Saying no starts small
“All right then — just one more piece...” Words every girl has said when they are faced with the delicious cheesecake. Of course, many of us know we may eat the whole thing in the end.
It isn’t just girls. Most of us find it hard to say “no” to something attractive. However, scientists now say that willpower is very important to success and a happy life.
Scientists in different countries have been studying the effects of willpower on people’s lives for a long time. The results are similar, according to an article on February 7 in the Guardian, a famous British newspaper.
In one experiment, scientists told young children that they could either have a marshmallow (圆形软糖) now, or two marshmallows in 15 minutes. Waiting obviously needed more willpower. Scientists then continued studying the children as they grew up. They wanted to see if some children always had stronger willpower. They also wanted to see how having stronger willpower affected their lives.
Years later, scientists found that the children who had waited for two marshmallows were all healthier, happier and richer adults. Oppositely, the children who had shown weaker willpower at that young age were more likely to be in low-paid jobs, to be overweight, to have social problems.
But there is hope, Roy F Baumeister, an American social psychology(心理学) professor (教授) told the Guardian. Baumeister says we can train our willpower just like we train our muscles(肌肉). Even a little practice can strengthen(加强) our overall self-control if we do it regularly.
You could start by making yourself stand up straight, speaking in complete sentences, or using a computer mouse with the other hand. Scientists have found that people who manage to change little habits often perform much better in laboratory willpower tests.
Like muscles, willpower can “get tired”. Don’t try to do too many things at the same time, or when you don’t have enough energy, for example when you are ill. If you already feel tired, you can try to recharge(恢复) your willpower with a good night’s sleep and by eating well.The example of a girl eating cheesecake is used to
A.prove that girls have weak willpower |
B.introduce the topic of willpower to the readers |
C.show that cheesecake is especially attractive to girls |
D.show the connection between willpower and success |
What can we infer from the experiment?
A.The scientists had already known the results before the experiment. |
B.It showed that willpower is the most important to success and a happy life. |
C.The children who chose to wait were more likely to be successful in their lives. |
D.The children who chose only one marshmallow at first had stronger willpower. |
Which of the following is NOT mentioned about the training of willpower?
A.You should have a goal every day. |
B.Good rest and proper diet can help. |
C.Willpower needs to be exercised regularly. |
D.Keep willpower from being used too much. |
What is the article mainly about?
A.How willpower and muscles are similar and how they can be trained. |
B.How willpower affects people’s lives and how it is similar to muscles. |
C.How willpower is important to success and how we can make it stronger. |
D.How willpower is connected with success and how they affect each other |
Have you ever imagined the life in space?The following will show you the astronauts' daily life.
• Eating in space
If you go camping for more than a week with some friends,you will make sure you have plenty of foods and keep them properly.At the end of your camping trip,you would deal with your rubbish properly before the ride home.
Astronauts almost do the same thing when they go to space.Preparation changes with the food type.Some foods can be eaten in their natural forms,such as chocolate cakes and fruits.Other foods require adding water,such as cheese.Of course,an oven is provided at the space station to heat the food.But there are no fridges,so space food must be kept properly.
• Sleeping in space
After a long day at work,nothing is better than a good night's sleep!Just like on the earth,in space astronauts go to bed at a certain time,then get up and prepare for work again.When going to sleep,they have to attachthemselves,so they don't float (漂浮) around or hit their bodies against something.They usually use sleeping bags located in small crew cabins (乘员舱).Each crew cabin is just big enough for one person.Generally,astronauts have an eight﹣hour sleep each day when they finish their task.
• Doing sports in space
Exercise is an important part of every astronaut's daily life to prevent muscle loss (肌肉萎缩).Usually,astronauts exercise two hours every day.Lifting 200 pounds on the earth may be a lot of work.But lifting that same object in space would be much easier.That means the things for exercise need to be specially designed,so astronauts can receive the exercise needed.
Living in space is not just all work and no play.Astronauts have fun,too.They like to look out the window and play with their food.Fun plays an important role in the quality of their life.
(1)The writer starts to explain eating in space by .
A. |
telling a story |
B. |
asking a question |
C. |
giving an example |
D. |
comparing two facts |
(2)What does the underlined word " attach" in Paragraph 4 mean?
A. |
Tie. |
B. |
Hide. |
C. |
Catch. |
D. |
Carry. |
(3)It is much easier for people in space than on the earth.
A. |
to fall asleep |
B. |
to lift heavy things |
C. |
to prevent muscle loss |
D. |
to eat cold food |
(4)In which part of a newspaper can we read the passage?
A.CULTURE.
B.SOCIETY.
C.SCIENCE.
D.HISTORY.
An elephant was standing and picking leaves from a tree.A small fly came,flying and buzzing near his ear.The elephant waved it away with his long ears.Then the fly came again and the elephant waved it away once more.
This happened several times.Then the elephant asked the fly, "Why are you so restless and noisy?Why can't you just stay in one place?"
The fly answered, "I am interested in whatever I see,hear or smell.My five senses,and everything that happens around me,pull me here and there and I cannot resist (抵抗) them.What is your secret?How can you stay so calm and still? "
The elephant stopped eating and said, "My five senses do not rule me.I am in control of myself - my senses do not tell me what to do.This helps me stay focused on whatever I do,and so,keep my mind calm and still.Now that I am eating,I am completely enjoying eating.In this way,I can just focus on enjoying my food."
After hearing these words,the fly's eyes opened wide and a smile appeared on his face.He looked at the elephant and said, "I understand!I will always be restless if I let my senses control me.On the other hand,if I try to use some self﹣control,my mind will become calm and I'll be able to stay still."
It is said that the mind is restless and pays attention to whatever is in front of it.But if you can control what you pay attention to,you can control your mind.
(1)The fly thought he moved around a lot because .
A. |
he had nowhere to land |
B. |
he couldn't see things clearly |
C. |
he was interested in everything around him |
D. |
his five senses couldn't work with each other |
(2)According to the elephant,what is the key to staying calm?
A. |
Being in control of one's senses. |
B. |
Enjoying eating. |
C. |
Being able to find peace. |
D. |
Focusing on many things at the same time. |
(3)Which of the following is TRUE according to the story?
A. |
The fly can resist everything that happens around him. |
B. |
The five senses always rule the elephant. |
C. |
The fly will be calm if the senses control him. |
D. |
The elephant can focus on what he is doing. |
(4)Which of the following can be the best title for this passage?
A. |
Stay Still and Calm |
B. |
Focus on More Than One Thing |
C. |
Pay Attention to Your Feelings |
D. |
Take Control of Your Mind |
Many teenagers love mysteries,but usually they can't find the ones that suit them the best.Are you one of them?Well,don't worry!Here are some top﹣selling mysteries for teenagers.There must be one here that will win your heart!
Run Away From Mr.Lemoncello's Library Mr.Lemoncello is a famous inventor in town.Twelve kids are invited to visit his new library.This,however,is not a good place to spend the night!The kids must work together to solve the clues (线索) and run away! Buy now! ¥38.60 (hardcover) ¥34.70 (e﹣book) |
From the Mixed﹣Up Files of Mrs.Basil E.Frankweiler Claudia and her brother Jamie run away from their home to live in the Met in New York City.They become interested in the mystery of an angel painting that has been newly brought into the museum.Can they solve it? Buy now! ¥48.70 (hardcover) ¥34.60 (e﹣book) |
The London Eye Mystery Salim suddenly disappears.No one knows where he has gone.His cousins,Ted and Kate,have to follow clues around London in order to find him before it's too late.Can they make it?Read the novel to find out? Buy now! ¥74.70 (hardcover) ¥66.60 (e﹣book) |
The Name of This Book Is Secret Readers will love following Max﹣Ernest and Cass as they solve the mystery of a missing magician! Buy now! ¥113.40 (hardcover) ¥33.30 (e﹣book) |
(1)In The London Eye Mystery, .
A. |
two kids try to solve the mystery of a painting |
B. |
twelve kids try to run away from a new library |
C. |
two kids try to find their missing cousin |
D. |
twelve kids try to run away from London |
(2)Bill is always interested in stories that take place in museums.Which of the mysteries would you suggest he should buy?
A. |
The London Eye Mystery. |
B. | |
C. |
The Name of This Book Is Secret. |
D. | |
E. |
Run Away From Mr.Lemoncello's Library. |
F. | |
G. |
From the Mixed﹣Up Files of Mrs.Basil |
H. |
Frankweiler. |
(3)Anna decides to buy The London Eye Mystery (hardcover) and The Name of This Book Is Secret(e﹣book).How much money will she pay?
A. |
99.9 yuan. |
B. |
108 yuan. |
C. |
180 yuan. |
D. |
188.1 yuan. |
Aunt Jia had a snack stand (摊位)in our neighborhood.Her snacks never failed to satisfy my stomach.What's more,she was always patient with her customers.Even COVID﹣19 didn't influence her business.
One day ,during the last Spring Festival,1 saw a large family visiting her stand.It formed a heart﹣warming picture:Each family member was enjoying being together.As they were leaving,I noticed Aunt Jia felt a bit sad.
I was amazed.In my experience,she was always smiling,I went forward and ordered my favorite snack.When she was wrapping (打包) ,I couldn't help saying, "Happy New Year,Aunt Jia!Why don't you take a break?" Aunt Jia looked surprised,but she soon replied,"Happy New Year!I love working here in this city.It's too cold and snowy in my hometown."I became more curious (好奇的)."Where do you come from?Aren't your family waiting for you to come home for the celebration?" Aunt Jia stopped for a few seconds. "They sure are," she answered gently." But I have to stay here.I'm from a mountain area,where it would not be easy to make money.I'd be comfortable if I were home now.But in order to live a better life,I must work hard. "I froze ,thinking about her words.Having noticed my shock,Aunt Jia smiled.
To get something better,sacrifice (牺牲)is a must.This is a rule that people from all walks of life must follow.
(1)What business did Aunt Jia have in the neighborhood?
(2)How did Aunt Jia feel after a large family visited her stand?
(3)Where did Aunt Jia come from?
(4)Why did Aunt Jia work hard?
(5)What rule can we learn from Aunt Jia's experience?
Boyan Slat has been dreaming of cleaning up the world's oceans for a long time.
In 2010,he went on a diving (潜水)vacation in Greece and was shocked."I saw more plastic bags than fish in the water," he said.
From then on,Slat began to pay more attention to ocean pollution.He decided to give up higher education and set up the Ocean Cleanup,a non﹣government organization.Its purpose is to clean up ocean rubbish.He has set up the world's first ocean cleanup system ( 系统)with his team.
Every year,over 8 million tons of plastic end up in our oceans,and it can take up to 500 years to break down.In 2018,the World Economic Forum predicted that the weight of ocean plastic would match that of all the fish in our oceans by 2050.Sea animals easily get caught in plastic.They can't move.They can even die if they eat it.Smaller plastic pieces can also enter the food chain (链)and end up in our bodies.
Slat's plan was to create an environmentally﹣friendly,large system to clear out plastic rubbish from the ocean.
After seven years of tests,on October 2nd,2019,a machine called System 001/B came out.It successfully caught and collected a large amount of plastic rubbish floating in the ocean.
Slat and his team are working to improve System 001/B.Their dream is to clear out 90 percent of all the ocean plastic by 2040.
(1)What did Boyan Slat care more about after his vacation in Greece?
A. |
Diving. |
B. |
Plastic bags. |
C. |
Ocean pollution. |
D. |
Higher education. |
(2)How long does it take to break down 8 million tons of plastic?
A. |
More than 7 years. |
B. |
Up to 30 years. |
C. |
Less than 40 years. |
D. |
About 500 years. |
(3)From the prediction of the World Economic Forum in 2018,we can learn .
A. |
little pollution ends up in the ocean |
B. |
ocean plastic pollution is serious |
C. |
animals prefer plastic |
D. |
people like sea food |
(4)How did System 001/B work?
A. |
It collected much plastic rubbish in the ocean. |
B. |
It dealt with all the rubbish in the ocean. |
C. |
It cleared out rubbish everywhere. |
D. |
It cleared out 90% of the plastic. |
(5)What's the main idea of the passage?
A. |
Animals and humans. |
B. |
Plastic problems. |
C. |
Life in the future. |
D. |
Ocean cleanup. |