I used to spend the second half of Sunday fearing Monday morning. Over the years, little tweaks to my routine and changes in my ideas have changed things to the point that I am in the “I Love Mondays” camp. Here’s what I’ve found that works:
Consider Sunday nights your warm-up for Monday. Get everything you need for the morning ready to go. If mornings are a struggle… give it a try at least for Mondays and see if it makes a difference. Once that’s done, consider a special “Sunday Night Only” calming down ritual (惯例). It might be tea and a favorite TV show, or it might be a long hot bath and reading until you’re ready for sleep. Whatever it is, enjoy this Monday morning warm-up, and consider sleeping a little earlier than you’re used to, in order to help with the second step.
One of my favorite parts of the weekend is sleeping in and waking up when I’m ready instead of fighting with the alarm for “Just five more minutes!” Sleeping a little early on Sunday night can help with getting up a little early on Monday morning — not to pack more into your morning to-do list, but to give yourself time to take it slowly. When you have a little extra time in the morning, you can gently settle into the day and keep that weekend feeling of ease as you start your new week.
Find a theme for the week. Every Monday, I post an inspiring quote or saying. These are intentional! Each week, as part of my Sunday night calming down time, I consider what I’d like to focus on in the coming week, and look for a quote that’s a good fit to strengthen it.
What are you excited about for the new week? What problem-solving opportunities do you have? What’s been hanging over your head undone from last week? During your preparation time on Sunday night, think about the week ahead and mark a few things that you want to get done and can reasonably accomplish. If possible, schedule at least one of them for Monday, so you’ve started your week off feeling successful, instead of feeling like there’s a mountain of tasks ahead of you. The work is the same either way, but our attitudes are always within our control.
When you are intentionally creating a life you love, Mondays begin to feel less like drudgery (单调乏味的苦差事), and more like a beautiful start!
1.The underlined word “tweaks” is the nearest in meaning to _________.
A.mistakes B.adjustments
C.encouragements D.problems
2.You had better start Monday morning _________.
A.with some morning exercises
B.with a morning to-do list
C.by getting thing ready on Sunday nights
D.by getting up early to do more things
3.What’s the benefit of getting up early enough on Monday morning?
A.It can help you get to your office and start work in time.
B.You can have enough time to make a to-do list for the week.
C.You can have enough time to sit with your tea or coffee.
D.It can make you feel the weekend feeling a little longer by starting slowly.
4.What does the author want to indicate in Para.5?
A.Be confident to solve the problems.
B.Look for opportunities for the week.
C.Positive attitude means a happy Monday.
D.Arrange your tasks well for the week.
5.What might be the best title for this passage?
A.How to Love Your Mondays B.How Do You Spend Mondays
C.Troublesome Monday Disease D.Monday Morning Warm Up
It is always difficult when we are exposed to someone who has a different opinion than our own. When opinions differ, there is often a conflict. This is where much of the conflict with adults and teens begins. Therefore, it is important to always make the difference clear between fact and opinion. Opinions change, facts always remain the same.
I have found that it does absolutely no good to tell someone they’re wrong. I have found that to be more effective is to help someone see the consequences of their behavior for themselves. If you don’t know there is the cliff, why would you ever be concerned about being close to the edge?
I dealt with a teen today who was involved in some gangster (歹徒) activities. This girl was raised in a good home with concerned parents. However, other interests have taken over in her life. Friends have become everything. These friends come from different families with different values. This is where the conflict has appeared in her life. The challenge for the rest of us is helping this girl see how and where her new interests will take her. We have felt mild success as relationships of trust are built and improved.
In the end, however, the teen has to make a choice regarding this conflict. It is important for adults to remember how serious this choice is. For some this can feel like a choice between life and death. It’s easy for the rest of us to be casual about this because the right choice seems so obvious to us. It is important to know it is much different to this young person who is still developing and searching. Therefore, it is important that the adult should do everything possible to help the teen be fully informed about the choice before them. Provide choices and show how making different choices will improve things and provide security for the teen now and in the future.
The choice to go with the crowd or with the few can be a very difficult one to make. I believe it is absolutely essential that we never give up on these kids. Our very own future is absolutely at key point any time we advise and guide the youth.
1.From paragraph 1 we know the gap between father and son lies in that _________.
A.facts always remain the same
B.opinions are always different from facts
C.different opinions result from their conflict
D.they have a disagreement about the same fact
2.What contributes to the girl’s crime according to the text?
A.Different values. B.Unconcerned parents.
C.Her poor family. D.Gangster activities
3.Adults should try their best to help teens make a choice regarding the conflict because _________.
A.the wrong choice will lead to complete failure in the future
B.the choice is difficult to make for still developing teens
C.the right choice is easy for adults to see and understand
D.the choice made by teens determines their life or death
4.Why should the adult never stop helping the teen according to the last paragraph?
A.Because the teen won’t give up themselves.
B.Because the adults’ future depends on the youth.
C.Because the adult can give advice and guidance.
D.Because the teen’s future is in danger.
5.It can be inferred from the text that _________.
A.showing the results of their behavior is a good way to help people
B.helping teenagers always means meeting trouble
C.it’s quite easy to keep a good relationship with others
D.it’s hard to make wise choices in our life
Our particular parenting style reflects our own way of “looking”. Here’s a great piece of writing reflecting parent’s particular ways on the parenting style that have become known humorously as helicopter parenting and submarine (潜水艇) parenting.
Helicopter parents hover over their children, managing every aspect of their child’s life. On the contrary, submarine parents remain “hidden” coming to the surface when guidance is needed.
While helicopter parents may have the best intentions, in reality, they are raising children with few problem-solving skills. Children with hovering parents never get the chance to face disappointment and build up their own ability to recover from misfortune.
Think about your typical submarine. Submarines usually remain underwater. In case of a need for emergency surfacing, submarines can rise so quickly that they are driven partially out of the water. Submarine parents also remain out of sight, yet able to pop up in the case of an emergency.
I admit I’m a submarine mom. My job as a parent is to have fun with my daughters while letting them explore and learn natural consequences.
My older daughter found herself acting in commercials and making more than minimum wage as a teen. To give her a sense of the real world, I insisted she spend three weeks every summer, picking strawberries and earning $3.50 on a good day.
When my youngest daughter Sondra was six, she wanted a very expensive American Girl Doll. I cut the full color 18-inch picture out of the American Girl catalogue and had it laminated (压膜). “Here’s your American Girl Doll.” I said, “When you turn nine, I’ll buy you the 3D doll on your birthday.” Sondra played with her flat doll for months, making clothes and furniture for her. She learned creativity. I saved $88.00.
1.The passage is mainly about _________.
A.various means of growing up B.funny experiences of a mom
C.humorous stories about parents D.different styles of parenting
2.The underlined phrase “hover over” in Paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to “_________”.
A.leave behind B.fly away
C.watch over D.set aside
3.Which of the following is TRUE of helicopter parents?
A.They give their children proper guidance.
B.They try to do everything for their children.
C.They teach their children how to face failures.
D.They help their children explore by themselves.
4.It can be inferred from the last two paragraphs that Mom _________.
A.has good parenting skills B.is always making promises
C.is strict with her daughter D.tries her best to save money
5.The author supports her point of view mainly by _________.
A.stating facts and offering advice
B.using figures and giving evidence
C.analyzing data and drawing conclusions
D.making comparisons and giving examples
As the Nation’s Capital City, Washington, DC has hundreds of wonderful museums to visit. Here are some of the most famous ones.
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
There is something for everyone at this world-known museum. Natural history is good for all ages and there are so many artifacts (史前古器物) that you can’t possibly see them all in one visit. The dinosaur exhibits are fascinating and great for kids.
Address: 10th Street and Constitution Ave., NW Washington, DC;
Phone: (202) 633-1000
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
This museum gives visitors a close-up view of air and space travel with 22 exhibition galleries, displaying hundreds of artifacts including the Wright 1903 Flyer, the “Spirit of St. Louis”, and part of the Apollo 11.
Address: Independence Ave. at 7th St. SW Washington, DC;
Phone: (202) 357-2700.
U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum
The museum is a memorial to the millions of Jews who died during the Nazi regime (政权) in Germany during World War II. The exhibits tell us the terrible history. There is a separate exhibit for kids, which tells the story of the cruelty of the Nazi through the eyes and voice of a young boy.
Address: 100 Raoul Wallenberg Place, SW, Washington, DC;
Phone: (800) 400-9373.
Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens
Few people went to the home of George Washington because it is located outside of the city. In fact, it is a must-see attraction. The museum and education center features 25 state-of-the-art galleries and theaters that tell the story of Washington’s life.
Address: George Washington Parkway, Mount Vernon, VA;
Phone: (703) 780-2000.
Prices: Adults — $18.00; Children aged 6 through 11 — 50% discount off the price.
1.If you are interested in airplanes, you can probably go to ________.
A.10th Street and Constitution Ave B.Independence Ave
C.100 Raoul Wallenberg Place D.George Washington Parkway
2.Which number will you call at if you want to learn more about the exhibit only for children?
A.(202) 633-1000. B.(202) 357-2700.
C.(800) 400-9373. D.(703) 780-2000.
3.How much will they pay if a couple and a 7-year-old child visit Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens?
A.27 dollars. B.37 dollars.
C.45 dollars. D.54 dollars.
4.Which museum is outside of the city Washington, DC?
A.Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
B.Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
C.U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum
D.Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens
5.What’s the main purpose of the author’s writing this passage?
A.To attract more visitors to visit these museums.
B.To tell visitors how to visit these museums.
C.To provide visitors some routes to the museums.
D.To make Washington, DC better known.
When I was just out of college, I managed to get my dream job as a trader in New York City on the floor of the American Stock (股票) Exchange. Though it was a proud ________ , the job was simply too physically ________ . I must stand in a crowd every day, which often ________ me in a mindset (心态) that held me back.
Manhattan is a walking town and it’s difficult to ________ when you have a disability. Taxis are expensive and riding the subway ________ dozens of steep steps to get below ________ . This left me only one ________ — the bus.
One night, after the ________ for my job, I was aching with my self-pity ________ it started to rain on my walk to the bus stop. I became more and more ________ without an umbrella, thinking I’d never ________ it in this city and telling myself, “this city is just too hard” and “maybe it is just not possible for a guy like me”.
And then, I ________ the most beautiful, short moment. A couple came rolling by on roller skates, hand ________ hand as they skated what seemed like the tango (探戈). They were all wet but they saw the ________ as an opportunity and romance.
I suddenly became ________ for waiting in the rain because I would have missed this beauty ________ if I had been in a taxi or on the subway. This, although ________ , was an important moment on my journey to discovering the ________ of achieving health and happiness. When I change my mindset, ________ for a moment, to what is possible and work to get rid of the self-limiting beliefs that ________ my daily actions, I will be on the road to a healthier, happier life.
1.A.adjustment B.achievement C.agreement D.treatment
2.A.tiring B.disappointing C.relaxing D.boring
3.A.reminded B.expected C.took D.left
4.A.go up B.get around C.set off D.show up
5.A.acquires B.supports C.requires D.surrounds
6.A.ground B.street C.town D.city
7.A.change B.chance C.idea D.choice
8.A.struggle B.work C.experience D.influence
9.A.before B.while C.when D.after
10.A.nervous B.curious C.scared D.upset
11.A.get B.make C.put D.watch
12.A.recalled B.intended C.witnessed D.realized
13.A.on B.by C.to D.in
14.A.rain B.tree C.wind D.cloud
15.A.astonished B.grateful C.anxious D.relaxed
16.A.exactly B.instantly C.entirely D.suddenly
17.A.strange B.small C.normal D.different
18.A.humor B.honesty C.power D.process
19.A.still B.yet C.also D.even
20.A.affect B.follow C.forbid D.harm
Recycling is one way to protect the environment; reusing is ________.
A.another B.the other
C.one another D.one
