Recently I have discovered it’s often easier for me to do something every day than to do it just some days. I post to my blog six days a week. I take notes every day. I write in my one-sentence journal every day. Many people have told me that they find it easier to exercise when they exercise every day. If I try to do something just four days a week, I spend a lot of time arguing with myself: Is today the day, or is it tomorrow, or the next day? Does the week start on Sunday or Monday?
If you do something every day, you tend to fall into a routine. Routine has a bad reputation for lacking excitement. It’s true that novelty and challenge bring happiness and that people who break their routines, try new things, and go to new places are happier, but I think that some routine activities also bring happiness. The pleasure of doing the same thing, in the same way, every day, shouldn’t be overlooked. By repeating, you can find happiness in activities like doing dishes or sweeping the floor as well as in your beloved morning coffee-and-news routines.
Two geniuses whom I know of also wrote about the power of doing something every day. Andy Warhol wrote, “Either once only, or every day. If you do something once it’s exciting, and if you do it every day it’s exciting. But if you do it, say, twice or just almost every day, it’s not good any more.” Gertrude Stein made a similar point, “Anything one does every day is important and anywhere one lives is interesting and beautiful.”
So if there’s something that you wish you did more regularly, try doing it every day; if you do something every day, take great pleasure in it.
1.In the first paragraph, what does the author try to tell us?
A. It’s easier to do the same thing every day.
B. It’s important to do the same thing every day.
C. He has a good habit of following routines.
D. He enjoys the habit of following routines.
2.People usually tend to break their routines because they________.
A. hope to have a better reputation
B. would like to get rid of the old habit
C. want to have fun and excitement
D. are willing to face new challenges
3.Which of the following statements does Andy Warhol probably agree to?
A. Doing something that is exciting.
B. Doing something almost every day.
C. Doing something every day, not only once.
D. Doing something every day or only once.
4.Which can be the best title of the passage?
A. A Way To Form A Habit B. Do Anything Every Day
C. Repeat Regularly D. Power Of Everyday Repetition
Once when I was facing a decision that involved high risk, I went to a friend. He looked at me for a moment, and then wrote a sentence containing the best advice I’ve ever had: Be bold and brave — and mighty (强大的) forces will come to your aid.
Those words made me see clearly that when I had fallen short in the past, it was seldom because I had tried and failed. It was usually because I had let fear of failure stop me from trying at all. On the other hand, whenever I had plunged into deep water, forced by courage or circumstance, I had always been able to swim until I got my feet on the ground again.
Boldness means a decision to bite off more than you are sure you can eat. And there is nothing mysterious about the mighty forces. They are potential powers we possess: energy, skill, sound judgment, creative ideas — even physical strength greater than most of us realize.
Admittedly, those mighty forces are spiritual ones. But they are more important than physical ones. A college classmate of mine, Tim, was an excellent football player, even though he weighed much less than the average player. “In one game I suddenly found myself confronting a huge player, who had nothing but me between him and our goal line,” said Tim. “I was so frightened that I closed my eyes and desperately threw myself at that guy like a bullet (子弹) — and stopped him cold.”
Boldness — a willingness to extend yourself to the extreme—is not one that can be acquired overnight. But it can be taught to children and developed in adults. Confidence builds up. Surely, there will be setbacks (挫折) and disappointments in life; boldness in itself is no guarantee of success. But the person who tries to do something and fails is a lot better off than the person who tries to do nothing and succeeds.
So, always try to live a little bit beyond your abilities — and you’ll find your abilities are greater than you ever dreamed.
1.Why was the author sometimes unable to reach his goal in the past?
A. He faced huge risks.
B. He lacked mighty forces.
C. Fear prevented him from trying.
D. Failure blocked his way to success.
2.What is the implied meaning of the underlined part?
A. Swallow more than you can digest.
B. Act slightly above your abilities.
C. Develop more mysterious powers.
D. Learn to make creative decisions.
3.What was especially important for Tim’s successful defense in the football game?
A. His physical strength.
B. His basic skill.
C. His real fear.
D. His spiritual force.
4.What is the author’s purpose in writing this passage?
A. To encourage people to be courageous.
B. To advise people to build up physical power.
C. To tell people the ways to guarantee success.
D. To recommend people to develop more abilities.
Getting away for a short time always seems like a great idea—until you have to pack. The rule is: pack light. Here are some tips to help you pack.
Organize Yourself
Make a list. Think of what you need from your head to your toes. When you’ve done this once, it’ll be easier next time.
Start Small
Consider buying small-size samples of shampoo, toothpaste, and other items at your local store. Make sure they are all sealed tightly.
In an emergency, you can purchase them at your destination. But remember that the time you spend buying things at your destination will reduce your visiting time.
The Clothing Dilemma
Choosing which clothes to bring is probably the hardest packing decision to make. Think once again from head to toe — hat, shirts, jeans, sneakers, etc. Once you’ve picked out what you want to bring, think carefully. Do you really need that extra pair of jeans? If so, fine. Don’t try to fool yourself. You are the one who will be left holding the bag.
Weather is an important factor in your packing. If it’s cold, you could wear a jacket, a sweater, a regular shirt, and a T-shirt. Layering up will keep you warm and it will leave more room in your bag. Roll up your casual clothes instead of folding and laying them flat. This leaves more room to pack other things, and keeps your clothes fairly wrinkle-free.
Remember how much easier it will be to carry your bag!
1.This text would be most helpful to a reader who is _______ .
A. going on a vacation B. shopping for luggage
C. moving to a new home D. hosting relatives for a visit
2.If you buy things at your local store ahead of time, you can _______ .
A. lighten your load
B. save a lot of money
C. have more visiting time
D. have more room in your bag
3.What should one plan to do if going somewhere in the winter?
A. Pack an extra sweater for the trip.
B. Put on several layers of clothing.
C. Mix and match clothing outfits.
D. Roll jackets so they fit in the bag.
John sent his mother expensive presents on his mother's birthday every year. He liked to show her how rich he was. "I must find something wonderful for her, and it must be the only one in the whole world. Then my mother must be very happy.” John thought. He advertised (登广告) in the newspapers. “Wanted—the best present for the woman who has everything. "
For many days his telephone did not stop ringing. People phoned him from all over the world. They wanted to sell him "the best present". But they did not have anything that was the only one in the whole world.
Then less than a week before his mother's birthday, a man came to his office. He was carrying a cage, and in the cage there was a large bird.
"This bird, "the man said, "can speak ten languages and sing any pop song. There is no other bird like it in the world. "
"I will listen to it, "John said. “If what you said is true, I will buy the bird from you.”
The man spoke to the bird. "Talk to me in French, " he said. The bird spoke to him in French. "Tell me a joke in Japanese, " he said. The bird told him a joke in Japanese. "Sing a famous pop song, "he said. The bird sang a famous pop song.
"I'll buy it, "John said. "How much do you want?"
"One hundred thousand dollars, "the man said. This was a lot of money but John paid him. Then he sent the bird to his mother with a birthday card.
The day after his mother's birthday he phoned her. "Well, mother, "he said, "Is the bird wonderful?"
"Oh, it was delicious, dear, "she said.
1.Why did John send her mother expensive presents for her birthday every year?
A. Because he loved his mother very much.
B. Because his mother needed these presents.
C. Because he wanted to show he had a lot of money.
D. Because he was the richest man in the world.
2.How did people know John wanted the best present in the world?
A. They rang John up.
B. They knew it from the newspapers.
C. John phoned them one by one.
D. They knew it on TV.
3.Why did John pay the man a lot of money for the bird?
A. Because it was such a beautiful bird.
B. Because he wanted to help the poor man with the bird.
C. Because the bird could look after his mother.
D. Because he thought the bird could make his mother happy.
4.What does the sentence "It was delicious, "really mean in the story?
A. His mother ate the bird.
B. His mother let the bird fly away.
C. His mother began to learn languages from the bird.
D. His mother thought it was the most expensive present in the world.
假设你是李华，请根据以下要点，给你的一位美国笔友Robert写一封E-mail，谈谈寒假的安排，并询问Robert的寒假安排。可以适当增加细节。
1. 在家休息，帮父母做家务 2. 参加英语培训课程
3. 去朋友家玩 4. 游览四川的景点
注意：1．词数100词左右。
2．可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
3．开头句已为你写好，但不计入总词数
提示词：培训课程 English courses, 景点 tourist attractions，安排 arrangement(n)
Dear Robert,
How time flies! The happy days we shared often shine in my memory.
短文改错
假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处错误，每句中最多有两处。错误涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号(Λ)，并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线(＼)划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意： 1．每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2．只允许修改10处，多者(从第11处起)不计分。
My father is now in his late forty but looks young for his age. He is very strict with me, especial in my studies. However, I know he loves me deeply in his heart. Once I fail to do well in my math exam, I was afraid of that it would make my father disappointing. On the contrary, he said I had tried my best and offered him a few word of encouragement. He said to me, “There is no need to feel bad about one or two failures and most important thing is to learn anything from failure and never give up.” Today is Father’s Day and I want to say thank you for my father.
