Nearly everyone is shy in some ways. If shyness is making you uncomfortable, it may be time for a few lessons in self-confidence. You can build your confidence by following some suggestions from doctors and psychologists.
Make a decision not to hold back in conversations. What you have to say is just as important as what other people say. And don’t turn down party invitations just because of your shyness.
Prepare yourself for being with others in groups. Make a list of the good qualities you have. Then make a list of ideas, experiences, and skills you would like to share with other people. Think about what you would like to say in advance. Then say it.
If you start feeling self-conscious in a group, take a deep breath and focus your attention on other people. Remember, you are not alone. Other people are concerned about the impression they are making, too.
No one ever gets over being shy completely, but most people do learn to live with their shyness. Even entertainers admit that they often feel shy. They work at fighting their shy feelings so that they can face the cameras and the public. Just making the effort to control shyness can have many rewards. But perhaps the best reason to fight shyness is to give other people a chance to know more about you.
15．The main purpose of the article is to ________.
A. explain how shyness developed
B. prove that shyness can overcome
C. persuade readers that shyness is natural
D. recommend ways of dealing with shyness
16．Which of these can you conclude from reading the article?
A. The attempt to overcome shyness is always worthwhile.
B. Entertainers choose their work to fight shyness.
C. The attempt to overcome shyness is always successful.
D. Shy people never have any fen.
17．What is the source of the suggestions for fighting shyness?
A. The author of the article. B. Shy men and women.
C.Popular entertainers. D. doctors and psychologists.
18. Where would this article probably appear?
A. On the front page of a newspaper. B. In a popular magazine.
C. In a science textbook. D. In an encyclopedia(百科全书)。
Last month my family, my husband and I visited the zoo in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I was afraid I just couldn’t hide my excitement as it had been five years since I had been to the zoo. I was especially excited about getting to see the penguin exhibit that was completed since my last visit. I thought it would be just as magical as it was the last time.
The Tulsa Zoo is located on Mohawk Park, and covers 84 acres, making it the third largest zoo in the US. The zoo has several highlights, but I have to admit that I found myself rather disappointed. The maintenance is deeply lacking, and most of the exhibits, landscaping, etc. looked like it had not been updated or well kept. Unfortunately, their polar bear died a short time ago. The strangest attraction was the missing-in-action jaguar (美洲虎). We spent several minutes searching for the animal without any luck. In most cases the zoo was good about putting up a sign if the animal was no longer there or was moved to a different location, but it was a different case with the jaguar and likewise the kangaroo.
Almost all of the hands-on equipment in the elephant encounter was broken and no longer working. Although the zoo did put up signs as an apology, it continued to add to the feeling that the zoo is approaching death. The one exhibit that did not fail to impress was the African Penguins. Their habitat was well built. The lion, bear, and tiger were also easy to watch. A favorite among the kids was clearly the monkeys who were very active and eager to put on a show.
The Tropical Rainforest did a very good job creating a special atmosphere. The cafe served very good food and had lovely indoor and outdoor areas for eating. They are currently re-designing the Sea Lion exhibit, so the Sea Lions were not available for viewing while we were there. All things considered, the Tulsa Zoo is still the best zoo in our area, but I would only award it three out of five stars.Seeing several highlights in the Tulsa Zoo, the author _________.
| A．felt very excited |
| B．was a little frightened |
| C．was not satisfied with them |
| D．thought it was worth seeing |
Why did the author think it was a different case with the jaguar?
| A．Because the jaguar was friendly to the kangaroo and visitors. |
| B．Because the zoo didn’t use a sign to show if the jaguar was there. |
| C．Because the jaguar is very dangerous compared with other animals. |
| D．Because the jaguar had disappeared when the author got there. |
What does the author think of the Tulsa Zoo in general?
| A．It is a first class zoo in her area. |
| B．It is the best zoo in the US. |
| C．She thinks very poorly of it. |
| D．She thinks nothing of it. |
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| C．to collect more money for charity |
| D．to introduce a new product |
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| D．Readers can communicate face to face with child experts on the Internet. |
A reader subscribed PARENTS 3 months ago, but now he finds the magazine dissatisfying. What can he do?
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Here's a hotel worth writing something about: a company in Poland plans to build tourist accommodation under the sea. The structure can be dragged to a suitable location and placed on supports on the sea bed. The ‘Water Discus’ will be made up of an underwater disc containing 22 bedrooms with sea views, connected by lift and stairs to a disc above the surface containing other hotel facilities.
Project manager Robert Bursiewicz says: “Nowadays it's possible to build submarines ('潜艇) which go deeper than 500m below the sea surface, so building an underwater hotel is not a problem. ”
In fact, they don't plan to have the hotel very deep. Water acts like a filter (过滤器) for sunlight, and below 15m most colors, apart from blue, are washed out. And we all want to see colorful marine life, don't we?
But this isn't the first hotel to offer underwater views from the bedrooms. The two-bedroom Jules' Undersea Lodge, off the coast of Florida, has been taking in guests 10m beneath the surface since 1986.
The company that operates the hotel also runs a diving course for beginners to help get guests down and into the hotel. It is accessible only through an opening at the bottom.
And you'll find all the usual facilities in the room, according to Teresa McKirma, Jules's chief financial officer. It has a television, air conditioning and Wi-Fi. But for the staff, simple things like cleaning and making beds can be challenging, since the lodge is in sea water.
"It actually takes quite a lot of work to get anything down there," she says. "We have to put everything in waterproof boxes and attach weights to them to counter their buoyancy (浮力). "
The hotel has suitably sized waterproof boxes so that pizzas can be delivered by divers to guests who order them for their evening meal. And after a meal, if you can't sleep because of the excitement of the experience, you don't have to count sheep. You'll fall asleep quicker if you count fish.According to the passage, the new hotel will ______.
| A．contain three discs |
| B．come into use soon |
| C．have a movable structure |
| D．be built 500m beneath the surface |
Why won't they plan to have the hotel very deep in the water?
| A．They have financial problems. |
| B．They lack advanced technology. |
| C．They refuse to enjoy colorful life. |
| D．Most colors are washed out below 15m. |
According to Teresa McKirma, ______.
| A．entertainment is impossible in the hotel |
| B．the staff's work is difficult to finish |
| C．it's easy to get things down there |
| D．the built hotel is badly equipped |
What can be inferred from the last paragraph?
| A．Passengers can't enjoy their meals. |
| B．Passengers will feel fed up with the views. |
| C．Passengers have no choice but to count fish. |
| D．Passengers may get excited about the experience. |
The Rugby (英式橄榄球) World Cup is currently being held in New Zealand. The tournament, due to finish on October 23, is living up to the famous English saying, “Rugby is a thug's (暴徒) game played by gentlemen. ”
The games are physically aggressive; the tackles (冲撞) on the pitch are brutal; but the end of each match is a civilized affair. Players shake hands and applaud each other. Of course, the other side to this saying is: "Football is a gentleman's game played by thugs. " Indeed, unlike soccer players, rugby players don't often question the referee's (裁判员) decisions or pretend to be injured when they are not.
“Football could learn a lot from rugby," said Brian Moore, a former England rugby player "The wonderful spirit of rugby is: there is a gentlemanly code to it. You play hard on the pitch, but you always respect your opponent..
Rugby is mainly played in Europe. Australia, New Zealand and parts of Africa. "It is more enjoyable to play than soccer because you are always involved in the game," said Peter, a Welsh rugby coach. "Rugby is also a far superior test of strength, stamina (耐力) and determination. "
Most professional rugby players are large, strong and weigh over 90 kilograms. People who play the sport need to be tough and be prepared to get hurt. Black eyes, broken bones, lost teeth and being knocked unconscious—all these are common injuries. Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is blind in one eye thanks to a rugby accident at school.
In England, children begin playing the game at school at the age of 8. When they enter high school, many begin to play full contact rugby. Children are taught to play for around one hour a week during their PE lessons. Most schools have a rugby team. Children who play for the school team are usually the sportiest kids, and are seen as brave and athletic.What can be concluded from the first three paragraphs?
| A．Football players are not real gentlemen. |
| B．There is a better spirit in playing rugby than football. |
| C．Football players are not as athletic as rugby players. |
| D．Brian Moore thinks that rules should be stricter in football. |
According to the passage, Peter thinks ______.
| A．rugby players pretend to be injured when they are not |
| B．rugby is not very popular in America and Asia |
| C．rugby makes people enjoy sports better than soccer |
| D．rugby needs players' strong will rather than strength |
The example of Gordon Brown is mentioned in order to .
| A．prove that playing rugby can earn people fame |
| B．explain why Gordon Brown is blind in one eye |
| C．support the point that rugby players often get hurt |
| D．warn teenagers against playing rugby at school |
What can we infer from the passage?
| A．Teenagers will lose interest in football. |
| B．English children have a talent for rugby. |
| C．Playing rugby doesn't involve skills. |
| D．Rugby is not suitable for everyone. |
During the teenage years, hormonal (荷尔蒙的) changes lead to physical changes like rapid muscle growth, burst in height, and weight gain in both boys and girls. Take a look at the information and height and weight charts for teens presented in this article if the question “How much should I weigh for my age and height” is bothering you.
Average Height and Weight Charts for Teens
Faster growth in kids usually can be noticed at age 8. Genetic factors also determine the physical growth of a child. So, it is perfectly normal for two kids of the same age to have different weights and heights. The following figures should be used as guidelines only.
| For Boys |
For Girls |
|||
| Age |
Height |
Weight |
Height |
Weight |
| in Years |
in Inches |
in Pounds |
in Inches |
in Pounds |
| 12-13 |
58-62 |
85-100 |
60-63 |
95-105 |
| 14-15 |
63-66 |
105-125 |
63-64 |
105-115 |
| 16-17 |
67-70 |
130-150 |
64 |
115-120 |
| 18-20 |
68-70 |
150-160 |
64 |
125-130 |
Ideal Body Fat Percentage
Fit men have 14% - 17% body fat.
Fit women have 21% -24% body fat.
Male athletes have 6% -13% body fat.
Female athletes have 14% - 20% body fat.
The ideal body fat percentage varies mainly according to age, sex and the physical activity of the individual. But it is a fact that some female athletes have body fat as low as 10 % and some male athletes had lower than 4% body fat. So, it can be observed that other than the above mentioned factors, genetic factors also influence the body-fat ratio.
Body Mass Index (BMI)
You may use the following formula to calculate your BMI:
As per SI Units (国际单位) : BMI =" mass" (kg)/[height (meters) ]2
Imperial (英制的) Units 1: BMI =" mass" (Ib. ) x703/[ height (in. ) ]2
Imperial Units 2: BMI =" mass" (Ib. ) x 4. 88/[ height (ft) ]2
Following conclusions can be derived from (得到) calculating the BMI:
| BMI Calculated |
Conclusion |
| BMI 18.5~25 |
Normal or ideal weight |
| BMI > 25 |
Overweight |
| BMI < 18. 5 |
Underweight |
| BMI < 17. 5 |
Extremely underweight |
| BMI =" 30" or BMI > 30 |
Obese(病态肥胖的) |
| BMI =" 40" or BMI > 40 |
Extremely obese |
According to the Average Height and Weight Charts for Teens, ____.
| A．girls keep on growing taller during the teenage years |
| B．girls grow faster at the end of teenager years than boys |
| C．girls grow faster at the beginning of teenager years than boys |
| D．boys' average weight is always heavier than girls' during the teenage years |
Which of the following statements about ideal body fat percentage is RIGHT?
| A．Fit men have higher body fat percentage than fit women. |
| B．Male athletes have higher body fat percentage than fit men. |
| C．Female athletes have lower body fat percentage than male athletes. |
| D．Male athletes have much lower body fat percentage than female athletes. |
After calculating the BMI, you can reach the conclusion whether ____.
| A．your weight is normal |
| B．your hormone level is normal |
| C．your height is right for your age |
| D．your body fat percentage is ideal |
If a boy is 1. 5 meters in height and weighs 68 kilograms, then he is ____.
| A．normal | B．obese |
| C．extremely obese | D．underweight |