What you give your relatives and friends can help you know yourself better. 1. Most gift-giving (and getting) shows nothing more than the spirit of love and friendship. But it is possible to form some associations between the kinds of things brought and the people who buy them. 2.
The clothes you wear tell something about your personality. They tell the world not only how you want to be seen but how you see yourself as well. When someone gives you something to wear that agrees with your self-image, they’re saying, “3.” Such a gift should be taken as a form of compliment (赞美). On the other hand, a gift of clothing that doesn’t match your personality could be an insult (侮辱) to your character.
4. If you receive a homemade gift, you re lucky. It may not be made perfectly, but it will show a certain quality of love. They’ve given time and emotion, two important characteristics of being creative.
People who give books as gifts either like reading or would like everyone to think they do. If you happen to receive a large, heavy book, its giver may be much more interested in the way things appear than in the way they actually are. Of course, reading is a way of feeling the emotions of another person and of learning new things. 5. The giver is probably trying to say to you what the book said to him.
A.I agree with you. I like you the way you are.
B.However, gift giving can be misunderstanding if you are careless.
C.Also, what they give you can tell you something about their personality.
D.I don’t like you, especially the way you dress yourself.
E.Here is a guide to who gives what—and why.
F.Giving a book can be a way of sharing a feeling or newly-learnt meaning.
G.Making something by hand has become the exception in many countries today.
Consuming food can be a pleasurable thing-we enjoy the mix of tastes and textures (结构) and it stops us feeling hungry too. Of course, food also gives us energy and the vitamins and minerals that our body needs. It’s no wonder we spend so much time preparing and eating food. But what many of us don’t consider is how our emotions are affected by what we put into our bellies.
For me, it’s the unhealthy foods that put a smile on my face-chocolate, cakes and ice cream. It might seem obvious that food that’s bad for our waistline, usually makes us happy, at least in the short term. But dieticians tell us that eating bad food long term, not only makes us put on weight but can lead to other health conditions such as diabetes (糖尿病), and it can also affect our mental state and bring on depression.
The link between our mind and food has been looked at by scientists. They’ve recently found that it’s the bacteria in our gut that affects our mood. It’s thought we have 39 trillion of these simple, small organisms (生物体) in our body. Researchers at McMaster University in Canada have found that certain “good” bacteria help reduce anxiety in mice. Experts believe that, for us humans, this means food with “good” bacteria can improve the way we feel.
Many food products are claiming to be high in this “good” bacteria and some of the best types are homemade food like miso soup, yoghurt and sauerkraut (泡菜). Doctor Michael Mosley would agree. He says the best food to cheer us up is in a “Mediterranean diet”. Olive oil; oily fish, full of omega 3, which is really good for the brain; whole grains; lots of fruits and vegetables. Sugar: terrible for you! There are other factors that can change our mood but it seems we have some ability to improve how we feel by controlling what we put on our plate. Does your diet affect your mood?
1.What helps reduce anxiety in mice?
A.Good bacteria. B.Bad food.
C.Large organisms. D.Health conditions.
2.We can infer from the last paragraph that ________.
A.we can improve how we feel by controlling food
B.people had better eat less cakes and ice cream
C.Mediterranean diet cheers people up
D.some of the worst food are homemade food like miso soup
3.The best title of the passage may be ________.
A.The Theory of Food B.Change Your Food
C.Food and Mood D.Enjoy Your Food
A friend of mine, in response to a conversation we were having about the injustices of life, asked me the question, “Who said life was going to be fair, or that it was even meant to be fair?” Her question was a good one. It reminded me of something I was taught as a youngster: life isn’t fair. It’s a disappointment, but it’s absolutely true. One of the mistakes many of us make is that we feel sorry for ourselves, or for others, thinking that life should be fair, or that someday it will be. It’s not and it won’t be.
One of the nice things about surrendering (屈从) to the fact that life isn’t fair is that it keeps us from feeling sorry for ourselves by encouraging us to do the very best we can with what we have. We know it’s not “life’s job” to make everything perfect, it’s our own challenge. Surrendering to this fact also keeps us from feeling sorry for others because we are reminded that everyone is dealt in different hand; everyone has unique strengths and problems in the process of growing up, facing the reality and making decisions; and everyone has those times that they feel unfairly treated.
The fact that life isn’t fair doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do everything in our power to improve our own lives or the world as a whole. To the contrary, it suggests that we should. When we don’t recognize or admit that life isn’t fair, we tend to feel pity for others and for ourselves. Pity, of course, is a self-defeating emotion that does nothing for anyone, except to make everyone feel worse than they already do. When we do recognize that life isn’t fair, however, we feel sympathy for others and for ourselves. And sympathy is a heartfelt emotion that delivers loving-kindness to everyone it touches. The next time you find yourself thinking about the injustices of the world, try reminding yourself of this very basic fact. You may be surprised that it can make you out of self-pity and into helpful action.
1.The writer may agree with the fact that ________.
A.life is meant to be fair B.people feel sorry only for ourselves
C.life isn’t fair D.someday life will be fair
2.What makes everything perfect?
A.Our own challenge. B.Unique strengths.
C.Unfair treatment. D.Our duty.
3.Facing the fact, people are advised to ________.
A.feel pity for others and for themselves
B.make brave decisions
C.do everything in their power to improve their lives
D.give up their unique strengths
4.In the last paragraph, the underlined word “it” refers to ________.
A.justices of the world B.this very basic fact
C.loving-kindness D.self-defeating emotion
There is a fine line between a parent who is active and open-minded and one that doesn’t know when to let go. As my daughter, Nicole, prepares to leave home for college, I’m discovering how hard it is to stay on the right side of this line. When I hold onto the apron strings (围裙带) connecting, Nicole, eager to taste independence, tries to loosen my grasp. What results is an awkward mother-daughter, push-me, pull-you kind of tango.
For the past two years, it’s gone like this:
Mother’s question: “Have you thought of taking an advanced placement class so that you can earn college credit?”
Daughter’s response: “No, I’m not interested in that.”
………
I bit my lip a few times and Nicole shot me a few glares.
Two months ago, she was accepted to a great university. However, I was still the mother having a hard time letting go. The night before the introductory meeting of the university, I had read the course catalog carefully and underlined courses which I thought looked good. We met on the campus the next afternoon, and Nicole’s face lit up with excitement. “I have had my entire schedule figured out,” she said. “Already?” I was astonished, thinking she should have discussed it with me. I examined the schedule. Nicole hadn’t taken a single one of the courses I had suggested. Every course she had chosen exactly suited her interests. Just then I saw a mature, capable young woman with a sharp mind and the ability to shape her future. She no longer needed her mother evaluating every decision she made. I felt excited that she was my daughter, though still a bit sad.
I reviewed the lessons carefully. Nicole has struggled to learn over the past 18 years: responsibility, sympathy, and hard work. There have been a few holes along the way. Still, she is well-equipped and eager to embrace the future. The next step, I recognized, was mine to take: giving my daughter and myself the independence we both needed.
1.The underlined word “tango” in paragraph one means “________”.
A.dance B.music
C.fight D.peace
2.Why did the author underline some courses?
A.Because she wanted to help her daughter.
B.Because these courses were very important.
C.Because her daughter knew nothing about these courses.
D.Because she wanted to take these courses.
3.How did the author feel when her daughter chose her own course?
A.Embarrassed and hurt. B.Proud and sad.
C.Serious and angry. D.Passionate and envious.
4.The purpose of writing the passage is to ________.
A.share a story about parenting with readers
B.show her love to her daughter
C.teach readers how to choose a course
D.persuade readers to live a dependent life
The Great Gatsby (2013) 7.3/10
PG-13 | 2h 23min | Drama, Romance | 30 August 2013 (China)
A writer and wall street trader, Nick, finds himself drawn to the past and lifestyle of his millionaire neighbor, Jay Gatsby.
Director: Baz Luhrmann
Writers: Baz Luhrmann (screenplay), Craig Pearce(screenplay) | 1 more credit ≫
Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan, Joel Edgerton See full cast & crew ≫
The Hitman’s Bodyguard (2017) 7.1/10
R | 1h 58min | Action, Comedy | 18 August 2017 (USA)
The world’s top bodyguard gets a new client, a hit man who must testify at the International Court of Justice. They must put their differences aside and work together to make it to the trial on time.
Director: Patrick Hughes
Writer: Tom O’Connor
Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L Jackson, Gary Oldman | See full cast & crew ≫
Transformers: The Last Knight (2017) 5.3/10
PG-13 | 2h 29min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi | 23 June 2017 (China)
Autobots and Decepticons are at war, with humans on the sidelines. Optimus Prime is gone. The key to saving our future lies buried in the secrets of the past, in the hidden history of Transformers on Earth.
Director: Michael Bay
Writers: Art Marcum (screenplay), Matt Holloway (screenplay) | 5 more credits ≫
Stars: Mark Wahlberg, Anthony Hopkins, Josh Duhamel | See full cast & crew ≫
Mother! (2017) 6.7/10
1h 55min | Drama, Horror, Mystery | 15 September 2017 (USA)
A couple’s relationship is tested when uninvited guests arrive at their home, disrupting their peaceful existence.
Director: Darren Aronofsky
Writer: Darren Aronofsky
Stars: Jennifer Lawrence, Javier Bardem, Ed Harris I See full cast crew ≫
Toy Story (1995) 8.3/10
1h 21min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy | 22 November 1995 (USA)
A cowboy doll is profoundly threatened and jealous when a new spaceman figure supplants him as top in a boy’s room.
Director: John Lasseter
Writers: John Lasseter (original story by), Pete Docter (original story by) | 6 more credits ≫
Stars: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles | See full cast & crew ≫
1.From the post, we can see The Great Gatsby is ________.
A.comedy, making people think about their life
B.made in China
C.a story that lasts 2h 29min
D.starred by Leonardo DiCaprio
2.Which one scares people a lot?
A.Mother. B.The Hitman’s Bodyguard.
C.Transformers: The Last Knight. D.Toy Story.
3.Toy Story is better than others in ________.
A.plots B.directors
C.writers D.scores
4.In which section of the website can you find the information above?
A.Travel. B.Entertainment.
C.Finance. D.Technology.
在成长的过程中，我们总是对未来从事的职业充满憧憬，你们班将以 “My dream career”为题举办演讲比赛。请你根据以下要求，写一篇英语演讲稿。要点如下:
1. 你的理想职业； 2. 选择的理由； 3. 实现的途径。
注意:1.词数100左右； 2. 开头和结尾以给出，不计入总词数；3.可以根据内容要点适当发挥，以使行文连贯。
Good morning, everyone!
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Thanks for listening.
