Looking back on my childhood,I am convinced that naturalists are born and not made.Although we were all brought up in the same way,my brothers and sisters soon abandoned their pressed flowers and insects.Unlike them,I had no ear for music and languages.I was not an early reader and I could not do mental arithmetic.
Before World War Ⅰ we spent our summer holidays in Hungary.I have only the dim memory of the house we lived in,of my room and my toys.Nor do I recall clearly the large family of grandparents,aunts,uncles and cousins who gathered next door.But I do have a clear memory of the dogs,the farm animals,the local birds,and above all,the insects.
I am a naturalist,not a scientist.I have a strong love of the natural world and my enthusiasm led me into varied investigations.I love discussing my favorite topics and enjoy burning the midnight oil while reading about other people’s observations and discoveries.Then something happens that brings these observations together in my conscious mind.
Suddenly you fancy you see the answer to the riddle,because it all seems to fit together.This has resulted in my publishing 300 papers and books,which some might honor with the title of scientific research.
But curiosity,a keen eye,a good memory and enjoyment of the animal and plant world do not make a scientist:one of the outstanding and essential qualities required is self-discipline,a quality I lack.A scientist requires not only self-discipline,but hard training,determination and a goal.A scientist,up to a certain point,can be made.A naturalist is born.If you can combine the two,you get the best of both worlds.The first paragraph tells us the author .
| A．was interested in flowers and insects in his childhood |
| B．lost his hearing when he was a child |
| C．didn’t like his brothers and sisters |
| D．was born to a naturalist’s family |
The author can’t remember his relatives clearly because .
| A．he didn’t live very long with them |
| B．the family was extremely large |
| C．he was too young when he lived with them |
| D．he was fully occupied with observing nature |
Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?( )
| A．The author is a naturalist,but not a scientist. |
| B．The author is a scientist as well as a naturalist. |
| C．The author is first of all a scientist. |
| D．The author is neither a naturalist nor a scientist. |
The author says that he is a naturalist rather than a scientist probably because he thinks he .
| A．has a great deal of trouble doing mental arithmetic |
| B．lacks some of the qualities required of a scientist |
| C．just reads about other people’s observations and discoveries |
| D．comes up with solutions in a most natural way |
Most people want to be successful, but never stop to think what it will really take to get there in their chosen field. If it means going back to college for 2 years of night school, could you do it ? If it means reading a book a week for about 6 months in order to really master a new skill ? If you aren’t prepared to do any of those things because they are outside of your comfort zone, then you can forget being succesful. I guarantee you will never reach your goals in life, unless your goals are to be ordinary.
The biggest killer by far is the dreaded “ comfort zone ” where most people live in their entire life. And the funny thing is that people just can’t wrap their heads around the fact that people who have reached some success get tons of time to just relax, but only because they’ve earned it ! If you haven’t built a successful business, or in some way built a career that allow you so much freee time, then you are stuck in the grinding world of nine-to-five jobs everyone else. So how comfortable is that ?
So what can you do about it ? Well, find a way to make something happen in your life--- build a business around your favourite hobby, write a book and publish it, or take a course in stock trading and become an expert at that, working on making enough money to retire. If you don’t take massive action that puts your way of your comfort zone, you will never be successful at much of anything. I promise--- and I don’t make many promises !
Finding real happiness in life can be a mystery for many. That’s why I wrote The Road to Happiness for those who want real success and happiness in life, including spirituality and all the gifts life has to offer.
Don’t wander aimlessly through life. Get focused on your goals, start helping others in need, and live life to the fullest ! Life is too short to be anything but happy. Visit my website and find what you’ve been missing. Sign up for my newsletter and get seven free ebooks, too ! Read hundreds of articles while you’re there in the article section, which is updated daily.This text must be taken from __________.
| A．a radio program | B．a website |
| C．a newspaper | D．a TV program |
If you want to be successful in life, what should you do first ?
| A．We should think what it really takes to be successful in our chosen field. |
| B．We should focus our full attention on the work in our chosen field. |
| C．We should live out of the “ comfort zone ” all through our life. |
| D．We should work together with other people to reach our goals in time. |
According to this text, why do some people have so much free time to relax ?
| A．Because they have enough money to do so. |
| B．Because they don’t want to be successful. |
| C．Because they have already earned it through hard work. |
| D．Because they only work nine to five every day. |
The writer thinks it necessary for you to __________ if you want to be successful.
| A．do a lot of actual work |
| B．write a book and publish it |
| C．take a course in stock trading |
| D．make enough money to retire |
A twenty-nine-year-old kindergarten teacher from Maryland was named National Teacher of the Year in 2006. On June first she would begin a year as a national and international spokeswoman for education.
Kimberly Oliver was the first National Teacher of the Year from her state. She taught five-year-old children at a public school in Maryland, near Washington, D.C. President Bush honored her and other top teachers at the White House.
Kimberly Oliver said she wanted people to understand that the first several years of a child’s life were the most important for learning. She said investing in children at a very young age would result in great gains later in school and in life. She called on parents to read to children from an early age so they would not fall behind in school. One of the activities at her school was an event called “ Books and Supprer Night ”. Families read together at the school and received free books to take home. Parents, children and teachers also ate dinner together.
Broad Acres Elementary School was in a poor area. Many of the parents were immigrants with limited English. Kimberly Oliver helped improve learning environment at her school. She received money to buy electronic learning systems, tape players and books in English and Spanish and sent them home with students. Parents said she had shown them how to help their children at home.
She was born and raised in Delaware. She held one degree in English and another in Elementary Education. Kimberly Oliver would follow in the footsteps of another teacher Jason Kamras from the Washington area as National Teacher of the Year. Jason Kamras, as honored for his work, teaching math to middle school students in the nation’s capital.
The National Teacher of the Year program began in 1952. A fourteen-member committee choose from among teachers honored as the best in their states.From the text we know that in the state of Maryland, __________.
| A．no other teacher than Kimberly Oliver had been given the honor |
| B．Kimberly Oliver had been teaching in a middle school for many years |
| C．Kimberly opened her own school early in Washington in 1952 |
| D．many other teachers were given the honor together with Oliver |
Oliver hoped that parents should __________.
| A．spend more time playing with their children |
| B．read to their children at an early age |
| C．not give too much money to their children |
| D．stay at school with their children more often |
Kimberly Oliver had been named National Teacher of the Year mostly because ___________.
| A．she taught five-year old children at a public school |
| B．the elementary school she taught in is in a poor area |
| C．she was helpful ahd had many special and good ideas in teaching children |
| D．she called on parents to read to children from an early age |
The National Teacher just before Oliver comes from __________.
| A．Delaware | B．Maryland | C．New York | D．Washington |
A well-known manufacturer of weighing machines produced a new model.
The machine had a computer inside it, and this computer could do wonderful things: it could weigh people very accurately; it could tell them their weight in their own language; and it could tell them what they should eat to reduce their weight.
The manufacturer decided to try out his machine before he sold it to the shops.
He looked around for a good place to put it and finally decided on an airport. There were always people at an airport from many different countries.
The first person to use the machine was an Italian woman. She stood on the machine, put a coin in and waited to hear her weight.
The machine took only a second or two to weigh her, decide on her nationality and the language she spoke, and figure out what kind of food she should eat.
“Good morning, madam,” it said in perfect Italian. “Your weight is 72 kilos, three more than it should be for a woman of your height, age and nationality. This is because you have been eating too much spaghetti. I suggest you eat more fruit and vegetables. Please have a nice day”.
The second person to use the machine was a Chinese girl. She stood on the machine, put a coin in and waited to hear her weight.
“Good morning, Miss," the machine said in perfect Chinese. "Your weight is 38 kilos, exactly the correct weight for your height, age and nationality. Continue to eat what you are eating. Please have a nice day.”
The third person to use the machine was a huge Australian woman. She walked up to the machine and looked at it for a long time. At last she found the courage to stand on the machine and put a coin in. The machine spoke immediately. “Good morning. Will one of you ladies please get off?”What could the computer do?
| A．Weigh and talk to people. | B．Translate information. |
| C．Give them diet pills. | D．Make them lose weight. |
What did the machine say to the Italian woman?
| A．She was a little too light. | B．She was a little too heavy. |
| C．She disliked spaghetti. | D．She couldn’t speak Italian. |
What did the machine say to the Chinese woman?
| A．She should eat more. | B．She could speak Chinese. |
| C．She would have a nice day. | D．She was fine. |
What did the machine suggest about the Australian woman?
| A．She was unwell. | B．She was courageous. |
| C．She was too heavy. | D．She had dieted well. |
Lakes, ponds, and beaches mean summer fun and cool relaxation from hot weather. But water also can be dangerous for kids if you don't take great care. Nearly 1,000 kids die each year by drowning.
Here are some tips to keep your kids safe in the water:
At the Lake or Pond
·Don't let little kids swim alone without adult supervision— lakes or ponds may be shallow near the bank and are suddenly deep sharply further out from shore.
·Ponds and lakes may hide jagged rocks, broken glass, or rubbish.
·Make sure kids wear foot protection; even in the water, they should wear socks or water shoes.
·Watch out for weeds and grass in the water that could trap a leg or arm.
·Most boating accidents, particularly among teenagers, are related to alcohol(饮酒). Be sure teens know about the dangers of alcohol, on and off the water.
At the Beach
·Teach kids to always swim when and where a lifeguard is on duty. Unlike the calm waters of a swimming pool, the beach has special dangers like currents and tides(暗流). Check with the lifeguard when you arrive to find out about the water conditions.
·Tell kids never to stand with their back to the water because a sudden wave can easily knock a child over.
·Teach kids that if they're caught in a dangerous wave, they should swim parallel（顺行地） to the shore or should tread （踩）water and call for a lifeguard's help.
Whether at the lake or at the beach, teach your child to get out of the water during bad weather, especially lightning.Which is the right behavior when swimming at the beach?
| A．Go off the water without a lifeguard on duty |
| B．Go on swimming in a heavy rain |
| C．Go off the water before checking the water conditions |
| D．Call for help if caught in a dangerous wave |
A child should_________ at a lake.
| A．swim on his/her own |
| B．be careful about weeds and grass |
| C．swim without shoes on |
| D．drink only a little wine |
Swimming at a beach is more dangerous than in a pool because .
| A．there are no lifeguards at a beach |
| B．there are currents and tides at a beach |
| C．the waters of a beach are more calm. |
| D．the waters of a pool are warmer |
The passage is probably written for .
| A．students at school | B．kids who want to learn swimming |
| C．parents with little children | D．coaches who teach kids to swim |
In which column(栏目) of a magazine can you find this passage?
| A．Education | B．Science | C．Entertainment | D．Sports |
Do you want to visit Disney World? However, will you worry about your pet if you go to Disney World? To meet the needs of these people, a pet hotel has been built near the Disney World Resort in Florida.
The new pet hotel is named Best Friends Pet Care Resort and it is mainly open to dogs and cats. It has an area of 4,645㎡. About 270 dogs and 30 cats can be kept there at the same time. Besides dogs and cats, it can also provide services for birds, pigs and rabbits. However, it can’t take care of snakes and turtles(乌龟) now.
Best Friend Pet Care Resort is a very expensive hotel. There are several types of dog rooms, such as rooms with air-conditioners（空调） and VIP rooms. There is even a “private dog park”. Owners can have a high-quality vacation with their dogs there. The cats are kept in the “Kitty City”. The “Kitty City” is very comfortable and clean. Workers there will clean it once a day.
Apart from having good equipment, Best Friends Pet Care Resort also have other plans to meet the psychological (心理上的) needs of pets. Workers play music to the pets, walk with them, play with them and even read stories to them before they go to bed.
“We aim to make sure that pets will have a fun vacation here, just like their owners at Disney World,” said the manager of the resort. How many kinds of animals can be kept in Best Friends Pet Care Resort?
| A．Three. | B．Five. | C．Six. | D．Seven. |
About Best Friends Pet Care Resort, which of the following is NOT true?
| A．It covers about 4,645 ㎡. |
| B．It can keep more than 300 pets. |
| C．Owners don’t need to pay much for keeping pets there. |
| D．There is a “private dog park” in the resort as well. |
How often do the workers clean the “Kitty City”?
| A．Once a day. | B．Twice a day. | C．Once a week. | D．Twice a week. |
Workers from the pet care resort read stories to pets in order to .
| A．provide pets with good equipment |
| B．meet the psychological needs of pets |
| C．teach pets to learn more knowledge |
| D．make pets’ owners satisfied with their service |
What’s the best title for the passage?
| A．Relationship between Owners and Pets |
| B．Popular Pets All Over the World |
| C．How to Take Care of your Pets |
| D．Pet Care Resort in Florida |