Most painters discover a style of painting that is fit for them and stick to that, especially if people admire their pictures. But Picasso, the great Spanish painter, was like a man who had not yet found his own particular style of painting. He kept on struggling to find the perfect expression till his death in 1973.
Some of Picasso's paintings are rich, soft colored and beautiful. Others are ugly and cruel and strange. But such paintings allow us to imagine things for ourselves. They force us to say to ourselves, “What does he see that makes him paint like that?” And we begin to look under the surface of the things we see.
Picasso painted thousands of pictures in different styles. Sometimes he painted the natural look of things. Sometimes he seemed to break them apart and throw the pieces in our faces. He showed us what the mind knows as well as what the eyes see. At the age of 90,he remained as curious about the world as he had been when he was young. That is why people have called him “the youngest painter in the world.”
1.The ugly cruel and strange paintings by Picasso _______.
A. make us try to notice something hidden in the things
B. allow us to ask questions about them
C. force us to question anything we see
D. cause us to think what Picasso saw was different from what we see
2.The underlined sentence “Sometimes he seemed to break them apart and throw the pieces in our faces” means _____.
A. sometimes he tore his pictures into pieces
B. he broke something he was painting and threw them away
C. sometimes he showed some broken pictures to others
D. things in some of his pictures seem to be in disorder
3.Why have people called Picasso “the youngest painter in the world?”
A. Because he observed things with the eye and the mind.
B. Because he looked young when he was old.
C. Because he never stopped painting he was old.
D. Because he never gave up looking for something new.
A Samoan airline says that it is the world’s first carrier to charge passengers by their weight. Samoa Air, which opened in 2012, asks passengers to give their personal weight during booking, which is then charged according to the length of a flight. The customers will also be weighed just before they board the plane.
"It is believed that all people throughout the world are the same size," Samoa Air CEO Chris Langton said. "Airplanes always run on weight, not seats."
"There is no doubt in my mind that this is the concept of the future. This is the fairest way of your travelling with your family or yourself."
Though the airline introduced the plan last November, it caught people's attention last week when the carrier began international flights to neighboring American Samoa.
Almost at the same time, a Norwegian economist, Bharat Bhatta, published a report suggesting that airlines should charge obese passengers more.
The Pacific Islands contain some of the world’s most common countries for obesity, many ranking in the top 10, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Samoa is ranked number four, with 59.6 percent of the population considered obese, said the most recent WHO report.
According to Samoa Air's latest schedule, the airline charges up to $0.57 per kg for flights in Samoa and $1.03 per kg for its only international flight to American Samoa, around 250 miles.
Children under 12 are charged 75 percent of the adult rate, with fares also based on weight. Any overweight baggage is calculated at the same rate as the passenger's personal weight.
The plan could actually prove cheaper in some cases, such as for families travelling with small children, and Langton said customer reaction has mainly been "amazingly positive".
The idea of charging passengers by weight has been hotly discussed before, and in the US some airlines require those who do not fit into a seat comfortably to buy a second seat.
1.What does the underlined word "this" in Paragraph 3 refer to?
A. Airlines should charge passengers by flight length.
B. All people throughout the world are the same size.
C. It is unfair to weigh passengers at the airport.
D. Airplanes always run on weight, not seats.
2.In Bharat Bhatta’s eyes, Samoa Air's plan might be _______.
A. funny B. acceptable
C. strange D. disappointing
3.A 100 kg adult flying to American Samoa would be charged _______.
A. $57 B. $75
C. $103 D. $125
4.What does the text mainly tell us?
A. 59.6% of Samoans are considered obese.
B. Samoa Air introduces pay-by-weight pricing.
C. Airlines should charge obese passengers more.
D. Baggage must be calculated as passengers’ weight.
Have you ever noticed that the more you have the more you want? Let’s face it. Thinking our life is good enough doesn’t come naturally to many people. When we have high expectations of everything in life we will run into disappointment. Only when we are aware that needs are different from desires can we live with satisfaction. Here are a few ideas to help you be happier with what you have and who you are.
Focus on what you are thankful for. Most people want things to be better than they are, or when things are going well, we forget to appreciate what we have. Learn to reflect on how much better things are than they could be. Focus on what you are thankful for. Write down 5 things you are grateful for right now.
When we hold onto regrets from decisions we have made, it can really poison our well-being. Many people regret something they can no longer change, which ends up holding them back from moving forward in a more positive manner. What happened in the past is done and gone, so work to stay present and be mindful of the current moment to find more joy and fulfillment.
When we use other people as the measuring stick for our personal success and quality of life we are likely to be less satisfied. Social comparisons can provide useful information when we try to learn from others, but they also hold our perspective in a discontented position. Compare yourself less with others so you can be satisfied more.
When you are focused on your big ambitions and future goals you might elide the daily pleasures that surround you. Learn to slow down and absorb the wonder and beauty around you. Stay present and focus on the task you’re undertaking at the moment. Don’t let the life pass you by because you’re always on the go and distracted by ambition.
Practice looking at life through the lens of contentment and it will become more natural.
1.How can we live with contentment?
A. To change our lifestyle.
B. To have a motivation in life.
C. To give less attention to what we are grateful for.
D. To realize the difference between needs and desires.
2.What’s the main idea of Paragraph 3?
A. Make wise decisions. B. Know the present situation
C. Let go of regrets. D. Remember the past.
3.The underlined word “elide”(in Paragraph 5) probably means “__”.
A. enjoy B. change C. create D. neglect
4.What should you do to put yourself in a good mood?
A. Make time for simple pleasures. B. Learn from successful people.
C. Focus on your future goals. D. Create chance to learn more.
I was invited to attend a presentation at the Kentucky School. That evening I found gratitude had amazing ______ to change our attitude and our life.
The young musician Mr. Patrick was ______onto the stage in his wheelchair and began to play the piano. His fingers danced across the keys ______ he made beautiful music. He then began to sing as he played, and it was wonderful. But what shocked me most was his______smile.
Patrick was born with no eyes and an illness in the legs, which______him lame for life. However, as a child, he was______with artificial eyes and placed in a wheelchair. Before his first birthday, he discovered the piano. When his mom hit any_______on the piano, and within one or two tries, he′d ______. By his second birthday, he was playing “ Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”. His father was______. “We might not play baseball, but we can play music together.”
When Patrick was at the University of Louisville, his father attended ________with him. He was also a part of the 214-member marching band！He was a blind, wheelchair-bound trumpet player; and he and his father did it together. His father_______the night shift（夜班）in order to accompany his daytime band practice. Patrick says, “My dad′s my________.”
But even ______ his unbelievable musical talent, it was Patrick′s “attitude of gratitude” that________my soul. On the stage, between songs, he talked to the audience about his life and about ____________blessed he was with a great father. When his performance was over, Patrick and his father were on the stage together. The crowd ______ to their feet and cheered for over five minutes.
We all face misfortune in our lives. ______，it′s not the hardship but how we________to it that will determine the joy and happiness in our lives. During_______times, do we spend too much time feeling sorry for ourselves,________can we, with gratitude, learn how to dance in the rain？
1.A. knowledge B. quality C. wisdom D. power
2.A. rolled B. held C. carried D. dragged
3.A. since B. although C. as D. if
4.A. strange B. magic C. bitter D. friendly
5.A. took B. led C. forced D. left
6.A. fitted B. connected C. associated D. filled
7.A. place B. note C. music D. part
8.A. fight it out B. catch it C. get it D. make it
9.A. confused B. amused C. interested D. overjoyed
10.A. parties B. lectures C. classes D. meetings
11.A. worked B. found C. refused D. cancelled
12.A. educator B. hero C. candidate D. sponsor
13.A. instead of B. more than C. rather than D. in place of
14.A. touched B. calmed C. freed D. felt
15.A. why B. what C. how D. when
16.A. rose B. raised C. lifted D. stood
17.A. Therefore B. Otherwise C. However D. Besides
18.A. see B. react C. agree D. put
19.A. unconscious B. typical C. tough D. visual
20.A. but B. or C. and D. while
The foreign Minister said “ ________ that the two sides will work towards peace”．
A. It is no doubt B. There is our hope
C. There is no wonder D. It is our hope
Mr. White ___________ at 8:30 am for the meeting, but he didn’t show up.
A. ought to arrive B. should arrive
C. should have arrived D. was supposed to arrived
