How to think outside the box
Being open to dissenting（持异议的）opinions is not the only way to think outside the box. 1.
A break in our everyday life may provide the force needed to shift the direction of our thinking. So we can change environments. 2. ，for example, reorganizing our desk or taking a new route to work. However, for others , bigger changes such as a new job or a marriage are required,
A famous concept is approaching routine situations as if we met or saw them for the first time. In other words, we should look at them as if we'd never seen them. 3. For instance, when we brush our teeth, take a moment to look at the toothbrush as if we never laid eyes on such an object and noticed its color and shape. Think about the flavor of the toothpaste and notice how our mouth feels as we move the brush back and forth.
4.. The mere presence of a group of people with diverse experiences, views and backgrounds in our everyday life creates an atmosphere in which people can better respond to change. Why? Because they are key drivers of the development of new ideas and solutions.
Unlike negative emotions (情感）that cause specific reactions(for example, fear drives us to flee) ,positive emotions help us broaden our attention, explore our environment, and open ourselves to absorbing information.
5.. They can be those that are going well or for which we are grateful. This shifting — into — positivity process will automatically brighten our mood—and free our brain.
A.It's also helpful to seek for the difference
B.For some people, small changes might work
C.We should show respect for different cultures too
D.Some small techniques could help broaden the way we think
E.Take a few moments to think about the beautiful things in our life
F.Positive emotions play an important part in unfreezing our thinking
G."Beginners' mind" allows us to remain open to experiences despite any knowledge we may have
Plastic is piling up in ecosystems all over the world. Although its harmful impacts on both species and ecosystems have been documented, a few animals—like bowerbirds and hermit crabs—are doing what they can to recycle it. And according to a recent study, wild bees in Canada have joined the effort, which is a rare observation of behavioral flexibility in species especially insects, in increasingly plastic-rich environments.
The researchers found two species of leafcutter bees putting plastic into their nests. One of the bees they studied, the alfalfa leafcutter bee, normally bites off pieces of leaves and flowers while the second bee gathers sticky substances from trees. Leafcutter bees don't build big nests or store honey like honeybees, choosing instead small nests in underground holes, tree holes or cracks （裂缝）in buildings. But the researchers found that three of eight brood cells（育雏巢室）contained pieces of plastic bags, replacing 23 percent of the cut leaves in each cell on average.
While they don't make honey, alfalfa leafcutter bees still make money for the U. S. and Canadian farmers by pollinating（给......传授花粉）crops including alfalfa , carrots and melons. The European insects were introduced to North America in the 1930s for that purpose, and they've since become wild, joining the continent's many native species of leafcutter bees.
In a separate study conducted in Argentina between 2017 and 2018, researchers found a bee nest made entirely of plastic, which consisted of three separate cells. It's the first known example of such construction worldwide. Compared to the other nests the researchers examined, which were made of natural materials, this one had a pretty lower success rate of the bees' survival. One of the cells had a dead baby bee , another seemed to have housed an adult that had left the nest, and the third was unfinished.
1.What does the animals' use of plastic show according to the study?
A.How widely plastic is used.
B.How strange the behavior of wildlife is.
C.How some wildlife is adapting to plastic.
D.How plastic pollution has harmed them.
2.What do leaves mean to alfalfa leafcutter bees?
A.Food. B.Shelter.
C.A plastic substitute. D.Traditional nest materials.
3.Which is one characteristic of leafcutter bees?
A.They have great economic value.
B.They store honey like honeybees.
C.They prefer to live in tree holes.
D.They have evolved into a new species.
4.What was the nest made entirely of plastic like?
A.It might be warmer. B.It might be unhealthy.
C.It might be easy to finish. D.It might be recyclable.
It goes without saying, but bears repeating, there are too many cats and dogs without homes. While there are countless shelters and rescue centers that exist, some potential pet owners look to pet shops to find their furry friends. All too often, however, these animals come from puppy and kitten mills（繁殖场）that treat the creatures in cruel ways. San Francisco, however, is doing its part to stop this abuse with pet store adoption. Officials recently voted to ban the sale of non-rescue dogs and cats in local shops.
The effect is twofold. First, it will stop the popularity of the large-scale mills, which are famous for the miserable conditions cats and dogs are kept in. Second, it will help facilitate the adoption of thousands of animals that are waiting for their forever homes in San Francisco shelters. District 4 Supervisor Katy Tang, who serves on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, supported law-making on the ban. “Dogs and cats sold in pet stores often come from inhumane puppy and kitten mills that treat animals with no regard for their health or well-being,” she wrote on Facebook. In her message, she also called on the U. S. Agriculture Department to reinstate information on its website that documents these types of animal cruelty cases—it was removed earlier this month.
San Francisco's law-making is a victory for those concerned about animal rights, and it isn't the first city to pass this type of measure. Los Angeles, San Diego, Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, and Austin also have similar laws in place, with hopefully more places to follow suit.
1.What happened to the dogs or cats before they got in the pet stores?
A.They were treated cruelly.
B.They received warm welcome.
C.They were abandoned on the streets,
D.They were raised in shelters and rescue centers.
2.Which of the following may Katy Tang agree with most?
A.People should adopt the dogs and cats.
B.Animals are too cruel to human beings.
C.Government can choose to kill all the dogs and cats.
D.It is not right to ban the sale of non-rescue dogs or cats in local shops.
3.What does the underlined word "reinstate" in Paragraph 2 mean?
A.Update. B.Replace. C.Post again. D.Download.
4.What does the last paragraph mainly focus on?
A.No Chinese city joins this type of movements
B.San Francisco is the last city to ban pet stores,
C.More and more cities are involved in protecting animal rights.
D.Americans care about animals more than others.
Jayce Crowder began noticing when he was in kindergarten that he looked different from his classmates. They had two hands. He had one.
It started when one boy teased him, said his mother, Cortney Lewis. He'd return to their home in Des Moines, Iowa with questions:Why am I different? Why me? Why? How could she provide answers to her son's questions when she had never found those answers herself?
A few weeks later, Lewis came home and turned on the TV. There was a news story about an eighth grader from Washington, Iowa. Trashaun Willis, then 14, had become an Internet sensation after posting videos of his slam dunks, and, like Jayce, most of his left arm was missing. Lewis called Jayce in. He was amazed, watching dunk after dunk.
At the time, it seemed that watching Trashaun would simply be an inspiring moment for Jayce. But little did Lewis know that a family friend had already reached out to The Des Moines Register, asking the newspaper to help set up a meeting with Trashaun to build up Jayce's confidence. The day was not spent on self-pity. They rode bikes around the schools hall ways, took photos, played hide-and-seek, and shot baskets.
At one point, Trashaun did get serious with Jayce. He talked about their left arms. He told Jayce he was perfect the way life made him. He asked Jayce not to let anyone drag him down and not let words shake his confidence. "It reassured me," said Lewis. "I know in my heart that everything's going to be OK. Trashaun has grown up to be a wonderful kid. And I know Jayce is too. As a parent, that's all you want to know：Everything's going to be OK. "
Since that meeting, Lewis has seen a pronounced difference in her son. He recently started wrestling and loved it. Lewis pointed to Trashaun's influence. Meeting him, she said, made Jayce understand that there were others like him.
As for Trashaun, his relationship with Jayce made him look forward to helping more kids, perhaps as a youth coach in NubAbility, a non-profit organization dedicated to coaching kids with limb differences.
1.What was Lewis' reaction to her son’s questions?
A.She was in shock. B.She felt lost.
C.She felt embarrassed, D.She was in pain.
2.How did the two boys reach out to each other?
A.Jayce called a newspaper.
B.A family friend helped a lot.
C.Lewis made efforts to do that.
D.Trashaun met Jayce by chance.
3.What do we know about Trashaun?
A.He had been a role model for Jayce.
B.He was a hit on the Internet for his kindness.
C.He was a volunteer for children with disabilities.
D.His good performance in basketball made Jayce down.
4.What can we learn from the last paragraph?
A.Jayce and Trashaun set up a non-profit organization.
B.Jayce and Trashaun became best friends.
C.What Trashaun did to Jayce made him a young coach.
D.Trashaun tended to devote more to kids with disabilities.
It’s no secret that your personal characteristics directly affect how you interact with the world, but you might be surprised at just how deep it goes. Experts think that your personality can even affect how you exercise and influence what sports are suitable for you.
Highly Sensitive
Highly sensitive people may be more uncomfortable with group exercise classes or team sports where they feel their every move is being observed. Additionally, they may feel more upset over an ineffective or poor workout, says researcher Elaine Aron.
For such people, individual or non-competitive activities like biking, running and hiking are ideal.
Type A Personality
Type A individuals often have an “all or nothing approach” to exercise. This personality type is known for sticking closely to their plan, not to mention being super competitive. However, this can cause them to stick too closely to a fitness routine, which means they might try to push past an injury.
To get better exercise results, Type A people need to be aware that following an exercise plan too strictly may limit their progress. They should be more flexible and listen to their body, especially when they are in pain.
Type B Personality
This laid-back group may get too lazy about their exercise plan, which prevents them from seeing results. They are often less willing to devote enough time and energy to their fitness goals, especially if exercise is something that makes them anxious.
Type B individuals succeed in creative and co-operative environments, so team sports and group gym classes may be perfect.
Remember, there are plenty of ways you can adapt a fitness plan to suit your needs, regardless of your characteristics. Just keep in mind what you like.
1.Why might highly sensitive people be unwilling to take part in group sports?
A.They will feel like they are being evaluated.
B.They don't like socializing with other people.
C.They don't consider themselves to be athletic.
D.They fear they'll be let down by their teammates.
2.Type A personalities can be best described as_________.
A.committed B.flexible.
C.independent. D.sensitive.
3.What is the purpose of the text?
A.To help people understand what personality type they are.
B.To explain how personal characteristics affect exercise habits.
C.To identify the dangers of doing the wrong type of exercise.
D.To describe different types of workouts that are available today.
假如你是李华，你的英国笔友Peter写信问你中国中学生课余是否做兼职，并请你谈谈中学生做兼职的利弊。请写回信，要点包括：
1. 回答中国学生是否做兼职；
2. 谈谈学生做兼职的利弊；
3. 这个假期你是否会做兼职。
Dear Peter，
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours,
Li Hua
