When you do some minor image editing (修正) on your computer screen, you may make some mistakes, so from time to time you’d click undo (撤消).
There are things in life we cannot undo as easily and completely as we would with our computer files. A wrong turn, a hurtful word said to a loved one, a bad move — these we all commit as we walk our life’s journeys, no matter how careful we are in our steps. Once committed, we can no longer undo many of these mistakes, especially because unlike with our computer documents, each thing we do and say has vast impact as they involve not just us — the file that we are working on — but also others, the unopened files and computer programs in our system.
So I guess our life’s mistakes are not like our pencil scrawls (潦草书写) that can be effectively corrected with an eraser, or errors on our computer works that can be undone with an undo button. But there are effective and reliable tools we can use—APOLOGY and FORGIVENESS. Simply click the APOLOGY button when you have committed a mistake that has hurt a loved one and the words “I’m Sorry” will flash on the other person’s screen. But, you have to be truly sorry and you must be prepared not to commit the same mistake again for your APOLOGY to work. Sincerity is definitely a necessary part.
When someone clicks the APOLOGY button and the words “I’m sorry” flash on your screen, all you have to do is click back the FORGIVENESS (原谅) button. It means that you have wholeheartedly accepted the other person’s APOLOGY. But not only that. You also have to click it when someone has sent you back the message “It’s okay. Forget about it.”. It means that you are also forgiving yourself for your mistake; that you won’t keep feeling so bad having committed it.
And lastly, don’t forget to keep clicking the SAVE button. Going through the whole process of editing—of doing and undoing, of apologizing and forgiving — is useless if you fail to save the LESSON for future use. Let the saved file be a reminder of the healing process you once went through to make yourself better; for you not to forget the lesson; and for others to access and learn from.Which of the following is TRUE?
A.However careful we are, we still make mistakes in life. |
B.Things we do and say can affect computer programs in our system. |
C.We can undo life’s mistakes if we are careful enough. |
D.An eraser is an effective tool for our computer works. |
The APOLOGY button should be clicked when ________.
A.one wants to make the computer work perfectly |
B.one’s mistakes won’t influence others any more |
C.one is actually saying “I’m sorry” |
D.one won’t make the same mistake again |
What does the underlined word “it” in Paragraph 4 refer to?
A.The UNDO button. | B.The APOLOGY button. |
C.The SAVE button. | D.The FORGIVENESS button. |
We need to click the SAVE button in life because ________.
A.we want to go through the whole process of editing |
B.we need to learn a lesson from the past mistakes |
C.we want to make the healing process faster |
D.we need to use the computer properly |
Sunday, 31 August
We’ve been in China for a month now. Dad, Mom, Harry and I moved to Tianjin on 25 August. We’re not very far from Beijing. Two days ago, we celebrated my 16th birthday. It was great celebrating in China; the only thing that was strange was the cake--here they’re not as sweet as the ones in New York. On Monday school starts—I wonder what it will be like.
Monday, 1 September
On my first day I was looking around for a locker to put my books in. However, here all the students keep all of their books at their desks--we stay in the same classroom because apparently we don’t have to go from class to class--teachers come to us!
Today we selected teacher assistants for each subject. Their duties are to collect homework, make announcements, and do other stuff for the teacher and the students. It’s kind of a big deal here! Since I am from the US, I was asked to be the English assistant. I felt so proud but quite nervous at the same time because I wasn’t sure what I had to do, but I accepted the job anyway.
Friday, 3 October
Boy, what a week! Now we have nine classes every day, including the morning class, a combination of our American schools’ “Homeroom” and “Study Hall”. I think Chinese students work too much! I have to do my homework when I get back home. I don’t even have time to watch TV or surf the Internet like before. I sometimes miss New York and my school because we didn’t have to study so much. We had more time to hang out with our classmates and neighbors; here, besides their usual classes, students are involved in weekend classes in subjects such as English, Chinese and math.
I get a lot of attention, being from another country. Everyone wants to practice English with me! A really cute girl even asked me for my phone number on my second day and sent me a text message! I’m making a lot more friends now. I just need a lot of help to improve my Chinese. Some students want to do a language exchange program with me. Nice!The passage mentions all the following points EXCEPT .
A.physics study | B.teacher assistants |
C.free time activities | D.language exchange program |
According to the passage, which of the following is NOT the teacher assistant’s duty?
A.Collecting homework. |
B.Making announcements. |
C.helping teachers with small errands(差事) |
D.Teaching classmates. |
Where is this passage most probably from?
A.A story book. | B.A guide book. |
C.A diary. | D.A magazine. |
The passage is best described by ________.
A.culture shock. | B.multi-culture. |
C.unique culture. | D.culture background |
Do you love Beats headphones, True Religion jeans, and UGG shoes? These are some of the most popular brands (牌子) around. They are also expensive. But some experts say they are not much better than cheaper brands.
For example, Jim Wilcox works for Consumer Reports. He tested all kinds of headphones. He says that $80 Koss Pro headphones provide basically the same quality and comfort as Beats. So why do people pay twice or even 10 times as much for the hottest brands?
Experts say it's because fashionable, expensive brands send a message. Brands say “I belong” or “I can afford it.”
Some people think that expensive brand names are worth the price. They say that some designer clothes really are top quality and that they last longer than cheaper brands. Some teenagers choose to wear popular brands because these brands make them feel good about themselves.
Alexandra Allam, 17, likes to buy brand-name products. “I'd rather spend the extra money to get something I know I'll be satisfied with,” she says. Her friend Emmy Swan agrees, saying “As long as you can afford it, it seems reasonable to buy what you want.” But not all teenagers agree. “Spending hundreds of dollars for designer sunglasses is stupid and unreasonable,” says Daniel Steinbrecher, 16. “It's fake (假的) happiness.”
People who are against wearing expensive brand names say that many designer brands aren't any better. “It's wasteful to buy things just because they are popular,” says Edmund Williams, 15. “You'll feel better if you buy things because you like them. If you have extra money to spend, it would be better to give it to people in need.”The example of Jim's report wants to tell us _____.
A.popular brands make people comfortable |
B.Koss Pro headphones are better than Beats |
C.the hottest brands are of the highest quality |
D.lesser-known brands may offer the same quality as name brands |
According to experts, people choose the hottest brands probably _____.
A.to show off |
B.for their better quality |
C.for their better designs |
D.to belong to a special group |
What does Edmund think of expensive brands?
A.They are not worth the price. |
B.They make him feel confident. |
C.They need to improve their quality. |
D.They pay too much attention to personal likes. |
The text is mainly about _____.
A.how to buy things reasonably |
B.the competition between brands |
C.the different values of teenagers |
D.whether expensive brands are worth high prices |
At times my mom has been uncomfortable seeing these qualities in me. For example,when I was 12,I went to Puerto Rico all by myself to stay with my grandmother for the summer. My mom was extremely nervous about it. She kept telling me how things were different in Puerto Rico,to always put on sunscreen,not to wander away from my grandmother,and other warnings. She helped me pack and did not leave the airport until she saw my plane take off.
But despite her worries,she let me go on my own. As I moved into my teens,she continued to give me space to grow and learn,even when it might have been difficult for her. When I reached my senior year,I decided to move away for college. Once again I found that I differed from my peers:While many of them wanted to stay close to home,I couldn’t wait to be out in the world on my own. While my mom may not have been happy at the thought of my going away,she was supportive and excited for me.
One big thing I realized during my senior year,as my mom granted me more freedom,was that she actually believes in me and trusts me. That means a lot. Most of my life,and especially when I was little,the main person I tried to impress in my schoolwork or other things was my mother. I knew she expected nothing but the best from me. Sometimes it was hard to live up to her standards;getting a single B on my report card would make me feel bad because I knew she wanted me to have all A’s.
I know that her high standards have helped me stay focused on what’s important,like education,and made me who I am. I am thankful for her support and involvement in my life .Most of all I respect her. She is the strongest woman I know and that’s why I have turned out so strong and independent.When the author decided to go to Puerto Rico,his mother________.
A.wanted to go with him |
B.worried about his safety |
C.didn’t allow him to do so |
D.asked his grandmother for advice |
The author decided to move away for college to________.
A.be different from his peers |
B.keep away from his mother |
C.be independent in the outside world |
D.make his mother unhappy |
We can learn from the third paragraph that the author’s mother________.
A.had a high expectation of him |
B.was too strict with him |
C.used to expect nothing from him |
D.cared little about his learning |
In the passage,the author mainly wants to tell us________.
A.his long way to becoming independent |
B.his good relationship with his mother |
C.the importance of a mother’s trust and support |
D.his mother’s deep love for him |
The Doll and the White Rose
I was walking around in a mall, when I saw a cashier(出纳员) hand this little boy some money back.The cashier said, "I'm sorry, but you don't have enough money to buy this doll.”The little boy seemed very disappointed.
I walked toward him and asked him who he wished to give this doll to."It's the doll that my sister wanted so much for Christmas.She was sure that Santa Claus would bring it to her: But Santa Claus can't bring it to her where she is now.I have to give the doll to my mommy so that she can give it to my sister when she goes there."His eyes were so sad."My sister has gone to be with God.Daddy says that Mommy is going to see God very soon too, so I thought that she could take the doll with her to give it to my sister.”
My heart nearly stopped.The little boy looked up at me and continued, "I told Daddy to tell Mommy not to go yet.I need her to wait until I come back from the mall."
I quickly reached for my wallet and said," Suppose we check again, just in case you do have enough money for the doll."
"OK, I hope I do have enough," he said.I put some of my money with his without him seeing and we started to count it.There was enough for the doll and even some spare money.
Surprisingly, the little boy cried, "Thank you God for giving me enough money!" Then he looked at me and added, "I asked last night before I went to sleep for God to make sure I had enough money to buy this doll, so that Mommy could give it to my sister.He heard me! I also wanted to have enough money to buy a white rose for my mommy, but I didn't dare to ask God for too much.But he gave me enough to buy the doll and a white rose ! "
Then I remembered two days before a local newspaper reported an accident in which a woman and a little girl were badly injured.The little girl died right away, and the mother was left in a critical state.Was this the family of the little boy?
Two days after I met the little boy, I read in the newspaper that the woman had passed away.I couldn't stop myself from going to the funeral.Teary-eyed, I felt that my life had been changed forever.The boy wanted to buy the doll because .
A.he had always been eager for such a doll |
B.Santa Claus didn't give him any Christmas gift |
C.he would give it to his mother as a birthday surprise |
D.he wanted to turn his sister's Christmas wish into reality |
We can learn from the story that .
A.the boy's sister died after staying in hospital for two weeks |
B.the boy's family were all seriously injured in a car accident |
C.the author gave the boy some extra money without his notice |
D.the boy's mother always wished to receive a white rose on Christmas |
The story most probably conveys the message that .
A.a kind act can bring joy and hope to others |
B.a gift is a perfect way to express love for others |
C.losing a family member is a heavy blow to children |
D.a religious belief can help one solve problems in his life |
Should we allow modern buildings to be built next to older buildings in a historic area of a city? In order to answer this question, we must first examine whether people really want to preserve the historic feel of an area. Not all historical buildings are attractive. However, there may be other reasons—for example, economic(经济的) reasons—why they should be preserved. So, let us assume that historical buildings are both attractive and important to the majority of people. What should we do then if a new building is needed?
In my view, new architectural styles can exist perfectly well alongside an older style. Indeed, there are many examples in my own hometown of Tours where modern designs have been placed very successfully next to old buildings. As long as the building in question is pleasing and does not dominate(影响) its surroundings too much, it often improves the attractiveness of the area.
It is true that there are examples of new buildings which have spoilt(破坏) the area they are in, but the same can be said of some old buildings too. Yet people still speak against new buildings in historic areas. I think this is simply because people are naturally conservative(保守的) and do not like change.
Although we have to respect people's feelings as fellow users of the buildings, I believe that it is the duty of the architect and planner to move things forward. If we always reproduced what was there before, we would all still be living in caves. Thus, I would argue against copying previous architectural styles and choose something fresh and different, even though that might be the more risky choice.What does the author say about historical buildings in the first paragraph?
A.Some of them are not attractive. |
B.Most of them are too expensive to preserve. |
C.They are more pleasing than modern buildings. |
D.They have nothing to do with the historic feel of an area. |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the author?
A.We should reproduce the same old buildings. |
B.Buildings should not dominate their surroundings. |
C.No one understands why people speak against new buildings. |
D.Some old buildings have spoilt the area they are in. |
By “move things forward”in the last paragraph, the author probably means “_________”.
A.destroy old buildings |
B.choose new architectural style |
C.put things in a different place |
D.respect people's feelings for historical buildings |
What is the main purpose of the passage?
A.To explain why people dislike change. |
B.To warn that we could end up living in caves. |
C.To argue that modern buildings can be built in historic areas. |
D.To admit how new buildings have ruined their surroundings. |