Less is more. This is why we say: reduce things by half instead of doubling them, get rid of junk instead of piling it up, slow down instead of . Apply these in your everyday life, and you will find yourself being on your journey to simplification.
When you concentrate on one task, you find you have that you didn’t even know you had. Just imagine: you are at a fair and you have to carry two heavy pigs over 100 yards. If you keep one and then the other, it will take a long time, because one of them will keep slipping out of your hand and . But if you tie one pig in a place, pick up the other, gather all your , make a dash for the finish line, pause for a moment, run back, get the other one, and with great determination, carry the second pig to the finish line, and then you can be sure of success.
The stress of work is now great almost in all occupations. In the modern nuclear family, the stress that would have been shared among all the relatives is now on the individual partner.
If you have the feeling that 24 hours per day is not , then it’s not because the day has too few hours, but because you have too many activities. A simple fact is that people tend to forget. The is equally simple: refuse to accept so many assignments.
“I can handle stress” is regarded as a positive statement. People who can handle stress are given more --- until one day they . Pay careful attention to the that tell you that you are under more stress than you can deal with. These signs come from various of life. You become ill, or your work efficiency .
If you have any of these symptoms, change your life goals and decrease your tolerance of stress. Say openly, “I can’t manage that.”
A．bringing up B．taking up C．giving up D．speeding up
A．operations B．advantages C．principles D．relations
A．appetite B．gift C．energy D．excuse
A．grabbing B．pushing C．enjoying D．exchanging
A．running off B．turning off C．catching up D．lying down
A．labor B．strength C．power D．force
A．equally B．largely C．formerly D．mainly
A．contracted B．concentrated C．congratulated D．constructed
A．proper B．short C．important D．enough
A．overloaded B．overdeveloped C．overcrowded D．overslept
A．answer B．solution C．problem D．destination
A．break up B．break off C．break out D．break down
A．phenomena B．signs C．problems D．parts
A．qualities B．directions C．aspects D．stages
A．improves B．decreases C．increases D．changes
After the birth of my second child. I got a job at a restaurant. Having worked with an experienced ______ for a few days, I was _____ to wait tables on my own. All went______ that first week. When Saturday night came, I was luckily ______ the tables not far from the kitchen. ______, I still felt a little hard to carry the heavy trays (托盘).
Before I knew it, the ______ was full of people. I moved slowly，______ every step. I remember how _____ I was when I saw the tray stand (架子) near the tables. It looked different from the one I was ______ on. It had nice handles, which made it ______ to move around. I was pleased with everything and began to ______ I was a natural at this job.
Then, an old man came to me and said, “Excuse me, dear, my wife and I loved ______ you work. It seems your stray stand has been very ______ to you, but we are getting ready to______ now, and my wife needs her ______ back.”
At first his ______ did not get across. “What was he talking about?” Then I got it. I had set my trays on his wife’s orthopedic walker (助步器). I stood frozen as ice, but my face was _____. I wanted to get into a hole and ______.
Since then, I have learned from many mistakes such as the one I just ______. I have learned to be more ______ and not to be too sure of myself.
A．manager B．assistant C．cook D．waitress
A．promised B．invited C．allowed D．advised
A．well B．quickly C．safely D．wrong
A．left B．given C．brought D．show
A．Therefore B．However C．Otherwise D．Finally
A．kitchen B．street C．restaurant D．table
A．minding B．changing C．taking D．saving
A．angry B．calm C．sad D．happy
A．fixed B．trained C．loaded D．waited
A．slower B．lighter C．quieter D．easier
A．believe B．agree C．regret D．pretend
A．letting B．making C．watching D．having
A．useful B．familiar C．unusual D．interesting
A．rest B．order C．eat D．leave
A．bag B．walker C．tray D．coat
A．idea B．praise C．message D．need
A．cold B．full of joy C．pale D．on fire
A．lie B．hide C．defend D．stay
A．repeated B．discovered C．corrected D．described
A．careful B．patient C．honest D．practical
It was pouring outside. We all stood there , some patiently, others annoyed
nature messed up (弄糟) their hurried day. I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens __ away the dirt and dust of the world.
“Mom , let’s run through the rain,” a girl’s voice me.
“No, honey. We’ll wait until it down a bit,” Mom replied.
The young girl waited about another minute and , “Mom, let’s run through the rain.”
“We’ll get wet if we do,” Mom said.
“No, we won’t, Mom. That’s not what you said this morning,” the young girl said as she her Mom’s arm.
“This morning? did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?”
“Don’t you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, ‘ If God can get us through this, he can get us through .’ ”
The entire crowd turned . Mom paused and thought for a moment about she would say. Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being __ . But then we heard, “Honey, you are . Let’s run through the rain. If we get wet, maybe we just need washing,” Mom said. Then they ran.
We all stood , smiling and laughing as they ran past the cars. Yes, they got wet. But they were by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the to their cars. Circumstances (境况) or people can take away your material possessions, and they can even take away your . But no one can ever take away your precious . So, don’t forget to make time and take the to make memories every day! I hope you still take the time to run through the rain.
A．waiting B．talking C．complaining D．expecting
A．as if B．even if C．when D．because
A．taking B．washing C．driving D．putting
A．broke B．caught C．impressed D．called
A．pushes B．comes C．slows D．calms
A．asked B．required C．repeated D．added
A．felt B．touched C．waved D．pulled
A．Why B．When C．How D．Where
A．the rain B．the disease C．something D．anything
A．silent B．still C．serious D．angry
A．whether B．how C．what D．if
A．dishonest B．forgetful C．daring D．silly
A．stupid B．wrong C．right D．clever
A．on B．along C．off D．over
A．sighing B．joking C．watching D．discussing
A．guided B．followed C．respected D．praised
A．way B．time C．same D．best
A．health B．money C．house D．time
A．children B．courage C．memories D．experience
A．possibilities B．challenge C．risk D．opportunities
I used to hate being called upon in class mainly because I didn’t like attention drawn to myself. And otherwise assigned(指定) a seat by the teacher, I always to sit at the back of the classroom.
All this after I joined a sports team. It began when a teacher suggested I try out for the basketball team. At first I thought it was a crazy because I didn’t have a good sense of balance, nor did I have the to keep pace with the others on the team and they would tease me. But for the teacher who kept insisting on my “ for it”, I wouldn’t have decided to give a try.
Getting up the courage to go to the tryouts was only the of it! When I first started the practice sessions, I didn’t even know the rules of the game, much what I was doing. Sometimes I’d get and take a shot at the wrong direction--which made me feel really stupid. , I wasn’t the only one “new” at the game, so I decided to on learning the game, do my best at each practice session, and not be too hard on myself for the things I didn’t “just yet”.
I practiced and practiced. Soon I knew the and the “moves”. Being part of a team was fun and motivating. Very soon the competitive in me was winning over my lack of confidence. With time, I learned how to play and made friends in the --friends who respected my efforts to work hard and be a team player. I never had so much fun!
With my self-confidence comes more praise from teachers and classmates. I have gone from in the back of the classroom and not wanting to call attention to myself, raising my hand--even when I sometimes wasn’t and not 100 percent I had the right answer. Now I have more self-confidence in myself.
A．as B．until C．unless D．though
A．agreed B．chose C．meant D．hoped
A．continued B．settled C．started D．changed
A．saying B．idea C．belief D．plan
A．ability B．right C．chance D．patience
A．looking B．applying C．cheering D．going
A．point B．rest C．half D．basis
A．watching B．preparing C．enjoying D．attending
A．less B．later C．worse D．further
A．committed B．confused C．embarrassed D．motivated
A．Interestingly B．Obviously C．Fortunately D．hopefully
A．focus B．act C．rely D．try
A．want B．do C．know D．support
A．steps B．rules C．orders D．games
A．part B．roles C．mind D．value
A．movement B．process C．operation D．situation
A．recognized B．expressed C．preserved D．improved
A．dreaming B．hiding C．playing D．relaxing
A．to B．for C．with D．by
A．sure B．happy C．satisfied D．lucky
阅读下面短文, 从短文后各题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中, 选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。
Recent years have seen many conflicts caused by square dancing. Since loud music______ students preparing for the College Entrance Examination (or gaokao),____citizens who practise the dance near a local middle school in Beijing ________the music to the lowest possible volume. ________the controversy, however, it is difficult to demand a(n) _____on square dancing in the weeks before the College Entrance Examination , says an article .
To some degree, it is necessary for senior citizens to sacrifice the_____of square dancing despite being very ______ of it. Their sacrifice is seen as necessary also because the gaokao is an important ______point in a student's life.
But if students preparing for the okao have the______ to study in a peaceful environment, then senior citizens, too, have the right to practise the dance form of their ____without disturbance. In the Beijing case ______above, more than 300 senior citizens have set a good example by _______a smaller square away from the middle school and turning down the volume of the music while practising the square dance.
Therefore, the authorities, instead of forcing senior citizens to __ practising square dancing in the weeks preceding the gaokao, should take measures to___ that they do so in non-residential areas and, definitely, as far away from _____as possible. The authorities, for instance, could ______for buses to take senior citizens to and from places where they could practise the dance without disturbing anyone and get some _____ exercise and mental comfort.
________, local communities could organize leisure activities that create little noise to provide senior citizens with some_______. In short, senior citizens should not be forced to give up square dancing in the weeks preceding the gaokao, _____they should be provided with alternatives to spend their time happily.
A．keeps B．leaves C．disturbs D．helps
A．elder ly B．friendly C．healthy D．active
A．turned up B．turned in C．turned out D．turned down
A．In spite of B．Because of C．Due to D．As to
A．suggestion B．action C．ban D．promotion
A．approach B．method C．practice D．manner
A．tired B．excited C．interested D．fond
A．turning B．moving C．changing D．reforming
A．ability B．right C．opportunity D．chance
A．choice B．nature C．range D．variety
A．mentioned B．explained C．suggested D．promoted
A．getting to B．moving to C．referring to D．coming to
A．stop B．keep C．risk D．miss
A．forbid B．realize C．warn D．ensure
A．shops B．schools C．factories D．parks
A．arrange B．making C．paying D．preparing
A．spiritual B．physical C．material D．technical
A．However B．Therefore C．Obviously D．Besides
A．welfare B．equipment C．recreation D．supplies
A．instead B．still C．quite D．accordingly
I’d been 16 for six days and was already prepared to deal with failure.
I remember that, when my mum me that morning, her voice wasn’t as screaming as it usually was. She had been for more than one hour getting everything ready, and I could feel she was me at the same time.
I stayed in bed for a few minutes. I was to leave its warmth and to face the suffering that I’d rather let myself forget for the past months. Finally, I dragged myself .
The first thing I thought of after getting up was to . I went to the kitchen and prepared a breakfast that was fairly , but was still too big for my appetite(食欲，胃口) that day. I kept telling myself that I eat. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and this wasn’t a(n) day. Besides maybe it would me a little. But I doubted it. I left the kitchen because even the made me feel sick.
I finished getting ready and tried to settle down. It didn’t , so I decided that my mum and I should go. We had time, so I thought we could practise parking. I , with the wheel hitting the pavement(人行道). After that, the little bit of confidence I had was . I tried two more times, but did not improve much. Then we went towards the driving site (地点).
I waited twenty minutes---just enough time to make myself believe that I was going to fail. Then, finally, it was my . I wasn’t sure of myself at all. I just wanted to get it over and make sure that I had to come back next Thursday.
The first thing I had to do was parking, which I did quite well. The that came with it hit me like a wave. The rest of the test went well and I passed it.
The of my mum made her face softer. I knew her worry was gone and she was happy for me.
A．woke B．cried C．told D．shouted
A．up B．over C．out D．in
A．smiling at B．looking at C．worrying about D．talking with
A．sad B．eager C．willing D．unwilling
A．convenience B．comfort C．quiet D．friendship
A．into bed B．onto bed C．out of bed D．in bed
A．work B．rest C．drink D．eat
A．small B．large C．delicious D．good
A．might B．could C．hated D．should
A．ordinary B．necessary C．lucky D．important
A．like B．hurt C．stop D．calm
A．milk B．smells C．smoke D．bread
A．work B．do C．calm D．use
A．no B．plenty of C．little D．a little
A．cried B．succeeded C．failed D．left
A．back B．greater C．there D．gone
A．start B．office C．test D．race
A．try B．turn C．car D．chance
A．happiness B．Confidence C．pride D．disappointment
A．tears B．lines C．smiles D．eyes