A large body of research has been developed in recent years to explain many aspects of willpower. Most of the researchers exploring self-control do so with an obvious goal in mind: How can willpower be strengthened? If willpower is truly a limited resource, as the research suggests, what can be done to make it stay strong?
Avoiding temptation (诱惑) is an effective method for maintaining self-control, which is called the "out of sight, out of mind" principle. One recent study, for instance, found office workers less attracted to candy in the desk drawer than that on top of their desks, in plain sight.
The research suggesting that we possess a limited reservoir of self-control raises a troubling question. When we face too many temptations, are we to fail? Not necessarily. Researchers don't believe that one's willpower is ever completely exhausted. Rather, people appear to hold some willpower in reserve, saved for future demands. The right motivation allows us to tap into those reserves, allowing us to carry on even when our self-control strength has been run down. High motivation might help overcome weakened willpower-at least to a point.
Willpower may also be made less vulnerable (脆弱) to being exhausted in the first place.
Researchers who study self-control often describe it as being like a muscle that gets tired with heavy use. But there is another aspect to the muscle comparison, they say. While muscles become exhausted by exercise in the short term, they are strengthened by regular exercise in the long term. Similarly, regular practices of self-control may improve willpower strength.
The evidence from willpower-exhaustion studies also suggests that making a list of resolutions on New Year's Eve is the worst possible approach. Being exhausted in one area can reduce willpower in other areas, so it makes more sense to focus on a single goal at a time. In other words, don't try to quit smoking, adopt a healthy diet and start a new exercise plan at the same time. Taking goals one by one is a better approach. Once a good habit is in place, Baumeister says, you'll no longer need to draw on your willpower to maintain the behavior. Eventually healthy habits will become routine, and won't require making decisions at all.
1.From the studies in the passage we learn that ________.
A.people have unlimited self-control B.high motivation ensures one's success
C.too many temptations often lead to failure D.willpower is hardly completely exhausted
2.The underlined phrase "tap into" in Paragraph 3 most probably means ________.
A.put up with B.make up for
C.make use of D.keep away from
3.The author compares self—control to muscles ________.
A.to explain the benefits of practicing self-control
B.to show the significance of regular exercise
C.to argue that self-control can he easily used up
D.to prove the long-term effect of willpower
4.To develop a good habit, which of the following does the author prefer?
A."I will give up dessert and do exercise."
B."I will set three goals this new semester."
C."I will read an English novel every month."
D."I will keep myself from any temptation."
US student Vanessa Tahay stands out from the other teenagers in her school. Her skin is dark, her accent is thick, and if you ask her, she will tell you these are the things she is proudest of. Tahay is a poet, and at 18 she was considered among the best in Los Angeles.
When she is on the stage, audiences often go silent. They also laugh, shout and cry. But this doesn't come easily for someone who comes from a village that sits at the base of a huge mountain range in Central America. When she first appeared at school, she was teased by others for being short and different. She never spoke, so they called her “mouse”.
“How do I defend myself?” Tahay thought. “I don't know how.”
“Keep going,” her mother would tell her. “At some point, you'll learn.”
She spent hours after school and on weekends watching the same DVDs: English without Barriers.
Tahay's elder brother, Elmer, persuaded her to go to the after-school poetry club. In the last six years, her English teacher Laurie Kurnick has turned Cleveland Charter High School's poetry program into one of the most respected in the city. Her team draws from the likes of D.H. Laurence, Pat Mora and Kendrick Lamar to create poems about their own lives. The poems focus on many things —some funny, some painful.
The first time Tahay read the group's poems, chills went up her spine (脊柱). “I wish I could write like that,” she thought. “I want to say something.”
She wrote her first poem about her first year in America. She called it Invisible. The day her turn came to recite in front of the team, she broke down crying. She cried for 15 minutes. “I had so much held in,” Tahay said. “I couldn't even finish it.”
But she kept at it despite her less-than-perfect grammar, spelling and diction (措辞). Still, she wouldn't tell her friends about her poetry because she worried they would make fun of her.
But with time, her poems changed her. “They gave me pride,” Tahay said. “They told me that I'm worth something.”
“She had this innocence,” Kurnick said. “This willingness to be genuine and show you things you don't ever see.”
1.What did Tahay's mother suggest she do when she was teased by others?
A.Fight with them bravely. B.Report them to her teachers.
C.Try hard to make friends with them. D.Ignore them and keep going.
2.What are the themes of Tahay and her team's poems?
A.Funny and painful stories about their lives. B.Their appreciation of natural beauty.
C.Their expectations of a better future. D.Their admiration for the great poets.
3.How did Tahay benefit from writing poems?
A.She became the first student poet in the city.
B.She won many national poetry competitions.
C.She felt more confident about herself.
D.She improved her grammar and spelling greatly.
请阅读下面短文,并按照要求用英语写一篇 150 词左右的文章。
The National Outline (纲要) for Educational Reform and Development is bringing change to China’s annual College Entrance Examination.
Currently, a student’s score on the College Entrance Examination is the only factor determining his or her future. Universities set minimum scores in screening (筛选) prospective students, and only those whose scores are higher than the minimum are admitted. The outline suggests that universities choose students based on not only the results of the entrance exam, but also other criteria. For example, if a student’s score is lower than his peers’, but he shows great potential in the subject he’s applying for, then the college might consider admitting him despite the lower general score.
The outline also proposes that some subjects, as a pilot project (试点项目), carry out multiple exams each year. This means that if a student fails an exam, he may have other chances at the exam in the coming semester. And to improve the system for higher education, China will gradually classify exams according to different kinds of education. The outline states that entrance exams for colleges and universities should be organized by the Ministry of Education, while exams for vocational schools (职业学校) should be organized by provincial educational departments.
（写作内容）
1. 请用约30个词概括阅读材料的主要内容；
2. 然后以约120个词就“高考模式改革”谈谈你的看法，包括以下要点:
(1) 你看到这篇新闻报道的感受；
(2) 你最认同文章中提到的哪一种措施；
(3) 你对现行高考模式的看法。
（写作要求）
1. 作文中可以使用自己亲身的经历或虚构的故事，也可以参照阅读材料的内容，但不得直接引用原文中的句子；
2. 作文中不能出现真实姓名和学校名称。
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任务型阅读
请认真阅读下列短文，并根据所读内容在文章后表格中的空格里填入一个最恰当的单词。
注意：每个空格只填1个单词。请将答案写在答题卡上相应题号的横线上。
Deep reading, as opposed to superficial (shallow) reading we do on the Web, is an endangered practice, one we ought to take steps to preserve as we would a historic building or a significant work of art.
Recent research has illustrated that deep reading, characterized as a unique experience different kind from the mere understanding of words, is slow, immersive (沉浸的), rich in sensory detail and emotional and moral complexity. Although deep reading does not, strictly speaking, require a conventional book, the limits of the printed page are uniquely helpful to the deep reading experience. A book’s lack of hyperlinks (超链接), for example, frees the reader from making decisions—should I click on this link or not—allowing her to remain fully absorbed in the story.
That immersion is supported by the way the brain handles language rich in detail, indirect reference and figures of speech: by creating a mental representation that draws on the same brain regions that would be active if the scene were unfolding in real life. The emotional situations and moral dilemmas that are the material of literature are also vigorous (有活力的) exercise for the brain, driving us inside the heads of fictional characters and even, studies suggest, increasing our real-life capacity (能力) for recognition.
None of this is likely to happen when we’re browsing through a website. Although we call the activity by the same name, the deep reading of books and the information-driven reading we do on the Web are very different, both in the experience they produce and in the capacity they develop. A growing body of evidence suggests that online reading may be less satisfying, even for the “digital natives” to whom it is so familiar. Researchers reported that 39% of children and teens read daily using electronic devices, but only 28% read printed materials every day. Those who only read onscreen were three times less likely to say they enjoy reading very much and tell which book they like best. The study also found that young people who read daily only onscreen were nearly twice less likely to be above-average readers than those who read daily in print or both in print and onscreen.
All in all, the disappearance of deep reading would harm the intellectual and emotional development of generations growing up online, as well as the preservation of a critical part of our culture: the novels, poems and other kinds of literature that can be appreciated only by readers whose brains have been trained to understand them.
Passage outline | Supporting details |
The present situation about deep reading | ◆ As we are reading more on the Web, deep reading has a tendency to 1. . ◆ Like a historic building or a significant work of art, deep reading 2. our preservation. |
3. of deep reading | ◆ Deep reading4. complex emotional and moral experiences. ◆ Deep reading usually 5. from printed materials. ◆ Deep reading helps train a reader’s brain and make it more6. . ◆ Compared with online reading, deep reading can bring readers more 7. . ◆ Deep reading makes a bigger 8. in increasing readers’ reading ability. |
Conclusion | ◆ Without deep reading, generations in this digital world can’t develop well in emotion and9. . ◆ Without deep reading, people may be10. to appreciate literature. |
“Could you see the whites of their eyes?" said the man, who was seated on a soap box.
“Nothing of the kind.," replied old Henry warmly.“Just a lot of figures running towards us, and I let go at where there appeared to be most. Bang!"
“Mr. Fleming:”said the grocer一his respectful voice expressed somehow the old man's exact social weight-' "Mr. Fleming. you never were frightened much in those battles, were you?"
The veteran (老兵) looked down and smiled. Observing his manner, the entire group laughed a little.“Well, I guess I was." he answered finally.“Pretty well scared. sometimes. Why. in my first battle, I thought the sky was falling down. I thought the world was coming to an end. You bet I was scared."
Everyone laughed. Perhaps it seemed strange and rather wonderful to them that a man should admit the thing. and in the tone of their laughter there was probably more admiration than if old Fleming had declared that he had always been a lion Moreover, they knew that he had ranked as an orderly sergeant (中士). and so their opinion of heroism was fixed. None, to be sure, knew how an orderly sergeant ranked. but then it was understood to be somewhere just shy of a major-general's stars. So, when old Henry admitted that he had been frightened, there was a laugh.
“The trouble was," said the old man,“I thought they were all shooting at me. Yes, sir, I thought every man in the other army was aiming at me in particular. and only me. And it seemed so unreasonable. you know. I wanted to explain to them what an almighty good fellow I was. because I thought then they might quit all trying to hit me. But I couldn't explain, and they kept on being unreasonable. Blimp! Blam! Bang! So. I ran!"
Two little triangles of wrinkles appeared at the corners of his eyes. Evidently he appreciated some comedy in this storytelling. Down near his feet, however, little Jim, his grandson, was obviously horror-stricken. His hands were clasped nervously. and his eyes were wide with astonishment at this terrible scandal (丑闻), his most magnificent grandfather telling such a thing.
“That was at Chancellorsville. Of course, afterwards I got kind of used to it A man does. Lots of men, though, seem to feel all right from the start. I did. as soon as I got on to it" as they say now, but at first I was pretty well scared. Now, there was young Jim Conklin, old Si Conklin's son- that used to keep the leather factory- you none of you recall him- -well, he went into it from the start just as if he was born to it. But with me it was different. I had to get used to it."
When little Jim walked with his grandfather. he was in the habit of skipping along on the stone pavement, in front of the three stores and the hotel of the town, and betting that he could avoid the cracks. But upon this day he walked calmly. with his hand gripping two of his grandfather's fingers. Sometimes he kicked abstractedly at dandelions that curved over the walk. Anyone could see that he was much troubled.
“Um," said the boy. with a strange lack of interest. He continued his reflections. Then finally he asked:“Grandpa- now- -was that true what you were telling those men?"
“What?" asked the grandfather. “What was I telling them?"
“Oh, about your running.
“Why. yes, that was true enough, Jimmie. It was my first fight, and there was an awful lot of noise, you know.'
Jimmie seemed a bit confused that this idol (偶像). of its own will, should be so weak. His stout boyish idealism was injured and then lapsed into a moody silence.
1.What can be inferred from everyone's laugh when Fleming admitted he was scared sometimes?
A.They didn't expect a man like Fleming should admit his fright.
B.They thought that he was just making some kind of joke.
C.They were scared of his social weight and could do nothing else.
D.They teased him for his not being ashamed of his escape from the battlefield.
2.Why was little Jim astonished when Fleming told his story?
A.Because people laughed at his grandfather.
B.Because his grandfather failed to keep the secret.
C.Because his grandfather disappointed him.
D.Because people knew how an orderly sergeant ranked.
3.Which of the following can best describe Henry Fleming?
A.Shy but brave. B.Smart and admirable.
C.Honest and courageous. D.Frightened but heroic.
4.How does the author expose the character of Henry Fleming?
A.In a way of Romanticism. B.By a means of Impressionism.
C.With a method of Symbolism. D.In a style of Naturalism.
5.Which of the following can be served as the best title for the story?
A.The scandal B.The veteran
C.The war D.The lion
It doesn’t kill germs better than cooler water, but turning tap temperatures high, the US burns carbon equal to the emissions of Barbados.
People typically wash their hands seven times a day in the United States, but they do it at a far higher temperature than is necessary to kill germs, a new study says. The energy waste is equivalent to the fuel use of a small country.
It’s cold and flu season, when many people are concerned about avoiding germs. But forget what you think you know about hand washing, say researchers at Vanderbilt University. Chances are good that how you clean up is not helping you stay healthy; it is helping to make the planet sick.
Amanda R. Carrico, a research assistant professor at the Vanderbilt Institute for Energy and Environment in Tennessee, told National Geographic that hand washing is often “a case where people act in ways that they think are in their best interest, but they in fact have inaccurate beliefs or outdated perceptions.”
Carrico said, “It’s certainly true that heat kills bacteria, but if you were going to use hot water to kill them it would have to be way too hot for you to tolerate.”
She explained that boiling water, 212°F (99.98°C), is sometimes used to kill germs — for example, to clean drinking water that might be polluted with germs. But “hot” water for hand washing is generally within 104°F to 131°F (40°C to 55°C). At the high end of that range, heat could kill some germs, but the sustained contact that would be required would scald the skin.
Carrico said that after a review of the scientific literature, her team found “no evidence that using hot water that a person could stand would have any benefit in killing bacteria.” Even water as cold as 40°F (4.4°C) appeared to reduce bacteria as well as hotter water, if hands were scrubbed, rinsed (冲洗) and dried properly.
In fact, she noted that hot water can often have an unfavorable effect on hygiene. “Warmer water can harm the skin and affect the protective layer on the outside, which can cause it to be less resistant to bacteria,” said Carrico.
Using hot water to wash hands is therefore unnecessary, as well as wasteful, Carrico said, particularly when it comes to the environment. According to her research, people use warm or hot water 64 percent of the time when they wash their hands. Using that number, Carrico’s team calculated a significant impact on the planet.
“Although the choice of water temperature during a single hand wash may appear minor, when multiplied by the nearly 800 billion hand washes performed by Americans each year, this practice results in more than 6 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent emissions annually,” she said.
That’s roughly equal to the emissions of two coal-fired power plants, or 1,250,000 passenger vehicles, over the course of a year. It’s higher than the greenhouse gas emissions of small countries like EI Salvador or Armenia, and is about equivalent to the emissions of Barbados. If all US citizens washed their hands in cooler water, it would be like eliminating the energy-related carbon emissions of 299,700 US homes, or the total annual emissions from the US zinc or lead industries.
The researchers found that close to 70 percent of respondents said they believe that using hot water is more effective than warm, room temperature, or cold water, despite a lack of evidence backing that up, said Carrico. Her study noted research that showed a “strong cognitive (认知的) connection” between water temperature and hygiene in both the United States and Western Europe, compared to other countries, like Japan, where hot water is associated more with comfort than with health.
The researchers published their results in the July 2013 issue of International Journal of Consumer Studies. They recommended washing with water that is at a “comfortable” temperature, which they noted may be warmer in cold months and cooler in hot ones.
1.What does the writer mainly focus on when writing this passage?
A.Whether hot water helps kill germs effectively in hand washing.
B.How hot water contributes to the serious worsening of our planet.
C.Why the consumption of hot water is unnecessary and wasteful.
D.What the advantages and disadvantages of using hot water are.
2.The underlined word scald in paragraph six probably means_________.
A.burn B.improve
C.soften D.wrinkle
3.According to the passage, all the following share roughly the same CO2 emissions yearly EXCEPT______.
A.two coal-fired power plants B.US zinc or lead industries
C.1,250,000 passenger vehicles D.EI Salvador or Armenia
4.Which of the following is WRONG according to the passage?
A.Boiling water at 212°F (99.98°C) works effectively in killing germs.
B.Warmer water can damage the protective layer of the outside skin.
C.There is much difference between cold water and hot water in reducing bacteria.
D.Americans have inaccurate beliefs or outdated perceptions in hand washing.
5.Which of the following is the standard of a comfortable water temperature for washing hands?
A.Warmer in winter and cooler in summer.
B.Between 104°F to 131°F (40°C to 55°C).
C.Below 104°F (40°C) or above 131°F (55°C).
D.Warm enough to kill germs and clean up.
