It is a true story behind a well-known piece of art.
In a village near Nuremberg lived a family with eighteen children. Merely to keep food on the table, the father worked eighteen hours a day. Despite their_____ condition, two of the children had a dream to seek their talent for ____ , but they knew well their father would never be able to send ____ of them to Nuremberg to study at the Academy.
The two boys finally worked out an agreement. They would toss(扔、掷)a coin. The____ would work in the nearby mines to support his brother. Albrecht ____ the toss and went off to Nuremberg. Albert went into the dangerous mines and, for the next four years, financed his brother, ____ work at the academy was almost an ______ success. Albrecht's woodcut and oils were ____ better than those of his professors and he soon was earning considerable fees_____ his works.
When the young ____ returned home, the family held a festive dinner. Albrecht rose to toast to his beloved brother, "Now, Albert, it is your ____ to seek your dream and l will support you"
All heads turned to the far end of the table, where Albert sat, tears streaming down his pale face, while he ______ and repeated, "No...no．” Finally, Albert rose and _____ the tears from his cheeks. He said softly, “ I _____ go to Nuremberg, brother. It is too late for me. Look what four years in the mines have done to my hands! The bones in every finger have been smashed at least once, and I cannot even hold a glass to ____ your toast．”
Today, Albrecht's masterful works ____ in every great museum in the world, but chances are great ____ you, like most people, are familiar with only one of them. Albrecht drew his brother's abused hands with palms together and thin ____ stretched skyward. He ____ it "The Praying Hands",
Next time you see that touching creation, take a second look. Let it be your reminder, if you still need one, that no one ever makes it ____！
1.A. hopeful B. lucky C. disappointed D. hopeless
2.A. music B. art C. mining D. farming
3.A. all B. both C. each D. either
4.A. painter B. loser C. winner D. failure
5.A. lost B. got C. won D. beat
6.A. who B. his C. whom D. whose
7.A. random B. immediate C. attractive D. ordinary
8.A. far B. quite C. very D. more
9.A. for B. to C. in D. at
10.A. miner B. worker C. artist D. professor
11.A. luck B. turn C. move D. moment
12.A. sobbed B. nodded C. smiled D. laughed
13.A. recovered B. wept C. wiped D. handed
14.A. can't B. mustn’t C. can D. have to
15.A. hold B. return C. move D. turn
16.A. hang B. represent C. present D. visit
17.A. when B. that C. which D. as
18.A. figures B. hands C. fingers D. arms
19.A. said B. loved C. told D. called
20.A. yet B. out C. alone D. before
Changing your life can come in small, easy steps. You can transform yourself and live a better life by making positive changes along the way. Here are some choices that will lead to your transformation.
Choose to change bad habits
Some bad habits seem to stick around without us even realizing it. 1.You can overcome them, find better alternatives, and get through your struggle to become a better you! Do it for yourself more than anything.
Choose to grow
It’s easy to get stuck in a fixed way of life. 2. In choosing to grow, you build character, develop your strengths, become aware of what needs improvement, and turn into the well-rounded person you need to be to succeed.
Choose to seek a balanced life
Where do you need balance? Are you all work, no play? Or the opposite? 3. If you’re spending too much time working or locked away alone, find the time for social interaction and having fun. If you haven’t committed to a schedule in a while, make the decision to start following one.
4.
This is vital to human existence. We need the loving bonds created by family members and friends. Personal relationships are key to emotional growth and social stability.
Choose to live your passion
Whatever your dream is, you can have it. The person you wish to be and the things you wish to achieve are within you. Make the choice to pursue those passions at whatever cost. It may mean clearing out your schedule or doing something you’ve never done. 5.
A. Choose to spend time with those you love
B. Choose to organize your schedule flexibly
C. Make the choice today that you won’t be ruled by them.
D. Neither extreme will lead you to a pleasant life for very long.
E. However, with re-evaluation and growth comes a beautiful freedom.
F. It’s good to change, and you’ve only got so many years to refresh yourself.
G. However, the reward from success and personal accomplishment will be worth it.
For years, there has been a bias（偏见）against science among clinical psychologists. In a two-year analysis to be published in November in Perspectives on Psychological Science, psychologists led by Timothy B. Baker of the University of Wisconsin charge that many clinical psychologists fail to “provide the treatments for which there is the strongest evidence of effectiveness” and “give more weight to their personal experiences than to science.” As a result, patients have no guarantee that their “treatment will be informed by science.” Walter Mischel of Columbia University is even crueler in his judgment. “The disconnect between what clinical psychologists do and what science has discovered is an extreme embarrassment,” he told me, and “there is a widening gap between clinical practice and science.”
The “widening” reflects the great progress that psychological research has made in identifying the most effective treatments. Thanks to strict clinical trials, we now know that teaching patients to think about their thoughts in new, healthier ways and to act on those new ways of thinking are effective against depression, panic disorder and other problems, with multiple trials showing that these treatments—the tools of psychology—bring more lasting benefits than drugs.
You wouldn’t know this if you sought help from a typical clinical psychologist. Although many treatments are effective, relatively few psychologists learn or practice them.
Why in the world not? For one thing, says Baker, clinical psychologists are “very doubtful about the role of science” and “lack solid science training”. Also, one third of patients get better no matter what treatment (if any) they have, “and psychologists remember these successes, believing, wrongly, that they are the result of the treatment.”
When faced with evidence that treatments they offer are not supported by science, clinical psychologists argue that they know better than some study that works. A 2008 study of 591 psychologists in private practice found that they rely more on their own and colleagues’ experience than on science when deciding how to treat a patient. If they keep on this path as insurance companies demand evidence-based medicine, warns Mischel, psychology will “discredit itself.”
1.Many clinical psychologists fail to provide the most effective treatments because _____.
A. they are unfamiliar with their patients B. they believe in science and evidence
C. they rely on their personal experiences D. they depend on their colleagues’ help
2.The widening gap between clinical practice and science is due to _____.
A. the cruel judgment by Walter Mischel
B. the great progress that has been made in psychological research
C. the fact that most patients get better after being treated
D. the fact that patients prefer to take drugs rather than have other treatments
3.How do clinical psychologists respond when charged that their treatments are not supported by science?
A. They feel embarrassed. B. They try to defend themselves.
C. They are disappointed. D. They doubt their treatments.
4.In Mischel’s opinion, psychology will ______.
A. develop faster with the support of insurance companies
B. destroy its own reputation if no improvement is made
C. work together with insurance companies to provide better treatment
D. become more reliable if insurance companies won’t demand evidence-based medicine
When you finish your day at school, you probably rush to your dormitory or home as quickly as possible. But for some people, their day begins in the middle of the night.
Welcome to the interesting world of “the Master”, the owner of a small restaurant located in a busy district that only opens from midnight to 7 am.
Earlier this month, Hong Kong actor Tony Leung Ka-fai announced that he had directed and starred as the Master in a remake of Japanese director Joji Matsuoka’s famous comedy Midnight Diner. The new movie is expected to come out in Chinese mainland cinemas later this year.
While serving regular soup every night, the Master is also willing to make customized (定制的) dishes if his customers ask. Besides its delicious food, what makes this eatery special is that it’s a place of sanctuary and togetherness.
Midnight is often when worries, loneliness, and sadness creep up on people, and midnight diner provides the simple comforts of food and drink, and more importantly, a warm place where people can keep each other company, talk, and share their stories. The customers’ stories cover everything, from problems at work to parenthood, romance, friendship, and the regrets of a wasted life. Listening to their stories, customers offer encouragement and advice to one another. But the Master only provides the life lesson-- a good day must follow a bad one-when necessary.
Despite facing different kinds of disappointment, people need to find their own satisfaction in their seemingly messy lives. “The small pleasure can be a good hot-pot meal,” Japanese culture website JapanPowered.com noted. “It’s easy to lose sight of what gives life meaning as we go about the daily routine of work and home life.”
After all, no one is flawless and no one’s life is perfect, but imperfections are the space where possibilities live. As Kelly Mcneils, author of Your Messy Brilliance, wrote, “ The good, the bad, and the ugly, they are our greatest assets because they include every single part of ourselves and leave nothing out--and when we fully embrace all parts of ourselves, we discover our true power.”
1.From the passage we know that the Master________.
A. is an actor in Midnight Diner.
B. is so popular as to be remade by Joji Matsuoka
C. provides good service for his customers
D. offers a special restaurant around the clock.
2.What does the underlined word “sanctuary” in Paragraph 4 mean?
A. reunion B. separation
C. eating D. shelter
3.Why is the midnight diner important and special ?
A. Because bad emotions often occur at midnight.
B. Because it offers meals at midnight .
C. Because customers are comforted and helped here.
D. Because the customers love the Master’s life lessons.
4.What can be inferred from the last paragraph?
A. Nobody is perfect.
B. Accepting our imperfections help us learn about ourselves.
C. We shouldn’t attach great importance to our imperfections.
D. Potentials can only be found in our imperfections.
Travel can be fun, but when you have to move in a disability, getting from point A to point B can become frustrating. Airlines know this and do their part to make air travel as comfortable as they can for every passenger.
Here are some tips and information on what major airlines do for travelers who need extra support when flying.
United
When flying with United, call the airline's disability desk (1-800-228-2744) 48 hours in advance of travel if you'll be traveling with an assistive device so they can ensure your device can be used in-flight. Any special needs you have should be mentioned when you make your reservation so the airline staff can do their best to help you. This includes the need for assistance getting to your gate, boarding, getting to your seat, deplaning or connecting.
Delta
Depending on the type and age of the aircraft, accessible features of Delta's aircraft include movable armrests of seats, wheelchair space, on-board wheelchairs and, on larger airplanes, wheelchair-accessible washrooms. Depending on the aircraft, they also provide seats with a movable aisle armrest for passengers needing to transfer from a boarding wheelchair to their own seat more easily.
US Airways
When traveling with US Airways, if you have a mobility disability and need special seating, call 800-428-4322 at least 24 hours before your scheduled departure to ensure your needs are met. Besides seats with movable armrests, the airline also provides seats with more legroom for passengers with a immobilized leg. The airline can also provide an on-board wheelchair but let them know 48 hours in advance if you need one.
Southwest
If you're flying with Southwest and you need a wheelchair at the airport, or need other special assistance, it's best to inform the airline in advance, or as soon as you arrive at the airport so your requests can be fulfilled as quickly as possible. On each aircraft, a small wheelchair that can fit down the aircraft aisle is available at every gate and can be used if you need help getting into your seat.
1.Who is this passage intended for?
A. Those who has a disability. B. Travelers who have difficulty in moving.
C. Travelers who become sick on the plane. D. Travelers who are poor in health.
2.Which airline could be the best choice for someone with a leg that can’t bend?
A. United B. Delta
C. US Airways D. Southwest.
3.You are most likely to find this passage________.
A. on the internet B. at the airport
C. on the plane D. in the newspaper
I was selfish as a teenager. I usually spent my time thinking about myself and taking care of my own needs. I let my older brother do most of the work around the house until he left for college. I let my Mom and Dad worry about our bills and problems while I read books, played, and lost myself in my own imagination. This didn’t change even when I went to college either. I studied hard but only to make my own life better. Even when I started to explore my faith and spirituality, it was only to increase my own happiness.
I married after graduation and decided to start a family. Of course, I had no idea what hard knocks reality had in store for my selfish soul. Soon I found myself unemployed, deeply in debt, and with a new baby on the way. I found out that life has little sympathy for spoiled people. In fact, all of the struggles I was going through were beating the selfishness slowly out of me.
Still, I didn’t give up on happiness. I knew that there must be a way to find it. I finally realized, however, that it had to include more than just my own needs, wants, and desires. The answer began to make itself clear one night shortly after my baby boy was born. I got a bottle and held him in my arms. As I was feeding him I looked down and saw his big, innocent, trusting eyes. I smiled and talked to him. Then he smiled and I could feel my heart growing, expanding with love. I felt such peace and joy. At that moment I had a hint of the truth: it is by growing our hearts with love that we find our happiness.
Carolyn Arends wrote: "The more people you let into your heart, the bigger your heart gets. The more love you get, the more love you have to give. It just keeps growing." So, keep loving, keep living and keep caring. Keep growing your heart today, tomorrow, and always.
1.What do we know about the author from the first paragraph?
A. He often helped his brother with housework.
B. He studied hard for his family.
C. He put his own needs above others’.
D. He was concerned about his family.
2.What did the author realize after he suffered in life?
A. Spoiled people can’t survive the hardship of life.
B. Life is cruel to spoiled people.
C. Spoiled people are never happy in life.
D. Selfishness is helpful.
3.What can be inferred from the passage?
A. The author loved kids.
B. The author often fed his baby.
C. The author realized the importance of happiness.
D. When caring for his baby, the author got inspired.
4.Which can be the best title of the passage?
A. Loving Others , a Way to Happiness
B. The Elder One Grows, the More He Gets.
C. Help Others , Help Oneself
D. Keep Growing to Live a Happy Life
