We can make mistakes at any age. Some mistakes we make are about money. But most mistakes are about people.“Did Jerry really care when I broke up with Helen?” When I got that great job, did Jim really feel good about it, as a friend? Or did he envy(嫉妒)my luck?”“And Paul-why didn’t he pick up that he was friendly just because I had a car?”When we look back, doubts like these can make us feel bad. But when we look back, it’s too late.
Why do we go wrong about our friends or our enemies? Sometimes what people say hides their real meaning. And if we don’t really listen we miss the feeling behind the words. Suppose someone tells you, “You’re a lucky dog.”that’s being friendly. But“lucky dog”?There’s a bit of envy in those words. Maybe he doesn’t see it himself. But bringing in the “dog” bit puts you down a little. What he may be saying is that he doesn’t think you deserve your luck.
“Just think of all the things you have to be thankful for ”is another noise that says one thing and means another . It could mean that the speaker is trying to get you to see your problem as part of your life as a whole. But is he? Wrapped up(包藏) in this phrase is the thought that your problem isn’t important. It’s telling you to think of all the starving people in the world when you haven’t got a date for Saturday night.
How can you tell the real meaning behind someone’s got a date for Saturday night? Good look at the person talking. Do his words fit the way he looks? Does what he says agree with the tone of voice? His posture(姿态)?The look in his eyes? Stop and think. The minute you spend thinking about the real meaning of what people to you may save another mistake.
1.This passage is mainly about_____.
A. how to interpret(understand) what people say
B. what to do when you listen to others talking
C. how to avoid mistakes when you communicate with people
D. why we go wrong with people sometimes
2.According to the author, the reason why we go wrong about our friends is that_______.
A. we fail to listen carefully when they talk
B. we tend to（倾向）doubt what our friends say
C. people usually state one thing but means another
D. people tend to be annoyed when we check what they say
3.In the sentence “Maybe he doesn’t see it himself.”In the second paragraph, the pronoun “it”refers to____.
A. being friendly B. a bit of envy C. lucky dog D. your luck
4.When we listen to a person talking , the most important thing for us to do is _______.
A. notice the way the person is talking
B. take a good look at the person talking
C. mind his tone, his posture and the look in his eyes
D. examine the real meaning of what he says based on his manner, his tone and his posture
A good teacher is many things to many people. In my own experience, the people I respect the most and think about the most are the teachers who demanded (要求) the most discipline (纪律) from their students.
I miss one teacher in particular that I had in high school. I think she was a good teacher because she was a very strict person. I remember very vividly (清晰地) a sign over her classroom door. It was a simple sign that said, “Laboratory—in this room the first five letters of the word was emphasized (强调), not the last seven.” In other words, I guess, labor for her was more important than oratory, which means making speeches.
She prepared her work very carefully and demanded us to do the same. We got lots of homework from her. Once she had broken her arm, and everybody in the class thought that maybe the homework load would be reduced, but it continued just the same. She checked our work by stamping her name at the bottom of the papers to show that she had read them.
I think sometimes teachers who demand the most are liked the least. But as time goes by, this discipline really seems to benefit (有益于) the students.
1.Which of the following is considered a good teacher by the writer?
A. A patient teacher. B. An honest teacher.
C. A strict teacher. D. A hard-working teacher.
2.The teacher put up the sign over her classroom door ___.
A. to remind the students that this room was a laboratory
B. to advise the students to follow the disciplines
C. to warn the students not to be careless
D. to tell the students to work hard in the classroom
3.When the teacher’s arm was broken, she ___.
A. gave her students the usual amount of homework
B. gave her students less homework
C. asked her students to check the homework themselves
D. gave her students more homework
4.What’s the writer’s opinion of discipline?
A. It makes the students dislike their teachers.
B. It does good to the students in the long run.
C. It’s too much for young children.
D. It does more harm than good to the students.
As I held my father’s hands one night, I couldn’t help but notice their calluses(老茧）and roughness. His hands tell the story of his life as a , including all his struggles.
One summer, I remember, a drought (旱灾）hit Ontario, turning it into a desert. On one of those hot mornings I was picking sweet corn with my dad to fill the last from the grocery store. Fifty dozen was all we needed, which took twenty minutes. That morning, however, the process didn’t quickly. After forty minutes of aimlessly walking in the field, we needed twenty dozen. I was completely frustrated and . Dropping the basket heavily, I declared, “If the store wants its last twenty dozen, they can pick it themselves.” Dad , “Just think, my little girl, only ten dozen left for each of us and then we’re .” Such is Dad—whatever problem he , he never gives up.
, the disastrous (灾难性的) effects of the drought were felt all over our county. It was a challenging time for everyone, Dad remained optimistic. He to be grateful for other things like good health and food on our plates. Only then did I truly begin to Dad and his faith that guided us through the hard times.
Dad is also a living example of real . From dawn to dusk, he works countless hours to our family. He always puts our happiness his own, and never fails to cheer me on at my sports games his exhaustion after long days. His loving and selfless nature has inspired me to become more sympathetic (同情心的) and putting others first.
Dad, the life I have learned from you will stay with me forever. You are my father, teacher, friend and, most importantly, my hero.
1.A. teacher B. gardenerC. farmer D. grocer
2.A. stormy B. lively C. disappearingD. burning
3.A. order B. form C. gap D. position
4.A. repeatedlyB. normallyC. finally D. really
5.A. go B. begin C. occur D. change
6.A. yet B. still C. even D. nearly
7.A. surprised B. nervousC. angry D. frightened
8.A. apologizedB. cried C. complained D. laughed
9.A. lost B. done C. gone D. touched
10.A. meets withB. brings upC. works out D. thinks about
11.A. ThankfullyB. HopefullyC. UnfortunatelyD. Strangely
12.A. or B. for C. so D. but
13.A. happenedB. seemedC. continued D. aimed
14.A. face B. appreciateC. examine D. question
15.A. love B. pride C. friendship D. honesty
16.A. support B. settle C. start D. impress
17.A. after B. before C. beside D. under
18.A. in spite ofB. in terms ofC. in control ofD. in place of
19.A. careful B. regretfulC. considerate D. humorous
20.A. history B. motto C. patterns D. lessons
—Could I use your computer for a few moments, please?
— . I’m not using it myself.
A.Come on B.It depends C.Go ahead D.That’s great
—Have you ___________?
—No. I had the wrong number.
A.got in B.got away C.got off D.got through
Mary went to the box office at lunch time, but all the tickets ____out.
A.would sell B.had sold C.have sold D.was selling
