Being jobless for the last three months, I am upset nowadays. My son has lost his ______ from a good school and he might have to go to a less qualified school. I have moved from a spacious (宽敞的) apartment to a small one in order to ______ my living expenses. My wife has built extra stress. On top of that, my father in-law ______ a week ago, which has added fuel to fire, ______ our family into a more terrible state.
In these circumstances I have two mental ______: either to feel upset and keep losing my peace of mind, or ______ my negative thoughts with super mental powers about self-confidence and consistency, and ______ applying for new jobs with positive attitude.
I choose the second option because I believe that the pain I am ______ today will build up my ______ . My strengths will then increases my confidence and make me a good times make me a ______ man one day. I understand that good and bad stages are part of ______ . While good times make me happy, bad times ______ the ‘inner’ me.
Two months later, ______ , I have finally landed on a job which is very exciting and offers a nice salary. Time has healed my wife’s mental stress ______ the death of her father. My son has already been accepted by another good school because the admissions for new academic year were still ______ !
As I am back on the track of normal life, I can ______ say that the most important things that helped me ______ the crisis (危机) were my consistent character of patience, and ______ attitude towards life. So, while I wish you all the best life can ______ you, I would highly recommend taking the same attitude towards life ______ you are trapped in any of such situations.
1.A.admission B.benefit C.diploma D.permission
2.A.share B.reduce C.break D.raise
3.A.showed up B.set off C.fell down D.passed away
4.A.putting B.finding C.forming D.lifting
5.A.problems B.concerns C.choices D.activities
6.A.link B.replace C.mix D.exchange
7.A.regret B.stop C.keep D.risk
8.A.practicing B.suffering C.producing D.relieving
9.A.intelligence B.body C.character D.reputation
10.A.carful B.hard-working C.easy-going D.successful
11.A.life B.wealth C.time D.health
12.A.hide B.destroy C.strengthen D.kill
13.A.desperately B.unwillingly C.hopefully D.fortunately
14.A.regardless of B.due to C.instead of D.apart from
15.A.occupied B.empty C.open D.closed
16.A.disappointedly B.surprisedly C.deliberately D.confidently
17.A.fight B.meet C.change D.delay
18.A.general B.positive C.friendly D.honest
19.A.offer B.expect C.manage D.send
20.A.as if B.in that C.now that D.in case
Can creativity be taught? That’s a question without a simple yes or no answer. Creativity may not be able to be taught directly, but what you can get better at is frequently targeting at the circumstances of life which bring up the greatest chances for true creative expression. 1., but more like something which manifests （显现） itself inside those who learn to develop it and create the right conditions for it.
Limit your selection of tools to only the most vital. 2.. You’ll be sharper than someone who merely fights with a larger set of tools.
Learn how to be resourceful. 3.. Creativity is not just about creating something new but making old things work better as well. Think of crazy possibilities as well as practical ones. You might find inspiration for a workable solution in one of your ideas.
Don’t listen to feedback （反馈） and keep following your own path. The problem of asking for feedback is that the feedback will be given according to the person’s past experience. Others will unconsciously push you in a direction that they see as best. 4.. Just don’t let criticism （even the constructing type） destroy your creativity during the creative process.
5.. Routines are positive if they strengthen a healthy creative consciousness and negative if they destroy that. The key is to discover a creative routine that puts you in a more creative mindset.
A.Creativity is not like a lightning strike
B.Having a routine is actually not a bad idea
C.You can literally do anything you like with them
D.Resourcefulness is about making the most of what you have to work with
E.The more limited your set of tools is, the more creative the output will be
F.This is done with good intentions, but it actually hurts your natural creativity
G.While breaking your routine once in a while to force new ways of thinking is good
To move visual technology into the future, sometimes it helps to make a little noise. Researchers have used sound waves to produce floating 3-D images, create a sense of touch and even supply a soundtrack.
Since the 1940s, scientists have toyed with the concept of acoustic levitation(声悬浮), the use of soundwave vibrations to trap tiny things in midair. The technology has gained greater capabilities in the past decade. Some researchers believe this improvement could lead to applications such as contributing to novel 3-D printing methods, or creating displays that would be visible from any angle without requiring a screen.
Other researchers have also worked on visual displays that use acoustic levitation. In addition to visuals, the system can also produce audible noise to give the display a soundtrack. And the ultrasound speakers can also concentrate vibrations in one spot so that a finger might feel a sense pushing back—a little like the object shown by the floating image is really there. Soundwaves create a 3-D display!
Display without a screen is remarkably useful. It means that everybody in the room can see the image—any angle, location—and that’s extremely helpful. As a communications system, such a display might one day allow users to chat with a 3-D projection(投影) of a person who can turn his or her head to follow as they move around a room.
The display will require a lot more work before you can install it in your living room, however. So far, this has been done in the research laboratory. We need to push it a little bit harder. We need to do more analysis to see if it would make sense to create a real display that people would have at home. The current system can only show simple graphics, such as a smiley face or figure eight, in real time.
Still, we are optimistic about the potential for this type of technology. If the system had only one speaker-covered surface instead of two, it could generate images that are bigger than the device itself. We can’t make a TV image that’s bigger than the TV—even a projector has to have a projection screen that’s bigger than the image itself. But with a volumetric(容积的) display, a small, portable device might produce a much larger picture. We can imagine, in the future, having volumetric displays in watches, for example, that create large images that just project out of your watch.
1.From the first two paragraphs soundwave vibrations can be used to _________.
A.catch very small objects in midair
B.develop 3-D printer’s capabilities
C.replace a creative display screen
D.compose soundtracks by making no noise
2.What do we know about display without a screen?
A.It has resulted in visual technology.
B.It is possible to see the image from any direction.
C.It is already ripe to create a real one at home.
D.It has yet to be tested in the research laboratory.
3.What does the last paragraph mainly talk about?
A.Outlooks for the new technology.
B.Situations of the modern technology.
C.Praise for the cutting-edge technology.
D.Room for the technical improvement.
4.What can be a suitable title for the passage?
A.Hearing Is Seeing—Sound Waves Create a 3-D Display
B.Seeing is Believing—3-D Printing Methods Arrive
C.Advancing Sense of Touch—3-D Images Float in the Air
D.Promoting TV Technology—Chat with 3-D Projections
A new study shows that air pollution can cause a huge reduction in our intelligence. The study was a project involving researchers at Peking University in China and Yale University in the United States.
The researchers reported that long-term exposure to air pollution can affect a person's mental abilities in two areas: Language and math.
The researchers studied about 25,000 people from across China. Between 2010 and 2014, these Chinese men, women and children were given language and math tests. Then researchers compared the test results with measurements of pollution in the air, namely nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide （二氧化硫）.
Xi Chen of the Yale School of Public Health led the study. He and his team found that breathing polluted air can reduce a person's education level by about one year.
Chen said that the effect generally is worse for those over 64 years of age, for men and for those with little or no education.
“The older persons—they are more affected. And we find, quite amazingly, males are more affected than females. And people working outdoors are more affected than people working indoors.
He noted that the youngest people in the study were 10 years old, while the oldest was 90 years old. They came from China's 33 provinces. In his words, the data and facts are convincing and this range of ages and locations across the country provided a real, objective and representative sample.
The researchers noted that the effect of air pollution on verbal ability is even more serious as people age, especially among men and the less educated. The researchers also stressed that every country, whether developed, developing or poor, should focus on air pollution or humans will face a bad situation.
1.What is the result of the study?
A.Air pollution has a bad effect on people's intelligence.
B.Females are more affected by air pollution than males.
C.Americans are more affected by air pollution than Chinese.
D.People working indoors are actually not affected by air pollution.
2.What did Chen say about the study?
A.It is doubtful.
B.It is extremely unfair.
C.It is common and not representative.
D.It is relatively objective and persuasive.
3.What did the researchers emphasize in the last paragraph?
A.The data from the 33 provinces is convincing.
B.The whole world should pay attention to air pollution.
C.The less educated take more responsibility for air pollution.
D.Air pollution's influence on verbal ability is less serious as people age.
4.Where is the text most likely taken from?
A.A life diary. B.A guidebook.
C.A science magazine. D.A biography.
Some 15 years ago, Ross Willard volunteered with a food program in Harrisburg Pa. He found children riding bicycles with brakes that didn't work. The retired railroad manager saw the importance of safely riding for children, so he began repairing bicycle on street corners.
Over time, more and more people came to have their bicycles repaired. Mr. Willard opened his first shop in 2007 and three years later he founded his own company Recycle Cycle Harrisburg. The all-volunteer nonprofit organization has been offering service for residents in the community. Regular visitors include children and their parents, as well as halfway house residents seeking to perform community service hours while so building their own bikes.
The organization has a do-it-yourself philosophy: Although there is no charge for any repair, or even bicycles, most visitors( except young children)are tasked with making their own repairs with the assistance of volunteer trainers.
Since its founding, Recycle Bicycle has distributed thousands of donated bikes to the Harrisburg community averaging about 900 per year in the past decade. He's known as “Mr. Bicycle, around the Pennsylvania capital. He estimates that the organization repairs some 3,000 bikes a year.
Sitting in the organization’s shop space, he discusses the volunteerism and sense of service that were imprinted on him as a child by his parents. This led to a strong belief about fixing problems that one finds in the community.
1.Why did Willard begin repairing cycles on street comers?
A.He needed to make some extra money.
B.He decided to set up his own business.
C.He wanted to ensure the safety of cyclists.
D.He felt bored with the food program.
2.What does “do-it-yourself philosophy” aim at?
A.Young children. B.Volunteer trainers.
C.Shoppers. D.Visitors.
3.Which of the following is the closest in meaning to the underlined word “imprinted”?
A.impressed B.realized C.ignored D.depended
4.What is the main idea of the text?
A.Repairing a bicycle yourself can save time and money.
B.Community needs bicycle repair service.
C.How to repair a bicycle.
D.The organization offers service for the community.
The 1972 Hawaii episodes opened the fourth season of The Brady Bunch, and they have become a beloved part of pop culture. Here are the top places where the Hawaii episodes of The Brady Bunch were filmed.
Sheraton Waikiki
Location: 2255 Kalakaua Avenue, Honolulu, Hawaii 96815
The entrance to the Sheraton Waikiki has not changed all that much. All of its original charm remains. You can even book an ocean-view room like the Brady family would have enjoyed. Be sure to also check out the breathtaking infinity pool.
Halona Blowhole Lookout
Location: 8483 Highway 72, Honolulu, Hawaii 96825
During their tour of Hawaii, the Bradys looked in the wonder at the still-active Halona Blowhole. It's one of Hawaii's many natural wonders. The rock formation and blowhole shoots ocean water spray high into the air when the waves roll in.
Although there are no active volcanoes on Oahu now, their effects on the island linger. The best time to come here is when winds are strong and the tide is high.
View Rabbit Island from Makapu'u Beach Park
Location:41-095 Kalanianaole Highway, Makapu'u Point, Hawaii 96795
The Brady girls enjoyed the view of Rabbit Island. Although it's referred to by its nickname in the episodes, the real name of Rabbit Island is Manana Island. It got its nickname because many rabbits used to inhabit the area. It's now an uninhabited islet on the eastern end of Oahu.
Hula dancing on the Ocean Lawn of the Royal Hawaiian
Location: 2259 Kalakaua Avenue, Honolulu, Hawaii 96815
It's believed that the Brady ladies enjoyed their hula lesson on the Ocean Lawn of the Royal Hawaiian, a luxury collection resort. The ocean Lawn is a great place for a selfie because you can see the ocean, Diamond Head and other beautiful sights in the background.
The Royal Hawaiian does offer hula lessons to guests, but they aren't held on the Ocean Lawn. If you and your family decide to try hula dancing, try not to get your hula skirts mixed up like Alice and Cindy did!
1.Where should you go to enjoy the ocean waves?
A.Sheraton Waikiki. B.Halona Blowhole Lookout.
C.Rabbit Island. D.Ocean Lawn.
2.What is special about the Rabbit Island?
A.It has active volcanoes.
B.It has incredible sunrise.
C.It got the name because of rabbits.
D.It has remained the same ever since.
3.What can you do on the Ocean Lawn?
A.To take charming pictures for yourself.
B.To learn hula lessons from the locals.
C.To climb seaside rocks and go fishing.
D.To exchange skirts with others for fun.
