When I was in the third grade, I was picked to be the princess(公主)in the school play. For weeks my mother had helped me practice my lines. But once onstage, every word disappeared from my head. Then my teacher told me she had written a narrator's(解说者的)part for the play, and asked me to change roles. Though I didn't tell my mother what had happened that day, she sensed my unhappiness and asked if I wanted to take a walk in the yard.
It was a lovely spring day. We could see dandelions(蒲公英)popping through the grass in bunches, as if a painter had touched our landscape with bits of gold. I watched my mother carelessly bend down by one of the bunches. "I think I am going to dig up all these weeds," she said. "From now on, we'll have only roses in this garden."
"But I like dandelions," I protested. "All flowers are beautiful—even dandelions!"
My mother looked at me seriously. "Yes, every flower gives pleasure in its own way, doesn't it?" she asked thoughtfully. I nodded. "And that is true of people, too," she added.
When I realized that she had guessed my pain, I started to cry and told her the truth.
“But you will be a beautiful narrator, ”she said, reminding me of how much I loved to read stories aloud to her.
Over the next few weeks, with her continuous encouragement, I learned to take pride in the role. The big day finally came. A few minutes before the play, my teacher came over to me. “Your mother asked me to give this to you,” she said, handing me a dandelion. After the play, I took home the flower, laughing that I was perhaps the only person who would keep such a weed.
56.The girl did not play the role of the princess mainly because_______.
A.she felt nervous on the stage. B.she lost her interest in that role.
C.she preferred the role of the narrator D.she had difficulty memorizing her words
57.Why did the mother suggest a walk in the garden?
A.To remove the dandelions B.To enjoy the garden scene
C.to have a talk with her daughter. D.to help her daughter with the play.
58.What is the main idea of the story?
A.Everybody can find his or her own way to success. B.Everybody has his or her own value in the world.
C.Everybody should learn to play different roles D.Everybody has some unforgettable memory.
Here's one very simple yet potentially lifechanging advice I first heard from Brian Tracy. 1Instead use that hour to read books that could improve your life.
If you're in sales, Google or browse Amazon for what other people think are the best and most useful books on improving your sales.
2. Maybe you want to improve your health, become a more energetic person with a better looking body. Or maybe you want to improve your productivity, your relations or perhaps do some general personal development.
One hour a day is not much. But if you read for one hour a day on weekdays, that's about 260 hours a year. 3If applied everyone knows what great things and feelings could come into your life this year.
Also, all that cool information and useful advice will start to open up your mind. You will start to see more possibilities in your everyday life.
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1. I really don't have the money...
Answer: Visit your local library or search their database if they got a website. Or look for used copies in places like amazon.com or some more local alternative if you're outside of the US.
2. Yeah, ok, but I really don't have the time...
Answer: Buy the books as audio books and listen to them in the car while driving to and from work. Or transfer them to your mp3-player and listen while riding your bike/bus to work or school. Recently selling audio books directly through mp3-downloads have become popular. It's probably something we will see more and more as people and companies discover this easy (and if the technology works) smooth way of shopping.
So start browsing for recommendations on books or ask your friends and colleagues.
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A. Now, you might think something like this: |
B. This of course applies to all fields, not just the work related ones. |
C. All these possibilities in your everyday life will help solve the following problems: |
D. And shut of the TV a little earlier and start reading this week. |
E. That's a lot of books and loads of useful advice.
F. Cut down on the TV at night by just one hour.
G. In a word, more recommendations on books will help you find good books.
Cellphones: is there a cancer link?
Could your cellphone give you cancer? Whether it could or not, some people are worrying about the possibility that phones, power lines and wi-fi could be responsible for a range of illnesses, from rashes to brain tumors.
Some say there is evidence to support the growing anxieties. David Carpenter, a professor of environmental health sciences at the university at Albany, in New York, thinks there’s a greater than 95 percent chance that power lines can cause childhood leukemia(白血病). Also there’s a greater than 90 percent chance that cellphones can cause brain tumors. “It’s apparent now that there’s a real risk,” said Carpenter.
But others believe these concerns are unjustified. Dr Martha Linet, the head of radiation epidemiology(流行病学) at the US National Cancer Institute, has looked at the same research as Carpenter but has reached a different conclusion. “I don’t support warning labels for cellphones,” said Linet. “We don’t have the evidence that there’s much danger.”
Studies so far suggest a weak connection between EMFs(电磁场) and illness — so weak that it might not exist at all. A multinational investigation of cellphones and brain cancer, in 13 countries outside the US, has been underway for several years. It’s funded in part by the European Union, in part by a cellphone industry group. The final report should come out later this year, but data so far don’t suggest a strong link between cellphone use and cancer risk.From the passage we can learn that some people are worried because.
A.they have evidence the use of cellphone can lead to cancer. |
B.they make a fuss over cellphone use. |
C.some expert has given a warning. |
D.cellphones are responsible for brain tumors. |
By saying “I don’t support warning labels for cellphones,” Dr Martha Linet has the idea that.
A.the worrying is unnecessary. |
B.cancer-warning labels should be on cellphones. |
C.there is a link between cellphones and cancer. |
D.cellphones have nothing to do with cancer. |
The underlined word “underway” is closest in meaning to.
A.started. | B.kept on. | C.gone on. | D.in progress. |
Which of the following best describes the attitude of the author towards the debate?
A.Optimistic. | B.Objective. | C.Disapproving. | D.Casual. |
What image does the word “Britain” conjure up(令人想到)in your mind? Big Ben,the frequently changing weather, fish and chips… But have you ever wondered what British people think means “Britain”?
English playwright William Shakespeare and pop group The Beatles are the icons which inspire a sense of national pride in British people, according to a recent survey.
More than 2,000 people were asked what aspect of Britain made them feel most proud. Shakespeare topped the list, followed by the National Trust, a charity which protects places of historical or environmental interest. These beat the British currency, the pound, and the BBC.
Surprisingly, the royal family only made it to seventh on the list. “The royal family, while popular, does not inspire widespread pride,” said a spokesman for Demos, the think tank(智囊团) which carried out the research. “However, it is certainly the case that — through their unique capacity to hold and lead national events — the royal family has a central role to play in developing pride.”
Terence Blacker, a reporter for The Independent, believes the study shows the nature of new patriotism(爱国主义). “It turns out that modern British patriotism is not really about nationhood at all,” he wrote.
According to the poll, the most impressive symbols of national pride concerned private conduct and character. Volunteering topped the list, followed by politeness and patience. According to the passage, the following statements are British most outstanding symbols except.
A.patriotism. | B.the Beatles. | C.politeness. | D.Shakespeare. |
Which of the following is close to the right order of the top symbols of Britain?
A.a ,b, c, d | B.a, d, c, b | C.c, a, b, d | D.a, c, b, d |
The royal family does not top the list because.
A.the royal family has a central role to play in developing pride |
B.the royal family owns a lot of wealth. |
C.the royal family does not attract the public attention. |
D.the royal family does not influence the public as much as it used to. |
It can be inferred that can make Chinese feel most proud.
A.volunteering. | B.education. | C.Luxun. | D.Population. |
Energy pod:
It was designed by a US company with NASA technology. It puts the human body in the best sleeping position and blocks outside noise to create an ideal napping experience. Silicon Valley high-tech companies such as Google provide the Pod for employees.
White noise radio:
White noise is a sound signal that contains equal power and frequency. Some radios provide white noise to mask other noises so that people can sleep without disturbance.
High-tech sleepwear:
A US-based company designs a nightgown with special fabric that stimulates blood flow to tired muscles helping one relax in deeper restorative sleep.
Emu pillow:
Inspired by emu that buried its head in sands when it’s scared, a type of pillow has been designed in China for office workers to take a nap, safe and sound. It turns the computer desk into a sleep hub with even two pockets to store the hands.These are designed for those who.
A.have enough sleep. |
B.are working for high-tech companies. |
C.are in poor health. |
D.are victims of sleeping sickness. |
Which of the following is produced with the help of a kind of bird?
A.White noise radio. | B.Emu pillow. |
C.High-tech sleepwear. | D.Energy Pod. |
How do you probably get the information?
A.From a book. | B.From a radio program. |
C.From a newspaper. | D.From a text message. |
It was just a windy January day here in the North East of Scotland. When I left home for the office where I worked in the next town, the weather forecasters said, “Windy and cold, but no rain.” However, by the time I was about to leave work in the early evening, it was pouring!
My office was close to the bus stop so that there was no problem; I just shot out the door and onto the bus. Unfortunately, once I got home to Montrose, I had about a mile to walk from the bus stop to my home.
As I stepped off the bus that night to walk home, I struggled to get my tiny umbrella to go up in the strong wind. It was obviously designed for a very light shower. Then, suddenly and to my amazement, I heard my mum’s voice.
“Quickly! Come under here, before you get soaked! ”
I nipped(跑) under my bigger umbrella and stared at mum in surprise. “What on earth are you doing here in this weather?” I asked her. My mum was eighty-three that year, and although fit and healthy, she did not usually like going out in strong wind and heavy rain. “You said to come round for tea tonight, but I came early before the rain got too heavy. Eric told me that your car was in for a service and I saw your big umbrella lying on the chair. Eric was on the phone, so I just picked it up and came out so that I could meet you and you would not get soaked!’’
My mum passed away the following year. This simple act remains in my mind, and reminds me how completely my mum loved me. She would not have gone out in the wind and rain for herself, but, at eighty-three, she never gave a second thought about the bad weather so I would not get wet.We can learn from the text that
A.the author’s office was not far from her home. |
B.the author’s mum enjoyed good health at 83. |
C.the author was completely wet that night. |
D.the author opened the umbrella easily then. |
On hearing her mum’s voice the author was much surprised because.
A.her mum seldom enjoyed going out in such bad weather. |
B.her mum did not tell her she would bring her an umbrella. |
C.she had planned to go to her house for tea that day. |
D.she did not actually realize how much her mum loved her. |
Eric failed to pick up the author in the car for the reason that
A.he was busy with his work. |
B.the car was being repaired. |
C.he was fixing the new phone. |
D.he did not expect it to rain. |
The best title for the passage can be
A.I Love Mum. |
B.Nice to Meet Mum in the Rain. |
C.To Keep Me from the Rain. |
D.Mum’s Voice in the Rain. |