Life can be so wonderful, full of adventure and joy. It can also be full of challenges, setbacks and heartbreaks. Whatever our circumstances, we generally still have dreams, hopes and desires—that little something more we want for ourselves and our loved ones. Yet knowing we can have more can also create a problem, because when we go to change the way we do things, up come the old patterns and pitfalls that stopped us from seeking what we wanted in the first place.
This tension between what we feel we can have and "what were seemingly able to have is the niggling suffering, the anxiety we feel. This is where we usually think it's easier to just give up. But we're never meant to let go of the part of us that knows we can have more. The intelligence behind that knowing is us—the real us. It's the part that believes in life and its possibilities. If you drop that, you begin to feel a little "dead" inside because you're dropping "you".
So, if we have this capability but somehow life seems to keep us stuck, how do we break these patterns?
Decide on a new course and make one decision at a time. This is good advice for a new adventure or just getting through today's challenges.
While, deep down, we know we can do it, our mind—or the minds of those close to us—usually says we can't.
That isn't a reason to stop, it's just the mind, that little man or woman on your shoulder, trying to talk you out of something again. It has done it many times before. It's all about starting simple and doing it now.
Decide and act before overthinking. When you do this you may feel a little, or large, release from the jail of your mind and you'll be on your way.
1.It can be inferred from the first two paragraphs that we should .
A.slow down and live a simple life
B.be careful when we choose to change
C.stick to our dreams under any circumstances
D.be content with what we already have
2.What is the key to breaking the old patterns?
A. To focus on every detail.
B. To decide and take immediate action.
C. To listen to those close to us.
D. To think twice before we act.
3.Which of the following best explains the underlined part in the last paragraph?
A. Escape from your punishment
B. Realization of your dreams.
C. Freedom from your tension.
D. Reduction of your expectations.
4.What does the author intend to tell us?
A.It's easier than we think to get what we want.
B. It's important to learn to accept sufferings in life.
C. It's impractical to change our way of thinking.
D. It's harder than we expect to follow a new course.
SIGN YOUR CHILD UP FOR "FLY TO THE MOON CLUB"
AND ENJOY A FREE * FLIGHT TO ANY DESTINATION IN ASIA!
With a registration fee of just $50 per child,
children under the age of 12
can join Eagle Airways'
FLY TO THE MOON CLUB as members.
They can then enjoy the same benefits
onboard Eagle Airways' newest Boeing-797
to any destination in the world!
BENEFITS YOU CAN'T MISS!
• A free * flight to any destination in Asia
• 30% off any course at Tanya Language School
• 20% off any purchase made at Ruby Bookstore
• A free notebook with every purchase above $50 at Starlight Stationery
• A free bowl of dessert for a family of four at Don's Diners
dinner ordered
• A birthday gift on your child's birthday
• A free album containing pictures taken during the journey
All bookings made before 12 September will receive free travel insurance for
the entire family! ** Insurance is issued by Live Life Insurance Group.
10% OFF ALL BOOKINGS
for departures from 5 to 11 September
* Child must be accompanied by two
paying adults.
** Terms and conditions apply.
1.One of the benefits mentioned in, the advertisement is .
A.a free flight to any destination in the world
B.30% off any book purchased at Ruby Bookstore
C.a free bowl of dessert at any restaurant at the airport
D.a discount on any course at Tanya Language School
2.Which of the following bookings may receive the most benefits?
A.
Booking date | Departure date |
September 13 | September 18 |
B．
Booking date | Departure date |
September 2 | September 12 |
C.
Booking date | Departure date |
August 15 | September 4 |
D.
Booking date | Departure date |
August 16 | September 8 |
3. Which of the following is TRUE according to the advertisement?
A.You need to pay$50 to sign up a child for the club.
B.Club members enjoy free travel insurance for any flight.
C.The advertisement is intended for students of all ages.
D.Any child must be accompanied by at least one paying adult.
Papa, as a son of a dirt-poor farmer, left school early and went to work in a factory, for education was for the rich then. So, the world became his school. With great interest, he read everything he could lay his hands on, listened to the town elders and learned about the world beyond his tiny hometown. "There's so much to learn," he'd say. "Though we're born stupid, only the stupid remain that way. " He was determined that none of his children would be denied an education.
Thus, Papa insisted that we learn at least one new thing each day. Though, as children, we thought this was crazy, it would never have occurred to us to deny Papa a request. And dinner time seemed perfect for sharing what we had learned. We would talk about the news of the day; no matter how insignificant, it was never taken lightly. Papa would listen carefully and was ready with some comment, always to the point.
Then came the moment—the time to share the day's new learning.
Papa, at the head of the table, would push back his chair and pour a glass of red wine, ready to listen.
"Felice," he'd say, "tell me what you learned today. "
"I learned that the population of Nepal is .... "
Silence.
Papa was thinking about what was said, as if the salvation of the world would depend upon it. "The population of Nepal. Hmm. Well . . . . " he'd say. "Get the map; let's see where Nepal is. " And the whole family
went on a search for Nepal.
This same experience was repeated until each family member had a turn. Dinner ended only after we had a clear understanding of at least half a dozen such facts.
As children, we thought very little about these educational wonders. Our family, however, was growing together, sharing experiences and participating in one another's education. And by looking at us, listening to us, respecting our input, affirming our value, giving us a sense of dignity, Papa was unquestionably our most influential teacher.
Later during my training as a future teacher /1 studied with some of the most famous educators. They were imparting what Papa had known all along—the value of continual learning. His technique has served me well all my life. Not a single day has been wasted, though I can never tell when knowing the population of Nepal might prove useful.
1.What do we know from the first paragraph?
A. The author's father was born in a worker's family.
B. Those born stupid could not change their life.
C. The town elders wanted to learn about the world.
D. The poor could hardly afford school education.
2.The underlined word "it" in the second paragraph refers to "
A. one new thing B. a request C. the news D. some comment
3.It can be learned from the passage that the author .
A. enjoyed talking about news
B. knew very well about Nepal
C. felt regret about those wasted days
D . appreciated his father's educational technique
4.What is the greatest value of "dinner time" to the author?
A. Continual learning. B. Showing talents.
C. Family get-together. D. Winning Papa's approval.
5.The author's father can be best described as .
A. an educator expert at training future teachers
B. a parent insistent on his children's education
C. a participant willing to share his knowledge
D. a teacher strict about everything his students did
Food festivals around the world
Stilton Cheese Rolling
May Day is a traditional day for celebrations, but the 2,000 English villagers of Stilton must be the only people in the world who include these rolling in their annual plans. Teams of four,dressed in a variety of strange and funny clothes , roll a complete cheese along a 50-metre course. On the way, they must not kick or throw their cheese, or go into their competitors' lane. Competition is fierce and the chief prize is a complete Stilton cheese weighing about four kilos (disappointingly, but understandably the cheeses used in the race are wooden ones). All the
competitors arc served with beer or port wine, the traditional accompaniment for Stilton cheese.
Fiery Foods Festival—The Hottest Festival on Earth
Every year more than 10,000 people head for the city of Albuquerque, New Mexico. They come from as far away as Australia, the Caribbean and China, but they all share a common addiction—food that is not just spicy ,but hot enough to make your mouth burn, your head spin and your eyes water. Their destination is the Fiery Eood and BBQ Festival which is held over a period of three clays every March. You might like to try a chocolate-covered habanero pepper—officially the hottest pepper in the world—or any one of the thousands of products that are on show. But one thing's for sure—if you don't like the feeling of a burning tongue, this festival isn't for you!
La Tomatina—The World's Biggest Food Fight
On the last Wednesday of every August, the Spanish town of Bunol hosts Ea Tomatina—the world's largest food fight. A week-long celebration leads up to an exciting tomato battle as the highlight of the week's events. The early morning sees the arrival of large trucks with tomatoes—official fight-starters get things going by casting tomatoes at the
crowd.
The battle lasts little more than half an hour, in which time around 50,000 kilograms of tomatoes have been thrown at anyone or anything that moves, runs, or fights back. Then everyone heads down to the river to make friends again—and for a much-needed wash!
1.In the Stilton cheese rolling competition, competitors on each team must .
A. wear various formal clothes
B. roll a wooden cheese in their own lane
C. kick or throw their cheese
D. use a real cheese weighing about four kilos
2.Where is the Fiery Food and BBQ Festival held?
A. In New Mexico. B. In the Caribbean.
C. In Australia. D. In China.
3.The celebration of La Tomatina lasts .
A. three days B. seven days
C. less than three days D. more than seven days
4.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A. The chief prize for the Stilton cheese rolling competition is beer or port wine.
B.More than 10,000 Chinese take pail in the Fiery Food and BBQ Festival.
C. Thousands of spicy foods are on show in the Fiery Food and BBQ Festival.
D. An exciting tomato battle takes place at the beginning of La Tomatina.
One of the easiest things in the world is to become a fault-finder. However, life can be ________when you are not busy finding fault with it.
Several years ago I________a letter from seventeen-year-old Kerry, who described herself as a world-class fault-finder, almost always ________by things. People were always doing things that annoyed her, and ________was ever good enough. She was highly self-critical and also found fault with her friends. She became a really ________person.
Unfortunately, it took a horrible accident to change her ________Her best friend was seriously hurt in a car crash. What made it almost ________to deal with was that the day before the ________, Kerry had visited her friend and had spent the whole time criticizing her ________ of boyfriends, the way she was living, the way she related to her mother, and various other things she felt she needed to ________It wasn't until her friend was badly hurt that Kerry became ________her habit of finding fault. Very quickly, she learned to appreciate life rather than to ________ everything so harshly ( 刻薄) . She was able to transfer her new wisdom to other parts of her________as well.
Perhaps most of us aren't as extreme at fault-finding, ________ when we're honest, we can be sharply ________of the world. I'm not suggesting you________ problems, or that you pretend things are ________than they are, but simply that you learn to allow things to be as they are—________most of the time, and especially when it's not a really big ________ .
Train yourself to "bite your tongue" , and with a little ________, you'll get really good at letting things go. And when you do, you'll get back your enthusiasm and love for life.
1.A.lonelyB.greatC.quietD.uneasy
2.A.receivedB.answeredC.expectedD.rejected
3.A.threatenedB.interruptedC.botheredD.spoiled
4.A.anythingB.everythingC.somethingD.nothing
5.A.caringB.boringC.interestingD.surprising
6.A.attitudeB.planC.measureD.explanation
7.A.urgentB.unnecessaryC.certainD.impossible
8.A.occasionB.eventC.accidentD.adventure
9.A.memoryB.noticeC.evidenceD.choice
10.A.hearB.contributeC.expressD.admit
11.A.aware ofB.afraid ofC.curious aboutD.confused about
12.A.discussB.realizeC.judgeD.settle
13.A.familyB.lifeC.careerD.education
14.A.soB.orC.butD.for
15.A.proudB.sureC.hopefulD.critical
16.A.faceB.createC.solveD.ignore
17.A.rarerB.betterC.strangerD.worse
18.A.at leastB.at lastC.by farD.so far
19.A.taskB.dealC.resultD.duty
20.A.practiceB.speechC.restD.pity
—Hi, Dr Brown! I'm a little early. Should I wait outside?
—No. ________.
A. That's right B. My pleasure
C. Come on in D. Take it easy
