Living in a foreign culture there are many times when I realize that my perspective (观点) on life is drastically different from those Koreans I interact (相互影响) with on a daily basis. This past week I have been greatly challenged to change my perspective and here is why.
My dream in life is to become a doctor, one who changes the world. But last week I opened an email from UBC that contained the words “regrets”, no interview. I didn’t get an interview to medical school, thus will not be entering school for September 2009. My immediate reaction was one of extreme disappointment and anger—mostly directed at myself for not working hard enough, for not seeking out the opportunities necessary to have a good application, for simply not being good enough. My mind was full of hopelessness and despair that left me with no desire to further seek for the dream that I’ve held for quite a time now.
During the past week two things happened. At church our pastor mentioned perspective in a section of his sermon (说教). He stated that when we take our eyes off ourselves and realize God’s greatness, our circumstances will be seen through a new perspective.
The second thing that reminded me to look at perspective was reading a book. The Mitford Series is so good if you are looking for books to read. So last night I was reading and one of the main characters (who is a priest) is trying to figure out what to say at church. His sermon ended up saying “In everything we give thanks.” It is easy to give thanks when we feel successful in life. It is easy to give thanks when we receive a blessing. But seriously, who in their right mind says thanks for the financial problems I have?Where does the author probably live now?
A. In the USA. B. In Britain. C. In China. D. In Korea.How did she feel when the author received the email from UBC?
| A．Surprised. | B．Disappointed. | C．Excited. | D．Pleased. |
In the first pastor’s view, when we face disappointment or despair, we should _________.
| A．turn to God for help | B．say thanks to it |
| C．see it in another way | D．praise others for it |
What can we infer from the passage?
| A．The author can’t really free from the disappointment. |
| B．The author thinks the second sermon is wiser. |
| C．The author still wants to be a doctor. |
| D．The author thanks God for not being admitted by the university. |
For those who are tired of doing the laundry, Samsung has found an answer: a washing machine that can tell you when your laundry is done via a smartphone app (application).
Strange though it may seem-"my wife already does that" was a common response among attendeesviewing the device when it was introduced at theConsumer Electronics Show (CES ) this weekSamsung is just one of many appliance makers racingto install(安装) a large number of Internet-connectedfeatures in machines in an effort to make them "smart" .
Last year, it was a refrigerator that tweeted. Thisyear,it's Wi-Fi-enabled laundry machines and fridgesthat can tell you when your groceries are going bad.
The washers and dryers, available starting in thespring, connect to any smartphone through adownloadable application. The phone can then beused as a remote control, so the machines can beturned on and off white their owner is at work or onthe bus.
Samsung says it's not just something new — theapp connection actually has some practical uses.
"If you started to dry clothes in the morning andforgot to take them out, you can go to your phoneand restart your dryer for the time when you comehome, so your clothes are refreshed and ready to go,"said spokesperson Amy Schmidt.
The company also says that with electricity rates(电价) varying depending on the time of day, morecontrol over when the machines are used can helpsave money.
Perhaps, but what they will probably reallyaccomplish is what all good technologies do-enablelaziness. Rather than getting up to check on whetherthe laundry is done, users will instead monitor it ontheir phones while watching TV. What can be inferred from the common responseof the attendees at the CES?
| A．The machine will be a big success. |
| B．Their wives like doing the laundry. |
| C．The machine is unrelated to their life. |
| D．This kind of technology is familiar to them. |
What can we learn about the new laundrymachines?
| A．They can tell you when your clothes need washing. |
| B．They can be controlled with a smartphone. |
| C．They are difficult to operate. |
| D．They are sold at a low price. |
We can conclude from Samsung's statementsthat ______.
| A．the app connection makes life easier |
| B．it is better to dry clothes in the morning |
| C．smartphones can shorten the drying time |
| D．we should refresh clothes back at home |
What is the main idea of the last paragraph?
| A．The laundry should be frequently checked. |
| B．Lazy people like using such machines. |
| C．Good technologies also cause problems. |
| D．Televisions may help do the laundry. |
Three Boys and a Dad
Brad closed the door slowly as Sue left home tovisit her mother. Expecting a whole day to relax, hewas thinking whether to read the newspaper or watchhis favorite TV talk show on his first day off inmonths. "This will be like a walk in the park," he'dtold his wife. "I'll look after the kids, and you can go to visit your mom."
Things started well, but just after eight o'clock,his three little "good kids"-Mike, Randy, and Alex — came down the stairs in their night clothes andshouted "breakfast, Daddy." When food had notappeared within thirty seconds, Randy began using hisspoon on Alex's head as if it were a drum. Alexstarted to shout loudly in time to the beat (节拍).Mike chanted "Where's my toast, where's my toast"in the background. Brad realised his newspaper wouldhave to wait for a few seconds.
Life became worse after breakfast. Mike woreRandy's underwear on his head. Randy locked himselfin the bathroom,while Alex shouted again because hewas going to wet his pants. Nobody could find cleansocks, although they were before their very eyes.Someone named "Not Me" had spilled a whole glass of orange juice into the basket of clean clothes. Bradknew the talk show had already started.
By ten o'clock, things were out of control. Alexwas wondering why the fish in the jar refused hisbread and butter. Mike was trying to show off histalent by decorating the kitchen wall with his colourpencils. Randy, thankfully, appeared to be readingquietly in the family room, but closer examinationshowed that he was eating apple jam straight fromthe bottle with his hands. Brad realised that the talkshow was over and reading would be impossible.
At exactly 11:17, Brad called the daycare centre(日托所). "I suddenly have to go into work and mywife's away. Can I bring the boys over in a fewminutes?" The answer was obviously "yes" becauseBrad was smiling.When his wife left home, Brad expected to _________.
| A．go out for a walk in the park |
| B．watch his favorite TV talk show with his children |
| C．enjoy his first day off work |
| D．read the newspaper to his children |
Which of the following did Randy do?
| A．Drawing on the wall. |
| B．Eating apple jam. |
| C．Feeding the fish. |
| D．Reading in a room. |
Why did Brad ask the daycare centre for help?
| A．Because he wanted to clean up his house. |
| B．Because he suddenly had to go to his office. |
| C．Because he found it hard to manage his boys. |
| D．Because he had to take his wife back home. |
This text is developed ________
| A．by space |
| B．by comparison |
| C．by process |
| D．by time |
The massive polar bear moved slowly along therocky shoreline, just a yard or so from the stormywaters of the Arctic Ocean. Occasionally it raised itshead to sniff the Arctic air, hoping perhaps to find aneasy meal of an exhausted seal. It was late July, and inthis uninhabited area of the Norwegian archipelago,much of the drift ice had melted. This made hunting for seals — a polar bear's favorite meal — nearlyimpossible.
With a westerly wind at its back, the male bearcontinued to patrol the shore. Then, perhaps catchingthe smell of something unusual, it stopped dead in itstracks. Following its nose, it can smell a decayingwhale from 20 miles away, and the bear suddenlyturned downwind and inland. It was closing in on itsprey.
It was to be the adventure of a lifetime. For almost two years, longtime friends Sebastian PlurNilssen and LudvigFjeld, both 22, had been trainingfor this two-month-long expedition. Hoping to followin the footsteps of other Norwegian explorers such asRoald Amundsen and Thor Heyerdahl, the two wereattempting to become the first to paddle around theentire Svalbard islands, a trip of more than l,100miles through one of the world's most remoteregions.
To keep fit, they had worn dry suits and travelled through the ice-filled rivers near their hometowns outside Oslo, pulled heavy kayaks overglaciers, and jumped into the freezing waters to toughen themselves.
They spent much time practicing shooting. Asmany Arctic experts had told them,if they needed todefend themselves from a polar bear, they'd have little time to think. Each carried a gun in awaterproof bag lashed to their kayaks. Holdingsteady, controlling their breathing, aiming, and thenshooting: It all had to be second nature. What made the polar bear's hunting for seals difficult?
| A．The rocky shoreline. |
| B．The melting of the ice. |
| C．The uninhabited area. |
| D．The extreme cold. |
The reason why the bear stopped its patrol suddenly was that _____
| A．the westerly wind blew heavily at its back |
| B．it caught the smell of the decaying whale |
| C．it felt so worn-out and hungry |
| D．it was eager to get close to its prey |
Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．Sebastian PlurNilssen and LudvigFjeld are both nearly thirty years old. |
| B．Roald Amundsen and Thor Heyerdahl were trying to paddle around the Svalbard islands. |
| C．The shooting skill is important for the explorers to defend themselves from the bear. |
| D．Sebastian PlurNilssen and LudvigFjeld have succeeded in paddling around the Svalbard islands. |
The underlined word in the passage probably means"_______".
| A．encourage |
| B．strengthen |
| C．enjoy |
| D．entertain |
As Sam slowly woke, he got a funny feeling in his stomach. He knew he would have to do something that he had been afraid to do for a long time.
The school bus came on time, and he sat with his friend, Billy. They chatted about baseball. It was a great way to get his mind off what he had to do later. As they got close to the school, he could feel his heart beating. His hands were starting to sweat. He hated this！
He entered Mrs Owens' class. She was smiling and saying hello to all her students as she did every morning.
"Hi, Sam!" she said as he walked in.
"Hi," he said and quickly sat in his seat. Then the class began to take their spelling test. He looked at the clock. The time was near. He hoped he was not first！Mrs Owens said it was time to begin their special day.
"Sam, you'll be first." Mrs Owens said to the class, "Sam has worked very hard on his report on Hawaii, and I know it is very interesting."
Sam nervously greeted his class. Then, he thought about the fun things he had read about surfing, volcanoes, and pineapples in Hawaii, and he started to talk. He talked in front of the whole class, and it was fun. The class clapped as he finished and Mrs Owens was smiling. It wasn't terrible at all and he knew he would do better the next time. How did Sam feel after he woke?
| A．Excited. |
| B．Nervous. |
| C．Happy. |
| D．Hungry. |
What did Sam have to do that day?
| A．To have a baseball match. |
| B．To take a reading test. |
| C．To go to a new class. |
| D．To do something special. |
What does the underlined word "sweat" probably mean?
| A．触摸 |
| B．鼓掌 |
| C．出汗 |
| D．指点 |
Which could be inferred (推断) from this passage?
| A．Sam hated chatting about baseball. |
| B．Sam learned about Hawaii by travelling. |
| C．Mrs Owens is unfriendly to her students. |
| D．The class enjoyed Sam's talk very much. |
Which is the best title for this passage?
| A．A Special Day |
| B．An Interesting Lesson |
| C．A Nice Teacher |
| D．A Professional Report |
Being successful in high school comes with a lotof patience as well as motivation. Unfortunately thereare so many distractions coming your way, andsometimes it becomes hard to say no. However,if youwant to become a successful student, then you have tostart learning how to say no to these distractions.
It may be hard during the school year, and alsotiring,but the hard work always pays off at the end.When you graduate, you want to graduate withhonors,and you want to also be remembered as adiligent school worker. So remember, become asuccessful student, for that will determine your successin the future.
Getting involved in a romantic relationship is purely optional. You should never feel a need to hookup with someone just because everyone else does. Youstill have so many years ahead of you, so why notmake good use of your high school years to focus on schoolwork and then get into a good college?However,don't be afraid of dating either — a steadyboyfriend or girlfriend can be one of the best antidepressants there is!
Stay away from the drama and gossip. You havefar too much more important stuff to worry aboutthat.
Learn to befriend your teachers. This willdefinitely make things easier for you in the future,when you are applying to colleges and needrecommendations.
If you're struggling to keep up with yourhomework load, tell your teachers. Don't be afraid toask for an extension or extra help before/afterschool, or during lunch or a free period. They arethere to help you. Besides, the worst they can do issay no.
Even if you are a shy person,try to make at leasta couple of friends, so you have someone to talk toand someone who will have your back in a toughsituation. It helps to join clubs that interest you andyou can demonstrate those hobbies that make youshine. You will be surprised at how you will attractpeople like a magnet.What will decide our future success?
| A．A lot of patience and motivation. |
| B．Saying no to the distractions. |
| C．Becoming a successful student. |
| D．Working harder than others. |
The author holds the idea that_________.
| A．it is necessary to associate with someone just because everyone else does |
| B．the students should focus their attention and time on dating with a boyfriend or girlfriend |
| C．we mustn't date with a boyfriend or girlfriend because it wastes too much time |
| D．a steady boyfriend or girlfriend can help the students fight with the depression |
We can learn from the passage that_________.
| A．the students should keep their teachers at a distance and look up to them |
| B．the students should inform their teachers of their struggle in finishing the homework |
| C．them teachers will say no to their students' any request |
| D．the shy persons won't be able to make any friends even if they try their best |
What would be the best title for the passage?
| A．How to Be a Successful Student |
| B．Ideas on How to Gain Higher Grades |
| C．Ways to Be a Success in the Future |
| D．How to Communicate with Others |