One of our biggest fears nowadays is that our kids might some day get lost in a “sea of technology”rather than experiencing the natural world.Fear-producing TV and computer games are leading to a serious disconnect between kids and the great outdoors,which will change the wild places of the world,its creatures and human health for the worse,unless adults get working on child’s play.
Each of us has a place in nature we go sometimes,even if it was torn down.We cannot be the last generation to have that place.At this rate,kids who miss the sense of wonder outdoors will not grow up to be protectors of natural landscapes.“If the decline in parks use continues across North America,who will defend parks against encroachment(蚕食)?”asks Richard Louv,author of Last Child in the Woods.
Without having a nature experience,kids can turn out just fine,but they are missing out a huge enrichment of their lives.That applies to everything from their physical health and mental health,to stress levels,creativity and cognitive(认知的)skills.Experts predict modern kids will have poorer health than their parents—and they say a lack of outside play is surely part of it:research suggests that kids do better academically in schools with a nature component and that play in nature fosters(培养)leadership by the smartest,not by the toughest.Even a tiny outdoor experience can create wonder in a child.The three-year-old turning over his first rock realizes he is not alone in the world.A clump of trees on the roadside can be the whole universe in his eyes.We really need to value that more.
Kids are not to blame.They are over-protected and frightened.It is dangerous out there from time to time,but repetitive stress from computers is replacing breaking an arm as a childhood rite(仪式)of passage.
Everyone from developers,to schools and outdoors’ citizens,should help regain for our kids some of the freedom and joy of exploring,taking friendship in fields and woods that cement(增强)love,respect and need for the landscape.As parents,we should devote some of our energies to taking our kids into nature.This could yet be our greatest cause.The main idea of Paragraph 2 is that_______.
A.kids are missing the sense of wonder outdoors |
B.parks are in danger of being gradually encroached |
C.Richard Louv is the author of Last Child in the Woods |
D.children are expected to develop into protectors of nature |
According to the passage,children without experiencing nature will______.
A.keep a high sense of wonder |
B.be over-protected by their parents |
C.be less healthy both physically and mentally |
D.change wild places and creatures for the better |
According to the author,children’s breaking an arm is_______.
A.the fault on the part of their parents |
B.the natural experience in their growing up |
C.the result of their own carelessness in play |
D.the effect of their repetitive stress from computers |
In writing this passage,the author mainly intends to_______.
A.blame children for getting lost in computer games |
B.encourage children to protect parks from encroachment |
C.show his concern about children’s lack of experience in nature |
D.inspire children to keep the sense of wonder about things around |
Last week, President Barack Obama gave a back- to-school speech to students at the Julia R. Masterman Laboratory and Demonstration School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Students in schools across the country also tuned in to watch the President's speech on TV. He stressed the importance of trying new things, working hard and believing in yourself.
While admitting that times are tough for families across the country, Obama reminded students that hard work now can mean big success later. “Nobody gets to write your destiny(命运)but you,” he said. “Your future is in your hands. Your life is what you make of it. And nothing—absolutely nothing—is beyond your reach."
Obama spoke about his own life, and lessons he learned from his mother, who had to remind him to stay focused on his studies. He told students the recipe (诀窍) for success: “Showing up to school on time. Paying attention in class. Doing your homework. Studying for exams. Staying out of trouble. ”
Obama encouraged students to embrace(欣然接受)what makes them different. “We shouldn't be embarrassed by the things that make us different,” he said. “We should be proud of them.”
He also suggested taking advantage of all of the opportunities at your school, and always being open to trying new things. “Just because you’re not the best at something today doesn't mean you can't be tomorrow,” he said. “Even if you don't think of yourself as a math person or as a science person—you can still excel in those subjects if you're willing to make the effort. And you may find out you have talents you’d never dreamed of.”What does Obama mainly want to tell the students in Paragraph 2?
A.Some families are experiencing a hard time. |
B.Different people have different destinies. |
C.They can create their own future. |
D.Those who don't study hard will achieve nothing. |
In Paragraph 3, Obama tried to encourage the students by _______.
A.telling an interesting story |
B.sharing the secret to success |
C.telling his own life experience |
D.referring to some famous people |
Obama suggested the students should _________ .
A.not study hard for high marks |
B.accept things that make them different |
C.do what they are really interested in |
D.not do things which are difficult for them |
The underlined phrase “excel in” in the last paragraph means “_________”.
A.be careful with | B.be attracted to |
C.be interested in | D.be good at |
1. Need a room close to the US
Embassy for a week in early January
I need a room close to the US embassy for a week in early January. My parents are going to the US embassy for visa interview on January 7th. I am looking for a place for them to stay around this date. Hotels are too expensive for them since they have been retired long ago. They speak Chinese only. Rent can be made through Paypal in USD or cash in CNY, if the price is right.
Reply to: house-510574487@craigslist.org
2. House wanted May 17-24
Looking for 5 bedrooms from May 17-24. Can be one large apartment or 2 smaller ones, but they must be close to each other. Please email me at jcshap@sina.com if you have a nice place with air conditioning, high speed Internet.
3. Home swap or share
I have a beautiful 3-bedroom home with pool and spa (桑拿浴池) in Las Vegas, the USA, 10 minutes from the strip (商业街). I am willing to share or swap (交换) my house for yours (home or apartment) during the holiday. I need a place for 2 or 3 people in Shanghai from May 19-25. in exchange, you can have my house for any week either during the holiday, or any other time as long as I have a one-month advance notice to set up for you so you can have my house all to yourselves. If interested, please email me at sdiem@cox.net and I will send photos for my home.
4. Apartment or house wanted May 8-28, 2013
My daughter is working in Shanghai and my family wants to be there to stay with her for some time. We are looking for a 2-3 room apartment or house to rent from May 28 in the Pudong District. Need air conditioning.
Thanks
Reply to: wcondon7@msn.comWhich advertisement pays special attention to housing location and price?
A.Advertisement One. | B.Advertisement Two. |
C.Advertisement Three. | D.Advertisement Four. |
The four advertisements all need a place _________.
A.with access to the Internet | B.for at least seven days |
C.for at least three people | D.with air conditioning |
If your family leave Shanghai for America for a seven-day trip next month, you will probably contact __________.
A.house-510574487@craigslist.org | B.jcshap@sina.com |
C.sdiem@cox.net | D.wcondon7@msn.com |
Which advertisement is looking for a place in a way different from the other three?
A.Advertisement One. | B.Advertisement Two. |
C.Advertisement Three. | D.Advertisement Four. |
Most animals have little connection with animals of a different kind, unless they hunt them for food. Sometimes, however, two kinds of animals come together in a partnership(伙伴关系) which does good to both of them. You may have noticed some birds sitting on the back of sheep. This is not because they want a ride, but because they find easy food in the parasites(寄生虫)on sheep. The sheep allow the birds to do so because they remove the cause of discomfort. So although they can manage without each other, they do better together.
Sometimes an animal has a plant partner. The relationship develops until the two partners cannot do without each other. This is so in the corals(珊瑚)of the sea. In their skins they have tiny plants which act as “dustman”, taking some of the waste products from the coral and giving in return oxygen which the animal needs to breathe. If the plants are killed, or are even prevented from light so that they cannot live normally, the corals will die.Some birds like to sit on a sheep because _________.
A.they can eat its parasites |
B.they consider the sheep as their shelter |
C.they enjoy traveling with the sheep |
D.they find the position most comfortable |
The underlined word “they” in the first paragraph refers to _______.
A.birds and parasites | B.sheep, birds and parasites |
C.parasites and sheep | D.birds and sheep |
It can be learnt from the text that the coral depends on the plants for ________.
A.comfort | B.light | C.oxygen | D.food |
What does the second paragraph mainly discuss?
A.Some plants depend on each other for food. |
B.Some animals and plants develop their relationship easily. |
C.Some animals and plants depend on each other for existence. |
D.Some animals live better together. |
What’s in name? Well, apparently, our general happiness. Psychologists say that what we are called has a direct connection with our happiness.
Those called Judy and Joshua are the happiest, while Lynn or Ben is likely to be the unhappiest, according to research. Psychologist Dr David Holmes found that this can cause the association(联想) that others make with the name. Hearing the name Judy may make them think of actress Judi Dench or TV presenter Judy Finnigan, and people who are considered good-natured and happy. On the other hand, people think Paulines are unhappy because of the character Pauline Fowler from the TV programme East Enders. The research claims that this association influences the person with the name and so their personality is shaped to fit in. Dr David Holmes said, “This also has some relation with the original meaning of the name, for example, the original meaning of Judy is ‘praised’.”
Certain names also work well in certain aspects of life. In the workplace Richard and Judy are the happiest, while those called Ruth and Carly are the happiest in relationships. At the other end of the scale the unhappiest workers are Stuart and Liz, with the unhappiest in relationships being Frank and Harriet.
Dr Holmes said, “The relation we have with certain names, particularly important namesakes (同名者), also shapes how we see ourselves and so may have an effect on our confidence. Names are like product brands in having a powerful effect on attitudes and should therefore be chosen with care.”
“Other names are connected with being brave, outgoing or serious. Therefore, many celebrities change their names to ones which reflect these characteristic. This, in turn, influences parents when they choose names for their babies,” said Dr Holmes, “while names connected with ordinary people are rarely chosen for their babies.”What’s the main idea of this passage?
A.How to choose a good name for babies. |
B.The relation between names and happiness. |
C.How to have a name connected with celebrities. |
D.The relation between names and success. |
According to the passage, which of the following names are better?
A.Joshua and Ben. | B.Pauline and Frank. |
C.Richard and Stuart. | D.Ruth and Joshua. |
The author may continue the passage with _________.
A.names and product brands |
B.famous people’s names |
C.names and personality |
D.parents’ choices of baby names |
Which of the following is connected with names according to the passage?
A.Personality and self-confidence. | B.Self-confidence and position. |
C.Position and characteristic. | D.Personality and appearance. |
In every school there is a “top” crowd that sets the pace, while the others follow their lead. Let’s say the top crowd decides that it is smart to wear bright red sweaters. Pretty soon everybody is wearing a bright red sweater.
There is nothing wrong with that, except the fact that on some people bright red sweater is extremely unbecoming. The situation can even become dangerous, if the top crowd decides that it is smart to drink or to drive cars at seventy miles an hour. Then the people who follow the lead are endangering their lives. They are like the sheep being led to the butcher.
Now, chances are that you have come across situations like these more than once in your life; chances are that one time or another you probably did something you knew to be wrong. You may have excused yourself by saying, “Gee, the crowd does it.” Well, let the crowd do it, but don’t do it yourself. Learn to say, “No.”
Develop your own standards and your own judgment. If you know the crowd is planning something you disagree to, have the courage to bow out mannerly. You’ll have the satisfaction of standing on your own two feet.Which is the best title for this passage?
A.Follow the Lead. | B.Top Crowd. |
C.Being Yourself. | D.Bright Red. |
The author doesn’t think it good wearing red sweaters if ________.
A.the crowd does it | B.you can’t afford them |
C.you don’t look good in red | D.the situation isn’t safe |
According to the passage, people who follow the crowd _______.
A.sometimes do things against their better judgment |
B.make mistakes blindly |
C.are willing to put their lives in danger |
D.will in the end become pace-setters |