Barack Obama makes his first trip to Asia as president this week, leaving behind a host of domestic (国内的) problems with the visit that recognizes the region’s economic and diplomatic importance. “Obama”s trip includes stops in Japan, Singapore, China and South Korea, and his message will be simple, says Nicolas Lardy at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. “Well, I think his broadest aim is to convince Asians that the United States is fully committed to the region that we have an agenda that’s much broader than they saw over the past eight years of the very heavy focus on anti-terrorism.”
Obama’s first stop is Japan, where he meets with the new Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama who has promised to steer a diplomatic course more independent of Washington. While Japan is seen as a getting-to-know-you stop, when Obama heads to the Singapore for the APEC meeting, he will likely face pressure on trade. “Many Asians are concerned about what US trade policy will be, and they’ve been somewhat alarmed by the fact that the president really hasn’t set out very much revision for what US trade policy is in his administration.”
But the critical leg of the trip will come in China, his third stop where Obama will have to navigate the complex relationship with the country that is the largest holder of US debt. “As you say, you know, if you owe the bank one dollar, it’s your problem, if you owe the bank, you know, 3 million dollars, it’s the bank’s problem, so it’s similar with China. I mean they have no interest in trying to use the influence with us, because eventually, they’re the one that they own all those dollars.”
Also on the table will be North Korea and Iran’s nuclear ambitions as well as cooperation on Afghanistan.
With Obama enjoying sky high popularity level in the countries he is visiting, detailed results may be beside the point, given that Obama is still in his first year in office, analysts say this trip is mostly about laying the ground work for the future. From the second paragraph, we can infer that .
A.Japan has not been the closest friend of America |
B.Japan and Singapore will give America some pressure on trade |
C.Japan is concerned about what US trade policy will be |
D.Japan decides not to rely on America too much |
What can you infer about China’s relation with America in the third paragraph?
A.China will sell all its shares in US national debt. |
B.It will hurt China if the value of the dollar falls. |
C.China will not be the largest debt holder of US. |
D.China is US’ s overseas bank where US can borrow money. |
The author develops the passage mainly .
A.by examples | B.by cause and effect |
C.by comparison | D.by order in time |
Sometimes you’ll hear people say that you can’t love others until you love yourself. Sometimes you’ll hear people say that you can’t expect someone else to love you until you love yourself. Either way, you’ve got to love yourself first and this can be tricky. Sure we all know that we’re the apple of our parents’ eyes, and that our Grandmas think we’re great talents and our Uncle Roberts think that we will go to the Olympics. But sometimes it’s a lot harder to think such nice thoughts about ourselves. If you find that believing in yourself is a challenge, it is time you build a positive self-image and learn to love yourself.
Self-image is your own mind’s picture of yourself. This image includes the way you look, the way you act, the way you talk and the way you think. Interestingly, our self-images are often quite different from the images others hold about us. Unfortunately, most of these images are more negative than they should be. Thus changing the way you think about yourself is the key to changing your self-image and your whole world.
The best way to defeat a passive self-image is to step back and decide to stress your successes. That is, make a list if you need to, but write down all of the great things you do every day. Don’t allow doubts to occur in it.
It very well might be that you are experiencing a negative self-image because you can’t move past one flaw or weakness that you see about yourself. Well, roll up your sleeves and make a change of it as your primary task. If you think you’re silly because you aren’t good at math, find a tutor. If you think you’re weak because you can’t run a mile, get to the track and practice. If you think you’re dull because you don’t wear the latest trends, buy a few new clothes. But remember, just because you think it doesn’t mean it’s true.
The best way to get rid of a negative serf-image is to realize that your image is far from objective, and to actively convince yourself of your positive qualities. Changing the way you think and working on those you need to improve will go a long way towards promoting a positive self-image. When you can pat (拍) yourself on the back, you’ll know you’re well on your way. Good luck! You need to build a positive self-image when you _____.
A.dare to challenge yourself |
B.feel it hard to change yourself |
C.are unconfident about yourself |
D.have a high opinion of yourself |
How should you change your serf-image according to the passage?
A.To keep a different image of others. |
B.To make your life successful. |
C.To understand your own world. |
D.To change the way you think. |
What is the passage mainly about?
A.How to prepare for your success. |
B.How to face challenges in your life. |
C.How to build a positive self-image. |
D.How to develop your good qualities. |
Hey there,
So you’re about to spend four years of your life and tens of thousands of dollars of your patent’s money, and all you really know about college is that all of your friends are going. Do you ever stop to wonder why you’re going?
Relax. You’re making the right decision. First of all, you’ll discover what interests you by taking courses in many subjects. For example, it’s hard to decide if you want to be a painter if you’ve never painted any pictures; once you’re in a drawing-room on campus, you’ll know one way or the other. College is also a lot of fun—after you graduate, you’ll be working every weekday for 50 years or so. And remember that college graduates earn about twice the income of those who never attended college.
Finding the right college can be difficult. Fortunately, Johnson Review is here to help you every step of the way.
* Researching Schools. To us, the most important decision you’ll make is to choose the school that really fits you best—not the one that is the most competitive or has the best-equipped rooms.
* Applying to School. On JohnsonReview.com, you’ll find hundreds of actual college applications(申请) and links to many more.
* Raising Your Scores. American College Test is one of the most difficult parts of the admissions(录取) course. It’s not the most important, though, and not everyone needs to prepare for the best. But, if you think you can do better, find the right course for better scores.
* Paying for School. Most families need financial aid for the high cost of college. The problem is that financial aid seems difficult to get and many families get caught up in the price of college rather than learning the ways to get financial aid. If you really do your research, you’ll learn that you can afford to attend any college, no matter the cost.
For more information, call 600-3681 or visit JohnsonReview.com. Wherever you go, have a nice trip!
Johnson Smith
Founder and CEO
Johnson Review How many reasons for going to college does the author mention in the text?
A.2 | B.3 | C.4 | D.5 |
The author thinks you should choose the college that is _____.
A.well-equipped | B.competitive |
C.suitable | D.famous |
What does the author advise you to do to pay the high cost of college?
A.To ask the family for help. |
B.To make a study of financial courses. |
C.To do research on the price of college. |
D.To get to know how to ask for financial aid. |
Which of the following will the author agree?
A.Johnson Review can help you find the right college easier. |
B.The most important part for college admission is the College Test. |
C.It is not worth going to college nowadays in America. |
D.If you want to find a place to spend your holiday, visit JohnsonReview.com. |
I was an extremely verbal child, and growing up with my dad was an experiment in linguistics(语言学). My father was a man of few words. Whenever I wanted his permission for a certain activity, I planned a speech that included who would be there, where it would take place, how long it would last, and why it was an incredibly wonderful opportunity for me. He would listen and then say either “Yes” or “No.” There were never any qualifiers; not “Yes, but be home by dinner” or “No, unless you can convince me otherwise.” It was yes or no, plain and simple.
My father’s phone messages were also lessons in patience and long-suffering to a teenage girl. I was quite active in high school. Not only did I enjoy being involved in many areas, but I came into contact with many a great teenage guy. I can recall one busy day when I had met two great guys and had given each of them my phone number. The first words out of my mouth when I walked through the front door were, “Dad! Did anyone call?” His answer, of course, was simply “Yes”.I required for a more accurate description of the caller. His answer: “A boy.” Since I had met two guys that day, this did not help me. I ran to my room in tears.
Knowing my dad’s dislike of language in general and his fondness for briefness, it surprised me to hear that he was going to teach the eleven-year-old boys’ Sunday school class. He did so for not one, but many years. I always wondered if he actually said anything, or if they all just sat in their chairs and stared at each other. I was sure that if people were waiting on my father to break the ice with brilliant conversation or a springboard comment, they’d be badly disappointed. Still, September after September, my father hung his sign outside the Sunday school room: Mr. Ernst—Eleven-Year-Old Boys. In order to get Dad to agree to the author’s outing, the author had to make up the following EXCEPT _____.
A.the friends I shall meet in the activity |
B.the activity is a chance for anyone |
C.the place where the activity is to be held |
D.the time that I shall spend in the activity |
When the author says “My father’s phone messages were also lessons in patience and long-suffering to a teenage girl.”, it means that when she was young _____.
A.her father once gave her a lesson about patience and long-lasting pain |
B.her father’s brief phone messages angered her a lot but made her patient |
C.she was trained to be patient and brave because of her father’s brief phone messages |
D.she suffered and had to be patient because of her father’s brief phone messages |
What’s the meaning of the underlined phrase “break the ice” in Paragraph 3?
A.Make the ice crack. | B.Stop talking. |
C.Start a talk. | D.Interrupt a talk. |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A.My father would answer me with “Yes, but be home by dinner” sometimes. |
B.I came into contact with just a few great teenage guys because I was active in high school. |
C.That my father would teach the eleven-year-old boys’ Weekday school class surprised me. |
D.I always wanted to know how my father, who talked so little, taught the boys. |
When Gretchen Baxter gets home from work as a New York City book editor, she checks her Blackberry at the door. “I think we are attached to these devices in a way that is not always positive,” says Baxter, who’d rather focus at home on her husband and 12-year-old daughter. “It’s there and it beckons(召唤). That’s human nature (but)…we kind of get crazy sometimes and we don’t know where it should stop.”
Americans are connected at unprecedented(前所未有的) levels—93% now use cell phones or wireless devices; one third of those are “smart phones” that allow users to browse the web and check e-mails, among other things. The benefits are obvious: checking messages on the road, staying in touch with friends and family, efficiently using time once spent waiting around. The downside: often, we’re effectively disconnecting from those in the same room.
That’s why, despite all the technology that makes communicating easier than ever, 2010 was the year we stopped talking to one another. From texting at dinner to posting on Facebook from work or checking e-mails while on a date, the connectivity revolution is creating a lot of divided attention, not to mention social anxiety. Many analysts say it’s time to step back and reassess (再评价).
“What we’re going to see in the future is new opportunities for people to be plugged in and connected like never before,” says Scott Campbell. “It can be a good thing, but I also see new ways the traditional social construction is getting somewhat torn apart.”
Our days are filled with beeps and pings—many of which pull us away from tasks at hand or face-to-face conversations. We may feel that the distractions(干扰) are too much, but we can’t seem to stop posting, texting or surfing. “We’re going through a period of adjustment and rebalancing, ” says Sherry Turkle and she wants to remind people that technology can be turned off. “Our human purposes are to really have connections with people,” she says. “We have to reclaim it. It’s not going to take place by itself.”According to Paragraph 1, Gretchen Baxter thinks _____.
A.the new technology always influences people’s life in a positive way |
B.the new technology always influences people’s life in a negative way |
C.the family isn’t that important compared to the new technology |
D.people are too dependent on the new technology to let go |
The underlined word “downside” in Paragraph 2 probably means _____.
A.advantage | B.weakness |
C.strength | D.effect |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A.The wide use of mobile devices has nothing to do with the traditional social construction. |
B.Mobile devices play a less important part in American life. |
C.Mobile devices create a lot of divided attention and social anxiety. |
D.Many analysts speak highly of the wide popularity of mobile devices. |
What can be inferred from the last paragraph?
A.Something must be done to get connection with people in reality again. |
B.Using mobile services can help people get con- nection with each other. |
C.Mobile services have a strong impact on people’s life. |
D.The connection with people can happen naturally. |
People often talk as if shyness is a disease or mental condition that can be cured. I prefer to think of it as an emotional disability. It’s something we are born with and something we carry with us in our entire lives. There are too many people, however, who seem to be determined to find some way of doing away with their shyness. In my opinion, it’s a waste of time. I don’t mean that we should do nothing about it; quite the contrary, I think we need to separate the basic fact of our shyness from our ability to take part in a social environment.
Look at one of the most famous shy people of them all, Johnny Carson. This man is painfully shy, yet for decades he made a living talking and associating with different people every night, in front of a national audience. Carson has never done away with his shyness, but he has successfully found a way to deal with it to the extent that he could be, not just a talk show host, but a legend among talk show hosts. Look also at Sally Fields, who has recently admitted her problem with shyness. This is a woman who has appeared in many films, TV shows and interviews, yet in her early years she was so shy that she turned down a lunch invitation from Jane Fonda because she was terribly afraid of meeting her.
I guess that our shyness is there because each of us is born with some insecurity and this insecurity prevents us from reaching out to others the way people with a more open personality do. As we grow up and become adults, we allow our social skills to grow and develop. But we are still stuck in kindergarten or elementary school or wherever it was when our shyness took root in our soul. In the author’s view, shyness can be explained as .
A.a not very normal mental condition |
B.a disease that can be easily cured |
C.something we pick up after birth |
D.a kind of emotional disability |
From the passage, we know that Johnny Carson .
A.has dealt with shyness very successfully |
B.has done away with his shyness carefully |
C.is described as a hero in some legend books |
D.failed to become a good talk show host |
The passage tells us that Sally Fields was .
A.proud all the time |
B.close to Jane Fonda |
C.impolite when young |
D.shy in her early years |
The author thinks that our shyness is there because .
A.we are not open enough |
B.we don’t feel secure at heart |
C.we try to reach out to others all the time |
D.we lack some social skills |