Have you ever wondered what goes through your mind when you choose where to sit in a new classroom? Or in a waiting room full of strangers? Or on a bus? Researchers have found out some interesting facts.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, we prefer to sit closer to people like ourselves. Girls sit by girls and boys sit by boys. Adults sit together and young people choose another young person to sit near. But it goes further than this. We even choose to sit near someone who looks like us. People with glasses are more likely to sit near other people with glasses. People with long hair sit closer to other people with long hair.
We seem to believe that people with similar habits or hobbies will share similar attitude and we are more likely to be accepted by people like ourselves or even, we think we may be safer with people who look like us. Sometimes that’s true but it's a pity if we always stick to the same people, the same group. The danger in always staying in our comfort zone (舒适区)is that we just recycle the same opinions, the same tastes and the same ideas. We lose the chance to learn something new, find out about interesting things, hear funny stories and discover difference.
When we always stick to the same people, how can we ever break down the barriers which prevent us from getting to know people with different ideas? And how can we avoid the ignorance (无知),which too often leads to prejudice (偏见) and even fear? If instead you want to live in a society that opens to changes and new things and different opinions, be the cat among the pigeons.
Move out of your comfort zone. Go and sit next to someone different. And don't just sit there in silence. Say hello. Ask a question. Start a conversation. That’s how we make friends. That’s how we learn about people. That’s how we open our minds to new ideas. That's how we live an exciting life.
1.From the passage, we know that people prefer sitting by someone who
A. is like themselves
B. has a sense of humor
C. is open-minded
D. lives an exciting life
2.People like staying in their comfort zone because they may
A.remain comfortable and special
B.be accepted easily and feel safe
C.find out more interesting things
D. discover differences among themselves
3.What is the purpose of the passage?
A. To tell us just to be ourselves in social life.
B. To introduce ways to learn about the world.
C. To explain how people communicate with others.
D. To encourage us to meet people of different kinds.
Billy’s favorite color is orange. But he can’t see what orange looks like. Billy is blind.
A month after he was born, his mother noticed that his eyes weren’t quite as big as a normal baby’s.”Billy would never be able to see.” the doctor told his mother. After that Billy’s mother began talking to him, describing things she saw outside the window. She described everything to him.
Billy does not only depend on his mother’s descriptions to learn about the world around him. He sees with his cars and his hands, too. He has perfect hearing. When people make phone calls, he can tell the numbers they dial(拨).
Billy loves computer science. He began teaching himself computer programming when he was just seven years old. His dream school would be Stanford University. He gets top grades in his classes, making that a real possibility.
“You can’t let excuses get in the way of your dreams, and if you do that you can’t move forward and reach your goals, “said Billy.
1.From the passage, we know that_____________.
A. Billy can’t hear.B. Billy can’t see.
C. Billy can’t walk.D. Billy can’t talk.
2.How did Billy’s mother help him?
A. By teaching him how to draw.
B. By asking teacher for advice.
C. By describing everything to him.
D. By sending him to his dream school.
3.When did Billy begin teaching himself computer programming?
A. When he was 7 years old.B. When he was in Grade 5.
C. When he was high school.D. When he was at university.
School Programs
1.Which school offers Music Programe?
A. Hillbrook School B. Emerson School
C. Monarch School D. Almaden School
2.If you are interested in group classes in art ,you can call
A. 650-968-5957 B. 650-903-0986
C. 650-403-3575 D. 650-720-1677
3.Which program helps improve thinking skills?
A. Sports Program B. Art Program
C. Development Program D. Woodshop Program
Santa Can Come before Christmas
It was last June. I entered a supermarket to pick some vegetables,when a young man asked me,“Can you tell me where the counter(柜台) is? ”
“Well, the milk is in the lower right corner,” I replied.
Picking up my things,I finally came to the milk counter where I met the same man almost 10 bottles of milk.
I asked,“Do you need a basket or a trolley?”
“Sure,thank you.”he answered.
I was he was still picking more bottles and after a few minutes his trolley had 24 bottles of milk.
I laughed and asked, ”Why so many bottles?”
He smiled and said, ”These are for my street dogs. Today, I want to be a Santa them.”
I said,” Well ,it`s too for you to be a Santa,It is still June and Christmas comes in December.”
He at me and walked a few steps,as if he wanted to say something but he left the counter without saying anything.
,we met again at the bread counter.
“So these bread and cakes are also for the street dogs ,Mr.Santa.”
He smiled and said, ”Yes ,These are also for the dogs and I love to be Mr. Santa in the month of June, Santa is a representation(象征) of surprises and . Santa comes in December as we him around Christmas. But in real life there is a Santa in each one of us that shines through our personality at some point of time ,no matter which month it is. Maybe when you offered help to me by getting me a trolley ,there was a Santa in you ,When we offer food to a poor man or a(n) to someone who is caught in the rain ,we are being Santa there, So when you offer help to others or get help from others, just think that Santa has come all the way for you.”
He left and I was happy that I had met him. It was right to understand that Santa can come before Christmas, We just need to realize that he is around us by happiness and unconditional love.
1.A. vegetableB. milkC. breadD. fish
2.A.puttingB. choosingC. holdingD. bringing
3.A. sadB. excitedC. angryD. surprised
4.A. forB. onC. ofD.by
5.A. easyB. earlyC. helpfulD. important
6.A.pointedB. laughedC. shoutedD. turned
7.A. LuckilyB. SuddenlyC. HopefullyD. Naturally
8.A. loveB. successC. friendshipD. honor
9.A. callB. showC. expectD. invite
10.A. lostB. frozenC. forgottenD. hidden
11.A. cameraB. umbrellaC. appleD. box
12.A. storingB. facingC. spreadingD. increasing
—Do you know _________ the meeting?
—Tomorrow morning.
A. when they had
B. when they are going to have
C. when did they have
D. when are they going to have
Look! The clock has stopped. Maybe there’s ________ wrong with it.
A. everythingB. something
C. anything D. nothing