Last year I ruined my summer vacation－a two-week vacation at my wife’s family cabin on a lake in northern Ontario, located at the boundary of the US and Canada－by bringing along a modern convenience that was too convenient for my own good: the iPad.
Instead of admiring the beauty of nature, I checked e-mail. Instead of paddling an old canoe, I followed my Twitter feed. Instead of devouring great (or merely amusing) novels, I stuck to my workday diet of four newspapers each morning.
And that was the problem: I was behaving as if I were still in the office, sticking to the unending news cycle. My body was on vacation but my head wasn’t.
So this year I made up my mind to try something different, a social media experiment in reverse: withdrawal from the Internet. Could I manage to unplug?
I knew it wouldn’t be easy, since I’m not good at self-denial. But I was determined. I started with a physical restraint: handing the iPad to my wife, who helpfully announced that she was going to use it to read a 630-page novel for her book club and would not be inclined to relinquish the tablet for even a moment.
Then, a stroke of luck: The cell phone signal at the Canadian cabin was spottier than in the past, making my attempts at cheating an experience in frustration.
I was trapped, forced to comply with my own good intentions. Largely cut off from e-mail, Twitter and my favorite newspaper websites, I had little way to connect to the world except for radio－and how much radio can one listen to, really?
I had no choice but to do what I had planned to do all along: read books. I experienced criminal plots on the streets of Los Angeles, cutthroat battles between cancer labs and the psyche of a London social butterfly in 1922. And there were old magazines to read.
I’m not claiming that I cut myself off from the Internet completely. Every few days, we biked into the nearest town and, as a reward, sat on a park bench in front of the public library to use its Wi-Fi. And back at the cabin, we suffered through a slow dial-up connection once a day to check e-mail.
This tale of self-denial has a happy ending－for now, at least. With determination and deep breathing, plus the strong support of my wife, I succeeded in my vacation struggle against the Internet, realizing finally that it was me, of course, not the iPad, that was the problem.
I knew I had won when we passed a Starbucks and my wife asked if I wanted to stop to use the Wi-Fi. “Don’t need it,” I said, trying not to sound too pleased.
However, as we return to post-vacation situation, a test begins: Can I stay on the wagon now that I’m back at work? There are times when the compulsion to know what’s being said right now is overwhelming (and for me, sometimes it’s crucial to my livelihood). And I have no intention of giving up my membership in the cult of immediacy. But I hope to resist the temptation to reflexively check my e-mail every five minutes, which often leads, as long as I’m looking, to checking my Twitter feed and a website or two.
A vacation is supposed to help you reset your brain to become more productive. Here’s hoping this one worked.
1.What ruined the writer’s trip last year?
A. That he was worn out because of the schedule.
B. That he forgot to bring amusing novels with him.
C. That he read too much newspaper last year.
D. That he was distracted by too many things unrelated to the trip.
2.What does the underlined word ‘restraint’ mean?
A. A calm and controlled behavior.
B. A relaxing move.
C. A strong determination.
D. An unshakable faith.
3.What did the writer do to get in touch with the outside world during the trip?
A. Reading online newspapers.
B. Following his friends’ Twitter.
C. Checking email every now and then.
D. Listening to the radio.
4.Why did the writer claim that his self-denial process have a happy ending?
A. He has completely turned down the Internet.
B. He gave up his habit of checking the latest news online.
C. He realized that his body was on vacation but his head wasn’t.
D. It dawned on him that it was people that are in control of their behavior.
5.What is the main idea of the passage?
A. Say no to electronic devices.
B. Relationships harmed by distractions.
C. Abandoned distractions ease break.
D. Things that can take your mind off.
In a certain store where they sell puddings, a number of these delicious things are laid out in a row during the Christmas season. Here you may select the one which is most to your taste, and you are even allowed to sample them before coming to a decision.
I have often wondered whether some people, who had no intention of making a purchase, would take advantage of this privilege. One day I asked this question of the shop girl, and I learned it was indeed the case. “Now there’s one old gentleman, for instance,” she told me, “he comes here almost every week and samples each one of the puddings, though he never buys anything, and I suspect he never will. I remember him from last year and the year before that, too. Well, let him come if he wants it, and welcome to it. And what’s more, I hope there are a lot more stores where he can go and get his share. He looks as if he needed it all right, and I suppose they can afford it.”
She was still speaking when an elderly gentleman limped up to the counter and began looking closely at the row of puddings with great interest. “Why, that’s the very gentleman I’ve been telling you about,” whispered the shop girl. “Just watch him now.” And then turning to him: “Would you like to sample them, sir? Here’s a spoon for you to use. “The elderly gentleman, who was poorly but neatly dressed, accepted the spoon and began eagerly to sample one after another of the puddings, only breaking off occasionally to wipe his red eyes with a large torn handkerchief. “This is quite good”. “This is not bad either, but a little too heavy”. All the time it was quite evident that he sincerely believed that he might eventually buy one of these puddings, and I am positive that he did not for a moment feel that he was in any way cheating the store. Poor old chap! Probably he had come down in the world and this sampling was all that was left him from the time when he could afford to come and select his favorite pudding.
Amidst the crowd of happy, prosperous looking Christmas shoppers, the little black figure of the old man seemed pitiful and out of place, and in a burst of benevolence, I went up to him and said:
“Pardon me, sir, will you do me a favor? Let me purchase you one of these puddings. It would give me such pleasure.”
He jumped back as if he had been stung, and the blood rushed into his wrinkled face.
“Excuse me,” he said, with more dignity than I would have thought possible considering his appearance, “I do not believe I have the pleasure of knowing you. Undoubtedly you have mistaken me for someone else.” And with a quick decision he turned to the shop girl and said in a loud voice, “Kindly pack me up this one here. I will take it with me.” He pointed at one of the largest and most expensive of the puddings.
The girl took down the pudding from its stand and started to make a parcel of it, While he pulled out a worn little black pocketbook and began counting out shillings and pennies on to the counter. To save his “honor”, he had been forced into a purchase which he could not possibly afford. How I longed for the power to unsay my tactless words! It was too late though, and I felt that the kindest thing I could do now would be walk away.
“You pay at the desk,” the shop girl was telling him, but he did not seem to understand and kept trying to put the coins into her hand. And that was the last I saw or heard of the old man. Now he can never go there to sample puddings and more.
1.By saying it was indeed the case. , the author meant that ______.
A. many shoppers would sample pudding before buying them
B. some people just sampled pudding but didn’t buy them
C. the Christmas season was the time to promote pudding sales.
D. there were various kinds of puddings on sale during the Christmas sale.
2.From the girl’s words, we know that she ______
A. felt pity for the old man
B. looked down upon the old man
C. thought poorly of sampling pudding
D. worked in the shop for a few months
3.The old man finally bought a pudding because ______
A. he had intended to buy the pudding
B. the author gave him some money
C. he was annoyed by the author’s offer
D. the shop girl asked him to purchase one
4.Why did the author feel that he should walk away according to the passage ?
A. He had something urgent to do
B.He was quite angry with the old man
C. He decided to pay the money for the pudding
D. He found himself in a rather awkward way
5.What does the passage imply?
A. Helping others involves respect..
B. Never judge a book by its cover.
C. A man can do no more than he can.
D. A word spoken cannot be recalled.
Work is a very important part of life in the United States. When the early Protestant immigrants came to this country, they brought the idea that work was the way to God and heaven. This attitude, the Protestant Work Ethic(道德规范), still influences America today. Work is not only important for economic benefits, the salary, but also for social and psychological needs, the feeling of doing something for the good of the society. Americans spend most of their lives working, being productive. For most Americans, their work defines them: they are what they do. What happens then, when a person can no longer work? Almost all Americans stop working at age sixty-five or seventy and retire. Because work is such an important part of life in this culture, retirement can be very difficult. Retirees often feel that they are useless and unproductive. Of course, some people are happy to retire; but leaving one’s job, whatever it is, is a difficult change, even for those who look forward to retiring. Many retirees do not know how to use their time or they feel lost without their jobs. Retirements can also bring financial problems. Many people rely on Social Security checks every month. During their working years, employees contribute a certain percentage of their salaries to the government. Each employer also gives a certain percentage to the government. When people retire, they receive this money as income. These checks do not provide enough money to live on, however, because prices are increasing very rapidly. Senior citizens, those over sixty-five, have to have savings in the bank or other retirement plans to make ends meet. The rate of inflation is forcing prices higher each year; Social Security checks alone cannot cover these growing expenses. The government offers some assistance, Medicare(health care)and welfare(general assistance), but many senior citizens have to change their life styles after retirement. They have to spend carefully to be sure that they can afford to buy food, fuel and other necessities.
Of course, many senior citizens are happy with retirement. They have time to spend with their families or enjoy their hobbies. Some continue to work part time, others do volunteer work. Some, like those in the Retired Business Executives Association, even help young people to get started in new business. Many retired citizens also belong to “Golden Age” groups. These organizations plan trips and social events. There are many chances for retirees.
American society is only beginning to be concerned about the special physical and emotional needs of its senior citizens. The government is taking steps to ease the problem of limited income. They are building new housing, offering discounts in stores and museums and on buses, and providing other services such as free courses, food service, and help with housework. Retired citizens are a rapidly growing percentage of the population. This part of the population is very important and we must meet their needs. After all, every citizen will be a senior citizen some day.
1.The author believes that work first became important to Americans because of _______.
A. religion B. economy C. psychology D. family
2.The passage is mainly about _______.
A. money and check
B. senior and junior
C. work and retirement
D. Protestants and Americans
3.When Americans stop work, it’s difficult for them to _______.
A. get Social Security checks
B. feel productive
C. enjoy themselves
D. be religious
1.The main aim of Environment Awareness Week is to _______.
A. educate the public on protecting the environment
B. discuss global warming and other environmental problems
C. explain ways for producing freshwater to save the environment
D. learn about renewable energy sources that protect the environment
2.Which of the following statements is NOT true of the event?
A. It will last a week and the halls will be open 11 hours a day.
B. You can send an email to Mrs．Daisy Soh for more information.
C. Each hall charges the same amount of money as the other.
D. Lectures in Hall 1 will be given by university students.
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从1-20各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项。
I used to hate being called upon in class mainly because I didn’t like attention drawn to myself. And otherwise assigned（指定）a seat by the teacher, I always to sit at the back of the classroom.
All this after I joined a sports team. It began when a teacher suggested I try out for the basketball team. At first I thought it was a crazy because I didn’t have a good sense of balance, nor did I have the to keep pace with the others on the team and they would tease me. But for the teacher who kept insisting on my “ for it”, I wouldn’t have decided to give a try.
Getting up the to go to the tryouts was only the half of it! When I first started the practice sessions, I didn’t even know the rules of the game, much what I was doing. Sometimes I’d get and take a shot at the wrong direction—which made me feel really stupid. , I wasn’t the only one “new” at the game, so I decided to on learning the game, do my best at each practice session, and not be too hard on myself for the things I didn’t “just yet”.
I practiced and practiced. Soon I knew the and the “moves”. Being part of a team was fun and motivating. Very soon the competitive in me was winning over my lack of confidence. With time, I learned how to play and made friends in the — friends who respected my efforts to work hard and be a team player. I never had so much fun!
With my self-confidence comes more praise from teachers and classmates. I have gone from “ ” in the back of the classroom and not wanting to call attention to myself, raising my hand— even when I sometimes wasn’t and not 100 percent I had the right answer. Now I have more self-confidence in myself.
1.A. as B. unless C. until D. though
2.A. chose B. agreed C. meant D. hoped
3.A. continued B. settled C. changed D. started
4.A. saying B. plan C. belief D. idea
5.A. right B. ability C. chance D. patience
6.A. looking B. going C. cheering D. applying
7.A. strengths B. knowledge C. courage D. competence
8.A. attending B. preparing C. enjoying D. watching
9.A. worse B. later C. less D. further
10.A. committed B. separated C. embarrassed D. confused
11.A. Interestingly B. Obviously C. Fortunately D. Hopefully
12.A. try B. act C. rely D. focus
13.A. want B. do C. know D. support
14.A. steps B. rules C. orders D. games
15.A. part B. roles C. mind D. value
16.A. movement B. operation C. process D. situation
17.A. improved B. expressed C. preserved D. recognized
18.A. dreaming B. playing C. hiding D. relaxing
19.A. to B. for C. with D. by
20.A. lucky B. happy C. satisfied D. sure
--Susan is so hard-working that she has won a third scholarship.
--Just as a proverb goes “____________.”
A. Make hay while the sun shines
B. No pain, no gain.
C. The early bird catches the worm.
D. Once bitten, twice shy.
