Why do people drink too much, eat too much ,smoke cigarettes or take drugs? What's to blame for all the bad behavior? Most people would say that, while these self-destructive(自我毁灭的) acts can have many root causes, they all have one obvious thing in common: they are all examples of failures of self-control, lacking the will power to resist them.
According to a recent study, however, if you really think about it, something about that simple answer doesn't quite make sense. In fact, it turns out that sometimes it's having will power that really gets you into trouble.
Think back to the time you took your very first sip(啜饮) of beer. Disgusting, wasn't it? When my father gave me my first taste of beer as a teenager, I wondered why anyone would voluntarily drink it. And smoking? No one enjoys their first cigarette—it tastes awful. So even though smoking, and drinking alcohol or coffee, can become temptation you need will power to resist, they never, ever start out that way.
Just getting past those first horrible experiences actually requires a lot of self-control. Ironically, only those who can control themselves well, rather than give in to them, can ever come to someday develop a "taste" for Budweiser beer, Marlboro cigarettes, or dark-roasted Starbucks coffee. We do it for social acceptance. We force ourselves to consume alcohol, cigarettes, coffee and even illegal drugs, in order to seem experienced, grown-up, and cool.
These bad habits aren't self-control failures—far from it. They are voluntary choices, and they are in fact self-control successes. Self-control is simply a tool to be put to some use, helpful or harmful. To live happy and productive lives, we need to develop not only our self-control ,but also the wisdom to make good decisions about when and where to apply it.
1. What do most people think causes bad behavior?
A. Being forced by others.
B. Enjoying their first experiences.
C. Not having enough will power.
D. Following the examples of their friends.
2.The author mentions his experience in the third paragraph to prove .
A. will power helps develop bad habits sometimes
B. drinking beer is harmful to the health of teenagers
C. self-control should be developed when one is young
D. everyone can be challenged by different temptations
3.In the last paragraph, the author stresses that .
A. without self-control, no one can succeed
B. applying self-control correctly is important
C. bad habits don't always lead to bad results
D. people can develop wisdom from bad behavior
4. What would be the best title for the passage?
A. My First Sip of Beer B. Do You Have Will Power?
C. Will Power Benefits Us D. Dark Side of Self-control
You still don't know what to do this summer? Well, here's your chance to win a one-week language course in Kent, England! Free4Fun and ETC (English Travel Connections)are giving away two trips to Rochester. This historic city is less than an hour's drive from London and close to the sea resort of Heine Bay. It is also the home of one of England's most famous writers, Charles Dickens. The town of Rochester is in Southeast England. Charles Dickens often wrote about it in his books. His home, Gad's Hill, is there, too. A popular attraction is Rochester Castle, a large Norman fortress (堡垒). It was built in the 11th century and rebuilt during the 14th century. Other attractions are Rochester Cathedral, which was built during the 13th century, and Dickens Centre. It has got its name in honour of Dickens himself.
The trip to England includes:
* travel by train( via the Eurotunnel)to and from any railway station in Germany
* room and full board with a guest family for one week
* language course in small groups
* two trips to London
* large choice of sports and entertainment
* German-speaking advisors available 24 hours a day
Interested? All you have to do is to answer the following question: When was Charles Dickens born?
So, take the chance and send your answer by May 1 to:
Free4Fun "Rochester"
Free4Fun,24 Elphinstone Road, Hastings ,2FQ6VJ
fax :089/85-763-103
e-mail :free4fun@ netlight, com
The two winners will be contacted directly before May 5. They will also be announced in the June issue of Free4Fun.
Good luck!
For further information contact.
phone: (03212) 144-43
fax: (03212) 144-42
e-mail :info@ etc. com
1.Rochester Cathedral was built in the .
A. 1400s B. 1300s C. 1200s D. 1100s
2.What activities can you participate in during the trip?
A. Enjoying sports and entertainment.
B. Learning the German language.
C. Traveling by train with a guest' family.
D. Working as a language advisor.
3. If you want to win a prize you have to send your answer to .
A. the June issue of Free4fun B. ETC
C. info@ etc. com D. free4fun@ netlight, com
4.This advertisement was designed to target .
A. Italians B. Germans
C. Europeans D. Americans
Today's children are the "result" of the modern society. Our parents have jobs that keep them busy almost all day long. They only have a free day in a week. This doesn't allow them to keep an eye on their children.
On the other hand, the modern society gives more freedom to the children than they could "handle". As a child, you don't know how to grow up by yourself until you reach a certain age. That is why you need school and parents to be by your side all the time. If you don't have either of them you may make a lot of mistakes. The social system of the modem society is very lenient especially with the children.
Most of the children today are rebels(叛逆者). They are rude. They are given too much freedom by their families. This is their parents' mistake. They ought to know that the freedom they give to their children is misunderstood.
For example it is a bad thing for a 17-year-old child to go out in the evening on weekends. Parents are also guilty of the way their children show up in the street or at school. The same guilt belongs to the teaching system as well. Pupils shouldn't be allowed to dress like they were on a fashion presentation at school.
Another important fact we can think of regarding the freedom of children is their free will of spending money. Parents shouldn't allow their children to spend money on whatever they want.
I think children are given too much freedom not only by their parents, but also by the society. The latter is more to be blamed！
1.The writer implies that parents' busy lifestyle .
A. makes their children become independent
B. may lead to a tense parent-child relationship
C. is harmful to their children's health
D. is likely to create a troubled generation
2.What does the underlined word "lenient" ( in Paragraph 2 ) mean ?
A. Not responsible. B. Not strict.
C. Unkind. D. Unfair.
3. It seems that the writer agrees that students .
A. should stay at home on weekends
B. can wear trendy clothes at school
C. had better wear school uniform at school
D. can be allowed to go out in the evenings
4.According to the writer, which of the following takes the primary responsibility for children's problems?
A. The social environment. B. The educational system.
C. Each family. D. The school.
President Barack Obama has complained about the loss of privacy that comes with being leader of the United States, regretting the loss of simple pleasures such as a long walk or a trip to the car wash or supermarket. "I just miss—I miss being anonymous," he said. "I miss Saturday morning, rolling out of bed, not shaving, getting into my car with my girls, driving to the supermarket, squeezing the fruit, getting my car washed, taking walks. I can't take a walk." His dream, he said, was to "go through Central Park and watch folks passing by... spend the day watching people—I miss that".
Faced with angry criticism for playing more golf than most previous occupants of the White House, he explained that the sport was simply the best way of getting away from it all. "It's the only excuse I have to get outside for four hours in a row, he told Hearst Magazines.
Though he said he enjoyed his life in the White House, he felt disappointed with some of the ways of Washington, which he has failed in his pledge(保证) to change, such as the "kabuki dance( 日本歌伎舞)" among political parties before serious policy discussions begin. His comments may be seen as vindication(证实) by critics who have accused him of appearing too detached (超然的), and being slow to engage in vital issues such as Libya and the near shutdown of the US government last week.
Since arriving at the White House in January 2009, Mr Obama has already racked up (得分)60 rounds of golf in office, more than George W. Bush did in his eight years.
In terms of ability, Golf Digest magazine has ranked Mr Obama eighth out of the 18 presidents who played the game since it became established in the early 20th century.
1.What can be inferred from the first paragraph about Barack Obama after he became the US president?
A. He liked living a busy life.
B. He used to wash his car himself.
C. He used to spend most of his time with his family.
D. He is unhappy with being too frequently watched by the public.
2. Barack Obama's explanation to playing golf is .
A. to keep fit B. to enjoy life
C. to release his pressure D. to balance his work
3.Which one of the following statements is from the critics?
A. The president is really a great golf player.
B. There are always unnecessary procedures among political parties.
C. The president lost a lot privacy, but he loves the life in the White House.
D. The president seems to have no interest in some really important issues.
4.According to the text, which of the following statements is TRUE about Barack Obama?
A. He regrets to become the US president.
B. He has lost privacy ever since he became president.
C. He couldn't play too much golf' because of people being angry with him.
D. He is not good at playing golf compared with the other presidents who played golf.
阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。
The sun was shining when I got on No. 151 Bus. We passengers sat jammed together in heavy clothes. No one spoke. That's one of the rules, which we take for granted. we see the same faces every day, we prefer to behind our newspapers. People who sit so close together are using those thin sheets of newsprint to keep their .
As the bus came near the Mile, a suddenly rang out." ! This is your driver speaking." We looked at the back of the driver's head. "Put your papers down. All of you." The came down. "Now, turn and face the person next to you. Go ."
Surprisingly we all did it. Still no one smiled. I faced an old woman, her head wrapped in a red scarf(围巾). I saw her every day. Our eyes met. We waited for the next from the driver. "Now repeat after me. Good morning, neighbor!"
Our voice were . For many of us, these were the words we had spoken that day. But we said them together, like , to the strangers beside us. We couldn't help . There was the feeling of relief that we were not being held up. But more, there was the sense of ice being ." Good morning, neighbor." It was not so after all. Some of us repeated it, others shook hands, many laughed. The bus driver said nothing more. He didn't to. Not a single newspaper went back up. I heard laughter, a warm sound I had never heard before in .
When I reached my stop, I said to my seatmate, and then jumped off the bus. That day was off better than most.
1.A. unwritten B. strict C. bus D. city
2.A. As B. Because C. Although D. When
3.A. read B. hide C. talk D. sit
4.A. ways B. methods C. respect D. distance
5.A. voice B. warning C. suggestion D. message
6.A. Attention B. Minding C. Help D. Listen
7.A. driver B. passengers C. papers D. tears
8.A. on B. round C. ahead D. down
9.A. still B. nearly C. even D. hardly
10.A. turn B. talk C. order D. remark
11.A. loud B. neat C. slow D. weak
12.A. first B. last C. best D. only
13.A. passengers B. citizens C. patients D. schoolchildren
14.A. smiling B. crying C. shouting D. wondering
15.A. formed B. heated C. broken D. frozen
16.A. sad B. hard C. ordinary D. shy
17.A. need B. want C. like D. begin
18.A. my life B. other words C. public D. No. 151 Bus
19.A. good morning B. good-bye C. hello D. thanks
20.A. starting B. seeing C. taking D. turning
—Lucy has been fired by her boss.
— She is late for work five times a week!
A. Hardly surprising B. Forget it
C. How come? D. Who knows?
