One of my favorite posters says, “Life is a test. It is only a test. Had this been a real life, you would have been instructed where to go and what to do.” Whenever I think of this humorous bit of wisdom, it reminds me not to take my life so seriously.
When you look at life and its many challenges as a test, or series of tests, you begin to see each issue you face as an opportunity to grow, a chance to discover more about life. Whether you’re being bombarded(轰炸) with problems, responsibilities, even insurmountable(不能超越的) difficulties, when looked at as a test, you always have a chance to succeed, in the sense of rising above that which is challenging you. If, on the other hand, you see each new issue you face as a serious battle that must be won in order to survive, you’re probably in a very rocky journey. The only time you’re likely to be happy is when everything is working out just right. And we all know how often that happens.
As an experiment, see if you can apply this idea to something you are forced to deal with. Perhaps you have much pressure from your parents or you have a demanding boss. See if you can redefine the issue you face from being a “problem” to being a test. Rather than struggling with your issue, see if there is something you can learn from it. Ask yourself, “Why is this an issue in my life? What would it mean and what would be involved to rise above it? Could I possibly look at this issue any differently? Can I see it as a test of some kind?”
If you give this strategy(策略) a try you may be surprised at your changed responses. It has become far more acceptable to me to accept things as they are.
1.When you begin to consider life as a test, you will find ______.
A.you are bombarded with problems and responsibilities
B.the result of the test is so good that you are likely to be happy
C.you have many opportunities to grow
D.you have a very demanding boss
2.When you see each new issue as a serious battle, you ______.
A.will have more chances to succeed
B.are likely to become happy about life
C.will know how often it happens
D.are probably to experience a bitter life
3.According to the passage, you’d better look at life as a test when ______.
A.you try to get the meaning of the poster
B.you are struggling with your issue
C.you are carrying out an experiment
D.you are in a very rocky journey
4.According to the passage, what is the author’s attitude towards life?
A.He considers life as a test.
B.He has difficulty in facing his hard life.
C.He thinks life is full of humorous wisdom.
D.He thinks life is not only a test but also a serious battle.
Cloze
Have you ever heard of cryosurgery? Cryosurgery involves freezing tissues to extremely cool temperatures. It is a procedure in which ______ body tissues are destroyed by ______ them to extremely cold temperatures. The temperatures used range from -150℃ to absolute zero. The surgical procedure freezes unhealthy tissues, and the freezing destroys the _______. For external injuries, liquid nitrogen (氮), which has a temperature of -196℃, is applied ______ to the cells. For internal tumors (内部肿瘤), liquid nitrogen is circulated( 流通), through an instrument(仪器) called a cryoprob (冷冻探针), a low-temperature probe(探针), cooled by liquid nitrogen.
How does cryosurgery destroy cells? The ice created by the liquid nitrogen will destroy nearly all cells that it _______ in contact with. As ice forms around a cell, the free water inside the cell is ______. This causes the cell to shrink and the walls inside the cell to collapse. Poisonous proteins or chemicals within the cell are released. ______, as the ice around shrunken(收缩) cells begins to melt(融化), large amounts of free water rush back inside the cells, causing them to burst. The dead cells are then removed through normal ________ process.
How well does cryosurgery work? The procedure(过程) has proved successful in removing some tumors. Cryosurgery may be used _______ to remove freckles (for cosmetic reasons) and to treat some skin cancers. It is also used in the treatment of bone cancer to freeze internal bone hollow. Cryosurgery has developed from the _______ attempts to freeze tissues with a salt-ice mixture in the 1850s to the complicated cryoprobe method used today. Despite its success, side effects from cryosurgery tend to be worse if it is done in men who have already had radiation therapy(辐射疗法). Therefore this kind of new surgery is not fit for everyone.
1.A.healthy B.abnormal C.normal D.lively
2.A.exposing B.applying C.adapting D.leading
3.A.tissues B.proteins C.chemicals D.cells
4.A.completely B.directly C.rapidly D.slowly
5.A.keeps B.comes C.stays D.loses
6.A.drawn off B.made out C.made up D.drawn away
7.A.Gradually B.Eventually C.Immediately D.Slowly
8.A.bodily B.mentally C.chemical D.surgical
9.A.as well B.as if C.as for D.as long as
10.A.last B.wrong C.first D.right
Grammar
One day Gene and Hannah Bortnick heard piano music 1.(come) from their living room. They thought their 3-year-old son Ethan 2.(listen) to a CD. Then they walked into the room. To their amazement, they found him playing music on his toy piano!
Having discovered his remarkable talent, Ethan’s parents changed their minds and agreed to his previous begging for piano lessons. They turned to a family member who taught piano, and she began working with Ethan. It wasn’t long, however, 3. the teacher knew that he was no ordinary student. Ethan was a piano prodigy(神童) and needed someone who understood his special talents and abilities. The family found Dr. Irena Kofman, 4. immediately recognized his talent and intelligence.
With Dr. Kofman’s help, Ethan learned about piano technique and different types of music. Before long, he was being asked to perform for many events. Later he was receiving invitations from the likes of Jay Leno and Oprah. Ethan was 6 and in kindergarten 5. he first appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. At that time, he already had over 200 songs 6.(memorize) and was developing a CD.
Today, at the age of 13, it seems there is 7. Ethan cannot do. He plays piano, sings, composes songs and acts. He has entertained audiences around the world with music ranging from Beethoven to Bieber.
In 2010, Ethan became 8.(young) musician to create and host his own TV concert special.
Then in 2013, the performer starred in and wrote music for the movie Anything is Possible.
She told me ________ about my lessons.
A.needn’t worry B.don’t worry C.not to worry D.not worry
In those days my family didn’t have enough room _________.
A.to live B.living in C.to live in D.living
Don’t forget __________ the letter for me when you pass by the post office.
A.post B.to post C.posted D.posting
