Why are so many people so afraid of failure? Quite simply because no one tells us how to fail so that failure becomes an experience that will lead to growth. We forget that failure is part of the human condition and that every person has the right to fail.
Most parents work hard at either preventing failure or protecting their children from the knowledge that they have failed. One way is to lower standards. A mother describes her child’s hasty-made table as “Perfect!” even though it doesn’t stand still. Another way is to shift blame. If John fails science, his teacher is unfair or stupid.
The trouble with failure-prevention devices is that they leave a child unequipped for life in the real world. The young need to learn that no one can be best at everything, no one can win all the time--- and that it’s possible to enjoy a game even when we don’t win. A child who’s not invited to a birthday party, who doesn’t make the honor roll on the baseball team, feels terrible, of course. But parents should not offer a quick consolation, prize or say, “It doesn’t matter.” because it does. The young should be allowed to experience disappointment—and be helped to master it.
Failure is never pleasurable. It hurts grown-ups and children alike. But it can make a positive contribution to your life once you learn to use it. Step one is to ask “Why did I fail?”
Don’t blame someone else. Ask yourself what you did wrong, how you can improve. If someone else can help, don’t be shy about inquiring. Success, which encourages repetition of old behavior, is not nearly as good a teacher as failure. You can learn from a bad party how to give a good one, from an ill-chosen first house what to look for in a second. Even a failure that seems definitive can prompt fresh thinking, a change of direction. After 12 years of studying ballet, a friend of mine auditioned for a professional company. She was turned down. “ Would further training help?” she asked. The ballet master shook his head. “ You will never be a dancer”, he said, “You haven’t the body for it.”
In such cases, the way to use failure is to take stock(估量) of the situation bravely asking, “What have I left? What else can I do?” My friend put away her shoes and moved into dance treatment center, a field where she’s both able and useful. Failure frees one to take risks because there’s less to lose. Often there is recovery of energy—a way to find new possibilities.The second paragraph tells us ___________
| A．how a mother praised her children |
| B．parents should blame their children at the proper time. |
| C．how to shift blame |
| D．two ways of failure prevention most parents use when their children fail |
According to the author, what should a child know in the real world?
| A．No one can be best all the time at everything. |
| B．He should be equipped for life. |
| C．No parents should offer quick consolations. |
| D．He can get pleasure from failure as well as success. |
The underlined word “prompt” in the fifth paragraph can be best replaced by “_________.”
| A．prevent | B．cause | C．continue | D．exchange |
From the passage we know that ______________.
| A．success lies in hard work |
| B．never be disappointed to life |
| C．failure can affect one’s life greatly once he learns to use it. |
| D．everyone had his own value |
The science of physics today is as current as the morning newspaper. Indeed,as
a result of new advances in physics and their rapid application to inventions designed to satisfy man's wants, the world itself has been changing rapidly. Space technology, industrial technology, and the technology of the home, the farm, the office, the bank, and the department store have all been revolutionized.
Clearly, every grownup today would understand the world he lives in much better if he knew something about physics. Whether it be Congress(美国国会) voting huge sums of money for new warships, space exploration, or atomic energy；the office staff learning to use a new computer；son Bobby wanting to know about going to the moon；or the housewife learning to operate a new electric stove physics seems to be everywhere.
Teachers in thousands of schoolrooms in America are trying to communicate some of the excitement and importance of these new developments to their students.
They know that some of their eager students will someday be scientists and will them selves then contribute(贡献) to the development of new knowledge or its application to new things.
But in any case, they can be sure that if they bring a knowledge of science(any science) to their students in meaningful and stimulating ways, they have contributed much to helping each one live a more meaningful life.
1.The application of new advances in physics to inventions ________ .
A.may solve all the problems in teaching
B.can help people understand the meaning of life
C.is intended to meet people's needs
D.makes people understand the voting rules of the Congress
2.According to the passage, many American teachers are making efforts to do all of the following EXCEPT ________.
A.stimulating their students' curiosity in physics
B.making their students understand the importance of physics
C.giving their students the information of new advances in science
D.creating excitement about physical education among their students
3.The word “themselves” in the third paragraph refers to ________ .
A.some of the eager students B.the students in the classroom
C.the teachers giving lessonsD.all the scientists in physics
4.The first two paragraphs of the passage mainly tell us about ________ .
A.new advances in physics B.the use of physics in our life
C.the science of physicsD.modern developments in science
Have you ever got stuck with unwanted courses or a class schedule that cannot be changed? If so, that's because you don't know how to select the perfect sch
edule. But by following a few simple steps, you can begin any term with the right courses at the most convenient times.
First, you must find the right courses. These are the ones that have the least amount of work, the fewest tests and the kindest professors. Ask your friends about courses in which they received A's after attending only 70 percent of the classes. Ask around, too, to see which instructors have given the same tests for the last fifteen years. Photocopies of these tests are usually cheap and can be easily found in school. Then, pick up a copy of the master schedule and study it carefully. Find the course titles that mean an easy pass for a painless subject.
Look for titles like “Arts and Crafts for Beginners” and “Rock Music of the 1950s”.
Next, when you have got lists of easy instructors and subjects, you can begin to select your time periods. If you stay up late in order to watch old movies, you may want a daily schedule that begins no sooner than noon. You should schedule only afternoon courses, too, if you're one of those people who hate to leave a warm bed in the morning. On the other hand, if you are a person who gets out of bed at dawn, you may want to get your classes out of the way as early as possible. That way you have the rest of the day free. Morning classes are also necessary if you are a soap opera(肥皂剧) fan.
Finally, you want your schedule to pass through registration successfully. The main way to do this is to register(注册) early. If a course does happen to be closed because you simply couldn't register at 7:00 am, you may still be able to get in. Talk to the professor and tell him or her that a serious and hardworking student like yourself would be a shining example to other students. Be sure to carry a list of back-up courses to registration, though, just in case one of your chosen classes changes professors or time periods.
By following these suggestions, any student can pick the perfect class schedule. College can thus become an almost pleasant activity.
1.Which of the following statements is true?
A.You can get copies of tests if you are willing to pay the price.
B.“Rock Music of the 1950s” may be an easy course.
C.It is difficult to pick the perfect class schedule.
D.Attendance is required in all classes.
2.You should ________ .
A.register for classes in the morning if you get up early
B.have classes late in the morning if you stay up late
C.sign up for afternoon classes if you want to see soap operas
D.choose classes in the evening if you want to watch old films
3.If a course happens to be closed, you should ________ .
A.register at 7:00 am B.sit in on the class anyway
C.register for a back up courseD.get help from the professor
4.Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?
A.Course Registration Made Easy B.How to Find the Right Courses
C.Classes and Afterclass ActivitiesD.How to Pick the Perfect Schedule
If there is no difference in general intelligence(智力)between boys and girls,what can explain girls' poor performance in science and mathematics?
It seems to be that their treatment at school is a direct cause.Mathematics and science are seen as subjects mainly for boys,and therefore ,as girls become tee
nagers,they are less likely to take them.Interestingly,both boys and girls often
regard the subjects for boys as more difficult.Yet it has been suggested that girls do not take mathematics courses ,not because they are difficult,but for social reasons.Girls do not want to be in open competition with boys because they are afraid to appear less feminine(女性的)and attractive.
However,if we examine the performance of boys and girls who have taken mathematics courses,there are still more highachieving boys than there are girls.This difference appears to be worldwide.Biological explanations have been offered for this,but there are other explanations too.
Perhaps the difference which comes out during the teenage years has its roots in much earlier experiences.From their first days in kindergarten,boys are encouraged to work on their own and to complete tasks.Facts show that outstanding(杰出的)mathematicians and scientists have not had teachers who supplied answers.
Besides,there can be little doubt that teachers of mathematics and science expect their boy students to do better at these subjects than their girl students.They even appear to encourage the difference between boys and girls.They spend more time with the boy students ,giving them more time to answer questions and working harder to get correct answers from them.They are more likely to call on boys for answers and to allow them to take the lead in classroom discussion.They also praise boys more frequently.All of this seems to encourage boys to work harder in science and mathematics and to give them confidence(信心)that they are able to succeed.
Such a way of teaching is not likely to encourage girls to take many mathematics
and science courses,nor is it likely to support girls who do.When it comes to these subjects it seems certain that school widens the difference between boys and girls.
1.Girls are likely to think that____________.
A.science courses are for both boys and girls
B.science courses make them more popular
C.science courses make them successful
D.science courses are difficult for them
2.The text mainly discusses_____________reasons for the difference between boys and girls in scientific achievements.
A.biological B.historical C.social D.personal
3.What are boys usually encouraged to do at school?
A.To get help with their homework.
B.To play the leading role in class.
C.To work with girl students in class.
D.To learn to take care of others.
4.What does the passage say about great mathematicians?
A.Their teachers did not supply answers to them.
B.They started learning mathematics at an earlier age.
C.They showed mathematical abilities in their teenage years.
D.Their success resulted from their strong interest in mathematics.
5.The author would probably agree that_____________.
A.boys and girls learn in the same way
B.boys and girls are equal in general intelligence
C.girls are more confident in themselves than before
D.girls should take fewer science courses than boys
The easy way out isn't always easiest. I learned that lesson when I decided t
o treat Doug, my husband of one month, to a special meal. I glanced through my cookbook and chose a menu which included homemade bread. Knowing the bread would take time, I started on it as soon as Doug left for work. As I was not experienced in cooking, I thought if a dozen was good, two dozen would be better, so I doubled everything. As Doug loved oranges, I also opened a can of orange and poured it all into the bowl. Soon there was a sticky dough(面团) covered with ugly yellowish marks. Realizing I had been defeated, I put the dough in the rubbish bin outside so I wouldn't have to face Doug laughing at my work. I went on preparing the rest of the meal, and, when Doug got home, we sat down to Cornish chicken with rice. He tried to enjoy the meal but seemed disturbed. Twice he got up and went outside, saying he thought he heard a noise. The third time he left, I went to the window to see what he was doing. Looking out, I saw Doug standing about three feet from the rubbish bin, holding the lid up with a stick and looking into the container. When I came out of the house, he dropped the stick and explained that there was something alive in our rubbish bin. Picking up the stick again, he held the lid up enough for me to see. I felt cold. But I stepped closer and looked harder. Without doubt it was my work. The hot sun had caused the dough to double in size and the fermenting yeast(酵母)made the surface shake and sigh though it were breathing. It looked like some unknown being from outer space. I could see why Doug was so shaken. I had to admit what the “living thing” was and why it was there. I don't know who was more embarrassed(尴尬)by the whole thing—Doug or me.
1. The writer's purpose in writing this story is ________ .
A. to tell an interesting experience
B. to show the easiest way out of a difficulty
C. to describe the trouble facing a newly married woman
D. to explain the difficulty of learning to cook from books
2.Why did the woman's attempt at making the bread turn out to be unsuccessful?
A. The canned orange had gone bad.
B. She didn't use the right kind of flour.
C. The cookbook was hard to understand.
D. She did not follow the directions closely.
3.Why did the woman put the dough in the rubbish bin?
A. She didn't see the use of keeping it.
B. She meant to joke with her husband.
C. She didn't want her husband to see it.
D. She hoped it would soon dry in the sun.
4.What made the dough in the bin look frightening?
A. The rising and falling movement.B. The strangelooking marks.
C. Its shape. D. Its size.
5.When Doug went out the third time, the woman looked out of the window because she was ________ .
A. surprised at his being interested in the bin
B. afraid that he would discover her secret
C. unhappy that he didn't enjoy the meal
D. curious to know what disturbed him
I’m seventeen. I had worked as a box boy at a supermarket in Los Angeles. People came to the counter and you put things in their bags for them. And carried things to their cars. It was hard work.
While working, you wear a plate with your name on it. I once met someone I knew years ago. I remembered his name and said,“Mr Castle, how are you?"We talked about this and that. As he left, he said,“It was nice talking to you, Brett."I felt great, he remembered me. Then I looked down at my name plate. Oh no. He didnt remember me at all, he just read the name plate. I wish I had put“Irving"down on my name plate. If hed have said,“Oh yes, Irving, how could I forget you?"I d have been ready for him. Theres nothing personal here.
The manager and everyone else who were a step above the box boys often shouted orders. One of these was: you couldnt accept tips(小费). Okay, Im outside and
I put the bags in the car. For a lot of people, the natural reaction(反应)is to take a quarter and give it to me. Id say,“Im sorry, I can’t."They’d get angry. When you give someone a tip, youre sort of being polite. You take a quarter and you put it in their hand and you expect them to say,“Oh,thanks a lot."When you say,“I'm sorry, I can't."They feel a little put down.They say,“No one will know."And they put it in your pocket. You say,“I really can’t."It gets to a point where you almost have to hurt a person physically(身体上)to prevent him from tipping you. It was not in agreement with the stores belief in being friendly. Accepting tips was a friendly thing and made the customer feel good. I just couldt understand the strangeness of some peoples ideas. One lady actually put it in my pocket, got in the car, and drove away. I would have had to throw the quarter at her or eaten it or something.
I had decided that one year was enough. Some people needed the job to stay alive and fed. I guess I had the means and could afford to hate it and give it up.
1.What can be the best title for this text?
A.How Hard Life for Box Boys
B.Getting along with Customers
C.Why I Gave up My Job
D.The Art of Taking Tips
2.From the second paragraph, we can infer that _______ .
A.the writer didn’t like the impersonal part of his job
B.with a name plate, people can easily start talking
C.Mr Castle mistook Irving for Brett
D.Irving was the writers real name
3.The box boy refused to accept tips because _______.
A.customers only gave small tips
B.some customers had strange ideas about tipping
C.the store forbade the box boys to take tips
D.he didn’t want to fight with the customers
4.The underlined phrase“put down"in the third paragraph probably means _______.
A.misunderstood B.defeated C.hateful D.hurt