Increase your creativity
Every month I face the same problem — how to write educational, informative and, hopefully, interesting articles. 1.. At other times my mind goes blank (空白的), and I experience a creative block.
At times we all face creative challenges in life, from designing websites to decorating our apartments, but there are ways to work through creative slumps (低潮).
★Daydream
For years, others may have told you to stop daydreaming. 2.. Daydreaming sometimes helps you take a more creative approach to your problem.
★Be happy
Some studies suggest that a positive mood (心情) encourages creativity because it increases activity in the parts of the brain related to decision-making and feelings.
★3.
Face-to-face conversations with friends can lead to creative thinking.
★Take risks
Don’t let fear hold you back. You won’t succeed at everything you try. But with each new effort, you will build self-confidence and develop new skills for the future.
★Limit your amusement
Everyone enjoys entertainment. 4.. Literature and audiobooks are better forms of amusement because they force you to use your imagination.
★Look for inspiration
Activities such as listening to music, going to museums and travelling all provide sources of inspiration.
★Go offline and go outside
Remember how much fun you had as a child running, playing and pretending? Your imagination simply ran away with you. 5., and can help you get back some of that creative energy from your childhood.
A.Get social
B.Make friends
C.Nature settings fire the imagination
D.In fact, letting your mind run briefly can actually be helpful
E.Reading relaxes the mind and encourages you to use your imagination
F.Sometimes I can just sit down at my computer and the words just flow
G.But watching TV, for instance, requires little thought and can actually decrease creativity
Bicycle Safety
Operation Always ride your bike in a safe, controlled manner on campus(校园). Obey rules and regulations. Watch out for walkers and other bicyclists, and always use your lights in dark conditions.
Theft Prevention Always securely lock your bicycle to a bicycle rack — even if you are only away for a minute. Register your bike with the University Department of Public Safety. It's fast, easy, and free. Registration permanently records your serial number, which is useful in the possible recovery of the bike stolen.
Equipment
Brakes Make sure that they are in good working order and adjusted properly.
Helmet A necessity, make sure your helmet meets current safety standards and fits properly.
Lights Always have a front headlight — visible at least 500 feet in front of the bike. A taillight is a good idea.
Rules of the Road
Riding on Campus As a bicycle rider, you have a responsibility to ride only on streets and posted bicycle paths. Riding on sidewalks or other walkways can lead to a fine. The speed limit for bicycles on campus is 15 mph, unless otherwise posted. Always give the right of way to walkers. If you are involved in an accident, you are required to offer appropriate aid, call the Department of Public Safety and remain at the scene until the officer lets you go.
Bicycle Parking Only park in areas reserved for bikes. Trees, handrails, hallways, and sign posts are not for bicycle parking, and parking in such spots can result in a fine.
If Things Go Wrong
If you break the rules, you will be fined. Besides violating rules while riding bicycles on campus, you could be fined for:
No bicycle registration ………………..……………….…… $25
Bicycle parking banned …………..…………………….……$30
Blocking path with bicycle …………………………….……$40
Violation of bicycle equipment requirement ……………....…$35
1.Registration of your bicycle may help you ______.
A．get your serial number
B．receive free repair services
C．settle conflicts with walkers
D．find your stolen bicycle
2.According to the passage, what bike equipment is a free choice for bicycle riders?
A．A helmet. B．A headlight.
C．A taillight. D．Brakes.
3. If you lock your bicycle to a tree on the campus, you could be fined ______.
A．$30 B．$35 C．$40 D．$25
4.What is the passage mainly about?
A．Directions for bicycle tour on campus.
B．Regulations of bicycle race on campus.
C．Rules for riding motor vehicles on campus.
D．A guide for safe bicycling on campus.
There were many beautiful buildings in ancient Rome, but the living conditions for ordinary people were bad. Most of their homes were so poorly made that they fell down or were fire hazards (danger) with their steep, narrow wooden stairways. Most people were packed into apartment buildings that rose shakily (unsafely) six to twelve floors above the ground. The apartments were rooms about three metres square, and each building housed about five hundred people.
These tall buildings faced each other across streets only three metres wide, so no sunlight reached the ground. Even so, apartments were costly, though cheaper places could be found outside Rome. But people wanted to be near their work and entertainment. So the streets became crowded and it was hard to move quickly. At night, the streets were filled with noise as food and supplies were brought into the city on wagons and carts.
1.In ancient Rome, most people lived in ________ apartments.
A.small and crowded B.clean and tidy
C.spacious and sunny D.tall and big
2.The streets in ancient Rome were ________.
A.crowded and noisy B.wide and bright
C.narrow and dark D.both A and C
3.People liked to live in Rome because________.
A.the apartments were comfortable
B.the living expenses were low
C.they have no money to build houses outside the city
D.they wanted to enjoy the conveniences of the city
4.This passage is mainly about ________ in ancient Rome.
A.the beautiful buildings
B.the living conditions of ordinary people
C.the streets and transportation
D.the food and daily supplies
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the eleventh largest nation in Europe. England, Wales and Scotland make up the island of Great Britain, which takes up most of the Britain Isles. Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are mountainous. The highest mountain is Ben Nevis in Scotland. Plains and valleys cover much of England. The British climate is mild.
About 58 million people live in the United Kingdom. Few other countries are so crowded. Four out of five people live in cities such as Belfast, Glasgow, and London. London is the capital. Great Britain grows half of the food it needs. Its industries help to pay for the food that is bought from abroad. The United Kingdom manufactures a wide range of goods. Service industries, such as tourism, that provide services rather than producing goods, are increasing. Traditional industries, such as coal mining, are declining.
1.There are many mountains in ______________.
A. Northern Ireland, Scotland and England
B. England, Wales and Scotland
C. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
D. Northern Ireland, Wales and England
2.In the United Kingdom, about __________people live in big cities.
A. 58 million B. 48.8 million
C. 38.8 million D. half
3.According to the passage, which of the statements is true?
A. Great Britain grows all of the food it needs.
B. The United Kingdom manufactures a narrow range of goods.
C. The speed of tourism in UK is increasing faster than producing goods.
D. The coal mining is also increasing fast.
Kwame Alexander is a best-selling author of 24 books. His novel in verse (诗体) The Crossover won the Newbery Medal in 2015, and was followed by another verse novel in 2016, Booked. In the just-released The Playbook: 52 Rules to Aim, Shoot, and Score in This Game Called Life, Alexander aims to inspire readers to dream big and reach for their goals.
Time For Kids:
What can you tell us about The Playbook?
Kwame Alexander:
I wanted to write a book about how important it is to persevere (坚持) and accept the challenges that come, because they only make you stronger. And I wanted to do it in a really cool and fun way, using sports as a metaphor (隐喻), so students would be interested in reading a book that is telling them how to make their lives better.
TFK:
Where did you get the idea for the book?
Alexander:
In The Crossover, the father of the main characters, Josh and Jordan, gives them these rules for life, called Basketball Rules. Well, I was having breakfast with a friend of mine in New York City. He said, “Kwame, I love those Basketball Rules you have in The Crossover. You should think about writing a whole book on those.” That’s where it all began.
TFK:
Is it hard to mix sports and poetry (诗歌)?
Alexander:
I love sports, and I’ve been writing poetry since I was a kid. So those two things are as natural to me as breathing, laughing and walking.
TFK:
You’ve said teachers need to make learning poetry fun. Did you have a teacher like this as a kid?
Alexander:
My mom. She read poetry to my sisters and me when I was a kid, and she would make the words jump off the page!
TFK:
What advice would you give to young writers?
Alexander:
Read everything you can get your hands on. The best way to become a good writer is to read what other people have written.
1.What can we learn about The Playbook?
A.It is a historical novel.
B.It won the Newbery Medal.
C.It is actually about rules for life.
D.It is based on Alexander’s true life.
2.Who inspired Alexander to write The Playbook?
A.His mom who read poetry to him.
B.The teacher who taught him poetry.
C.His friend who read The Crossover.
D.The two characters in The Crossover.
3.When Alexander was a kid, how did he feel about poetry?
A.It was rather boring. B.It was quite difficult.
C.It was pretty mysterious. D.It was very interesting.
4.In Alexander’s mind, what’s important to become a good writer?
A.Always dream big.
B.Gladly accept challenges.
C.Read as much as possible.
D.Have a wide knowledge of poetry.
假如你是澳大利亚男孩 Tom, 你的朋友李华来信向你咨询如何才能学好英语。请根据下列要点给李华写封建议信。
1、参加英语课堂活动；
2、看英语书刊，看英语电视；
3、学唱英语歌曲；
4、交外国朋友，在网上和他们用英语聊天。
注意：1、词数不少于100。
2、可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Dear Li Hua,
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Yours,
Tom
