The Art of Slow Reading
If you are reading this article in print, chances are that you will only get through half of what I have written. And if you are reading this online, you may not even finish a fifth. 1. They suggest that many of us no longer have the concentration to read articles through to their conclusion.
So are we getting stupider? Actually, our online habits are damaging the mental power we need to process and understand textual information. Round-the-clock news makes us read from one article to the next without necessarily engaging fully with any of the content. Our reading is frequently interrupted by the noise of the latest email and we are now absorbing short bursts of words on Twitter and Facebook more regularly than longer texts. 2. But we are gradually forgetting how to sit back, think carefully, and relate all the facts to each other.
3. A desperate bunch of academics want us to take our time while reading, and re-reading. They ask us to switch off our computers every so often and rediscover both the joy of personal engagement with printed texts, and the ability to process them fully. What's to be done then? Most slow readers realize that total rejection of the web is extremely unrealistic. They feel that getaway from technology for a while is the answer. 4. Personally, I'm not sure whether I could ever go offline for long. Even while writing this article, I am switching constantly between sites, skimming too often, absorbing too little. Internet reading has become too rooted in my daily life for me to change. I read essays and articles not in hard copy but as PDFs. I suspect that many readers are in a similar position. 5. You can download a computer application called Freedom, which allows you to read in peace by cutting off your Internet connection. Or if you want to avoid being disturbed by the Internet, you could always download offline reader Instapaper for your iPhone. If you're still reading my article, that is slow reading.
A.The Internet is probably part of the problem.
B.Now some campaigns are advocating slow reading.
C.These are the two findings from the recent research projects.
D.But if you just occasionally want to read more slowly, help is at hand.
E.Some of them have suggested turning their computers off for one day a week.
F.Slow reading can help connect a reader to neighborhood and become popular.
G.Because of the Internet, we have become very good at collecting information.
People aren't walking any more—if they can figure out a way to avoid it.
I felt superior about this matter until the other day I took my car to mail a small parcel. The journey is a matter of 281 steps. But I used the car. And I wasn't in any hurry, either. I had merely become one more victim of a national sickness: motorosis.
It is an illness to which I had thought myself immune(免疫的), for I was born in the tradition of going to places on my own two legs. At that time, we regarded 25 miles as good day's walk and the ability to cover such a distance in ten hours as a sign of strength and skill. A wellknown British physician, Sir Adolphe Abrhams, pointed out recently that hearts and bodies need proper exercise. A person who avoids exercise is more likely to have illnesses than one who exercises regularly and walking is an ideal form of exercise---the most familiar and natural of all.
It was Henry Thoreau who showed mankind the richness of going on foot. The man walking can learn the trees, flowers, insects, birds and animals, the significance of seasons, the very feel of himself as a living creature in a living world. He can’t learn in a car.
The car is a convenient means of transport, but we have made it our way of life. Many people don't dare to approach Nature any more. To them the world they were born to enjoy is all threat; to them security is a steel river thundering on a concrete road. And much of their thinking takes place while waiting for the traffic light to turn green.
I say that the green of forests is the mind's best light. And none but the man on foot can evaluate what is basic and everlasting.
1.What is the national sickness?
A.Walking too much.
B.Travelling too much.
C.Driving cars too much.
D.Climbing stairs too much.
2.What was life like when the author was young?
A.People usually went around on foot.
B.People often walked 25 miles a day.
C.People used to walk ten hours every day.
D.People considered a tenhour walk as a hardship.
3.What is compared to “a steel river” in Paragraph 6?
A.A queue of cars.
B.A ray of traffic light.
C.A flash of lightning.
D.A stream of people.
4.What is the author's intention of writing this passage?
A.To tell people to reflect more on life.
B.To encourage people to return to walking.
C.To advise people to do outdoor activities.
D.To recommend people to give up driving.
A walk through the galleries of Quebec's Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA) places individuals face-to-face with some 43,000 artworks ranging from Chinese ceramics (陶瓷制品) to Inuit sculpture.
While the visiting is an incredible cultural experience, a group of local physicians will soon be able to prescribe(开处方) museum visits as treatment for some illnesses.
Hélène Boyer, vice president of a Montreal-based medical association, explains that museum visits have been shown to increase levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter (神经传导物质) known as the "happy chemical" which helps to lift mood.
According to Boyer, the small increase in hormones(荷尔蒙)associated with enjoying an afternoon of art is similar to that offered by exercise, making museum prescriptions ideal for the elderly experiencing pain that prevents them from regularly joining in physical activity.
The museum visits are designed to improve traditional methods. As Bondil notes, spending time in a peaceful environment can provide a welcome distraction. "What is most important is this experience can help them escape from their own pain," she says. "When you enter the museum, you escape from the speed of our daily life."
"I am convinced that in the 21st century, culture will be what physical activity was for health in the 20th century," said Bondil. " Some people would do well to recall that just in the 19th century, sports were believed to do harm to the body. Just as doctors now prescribe exercise, they will be able to prescribe a visit to the MMFA."
1.What does Hélène Boyer think of museum visits?
A.They can cheer people up. B.They can reduce physical activity.
C.They can slow down our life pace. D.They can increase levels of art appreciation.
2.How do museum visits affect people?
A.Stop them concentrating on pain.
B.Stop them focusing on traditional methods.
C.Encourage them not to be absent-minded.
D.Encourage them to slow their steps while walking.
3.What does the last paragraph suggest?
A.Physical activities were popular in the 19th century.
B.Sports are considered to be harmful to the body.
C.Ideas of treating illnesses are changing over time.
D.Doctors prescribe museum visits regularly now.
4.What is the main idea of the text?
A.Museum visits are ideal for the elderly. B.Happy chemical helps to lift mood.
C.Peaceful environment helps escape pain. D.Cultural activities will promote health
When Tara Wood brought her daughter to a grocery store to buy the four-year-old some cupcakes, she had no idea that would be a life-changing experience.
As Tara pushed her daughter Norah around the store last month, she passed an old man who was by himself. The old man looked cold, until Norah shouted to him, “Hi! It’s my birthday today!” The man stopped and his demeanor changed from distant and serious to warm and friendly. “How old are you today?” the man asked. After some time talking together, Norah asked her mom to take a picture of her with her new friend “Mr Dan”, Dan Peterson, 82. They hugged and after ten minutes went their separate ways. That could have been the end of the story. But it is actually the beginning of a special relationship.
Tara posted the picture of her daughter and Mr. Dan on Facebook and someone who recognized him reached out to her with his contact information. It turned out that Mr. Dan’s wife died in March and he had been suffering from depression and anxiety ever since. The person on Facebook told Tara that it was the first time they had seen Mr. Dan smile since the death of his wife. Knowing that, Tara contacted Mr. Dan, and ever since Norah and the 82-year-old have developed a friendship unlike any other. “She has shown me a depth of love, a depth that I didn’t know existed,” Mr. Dan told the reporter.
Mr. Dan told Tara that before meeting Norah, he hadn’t had one night of uninterrupted sleep. Anxiety kept him up at all hours and made him restless. After meeting Norah, he said he now sleeps soundly. For Mr. Dan’s 82nd birthday on October 20, the mother and the daughter brought balloons and presents—and, of course, cupcakes. Mr. Dan will also spend a day around Thanksgiving with Norah and her family. “If you don’t take the time to notice people, you will never know how you can positively impact a life,” Tara Wood said.
1.Why did Mr. Dan look cold?
A.He felt lonely. B.He disliked little kids.
C.He caught a cold. D.He knew little about Norah.
2.What does the underlined word “demeanor” in Paragraph 2 probably mean?
A.Words. B.Body. C.Thoughts. D.Attitude.
3.How did Tara know more about Mr. Dan?
A.From a news reporter. B.From a stranger.
C.From a shop assistant. D.From his neighbor.
4.What can we learn from the story?
A.Giving makes a real difference. B.It is important to respect each other.
C.We should not judge a person at first sight. D.Good things will happen if one keeps trying.
Become a Volunteer and Make a Difference
The First Tee, as an outstanding youth development organization, is always searching for good people that want to volunteer at one of our many Pittsburgh area locations.
We’re Looking for You!
Developed with input from leading experts in the field of positive youth development, our program focuses on making participants stronger and more confident through decision-making and exploring options, inspiring the golfers of tomorrow to look to the future, set goals, and unlock their potential.
We also need more volunteers to make The First Tee possible. Opportunities include:
Assistant Coach: assist in our weekly golf clinics. All that we request is that you make a 7-week commitment (one day per week), for 2 hours each week. Each clinic is led by one of our trained staff members who creates a written lesson plan for our volunteers to follow.
Database Manager: input data entry of participants, volunteers, and community relation records and update chapter information for Home Office and community relations. The database manager is expected to update the data a minimum of every other week.
Equipment Manager: organize and sort donated equipment, get rid of unfit equipment, and arrange equipment for distribution to participants at least once a week.
Greeter: register participants, hand information to parents, greet visitors, answer phone and provide general program information.
Process of Becoming a Volunteer
Begin by filling out the Google Forms application below. Once Alison Boyle (our Director of Volunteer and Participant Services) receives your completed application, she will contact you for an in-person interview.
CLICK HERE to fill out a Volunteer Application via Google Forms
For more information, please contact our Director of Volunteer and Participant Services, Alison Boyle, at aboyle@thefirstteepittsburgh.org.
1.What does The First Tee Coach Program center on?
A.Empowering participants. B.Training professional coaches.
C.Attracting more visitors. D.Looking for golf stars.
2.If you are good at using computers, which one may you choose to be?
A.Greeter. B.Assistant coach.
C.Database manager. D.Equipment manager.
3.What must one do to become a volunteer at The First Tee?
A.Be a good golfer. B.Have an interview.
C.Consult Alison Boyle. D.Promise to work 7 weeks.
假定你是李华，下周你校将举办“垃圾分类”宣讲会。请你写一封邮件，邀请你的英国朋友David参加。内容包括：1.时间及地点；2.活动内容；3.欢迎他分享有关垃圾分类的经验。
注意1. 词数100左右；2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
参考词汇：垃圾分类 garbage sorting；宣讲会 a teach-in
Dear David,
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Best wishes!
Yours,
Li Hua
