Winter’s short days are more than cold. For many people, winter depression, the most common type of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), is as much a part of the season as hats and scarves.
Winter serious SAD sufferers may need medical treatment. Those feeling a little depressed can help themselves by sticking to a healthy lifestyle. Here are some tips:
Pace yourself. Don’t expect to do everything you normally can. Set a realistic schedule. Don’t listen to negative thinking, like blaming yourself or expecting to fail.
Get involved in activities that make you feel good or feel like you’ve achieved something. For example, play table tennis or badminton.
If you are feeling depressed, you may feel like staying away from friends. Yet this is a time when friends’ support can be helpful. Call them regularly. Remember, the more we put off calling or visiting a friend, the harder it is to rebuild a friendship.
Think clearly about what’s wrong or right. Instead of giving in to vague(含糊的) feelings of sadness, look at your problems objectively. Break down problems into specific issues that you can work on.
Regular exercise helps to prevent and ease depression.
Eat well. Studies show that a healthy diet can help to maintain a healthy body and mind. The vitamins, minerals and micro-nutrients found in a balanced diet may help our bodies to produce feel-good hormones. Foods containing chemicals to help produce feel-good hormones include bananas, turkey, nuts and seeds. Eat at least five pieces of fruit and vegetables every day.
P.S. Symptoms of SAD:
No interests or pleasure in things you used to enjoy
Increased need for sleep
A change in eating habits, especially an appetite for sweet or starchy (含淀粉的) foods
Weight gain
A heavy feeling in the arms or legs
A drop in energy level
Difficulty in concentrating
Overly emotional
Avoidance of friends and social situations
Frequent feelings of guilt
Long-term feelings of hopelessness, and physical problems, such as headaches The writer of the passage agrees that .
| A．the cold in winter makes us suffer from SAD |
| B．hats and scarves are as important as SAD |
| C．everyone of us meets SAD in winter |
| D．we are depressed mainly because of short days in winter |
When we pace ourselves, we .
| A．don’t do anything we can | B．expect to succeed in nothing |
| C．make a practical plan | D．think something of guilt |
The passage includes the following EXCEPT .
| A．the earlier we meet friends, the easier it is to rebuild a friendship |
| B．playing table tennis helps us achieve whatever we want |
| C．if we give in to unclear feelings of sadness, we’ll be caught in the SAD |
| D．feel-good hormones from a balanced diet can help keep a healthy body |
Everyone should visit a lighthouse at least once.
The most important reason for such a visit is to realize how our ancestors (祖先) battled nature with the basic tools they had . They had only basic ways of creating light , and yet they found a way of using this simple technology in isolated (孤零零的) places to save ships from hitting rocks .
Secondly , visiting lighthouses will help us to understand the lives of lighthouse keepers .By their very nature , lighthouses were built on some rocks or cliffs . Thus , the lighthouse keepers often lived lonely lives . To walk around their small home , and imagine the angry storm outside beating against the walls , is to take a step towards understanding the lives they had.
The reasons for a visit to a lighthouse are not all so backward-looking in time . It is true that lighthouses were built in out-of-the –way places . But on a pleasant sunny summer day. This very isolation has a natural beauty that many people will love to experience . Therefore, with the gentle waves touching all round the lighthouse . the visitor is likely to think it is a world preferable to the busy and noisy modern life.
Another reason for considering a visit is that the lighthouses themselves can be very attractive buildings . Mankind could often not be content just to put up a basic structure . but felt the need . even in such an isolated place , to build with an artistic touch . The result is a view for tired eyes to enjoy .
Finally , lighthouses have a romantic attraction , summed up by the image of the oil-skin coated keeper climbing his winding stairs to take care of the light to warn ships and save lives .What is the reason to look back into the past of a lighthouse ?
| A．To escape from the busy and noisy city . |
| B．To look for the tools used by our ancestors . |
| C．To experience the natural beauty of a lighthouse . |
| D．To learn about the living condition of lighthouse keepers . |
The underlined phrase “out-of-the-way” in Paragraph of means.
| A．far-away . | B．dangerous | C．ancient | D．secret |
Lighthouses were often built with an artistic touch.
| A．to attract visitors | B．to guide passing ships |
| C．to give a pleasant sight | D．to remember lighthouse keepers |
How many reasons are mentioned for a visit to a lighthouse ?
| A．Three . | B．Four . | C．Five . | D．Six . |
Around the World in Eighty Days is a classic Adventure novel by Jules Verne. The story starts in London in 1872. One day in the Reform Club, Phileas Fogg, a wealthy gentleman, accepts a wager(赌注) for £20,000, which he will receive if he travels around the world in 80 days.
Phileas Fogg sets off immediately, with his servant Passepartout. They reach Suez(苏伊士) quickly. While landing in Egypt, he is watched by a British detective named Fix, who is in search of a bank robber. Because Fix mistakes Fogg for the criminal, he follows secretly, as they are getting on a ship to Bombay.
After more than 20-days of travelling, they arrive in San Francisco, and then get on the train to New York. During that trip, the train is attacked by Indians, who take Passepartout away. With some soldiers’ help, Fogg succeeds in freeing his companion. To make up for the lost time, Fogg and his companion hasten on to New York, and catch the steamer for the crossing of the Atlantics. They arrive in Ireland in time to reach London before the deadline. However, once on British soil again, Fix arrests Fogg. Although the misunderstanding is quickly cleared up—the actual bank robber had been caught several days earlier. Fogg has missed the train and returns to London five minutes late, sure that he has lost the wager.
However, the next day Fogg learns from the priest that he is mistaken in the date, which he thinks Sunday but which actually is Saturday, due to the fact that they gained a full day on their journey around the globe, by crossing the International Date Line. Fogg immediately sets off for the Reform Club, where he arrives just in time to win the wager.The reason that Fix wants to arrest Phileas Fogg is that .
| A．Phileas Fogg is the bank robber whom Fix is trying to catch |
| B．Phileas Fogg doesn’t have a passport for his travels |
| C．Fix mistakenly takes Phileas Fogg for the bank robber |
| D．Fix intends to prevent Fogg from winning the wager |
During his time in America, Phileas Fogg spends a lot of “unexpected” time .
| A．travelling across the continent of America |
| B．rescuing his companion from the Indians |
| C．waiting for the ship back to London |
| D．getting rid of the pursuing of Fix |
Does Phileas Fogg win the wager at last? Why?
| A．No. Because he doesn’t get to the Reform Club before the deadline. |
| B．Yes. Because he is not the bank robber； it’s a misunderstanding. |
| C．No. Because he wastes too much time during his trip. |
| D．Yes. Because he arrives at the Reform Club before the deadline. |
Many people go to work each day to a job they hate. The harmful feelings influence their entire life, putting a negative cloud over the home, their friends and many of their other activities. There is a better way to live your life. Meaningful purpose is a driving force that adds enthusiasm to your days. Here are a few steps to get the new career rolling:
Do some self-analysis. Ask yourself -- What really matters to me? What problem or wrong would I like to fix? What do I enjoy? Where are my interests and hobbies? What are my priorities? What is my secret passion? What do I want to do with the rest of my life? Reviewing these questions can give you new insight to where you want to go.
Use your unique genius and talents. Every person is born with a unique set of natural abilities. Talents, such as managing, creating, researching, training others, drawing, can all seem like easy work because you have a natural flair（才能）for them. True happiness comes from combining your natural talents, developing and excelling in them, and working in a field, job, industry that you have a passionate interest in.
Make a decision. Only action can change your life. Read a book. Take vocational tests. Use a good career-management professional. Do some career exploration and gather all the information you need. Then make a decision and go forward. Outline the action steps to reach your career goal. Finding meaning, passion and purpose every day you go to work is the wonderful reward, so don’t wait any longer. Begin right now and set in motion your own plan to live a happier, more satisfying life.Which is the best title of the passage?
| A．Suggestions on How to Build a More Meaningful Career |
| B．Steps on How to Live Happily and Comfortably |
| C．Do not Hate Your Job Any Longer. |
| D．Find Out Your Natural Talents and Make a Success. |
According to the passage, by analyzing ourselves, we can .
| A．know the true meaning of our life |
| B．understand better about the career we want |
| C．find out our own unique genius and talents |
| D．improve relations with our family and friends |
According to the passage, it’s easier to make success in the work which we .
| A．have much experience at |
| B．have professional knowledge about |
| C．have been performing for a long time |
| D．have a natural talent for |
The purpose in writing this passage is to _____.
| A．persuade people to work hard to make a happier life |
| B．reveal some wrong-doings at work |
| C．direct people to choose their career |
| D．give some solutions to deal with troubles at work |
One bitterly cold day，a snowstorm blew into our area. Needing firewood，I quickly set out with my best friend，Bruce，to look for a tree to cut down. I was glad to have Bruce along with. Cutting down a tree in a snowstorm can be dangerous. So it was important to have a friend who could warn me of danger.
When I chose a big tree about 23 meters tall and prepared to cut it down，my best friend suddenly warned me，“Don’t cut down that tree！It’s too close to the power line！”I wasn’t sure about it. So I decided to disregard his warning. I wanted to finish the job quickly and go home. So I began cutting down the tree. When the tree fell，there was no longer any doubt that my friend was right.
The tree caught the power line，bringing it to the ground. I considered cutting the tree off the line. After all，electricity can’t travel through wood，so I could safely remove the tree. As I reached out my finger to touch the tree，pain ran up my arm and through my head. I was shocked!
After I returned home and told my mother what had happened，she quickly called the power company. The workers from the power company soon arrived on the scene. One of them asked if I had touched the tree，and when I told him I had，his face turned pale.
“You should have been killed，” he said.
So why am I still alive？It was my boots that saved my life.
Within two hours，the workers removed the tree. Soon the snowstorm calmed down—but not my mother.
Even though she was glad I wasn’t hurt，my mother was still serious. After all，I shouldn’t have brushed off my friend’s warning.
Through this experience，I learn it’s important to listen to people who offer a different perspective. time to listen might actually save a lot of time and trouble. It certainly would have kept me from getting the “shock” of my life.The underlined word “disregard” in the second paragraph means “________”．
| A．pay no attention to | B．take notice of |
| C．consider | D．follow |
In spite of Bruce’s warning，the author still cut down the tree because________.
| A．he was sure there would be nothing to happen |
| B．he wasn’t sure if Bruce was right and was anxious to go home |
| C．he didn’t hear his friend’s warning at all because of the blowing wind |
| D．he knew electricity can’t travel through wood |
The underlined part “the snowstorm calmed down—but not my mother” means “________”．
| A．my mother was still angry with me for not listening to my friend’s warning |
| B．my mother was still in fear of the terrible accident |
| C．my mother was still comforting me |
| D．my mother was still worried about my safety |
The author wrote the passage mainly to________.
| A．give an account of one of his terrible experiences |
| B．make us know it’s important to listen to people who offer a different perspective through his experience |
| C．tell us not to cut trees down any more |
| D．remind us to be careful while we are working |
In-line skating（滚轴溜冰）is a fun sport that everyone can enjoy. Follow these safety tips to keep skating safe and fun.
Step 1: Gear up!
Even before you put on your skates, put on all your safety gear（护具）.
Step 2: Buckle up!
Strap（绑紧）on your skates. Make sure they fit well and are snugly（紧贴）around your ankles. This helps your ankles stay strong and straight.
Step 3: Fall down!
You probably do not usually try to fall. But it is good to practice falling on skates. Fall forward onto your knee pads. Put out your hands and let your wrist guards hit the ground. See? Are you surprised that it doesn’t hurt?
Practice falling until it is easy to fall forward and get up again. If you are not afraid to fall, you will try new things. Knowing how to fall will help you be a better skater and find your balance. When you can stay balanced, you won’t fall as much.
Step 4: Stop!
Make sure you can stop on your skates. The quickest and safest is probably the brake stop. The brake is usually on the back of the right skate.
The brake stop:
Roll forward with your skates pointing the same way. Let your right skate roll a little forward. Bend your knees as if you are sitting down. Then press your right heel down hard. This will make your brake pad drag on the ground until you stop.
The T stop:
Roll forward with your skates pointing the same way. Then turn your right foot out so the toes are pointing to your right. Drag your right skate. Let the wheels drag on the ground until you come to a stop.
Another way to stop is to run or jump onto the grass.
Step 5: Roll around!
Find a flat, smooth place to practice. Do not skate in streets. Parks and playgrounds are good places to practice. Look for “No skating” signs to make sure you can skate there.According to the article, which of these steps are most important for a new skater?
| A．Learn to fall and stop safely. | B．Find a class and skate fast. |
| C．Relax and have fun. | D．Buy expensive gear and skates. |
In the step right after “Buckle up!” you should practice how to _____________.
| A．skate fast | B．brake | C．fall safely | D．put on gear |
How is the passage organized?
| A．It tells stories about skating. | B．It gives descriptions of skates. |
| C．It uses a question-and-answer form. | D．It gives step-by-step instructions. |