Over the years I've been teaching children about a simple but powerful concept -- the ant philosophy (哲学).I think everybody should study ants.
They have an amazing four-part philosophy, and here is the first part: ants never quit. That's a good philosophy. If they're headed somewhere and you try to stop them; they'll look for another way.
They'll climb over, they'll climb under, and they'll climb around. They keep looking for another way. What a neat philosophy, to never quit looking for a way to get where you're supposed to go.
Second, ants think winter all summer. That's an important viewpoint. You can't be so naive ( 天真的) as to think summer will last forever. So ants are gathering in their winter food in the middle of summer.
An ancient story says, "Don't build your house on the sand in the summer. " Why do we need that advice.'? Because it is important to be realistic. In the summer, you've got to think storm. You've got to think rocks as you enjoy the sand and sun. Think ahead.
The third part of the ant philosophy is that ants think summer all winter. That is so important. During the winter, ants remind themselves, "This won't last long ; we'll soon be out of here. " And on the first warm day, the ants are out. If it turns cold again, they'll dive back down, but then they come out on the first warm day. They can't wait to get out.
And here's the last part of the ant-philosophy. How much will an ant gather during the summer to prepare for the winter? All he possibly can. What an incredible philosophy, the "all-you-possibly-can" philosophy.
Wow, what a great seminar to attend -- the ant seminar. Never give up, look ahead, stay positive and do all you can.If you try to stop ants going forward, they will
| A.climb over your head | B.quit looking for a way |
| C.search for another way | D.keep climbing around |
What is the second philosophy of ants?
| A.Think winter all summer. | B.Always be realistic. |
| C.Never become lazy in summer. | D.Always look ahead. |
Which of the following can best describe the third part of the ant philosophy?
| A.Always stay positive. | B.Always remind yourself. |
| C.Always think summer. | D.Always be hardworking. |
We can learn from the last part of the ant philosophy that we should
| A.never stop gathering food in the summer | B.always get prepared for the winter |
| C.gather as much as possible for the future | D.do whatever we can for the future |
Which of the following is the best title for the passage?
| A.The Concept of Ants | B.The Ant Philosophy |
| C.Never Give up | D.Do All You Can |
D
We all know what it is like to be unable to turn your head because of a cold in the muscles of your neck, or because an unexpected twist has made your neck ache and stiff. Your whole body feels tight. The slightest move makes you jump with pain. Nothing could be worse than a pain in the neck.
That is why we use phrase to describe some people who give you the same feeling. We have all met such people.
One is the man who always seems to be clapping his hands—often at the wrong time—during a performance in the theater. He keeps you from hearing the actors.
Even worse are those who can never arrive before the curtain goes up and play begins. They come hurrying down to your row of seats. You are comfortably settled down, with your hat and heavy coat in your lap. You must stand up to ;et them pass. You are proud of your self—control after they have settled into their seats…Well, what now…Good God, one of them is up again. He forgot to go to the men’s room, and once more you have to stand up, hanging on to your hat and coat to let him pass. Now, that is “a pain in the neck.”
Another, well—known to us all, is the person sitting behind you in the movies. His mouth is full of popcorn; he is chewing loudly, or talking between bites to friends next to him. None of them remain still. Up and down, back and forth, they go—for another bag of popcorn, or something to drink.
Then, there is the main sitting next to you at a lunch counter smoking a smelly cigar. He wants you to enjoy it too, and blows smoke across you food into your mouth.
We must not forget the man who comes into a bus or subway car and sits down next to you, just as close as you will let him. You are reading the newspaper and he leans over and stretches his rock so that he can read the paper with you. He may even turn the paper to the next page before you are ready for it.
We also call such a person a “rubber neck,” always stretching his neck to where it does not belong, like neighbors who watch all your visitors. They enjoy invading your privacy. People have a strong dislike for rubbernecks. They hate being spied upon.
68.Where can you find this passage?
A.Medicine dictionaries. B.Social science books,
C.Kids’ comic books. D.Science text books.
69.How do you feel when late comers walk back and forth in front of you in a cinema?
A.Ignored. B.Bored. C.Disturbed D.Relaxed.
70.A “rubber neck” often .
A.says bad words behind people.
B.quarrels face to face with neighbors.
C.bargains the price with sales women
D.asks about other people’s business
71.Which of the follow is a “pain on the neck”?
A.Someone who helps you find your seat in a movie theatre.
B.Someone who smokes in a smoking section on a train.
C.Someone who throws trash out of his car window on the highway.
D.Someone who goes to the doctor for his severe pain on the neck.
(二)
A
How Do Animals Catch Their ZZZ’s?
Different creatures have developed some pretty creative ways to get their rest and stay safe. The lizard(蜥蝎)likes to sleep at the far end of small branches hanging out over a pond or lake in the rain forest. If a snake tries to slither up the branch to eat it ,it will shake the branch and knock the lizard off ,and the lizard will fall safely into the water. Chameleons can change color to match their surroundings in order to hide even while sleeping.
Corillas(大猩猩)like to sleep high in the trees. They build a new bed every night, sometimes taking up to half an hour to pile branches ,twigs ,and leaves into a comfortable bed .Birds also find it safe to sleep in the trees, but unless they have eggs or young chicks ,they don’t use a nest .They just lock their feet around a branch and hang on .A special tendon(腱)in their legs in automatically tight when they are at rest ,so they won’t let go and fall.
Dolphins live underwater ,but must come to the surface to breather .Scientists now believe that dolphins may sleep with only half their brain, while the other half stays awake to keep them safe and breathing. Seals also do this ,lying on their sides on the surface of the water with one flipper underwater paddling to keep their noses above the surface. Some ducks may also have this ability, and actually sleep with one eye closed and one eye open.
56.How many animals are mentioned in this passage?
A.6. B.7. C.8. D.9.
57.How does a chameleon protect itself while sleeping?
A.By changing its body colors. B.By hinging out over a pond.
C.By sleeping with half their brain. D.By making beds with branches.
58.Why will not birds fall when they are at rest?
A.They build nests and sleep in them. B.They fall asleep automatically.
C.They have a loose tendon in their legs. D.They lock their feet around a branch.
59.What does the writer intend to tell us?
A.The cleverest animal is the gorilla because it can make beds.
B.Differences in habitat could lead to different living habits.
C.The ways animals catch their ZZZ’s are pretty much he same .
D.In order to protect themselves most animals choose not to sleep.