I used to believe politeness was a thing of the past. Very seldom have I ____ a polite human being in this modern society.
However, I had to ______ my thinking, when I , with two of my grown-up daughters, came face to face with such a gentleman in a coffee place. The place was ______ with customers and we had to climb steep stairs to find an empty table. _____ enjoying coffee and snacks, we went down the _______ stairs, where there was hardly any space for another person to either ________ or come down.
Just as I was in the middle of my descent(下降), a gentleman entered the main entrance which was ____ in front of the staircase. I was sure I would be _______ roughly by this man going up. I kept coming down as fast as I could. My smart daughters were already down, looking up at me _______ , hoping I would reach them before the stranger started up the stairs, knowing I was a _______ sort.
_____ reaching my daughters, I noticed the man still standing near the door. I reached them and passed the ________ at the entrance door which he _______ holding open. I looked back thinking he was still at the door, deciding whether to go in ____ find another less crowded place. I saw him going up the stairs and I told my daughters about it. We three felt _________ that we did not even ________ the polite gentleman who was actually ________ the door open for us ladies.
We _______ his kindness, for such well-mannered people are ________ to find these days.________ I remember this gentleman and pray that there will be more human beings like him.
1.A. brought up B. turned down C. come across D. appealed to
2.A. change B. shape C. confirm D. identify
3.A. provided B. equipped C. spotted D. crowded
4.A. Before B. After C. When D. Upon
5.A. wide B. high C. narrow D. low
6.A. turn around B. set off C. reach out D. go up
7.A. right B. much C. closely D. directly
8.A. pushed B. injured C. arrested D. denied
9.A. worriedly B. delightedly C. heartily D. sadly
10.A. genuine B. pessimistic C. dynamic D. nervous
11.A. Hardly B. Nearly C. Slightly D. Previously
12.A. daughters B. waiter C. stranger D. manager
13.A. avoided B. kept C. enjoyed D. resisted
14.A. and B. but C. or D. so
15.A. innocent B. sensible C. jealous D. ashamed
16.A. award B. remind C. thank D. consult
17.A. holding B. crashing C. seeking D. forcing
18.A. distinguished B. applauded C. commented D. witnessed
19.A. easy B. rare C. unlikely D. common
20.A. In general B. At length C. Till now D. By accident
Self-motivation
Self-motivation occurs when a person has the willingness to do something and is internally（内心的） motivated to do it.
1. There is a job to go to, groceries to do, television to watch ---whoops! I guess we get pretty good at finding excuses to escape getting started on goals like an exercise routine or reading a new book. The fact is that we are creatures of routine and habit. So what can we do to motivate ourselves to accomplish our goals? 2.
Decide what you want.
It’s hard to motivate an aimless mind. 3. Then break it down into smaller sections so it’s easier to handle and less overwhelming(势不可挡)
Keep track of your progress.
Keep a journal where you can measure how much you have accomplished.4.Post motivating pictures or slogans within your sight.
It is always inspiring to see pictures of people who have accomplished what you’re going for. It makes it attainable. Likewise, little slogans like “go for it” or “just do it” can give you the little support you need.
5.
Once you have accomplished your objective, e.g. becoming an early riser, keep it up so that it’s second nature to you and you don’t have to think about it anymore.
A．Make it a habit.
B．Support yourself with slogans.
C．Our natural tendency is to put off.
D．Here are some tips on how to get moving.
E．In modern society people tend to become forgetful.
F．Set a goal and decide how you are going to do about it.
G．Looking at it can also motivate you to keep pushing further..
A new app is trying to make it simpler to help you react to photos and videos that your friends post online---it’s using AI to capture（捕捉） your facial expressions and automatically translate them into a range of emoji（表情符号） faces.
Polygram, which is free and available only for the iPhone for now, is a social app that lets you share things like photos, videos, and messages.
Unlike on Facebook, though, where you have a small range of pre-set reactions to choose from beyond clicking a little thumbs-up icon（图标）, Polygram uses a neural（神经的） network that runs locally on the phone to figure out if you’re smiling, bored, embarrassed, surprised, etc.
Marcin Kemiec, one of Polygram ‘s founders, says the app’s AI works by capturing your face with the front-facing camera on the phone and analyzing the images as quickly as possible, rather than just looking at specific points on the face like your eyes and nose. This is done directly on the phone, using the iPhone’s picture processing unit, he says.
When you look at a post in the app, you see a small yellow emoji on the bottom of the display, its expression changing along with your real one.
There’s a slight delay—20 milliseconds, which is just hard to notice—between what you’re expressing on your face and what shows up in the app. The app records your responses in a little log of emoji on the side of the screen, along with those of others who’ve already looked at the same post.
The app is meant to appeal to those who really care about how they’re understood on social media. Users can see a record of the emoji reactions to each photo or video they post to the app, as well as details about who looked at the post, how long they looked at it, and where they’re located.
Eventually, the founders say, they may release software tools that let other developers come up with their own applications for the technology.
1.As a new social app, which characteristic of Polygram is true?
A. It is cheap and available only for the iPhone for now.
B. It eventually transfers emoji faces to facial expressions automatically.
C. It specializes in a neural network that runs originally on your phone.
D. It needs to choose from many reactions that have been set previously.
2.Those who ________will be obviously attracted by this new app.
A. are new technology fans
B. are addicted to new iPhones
C. have a great passion for emoji
D. are concerned about self-evaluation
3.What’s the purpose of the passage?
A. To promote and sell a new software.
B. To introduce to us a new and popular app.
C. To reveal the significance of a new technology.
D. To inform us of the popularity of a new app.
Petrol and diesel cars may still dominate（影响） our roads, but their days are numbered. A recent university study found that current electric cars could be used for 87 per cent of daily car journeys in the US. That figure could rise to 98 per cent by 2020.
One hurdle to the widespread adoption of electric cars has been “range anxiety”---drivers’ concerns about running out of juice on a journey. While petrol stations are conveniently located across national road systems, the necessary network of electric charging stations is still being developed. In fact, charging points are becoming increasingly common throughout the USA.
Attitudes towards electric vehicles have changed quite considerably over the last few years. Not that long ago, electric cars met with distrust, and their high price tags drove customers away. Thanks to improvements in battery capacity, recharging times, performance and price, the current generation of electric cars is starting to persuade critics. Plug –in cars will soon give internal combustion engine models a run for their money.
As well as advancements on the road, electric vehicles are taking to the sea and sky. Electric boats are among the oldest electric vehicles, having enjoyed several decades of popularity from the late 19th to the early 20th century before petrol-powered outboard motors took over. Now, the global drive for renewable energy sources is bringing electric boats back. Steps towards electric planes are also being made, with Airbus and NASA among the organizations developing and testing battery-powered planes. The experiments could soon make commercial electric flight a reality.
Electric vehicles do not produce any emissions. Were the US to act on the study’s findings and replace 87 percent of its cars with electric vehicles, it would reduce the national demand for petrol by 61 per cent. However, because of the production processes and the generation of electricity required to charge these vehicles, they cannot claim to be completely emission-free. Even so, as many countries continue to increase their use of renewable energy sources, electric vehicles will become even cleaner.
1.Which of the following can be the best title for this passage?
A. My Dream Car B. History of Electric Cars
C. Problems with Petrol Cars D. Driving into the Future
2.The underlined word “hurdle” in Paragraph 2 means ________.
A. aim B. barrier
C. consequence D. step
3.In the past, why did many people refuse to buy the electric cars according to the passage?
A. They were not good value. B. They were very poorly made.
C. They were not widely promoted D. They couldn’t travel at a high speed.
4.What is the function of Paragraph 4?
A. To introduce the history of electric vehicles.
B. To explain why the world needs more electric cars.
C. To show why more people have interest in electric cars
D. To describe different ways electric vehicles can be used.
One day when I was 12, my mother gave me an order: I was to walk to the public library, and borrow at least one book for the summer. This was one more weapon for her to defeat my strange problem—inability to read.
In the library, I found my way into the “Children’s Room”. I sat down on the floor and pulled a few books off the shelf at random. The cover of a book caught my eye. It presented a picture of a beagle. I had recently had a beagle, the first and only animal companion I ever had as a child. He was my “secret sharer”, but one morning, he was gone, given away to someone who had the space and the money to care for him. I never forgot my beagle.
There on the book’s cover was a beagle which looked identical(相同的) to my dog. I ran my fingers over the picture of the dog on the cover. My eyes ran across the title, Amos: the Beagle with a Plan. Unknowingly, I had read the title. Without opening the book, I borrowed it from the library for the summer.
Under the shade of a brush, I started to read about Amos. I read very, very slowly with difficulty. Though pages were turned slowly, I got the main idea of the story about a dog who, like mine, had been separated from his family and who finally found his way back home. That dog was my dog, and I was the little boy in the book. At the end of the story, my mind continued the final scene of reunion, on and on, until my own lost dog and I were, in my mind, running together
My mother’s call returned me to the real world. I suddenly realized something: I had read a book, and I had loved reading that book. Everyone knew I could not read. But I had read it. Books could be incredibly wonderful and I was going to read them.
I never told my mother about my “miraculous(奇迹)” experience that summer, but she saw a slow but remarkable improvement in my classroom performance during the next year. And years later, she was proud that her son had read thousands of books, was awarded a PhD in literature, and authored his own books, articles, poetry and fiction. The power of the words has held.
1.The author’s mother told him to borrow a book in order to ________.
A. encourage him to do more walking B. let him spend a meaningful summer
C. help cure him of his reading problem D. make him learn more about weapons
2.The book caught the author’s eye because________.
A. it reminded him of his own dog
B. he found its title easy to understand
C. it contained pretty pictures of animals
D. he liked children’s stories very much
3.Why could the author manage to read the book through?
A. He was forced by his mother to read it.
B. He identified with（对某事有同感） the story in the book.
C. The book told the story of his pet dog.
D. The happy ending of the story attracted him.
4.Which one could be the best title of the passage?
A. My Passion for Reading B. Mum’s Strict Order
C. Reunion with My Beagle. D. The Charm of a Book.
While your competitors are still waiting for the water to warm up, you could be giving your dragon boat season a jumpstart with a paddling vacation in Orlando, Florida. Spring camp is suitable for all ages and levels, perfect for those looking for a break from the ordinary ( or cold) days while enjoying the sport of dragon boat with like-minded people.
The 2018 Florida Training Camp promises to be a week of fun and fitness on and off the water. Register as a team, small group or individual, with customizable(可定制的) add-ons for those looking to give an edge to their personal performance.
The week will close out on Saturday with a camp BBQ and a racing regatta! Opening festivities begin on the evening of Sunday April 15th with camp check-in. Training begins on Monday April 16th and ends on Saturday April 21st.
GWN FLORIDA TRAINING CAMP
Dates: Monday April 16th to Saturday April 21st, 2018
Price: $395, $370 before January 19th, 2018
Features include:
Daily schedule
Twice daily dragon boat training sessions
Daily video analysis
Individual help(twice weekly)
Additional daily group sessions
Camp-sponsored socials
CUSTOMIZE YOUR CAMP EXPERIENCE
The optifons outlined below are available during the week of camp and can be booked as an add-on. Add-ons can be included in your initial registration or purchased at a later time through the online registration system.
OPTION 1: High Performance Program
Cost: $75
If you want to learn how to move your boat faster, then the High Performance Program is for you! This option consists of three progressive one-hour sessions completely focused on racing techniques, strategies, and drills, with the goal of increasing your overall speed.
Option 2: Coaching Community Dragon Boat (Level1)
Cost: $175
This course is intended for anyone interested in entry-level coaching. Expect the material included in the course to cover safety, ethics(道德) in coaching, coach-athlete communication, basic dragon boat techniques, basic physiological requirements of dragon boat racing, race and practice planning, plus more.
1.According to the passage, ___________in the camp.
A. you will enjoy a BBQ at the opening B. you need to be over 18
C. you should have some dragon boat skills D. you can have fun on land
2.How much does the camp with Option 1 cost if you pay at the end of 2017?
A. $370 B. $395
C. $ 445 D. $470
3.We can learn from the passage that ___________.
A. Option 1 includes a three-hour session
B. add-ons can be bought during registration
C. Option 2 is for those fond of advanced coaching
D. video analysis is covered in the coaching course
4.The purpose of the passage is to ______________.
A. recommend an upcoming training camp
B. introduce the options in a training camp
C. provide ideas about how to spend a vacation
D. offer advice on how to win in dragon boat races
