For those who are conditioned to think that learning only happens in a classroom, the world of self-learning can be a little daunting. How do we best take 1 of these new opportunities?
Your interest in the subject is the essential driver of success. You can’t learn what you do not want to learn. Emotion is an important part of the learning 2 . If you are even moderately interested in a subject, give yourself a chance. The key is to get started. If you can create some pleasurable 3 , you may find that the subject grows on you.
Don’t expect to understand things, much less remember them, the first time you study them. Trust that things will get clearer 4 your brain comes to grips with new information. It is like a cross-word puzzle. As you start to put the pieces together, or string the words together, the full picture becomes clearer. The brain learns all the time, but 5 its own schedule. Learning does not take place according to a schedule laid down by a curriculum or teacher. Some things are easier to learn than others. Some things just take 6 to click in. Keep at it, and you will gradually find that things that seem difficult at first , will become easy with time.
Your brain is struggling to form patterns to 7 new input from your learning activities. Sometimes, no matter how long you focus on one subject, your brain is not going to pick it up. If you are stuck, move 8 . Then cover the same general information from a different source, a different book, or a podcast, or an online lecture or a video. Try to become a grazing learner, roaming the countryside, 9 a feedlot learner, just standing there in one spot. The broader your base, the easier it is to learn. Just as the “rich get richer”, the more you know, 10 you can learn.
Take full advantage of the Internet, iTunes, and 11 mobile devices, not to mention good old-fashioned books and magazines. Learn during “dead time”. Listen in your car, on the train, or 12 jogging. Have your learning with you while waiting in the doctor’s office, or listen while checking out at the supermarket. Anytime is 13 time. Remember, you are learning through exposure, not by nailing things down. It is more like moisture accumulation in a 14 , rather than building a brick wall.
The more varied your learning content, and the more varied the ways in which you learn, the 15 the puzzle will become. Different learning activities suit different people, at different times of the day. Vary your activities in order to keep your interest level 16 . Even if listening and reading work best for you, treat yourself to the odd video lecture, or get-together with other learners. This will renew your batteries.
The “loneliness of the distance learner” is a thing of the 17 . Join a learning community on the web, where members share their knowledge and experience. Search for the communities that suit your interests and learning style. You will find encouragement, advice and stimulus from fellow learners, 18 from tutors, teachers and coaches. In these communities, you can measure your progress against your own goals, or compare your experience 19 that of other learners. You can even teach and help others, which is a great way to learn.
Never has it been easier nor more exciting to be a learner. Let constant learning be a major part of your life-style. The 20 will be constant, personally, socially, and professionally.
( ) 1. A. advantage B. place C. possession D. example
( ) 2. A. progress B. process C. pressure D. proposal
( ) 3. A. roads B. streets C. routines D. building
( ) 4. A. with B. if C. unless D. as
( ) 5. A. on B. to C. with D. for
( ) 6. A. shorter B. sooner C. longer D. lower
( ) 7. A. take with B. com with C. go with D. cope with
( ) 8. A. down B. on C. away D. off
( ) 9. A. more than B. less than C. rather than D. other than
( ) 10. A. less B. quicker C. lower D. more
( ) 11. A. same B. similar C. familiar D. various
( ) 12. A. while B. before C. after D. if
( ) 13. A. playing B. learning C. talking D. speaking
( ) 14. A. cloud B. sky C. earth D. sea
( ) 15. A. cleaner B. clearer C. harder D. lower
( ) 16. A. down B. up C. in D. out
( ) 17. A. present B. day C. past D. night
( ) 18. A. as long as B. as far as C. as well as D. as soon as
( ) 19. A. without B. with C. to D. beyond
( ) 20. A. awards B. words C. remarks D. rewards
I grew up in a tiny Baltimore row house in a faraway mountain area. My parents 36the necessities of life 37they couldn’t give much more. If I asked my father 38 a pair of jeans, he would say, “If you want them, make the money and buy them 39.” He wasn’t being mean; he just couldn’t 40them. From age 12 on, I did part-time jobs after school.
When I 41from high school, I joined the navy. Soon I was in a boot camp(新兵训练营) at Parris Island, S. C., where I learned that life in the navy centered around completing daily
42 . These could be anything from cleaning the camp to conducting mock(模拟的) battles. Completing these tasks successfully 43discipline, team-work and responsibility. It didn’t
44whether you were black, white or Asian; everyone worked together for the 45 of the company.
I went 46to graduate from the U.S. Naval Academy and later became an officer in the navy. The part of my job I 47most was the counseling(咨询) meeting I 48with the family members of the men and women in my 49 , trying to help them deal with the long periods of 50 . These proved popular and word of them spread. 51I was being asked to give encouraging 52to business groups, educators and kids across the country.
But I consider the boot camp my first real 53, and my life is still guided by the
54lessons I learned there. It taught me discipline, friendship and the pride related to setting a task every day and working hard to 55 it.
36.A.provided B.got C.made D.bought
37.A.while B.but C.so D.or
38.A.about B.with C.for D.of
39.A.themselves B.ourselves C.yourself D.myself
40.A.pay B.find C.produce D.afford
41.A.came B.returned C.escaped D.graduated
42.A.drills B.tasks C.exercises D.reports
43.A.included B.asked C.required D.met
44.A.matter B.mean C.exist D.work
45.A.good B.boss C.rest D.right
46.A.out B.on C.away D.off
47.A.took B.hated C.enjoyed D.did
48.A.ended B.began C.continued D.held
49.A.charge B.situation C.position D.choice
50.A.lessons B.meeting C.training D.separation
51.A.Long before B.Before long C.As usual D.Once again
52.A.performances B.descriptions C.speeches D.gifts
53.A.vacation B.place C.job D.travel
54.A.important B.bitter C.normal D.difficult
55.A.gain B.achieve C.show D.match
The books in David’s schoolbag felt like bricks as he ran down the street. What he wanted to do was to play basketball with Eric, 21his mother told him he would have to return his sister’s books to the library first.
He had 22set foot in a library and he wasn’t about to do so today. He would just 23 the books in the outside return box. But there was a 24 :it was locked.
He went into the building, only a few minutes 25closing time. He put the books into the return box. And after a brief 26 in the toilet, he would be on his way to the playground to 27 Eric.
David stepped out of the toilet and stopped in 28— the library lights were off. The place was 29 . The doors had been shut. They 30 be opened from the inside. He was trapped(被困) — in a library!
He tried to 31a telephone call, but was unable to 32 . What’s worse, the pay phones were on the outside of the building. 33 the sun began to set, he searched for a light and found it.
34 he could see. David wrote on a piece of paper: “ 35 ! I’m TRAPPED inside!” and stuck it to the glass door. 36, someone passing by would see it.
He was surprised to discover that this place was not so unpleasant, 37. Rows and rows of shelves held books, videos and music. He saw a book about Michael Jordan and took it off the shelf. He settled into a chair and started to 38 .
He knew he had to 39, but now, that didn’t seem to be such a 40 thing.
21. A. but B. because C. or D. since
22. A. ever B. nearly C. never D. often
23. A. pass B. drop C. carry D. take
24. A. problem B. mistake C. case D. question
25. A. during B. after C. over D. before
26. A. rest B. break C. walk D. stop
27. A. visit B. meet C. catch D. greet
28.A. delight B. anger C. surprise D. eagerness
29. A. lonely B. empty C. noisy D. crowded
30. A. wouldn’t B. shouldn’t C. couldn’t D. needn’t
31. A. make B. fix C. use D. pick
32. A. get on B. get up C. get through D. get in
33. A. If B. As C. Though D. Until
34. A. On time B. Now and then C. By the way D. At last
35. A. Come B. Help C. Hello D. Sorry
36. A. Surely B. Thankfully C. Truly D. Gradually
37. A. at most B. after all C. in short D. as usual
38. A. watch B. play C. read D. write
39. A. wait B. stand C. sleep D. work
40. A. bad B. cool C. strange D. nice
Lang Lang is a world-class young pianist who grew up in Shenyang. He went to a piano school in Beijing when he was just eight. “You need 36.” his father said. “But if you don’t work hard, no fortune will come.”
What made him said was 37his piano teacher in Beijing didn’t like him. “You have no talent(天赋). You will never be a pianist.” 38 a nine-year-old boy, Lang Lang was badly 39 . He decided that he didn’t want to be a 40any more. For the next two weeks, he didn’t touch the piano. 41 , his father didn’t push, but waited.
Luckily, the day came when his teacher asked him to 42some holiday songs. He didn’t want to, but as he placed his fingers on the piano keys, he 43that he could show others that he had talent 44 .That day he told his father 45he had been waiting to hear---that he wanted to study with a new teacher. 46that point on, everything turned around!
He started 47competitions(比赛). In the 1994 International Young Pianists Competition, when it was 48 that Lang Lang had won, he was too 49to hold back his tears. Soon 50was clear that he couldn’t stay in China forever---he had to play on the world big 51 .In 1997 Lang Lang 52again, this time to Philadelphia, U.S. There he spent two years practicing, and by 1999 he had worked hard enough for fortune to take over. After his 53performance at Chicago’s Ravinia Festival, gigs(特邀演出) in Lincoln’s Center and Carnegie Hall started 54, Lang Lang finally worked to reach the place where fortune spots(发现)him, and lets him 55 .
36. A. exercise B. fortune C. knowledge D. wealth
37. A. whether B. why C. when D. that
38. A. Like B. With C. To D. As
39. A. hurt B. weakened C. ruined D. frightened
40. A. singer B. pianist C. conductor D. player
41. A. Hopefully B. Patiently C. Wisely D. Painfully
42. A. play B. sing C. write D. study
43. A. seemed B. admitted C. noticed D. realized
44. A. in all B. above all C. after all D. at all
45. A. that B. what C. which D. when
46. A. From B. As C. Since D. After
47. A. receiving B. accepting C. winning D. beating
48. A. told B. mentioned C. announced D. recognized
49. A. excited B. encouraged C. shocked D. satisfied
50. A. this B. it C. that D. what
51. A. concerts B. tours C. competitions D. stages
52. A. started B. left C. moved D. performed
53. A. successful B. cheerful C. respectful D. meaningful
54. A. pulling B. breaking C. falling D. pouring
55. A. brighten B. shine C. admire D. develop
Roberta appeared on the stage. She took a deep breath and began to 16 . Now she was Portia, a strong –willed 17 in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice. The theater was filled with people. She was speaking with a power she had never before experienced, the words flowing 18 form her.
19, Roberta had never acted in her life before the audition (选拔试演). She 20 being in front of other people. She was very 21 at school. She had never thought she was good enough at anything to 22 much attention. She stayed mostly to herself, making 23 friends. She had excellent grades, 24 she always thought that something was missing.
Two weeks before the audition, Robertsa’s mother had heard about it and 25 her to join in.
“I can’t think of anyone else better suited to 26 the part. Remember all the plays you used to act our for us?”
Her mother wouldn’t let the 27 drop. “You’re just a little scared (害怕) . Everyone gets scared. You know you 28 do it. The trick is to look past the 29 to find the love of what you’re doing. ’’
So Roberta had made an appointment (预约) with the head of the Drama Club. She had read the play and found herself excited by the 30 of speaking such rich words. In secret she practiced Portia’s part, 31 the lines by repeating them over and over. It wasn’t hard; she 32 every minute of it. Every time she spoke the words, she had a new 33 of the lines, as if Shakespeare had written Portia on many levels.
On the day of the audition, she 34 two of Portia’s famous speeches for the auditors. When she had finished, the head of the Drama Club announced the 35 was hers.
16. A. sing B. dance C. speak D. report
17. A. member B. actress C. player D. character
18. A. weakly B. rapidly C. smoothly D. slowly
19. A. At first B. In fact C. After all D. In all
20. A. hated B. enjoyed C. appreciated D. regretted
21. A. honest B. shy C. polite D. patient
22. A. avoid B. focus C. pay D. attract
23. A. few B. a few C. several D. many
24. A. or B. so C. for D. but
25. A. forced B. requested C. encouraged D. reminded
26. A. accept B. play C. offer D. learn
27. A. role B. matter C. interest D. grade
28. A. can B. must C. may D. should
29. A. anger B. pain C. sadness D. fear
30. A. purpose B. way C. idea. D. importance
31. A. memorizing B. organizing C. checking D. improving
32. A. disliked B. loved C. expected D. bore
33. A. consideration B. description C. selection D. understanding
34. A. practiced B. planned C. performed D. delivered
35. A. part B. play C. speech D. position
Ban the Band(乐队)?
Every year, our school has a dance for all the students. It’s a little funny seeing friends in clean shoes and trousers or colorful 36 , instead of the usual school uniform.
Most of us think the dance is great 37 -even the teachers enjoy being there. 38 , two weeks ago someone said that there would be no 39 band this year only CDs.
“I don’t 40 it!” Amy cried out during the lunch break.
“Someone said the school couldn’t 41 a band, and they think it’s too noisy anyway,” added Daniel.
“Well, I don’t think it’s 42 enough without a band!” declared Angela, “and I’m going to see what can be done.”
Angela was as good as her 43 . In the afternoon she went to see the school headmaster who agreed to give the 44 some more thought. And he suggested that one 45 for having a band was to increase the price of each ticket from $5 to $10. Angela had to 46 out whether the students would like to do that.
“I need all of you to help me,” she 47 to our group before school the next day. “Mr. Berry gave me a list of all the names, and suggested we ask each one their 48 about the band and the extra cost.”
49 the day we asked around as Angela suggested, and wrote down people’s feelings about the band and the cost. We were amazed how much 50 there was for the band and everyone agreed to pay the extra $5.
“I’m surprised,” smiled Mr. Berry, when we gave him the 51 . “I really thought that only a few people 52 their band and that the cost would be too high. OK, Angela, your next 53 is to find a good band and line them up for the dance.”
Angela was all smiles and 54 the news to Amy and Daniel. “You’re 55 ,” smiled Daniel to Angela as he thought how close they came to having a less than perfect dance.
36.A. shapes B. dresses C. flowers D. pictures
37.A. fun B. work C. effort D. progress
38.A. Besides B. Otherwise C. However D. Therefore
39.A. new B. live C. foreign D. marching
40.A. mean B. need C. accept D. believe
41.A. lead B. serve C. afford D. form
42.A. good B. clear C. useful D. easy
43. A.look B. behavior C. mind D. word
44.A. schedule B. situation C. view D. action
45.A. possibility B. concern C. decision D. chance
46.A. call B. find C. carry D. point
47.A. admitted B. replied C. apologized D. announced
48.A. knowledge B. instruction C. opinion D. information
49.A. On B. For C. By D. During
50.A. trust B. money C. support D. care
51.A. results B. notices C. questions D. examples
52.A. welcomed B. wanted C. defended D. invited
53.A. task B. business C. exercise D. duty
54.A. showed B. wrote C. broke D. read
55.A. amusing B. interesting C. exciting D. amazing