It’s good to make mistakes, and here is why.
First of all, mistakes are a clear sign that you are trying new things. It’s always good to try new things because when you are trying new things you are growing. If you never try anything new, how can you improve? How can you expand? The simple answer is “You can’t”. Look around you. With very few exceptions, either everything you see in your physical world or every single detail of every single thing is the result of someone trying something new.
Another good thing about mistakes is this: When you are making mistakes, you are learning. Consider this: Edison failed 10,000 times before he perfected the light bulb. When asked how it felt to fail that many times, he said that he hadn’t failed 10,000 times, but rather had learned 10,000 things that didn’t work.
Finally, when you make a mistake you are much closer to success. Why?
Because when all is said and done, you will have tried some number of things before you succeeded. Every time you make a mistake you eliminate one of those things and are one step closer.
But this all doesn’t mean that you should go ahead without considering the consequences of a mistake. Quite the contrary, when you try something new you have to be willing to set some reasonable limits so that in the event that it doesn’t work out the way you want it to, you will be in a position to try again.
We all have limited resources in the form of time and money so don’t blow them all on one approach to a problem. Realize that it probably won’t be perfect the first time and allocate (分配) these resources appropriately so you can learn, make corrections, and try it again. Only by accepting and using your mistakes in this way can you make significant advances in your business and your career.
There is an old saying that goes, “If you’re not making mistakes, you’re not trying hard enough.”
So go forth and make mistakes. And learn. And grow. And prosper(成功).From the second paragraph, we can conclude that _______.
| A.mistakes are unnecessary for development |
| B.we are afraid of trying new things |
| C.it’s common for people to make mistakes |
| D.mistakes are better than not trying |
The underlined word “eliminate” means _______.
| A.avoid | B.Remove | C.accept | D.solve |
. According to the article, one thing you should pay attention to about making mistakes is .
| A.avoiding making the same mistakes |
| B.accepting the punishment willingly |
| C.taking consequences into account |
| D.trying things out one by one |
. What would the writer probably suggest we say to ourselves when we make a mistake?
| A.Never mind, I can always try again. |
| B.I’d better stay out of trouble. |
| C.Ok! Now I can learn something. |
| D.Look at this mess. Anyone would be upset. |
China is a land of bicycles.At least it was back in 1992 when I traveled the country.Back then everyone seemed to be riding a bicycle.Millions of them, all black.Cars were rare.Yet since my arrival in Beijing last year.I've found the opposite is true.There are millions of cars.However, people still use their bicycles to get around.For many, it's the easiest and cheapest way to travel today.Bicycles also come in different colors—silver, green, red, blue, yellow, whatever you want.
It's fun watching people biking.They rush quickly through crossroads, move skillfully through traffic, and ride even on sidewalks(人行道).Bicycles allow people the freedom to move about that cars just can't provide.
Eager to be part of this aspect of Chinese culture, I decided to buy a bicycle.Great weather accompanied my great buy.I immediately jumped up on my bicycle seat and started home.
My first ride home was orderly(守秩序的).To be safe, I stayed with a “pack” of bikers while cars on the streets came running swiftly out of nowhere at times.I didn't want to get hit.So I took the ride carefully.
Crossing the streets was the biggest problem.It was a lot like crossing a major highway back in the United States.The streets here were wide, so crossing took time, skill and a little bit of luck.
I finally made it home.The feeling on the bicycle was amazing.The air hitting my face and going through my hair was wonderful.I was sitting on top of the world as I passed by places and people.Biking made me feel alive.According to the author, why are bicycles still popular in China today?
| A.Because they are traditional and safe. |
| B.Because they are convenient and inexpensive. |
| C.Because they are colorful and available. |
| D.Because they are fast and environmentfriendly. |
The author decided to buy a bicycle because he intended ________.
| A.to ride it for fun |
| B.to use it for transport |
| C.to experience local culture |
| D.to improve his riding skills |
How did the author feel about his street crossing?
| A.It was boring. | B.It was difficult. |
| C.It was lively. | D.It was wonderful. |
Which of the following best describes the author's biking experience?
| A.The author enjoyed showing off his biking skills. |
| B.The author was annoyed by the air while riding. |
| C.The author was praised by the other bikers. |
| D.The author took great pleasure in biking. |
The Healthy Habits Survey(调查) shows that only about one third of American seniors have correct habits.Here are some findings and expert advice.
| 1.How many times did you brush your teeth yesterday? ·Finding:A full 33% of seniors brush their teeth only once a day. ·Step:Remove the 300 types of bacteria in your mouth each morning with a batteryoperated toothbrush.Brush gently for 2 minutes at least twice a day. 2.How many times did you wash your hands or bathe yesterday? ·Finding:Seniors, on average, bathe fewer than 3 days a week.And nearly 30% wash their hands only 4 times a day—half of the number doctors recommend. ·Step:We touch our faces around 3,000 times a day—often inviting germs(病菌) to enter our mouth, nose, and eyes.Use toilet paper to avoid touching the door handle.And, most important, wash your hands often with hot running water and soap for 20 seconds. 3.How often do you think about fighting germs? ·Finding:Seniors are not fighting germs as well as they should. ·Step:Be aware of germs.Do you know it is not your toilet but your kitchen sponge(海绵) that can carry more germs than anything else? To kill these germs, keep your sponge in the microwave for 10 seconds. |
What is found out about American seniors?
| A.Most of them have good habits. |
| B.Nearly 30% of them bathe three days a week. |
| C.All of them are fighting germs better than expected. |
| D.About one third of them brush their teeth only once a day. |
Doctors suggest that people should wash their hands ________.
| A.twice a day | B.three times a day |
| C.four times a day | D.eight times a day |
Which of the following is true according to the text?
| A.We should keep from touching our faces. |
| B.There are less than 300 types of bacteria in the mouth. |
| C.A kitchen sponge can carry more germs than a toilet. |
| D.We should wash our hands before touching a door handle. |
The text probably comes from ________.
| A.a guide book | B.a popular magazine |
| C.a book review | D.an official document |
We sometimes think global warming or climate change is a problem very far away from our lives, and that only the government needs to worry about it. But it's hardly possible to completely stay out of it scientists are now 95 percent sure that humans have been the “dominant cause” of global warming trends since the 1950s.
One of the conclusions of a report released on Sept 27 by the United Nations says that human activities have caused global temperatures to rise by 0.89 0C between 1901 and 2012. That might not seem like a lot, but the truth is that a major part of that heat has been absorbed into the oceans, which is not surprising given that they cover two thirds of Earth's surface. Also, water has a much greater capacity (容量) to absorb heat than the air does, according to The Economist.
While many greenhouse gases occur naturally and are needed to keep the Earth warm enough to support life, humans' use of fossil fuels is the main source of excess (多余的) greenhouse gases. According to CNN, by driving cars, using electricity produced by burning coal and oil or heating our homes with coal or natural gas, we release a large amount of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
Your body can barely feel a difference of 0.89 0C, but the Earth's ecosystems are so sensitive that even small changes can disturb them. It often starts with the smallest creatures at the bottom of the food chain, eventually affecting bigger animals, many of which could end up becoming extinct.
Global warming is also linked to an increase in extreme weather. A larger amount of carbon dioxide traps more energy inside the atmosphere. This changes the patterns of storms and rainfall in many regions and can lead to droughts and floods. Worse still, melting sea ice in warmer oceans is causing sea levels to rise at a speed of more than three millimeters per year, according to The Guardian, which also increases the risk of flooding.
“The report should serve as another wakeup call that our activities today have a profound impact on society, not only for us, but for many generations to come,” French Michel Jarraud, secretarygeneral of the World Meteorological Organization, said at a news conference.The underlined word “dominant” in the first paragraph means “ ________”.
| A.common | B.indirect |
| C.secondary | D.leading |
Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
| A.Greenhouse gases have been proven to harm merely the Earth . |
| B.There is little we can do to prevent global warming. |
| C.Global warming can increase the chances of droughts and floods. |
| D.The hugeness of oceans makes them better absorbers of heat than the air. |
The rise in global temperatures between 1901 and 2012 ________.
| A.is more harmful to smaller creatures than bigger ones |
| B.is not serious because most of the extra heat has been absorbed by the oceans |
| C.has made the Earth's ecosystems more sensitive to changes |
| D.is likely to cause many species to become extinct |
What is Michel Jarraud's attitude toward the report released by the UN?
| A.Negative. | B.Supportive. |
| C.Doubtful. | D.Uninterested. |
Some students get so nervous before a test; they do poorly even if they know the material. Sian Beilock has studied these highly anxious testtakers.
Sian Beilock: “They start worrying about the consequences. They might even start worrying about whether this exam is going to prevent them from getting into the college they want. And when we worry,it actually uses up attention and memory resources. I talk about it as your cognitive horsepower that you could otherwise be using to focus on the exam.”
Professor Beilock and another researcher,Gerardo Ramirez,have developed a possible solution. Just before an exam,highly anxious testtakers spend ten minutes writing about their worries about the test.
Sian Beilock: “What we think happens is when students put it down on paper,they think about the worst that could happen and they reappraise the situation. They might realize it's not as bad as they might think it was before and,in essence(本质上),it prevents these thoughts from popping up when they're actually taking a test.”
The researchers tested the idea on a group of twenty anxious college students. They gave them two short math tests. After the first one, they asked the students to either sit quietly or write about their feelings about the upcoming second test.
The researchers added to the pressure. They told the students that those who did well on the second test would get money. They also told them that their performance would affect other students as part of a team effort.
Professor Beilock says those who sat quietly scored an average of twelve percent worse on the second test. But the students who had written about their fears improved their performance by an average of five percent.
Next, the researchers used younger students in a biology class. They told them before final exams either to write about their feelings or to think about things unrelated to the test.
Prefessor Beilock says highly anxious students who did the writing got an average grade of B+,compared to a B- for those who did not.
Sian Beilock: “What we showed is that for students who are highly testanxious,who'd done our writing intervention(排解),all of a sudden there was no relationship between test anxiety and performance. Those students most likely to worry were performing just as well as their classmates who don't normally get nervous in these testing situations.”
But what if students do not have a chance to write about their fears immediately before an exam or presentation? Professor Beilock says students can try it themselves at home or in the library and still improve their performance.Which of the following is TRUE?
| A.The result in the math test agrees with that in the biology test. |
| B.In the first math test, students who sat quietly performed better. |
| C.In the second math test, students who wrote about their feelings did worse. |
| D.Some college students are highly anxious testtakers while others are not in the tests. |
What may happen if students have the problem of test anxiety?
| A.Test anxiety is sure to cause students to fail the test. |
| B.Test anxiety can improve students' performance to some degree. |
| C.Students' attention and memory resources run out when worried. |
| D.Students may not be admitted into their favorite college if worried. |
The result of the research suggests that ________.
| A.proper amount of burden may turn out to be a good thing |
| B.facing the fears bravely may help one to achieve more |
| C.avoiding facing the problem may contribute to relaxation |
| D.taking no action before difficulty may result in success |
What is the main idea of the passage?
| A.It is important for students to overcome test anxiety. |
| B.Anxious students overcome test anxiety by writing down fears. |
| C.It is a common practice for students being worried before a test. |
| D.Being worried before tests does harm to students' performance. |
Nuclear power's danger to health, safety, and even life itself can be summed up in one word: radiation.
Nuclear radiation has a certain mystery about it, partly because it cannot be detected by human senses. It can't be seen or heard, or touched or tasted, even though it may be all around us. There are other things like that. For example, radio waves are all around us but we can't detect them, sense them, without a radio receiver. Similarly, we can't sense radioactivity without a radiation detector. But unlike common radio waves, nuclear radiation is not harmless to human beings and other living things.
At very high levels, radiation can kill an animal or human being immediately by killing masses of cells in vital organs. But even the lowest levels can do serious damage. There is no levels of radiation that is completely safe. If the radiation does not hit anything important, the damage may not be serious. This is the case when only a few cells are hit, and if they are killed immediately. Your body will replace the dead cells with healthy ones. But if the few cells are only damaged, and if they reproduce themselves, you may be in trouble. They can grow into cancer. Sometimes this does not show up for many years.
This is another reason for some of the mystery about nuclear radiation. Serious damage can be done without the victim being aware at the time that damage has occurred. A person can be irradiated(辐射)and feel fine, then die for cancer five, ten, or twenty years later as a result. Or a child can be born weak as a result of radiation absorbed by its grandparents.
Radiation can hurt us. We must know the truth.Which of the following statements is true?
| A.Nuclear radiation is just like common radio waves. |
| B.Nuclear radiation can cause cancer to human beings. |
| C.Nuclear radiation can be detected by human senses. |
| D.Nuclear radiation can be safe to human beings if its level is low. |
How can nuclear radiation kill an animal?
| A.By damaging its heart. |
| B.By killing a few cells. |
| C.By hitting any place in its body. |
| D.By killing many cells in important organs. |
If a human being is hit by nuclear radiation, he may __________.
| A.die of cancer after many years |
| B.die immediately |
| C.have a child who may be born weak |
| D.all of the above |