In general, it’s hard to spend enough time in both concentrating on lessons and taking part in social activities. But I wanted to succeed in both. I knew this would be a challenge but I didn’t realize how difficult it was until my class in the high school began.
I got on well with other girls. After school, I often had ice cream with them first instead of finishing my homework before it was time to hand it in. I always finished it the next day between classes. I knew it wasn’t very good and the grades that I got showed I was not hard working enough. I realized that I needed to find some kind of balance.
So I created a timetable that would divide my time between studying and relaxing. It was a good idea but I was only able to follow it for a few days because it made me under too much pressure.
Later, I tried another plan. Each week I listed everything that I had to get done during the week and the time by which I had to get it done. The under the things I had to do, I made another list of things that I could do if I had time.
It worked really well. Ever since I have never missed any important things. At the same time, I enjoyed my spare time a lot.
Planning my time has been challenging, but I continue to do it. I’m glad that I’ve learned to balance things and it has helped prepare for what is coming after graduation.Why did the writer follow the first timetable only for a few days?
A．Because it had a specific list
B．Because it wasn’t a good idea
C．Because it brought her too much pressure.What wasn’t included in the writer’s second time plan?
A．The things she shouldn’t do
B．the things she had to get done
C．The things she could do if she had timeAccording to the passage, which of the following is true?
A．The writer had few friends because of bad grade
B．Learning to balance things is helpful to make plans for the future
C．The writer preferred to spend more time in relaxing than studyingWhich do you think is the best title of the passage?
A．Facing challenges
B．Concentrating on lessons
C．Balancing study and play
You either have it, or you don’t---a sense of direction, that is. But why is it that some people could find their way across the Sahara without a map, while others can lose themselves in the next street?
Scientists say we’re all born with a sense of direction, but it is not properly understood how it works. One theory is that people with a sense of direction have simply worked harder at developing it. Research being carried out at Liverpool University supports this idea and suggests that if we don’t use it, we lose it.
“Children as young as seven have the ability to find their way around,” says Jim Martland, Research Chief of the project.“However, if they are not allowed out alone or are taken everywhere by car, they never develop the skills.”
Jim Martland also emphasizes that young people should be taught certain skills to improve their sense of direction. He makes the following suggestions:
lIf you are using a map, turn it so it relates to the way you are facing.
lIf you leave your bike in a strange place, put it near something like a big stone or a tree. Note landmarks on the route as you go away from your bile. When you return, go back along the same route.
lSimplify the way of finding your direction by using lines such as streets in a town, streams, or walls in the countryside to guide you. Count your steps so that you know how far you have gone and note any landmarks such as tower blocks or hills which can help to find out where you are.
Now you need never get lost again!Scientists believe that _________.
| A．some babies are born with a sense of direction |
| B．people learn a sense of direction as they grow older |
| C．people never lose their sense of direction |
| D．Everybody possesses a sense of direction from birth |
What is true of seven-year-old children according to the passage?
| A．They never have a sense of direction without maps. |
| B．They should never be allowed out alone if they lack a sense of direction. |
| C．They have a sense of direction and can find their way around. |
| D．They can develop a good sense of direction if they are driven around in a car. |
If you leave your bike in a strange place, you should _________.
| A．tie it to a tree so as to prevent it from being stolen |
| B．draw a map of the route to help remember where it is |
| C．avoid taking the same rout when you come back to it |
| D．remember something easily recognizable on the route |
According to the passage the best way to find your way around is to _________.
| A．ask policemen for directions |
| B．use walls, streams, and streets to guide yourself |
| C．remember your route by looking out for steps and stairs |
| D．count the number of landmarks that you see |
Which of the following statements is right?
| A．Our sense of direction needs to be strengthened, otherwise we will lose it. |
| B．We need not worry about losing our sense of direction, for we were born with it. |
| C．If we have a map, we will never get lost. |
| D．All of the above. |
For any person who must speak in public, to business or pleasure groups, humor is a helpful, and necessary, tool for getting your message across. Why does humor work a lot? There are several reasons.
People will enjoy what you have to say if it is presented with humor. But, more importantly, if you are in a situation where important, and perhaps controversial（有争议的）, ideas must be presented to less than open minds, humor allows those ideas to be presented in a non-threatening (无威胁的) manner. Abraham Lincoln was famous for his ability to relate humorous stories to make a point. Humor used carefully throughout a presentation will also keep the listener’s interest high. In a word, individuals learning how to use humor in their speeches can strengthen arguments, support interesting presentations and, most of all, entertain their audience in a positive and comfortable way.
While popular culture may well hold many kinds of humor, some of it has no place in presentations that are designed to educate and encourage the audience. If you want to become a professional stand-up (单人表演的) comedian whose goal is 100% entertainment, then you may be able to use some of the reference materials like The Art of Using Humor in Public Speaking. They can help you develop your skills and sources of humor. To that end, your participation in this study of humor will become necessary. Hopefully, you will come to appreciate the special difficulty of entertaining the audience with good and clean humor. How many reasons does the author give for using humor?
| A．Two. | B．Three. | C．Four. | D．Five. |
What’s the purpose of stand-up comedians?
| A．To educate the audience. | B．To encourage the audience. |
| C．To entertain the audience. | D．To exchange with the audience. |
Why did the author suggest reading The Art of Using Humor in Public Speaking?
| A．It was good for training one’s skills of humor. |
| B．It helped the readers relax after work. |
| C．It gave some tips on how to live a positive life. |
| D．It was a textbook for professional stand-up comedians. |
Which of the following has a similar meaning to the underlined word “end” in the last paragraph?
| A．Finishing. | B．Conclusion. | C．Stop. | D．Result. |
The passage is most likely to benefit________ a lot.
| A．science researchers | B．public speakers |
| C．dress designers | D．sports players |
There was once a blind man, who did a lot of traveling alone. He was making his first trip to Texas and happened to be seated next to a Texan on the flight.
The Texan spent a lot of time telling him how everything was bigger and better in Texas. After the blind man reached his destination, a large resort (度假) hotel, he was very excited about being in Texas.
The long trip had worn him out a little so he decided to stop at the bar for a small soda and a light snack before going up to his room to sleep.
When the waitress set down his drink, it was in a huge cup. “Wow, I had heard everything in Texas is bigger,” he told her.
“That’s right,” she replied. The blind man ate his snack and finished his drink. After drinking such a large amount, it was natural that his next stop was to be the restroom. He asked the waitress for directions. She told him to turn left at the corner, and then take the second door on the right.
He reached the first door and continued. A few steps later he stumbled (绊倒) slightly and missed the second door and ended up going through the third door instead. Not realizing he had entered the swimming area he walked forward and immediately fell into the swimming pool.
Remembering that everything was bigger in Texas, he had his head above water and started shouting “Don’t flush(冲洗)! Don’t flush!”Why was the blind man excited about being in Texas?
| A．It was the first time that he had travelled abroad. |
| B．People from Texas were very friendly than he expected. |
| C．He heard that everything was bigger and better in Texas. |
| D．The service staff in the large resort hotel was very humorous. |
Why did the blind man enter the swimming area?
| A．He wanted to go swimming. |
| B．He wanted to have a bath. |
| C．He stumbled and missed the restroom door. |
| D．The waitress gave him wrong directions. |
Why did the blind man go to the bar?
| A．To go through it on his way to his room. |
| B．To have a short rest after a long walk. |
| C．To have something to eat there. |
| D．To ask a waitress for directions. |
Why did the blind man shout out “Don’t flush! Don’t flush!”?
| A．He thought he was caught in a big toilet and someone was cleaning it. |
| B．He didn’t want anyone to clean the toilet at that time. |
| C．He didn’t want anyone to clean the swimming pool at that time. |
| D．He thought it was such a big swimming pool that making it clean was no use. |
If the passage is taken from a website, which part of the website does it belong to?
| A．Travel services. | B．Hotel services. | C．Funny stories. | D．Health problems. |
It is true that shyness can be a disadvantage socially for those who suffer from it seriously. I mean real shyness, not somebody who is simply quiet. Quiet people could be shy, but on the other hand, they may just be observing because they are unsure of you or others in your company. They may be capable of being extrovert (性格外向的) and sociable, but on some particular occasions, they are quiet.
I have learnt from my experience that those who observe and listen more and talk less can gain a position of strength. This means that even a very shy person, the type who is reluctant to talk in company , especially new company, can become a strong person in just about anything they choose. Remember, knowledge is power, and a shy introvert (性格内向的人) is in a better position to gain knowledge than an extrovert. Introverted people can give great attention to learning, and as good listeners they can take in an enormous amount from others. Over time, people can come to respect them far more than the extrovert who speaks a lot. Usually about themselves.
What does it take , then for a very shy person to be that successful person they have always wanted to be ? They may only need one more thing to push themselves on their way. They need to dare themselves to take the leap; and when they do , they will probably find all the knowledge they have gained over the years will help them on their way to the top in their chosen field.What does the first paragraph mainly want to tell us?
| A．A person who is quiet may not be shy. |
| B．A shy person may not be a calm one. |
| C．Quiet people are usually doubtful. |
| D．Shyness is sometimes a bad feature. |
The underlined word “reluctant” in paragraph 2 probably means _____.
| A．lazy | B．careful | C．eager | D．unwilling |
According to the author, introverted people can be successful because they usually ______.
| A．have a strong will | B．talk less and show off less |
| C．learn more than extroverts | D．have a good attitude to learning |
It can be learned from the last paragraph that “one more thing” probably refers to _____.
| A．energy | B．courage | C．quietness | D．knowledge |
Well, when the huge wave hit the boat, my safety belt broke and I was swept overboard. I don’t really understand how it happened, but it did. I heard someone yell out, but then my boat, Wild One, went off into the darkness and I was alone in a very rough sea. I then spent five and a half hours in the water. The place where it happened was, oh, about 50 kilometers from shore. It was likely that I wouldn’t see another day, but I always thought I’d overcome the difficulties. At first I was watching out for Wild One. The rest of the crew knew I was gone, so they were sure to come back and look for me. After a while, I saw the boat’s lights when it came looking for me. They were within about 300 meters of me, but the spotlight just missed me. The reason why they didn’t see me was because of the huge waves. You know, I started sailing when I was seven, and started ocean racing when I was about eighteen, but I’d never been overboard before. I believed I was going to survive, but it was very cold, and as the hours passed I started to get desperate——and frozen! It was around 5 am when I saw the lights of a tanker coming towards me. I figured it was probably my last chance. At first, I thought they were going to miss me, and then they made a slight turn and I yelled out “Help!” and they heard me. Then another yacht appeared. These guys were terrific. They gave me dry clothes, and then one jumped into the bunk and hung onto me. They covered us with as much dry clothing as they could, and the guy in with me stayed to transfer his body heat to me.The author of the passage was alone in the sea NOT because ______.
| A．the wind was too strong | B．the wave hit the boat |
| C．the safety belt was broken | D．his boat was in the darkness |
He was not saved by his crew because ______.
| A．he didn’t yell out “Help!” | B．300 meters was long distance |
| C．he was not found | D．he didn’t see the spotlight |
It was inferred from the passage that ______.
| A．he was swept overboard at about midnight |
| B．Wild One was the name of a crew member |
| C．he started ocean racing at about seven |
| D．he was too hopeless to take the last chance |
One of the guys who saved him jumped into the bunk in order to ______.
| A．cover him with more dry clothes |
| B．warm him with his body heat |
| C．comfort him |
| D．congratulate him |