Even when you’re extremely busy, you aren’t using your time with 100% efficiency. There are gaps in everyone’s schedule where they aren’t doing anything important. Even if your schedule has no gaps, there is probably lots of time where you aren’t working as fast or as effectively as you possibly could.
Why aren’t you completely efficient? It’s because time isn’t the limiting factor. If it were the limiting factor, people could work non-stop without breaks or any unproductive distractions(消遣). Instead, people, even those who are highly productive, need to take breaks, occasionally procrastinate(拖延) and slow down on tasks throughout the day.
The real and most important limiting factor for productivity is your energy levels to pay attention. Energy levels limit your productivity because when you’re tired, you can have ample time and still not get everything done. Your attention ability is also limited, because even if there are a million things that need to be done, you can only focus on one or two at a time.
You might not be able to insert another 4-5 hours into your schedule without making some sacrifices. But even extremely busy people can add an hour or two into their schedule without cancelling anything. The reason it’s hard to “find time” isn’t a lack of time. It’s because you don’t have enough energy left to focus on something else that needs to fit into your day.
I first suspected time wasn’t the real problem during an extremely busy period in my life over a year ago. I was insanely (发疯地)busy, but at that time I still exercised regularly. I had daily to-do lists with over twenty items, and I still found time to exercise. However, after a few weeks off, due to illness, I stopped exercising. I was not busy by any standards, in fact, my schedule was incredibly light. Despite this free time, I found it hard to find time to exercise. It seemed to get pushed later and later into my schedule until it was gone. How can I explain this odd experience? I believe you have known it.If someone can’t work with 100% efficiency, the most important limiting factor is ________.
| A.a schedule without gaps | B.breaks and distractions |
| C.the limited time | D.the limited energy |
According to paragraph 4, everyone, including the extremely busy people, can ___________.
| A.work without any rest | B.focus on many things at a time |
| C.find some more time in a day | D.do some exercise regularly |
After a few weeks off, what was the change of the writer’s life?
| A.He had a longer daily to-do lists with over twenty items. |
| B.He stopped doing exercise because of the lack of energy. |
| C.He found it hard to find time to exercise because he was busier. |
| D.He pushed most of the things later and later in his schedule. |
The writer gives the example of himself in the last paragraph in order to ___________.
| A.prove what the real limiting factor is |
| B.show us how busily he needs to work |
| C.explain how important a healthy body is |
| D.tell us what an odd experience he has |
What is the best title of the passage?
| A.Are You Really Lack of Time? | B.How Can You Work Efficiently? |
| C.What Makes Your Energy Limited? | D.When Should You Do Exercise? |
Every heard the old saying, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away”? It is true! Apples have a lot of nutritional value!
A medium sized apple has only 80 calories (卡). What a great snack choice! Not only is an apple low in calories, they contain absolutely no fat. Thus, eating apples as snacks, as opposed to chips or cakes, will help reduce the risk of cancer.
On top of reducing the risk of cancer, the low sodium (钠) amounts in apples also help reduce high blood pressure and heart disease. They are cholesterol (胆固醇) free. They are also rich in vitamin A, which helps strengthen vision (视力) along with bone and tooth development.
Now that we know the nutritional facts, let’s take a look at some of the fun facts—That’s right! Apples can be fun, as well as healthy!
If an apple is fresh, it will float on water. Twenty-five percent of an apple is air, thus allowing it to float. Can you imagine bobbing (上下浮动) for apples that sink?
And, did you know that an apple is covered with a natural layer of wax (蜡)? That’s what the peeling (剥下的皮) is. It protects the apple’s high water content, keeping the apple fresh.
Apples are a very important part of a healthy diet, but keep in mind they can be fun. And always remember, if an apple sinks in water, pick another one to bob for!How many kinds of facts about apples are mentioned in the passage?
| A.Two. | B.Three. | C.Four. | D.Five. |
Apples contain no _________.
| A.calories and sodium | B.fat and sodium |
| C.fat and cholesterol | D.cholesterol and sodium |
We learn that an apple is probably _________ if it sinks in water.
| A.too high in water content | B.still green |
| C.sweet and rich in vitamins | D.unsuitable to eat |
Why do apples stay fresh for a long time?
| A.Because they contain much water. |
| B.Because they have peeling with a layer of wax. |
| C.Because they contain much air. |
| D.Because they have peeling with nutritional value. |
It was when I was attending high school that I first read Asimov’s stories. At the time, a few science fiction magazines began to introduce this author, and to translate a few pieces from his “Robot Series”. Of Asimov’s works, the one that left the deepest impression on me was Pebble in the Sky. This novel directly influenced my early science fiction writing. Asimov was one of the leading writers of western science fiction’s Golden Age, so although his writing may not have a direct influence on writers of today, his underlying (潜在的) influence on many levels is undeniable — the famous Three Laws of Robotics, and many classic writing techniques, for example. Asimov’s novels are marked by a fully integrated (完整的) logical system, and his stories are a pleasure to read. This is the reason his novels still attract readers today. Naturally, western science fiction has few people these days who follow Asimov’s creative methods. But still the majority of Chinese science fiction readers would rather read the classic works of Asimov. Compared with the “Robot Series”, Asimov’s “Foundation Series” is a little less well-known in China. In fact, the “Foundation Series” creates an entire world, even grander than that of the “Robot Series”; this science fiction had a direct influence on later western science fiction, the most famous example being Star Wars. We learn from the passage that the writer is probably a _________.
| A.science fiction writer | B.science fiction publisher |
| C.high school student | D.science fiction fan |
The purpose of the passage is to _________.
| A.compare Asimov with other science fiction writers |
| B.advise people to read Asimov’s stories |
| C.give some comments on Asimov’s influence |
| D.explain why Asimov is popular in China |
According to the passage, which of the following statements is TRUE?
| A.Asimov is criticized by today’s science fiction writers. |
| B.Asimov still has many readers in China. |
| C.Asimov wrote Star Wars in his later life. |
| D.Asimov’s writing techniques are still widely used. |
In the writer’s opinion, Asimov’s “Foundation Series” _________.
| A.was not as successful as his “Robot Series” |
| B.is better known to readers than his “Robot Series” |
| C.was more logically organized than his “Robot Series” |
| D.was written better than his “Robot Series” in some ways |
Classified Ads
For direct classified service, call 800-0667 10 a.m.—4 p.m., Monday---Friday.
For Rent
Best on Campus
Excellent Room for girls, begins Jan., 2, 4, or 8 months lease. Single, $ 105. $125. Double, $ 140. Call 800-1932.
Family Home, 3 bedrooms, large yard. $ 275. Call 800-4300.
For Sale
Sheepskin Coat, men’s size 42, 1year old. $ 85. After 6 p.m. call 800-5224.
Moving: Must sell. Color TV 21, $ 150; transistor radio, $ 15; recorder, $ 25. Call 800-0739.
Help Wanted
Babysitter—My home
If you could find a few hours during the day, some evenings and weekends to care for 2 school- age children, please call 800-1111.
Lost
A black bag with a pencil-box and some books left in the reading room. Will the finder please come to Class 3, Grade 1?
Found
A green jacket was left on the sports ground yesterday afternoon ( April 15th). Will the owner please ring 656-6688If you wanted to place an ad. , what number would you call?
| A.800-0739 | B.800-1932 | C.800-5224 | D.800-0667 |
“ Classified Ads” may probably mean “________”.
| A.ads about everyone’s life |
| B.ads giving one some necessary information |
| C.ads divided into different groups according to a certain rules |
| D.ads for which you needn’t pay any money |
If you want to find a part-time job, you will look at________.
| A.For Rent | B.For Sale | C.Help Wanted | D.Lost |
Last year when Tom graduated from school, he came to Taibei. He didn't like to work on his father's farm and hoped to find a job in a big city. He went from one company to another but no one wanted him. With little money left, he got to the station, sad and tired. All he wanted to do was go back to his small town. It was very late at night and the station was full of people. They were waiting to buy tickets of the last train. He bought the last ticket, and he was very happy.
At that time, a woman with a crying baby walked to him and asked him to sell her the ticket. He gave her the ticket because he thought they needed it more than he did. After the train left, he sat on the bench and didn't know where to go. Suddenly, an old man came and said, "Young man, I have seen what you did to the woman. I am the owner of a big company. I need a good young man like you. Would you like to work for me?"Tom came to the station to _______.
| A.find a job | B.take the train home |
| C.sell the ticket | D.take the train to Taibei |
The woman walked to Tom because _______.
| A.she was Tom's old friend |
| B.her child wanted to talk to Tom |
| C.she needed to take the train |
| D.she had no money to buy a ticket |
Tom didn't take the train because _______.
| A.he didn't take a train ticket |
| B.he missed the train |
| C.he wanted to talk to the old man |
| D.he gave his ticket to the woman |
What can we learn from this story?
| A.Many people find job in a train station. |
| B.Don't buy the last ticket of the train. |
| C.If we try our best to help others, others will help us. |
| D.We should not give our ticket to others in a train station. |
A sunflower is a sunflower. A mobile phone is a mobile phone. But can you combine the two to do something for your local environment? As early as next year it may well be possible. When you have finished with your mobile phone you will be able to bury it in the garden or a plant pot and wait for it to flower.
A biodegradable (生物可降解的) mobile phone was, this month, introduced by scientists. It is hoped that the new type of phone will encourage consumers to recycle(回收利用). Scientists have come up with a new material over the last five years. It looks like any other plastic, but over time it can break down(分解) into the soil without giving out any poisonous chemicals. British researchers used the new material to develop a phone cover that contains a sunflower seed. When this cover turns into waste, it forms nitrates (硝酸盐). These feed the seed and help the flower grow. “We’ve only put sunflower seeds into the cover so far. But we are working with plant experts to find out which flowers would perform best. Maybe we could put roses in next time.” said one scientist.
As phone technology is developing so quickly people are constantly throwing their mobiles away. This means producers are under pressure(压力) to find ways of recycling them. Some 650 million mobile phones have been sold this year. Most of them will be thrown away within two years, adding plastic, heavy metal and chemical waste to the environment. A biodegradable cover can offer some relief for nature, according to the scientists. “The seed is released and the flower grows in the pot so you don’t have to concern yourself with the phone when you have finished using it,” said Kerry Kirwan, the leader of the research team.After you have finished using the new type of mobile phone, _______.
| A.the sunflower seed will come out and flower in the pot |
| B.the phone cover will break down very soon in the soil |
| C.it will be recycled by the producers |
| D.it can charge itself with electricity in a green way |
This type of research is done because ________.
| A.the technology of making phones is changing rapidly |
| B.too many waste mobile phones may lead to environmental problems |
| C.nobody has ever thought of recycling mobile phones |
| D.producing mobile phones uses a lot of energy |
We can infer from the story ________.
| A.the new type of mobile phones are already on the market |
| B.the new type of mobile phones will sell extremely well |
| C.the material of the new type of phones is harmful |
| D.other flowers may be used in the new type of mobile phones |
The best title of this passage is .
| A.Recycling our phones | B.The phones that flower |
| C.A new material for making phones | D.The harm of thrown-away phones |