The 92-year-old, thin, calm and proud lady, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o’clock, even though she is nearly blind, moved to a nursing home today.
Her husband of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary. After many hours of waiting patiently in the hall of the nursing home, she smiled sweetly when told her room was ready.
As she walked slowly to the elevator, I provided a true description of her tiny room, including the old sheets that had been hung on her window. “I love it,” she said with the happiness of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy.
“Mrs. Jones, you haven’t seen the room…just wait.”
“That doesn’t matter,” she replied. “Happiness is something you decide ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn’t depend on how the furniture is arranged. It’s how I arranged my mind. I have already decided to love it. It’s a decision I make every morning when I wake up. Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open I’ll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I’ve stored away.” She went on to explain, “Old age is like a bank account. You take what you’ve put in. So, my advice to you would be to put in a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories. Thank you for your part in filling my memory bank.” And with a smile, she said, “All my memories are happy ones.”
Mrs. Jones was always happy in the nursing home and she died at the age of 108. We can infer from the passage that the author________.
A.is one of Mrs. Jones’ children | B.is a relative of Mrs. Jones |
C.works in the nursing home | D.is the owner of the nursing home |
The room in which the old lady will live________.
A.is very comfortable | B.is fairly big |
C.isn’t well equipped | D.is equipped with new furniture |
Mrs. Jones was very happy when told about her room because she________.
A.couldn’t see what her room was like |
B.thought the nursing home was her home |
C.would have to live in the nursing home |
D.had already made up her mind to be happy |
Which of the following words can best describe Mrs. Jones?
A.Proud. | B.Cheerful. | C.Determined | D.Honest |
You are given many opportunities in life to choose to be a victim or creator. When you choose to be a victim, the world is a cold and difficult place. “They” did things to you which caused all of your pain and suffering. “They” are wrong and bad, and life is terrible as long as “they” are around. Or you may blame yourself for all your problems, thus internalizing(内化)your victimization. The truth is, your life is likely to stay that way as long as you feel a need to blame yourself or others.
Those who choose to be creators look at life quite differently. They know there are individuals who might like to control their lives, but they don’t let this get in the way. They know they have their weaknesses, yet they don’t blame themselves when they fail. Whatever happens, they have choice in the matter. They believe their dance with each sacred(神圣的)moment of life is a gift and that storms are a natural part of life which can bring the rain needed for emotional and spiritual growth.
Victims and creators live in the same physical world and deal with many of the same physical realities, yet their experience of life is worlds apart. Victims relish (沉溺)in anger, guilt, and other emotions that cause others---and even themselves---to feel like victims, too. Creators consciously choose love, inspiration, and other qualities which inspire not only themselves, but all around them. Both victims and creators always have choice to determine the direction of their lives.
In reality, all of us play the victim or the creator at various points in our lives. One person, on losing a job or a special relationship, may feel as if it is the end of the world and sink into terrible suffering for months, years, or even a lifetime. Another with the same experience may choose to first experience the grief, then accept the loss and soon move on to be a powerful creative force in his life.
In every moment and every circumstance, you can choose to have fuller, richer life by setting a clear intention to transform the victim within, and by inviting into your life the powerful creator that you are.What does the word “they” in Paragraph 1 probably refer to?
A.People and things around you. |
B.Opportunities and problems. |
C.Creators and their choices. |
D.Victims and their sufferings. |
According to Paragraph 2, creators __________.
A.seem willing to experience failures in life |
B.possess the ability to predict future life |
C.handle ups and downs of life wisely |
D.have potential to create something new |
What can we learn from Paragraph 3?
A.Creators and victims face quite different things in life. |
B.Creators and victims are masters of their lives. |
C.Victims can influence more people than creators. |
D.Compared with victims, creators are more emotional. |
The examples mentioned in Paragraph 4 show that _______________.
A.strong attachment to sufferings in life pulls people into victims. |
B.people need family support to deal with challengers in life. |
C.it takes creators quite a long time to get rid of their pains. |
D.one’s experiences determine his attitude toward life. |
What is the author’s purpose in writing this passage?
A.To define victims and creators. |
B.To evaluate victims against creators. |
C.To explain the relationship between victims and creators. |
D.To suggest the transformation from victims to creators. |
About nine million people like rock climbing in America. Millions more take part in the activity around the world. Some do it just for fun. Others compete.
Climbing takes strength, control and good balance. Climbers have to pull themselves straight up the face of very high rocks or walls. So they have to be strong enough to carry their own weight. And climbers sometimes have to hold onto rocks by only their fingers or toes.
There are several kinds of rock climbing. Traditional rock climbing is done outside. Climbers wear ropes and tie equipment to the rocks as they climb many hundreds of meters up. They also connect their ropes to the equipment. If a climber slips, a rope can stop him from falling.
Sport climbing is similar. However, in it the protective equipment is placed in the rock all the time. There is also indoor climbing. Rock walls made of wood have places for the climber’s hands and feet.
Ice climbing is exactly as it sounds. People climb glaciers or frozen waterfalls instead of rocks. They use special equipment for the ice.
And then there is bouldering-climbing rocks (巨石攀岩) between three and seven meters high. It is quicker and stronger climbing. Many climbers like bouldering because they can use less equipment. Climbers often need only special shoes and chalk (防滑粉). All climbers use chalk to keep their hands dry.
Most rocks have cracks and holes and parts that stick out. Climbers use these for foot-holds and handholds. Climbers use their legs to climb. They try not to pull themselves up with their hands or arms. Arms and hands are for position and balance.
People almost always climb in groups of two or more. Climbing alone is very dangerous. Expert rock climbers say only the very best in the sport should do it.The writer mentions the numbers in Paragraph 1 in order to show that _________.
A.people do rock climbing just for fun |
B.rock climbing is popular around the world |
C.people around the world like the same thing |
D.Americans like all sports |
We can learn for the Paragraph 2 that________.
A.a person must take some food for rock climbing |
B.rock climbing is more dangerous than people think |
C.rock climbing takes place outside |
D.rock climbing is not for everyone |
What’s the feature of traditional rock climbing?
A.It is very safe. | B.It is done alone. |
C.It is done outside. | D.It needs no equipment. |
According to the passage, people like bouldering because______.
A.it is simpler than other kinds |
B.they can try special equipment |
C.they only have to climb several meters high |
D.they can do it indoors |
Which of the following is TRUE about rock climbing?
A.Climbers use their hands or arms to climb. |
B.Climbers use no special equipment for ice climbing. |
C.Climbers do rock climbing in groups. |
D.Climbers do rock climbing without ropes |
We walked in the hospital so quietly that the nurse at the desk didn't even lift her eyes from the book. Mum pointed at a big chair by the door and I knew she wanted me to sit down. While I watched mouth open in surprise, Mum took off her hat and coat and gave them to me to hold. She walked quietly to the small room by the lift and took out a wet mop. She pushed the mop past the desk and as the nurse looked up, Mum nodded and said, "Very dirty floors."
"Yes, I'm glad they've finally decided to clean them," the nurse answered. She looked at Mum strangely and said, "But aren't you working late?"
Mum just pushed harder, each swipe (拖一下) of the mop taking her farther and farther down the hall. I watched until she was out of sight and the nurse had turned back to writing in the big book.
After a long time Mum came back. Her eyes were shining. She quickly put the mop back and took my hand. As we turned to go out of the door, Mum bowed politely to the nurse and said, "Thank you."
Outside, Mum told me, "Dagmar is fine. No fever. "
"You saw her, Mum?"
"Of course. I told her about the hospital rules, and she will not expect us until tomorrow. Dad will stop worrying as well. It's a fine hospital. But such floors! A mop is no good. You need a brush."When she took a mop from the small room what Mum really wanted to do was______.
A.to clean the floor |
B.to please the nurse |
C.to see a patient |
D.to surprise the story-teller |
When the nurse talked to Mum she thought Mum was a______.
A.nurse | B.visitor |
C.patient | D.cleaner |
After reading the story what can we infer about the hospital?
A.It is a children's hospital. |
B.It has strict rules about visiting hours. |
C.The conditions there aren't very good. |
D.The nurses and doctors there don't work hard. |
From the text we know that Dagmar is most likely________.
A.the story-teller's sister |
B.Mum's friend |
C.the story-teller's classmate |
D.Dad's boss |
Which of the following words best describes Mum?
A.strange | B.warm-hearted |
C.clever | D.hard-working |
【2015·新课标全国I】D
Conflict is on the menu tonight at the café La Chope. This evening, as on every Thursday night, psychologist Maud Lehanne is leading two of France’s favorite pastimes, coffee drinking and the “talking cure”. Here they are learning to get in touch with their true feelings. It isn’t always easy. They customers - some thirty Parisians who pay just under $2 (plus drinks) per session - care quick to intellectualize (高谈阔论),slow to open up and connect. “You are forbidden to say ‘one feels,’ or ‘people think’,” Lehane told them. “Say ‘I think,’ ‘Think me’.”
A café society where no intellectualizing is allowed? It couldn’t seem more un-French. But Lehanne’s psychology café is about more than knowing oneself: It’s trying to help the city’s troubled neighborhood cafes. Over the years, Parisian cafes have fallen victim to changes in the French lifestyle - longer working hours, a fast food boom and a younger generation’s desire to spend more time at home. Dozens of new theme cafes appear to change the situation. Cafes focused around psychology, history, and engineering are catching on, filling tables well into the evening.
The city’s psychology cafes, which offer great comfort, are among the most popular places. Middle-aged homemakers, retirees, and the unemployed come to such cafes to talk about love, anger, and dreams with a psychologist. And they come to Lehanne’s group just to learn to say what they feel. “There’s a strong need in Paris for communication,” says Maurice Frisch, a cafe La Chope regular who works as a religious instructor in a nearby church. “People have few real friends. And they need to open up.” Lehanne says she’d like to see psychology cafes all over France. “If people had normal lives, these cafes wouldn’t exist”, she says, “If life weren’t a battle, people wouldn’t need a special place just to speak.” But them, it wouldn’t be France.What are people encouraged to do at the cafe La Chope?
A.Learn a new subject |
B.Keep in touch with friends. |
C.Show off their knowledge. |
D.Express their true feelings. |
How are cafes affected by French lifestyle changes?
A.They are less frequently visited. |
B.They stay open for longer hours. |
C.They have bigger night crowds. |
D.They start to serve fast food. |
What are theme cafes expected to do?
A.Create more jobs. |
B.Supply better drinks. |
C.Save the cafe business. |
D.Serve the neighborhood. |
Why are psychology cafes becoming popular in Paris?
A.They bring people true friendship. |
B.They give people spiritual support. |
C.They help people realize their dreams. |
D.They offer a platform for business links. |
【2015·新课标全国II】B
Your house may have an effect on your figure. Experts say the way you design your home could play a role in whether you pack on the pounds or keep them off. you can make your environment work for you instead of against you. Here are some ways to turn your home into part of your diet plan.
Open the curtains and turn up the lights. Dark environments are more likely to encourage overeating, for people are often less self-conscious(难为情) when they’re in poorly lit places – and so more likely to eat lots of food. If your home doesn’t have enough window light, get more lamps and flood the place with brightness.
Mind the colors. Research suggests warm colors fuel our appetites. In one study, people who ate meals in a blue room consumed 33 percent less than those in a yellow or red room. Warm colors like yellow make food appear more appetizing, while cold colors make us less hungry. So when it’s time to repaint, go blue.
Don’t forget the clock – or the radio. People who eat slowly tend to consume about 70 fewer calories(卡路里) per meal than those who rush through their meals. Begin keeping track of the time, and try to make dinner last at 30 minutes. And while you’re at it, actually sit down to eat. If you need some help slowing down, turning on relaxing music. It makes you less likely to rush through a meal.
Downsize the dishes. Big serving bowls and plants can easily makes us fat. We eat about 22 percent more when using a 12-inch plate instead of a 10-inch plate. When we choose a large spoon over a smaller one, total intake(摄入) jumps by 14 percent. And we’ll pour about 30 percent more liquid into a short, wide glass than a tall, skinny glass.The text is especially helpful for those who care about ____.
A.their home comforts |
B.their body shape |
C.house buying |
D.healthy diets |
A home environment in blue can help people ____.
A.digest food better |
B.reduce food intake |
C.burn more calories |
D.regain their appetites |
What are people advised to do at mealtimes?
A.Eat quickly. |
B.Play fast music |
C.Use smaller spoons |
D.Turn down the lights |
What can be a suitable title for the text?
A.Is Your House Making You Fat? |
B.Ways of Serving Dinner |
C.Effects of Self-Consciousness |
D.Is Your Home Environment Relaxing? |