Today, after finishing dinner in town, my husband and I were driving back home. As we pulled over, we saw a neighbor couple 1. (paint) their furniture.
I went inside our home, 2. (change), and then went back out again to ask our neighbors if they needed any help. While leaving my home, I was plagued (困扰) by thoughts of embarrassment, denial, or being received but looked down on skeptically. 3. , I gathered the courage to go down and ask them anyway!
Initially, the woman denied. Then, the man said, “Sure”, and he handed me a spray paint (喷漆) bottle. We got into some good conversations 4. painting with great effort. When we finished, I briefly chatted 5. them before leaving.
In the end, not only 6. I enjoy helping them, but also learned about my neighbors. On the way home, I must admit, I couldn’t help 7. wonder what they might be thinking about me. 8. is tough to do a good deed for others and not expect that they will be thinking good about you.
Today’s experience taught me some 9. (value) lessons in my life! 10. (hope), these lessons will help me continue my acts of kindness in future.
I have learned a lot from being a taxi driver. I’ve been in the for many years, and I know there is a lot about it that is not so . Taxi drivers have to be tough to the New York traffic eight hours a day. Because taxi drivers are tough, people get the wrong that they are bad. However, you can read in the almost every week that taxi drivers the things people left in their cabs. If they weren’t , you wouldn’t read those moving stories in the papers.
In 1913, I bought my own cab. It was difficult at that time so I had part of my money for something unexpected. I did pretty well, in those days. Once in Brooklyn, I found a in my cab. I remembered helping a lady with a lot of baggage that day, so I went back to where I had her off. It took me almost two days to find her so as to the ring. I didn’t get as much as “ ”. Still, I felt good because I had done what was right.
People ask me about the . As far as I know, everyone will give you something. You know most Americans are pretty . I always try to be nice to everyone, whether they tip or not. In all my years of driving a cab, I have never had any with the public. I try to others the way I want to be treated. I have been trying this for a long time, and the longer I try, the it gets. Up till now, I still hold the view that is one of the greatest qualities of people.
1.A. project B. department C. business D. organization
2.A. good B. helpful C. bad D. advisable
3.A. cut B. fight C. avoid D. enjoy
4.A. fact B. truth C. theory D. impression
5.A. book B. magazine C. newspaper D. advertisement
6.A. take out B. bring in C. set aside D. turn in
7.A. funny B. nice C. polite D. wise
8.A. left behind B. kept back C. put away D. given away
9.A. even B. yet C. still D. just
10.A. bag B. dress C. diamond D. ring
11.A. seen B. dropped C. knocked D. set
12.A. buy B. return C. repair D. find
13.A. Thank you B. I’m sorry C. It doesn’t matter D. With pleasure
14.A. roads B. passengers C. places D. tips
15.A. actually B. certainly C. gradually D. especially
16.A. successful B. generous C. serious D. independent
17.A. agreement B. connection C. trouble D. relationship
18.A. pay B. follow C. treat D. entertain
19.A. easier B. harder C. smaller D. clearer
20.A. curiosity B. confidence C. modesty D. Honesty
How to concentrate on studies
How to get your mind to concentrate on studies when there are all possible distractions (分心的事)? This is the biggest question that students face when it’s exam time. Well, here are some tips that can help you with concentration.
Plan your timetable
1. However, be realistic with your timetable and do not expect too much out of yourself.
2.
If you study for 5 hours without rest, you maybe get bored. So it is advised that you keep on changing your subjects so that you do not get bored. However, make sure you study at least 2 hours at each subject at a stretch (连续地).
Take interest
Unless you like what you are doing, it is not possible to focus on that task. 3. You can start with your favorite subject and move on to difficult ones, once you begin to study. You can also take the difficult subject when your mind is most refreshed.
Set up a study area
It is better to have a study room where you can concentrate properly without any distractions. If that is not possible, you can set up a study table in a separate corner in your home. 4.
5.
Your mind will be at its sharpest only if you let it rest for enough time. Sleep for at least 6-8 hours depending upon your individual requirements. Eat healthy meals and reward yourself some free time after studies.
A. Get enough rest
B. Introduce variety
C. Get rid of distractions
D. You may even ask a friend to study with you.
E. It is always best to have a plan before studying.
F. So you have to take interest in what you are studying.
G. Make sure you study at this place so that you can help your mind focus.
Even after centuries of exploration(探险), the ocean still holds its mysteries. Although we know more today about the world’s oceans and creatures living in them than ever before, every once in a while the sea brings up something so strange, so unexpected, that makes the world wonder what it could be.
Such was the case when the currents (水流) of the Mediterranean Ocean recently washed a 13-foot-long, smelly body onto the shores of the village of Villaricos in Andalusia, Spain. An early report in the Spanish publication Lavante described the strange, horned (带角的) body as what might seem like a big fish, but it was already in pieces. Locals joked that it was some kind of Loch Ness Monster.
The media jumped right on the creature, of course. Some sites called it a horned sea monster. The popular newspaper Boing Boing called it a dragon. Some people guessed that it might be an oarfish(皇带鱼), which is actually a rarely seen kind of big fish that can grow up to 55 feet long.
But now the experts have weighed in and we’re sorry to report that it’s not a dragon, a Loch Ness Monster, or even an oarfish. “That is actually a shark skeleton (骨架),” Professor Grubbs from Florida State University told NBC News. “The parts toward the back were confusing me, but those are the lower caudal fin (尾鳍) supports. The “horns” are the scapulocoracoids which support the pectoral fins(胸鳍).” Scapulocoracoids are backbones common to many animals.
So there we go, another mystery solved. Well, the ancient maps that once described areas of the ocean as places of dragons have yet to be proven true. But it’s good to know that the ocean still has a few surprises for us, even in cases where they’re just dead, smelly bodies.
1.The creature mentioned in the text _____.
A. was about 15 feet long with a horn
B. could probably grow up to 55 feet long
C. was already in pieces but it was still alive
D. was found on the shores of a village in Spain
2.What does the underlined word “it” in Paragraph 2 really refer to?
A. A dragon. B. A shark skeleton.
C. An oarfish. D. A horned sea monster.
3.The third paragraph is mainly about _____.
A. how the creature was found
B. the characteristics of an oarfish
C. people’s guesses about the creature
D. Boing Boing’s opinion of the creature
4.The main purpose of the text is to _____.
A. show the mystery of the ocean
B. ask people to protect sea animals
C. introduce a rarely seen kind of fish
D. show how to find surprises in the sea
Teachers Wanted for Nexus English Language Learning Centre
Posted By: Nexus English Language Learning Centre (nexus.english.dos@gmail.com)
A fantastic opportunity has arisen for starting teachers that have just finished their qualification (资格) to work and to get professional experience. The position will suit enthusiastic and hardworking career-minded people who want to show how good they are or can become.
Of course, you need to have excellent subject knowledge. And you must be prepared to do front and back end work including developing guidebooks and co-writing workbooks. High rewards await top performers who also want to be leaders. You will also need to be a team player and a skilled organizer.
Application Requirements
* You must have the legal right to work in the UK.
* You must hold a UK recognized teaching qualification.
The Benefits
Nexus English Language Learning Centre (NELLC) offers competitive rates of pay, additional bonuses (奖金), a chance to work in top London schools, and continuous professional development. We pride ourselves on our personal service and support. If you work hard with a strong teaching skill including a high self-motivation, then we certainly want you.
● Location: Talbot Avenue, Leeds LS17 6SF
● Salary (薪水): £110 — £150 per day
● Hours: Full Time
● Telephone: 0113 3368585
● Published: 8, February 2014
● Closing Date: 5, April 2014
Due to the large number of applications, it is not always possible to respond to each candidate. If you are interested in this position, send us a personalized cover letter and tell us more about yourself right now.
1.To work in NELLC, you need to _____.
A. be prepared to work full-time
B. have plenty of teaching experience
C. be allowed by the law to live in the US
D. be able to write workbooks independently
2.What benefits can candidates expect from NELLC?
A. Additional language skills.
B. More earnings and holidays.
C. More professional experience.
D. Chances of working in a college.
3.Which of the following dates is suitable for you to send a cover letter to NELLC?
A. 5, January 2014. B. 6, February 2014.
C. 8, March 2014. D. 10, April 2014.
When someone told 85-year-old Johnny Long that he was called a living legend, he replied, “I don’t know about that, but I’m living, and that’s important.”
Starting in 1949 as a high school band director and later as director of the Troy University band, Johnny Long became known as one of the most inspirational band directors in America. More than three hundred of his students went on to become band directors them-selves. “I have been a band director for more than 60 years and all I know about the word band is that you spell it F-U-N,” Long said. “And if you change that, it’s over.”
Long retired 14 years ago to spend more time with his wife Mary Lynn. But his passion (热情) for bands never went away. He dreamed of forming a top-notch (拔尖的) community band in Troy. But Troy is a small town — with not a ton of top-notch talent. “I didn’t think it would work, I really didn’t,” Long said.
Fortunately, there was one thing Johnny hadn’t considered: the devotion of his former students. Now, once a week during the concert season, they drive in from all over the south and across the decades.
65-year-old Bobby Johnson was in Long’s first college class. He lives in Atlanta and drives 3 hours to practice. Johnson said he does it because Long’s “such a unique character and I just admire him so much.”
Many people do it for the same reason. “He’s the single biggest influence on my career.” “He was a father figure to me. He’s just a genuine person.”
Long said he wanted to be remembered as a teacher. “I think ‘teacher’ is the greatest word in the English language, next to ‘mother’.”
1.What Long got most from bands was ______.
A. pleasure B. health C. wealth D. honor
2.Why did Long retire 14 years ago?
A. Because he found no band talent in Troy.
B. Because he was tired of working as a director.
C. Because he hoped to spend more time with his wife.
D. Because he found his students were not devoted to music.
3.The words of Long’s students show that ______.
A. Long treated his students like a father
B. Long was born to be a good teacher
C. Long influenced his students greatly
D. Long was very special as a teacher
4.What’s the main idea of the text?
A. Johnny Long still teaches at the age of 85.
B. A band director had more than 300 students.
C. A band lover organized a band in a small town.
D. 85-year-old band director still inspires others.
