For years we have been told that encouraging a child’s self-respect is important to his or her success in life. But child experts are now learning that too much praise can lead to the opposite effect, Praise-aholic kids who expect it at every turn may become teens who seek the same kind of approval from their friends when asked if they want to go in the backseat of the car.
The implication (含义) of saying “You are the prettiest girl in class,” or talking about the goals she scored but not her overall( 全面的) efforts, is that you love her only when she looks the best, scores the highest, achieves the most. And this carries over to the classroom.
Social psychologist Carol Dweck, PhD, tested the effects of overpraise on 400 fifth grades while she was at Columbia University. She found that kids praised for “trying hard” did better on the tests and were more likely to take on difficult assignments than those praised for being “smart”.
“ Praising attributes (品质) or abilities makes a false promise that success will come to you because you have that quality, and it devalues efforts, so children are afraid to take on challenges, ” says Dweck, now at Stanford University. “They figure they’d better quit while they’ re ahead.”The underlined words “ Praise-aholic kids” refer to kids who are _______.
A. tired of being praised
B. worthy of being praised
C. very proud of being praised
D extremely fond of being praised.The author quoted (引用) Dr. Dweck’s words in the last paragraph in order to make the article ______.
| A．better-known | B．better-organized |
| C．more believable | D．more interesting |
We can infer from the passage that ____________.
| A．praise for efforts should be more encouraged |
| B．praise for results works better than praise for efforts |
| C．praising a child’s achievements benefits his or her success in life. |
| D．praising a child’s abilities encourages him or her to take on challenges |
When I was six, Dad brought home a dog one day, who was called “Brownie”. My brothers and I all loved Brownie and did different things with her. One of us would walk her, another would feed her, then there were baths, playing catch and many other games. Brownie, in return, loved each and every one of us. One thing that most touched my heart was that she would go to whoever was sick and just be with them . We always felt better when she was around.
One day, as I was getting her food, she chewed up(咬破)one of Dad’s shoes, which had to be thrown away in the end. I knew Dad would be mad and I had to let her know what she did was wrong. When I looked at her and said, ”Bad girl,” she looked down at the ground and then went and hid. I saw a tear in her eyes.
Brownie turned out to be more than just our family pet, she went everywhere with us .People would stop and ask if they could pet her. Of course she’d let anyone pet her. She was just the most lovable dog. There were many times when we’d be out walking and a small child would come over and pull on her hair. She never barked(吠) or tried to get away. Funny thing is she would smile. This frightened people because they thought she was showing her teeth. Far from the truth, she loved everyone.
Now many years have passed since Brownie died of old age. I still miss the days when she was with us. What would Brownie do when someone was ill in the family?
| A．Look at them sadly. | B．Touch them gently. |
| C．Play games with them. | D．Keep them company. |
We can infer from Paragraph 2 that Brownie__________.
| A．would eat anything when hungry | B．loved playing hide-and-seek |
| C．felt sorry for her mistake | D．disliked the author’s dad |
Why does the author say that Brownie was more than just a family pet?
| A．She was loved by everybody she met. | B．She played games with anyone she liked. |
| C． She was treated as a member of the family. | D．She went everywhere with the family. |
Which of the following best describes Brownie?
| A．Shy | B．Polite | C．Caring | D．Brave |
What could make Michael Jordon, one of the greatest basketball players in history, shed tears? It was when he became a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame on September 11. The hall is in Springfield, Massachusetts and honors the best basketball players, greatest coaches and other contributors to the game. “The game of basketball has been everything to me ,” said Jordan, 46. “It is the place I have always gone when I needed to find comfort and peace.”
Jordan retired twice in his 15-year career, finishing with 32292 points, the third highest total points in NBA history behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone. His average of 30.12 points a game is the best in the League.
“One day you might look up and see me playing the game at 50,” Jordan said. “Because limits, like fears, are often just an illusion.” (假象) In other words, it was motivation that made Jordan such a success..
A great career did not mean a smooth one. His high school coach cut him from the team in favor of a taller player when Jordan was in 10th grade. His college coach wouldn’t allow him on the cover of Sports Illustration in 1981 with North Carolina’s four other players because Jordan was a freshman. In his first NBA All-Star game, older NBA stars wouldn’t throw him the ball because of jealousy.
“That burned me up,” Jordan said. “But obstacle don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.” When Jordan became a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame,_____
| A．he found something more encouraging . |
| B．he was so excited that he couldn’t hold his tears back. |
| C．he was happy and sad at the same time. |
| D．he felt very comfortable and peaceful. |
Who scored the highest total points in NBA history?
| A．Michael Jordon. | B．Karl Malone. |
| C．Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. | D．Kobe Bryant. |
When in college basketball team, Jordan ______
| A．was not experienced enough to be favored by his coach. |
| B．was the pet of his basketball coach. |
| C．was the best player in the team |
| D．was the tallest one of all basketball players. |
What does the word “obstacle” mean in the passage?
| A．Something that makes you feel uncomfortable |
| B．The coach who thinks you are not suitable for playing basketball. |
| C．A wall in the basketball court to stop players in training. |
| D．Something that makes it difficult for you to achieve your goal. |
Scientists studying the impact of climate change on the Arctic need to consider ways to reduce their own carbon footprints(碳排放量), says Ryan Brook, a researcher who regularly flies north to study the health of caribous(驯鹿).He calls on scientists to show leadership by examining and sharing ways to reduce the impact of working in polar regions.
“The importance of the research is not at question here. It is important to our understanding of and adapting to climate change. But we need to think about better approaches,” says Brook.
“This is an issue for all scientists, though polar researchers often travel particularly long distances using commercial air travel. We also rely extensively on small aircraft, icebreakers, and snowmobiles, all of which produce large amounts of carbon.”
Brook studies the health of caribou herds in Nunavut and Northwest Territories. He works with northern wildlife managers. This work typically takes him north five or six times per year and when he calculated his own carbon footprint, he was not happy with the result.
“My research footprints are about the same as the annual footprints of an average Toronto resident. Basically, I have two footprints — my own personal life, which is moderate, and my research footprint.”
Climate scientists can rightly argue that Arctic research is a specialized field and the community of scientists who travel north is relatively small. Even if all scientists working in the north reduced their carbon emissions, it would not make a big impact on the global scale. For Brook, it’s the option that matters.
There are ways researchers can reduce the amount of carbon they use. Some helicopters use less fuel than others. Solar and wind power are alternatives to gas-fired generators. And while carbon offsets(抵消) don’t reduce the amount of carbon emitted, they are an easy first step.
“There aren’t necessarily any easy answers, but we need to start talking about it,” says Brook. “This is particularly important for the next generation of scientists being trained and I hope to see them become leaders in this issue.”What did Brook find when he calculated his own carbon footprints?
| A．His carbon footprints are more than the annual footprints of a Toronto resident. |
| B．His personal life footprints are more than the annual footprints of a Toronto resident. |
| C．His research footprints are about the same as his personal life footprints. |
| D．His personal life footprints are more than his research footprints. |
Brook’s opinion is challenged by the statement that .
| A．arctic research is very important |
| B．the Arctic is a special environment |
| C．the footprints of Arctic scientists are small |
| D．Brook’s situation is a common phenomenon |
We can infer from the last paragraph that .
| A．we should take actions immediately instead of just talking |
| B．it’s easy to start talking about the problem of carbon emissions |
| C．it’s necessary now to pay attention to the problem of research footprints |
| D．the next generation of scientists are more interested in research footprints |
What’s the main idea of the text?
| A．The importance of arctic research is not at question. |
| B．Climate change becomes worse because of arctic research. |
| C．Brook suggests ways of reducing the use of carbon. |
| D．Scientists must look at their own carbon footprints. |
In all one’s lifetime it is oneself that one spends the most time being with or dealing with. But it is exactly oneself that one has the least understanding of.
When you are going upwards in life you tend to overestimate yourself. It seems that everything you seek for is within your reach. When you are going downhill you tend to underestimate yourself, mistaking difficulties for your own incompetence.
To get a thorough understanding of oneself is to gain a correct view of oneself-aware of both one’s strengths and shortages. You may look forward hopefully to the future but be sure not to expect too much, for ideals can never be fully realized. You may be courageous to meet challenges but it should be clear to you where to direct your efforts. That’s to say so long as you have a perfect knowledge of yourself there won’t be difficulties you can’t overcome.
To get a thorough understanding of oneself needs self-appreciation. Whether you think you are a towering tree or a blade of grass, a high mountain or a small stone, you represent a state of nature that has its own value. If you earnestly admire yourself you’ll have a real sense of self-appreciation, which will give you confidence. As soon as you gain full confidence in yourself, you’ll be enabled to fight and overcome any adversity.
To get a thorough understanding of oneself also requires doing oneself a favor when it’s needed. In time of sadness, do yourself a favor by sharing it with your friends so as to change a gloomy mood into a cheerful one; in time of tiredness, do yourself a favor by getting a good sleep. As you are aware, what a person physically has is but a human body that’s vulnerable when exposed to the elements. So if you fall ill, it’s up to you to take a good care of yourself.
In a word, to get a thorough understanding of oneself is to get a full control of one’s life. Then one will find one’s life full of color and flavor. What is described in Paragraph 2 is to show that .
| A．a person is easy to estimate himself too high when succeeding |
| B．it is difficult for one to have a perfect knowledge of oneself |
| C．you should keep up high spirits whatever difficulties you meet |
| D．it is essential that a person get a thorough understanding of himself |
Remember not to expect too much of yourself when looking forward to the future because .
| A．your shortages might stop you succeeding |
| B．ideals can never be turned into realities |
| C．you are likely to lack enough courage |
| D．you haven’t understood yourself quite well |
Having a real sense of self-appreciation can enable one .
| A．to realize one’s shortages | B．not to be too proud |
| C．to gain enough self-confidence | D．not to go downhill |
If this passage is divided into three parts, the second part should consist of .
| A．Paragraph 2 and Paragraph 3 | B．Paragraph 2 to Paragraph 5 |
| C．Paragraph 3 to Paragraph 5 | D．Paragraph 4 and Paragraph 5 |
MIANYANG—At a corner of the city’s Jiuzhou Stadium, one of the biggest camps set up for those left homeless in the earthquake, 62-year-old Liu Yaorong was leaning against a window on Thursday.
Pointing to a quilt and clothes he received from the local government, he said: “These are all I have. My home collapsed in the quake, and everything in the town was flooded.”
He used to live in Xuanping town of Beichuan county which was destroyed by the quake. Adding to his misery, rivers blocked by landslides(山崩) led to flooding in the town.
But Liu said he was lucky because he was healthy, otherwise he would not have the energy to walk 10 hours on damaged and dangerous mountainous roads to escape the flood on Monday. He said the trip used to take him about 90 minutes when the roads were in good condition.
The journey was difficult and “rocks kept falling,” he said, showing injured legs and black, split toenails.
Liu said his three sons were working in eastern cities as migrant workers.
“I’ve been living alone in the mountains for more than 20 years. My wife died 30 years ago,” he said in a low voice.
During his journey to Mianyang, Liu said he saw many elderly people who chose to stay.
“Soldiers were persuading them to leave for fear of floods,” he said.
Talking about his home before the quake struck, Liu’s mood lifted. “I raised pigs and chickens, and grew vegetables. I could have rice, meat and greens almost every day,” he said.
“But now, I have only biscuits and instant noodles.”
Liu said one of his sons returned home from Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, after the quake, but left because the father refused to go with him.
“I don’t want to leave home. And I know it is difficult for them out there. How could I add to their burden?” he asked, his eyes red.
“I still want to go back to my home. Given a small piece of land, I could live by myself.”
It is learnt that resettlement plans for displaced people have not been finalized.
However, not every elderly person is as strong-willed as Liu.
Psychologists said the elderly need as much comfort as children. Lu Jianguo, a psychologist from Chengdu Medical College, said “We will first let them cry and tell their stories, and then help them regain confidence.”Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．Liu Yaorong spent 8.5 hours more than usual covering the roads in escaping the flood. |
| B．The flood was followed by an earthquake in Xuanping in the same day. |
| C．Liu Yaorong was in time to escape the quake without being hurt. |
| D．Being healthy, Liu Yaorong was the only old man to escape the flood. |
The underlined word “ misery ”in the third paragraph most probably means “”.
| A．happiness | B．fortune | C．puzzle | D．suffering |
What’s Liu Yaorong’s attitude towards self-relief after the earthquake?
| A．Positive. | B．Negative. | C．Aggressive. | D．Dependent. |
What would be the best title for the news report?
| A．Elderly react more quickly to flood disaster |
| B．Elderly try hard to deal with quake disaster |
| C．Elderly prefer to stay at their own home |
| D．Elderly are well cared for by government |