One of the easiest things in the world is to become a fault-finder. However, life can be _______ when you are not busy finding fault with it.
Several years ago I _______ a letter from seventeen-year-old Kerry, who described herself as a world-class fault-finder, almost always _______ by things. People were always doing things that annoyed her, and _______ was ever good enough. She was highly self-critical and also found fault with her friends. She became a really _______ person.
Unfortunately, it took a horrible accident to change her _______. Her best friend was seriously hurt in a car crash. What made it almost _______ to deal with was that the day before the _______, Kerry had visited her friend and had spent the whole time criticizing her _______ of boyfriends, the way she was living, the way she related to her mother, and various other things she felt she needed to ________. It wasn’t until her friend was badly hurt that Kerry became ________ her habit of finding fault. Very quickly, she learned to appreciate life rather than to ________ everything so harshly(刻薄). She was able to transfer her new wisdom to other parts of her ________ as well.
Perhaps most of us aren’t as extreme at fault-finding, ________ when we’re honest, we can be sharply ________ of the world. I’m not suggesting you ________ problems, or that you pretend things are ________ than they are, but simply that you learn to allow things to be as they are — ________ most of the time, and especially when it’s not a really big ________.
Train yourself to ＂bite your tongue＂, and with a little ________, you’ll get really good at letting things go. And when you do, you’ll get back your enthusiasm and love for life.
1.A.lonely B.great C.quiet D.uneasy
2.A.received B.answered C.expected D.rejected
3.A.threatened B.interrupted C.bothered D.spoiled
4.A.anything B.everything C.something D.nothing
5.A.caring B.boring C.interesting D.surprising
6.A.attitude B.plan C.measure D.explanation
7.A.urgent B.unnecessary C.certain D.impossible
8.A.occasion B.event C.accident D.adventure
9.A.memory B.notice C.evidence D.choice
10.A.hear B.contribute C.express D.admit
11.A.aware of B.afraid of C.curious about D.confused about
12.A.discuss B.realize C.judge D.settle
13.A.family B.life C.career D.education
14.A.so B.or C.but D.for
15.A.proud B.sure C.hopeful D.critical
16.A.face B.create C.solve D.ignore
17.A.rarer B.better C.stranger D.worse
18.A.at least B.at last C.by far D.so far
19.A.task B.deal C.result D.duty
20.A.practice B.speech C.rest D.pity
Easy Ways to Keep Your Brain Sharp
Everyone is forgetful, but as we age, we start to feel like our brains are slowing down a bit- -and that can be a very annoying thing. 1.Read on for some techniques worth trying.
1. 2.
People who regularly made plans and looked forward to upcoming events had a 50 percent reduced chance of Alzheimer’s disease (早老性痴呆症)，according to a recent study. 3.Something as simple as setting a goal to have a weekly coffee date with a friend will do. There’s evidence that people who have a purpose in life or who are working on long or short-term goals appear to do better. In other words, keep your brain looking forward.
2. Go for a walk.
Mildly raised glucose (葡萄糖) levels can harm the area of the brain that helps you form memories and physical activity can help get blood glucose down to normal levels. In fact, exercise produces chemicals that are good for your brain. 4.
3. Learn something new.
Take a Spanish class online, join a drawing club, or learn to play cards. A study found that mental stimulation (刺激) limits the weakening effects of aging on memory and the mind. But the best thing for your brain is when you learn something new and are physically active at the same time. 5.Or go dancing with your friends.
A.Focus on the future.
B.This can be especially harmful to the aged.
C.It should be something like learning gardening.
D.So take a few minutes each day to do some reading.
E.But don’t worry if your schedule isn’t filled with life changing events.
F.Luckily, research shows there is a lot you can do to avoid those moments
G.In other words, when you take care of your body, you take care of your brain.
If you want to convince the boss you deserve a pay rise or promotion, the solution could be simple --- eat the same food as they do. Psychologists have discovered managers are much more likely to instantly trust us if we choose the same dishes as them.
During experiments, discussions over wages and work conditions were much more successful if both sides chose to snack on the same treats. And shoppers were much more likely to buy a product advertised on TV by someone eating a similar food to them at the time.
The reason is thought to be the so–called similarity attraction theory --- where people tend to like others who have similar tastes or habits to themselves. But this is believed to be one of the first studies highlighting the role of food in this relationship. Researchers at Chicago University in the US conducted a series of experiments to examine food’s role in earning trust.
In a test, participants were told to watch TV --- where someone pretending to be a member of the public praised a certain product. The volunteers were given Kit Kat bars to nibble, while the TV people ate either a Kit Kat or grapes as they talked.
The results showed viewers were much more likely to express an interest in buying the product if the TV showed the other person eating a Kit Kat too. The researchers added, “Although similarity in food consumption is not a sign of whether two people will get along, we find consumers treat this as such. They feel more trusting of those who consume as they do. It means people can immediately begin to feel friendship and develop a bond, leading to smoother transactions from the start.”
Harley Street psychologist Dr. Lucy Atcheson said it was already known that wearing similar clothes could instantly create trust. But this was the first report that food had the same effect. She said, “This is really interesting. It makes sense as people feel they have common ground and can trust the other person. That means negotiations are more likely to be successful.”
1.According to the passage, customers are likely to buy a product from a dealer who ______.
A. advertises his products on TV B. has the same taste as them
C. reduces the price of his products D. pays attention to the quality of his products
2.The experiments conducted by researchers at Chicago University show that ______.
A. food plays an important role in earning people’s trust
B. bosses like employees that have the same taste as them
C. people who have similar tastes to their boss’s earn more
D. people have less interest in buying products advertised on TV
3.What can be inferred from the passage?
A. People who eat similar food are more likely to trust each other.
B. People will get along with each other if they like to eat similar things.
C. The effect of wearing similar clothes hasn’t been proved by researchers.
D. People are more likely to make friends with those wearing the same clothes as them.
4.Which of the following sayings can be an example of the similarity attraction theory?
A. Honesty is the best policy. B. All good things come to an end.
C. Birds of a feather flock together. D. Where there is a will, there is a way.
阅读理解。
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中选出最佳选项。
Just 10 years ago, I sat across the desk from a doctor. “Yes,” he said, “there is something wrong with the left, upper lung. You are suffering a severe cancer. You’ll have to give up work at once. Later on, we’ll see.”
Feeling like a man who is in midcareer has suddenly been placed under sentence of death, I left the doctor’s office, walked over to the park, and sat down on a chair. I needed to think. In the next 3 days, I cleared up my affairs, then I went home, got into bed, and set my watch to tick off not the minutes, but the months. Two years later, I left my bed and began the long climb back. It was another year before I made it.
I speak of this experience becausethese yearsthat passed so slowly taught me what to value and what to believe. I realize now that each day, to me, is a precious thing. I’ve learned to appreciate those little things I never thought I had the time to notice before: the play of light on running water, the music of the wind.
Frequently, I sit back and say to myself, “Let me make note of this moment I’m living right now, because in it I’m well, happy and hard at work doing what I like best to do. It won’t always be like this, so while it is, I’ll make the most of it—and afterwards, I remember—and be grateful. I contribute all these to that long time spent on the fight with cancer.”
1.Which word can best describe the author’s feeling after visiting the doctor?
A.Hopeless. B.Curious.
C.Confused. D.Energetic.
2.How long did it take the author to recover from his disease?
A.Two years and a half. B.Three years.
C.Three years and a half. D.Four years.
3.The underlined words “these years” in Paragraph 3 refer to the years when the author _______.
A.was ill
B.started his career
C.cleared up his affairs
D.struggled to go back to his work
4.By fighting with his disease, what did the author realize?
A.Patients should know how to get on with doctors.
B.Doctors should treat patients more carefully.
C.We should pay enough attention to diets.
D.We should value and appreciate life.
Two of the saddest words in the English language are “if only”. I live my life with the goal of never having to say those words, because they convey regret, lost opportunities, mistakes, and disappointment.
My father is famous in our family for saying, “Take the extra minute to do it right.” I always try to live by the “extra minute” rule. When my children were young and likely to cause accidents, I always thought about what I could do to avoid an “if only” moment, whether it was something minor like moving a cup full of hot coffee away from the edge of a counter, or something that required a little more work such as taping padding (衬垫) onto the sharp corners of a glass coffee table.
I don’t only avoid those “if only” moments when it comes to safety. It’s equally important to avoid “if only” in our personal relationships. We all know people who lost a loved one and regretted that they had foregone an opportunity to say “I love you” or “I forgive you.” When my father announced he was going to the eye doctor across from my office on Good Friday, I told him that it was a holiday for my company and I wouldn’t be here. But then I thought about the fact that he’s 84 years old and I realized that I shouldn’t give up an opportunity to see him. I called him and told him I had decided to go to work on my day off after all.
I know there will still be occasions when I have to say “if only” about something, but my life is definitely better because of my policy of doing everything possible to avoid that eventuality. And even though it takes an extra minute to do something right, or it occasionally takes an hour or two in my busy schedule to make a personal connection, I know that I’m doing the right thing. I’m buying myself peace of mind and that’s the best kind of insurance for my emotional well-being.
1.Why does the writer regard “if only” as two of the saddest words in the English language?
A.Because people use them when they feel sad
B.Because they express regrets and disappointment in life
C.Because the remind the writer of some sad experiences
D.Because they mean sadness in the English language
2.What’s the meaning of the underlined word “foregone” in Paragraph 3?
A.given up B.come across
C.got through D.held back
3.The author decided to go to her office on Good Friday to ________.
A.see a doctor B.finish her work
C.join a celebration D.accompany her father
4.What is the best title for the passage?
A.Advice from My Father B.Avoidance of saying “If Only”
C.The “Extra Minute” Rule D.The importance of Emotional Well-being
Washington, D.C. Bicycle Tours
Cherry Blossom Bike Tour in Washington, D.C.
Duration: 3 hours
This small group bike tour is a fantastic way to see a world-famous cherry trees with beautiful flowers of Washington, D.C. Your guide will provide a history lesson about the trees and the famous monuments where they blossom. Reserve your spot before availability — the cherry blossoms—disappear!
Washington Capital Monuments Bicycle Tour
Duration: 3 hours (4 miles)
Join a guided bike tour and view some of the most popular monuments in Washington, D.C. Explore the monuments and memorials on the National Mall as your guide shares unique facts and history at each stop. Guided tour includes bike, helmet, cookies and bottled water.
Capital City Bike Tour In Washington, D.C.
Duration: 3 hours
Morning or Afternoon, this bike tour is the perfect tour for D. C. newcomers and locals looking to experience Washington, D.C. in a healthy way with minimum effort. Knowledgeable guides will entertain you with the most, interesting stories about Presidents, Congress, memorials, and parks. Comfortable bikes and a smooth tour route(路线) make cycling between the sites fun and relaxing.
Washington Capital Sites at Night Bicycle Tour
Duration: 3 hours (7miles)
Join a small group bike tour for an evening of exploration in the heart of Washington, D.C. Get up close to the monuments and memorials as you bike the sites of Capitol Hill and the National Mall. Frequent stops are made for photo taking as your guide offers unique facts and history. Tour includes bike, helmet, and bottled water. All riders are equipped with reflective vests and safety lights.
1.Which tour do you need to book in advance?
A.Cherry Blossom like Tour in Washington, D.C.
B.Washington capital Monuments Bicycle Tour.
C.Capital City Bike Tour in Washington.
D.Washington Capital Sites at Night Bicycle Tour.
2.What will you do on the Capital City Bike Tour?
A.Meet famous people. B.Go to a national park.
C.Visit well-known museums. D.Enjoy interesting stories.
3.Which of the following does the bicycle tour at night provide?
A.City maps. B.Cameras.
C.Meals. D.Safety lights.
