods.
C.Family Sandcastle Building Day. D.Outdoor Art Moves, Winter 2020.
2.For kids enjoying playing detectives, they can go ______ .
A.695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena
B.2301 N. Highland Ave, Los Angeles
C.3720 Stephen M. White Dr. San Pedro
D.10899 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angles
3.The passage is mainly intended for ______.
A.parents and kids B.artists and directors
C.guides and tourists D.builders and architects
“Are you going to the audition (试镜)?” Someone asked Connie, as we came out of ballet class.
“What audition?” I asked.
“Oh, nothing,” said Connie. “It’s for The Ed Sullivan Show. You wouldn’t be _______.”
The Ed Sullivan Show was a famous one-hour show on CBS. They constantly needed performers for their new shows. This time they were looking for six dancers to support the star performer Jimmy Durante.
“Why not? I’d love to go!” I _______.
Connie smiled at me and said, “I don’t think you are _______ yet, Eva.”
Later that night, I couldn’t fall asleep. It _______ me. Who said I shouldn’t go to the audition? Only because I was a young novice (新手)? How would I know if I didn’t try?
The next morning, I _______ I was going to the audition. I packed my dancing shoes, and put on bright red lipstick. As I looked at my _______ in the mirror, I saw one thing missing. I put on a smile.
I took the subway to the Eighth Avenue and walked to the rehearsal studio. I _______ and took my place nervously.
Connie and five of my other friends were there. “What are you doing here?” one asked.
I said simply, “Well, I have nothing to lose by _______.”
The look I got said, “Okay. _______.”
The audition began. All the other dancers had confident but expressions. I had a smile. ________
More and more dancers were knocked out. I was still there with my friends. Then we were asked to do a jeté en l’air ________: stand on one leg, kick the other one up and out as close to a split as possible, and then do a turn in the air. Hopefully, you’d land on both feet.
All the other candidates did the jeté beautifully. It was my turn. I took the preparatory step, and with that never-ending smile, I leaped up into the air, turned in mid-air and ________ flat on my back. But even then, the smile never ________ my face.
When everything settled down, my friends were instructed to go to the right. When I was told to go to the left, their faces told they felt ________ for me.
I picked up my belongings and prepared to leave when the choreographer called out to me, “Where are you going? You’ve got the ________if you want it.”
Did I want it? I certainly did. I thought I had been ________!
There were no jetés in the ________. I made my first appearance on national TV. I never stopped ________, and I always landed on my feet.
Had I not believed I could do it, and had I not tried, I would have ________ out on a thoroughly enjoyable experience.
It proved once again that a smile will get one ________ than a frown ever will.
1.A.qualified B.interested C.available D.suitable
2.A.declared B.complained C.requested D.suggested
3.A.stable B.flexible C.ready D.mature
4.A.inspired B.bothered C.discouraged D.shocked
5.A.admitted B.promised C.confirmed D.decided
6.A.costume B.shadow C.reflection D.reaction
7.A.called in B.signed in C.logged in D.joined in
8.A.consulting B.fighting C.training D.trying
9.A.Whoever B.Whatever C.Wherever D.Whenever
10.A.delighted B.proud C.impatient D.serious
11.A.immediately B.formally C.gradually D.individually
12.A.landed B.stayed C.lay D.hung
13.A.approached B.changed C.left D.covered
14.A.puzzled B.relieved C.nervous D.sorry
15.A.job B.gift C.dance D.reward
16.A.dismissed B.cheated C.rejected D.ignored
17.A.show B.contest C.interview D.play
18.A.smiling B.acting C.laughing D.leaping
19.A.stood B.taken C.missed D.come
20.A.freer B.further C.faster D.fitter
