All life’s circumstances can be seen in an egg. The soft yolk (蛋黄) inside is our and the hard shell outside is the barrier. When the barrier breaks from outside, our desire is crushed (压制), but when it breaks from inside, we something.
I was 22 years old. I did not where the kitchen was in my house, since I had gone into the kitchen before. All of a sudden, I had to move to America to pursue(追求) my master’s degree. I I had to learn to cook a proper meal in order to . My desire to cook began to , and the yolk began to stir.
The first time I made , it came out like white glue. Within a month of experimenting with different recipes, I the art of making Chinese fried rice and north Indian curry. This breaking of the eggshell from gave me yet another skill for life, . Now that I look back, maybe my wife agreed to marry me for this alone.
It is easy to break an egg from outside, but it is to break it from inside. And sometimes, someone or something outside can you to break the egg from inside.
As a father, I took it as my responsibility to my son cycling and swimming. In this case, the yolk was the untapped (未被利用的) potential of my son and the barrier was his fear of losing . It took months of patience and coaching to help him his fear. It was an uphill task to keep him motivated through failures. , I was glad and relieved when he learned both these essential skills.
The important lesson here is that the egg will be no matter what. Success, when the egg breaks from inside, is more about what you overcome than what you achieve.
Life always throws you . I urge you all to persist, believe in yourself and allow your yolk to break through to a new soul and a new you.
A．concern B．desire C．weakness D．resource
A．lose B．change C．gain D．expect
A．know B．find C．forget D．question
A．often B．never C．sometimes D．ever
A．reminded B．promised C．imagined D．realized
A．survive B．compete C．continue D．settle
A．turn around B．get across C．take shape D．take part
A．tea B．rice C．yogurt D．porridge
A．recognized B．appreciated C．introduced D．mastered
A．inside B．outside C．sideways D．around
A．learning B．cooking C．cycling D．adapting
A．courage B．attempt C．skill D．hobby
A．funny B．simple C．boring D．difficult
A．prevent B．help C．agree D．warn
A．accompany B．keep C．teach D．require
A．balance B．patience C．courage D．freedom
A．understand B．discover C．reflect D．overcome
A．Meanwhile B．Finally C．Besides D．Therefore
A．broken B．cooked C．lost D．kept
A．ideas B．messages C．surprises D．challenges
阅读下面短文, 从短文后面各题的A、B、C、D四个选项中, 选出适合填入对应空白处的最佳选项, 并在答题卡上将该选项涂黑。
One afternoon, my son Adam asked me, “Are all people the same even if they are different in color?”
I thought for a minute, and then I said, “I’ll explain, 21 you can just wait until we make a quick 22 at the grocery store. I have something 23 to show you. ”
At grocery store, we 24 some apples --- red, green and yellow ones. Back home, I told Adam, “It’s time to 25 your question.” I put one apple of each 26 on the table. Then I looked at Adam, who had a 27 look on his face.
“People are like apples. They come in all 28 colors, shapes and sizes. On the 29, some of the apples may not 30 look as the others. ” As I was talking, Adam was 31 each one carefully.
Then, I took each of the apples and peeled（削皮）them, 32 them back on the table, but 33 a different place.
“Okay, Adam, tell me which is which.”
He said, “I 34 tell. They all look same now. ” “Take a bite of 35. See if that helps you 36 which one is which. ”
He took 37, and then a huge smile came cross his face. . ”People are 38 like apples! They are all different, but once you 39 the outside, they’re pretty much the same on the inside. ”
He totally 40 it. I didn’t need to say or do anything else.
21. A. although B. so C. because D. if
22. A. stop B. start C. turn D. stay
23. A. expressive B. encouraging C. informative D. interesting
24. A. bought B. counted C. saw D. collected
25. A. check B. mention C. answer D. improve
26. A. size B. type C. shape D. class
27. A. worried B. satisfied C. proud D. curious
28. A. ordinary B. normal C. different D. regular
29. A. outside B. whole C. table D. inside
30. A. still B. even C. only D. ever
31. A. examining B. measuring C. drawing D. packing
32. A. keeping B. placing C. pulling D. giving
33. A. on B. toward C. for D. in
34. A. mustn’t B. can’t C. shouldn’t D. needn’t
35. A. each one B. each other C. the other D. one another
36. A. admit B. consider C. decide D. believe
37. A. big bites B. deep breaths C. a firm hold D. close look
38. A. just B. always C. merely D. seldom
39. A. put away B. get down C. hand out D. take off
40. A. made B. took C. got D. did
It seems parents have long been right. Going to bed early is key to getting enough sleep and helping adolescents feel on top of the world, a new study reported.
A 1of sleep among youngsters may 2depression and suicidal (自杀的)thoughts, according to the study by the Columbia University Medical Center.
"Our results are 3with the theory that inadequate sleep is a risk factor for depression, working with other 4and protective factors through multiple possible causal pathways to the development of this 5disorder," said lead author James Gangwisch.
" 6quality sleep could therefore be a preventative measure against 7 and a treatment for depression," he added in the study 8in the Friday issue of Sleep magazine.
The study followed the nightly habits of some 15,659 college and high-school students, and 9 those who consistently went to bed 10 midnight had a 24 percent higher risk of depression than those who turned in before 10:00 pm.
Night owls（夜猫子）also ran a 20 percent 11 risk of battling suicidal thoughts, the study added.
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine 12that adolescents should sleep at least nine hours or more a night. Those who were tucked in before 10:00 pm reported they slept 13about eight hours and 10 minutes.
But that amount of sleep14 significantly for those in bed after midnight.
And adolescents who slept five hours or less a night were 71 percent more 15 to suffer depression and 48 percent more 16becoming suicidal, the study said.
"It is a common perception and societal 17 that adolescents do not need as much sleep as pre-adolescents, yet studies suggest that adolescents may 18require more sleep," said Gangwisch.
"Studies have found that adolescents do not go to bed 19 enough to make up for earlier school start times, and transitions to earlier school start times have been shown to be 20 with significant sleep deprivation（剥夺）. "
( ) 1. A. night B. moderation C. limit D. lack
( ) 2. A. result in B. lie in C. come about D. bring in
( ) 3. A. opposed B. mixed C. related D. consistent
( ) 4. A. risk B. chance C. potential D. reason
( ) 5. A. mood B. body C. feeling D. mind
( ) 6. A. little B. lack C. Adequate D. over
( ) 7. A. suffering B. depression C. disorder D. sadness
( ) 8. A. reported B. published C. reflected D. noted
( ) 9. A. found B. investigated C. appraised D. supported
( ) 10. A. before B. from C. by D. after
( ) 11. A. lower B. higher C. more D. less
( ) 12. A. appeals B. recommends C. calls D. plans
( ) 13. A. on average B. in place C. ahead of D. in number
( ) 14. A. increased B. disappeared C. strengthened D. dropped
( ) 15. A. likely B. probable C. possible D. perhaps
( ) 16. A. at sight of B. at risk of C. in front of D. as a result of
( ) 17. A. wish B. expectation C. suggestion D. attempt
() 18. A. exactly B. immediately C. directly D. actually
( ) 19. A. early B. lately C. soon D. quickly
( ) 20. A. separated B. associated C. divided D. depended
Elderly people who drink several cups of green tea a day are less likely to suffer from depression, probably due to a "feel good" chemical found in this type of tea, Japanese researchers said.
Several studies have 1drinking green tea to lessening psychological problems and Kaijun Niu, of Tohoku University Graduate School, and colleagues found people 270 and older who drank four or more cups of green tea daily were 44 percent 3likely to experience depression.
Green tea is widely4in many Asian countries,5China and Japan.
Niu's team61,058 relatively healthy elderly men and women. About 34 percent of the men and 39 percent of the women had symptoms of 7 , according to the study that was8in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
A total of 488 participants said they 9four or more cups of green tea a day, 284 said they downed two to three cups 10and the rest reported having one or fewer cups daily.
According to the researchers, the 11effect of drinking more 12tea on alleviating symptoms of depression did not 13after they factored in social and economic status, gender, diet, history of medical problems and 14 of antidepressants.
There was no 15between consumption of black or oolong tea, or coffee, and 16symptoms of depression.
A green tea component, the amino acid thiamine（硫胺素）, which is17to have a tranquilizing（镇静的） 18on the brain, may19 the "potentially beneficial effect" shown in the current study, Niu noted, 20that more study is needed.
() 1. A. linked B. taken C. considered D. regarded
() 2. A. aging B. aged C. years D. age
() 3. A. more B. little C. less D. much
( ) 4. A. sold B. planted C. spread D. consumed
( ) 5. A. including B. concluding C. containing D. considering
( ) 6. A. looked for B. checked C. investigated D. asked
( ) 7. A. optimism B. happiness C. bitterness D. depression
( ) 8. A. published B. come out C. appeared D. showed
( ) 9. A. ate B. drank C. swallowed D. chewed
( ) 10. A. weekly B. daily C. monthly D. yearly
( ) 11. A. apparent B. light C. huge D. gentle
( ) 12. A. black B. oolong C. coffee D. green
( ) 13. A. fade B. disappear C. run D. decease
() 14. A. influence B. effect C. use D. result
( ) 15. A. association B. use C. comparison D. difference
( ) 16. A. lower B. increase C. strengthen D. cause
( ) 17. A. assumed B. thought C. imaged D. hoped
( ) 18. A. effect B. affect C. effort D. outcome
( ) 19. A. report B. confirm C. complete D. explain
( ) 20. A. adding B. addressing C. speaking D. saying
The Chinese New Year is a great holiday to choose to celebrate Chinese culture with your child. Here are few fun ways to bring a bit of fun and1into your home through the festivities of the Chinese New Year.
1.Add a lucky red door. Red is a traditional color of 2. It's an important part of the Chinese New Year to 3on doing what one can to bring about good luck for the New Year. If you don't want to 4the door red, how about wrapping it up like a present with red wrapping paper. If changing your front door's color is not workable, how about the door to your child's bedroom?
2.Eat. A huge part of most cultures is that of food and the Chinese New Year is not 5, it's eating jiaozi at midnight on New Year's Eve, or longevity noodles on day seven of the festivities to 6long life. The Chinese New Year celebrations mean many fancy meals that your child will 7.
3.Create a lantern. Sara Naumann, the Guide to China Travel, shares a bit about the legend of the Lantern Festival or Yuanxiao, which occurs on the 8day of the Chinese New Year festivities. It's a 9that includes an emperor, a young woman who misses her family, and tricking the God of Fire. Your kids should love this story. After 10it with them, or while reading the story, enjoy making your own paper lantern to display.
4.Give lucky money. The Guide to Mandarin Language shares that another very popular 11during the Chinese New Year is that of the gift of red envelopes with 12in them. These gifts are given to children and usually follow a bit of superstition（迷信） in that the money needs to be given in even amounts and never contain 13numbers, such as four. Therefore, four dollars is not a good gift. The envelopes are also decorated with lucky symbols and New Year 14.
5.Give a small gift. The giving of simple gifts is also an appropriate way to 15the Chinese New Year. What better gift than that of a children's book about the Chinese New Year or the Chinese Culture.
6.Make some noise. Just like in America, the Chinese use 16in ringing in their New Year. In the Chinese culture it began as a way to 17away any demons（鬼） that threaten to bring a profitable and lucky New Year, but today it's also about excitement and 18 . Consider setting off a few firecrackers of your own, if allowed in your area. If not, make a cute firework picture with a bit of glitter and glue. A pretend firecracker is another great craft that could also be considered a festive way to decorate your New Year table.
7.Sing Happy Birthday to your dog. The second day of the Chinese New Year is 19the birthday of all dogs. Why not 20your child to throw Fido a birthday celebration? Perhaps an extra ride in the car or new chew toy is in order? I know my dog would appreciate a few extra belly rubs too.
( ) 1. A. tradition B. culture C. civilization D. habit
( ) 2. A. wealth B. disaster C. belief D. luck
( ) 3. A. focus B. accuse C. adapt D. mind
( ) 4. A. boil B. paint C. wash D. purchase
( ) 5. A. same B. similar C. common D. different
( ) 6. A. come about B. take about C. bring about D. get out
( ) 7. A. bore B. destroy C. enjoy D. absorb
( ) 8. A. last B. first C. second D. next
( ) 9. A. play B. story C. novel D. history
( ) 10. A. sharing B. listening C. reading D. making
( ) 11. A. invention B. story C. race D. tradition
( ) 12. A. food B. clothes C. money D. jewels
( ) 13. A. unclear B. unlucky C. unfair D. uncertain
( ) 14. A. wishes B. signs C. presents D. happiness
( ) 15. A. spend B. envy C. buy D. celebrate
( ) 16. A. firecrackers B. songs C. dances D. goods
( ) 17. A. take B. scare C. get D. burn
( ) 18. A. fun B. relax C. sleep D. travel
( ) 19. A. fixed B. named C. considered D. marked
( ) 20. A. order B. accompany C. tease D. allow
Here's a new warning from health experts: Sitting is deadly. Scientists are increasingly warning that sitting for prolonged periods — even if you also exercise regularly — could be 1for your health. And it doesn't matter where the sitting takes place — at the office, at school, in the car or before a computer or TV — just the overall number of hours it 2.
Research is preliminary, but several studies 3people who spend most of their days sitting are more likely to be fat, have a heart attack or even die.
In an editorial 4this week in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, Elin Ekblom-Bak of the Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences suggested that authorities rethink how they define 5activity to highlight the dangers of sitting.
While health officials have issued guidelines 6minimum amounts of physical activity, they haven't suggested people try to limit how much time they spend in a seated 7 .
"After four hours of sitting, the body starts to send 8signals," Ekblom-Bak said. She explained that genes regulating the amount of glucoseand fat in the 9start to shut down.
Even for people who 10, spending long stretches of time sitting at a desk is still harmful. Tim Armstrong, a physical activity expert at the World Health Organization, said people who exercise every day — 11still spend a lot of time sitting — might get more benefit if that exercise were spread across the day, 12in a single bout.
That wasn't 13news for Aytekin Can, 31, who works at a London financial company, and spends most of his days sitting 14a computer. Several evenings a week, Can also teaches jiu jitsu, a Japanese martial art 15wrestling, and also does Thai boxing.
"I'm sure there are some detrimental 16of staying still for too long, but I hope that being 17when I can helps," he said. "I wouldn't want to think the sitting could be 18dangerous."
Still, in a study published last year that tracked more than 17,000 Canadians for about a dozen years, researchers found people who sat 19had a higher death risk, independently of whether or not they exercised.
Figures from a US survey in 2003-2004 found Americans spend more than half their time sitting, from working at their desks to sitting in cars.
Experts said more research is needed to 20just how much sitting is dangerous, and what might be possible to offset those effects.
( ) 1. A. bad B. good C. mean D. dead
( ) 2. A. does B. occurs C. matches D. dies
( ) 3. A. advise B. talk C. suggest D. say
( ) 4. A. thrown B. caught C. seen D. published
( ) 5. A. biological B. physical C. psychological D. logical
( ) 6. A. commending B. mending C. recommending D. communicating
( ) 7. A. stand B. state C. post D. position
( ) 8. A. harmful B. careful C. wonderful D. skillful
( ) 9. A. head B. arm C. body D. foot
( ) 10. A. sleep B. rest C. walk D. exercise
( ) 11. A. and B. so C. but D. then
( ) 12. A. rather than B. other than C. more than D. less than
( ) 13. A. bad B. harmful C. disadvantage D. welcome
( ) 14. A. behind B. back C. in front of D. forward
( ) 15. A. referring B. involving C. taking D. bringing
( ) 16. A. effects B. prefects C. affects D. offers
( ) 17. A. inactive B. active C. interactive D. positive
( ) 18. A. such B. little C. lot D. that
( ) 19. A. less B. fewer C. more D. further
( ) 20. A. leave out B. bring out C. hold out D. figure out