Psychologists tell us that there are four basic stages that human beings pass through when they enter and live in a new culture.This process begins with the “honeymoon stage”.This is the period of time when we first arrive in which everything about the new culture is strange and exciting.We may be suffering from “jet lag” but we are thrilled to be in the new environment, seeing new sights, hearing new sounds and language, eating new kinds of food.This stage can last for quite a long time because we feel we are involved in some kind of great adventure.
Unfortunately, the second stage can be more difficult.After we have settled down into our new life, we can become very tired and begin to miss our homeland and our family, friends, pets.All the little problems in life seem to be much bigger and more disturbing when you face them in a foreign culture.This period of cultural adjustment can be very difficult and lead to rejecting or pulling away from the new culture.
The third stage is called the “adjustment stage”.This is when you begin to realize that things are not so bad in the host culture.Your sense of humour usually becomes stronger and you realize that you are becoming stronger by learning to take care of yourself in the new place.Things are still difficult, but you are now a survivor!
The fourth stage can be called “at ease at last”.Now you feel quite comfortable in your new surroundings.You can cope(deal) with most problems that occur.You may still have problems with the language, but you know you are strong enough to deal with them.This passage mainly talks about ________.
A.culture and foreign language learning | B.adventures in a foreign land |
C.getting used to a new culture | D.the interaction of different cultures |
Which of the following best describes the first stage?
A.Lonely and depressed | B.Bored and homesick |
C.Happy and excited | D.Angry and frustrated |
According to the passage, people are most likely to return to their own culture at the ________stage.
A.1st | B.2nd | C.third | D.fourth |
It can be concluded from the passage that ________.
A.people feel better in their own culture |
B.it is not easy to adapt to a new culture |
C.culture shock doesn’t occur at the beginning |
D.it is human nature to long for adventures |
![]() Joshua , Helmut ,and Bethlehem Michelle O.Donovan ISBN9781462058679 Life is not easy for nine –year-old Joshua during World War IIBecause of his family’s Jewish background, they are sent to live in the concentration camps (集中营). Scared and alone, Joshua one day makes friends with a little mouse he calls Bethlehem who becomes his closest friend. |
![]() Bill Bosworth ISBN 9780595433582 In his More Things in Heaven ,Bill Bosworth presents the highlights of his 83 years of life, including his trips to India and the study of the writings of several great spiritual leaders. More things in Heaven will appeal to anyone who insists on finding the deepest meaning for their existence based on their own experience. |
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![]() Inspirational Poetry Gloria Coykendall ISBN9781412027854 It is an easy to read collection of poems originally written to encourage in faith and to be a cure for chromic depression(长期抑郁) … cure to strengthen identity and purpose. |
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![]() Creation or Evolution Michael Ebifegha ISBN9781450289023 Were humans created ,or did they evolve? How old is the Earth? The debate between science and religion continues to be heated. In Creation or Evolution, Michael Ebifegha examines these two opposed world views within the structure of empirical(实证的) science. |
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![]() Dr. Joseph L. Rose ISBN9781462031795 Seeking the Edge provides the tools and techniques to find that edge in one’s life .---driving readers to achieve success whether in your current job, finding a new job, in education, family, or even hobbies. |
Who wrote the story about a little boy and a little mouse?
A.Bill Bosworth. | B.Michelle O. Donovan. |
C.Dr. Joseph L. Rose. | D.Gloria Coykendall. |
What kind of readers will probably like reading More Things in Heaven?
A.Those who are searching for the meaning of life. |
B.Those who are trying to be spiritual leaders. |
C.Those who study the art of writing. |
D.Those who like traveling abroad. |
Which of the following books explores the origin of humans?
A.Seeking the Edge. |
B.Creation or Evolution. |
C.Joshua, Helmut, and Bethlehem. |
D.More Things in Heaven. |
Below is a selection from a popular science book.
If blood is red, why are veins (静脉) blue?
Actually, veins are not blue at all. They are more of a clear, yellowish color. Although blood looks red when it’s outside the body, when it’s sitting in a vein near the surface of the skin, it’s more of a dark reddish purple color. At the right depth, these blood-filled veins reflect less red light than the surrounding skin, making them look blue by comparison.
Which works harder, your heart or your brain?
That kind of depends on whether you’re busy thinking or busy exercising. Your heart works up to three times harder during exercise, and shifts enough blood over a lifetime to fill a supertanker. But, in the long run, your brain probably tips it, because even when you’re sitting still your brain is using twice as much energy as your heart, and it takes four to five times as much blood to feed it.
Why do teeth fall out, and why don’t they grow back in grown-ups?
Baby (or “milk”) teeth do not last long; they fall out to make bigger room for bigger, stronger adult teeth later on. Adult teeth fall out when they become damaged, decayed and infected by bacteria. Once this second set of teeth has grown in, you’re done. When they’re gone, they are gone. This is because nature figures you’re set for life, and what controls regrowth of your teeth switches off.
Do old people shrink as they age?
Yes and no. Many people do get shorter as they age. But, when they do, it isn’t because they’re shrinking all over. They simply lose height as their spine (脊柱) becomes shorter and more curved due to disuse and the effect of gravity (重力). Many (but not all) men and women do lose height as they get older. Men lose an average of 3-4 cm in height as they age, while women may lose 5 cm or more. If you live to be 200 years old, would you keep shrinking till you were, like 60 cm tall, like a little boy again? No, because old people don’t really shrink! It is not that they are growing backwards—their legs, arms and backbones getting shorter. When they do get shorter, it’s because the spine has shortened a little. Or, more often, become more bent and curved.
Why does spinning make you dizzy (眩晕的)?
Because your brain gets confused between what you’re seeing and what you’re feeling. The brain senses that you’re spinning using special gravity-and-motion-sensing organs in your inner ear, which work together with your eyes to keep your vision balance stable. But when you suddenly stop spinning the system goes out of control, and your brain thinks you’re moving while you’re not!
Where do feelings and emotions come from?
Mostly from an ancient part of the brain called the limbic system. All mammals (哺乳动物)have this brain area — from mice to dogs, cats, and humans. So all mammals feel basic emotions like fear, pain and pleasure. But since human feelings also involve other, newer bits of the brain, we feel more complex emotions than any other animal on the planet.
If exercise wears you out, how can it be good for you?
Because our bodies adapt to everything we do to them. And as far as your body is concerned, it’s “use it, or lose it”! It’s not that exercise makes you healthy; it’s more that a lack of exercise leaves your body weak and easily affected by disease.What is the color of blood in a vein near the surface of the skin?
A.Blue | B.Light yellow |
C.Red | D.Dark reddish purple |
Why do some old people look a little shrunken as they age?
A.Because their spine is in active use. |
B.Because they are more easily affected by gravity. |
C.Because they keep growing backwards. |
D.Because their spine becomes more bent. |
Which of the following statements about our brain is true?
A.In the long run, our brain probably works harder than our heart |
B.When our brain senses the spinning, we will feel dizzy. |
C.The brains of the other mammals are as complex as those of humans. |
D.Our feelings and emotions come from the most developed area in our brain. |
Imagination and fantasy can play an important role in achieving the things we fear. Children know this very well. Fred Epstein, in his book I Make It to Five, tells a story he heard from one of his friends about Tom, a four-year-old boy with a cancer in his back bone. He came through several operations and a lot of pain by mastering his imagination.
Tom loved to pretend, and he particularly loved to play superheroes. Dr. Epstein explained that it was actually a brilliant way for his young mind to handle the terrifying and painful life he led.
The day before his third trip to the operating room, Tom was terribly afraid. “Maybe I could go as Superman,” he whispered to his mom. Hearing this, the mother hesitated for a while. She has avoided buying the expensive costume(戏装), but finally she agreed.
The next day Tom appeared as the powerful Superman, showing off through the hospital halls and coolly waving his hand to the people greeting him along the way. And Tom, with the strength of his fantasy, successfully made it through the operation.
The power of imagination need not be reserved for children only. We all have the power to use our fantasies to attempt things we never thought possible, to go through those things that seem impossible, and to achieve what we never believed we could. Just as Dr. Epstein puts it, “If you can dream it, you can do it.”
It doesn’t mean that you should dress as a superhero for your next job interview. But, next time you are tested in a way that seems impossible, imagine what it would take to overcome it. Become the person you need to become to win over your challenge and do it in your mind first. So, let your imagination run wild, and dare to dream.What do we know about Tom?
A.He was seriously ill. |
B.He was a dishonest boy. |
C.He was crazy about magic. |
D.He was Dr. Epstein’s patient. |
What can be inferred about Tom’s mother?
A.She was a rich lady. |
B.She refused Tom’s request. |
C.She wanted Tom to be a superhero. |
D.She wanted to get Tom through the pain. |
When Tom went for the third operation, he_________.
A.pretended to be painful | B.acted like a superhero |
C.appeared in poor spirits | D.argued with his mother |
In the last paragraph, you are advised________.
A.to go through some difficult tests |
B.to wake up from your wild dreams |
C.to become a powerful person in your mind |
D.to wear expensive clothes for job interviews |
Teaching a child to read at a young age gives him a valuable start in life. Reading is the basic part of education and a child’s reading ability will influence his school success greatly. Learning difficulties, many of which begin from poor reading skills, can damage a school child’s confidence and affect his future achievement. Young children are programmed to learn and they can learn better with encouragement. Ten to twenty minutes of reading a day still leaves plenty of time for play.
Many parents are concerned that learning to read is too challenging a task for a pre-school child, but they should also remember that most children learn to speak by the time they are 3. Learning a language is probably the single most challenging task any individual can undertake, yet children do it without formal instruction, achieving the fluency much better than adult language students.
There is a window of opportunity in terms of IQ development, which is most open during a child’s early years. A scientific study, carried out by Dr. Peter Huttenlocher at the University of Chicago, showed that the number of connectors, called synapses(神经元突触), between the nerve endings in a newborn baby’s brain is similar to the number in the average adult brain. These synapses increase rapidly during early childhood. By 12-24 months a child’s brain has about 50% more synapses than the average adult brain. After that the synapses which are not in use begin to atrophy(衰退). For most people, from age 16, the number remains steady. It begins to drop again as we move into our golden years. Doing intellectual activities at a young age, such as learning to read, can stimulate(刺激)and preserve these connectors in the brain resulting in a long-term beneficial(有益的)effect on IQ development.
Another notable study is probably the Milwaukee project. This study took a group of babies, all of whose mothers had low IQs, and gave them special training for seven hours a day, five days a week, until they started first grade. By the age of 6 these children had an average IQ 30 points higher than their contemporaries. The overwhelming conclusion is that the early intellectual stimulation can have a positive, long-term effect on a child’s brain development.
From birth you should talk to and explain things to your baby. Reading to him can be a wonderful way of spending quality time with your child. The enjoyment of books and being familiar with the idea of print will pave the way for(为……铺平道路)learning to read later.
If your child is a fast learner you can help him realize his potential by introducing him to the joy of the printed word at an early age. This will lay the foundations(基础)for both a high achieving school career and a lifelong love of reading. If your child shows early signs of reading difficulties, your efforts may help him get rid of such problems before he goes to school.
It can be difficult to teach your own child because emotional(引起情绪激动的)issues arise easily. Online programs for learning to read English are excellent options. They allow children to repeat new materials as many times as they need to, without wearing out the parents’ patience.What does the passage mainly discuss?
A.Children should be taught to read at an early age. |
B.Children can read better than most adult students. |
C.Children have more synapses than most adults. |
D.Children are supposed to learn to read on the Internet. |
Why does the author mention the study by Dr. Peter Hutten locher?
A.To remove parents’ worry. |
B.To explain IQ development. |
C.To explain how a baby’s brain works. |
D.To show the parents’ wrong ideas. |
How can children benefit from learning to read at a young age?
A.It can build up great confidence in their mind. |
B.It can help preserve the connectors in their brains. |
C.It can help produce more connectors in their brains. |
D.It can help them find both their weaknesses and strengths. |
At the end of this passage the author advises _______.
A.parents not to get angry too often |
B.children to enjoy reading as early as possible |
C.children not to wear out their parents’ patience |
D.parents to get their children to take an online program |
If you're networking (建立人际关系) and nothing is happening, you might need to evaluate how you're doing it. Maybe you show up at each event and still feel challenged by the process. You aggressively talk to people, give out your cards, call endlessly to schedule an appointment but have no real success from your efforts. To help you gain a different future, here are ten habits you should avoid.
Ineffective networkers:
1. Lack patience. They expect immediate results and want business now, not tomorrow.
2. Constantly “selling” something. They see dollar signs every time they shake hands with someone.
3. Too many choices. If they offer a variety of products, they might try too hard to tell about all of them. Offering too much information sends a confusing message making it difficult for people to send referral (指点). Opportunities are all around us but when you're networking, only focus on one.
4. Change positions too often. If they move from company to company or do something totally different, it might be difficult for people to keep up with them.
5. Lack manners and respect. They interrupt others, talk with food in their mouth, aren't very polite and appear unprofessional. They call people during dinner or on the weekends without thinking whether the occasion is suitable.
6. Distribute too many cards and sales literature. They come while loading with brochures, flyers (传单), catalogues and samples.
7. Focus on themselves. Too much self promotion can leave the other person to feel unappreciated. Every sentence begins with “I” and is all about their business.
8. “Talking” instead of “giving”. They don't realize what other people sense when they are being very selfish. Others may think that they are being taken advantage of.
9. Lack authenticity (可靠性) and personal values. They may create unrealistic expectations and not deliver on their promises. Sometimes doing things without integrity (诚实) possibly twists the truth.
10. Poor communication and interpersonal skills. They have trouble speaking effectively, building relationships and following up.
Networking is a process that is an investment of time and money. If you find you're doing any of these habits, consider learning how to improve on these and maximize your results while networking. You'll start to get better at connecting with people and obtain more referrals.This passage is meant for people who ______.
A.want to do more businesses |
B.often take instead of giving |
C.have poor communication and interpersonal skills |
D.want to improve their interpersonal relationship |
According to the second habit, we shouldn't ______ when we are networking.
A.sell things | B.talk about dollars |
C.pay attention to money only | D.shake hands with everyone |
When talking with others, you should ______.
A.give out your cards and brochures every now and then |
B.talk about the quality of your product as much as possible |
C.interrupt others when they make a mistake |
D.let other people express themselves completely |
Which of the following is NOT correct about a salesman's behavior?
A.He offers too much selfpromotion during the conversation. |
B.He considers carefully when he can get what he expects. |
C.He only focuses on one opportunity when networking. |
D.He keeps his promises and doesn't expect too much from others. |