When my students ask me why I live in a tiny house, they ask it in light of all the “sacrifices(牺牲)”I an making. They know that I have moved from a large apartment in the city to a small custom-built home on wheels in the backyard woods. They know I forego running water, Internet connection, sewage(下水道), and reliable phone reception.
However, it was possible for me to be truly happy while living with very few material things. My body responded well, in health, fitness and mood, to a schedule more consistent(一致的)with the natural day and night cycle. Observing the daily sunset, hosting friends for days at a time, reading, writing letters to my families and friends and exploring natural wonders in my spare time all were free and invaluable experiences.
What was necessary to my survival proved to be a rather short list-healthy food, clean and drinkable water, heat source, weather-protecting shelter, weather-suitable clothing, equally important friends and mental and physical stimulations(刺激).
When I returned to life in the US, I couldn’t help but sense a deep and uneasy belief that life suddenly changed. I felt disconnected with many things- the earth, others, my food source, my waste disposal, the natural cycle of my body and the productive interests. These are the things I once cared for but now find myself too busy to enjoy. How was it that I was earning literally 40 times my Peace Corps salary and was less healthy, satisfied and intentional in my daily schedule? I found myuself asking-what is it to be rich anyway? Therefore, last August I let go of most of my possessions and moved into a tiny house on wheels because I wanted to see if I could live a more enjoyable lifestyle. So far so good. No inconvenience has made up for the many positive benefits that continue to come from this change in lifestyle. I believe that I have made the right decision.
1. What does the underlined word “forego” in the first paragraph probably mean?
A. Give away. B. Take along.
C. Care for. D. Go after.
2.What interested the author most when living in the tiny house?
A. The natural living schedule.
B. Busy and invaluable experiences.
C. The happiness of the simple life.
D. The very few material possessions.
3.What did the author feel when he returned to the US?
A. He was behind the times.
B. He wouldn’t enjoy the modern life.
C. He was rich enough to enjoy the city life.
D. He was disconnected with the outside world.
Honey from the African forest is not only a kind of natural sugar, it is also delicious. Most people, and many animals, like eating it. However, the only way for them to get that honey is to find a wild bees' nest and take the honey from it. Often, these nests are high up in trees, and it is difficult to find them. In parts of Africa, though, people and animals looking for honey have a strange and unexpected helper—a little bird called a honey guide.
The honey guide does not actually like honey, but it does like the wax(蜂蜡) in the beehives(蜂房). The little bird cannot reach this wax, which is deep inside the bees' nest. So, when it finds a suitable nest, it looks for someone to help it. The honey guide gives a loud cry that attracts the attention of both passing animals and people. Once it has their attention, it flies through the forest, waiting from time to time for the curious animal or person as it leads them to the nest. When they finally arrive at the nest, the follower reaches in to get at the delicious honey as the bird patiently waits and watches. Some of the honey, and the wax, always falls to the ground, and this is when the honey guide takes its share.
Scientists do not know why the honey guide likes eating the wax, but it is very determined in its efforts to get it. The birds seem to be able to smell wax from a long distance away. They will quickly arrive whenever a beekeeper is taking honey from his beehives, and will even enter churches when beeswax candles are being lit.
1.Why is it difficult to find a wild bees' nest?
A. It's small in size.
B. It's hidden in trees.
C. It's covered with wax.
D. It's hard to recognize.
2.What do the words "the follower" in paragraph 2 refer to?
A. A bee. B. A bird. C. A honey seeker. D. A beekeeper.
3.The honey guide is special in the way .
A. it gets its food
B. it goes to church
C. it sings in the forest
D. it reaches into bees' nests
4. What can be the best title for the text?
A. Wild Bees
B. Wax and Honey
C. Beekeeping in Africa
D. Honey—Lover's Helper
假如老师要求你写一篇题为My English Study的英语短文，请你按以下三方面进行写作，词数100左右。
成绩：学了三年，掌握词汇约1500，能阅读一些英语书，能写简易文章。
困难：在听说两个方面有困难。当别人说英语快时听不懂：跟人交谈时不能把意思表达清楚。
打算：知道学好一门外语很重要。要更努力学习英语，多练习，争取把英语学得更好。
掌握 master 听说 listening and speaking 文章 article
My English Study
短文改错
下面短文中有10处语言错误，请在有错误的地方增加﹑删除或修改某个单词。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），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.每句不超过两个错误；
2.每处错误及其修改均只限一词；
3.只允许修改10处。多者（从第11处起）不计分。
Jane is my closely friend from America. Last Sunday we went to the Phoenix Park for trip. The weather was such lovely that there was a great number of visitors in the park. To our excitement, there was a wonderful robot show who caught our attention. Some people were boating on the lake, while others are swimming. The Phoenix Park is more famous for its cherry blossom, and the park was like a sea of flower. We really enjoyed ourselves, so we couldn’t help singing happy. When it started to get dark, they left the park for home.
When I left for the United States to study. I had butterflies in my stomach. I was nervous because I was going to__1.__new place with new people and new customs. I couldn’t even understand__2.__(they)language. Everything was different__ 3._ my own country. There was nobody that I could talk to. I just had my husband,_ 4.__was a new person for me, too.
It was a sad moment when I had to say goodbye to my family and friends. I didn’t want_5._(leave)my hometown because I __6.__(grow) up there and had wonderful__7.__(memory) of the place. So,__ 8._ (think)about all these changes made me nervous and I was__9.__(worry)about my new life. But studying abroad was a decision that I made myself. I had to continue and accept the challenge. I looked forward to __10.__(visit)my family in the summer vacation.
A large cat arrived at a farm where many mice lived. None of them dared go outside for fear of being ____by the cat.
The mice decided to hold a ___to find a way of stopping themselves from being in____.One day, when the cat was out, mice of all ages____into the meeting room.
“Let’s build a big trap,” one mouse____.When this idea was___,another said, “What about poisoning(毒死）her?” But____knew where to buy the poison. One young mouse, whose mother had become the cat’s food,____said, “Let’s cut her teeth, so she can do no more harm,” But the meeting did not accept his____. At last, one mouse,____than the rest, jumped onto a table. Waving a bell, he called for____. “Be quiet!” we’ll tie this bell to cat’s tail, so we’ll always know____ she is! We’ll have___to escape, and the slower and weaker mice will hear her coming and he able to____!”Hearing the words, everyone got___and they congratulated him on his good idea.
We’ll tie it so tightly(紧紧地）that it will never___!”
“she’ll never be able to walk___again! Why, the other day, she suddenly appeared right in front of me! Just imagine....”
However, the wise mouse said, “We must____who is going to tie it on her tail.” There was not a sound in the room. Nobody was____enough to put the plan into action. The meeting ended without any decision being made.
It’s often very___to have bright ideas, but putting them into practice is a more difficult matter.
1.A. trained B. taught C. caught D. invited
2.A. party B. test C. game D. meeting
3.A. return B. danger C. fact D. need
4.A. rushed B. swan C. flew D. stepped
5.A. questioned B. explained C. suggested D. answered
6.A. supported B. discussed C. accepted D. refused
7.A. everybody B. nobody C. somebody D. anybody
8.A. angrily B. happily C. carefully D. slowly
9.A. present B. reason C. idea D. excuse
10.A. younger B. longer C. stronger D. wiser
11.A. pleasure B. silence C. help D. information
12.A. where B. what C. how D. who
13.A. experience B. power C. time D. space
14.A. shout B. watch C. stay D. hide
15.A. worried B. excited C. surprised D. tired
16.A. drop off B. turn up C. get up D. put off
17.A. gladly B. quickly C. quietly D. directly
18.A. believe B. learn C. imagine D. Decide
19.A. honest B. brave C. rich D. old
20.A. easy B. difficult C. strange D. important
