Growing Pains（《成长的烦恼》）是大陆较早引进的一部美国情景喜剧，讲述的是西佛一家的三个孩子在成长中遇到一些故事。而你们在自己的成长过程中也一定碰到过一些挫折，失败，而长大的标志是你在这些经历中获得了一些宝贵的财富。请以 Gains from Growing Pains 为题，写一篇不少于150词的英语短文。
要求：1. 描述成长过程中的一件令你烦恼的事情。 2. 说说此事最终带给你的启示和收获。
1.午休时间我经常去学校图书馆，而且我还可以免费借书回来阅读。
I usually go to the school library during the lunch break and I can also borrow some books from it to read at home __________ __________.
2.作为学生，我们应该不遗余力地努力学习。
As students, we ______ __________ to spare no effort to study hard in case we fall behind.
3.我们不应该为自己的外表感到羞愧，不是吗？
We shouldn’t be __________ ____________ the way we look, should we?
4.爸爸妈妈比预料地早一天度假回来。
Mom and Dad arrive back from vacation a day earlier ________ __________.
5.所以，尽管我们不排除这种想法，但是我们也在调查其他的可能性。
So, while we have not dismissed the idea, we are _____ ______ other possibilities as well.
1.---What’s the a_________ age of the girls in your class?
2.Being teachers is a little bit c_____, because teachers have to update their knowledge to improve themselves.
3.Do keep in mind that one should stay calm especially in an e____________.
4.The mid-term examination is approaching, students are busy making __ _(准备) for it.
5.Many people in China, some of whom are not __________(肥胖的，体重超标的) at all, are always going on a diet to look attractive.
6.To children’s ___________(满意)，they can have more spare time to enjoy themselves without much homework.
7.We all wonder how human beings came into e___________ in the world.
8.Though the old man is not wealthy, he is always ___(满腔热忱的) about the social welfare.
9.As an old saying goes, _________(失败) is the mother of success.
10.I think that young children often a_____________ modern pictures better than anyone else.
11.Jasper White is one of those rare people who believes in a___________ myths.
12.The t_____________ to steal is greater than before--- especially in large shops.
Visiting a new place can be a scary experience for a lot of people because it could include speaking in a language that most people are not comfortable with ---- English. So how can you keep away form this kind of situation? Learn how to speak English fluently. Here are 4 English speaking tips you must know to become a more confident English speaker.
1. Listen first.
One of the best English speaking tips is to listen carefully to understandable English EVERY DAY. Most people turn to textbooks to study English grammar rules, but you cannot learn the correct English pronunciation of the words merely by reading them. You do not need to learn grammar in detail because this can prevent you from speaking English fluently.
Instead, listen to how native English speakers pronounce and observe their mouth movements. Also watch English shows and movies to build on your English accent and improve your vocabulary.
2. Practice makes perfect.
Studies show that you’ll probably spend three months of practice every day in order to have strong mouth muscles. Read aloud in English for 15 to 20 minutes a day in front of the mirror, which helps in accent reduction and improves your English communication skills.
Also, practice with your friends and family. Talking with a good English speaker can help improvise (即兴发挥) your usage of words and formation of sentences.
3. Think in English.
One of the most effective English speaking tips is to think in English. What most English learners do in the early stages of learning is that they think of what they have to say in their native language, translate and then say it in English. This can be mentally tiring.
If your goal is to speak English fluently, you need to learn “thinking” in English. Make up the sentences in English as you think about them before saying them. With practice, you will be able to respond automatically in English.
4. Be more confident.
All these English speaking tips will be in vain if you are not that confident in your English speaking skills. It is quite natural to commit errors when learning a new language.
Try to relax if you’re speaking in English. When you speak at a normal speed, you’ll discover that you will be able to pronounce the words correctly and people will understand you. Most of the time, the person you are talking to is not even aware of your errors.
In a word, learning English does not happen overnight. It takes a lot of time, effort and practice. Don’t get too frustrated and never give up. Follow these English speaking tips and practice daily. Soon, you would learn to speak English fluently as if it is your own language.
English speaking tips you must know
Introduction | It’s many people’s dream to 1._____ the discomfort from being unable to speak English in a new place. |
Tips | Listen first. Seeking help from textbooks won’t enable you to learn the 2._____ English pronunciation. Listen to how native English speakers pronounce and observe how their mouths 3._____. Watch English shows and movies to improve your English accent and 4._____. |
Practice makes perfect. Practice three months to5._____ your mouth muscles. Regular reading 6._____ can reduce accent and improve your English communication skills. Practice with your friends and family. | |
Think in English. Thinking in your native language makes you 7._____ mentally. Thinking in English will reward you with automatic 8.____ in English. | |
Be more confident. Committing errors is a necessary part of language learning. Try to relax to speak at a normal speed and make yourself 9._____. | |
10._____ | Learning English does not happen overnight. |
A popular saying goes, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” However, that’s not really true. Words have the power to build us up or tear us down. It doesn’t matter if the words come from someone else or ourselves — the positive and negative effects are just as lasting.
We all talk to ourselves sometimes. We’re usually too embarrassed to admit it, though. In fact, we really shouldn’t be because more and more experts believe talking to ourselves out loud is a healthy habit.
This “self-talk” helps us motivate ourselves, remember things, solve problems, and calm ourselves down. Be aware, though, that as much as 77% of self-talk tends to be negative. So in order to stay positive, we should only speak words of encouragement to ourselves. We should also be quick to give ourselves a pat on the back. The next time you finish a project, do well in a test, or finally clean your room, join me in saying “Good job!”
Often, words come out of our mouths without us thinking about the effect they will have. But we should be aware that our words cause certain responses in others. For example, when returning an item to a store, we might use warm, friendly language during the exchange. And the clerk will probably respond in a similar manner. Or harsh (刻薄的) and critical language will most likely cause the clerk to be defensive.
Words possess power because of their lasting effects. Many of us regret something we once said. And we remember unkind words said to us! Before speaking, we should always ask ourselves: Is it true? Is it loving? Is it needed? If what we want to say doesn’t pass this test, then it’s better left unsaid.
Words possess power: both positive and negative. Those around us receive encouragement when we speak positively. We can offer hope, build self-esteem (自尊) and motivate others to do their best. Negative words destroy all those things. Will we use our words to hurt or to heal? The choice is ours.
1.There is no need for us to feel embarrassed when we talk to ourselves because _________.
A. almost everybody has the habit of talking to themselves
B. talking to ourselves always gives us courage
C. we can benefit from talking to ourselves
D. it does no harm to have “self-talk” when we are alone
2. The underlined part in the third paragraph means that we should also timely ________.
A. remind ourselves
B. praise ourselves
C. make ourselves relaxed
D. give ourselves amusement
3.The author would probably hold the view that _________.
A. encouraging words are sure to lead to kind offers
B. negative words may motivate us to make more progress
C. people tend to remember friendly words
D. it is better to think twice before talking to others
4.In which column of the newspaper can you most likely read this passage?
A. News. B. Advice column.
C. Health. D. Language.
Why do parents have such a difficult time to communicate openly and honestly with their teens? For this, there are many reasons but most of them stem from not being able to properly understand their teens. It is a dangerous gap because parents will have to communicate with their teens about a wide variety of issues during the most important years of their lives. Thus, parents must know how to communicate openly and honestly with their teens.
Here are a few tips to make communication easier between parents and teenagers.
1. Try not to talk down to your teens. Make them feel as if their views really matter, which not only helps your discussions with your teen but bring you closer to him.
2. Imagine what it would be like to be a teen. Try to remember some of the negative feelings you experienced as a teenager and apply it to your teen's situation.
3. Never make negative remarks to your teen about what she has said or done.
4. Remember how much courage it would have taken for your teen to come and talk to you about his personal issues. So listen respectfully.
5. Don't ignore your teen's feelings because it is usually a cry for help. For instance, if your teen is unusually angry, it may be time to spend a bit of quality time with your teen to determine what is wrong and where he is coming from.
It is, therefore, necessary for parents to strive to keep lines of communication open at all times with their teens. Try to remember what it was like to be a teenager and how vulnerable（脆弱的）you felt. Then you will be well on your way to help your teen communicate more openly and honestly.
1. Why don't teens want to talk about their personal issues with their parents?
A. Because they can't respect their parents.
B. Because they can't understand their parents.
C. Because their parents won't understand them well.
D. Because their parents are not honest.
2. When your son comes to you for help, you should NOT _____.
A. listen respectively B. treat him seriously
C. care about his feeling D. make negative remarks
3. Which of the following has the similar meaning to the underlined phrase “talk down to”?
A. put down B. look down upon
C. chat with D. quarrel with
4.The best title for this passage is _____.
A. Causes of generation gap
B. Relations between teens and parents
C. Suggestions for parents-children effective communication
D. Problems with communication between teens and parents
