They will be here in a minute, surely. I’ll just stare at my shoes a little while longer to pass the time. Wish I’d brought a book. Hang on, though, what if I’ve got the wrong day? The wrong place? Have the clocks gone back? No, damn it, I’m off home. Whoever I’m waiting for clearly lives in a different time zone from me.
I am always 10 minutes early, so if you’re 10 minutes late, I’ve been foot-tapping for 20 minutes. I know it’s not fair to hold the first 10 against you, but I just can’t help myself. I never wait more than 20 minutes beyond the meeting time we decided upon, not for anyone, ever.
OK, that’s not strictly true. I have, on occasion, hung around anxiously and heart-brokenly for up to an hour, but the bitter anger that follows is never a pretty sight. If you’ve made me wait that long, you will wish you hadn’t bothered turning up at all.
How come some people are always late and some are always on time? If I can manage to be punctual, why can’t you? Because I left a hot cup of coffee at home while you sat down to roll another cigarette. Because I spilled jam on my pants and quickly wiped it off whereas you took time to change your whole outfit. Because I switched off midway through a TV series, but you had to ride out the end, didn’t you? And don’t even think about blaming the traffic. How do you think I got here? By flying carpet? Only carelessness or arrogance (傲慢) can explain a habit of lateness.
Some people are always late because they can’t make realistic calculations about how long it takes to do things. There are 60 seconds in a minute and 60 minutes in an hour. Just deal with it. Painful as it may be, you have to accept that, as you’ve agreed to meet at eight and it’s now a quarter to, you don’t have time to phone your girlfriend.
Much worse, though, are those with big egos (自我). Being late is just rude. Being late on purpose really means that you hate the person you are meeting.
Of course, there are some perfectly lovely latecomers out there. I just never wait long enough to find out.Which of the following words best describes how the author feels in the first paragraph?
| A．Anxious. | B．Curious. |
| C．Thankful. | D．Joyful. |
What does the author think contributes to people always being late?
a. Their big egos.
b. Traffic jams.
c. Their carelessness.
d. Being picky when choosing clothes.
e. Their realistic calculations of how long it takes to do things.
| A．a, b | B．a, c | C．b, d, e | D．c, d, e |
We can learn from the article that the author ___________.
| A．is tolerant of people being late |
| B．has missed lots of meetings |
| C．has trouble getting along with others |
| D．has a strong preference for good timekeeping |
According to the author, people should ____________.
| A．be patient when waiting for a latecomer |
| B．keep in mind that being late is rude and selfish |
| C．always arrive 10 minutes early for an appointment |
| D．ask people around them to remind them about an appointment |
Last week I was riding my special motorbike and then stopped at a convenience store. As I was getting my wheelchair off the back, a man watched me from his car and I noticed a wheelchair in his back seat. We spoke for a moment and I asked him about the wheelchair. He answered that it was for his daughter. “Well, do you think she would like to go for a ride on my motorbike with me?” I asked. He seemed shocked that a total stranger would ask him this. He thought about it for a second and said, “OK, as long as I can follow you.”
He introduced me to Amy and he sat her on my back seat. Her father followed me for a few miles and she talked non-stop about what she wanted for Christmas.
As we came back to the convenience store, she said, “This ride is the best Christmas present I could ever receive. I have been in a wheelchair my whole life and didn’t know I could do this.” I told her about some of the other things I do (ski, travel the world by myself, etc.). As her father was taking her off my bike, she turned to him and said, “Oh Daddy, I’m going to be OK. Mr. Bryant does all kinds of things, and I will too.” Her father turned away as a tear of joy rolled down his cheek. He hugged me and said, “I was sitting here praying for a gift for Amy that would encourage her. She often felt that her life was dull compared to other children. God answered my prayer just now. Now I pray that God will bless you for your gift to Amy today.” I believed what he said. Being kind and thoughtful to others, we can be an answer to prayer. How did the father feel at first when the author invited his daughter for a ride?
| A．He felt surprised because he didn’t know the author. |
| B．He was happy because his daughter could gain excitement. |
| C．He was moved because the author offered to help his daughter. |
| D．He felt nervous because he was worried about his daughter’s safety. |
What can we know about the author?
| A．He was a disabled man. |
| B．He worked in a convenience store. |
| C．He often helped people who were in trouble. |
| D．He usually drove too fast. |
According to the passage, the girl _______.
| A．used to be a completely healthy person |
| B．was not allowed to do some fierce sports |
| C．was unwilling to communicate with a stranger |
| D．usually felt sad about life due to her disability |
What did the author’s gift refer to according to the girl’s father?
| A．The motorbike. | B．The wheelchair. |
| C．The ride. | D．The blessing. |
Isn’t it interesting how we expect others to behave in a certain way so we can feel good about ourselves? And then when people don't behave as we want them to, we feel so disappointed and angry ––– when really, most times, we’re not actually surprised at their actions? We just want those actions to be different ––– actions we’d be more comfortable with.
This week I shared a friend a wonderful home-cooked meal and a bottle of wine. About the time we got to the freshly-baked cookies, the conversation turned to her somewhat crazy sister. I had to smile, just a little, since her sister-stories had had much the same theme for the last two decades.When her frustration was just about to peak over her sister’s latest unbelievably selfish act, I suggested she begin trying “The Law of Patient Acceptance.” “How can I possibly accept her behavior?” my friend asked. “Acceptance doesn’t necessarily mean tolerance,” I shared. “It just means that you accept the person for who they are and you stop knocking yourself out trying to change them.”
Everyone has these difficult people in their lives from time to time. “Think of it this way,” I said. “If you were to go out and buy an ottoman(搁脚凳) today, thinking you were buying a chair, you’d be really angry that the ottoman was such a pathetic(差劲的) chair. But once you realize what you’re dealing with, once you accept the ottoman for what it is and you stop trying to turn it into a chair, your anger largely goes away.”
You have to accept people for who they are. Even when you’ve had high hopes that they might have been able to be someone else. “You can’t change people,” my Mother always said. And she was right. The best we can do is to see people as clearly and objectively as possible. For they rarely change.According to the second paragraph, we can know that ________.
| A．the writer thinks her friend should talk about her sister that way |
| B．the writer’s friend often complains about her sister |
| C．the writer advises her friend to spend more time with her sister |
| D．the writer doesn’t think her friend’s sister is selfish |
By mentioning the example of buying an ottoman, the writer intends to explain ________.
| A．how “The Law of Patient Acceptance” works |
| B．what the meaning of “The Law of Patient Acceptance” is |
| C．why greed and selfishness exist |
| D．when we should use “The Law of Patient Acceptance” |
According to the writer, ________.
| A．we should accept others for who they are |
| B．we should try to change others |
| C．we shouldn’t make friends with difficult people |
| D．we shouldn’t have high hopes for ourselves |
Cooler temperatures, attractive colors, smaller crowds autumn is the perfect time for travel and tourism. Here, three places are listed as the best fall trip destinations. Don’t worry if you can’t go to these places. By reading this page, we hope to take you on grand tour and let you experience fun and culture around the world.
| Cannstatter Volkfest, Stuttgart, Germany Stuttgart’s Cannstatter Volkfest is listed as the world’s second largest beer-drinking event––– following Munich’s Oktoberfest. But it is considered Germany’s more authentic celebration of local heritage and, of course, beer. Started as an agricultural fair in 1818––– a symbolic 24-meter-high “fruit column” pays homage (敬意) to the past ––– the three-week festival (from September 23 to October 9 this year) features live music, a re-created Alpine village, and carnival rides. In addition, Stuttgart is recognized as a global car capital. Both the Mercedes-Benz and Porsche museums are worth a visit. |
| Churchill, Manitoba, Canada Here in the northern Canadian town at Hudson Bay, visitors can see the area’s most famous fall residents ––– polar bears. More than a thousand of the world’s largest land carnivores migrate through the “polar bear capital of the world” during October and November, when the first ice forms on the edge of Hudson Bay. The frozen conditions make it easier for hungry bears to hunt for seals (by walking instead of swimming). Under the snowy, winter weather, visitors can hardly have too many clothes to put on. Insulated boots, jackets, and gloves; layered clothing; thermal underwear; and woolen socks and hats are required. |
| Dublin, Ireland The Ireland’s capital and largest city is a center for arts, entertainment, culture and commerce. With few tourists and lower temperatures, fall is the ideal season for walking the historic Georgian streets and cruising the River Liffey. Visitors can explore the city’s 20 square kilometers of public gardens, nature reserves, and parks, including St. Stephen’s Green, which borders Grafton Street, one of the world’s most expensive retail locations. Along the way, enjoy traditional, paper-wrapped fish and chips at Leo Burdock. Healthier eats will be on the menu on October 31, when more than 12,000 runners are expected for the National Lottery Dublin Marathon, named “the Friendly Marathon” for the friendly crowds cheering there. |
The passage is presented for those who ________.
| A．care for fun and culture around the world |
| B．have planned to go for traveling this autumn |
| C．hate to have their holidays in other seasons |
| D．have not ever been to Europe and America |
If you spend your holidays on October 31, you may ________.
| A．enjoy live music at the beer – drinking festival |
| B．watch polar bears hunt seals |
| C．taste traditional, paper–wrapped fish and clips |
| D．win a prize in “the Friendly Marathon” |
According to the passage, we can know that ________.
| A．Car exhibitions will be held for two months |
| B．It’s not necessary to take more clothes with you to Churehill, Martitoba |
| C．The beer–drinking event in German dates from the eighteenth century |
| D．Your favourite goods might be available in the expensive shop in Dublin |
The passage is probably taken from the column of ________ in a newspaper.
| A．economics | B．science |
| C．tourism | D．fashion |
China is now sending more college students to study in the United States than any other country. A new report shows a 23 percent increase in the number of Chinese students coming to the U.S.
The latest edition of the annual Institute of International Education (IIE) and another US institute found a 5 percent rise in the number of international university students in the US compared to one year ago. There are now over 157, 000 Chinese students at U.S. colleges and universities.
Asia accounted for four of the top five countries and regions to take advantage of the US higher education system. “Increased numbers of students from China, particularly at the undergraduate level, largely accounts for the growth this past year,” the report stated. “They really enroll in a full range of US higher education,” said Peggy Blumenthal, senior counselor to the president of IIE, the group that made the report. “20 years ago, students from China only knew of a handful of US institutions, but now, they are enrolling in our community colleges, in our small liberal arts institutions, in the research universities. Really spread across the country,” she said.
Chinese mainland was in the number one spot, while India was the number two country of origin. South Korea was the third and Canada was number four. China’s Taiwan held the number five spot. Saudi Arabia was in sixth with a 44-percent increase, while Japan was seventh, down 14 percent.
Blumenthal associates the increase in the number of Chinese students heading to US colleges to limited university places in China, as well as a feeling from students and their parents than they want a “unique” educational experience. China’s family planning policy, says Blumenthal, has also meant that families can concentrate resources on a single child.
The University of California at Los Angeles has one of the largest Asian student populations of any college in the United States. Which ranked the third place sharing US higher education?
| A．Saudi Arabia | B．South Korea |
| C．Canada | D．India |
Why is the number of Chinese students going to the US increasing?
| A．The US colleges are better than those in China. |
| B．Each family in China has only one child. |
| C．China lacks enough educational resources. |
| D．Chinese students can enter varieties of US colleges. |
Which of the following is right according to Peggy Blumenthal?
| A．The number of Chinese students going to the US has increased by 23%. |
| B．The University of California has contributed to Asian education greatly. |
| C．Chinese student populations in the US mainly consist of undergraduates. |
| D．Chinese students know more about US higher education than before. |
The best title for the passage can be ________.
| A．Chinese College Students Rush to US Schools |
| B．The Large Number of Chinese Students in the US |
| C．Chinese Students Make Up Largely Foreign Students in the US |
| D．Asian Middle School Students in the US Universities |
A few days ago we ––– that’s me and the husband ––– took a cab to the station. Chat with the driver fell to the wrong of cyclists, and the misunderstanding of the road rules. So far as the rules of the road go, there seems to be one basic principle: when you are driving a car you hate bikes, when you are riding a bike you hate cars (and I guess walkers hate everyone).
There is an obvious difference of viewpoint built in here. It wasn’t until I started to drive a car (almost 20 years after I had first ridden a bike) that I actually realized that you could not see a cyclist at night without lights. In fact I now want to shout at late night cyclists without lights (like motorists once did at me): “ You’ll get killed, sunshine, I can’t see you.”
The problem is that cyclists do ride headlong into danger. It's not just not having lights. It’s biking on pavements (and so threatening to injure a load of innocent walkers in the process) and biking down one-way streets the wrong way.
I admit that I do bike the wrong way down a one-way street sometimes. My feeble(软弱无力) defense is that I try always to do it as if I know I was doing wrong. That is slowly, with an apologetic look on the face, and ready to get off at any minute. I can’t bear the guys(一伙人) (usually, but not always it is guys) who do it as if they owned the place, and at high speed.
So cyclists are not entirely innocent. But they are among the disadvantaged groups, because the bottom line is that a car or a lorry can kill a cyclist and not the other way around. When did the writer realize the danger for late night cyclists without lights?
| A．Not until she became a driver herself. |
| B．Not until she had driven a car for 20 years. |
| C．After she was shouted at by a motorist. |
| D．After she was once knocked down by a group of guys. |
When the writer biked the wrong way down a one way street, she felt ________.
| A．angry | B．guilty |
| C．innocent | D．proud |
Which group is most likely to face danger according to the writer?
| A．drivers | B．passers-by |
| C．cyclists | D．motorists |
What can we learn about the writer?
| A．She often took a cab with her husband. |
| B．She has been a motorist for over 20 years. |
| C．She used to ride a bike without lights at night. |
| D．She often biked the wrong way down a one-way street. |