Think about it
Escaping a fire is a serious matter. Knowing what to do before a fire breaks out can save a life. For example, people should know the safety measures to take before opening a hall door during a fire. Also, make sure everyone knows how to unlock doors that may be in the escape path. At times, a key is needed to unlock a door from the inside. So, keep the key in the lock. Or, you can put the key on a key ring and put it where it can be found easily.
If you live in a flat, know the ways you can use to get out. Show everyone in the family these paths. Remind everyone of the importance of using stairways or fire escapes, not lifts.
From most homes and lower floors of a block of flats, escape through windows is possible. Learn the best way of leaving by a window with the least chance of serious injury.
In a home fire, windows are often the only means of escape. The second floor window sill is usually not more than 13 feet from the ground. An average person, hanging by the finger tips, will have a drop of about six feet to the ground. Of course, it is safer to jump a short way than to stay in a burning building. Roll away from the building when you land.
Windows are also useful when you’re waiting for help. Often you’ll be able to stay in the room for several minutes if you keep the door closed and the window open. Keep your head low in the window to be sure you get fresh air rather than smoke that may have leaked into the room.
On a second or third floor, the best windows for escape are those which open onto a roof. From the roof, a person can either drop to the ground or await rescue. Dropping onto sidewalk or pavement might end in injury. Bushes, soft earth, and grass can help to break a fall. A rope ladder should be considered when the drop is too great.
In a town where the fire department acts quickly, it may be best to wait for rescue. Close the doors and wait by an open window for help. Shout for help. Be sure to close the door before opening a window. Otherwise, smoke and fire may be drawn into the room.
1. We can learn from the passage that windows are __________.
A. easily broken B. easy to catch fire C. good escape paths D. useful to put out a fire
2. If you happen to be in a room during a fire, it’s a good idea to ________.
A. open a window B. use the lifts C. stand quite still D. put out the fire
3. We can learn from the article that in a home fire______.
A. people should close the window and open the door
B. soft earth can reduce the chance of being injured
C. it’s always safer to jump out than to stay
D. rope ladders should not be used
4. What is the main idea of this article?
A. We can turn to the firemen during a fire.
B. We should keep in mind the escape paths.
C. People should know what to do before a fire breaks out.
D. People should find help as soon as possible during a fire.
IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU
Many people think there is no need to take special care over home security.
“I’m all right, I’m insured (保险)”
Maybe—if you’re fully insured. Even then you can never recover the real value you place on your possessions. But you can’t insure against the upset and unhappiness that we all feel if our homes are torn apart by some stranger, our windows and doors broken, our precious possessions ruined.
“It won’t happen to me”
Won’t it? A home is broken into every minute or so of the day. The thefts of all kinds, including cars and property stolen from cars, happen twice as frequently.
“I’ve nothing worth stealing”
You may think not. But in fact everyone has something worth a thief’s attention. And we all have things of special value to us even if they’re worth little or nothing in cash terms.
“I’m just a tenant (房客) here”
The thief doesn’t care whether you’re a tenant or an owner-occupier. You’re just as likely to be robbed. Have a word with the owner of the house if you think extra locks and fastenings are necessary.
“They’ll get in anyway”
Most thieves are on the lookout for easy jobs. They are soon discouraged by houses they can’t get into in any quick and easy way. So it’s worth taking care.
“This booklet will help you”
It’s based on the practical experience of police forces throughout the country. Most of the suggestions will cost you only a few minutes extra time and thought. A few may involve some expense, but this is small compared with the loss and unhappiness you might otherwise suffer.
If you are in doubt, ask for free advice from the Crillle Prevention Officer at your local police station.Why do you still need to protect your possessions when you’ve already insured them?
| A．You tend to undervalue your possessions. |
| B．You cannot insure against damage to property. |
| C．A robbery can affect your moods at home. |
| D．It takes a long time to recover your belongings. |
What should a tenant do if he is worried about the security of his home?
| A．Fix new locks on all the doors. |
| B．Discuss the matter with the owner. |
| C．Check it up with the police. |
| D．Keep careful watch of the house. |
The advertisement says that most thieves ______.
| A．prefer stealing from offices |
| B．like causing a lot of damage |
| C．break into any places they desire |
| D．get prevented by perfect guard equipment |
This advertisement aims to influence people who ______.
| A．have little sense of security |
| B．are not properly insured |
| C．are worried about home security |
| D．have their houses broken into |
You put a great deal of effort into reaching the college of your choice. It’s time to get started. But what’s next? Beginning college can be an exciting but awkward time. Follow these tips to adjust to your new life rapidly and make the most of your college experience.
● To save time and money, use the college’s bus system. Taking the bus to school is quick, easy and free in most college towns. You won’t have to locate or afford a place to park either. It’s also a good way to be environmentally aware.
● Save pennies on books by waiting until class starts. You might not even need all of the recommended books. New textbooks cost an arm and a leg. Try buying used textbooks — it’s a surefire way to save money and serves the purpose as well.
● Do never look at college life as an endless series of parties and social activities. But there is a whole lot more to college if you’re serious about graduating. Having a good college experience is all about balancing work and fun.
● Be aware that your living environment can largely affect your academic success. If the dorm doesn’t suit you, consider living at home with your family or renting your own apartment. The best location for your studies isn’t always your dorm. Find a quiet area, like the library, to do your work. Alternatively, buy some headphones that block out noise.
● Be mindful of your diet. Make healthy food choices and watch what you eat. Avoid foods that are processed or high in sugar. The “freshman 15” is real. Many college students gain at least 15 pounds during their freshmen year.
● While electives (选修课) can be helpful when figuring out your major, you shouldn’t entirely rely on them. Clubs and other organizations exist around. Get involved. Make sure, though, that you still have time to study. Having too much on your plate can hurt your grades.Which of the following ideas can be financially wise?
| A．Driving your own car. | B．Buying used books. |
| C．Renting an apartment. | D．Attending activities. |
In the text, freshmen are repeatedly warned against ______.
| A．academic failures | B．physical problems |
| C．traffic accidents | D．social activities |
The “freshman 15” tells the fact that some freshmen ______.
| A．attend limited activities on campus |
| B．have little regular physical exercise |
| C．focus less on their academic work |
| D．take relaxed attitudes to their diets |
The underlined phrase “having too much on your plate” probably refers to ______.
| A．using too much money for meals |
| B．eating too many unhealthy foods |
| C．taking part in too many after-class activities |
| D．taking an elective that has too many students |
We all have our ways of marking time. As a photographer, my life is measured from one story to the next. My oldest son was born in the middle of a long story about the Endangered Species Act. My daughter came along with a pack of gray wolves.
Twenty stories later, though, it’s the story in Alaska that I’ll remember best. It was the story about the loss of wilderness — and the story during which my wife Kathy got cancer. That’s the one that made time stand still. I stopped taking pictures on the day when she found that tumor (肿瘤). Cruelly, it was Thanksgiving. By Christmas, she had become very weak. Some days she was so sick she couldn’t watch TV.
Early examination saves time. But ours was not early. By the time you can feel it yourself, it’s often bigger than the doctor want it to be.
Cancer is a thief. It steals time. Our days are already short with worry. Then comes this terrible disease, unfair as storm at harvest time. But cancer also has the power to change us, for good. We learn to simplify, enjoying what we have instead of feeling sorry for what we don’t. Cancer even made me a better father. My work had made me a stranger to my three kids. But now I pay attention to what really matters. This is not a race. This is a new way of life and new way of seeing, all from the cancer.
In the end each of us has so little time. We have less of it than we can possibly imagine. And even though it turns out that Kathy’s cancer has not spread, and her prognosis (诊断) is good, we try to make it all count now, enjoying every part of every day.
I’ve picked up my camera again. I watch the sky, searching for beautiful light. When winter storms come, Kathy and I gather our children and take the time to catch snowflakes (雪花) on our tongues. After all, this is good. This is what we’re living for.As a photographer, the author used to ______.
| A．leave his daughter with a pack of gray wolves |
| B．express his love for his family in a special way |
| C．miss a great many important historical moments |
| D．devote much more to his career than his family |
Why did the author decide to stop taking pictures?
| A．To cure his own disease. |
| B．To spend more time with his wife. |
| C．To seek a better position. |
| D．To leave the wilderness alone. |
What is the biggest change the cancer has brought to the author?
| A．He treasured every bit of time with his family. |
| B．He has become a stranger to his children. |
| C．He takes his work more seriously. |
| D．He focuses more on medical care. |
The author and his family catch snowflakes on their tongues probably because ______.
| A．the snowflakes taste very good |
| B．snowflakes are what they feed on |
| C．they regard that as a way to enjoy life |
| D．there is beautiful light in the snowflakes |
There is some unwelcome news for students preparing for exams and officers putting in long hours-----you don't need the break as much as you may think that makes you feel less tired.
Scientists have long assumed that willpower (意志力) is a limited resource, which is why you feel the need to have a rest, have a snack and come back to a task when you're feeling better. They argued that the only way to restore willpower was by rest, food or entertainment.
But psychologists have challenged this theory, saying weak willpower is all in your head. They found that people's beliefs in willpower determine how long and how well they'll be able to work on a tough mental exercise. "If you think of willpower as something that's limited, you're more likely to be tired when you perform a difficult task," said Prof.Veronika Job. "'But if you think of willpower as something that is not easily used up, you can go on and on."
The researchers designed four experiments to test students'-beliefs in willpower. After a tiring task, those, who believed or were led to believe that willpower is a limited resource, performed worse on standard concentration tests than those who thought of willpower as something they had more control over. They also found that leading up to final exam week, students who believed the limited resource theory ate junk food 24 percent more often than those who believed they had more control in resisting temptation (诱惑).
Mr. Job said. "The theory that willpower is a limited resource is interesting, but it has had unintended consequences. Students who may already have trouble studying are being told that their power of concentration is limited, and they need to take frequent breaks. But a belief in willpower as a non-limited resource makes people stronger in their ability to work through challenges.'"
The findings could help people who are" battling temptation. Willpower isn't driven by a biologically based process as much as we used to think. The belief in it is what influences your behavior.The theory that willpower is limited supports that _________.
| A．people must eat snacks when they feel tired |
| B．people do need a break to restore their willpower |
| C．there’s no way to strengthen people’s willpower |
| D．weak willpower doesn’t affect people’s life much |
What have the scientists long believed regarding willpower?
| A．It is in the charge of people. |
| B．It is a limited resource. |
| C．There is no way to restore willpower. |
| D．It doesn’t easily run out. |
Which of the following best helps the students to prepare better for their exams?
| A．Push themselves even if they want to take a break. |
| B．Don’t eat fast food while studying. |
| C．Remind themselves willpower is not limited. |
| D．Stay in a comfortable and quiet place. |
The following groups can benefit from the findings except
| A．patients following strict diets |
| B．children liking to watch TV |
| C．smokers trying to give up smoking |
| D．employees facing a new but well-paid task |
What’s the best title for the passage?
| A．A new theory about willpower | B．How to build strong willpower |
| C．The great influence of willpower | D．Willpower doesn’t last long |
Parents are fuelling bad behavior among their children by attempting to "buy" their love with expensive gifts nowadays.
Over recent decades we seem to have created a "must have" culture among our young people. Many mothers and fathers believe they are "failing as parents" if they are unable to ensure that their children have the latest toy, electronic devices (the lap-top, cellphones, Game Boy, etc.) along with their friends. In many cases, families also feel pressured to enroll (使加入) children in "'every interest club or after-school activity that is available" to fill up their time like most of the other children.
But experts warned that the move might affect "precious family time" negatively. Graham Gorton, chairman of the Independent Schools Association, said that parents spent too much time filling their children's lives, which had a series of negative effects on "the very precious family time that exists".
"It seems that those times when a whole weekend without planned work was seen as a luxury (奢侈) and a perfect opportunity to spend time together and share those valuable moments of childhood are long gone," Mr. Gorton said. "As a child I only once said that phrase that parents feared 'I'm bored'. Immediately my mother took action and produced a list of jobs and then insisted that I complete every one of them. Though l didn't think cleaning all the floors could really get rid of my boredom, I enjoyed the feeling of staying at home with my mother and brothers."
Earlier this year, some researchers suggested that relatively wealthy parents were sometimes guilty of failing to teach basic social skills to children. "Often, it’s the rich middle classes that buy off their children through the computer and the TV. That then sets them apart from their family, and then the parents are surprised when their child isn’ t coming to school." The second paragraph mainly tells us that ________.
| A．today’s children have little time to play |
| B．today’s children depend on electronic tools too much |
| C．today’s parents feel pressured by the "'must have" culture |
| D．being qualified parents becomes harder for today's young people |
What does the "must have" phenomenon refer to based on the passage?
| A．That children must have what other children have. |
| B．That children must have proper pressure to work hard. |
| C．That children must have special skills to ensure a better future. |
| D．That parents must have patience to know their children better. |
Which of the following is the best advice you could give to parents based on Gorton’s statement?
| A．Plan fewer activities for their children to improve family time. |
| B．Buy their children fewer things that they are fond of. |
| C．Give their children more housework to do. |
| D．Leave their children alone when the kids feel bored. |
Mr. Gorton tended to think that in the past ________.
| A．children enjoyed doing housework |
| B．children never thought life was boring |
| C．children liked to spend time with their family |
| D．children often had some planned work after school |
From the passage we can infer that ________.
| A．wealthy parents don’t like teaching basic social skills to children |
| B．parents should be much more strict with their children at home |
| C．children should not be brought up in a wealthy and pleasant environment |
| D．only satisfying children’s material needs is not a good way of parenting |