One of the greatest sources of unhappiness, in my experience, is the difficulty we have in accepting things as they are.
When we see something we don’t like, we wish it could be different -- we cry out for something better. That may be human nature, or perhaps it’s something that’s ingrained(根深蒂固的)in our culture.
The root of unhappiness is that we decided we didn’t like it in the first place. We’ve judged it as bad, rather than saying, “It’s not bad or good, as it just is.”
An example: in my recent post(帖子), A Beautiful Method to Find Peace of Mind, quite a few commentators thought my outlook was negative, pessimistic, or fatalistic(听天由命的)... because I said you should expect people to mess up, expect things to go differently from what you planned. Above all, you should embrace that.
It’s too negative to expect something to go wrong, they said. However, I think it’s only negative if you see it as negative, or if you judge it as bad.
Instead, you could accept it as the way the world works -- as the way things actually are. And try to understand why they are that way.
Does it mean you can never change things? Not at all. But changing things is not because you can’t accept things as they are, but because you enjoy the process of change of learning and growing.
Can we make this world a better place? Again, that’s an assumption that it’s a bad place fight now. But instead, you could say the world is just what it is -- and that’s neither good nor bad. You can say that you’ll continue to try to do things to help others, to grow as a person, to make a difference in this world -- not because you’re such a bad person now, but because that’s the path you choose to take, because you enjoy that path.
As you catch yourself judging, and wishing for different -- try a different approach: accept, and understand. It might lead to some interesting results. Which of the following statements is correct according to the author?
A.We can never change things because we can’t accept them. |
B.We shouldn’t try to do whatever we can to help others and make a difference. |
C.It’s wrong of you to expect things to go differently. |
D.There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so. |
What’s the main idea of the whole passage?
A.The world is a good place for us to live in. |
B.Unhappiness comes from what we want to be different. |
C.You might as well accept the world as it is and try to embrace it. |
D.Let’s make the world more beautiful. |
Where does the passage probably come from?
A.A novel. | B.A news story. | C.A travel guide. | D.A magazine. |
第三部分阅读理解(共20小题,每小题2分,满分40分)
阅读下列短文,从题中所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中,选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项,并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
Scientists in Canada say big ocean fish have almost disappeared from the world since the start of industrial fishing in the 1950s. The scientists found the populations of large fish like tuna(金枪鱼), swordfish and cod(鳕鱼) have dropped by ninety percent in the past fifty years.
The study took ten years. The researchers gathered records from fishing businesses and governments around the world. The magazine Nature published the findings.
The scientists say the common method called long line fishing is especially damaging to populations of large fish. This method involves many fishing lines connected to one boat. These wires can be nearly one hundred kilometers long. They hold thousands of sharp metal hooks to catch fish.
Long line fishing is especially common in the Japanese fishing industry. Records showed that Japanese boats used to catch about ten fish for every one hundred hooks. But long line fishing boats now might only catch one fish per hundred hooks.
The scientists say industrial fishing can destroy groups of fish much faster than in the past. The study suggests that whole populations can disappear almost completely from new fishing areas within ten to fifteen years.
Ransom Myers and Boris Worm of Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia led the study with the University of Kiel in Germany. Worm says the destruction could lead to a complete reorganization of ocean life systems. Meyers says the decreased numbers of large fish are not the only worry. He says even populations that are able to reproduce do not get the chance to live long enough to grow as big as their ancestors. He says not only are there fewer big fish, but also they are smaller than those of the past.
American government scientists say even with the best efforts to protect fish populations, decreases are to be expected.
56. Which one can be the best title for the passage?
A. Discoveries Canadian scientists have made B. Japan fishing industry
C. Losses of big fish D. Modern fishing methods
57. When did the researchers begin to survey the decrease of large fish?
A. in the 1960s B. in the 1970s C. in the 1980s D. in the 1990s
58. The underlined word “sharp” in Para 3 means _________.
A. having a fine edge or point that can cut or make a hole in something
B. sudden or rapid change in something
C. quick to react or to understand things
D. loud, sudden and often high in tone
59. Which of the following statements can show the fact that the populations of large fish have dropped?
A. Today’s “large” fish are smaller than those of the past.
B. Long line fishing boats now might catch ten fish for every one hundred hooks.
C. Fish able to reproduce don’t have the chance to live longer.
D. Long line fishing boats now might catch one fish for every one hundred hooks
60. Where is the passage probably taken from?
A. A story book B. A business magazine C. An environmental report D. An economic survey
Only three local students won Chinese Blog(博客)Competition. And 15 of the 18 awards went to students from China.
170 students’ task: to get a fully-designed blog up and running, complete with many postings based on a theme of choice—all written in Chinese.
Themes ranged from local opinions-such as the usage of Singlish, education and whether Singapore can be a cultural centre-to food blogs.
The entries were judged on Language proficiency(熟练程度)and the quality of writing, as well as the design and level of exchanging ideas with readers.
Academics(学者) from the National University of Singapore and the SIM University IT experts, and a journalist from Chinese newspaper Lianhe Zaobao in Singapore made up the judges.
In the end, only three Singaporean students made it to the award list—the rest of the awards were swept up by students from China.
“No surprise, ” said Mr. Chow Yaw Long, 37, teachers in charge from Innova Junior College, which organized the event. “Although the topics were local subjects, the foreign students were generally better in terms of the content of the posts and their grasp of the Chinese language. ”
One of the three local students winning the first prize in the Best Language Award was blogger Christina Gao 19, from the Saint Andrew’s Junior College, who spared no effort in researching for and writing her blog. Each entry took her between five and seven days to produce, complete with pictures and even podcasts(播客).
Her advice for bloggers is: Be responsible(负责任的).
“Some bloggers out there only seek to blame(责备) the authorities and other bloggers.” Said Miss Gao. “I think they lack responsibilities and there is no value to their posts.”
72. The competition was organized by ___________.
A. the National University of Singapore B. Chinese newspaper Lianhe Zaobao
C. the Saint Andrew’s Junior College D. Innova Junior College
73. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A. Not all the themes were about local subjects.
B. Chinese students won most of the awards.
C. The blogs could be written in Chinese or Singlish.
D. The judges were from universities in Singapore and China.
74. What Miss Gao said suggests that ___________.
A. she likes to blame the authorities B. she thinks highly of the others’ blogs
C. she has a sense of responsibility D. she loves to read valuable posts
75. The passage in mainly about ___________.
A. how Chinese students won the awards in the competition
B. why bloggers should take responsibility for their blogs
C. what the result of the competition was
D. how Miss Gao won the first prize in the competition
It was the first snow of winter — an exciting day for every child but not for most teachers. Up until now, I had been able to dress myself for recess(课间休息), but today I would need some help. Miss Finlayson, my kindergarten teacher, had been through first snow days many times in her long career, but I think she may still remember this one.
I managed to get into my wool snow pants. But I struggled with my jacket because it didn’t fit well. It was a hand-me-down from my brother, and it made me wonder why I had to wear his ugly clothes. At least my hat and matching scarf(围巾) we
re mine, and they were quite pretty. Finally it was time to have Miss Finlayson help me with my boots(靴子). In her calm, motherly voice she said, "By the end of winter, you will be able to put on your own boots.” I didn’t realize at the time that this was more a statement of hope than of confidence.
I handed her my boots and stuck out my foot. Like most children, I expected the adult to do all the work. After much wiggling and pushing, she managed to get first one into place and then, with a sigh, worked the second one on too.
I announced,“They’re on the wrong feet.” With the grace that only experience can bring,she struggled to get the boots off and went through the joyless task of putting them on again. Then I said,“These aren’t my boots, you know.” As she pulled the offending boots from my feet, she still managed to look both helpful and interested. Once they were off, I said,“They are my brother’s boots. My mother makes me wear them, and I hate them!” Somehow, from long years of practice, she managed to act as though I wasn’t an annoying(烦人的) little girl.She pushed and shoved, less gently this time, and the boots were returned to their proper place on my feet. With a great sigh of relief, seeing the end of her struggle with me, she asked, “Now, where are your gloves?’’
I looked into her eyes and said, “I didn’t want to lose them, so I put them into the toes of my boots.”
68. According to the passage, the little girl got__________from her brother.
A. the wool snow pants and the jacket B. the jacket and the boots
C. the jacket and the hat D. the boots and the gloves
69. Why does the author say Miss Finlayson would remember that first snow day?
A. Because the little girl played a trick on her.
B. Because it was the most exciting day of the winter.
C. Because the little girl was in her brother’s clothes.
D. Because the little girl wore a pretty scarf.
70. We can learn from the text that Miss Finlayson_________.
A. was losing confidence in the little girl B. gradually lost patience with the little girl
C. because disappointed with the little girl D. was getting bored with the little girl
71. It can be inferred(推断) that before the little girl finally went out to enjoy the first snow of winter,the teacher had to help her put on her boots __________.
A. once B. twice C. three times D. four times
A year ago August, Dave Fuss lost his job driving a truck for a small company in west Michigan. His wife, Gerrie, was still working in the local school cafeteria, but work for Dave was scarce, and the price of everything was rising. The Fusses were at risk of joining the millions of Americans who have lost their homes in recent years. Then Dave and Gerrie received a timely gift-$7,000,a legacy(遗产) from their neighbors Ish and Arlene Hatch, who died in an accident. “It really made a difference when we were going under financially(经济上),” says Dave.
But the Fusses weren’t the only folks in Alto and the neighboring town of Lowell to receive unexpected legacy from the Hatches. Dozens of other families were touched by the Hatches’ generosity. In some cases, it was a few thousand dollars; in others, it was more than $100,000.
It surprised nearly everyone that the Hatches had so much money, more than $3 million—they were an elderly couple who lived in an old house on what was left of the family farm.
Children of the Great Depression, Ish and Arlene were known for their habit of saving. They thrived on(喜欢) comparison shopping and would routinely go from store to store, checking prices before buying something.
Through the years, the Hatches paid for local children to attend summer camp when their parents couldn’t afford it. “Ish and Arlene never asked if you needed anything.” says their friend Sandy Van Weelden. “They could see things they could do to make you happier and they would do them.”
Even more extraordinary was that the Hatches had their farmland distributed(分送). It was the Hatches’ wish that their legacy—a legacy of kindness as much as one of dollars and cents —should enrich the whole community (社区) and last for generations to come.
Neighbors helping neighbors—that was Ish and Arlene Hatch’s story.
64. According to the text, the Fusses ____________.
A. were employed by a truck company B. worked in a school cafeteria
C. were in financial difficulty D. lost their home
65. Which of the following is true of the Hatches?
A. They gave away their possessions to their neighbors.
B. They left the family farm to live in an old house.
C. They had their children during the Great Depression.
D. They helped their neighbors to find jobs.
66. Why would the Hatches routinely go from store to store?
A. They decided to open a store. B. They wanted to save money.
C. They couldn’t afford expensive things . D. They wanted to buy gifts for local kids.
67. According to Sandy Van Weelden, the Hatches were _________.
A. mean B. childlike C. curious D. understanding
I know what you’re thinking: pizza(比萨饼)?For breakfast? But the truth is that you can have last night’s leftovers in the a.m. if you want to.
I know lots of women who skip breakfast (不吃早饭), and they have a ton of different excuses for doing it. Some say they don’t have time, others think they’re “saving” calories (卡路里),still others just don’t like breakfast food .
But the bottom line is that eating in the morning is very important when you’re trying to lose weight. “Eating just about anything from 300 to 400 calories would be better than nothing at all,” says Katherine Brooking, R.D., who developed the super-easy eating plan for this year’s “SELF CHALLENGE”. And even pizza can be healthy if it’s loaded with vegetables, and you stick to one small piece.
Breakfast is one meal I never miss, and the same goes for most weight loss success stories. Research shows that eating breakfast keeps you from overeating later in the day. Researchers at the University of Southern California found that breakfast skippers have a bigger chance of gaining weight than those who regularly have a morning meal.
So eat something in the morning, anything. I know plenty of friends who end up having no breakfast altogether, and have just coffee or orange juice. I say, try heating up last night’s leftovers – it may sound crazy, but if it works for you, do it! I find if I tell myself, “You can always eat it tomorrow.” I put away the leftovers instead of eating more that night. Try it … you may save yourself some pre-bedtime calories. And watch your body gain the fat-burning effects.
60. The word “leftovers” in paragraph I probably means ______.
A. things left undone B. food remaining after a meal
C. meals made of vegetables D. pizza topped with fruit
61. What can we infer from the text?
A. Working women usually have breakfast in a hurry.
B. There are some easy ways of cooking a meal.
C. Many people have wrong ideas about breakfast.学
D. Eating vegetables helps save energy.
62. According to the last paragraph, it is important to _______.
A. eat calorie-controlled food B. be careful about what you eat
C. heat up food before eating it D. eat something for breakfast
63. The text is written mainly for those _______.
A. who want to lose weight B. who go to work early
C. who stay up late D. who eat before sleep