The expression, "everybody's doing it," is very much at the center of the concept of peer pressure. It is a strong influence of a group, especially of children, on members of that group to behave as everybody else does. It can be positive or negative. Most people experience it in some way during their lives.
People are social creatures by nature, and so it is hardly surprising that part of their self-respect comes from the approval of others. This instinct is why the approval of peers, or the fear of disapproval, is such a powerful force in many people's lives. It is the same instinct that drives people to dress one way at home and another way at work, or to answer "fine" when a stranger asks "how are you?" even if it is not necessarily true. There is a practical aspect to this: it helps society to function efficiently, and encourages a general level of self-discipline that simplifies day-to-day interaction.
For certain individuals, seeking social acceptance is so important that it becomes like an addiction: in order to satisfy the desire, they may go so far as to abandon their sense of right and wrong. Teens and young adults may feel forced to use drugs, or join gangs that encourage criminal behavior. Mature adults may sometimes feel pressured to cover up illegal activity at the company where they work, or end up in debt because they are unable to hold back the desire to buy a house or car that they can't afford in an effort to "keep up with the Joneses."
However, peer pressure is not always negative. A student whose friends are good at academics may be urged to study harder and get good grades. Players on a sports team may feel driven to play harder in order to help the team win. This type of influence can also get a friend off drugs, or to help an adult take up a good habit or drop a bad one. Study groups and class projects are examples of positive peer groups that encourage people to better themselves.
Schools try to teach kids about the dangers of negative peer pressure. They teach kids to stand up and be themselves, and encourage them to politely decline to do things that they believe are wrong. Similarly, it can be help fill to encourage children to greet the beneficial influence of positive peer groups. What is peer pressure ？
| A．It refers to the strong feelings that you must do things the way other people of your age do. |
| B．It is “Keeping up with the Joneses”. |
| C．Only children or teenagers can feel the pressure. |
| D．It can be positive or negative. |
What ’s the main idea of Paragraph 2?
| A．Self-respect comes from the approval of others. |
| B．People are social creatures by nature. |
| C．Peer pressure drives people to dress up when going out to work. |
| D．A practical function of peer pressure. |
Which one of the following is positive influence?
| A．over-consumption |
| B．criminal offence |
| C．good grades |
| D．abandon their sense of right and wrong |
What does “ decline” mean in the passage?
| A．grow worse |
| B． politely refuse to accept it or do it. |
| C．go down |
| D．becomes less in quantity, importance, or strength. |
How does the author think of the peer pressure?
| A．negative |
| B．positive |
| C．objective |
| D．The article didn’t mention it. |
Tired of living in the same location but don’t want to leave the house you love? That wouldn’t be a problem if architect Felipe Campolina had his way.
The Brazilian architect has designed a concept for a home tower consisting of portable, stackable (可叠起堆放的) apartment units, which he says opens up new possibilities for ways of living in the city.
His design would allow owners to take their home with them when they travel — whether for a weekend away or for longer periods, he said.
The mobile home tower project is at the concept stage, and it could be years before it is built, if ever at all.
But if it is realized, it would offer an eco-friendly solution to living in urban areas, Campolina said.
“We have enough technology to build with fewer materials and minimize (使减至最小) the impact on nature,” he said.
His vision would call for units with a green roof and walls and a system for recycling water.
The tower, whose first floor would be built nine meters above ground, would also make it possible to save space in thickly populated areas.
“It is designed to facilitate (使便利) its application in dense urban centers, where space is very limited,” he said.
Still just a concept, Campolina — who designed the building for architecture journal eVolo’s Skyscraper Competition — said with enough public interest, it just might become a reality one day.We can learn from the first four paragraphs that the tower _____.
| A．is now being built |
| B．is intended for people in the countryside |
| C．will be made up of mobile living units |
| D．was designed by a US architect |
Which of the following is TRUE about the home tower?
| A．All its walls will be painted blue. |
| B．It will have a waste paper recycling system. |
| C．It will be made of recycled rubbish. |
| D．It will do little harm to the environment. |
The building’s first floor would be built high above ground _____.
| A．to save space in crowded cities | B．to make the building attractive |
| C．to build the house solidly | D．to fix its units more easily |
While watching a swimming competition one night, I came across an unbelievable sight. It was not a gold medal, or a world record broken, but a show of courage.
The event started with only three men on the blocks. For one reason or another, two of them false started, so they were disqualified. That left only one to complete. In fact, it is difficult enough, not having anyone to race against.
I watched the man dive off the block and knew right away that something was wrong. I’m not an expert swimmer, but I can tell a good dive from a poor one, and this was not exactly medal quality. When he resurfaced, it was obvious that the man was not out for gold — his arms were waving in an attempt at freestyle. The crowd started to laugh. Clearly this man was not a medal competitor.
I listened to the crowd beginning to laugh at this poor man who was clearly having a hard time. Finally he made his turn to start back. It was pitiful. He made a few desperate strokes (划水) and you could tell he was exhausted.
But in those few awful strokes, the crowd had changed.
No longer were they laughing, but beginning to cheer. Some even began to stand and shout “Come on, you can do it!” and he did.
This young man finally finished his race. The crowd went wild. Even though he recorded one of the slowest times in swimming history, this man gave more heart than any of the other competitors.
Just a short year ago, he had never even swum, let alone race. His country had been invited to the competition.
In a competition, we usually watch the brilliant athletes competing for medals, but it is nice to watch an underdog.From the passage we learn that the young man _____.
| A．made his turn to start back pitifully |
| B．was skillful at freestyle swimming |
| C．swam faster than the average swimmer |
| D．seemed unlikely to win a gold medal |
The crowd changed their attitude because _____.
| A．they felt sorry for the young man |
| B．they wanted to show their interest |
| C．they were moved by the young man |
| D．they meant to please the young man |
According to the passage, “it is nice to watch an underdog” probably means ____.
| A．it’s amusing to watch a skillful swimmer swimming |
| B．it’s amazing to watch a good loser challenging himself |
| C．it’s good for athletes to act proudly |
| D．it’s difficult for some athletes to remove medals |
What would be the best title for the passage?
| A．Go for it！ | B．Try again! | C．Compete for gold! | D．Break a record! |
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Global Language Learning Center One of The World’s best Language Schools Is Now In Sydney Learn A New Language In 10-20 Weeks Latest Methods Full-time Courses Business, Hospitality Or Travel Phone for Appointment 938 0977 |
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French SUMMER COURSES Adults Crash Course 9-19 August Intensive 3 or 4 hrs a day, morning or evening, $250 (Beginners and Low Intermediate only) Adults Normal Course 9 July-4 September 10 levels from Beginner to Advanced Once a week, Saturday 9am-1pm 32hrs $278 High School Crash Course 8-15 August Intensive 3 hrs a day, 1pm-4pm Years 8 to 12 24hrs $200 Starts Wednesday 8.8 2012 Club Francais 27 Claire St, Sydney， Phone 227 1746 |
Where can you experience the latest way of teaching languages?
| A．International Language Center. | B．TAFE International. |
| C．Club Francais. | D．Global Language Learning Center. |
The underlined word “picturesque” is closest in meaning to _____.
| A．cultural | B．beautiful | C．traditional | D．industrial |
Which of the following is true of Club Francais?
| A．Adults Normal Course lasts about eight weeks. |
| B．Adults Normal Course is intended for beginners. |
| C．Adults Crash Course can be attended in the afternoon. |
| D．You should pay $50 an hour if you attend High School Crash Course. |
In which column of a newspaper can you most probably find this text?
| A．News. | B．Knowledge. | C．Advertisement. | D．Health. |
Many language learners think their pronunciation is good enough because their teacher doesn’t correct them too often or because other students can 36 them.
Pronunciation is the area which is 37 the least attention to in language learning. Most teachers 38 just let their students speak. The teachers stop them 39 the students say something completely wrong. Working on each student’s pronunciation in class is just 40. Also, the students who are 41 at pronunciation may be afraid that it will embarrass their classmates if they help 42 their mistakes.
Although you believe your pronunciation is good enough to 43, you may be 44 when you actually go to a foreign country. One of my friends was the best student in his 45 class in Poland. However, when he went to America, he found Americans didn’t understand 46 of what he said.
Your pronunciation may still be quite 47 that of a native speaker. If this is the 48, other people will find it 49 to understand what you’re saying and will not be comfortable with you.
50, don’t think you can communicate in a foreign language 51 you’ve tested your skills on real native speakers. 52 for native or nearnative pronunciation so that people you talk to can communicate with you 53. In order to achieve this goal, there’s no 54 that you will need to start thinking about pronunciation and 55 time on it.
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Steve, a twelve-year-old boy with alcoholic parents, was about to be lost forever, by the U.S. education system. Remarkably, he could read, yet, in spite of his reading skills, Steve was failing. He had been failing since first grade, as he was passed on from grade to grade. Steve was a big boy, looking more like a teenager than a twelve year old, yet, Steve went unnoticed... until Miss White.
Miss White was a smiling, young, beautiful redhead, and Steve was in love! For the first time in his young life, he couldn’t take his eyes off his teacher; yet, still he failed. He never did his homework, and he was always in trouble with Miss White. His heart would break under her sharp words, and when he was punished for failing to turn in his homework, he felt just miserable! Still, he did not study.
In the middle of the first semester of school, the entire seventh grade was tested for basic skills. Steve hurried through his tests, and continued to dream of other things, as the day wore on. His heart was not in school, but in the woods, where he often escaped alone, trying to shut out the sights, sounds and smells of his alcoholic home. No one checked on him to see if he was safe. No one knew he was gone, because no one was sober（清醒的） enough to care. Oddly, Steve never missed a day of school.
One day, Miss White’s impatient voice broke into his daydreams. “Steve!!” Startled, he turned to look at her.
“Pay attention!”
Steve locked his gaze on Miss White with adolescent adoration (青春期的爱慕), as she began to go over the test results for the seventh grade.
“You all did pretty well,” she told the class, “except for one boy, and it breaks my heart to tell you this, but...” She hesitated, pinning Steve to his seat with a sharp stare, her eyes searching his face.
“...The smartest boy in the seventh grade is failing my class!”
She just stared at Steve, as the class spun around for a good look. Steve dropped his eyes and carefully examined his fingertips.
After that, it was war!! Steve still wouldn’t do his homework. Even as the punishments became more severe, he remained stubborn.
“Just try it! ONE WEEK!” He was unmoved.
“You’re smart enough! You’ll see a change!” Nothing fazed him.
“Give yourself a chance! Don’t give up on your life!” Nothing.
“Steve! Please! I care about you!”
Wow! Suddenly, Steve got it!! Someone cared about him? Someone, totally unattainable and perfect, CARED ABOUT HIM??!!
Steve went home from school, thoughtful, that afternoon. Walking into the house, he took one look around. Both parents were passed out, in various stages of undress, and the stench(恶臭) was overpowering! He, quickly, gathered up his camping gear, a jar of peanut butter, a loaf of bread, a bottle of water, and this time...his schoolbooks. Grim faced and determined, he headed for the woods.
The following Monday he arrived at school on time, and he waited for Miss White to enter the classroom. She walked in, all sparkle and smiles! God, she was beautiful! He yearned for her smile to turn on him. It did not.
Miss White, immediately, gave a quiz on the weekend homework. Steve hurried through the test, and was the first to hand in his paper. With a look of surprise, Miss White took his paper. Obviously puzzled, she began to look it over. Steve walked back to his desk, his heart pounding within his chest. As he sat down, he couldn’t resist another look at the lovely woman.
Miss White’s face was in total shock! She glanced up at Steve, then down, then up. Suddenly, her face broke into a radiant smile. The smartest boy in the seventh grade had just passed his first test!
From that moment nothing was the same for Steve. Life at home remained the same, but life still changed. He discovered that not only could he learn, but he was good at it!
He discovered that he could understand and retain knowledge, and that he could translate the things he learned into his own life. Steve began to excel! And he continued this course throughout his school life.
After high-school Steve enlisted in the Navy, and he had a successful military career. During that time, he met the love of his life, he raised a family, and he graduated from college Magna Cum Laude. During his Naval career, he inspired many young people, who without him, might not have believed in themselves. Steve began a second career after the Navy, and he continues to inspire others, as an adjunct professor（副教授） in a nearby college。
Miss White left a great legacy. She saved one boy who has changed many lives. I know, because I am the love of his life.
You see, it’s simple, really. A change took place within the heart of one boy, all because of one teacher, who cared.What does the underlined sentence in the first paragraph mean?
| A．Steve would give up schooling forever. |
| B．Steve was at a loss about improving his study. |
| C．Being unhappy both in school and at home, Steve intended to end his own life. |
| D．Due to his poor study, Steve was about to be expelled from his school. |
What made Steve change greatly all of a sudden?
| A．Miss White’s encouragement | B．Miss White’s praise |
| C．knowing Miss White concerned him | D．Miss White’s persuasion |
What might be the best title for this passage?
| A．A boy loves his teacher | B．The difference a teacher can make |
| C．A great teacher | D．Please care about your students |