For most caffeine(咖啡因)consumers, its chief benefit is that it helps you get more done. This is what makes it unusual, says Stephen Braun, author of Buzz: The Science and Lore of Alcohol and Caffeine.
“Its appeal is that it helps us earn more money,” he adds. “What makes it different from other drugs is that it’s used as a productivity tool –– not for pleasure.”
Many of history’s creative minds have also been associated with a large amount of caffeine consumption.
According to one biographer, the French novelist and playwright Balzac drank as many as 50 cups of coffee a day. “Were it not for coffee one could not write, which is to say one could not live,” he once insisted.
For seven years, the film-maker David Lynch ate at the same Los Angeles diner every day, drinking up to seven sweetened cups of coffee “with lots of sugar” in one sitting, which he said would guarantee that “lots of ideas” arrived.
Ludwig van Beethoven was said to have painstakingly counted out exactly 60 coffee beans per cup when he brewed(煮)coffee.
Perhaps recent tales of caffeine excess featured the singer Robbie Williams, who reportedly consumed 36 cups of black coffee and 20 cans of Red Bull a day.
It is the routine task itself, as much as the stimulating(刺激的)effects of caffeine, that makes the process so important, says Mason Currey, author of Daily Rituals: How Artists Work. “A lot of artists use the process of making coffee as a gateway to the creative process,” he adds. “You need to get into the right mindset to do that sort of work, and the preparation process provides a focus.”
One problem with attempting to control caffeine, says Braun, is that it affects everyone differently –– it is impossible to work out a “safe” limit that works for everyone. “Eventually, you have to become your own scientist –– there isn’t an alternative to careful self-experimentation,” he says.Stephen Braun mainly stresses caffeine’s _______.
| A．creating ideas | B．improving work efficiency |
| C．helping people to relax | D．stimulating people |
The examples of some famous people are given to show that _______.
| A．most artists like drinking coffee |
| B．drinking coffee helps artists make more money |
| C．there’s a link between drinking coffee and creating ideas |
| D．drinking coffee makes artists become more successful |
What leads to the artists’ creative process according to Mason Currey?
| A．Getting a good mindset. | B．Drinking the coffee. |
| C．Being lost in thought. | D．Brewing the coffee. |
What does Braun advise us to do in the end?
| A．To drink less coffee. |
| B．Never to take more coffee than you need. |
| C．Never to limit caffeine use. |
| D．To work out a safe level of caffeine use. |
One of the most wonderful things about having a positive attitude is that it can touch many people in the course of everyday life.
Recently I stopped by a store to get a newspaper and a bottle of juice. The young woman at the check-out counter said, “That’ll be three dollars in all please.” And as I reached into my wallet，the thought occurred to me that a newspaper and a bottle of juice didn’t quite make it to three dollars.
When I looked up to get a “re-quote”(重说一遍), she had a big smile on her face and said，“I got to get my tip in there somehow!” I laughed when I knew what she mean
t. She then glanced down at the paper I was buying and said, “I’m sick and tired of all the negative material on the front pages. I want to read some good news for a change.” She then said, “In fact, I think someone should publish a Good News newspaper —a paper with wonderful, inspirational stories about people overcoming difficulties and doing good things for others. I’d buy one every day!” She then thanked me for coming in and said, “Maybe we’ll get lucky tomorrow; maybe we’ll get some good news!” We both laughed，and I thought: she just made my day.
The following day after work I dropped by the same store again to pick up bottled water and a newspaper, but a different young lady was behind the counter. As I checked out I said, “Good afternoon”, and handed her my money. She said nothing，and didn’t smile or make a gesture. She just handed me my change and said in a bored voice, “Next!”
It hit me right between the eyes. Two people, the same age; one had made me feel great, while the other had made me feel that I had inconvenienced her by showing up.
The choices we make and attitudes we show influence lives every day in positive or negative ways…our peers, our friends，and even strangers we’ve never met before and will never meet again. So every morning you should ask yourself：“Who do I want to be today—‘The Grouch’(好抱怨的人) or ‘The Good News Girl?” Your answer will go a long way toward determining the quality of your life and that of those around you. From the first salesgirl’s words we know that __________.
| A．she was sick and tired of people with bad manners |
| B．she didn’t like the bad news in the newspaper |
| C．she liked reading all kinds of stories |
| D．she thought it was boring to sell newspapers |
After the author bought the newspaper the first day，he _________.
| A．had a sad day |
| B．kept thinking about what the girl had said |
| C．read the newspaper carefully |
| D．was in a pleasant mood all day |
The other salesgirl’s attitude towards the author the next day was __________.
| A．humorous | B．enthusiastic | C．cold | D．positive |
The author learned from his experience that __________.
| A．a Good News newspaper would be very popular |
| B．a positive attitude creates warmth and happiness |
| C．good relationships matter a lot |
| D．he needed to change the quality of his life |
It was a Sunday morning, and I was in a terrible mood. Two of my friends had gone to the movies the night before and hadn’t invited me. I was in my room thinking of ways to make them sorry when my father came in. “Want to go for a ride, today, Beck? It’s a beautiful day.”
“No! Leave me alone!” Those were the last words I said to him that morning.
My friends called and invited me to go to the mall with them a few hours later. I forgot to be mad at them and went. I came home to find a note on the table. My mother put it where I would be sure to see it. “Dad has had an accident. Please meet us at Highland Park Hospital”.
When I reached the hospital, my mother came out and told me my father’s injuries were extensive. “Your father told the driver to leave him alone and just call 911, thank God! If he had moved Daddy, there’s no telling what might have happened. A broken rib(肋骨) might have pierced(穿透) a lung....”
My mother may have said more, but I didn’t hear. I didn’t hear anything except those terrible words: Leave me alone. My dad said them to save himself from being hurt more. How much had I hurt him when I hurled those words at him earlier in the day?
It was several days later that he was finally able to have a conversation. I held his hand gently, afraid of hurting him.
“Daddy... I am so sorry....”
“It’s okay, sweetheart. I’ll be okay.”
“No,” I said, “I mean about what I said to you that day. You know, that morning?”
My father could no more tell a lie than he could fly. He looked at me and said, “Sweetheart, I don’t remember anything about that day, not before, during or after the accident. I remember kissing you goodnight the night before, though.” He managed a weak smile.
My English teacher once told me that words have immeasurable power. They can hurt or they can heal. And we all have the power to choose our words. I intend to do that very carefully from now on.The author was in bad mood that morning because ______.
| A．his father had a terrible accident |
| B．he couldn’t drive to the mall with his friends |
| C．his friends hadn’t invited him to the cinema |
| D．his father didn’t allow him to go out with his friends |
Why did the author say sorry to his father in the hospital?
| A．Because he didn’t go along with his father. |
| B．Because he was rude to his father that morning. |
| C．Because he failed to come earlier after the accident. |
| D．Because he couldn’t look after his father in the hospital. |
The reason why the author’s father said he
forgot everything about that day is that___.
| A．he had a poor memory | B．he didn’t want to forgive his son |
| C．he just wanted to comfort his son | D．he lost his memory after the accident |
What lesson did Beck learn from the matter?
| A．Don’t treat your parents badly. |
| B．Don’t hurt others with rude words. |
| C．Don’t move the injured in an accident. |
| D．Don’t be angry with friends at small things. |
While I was in 9th grade, I built a circuit (电路装置) for the traffic system of our city. After getting the first prize. I got this valuable advice from my father; “Do whatever interests you, and don’t let the work challenge you, make sure you are challenging that work.”
I have always preferred the projects which are challenging and related to real life problems. I clearly remember building a shipping program several years ago. I divided the whole project into several small sections. When I understood it clearly, used my brainstorming skill on it, and gave some basic ideas. Then I asked my professor for help before jumping into coding (编码). At first, I did not know how to ask questions correctly and always asked the question “How do I do it?” As I kept working and discussed with my professor, I became more comfortable and those “how ”questions soon turned into “what if I do this and that” types of questions.
It took me four days to write the code. The desire to solve the problem kept me sleepless all nights brainstorming in even greater details. Every time I saw my program running smoothly, I exploded with joy. I st
ill remember the last day of my work. I was getting some problem and didn’t know what to do. At that moment, a man came in to clean. He has headphones, and he was dancing while cleaning the room. Seeing this, I burst out laughing. That moment calmed me. I regained energy and interest and started to work again, and soon I fixed the problem.
My success in the project proved that breaking up a large problem into small parts could help find a possible solution. Discussing the problem with others was also very beneficial. Now I have gained the confidence to attempt any kind of project.According to the passage, the writer was interested in .
| A．developing traffic systems | B．doing challenging projects |
| C．winning great prizes | D．writing different codes |
The writer a
sked the question “how do I do it” at first because .
| A．he had no clear idea about his program | B．he was too shy to express himself |
| C．he wanted to be understood easily | D．he preferred this kind of question |
We learn from the passage that the writer’s shipping program .
| A．would benefit people a lot | B．was done together with others |
| C．was difficult and needed patience | D．cost much money and energy |
What would be the best title of the passage?
| A．Do It Yourself | B．No Pains, No Gains |
| C．Learning with interest | D．Practice Makes Perfect |
Depend on yourself. Parents can help you. Teachers can help you. But all these only help you to help yourself.
There have been many great men in history. But many of them were very poor when they were young, and had no uncles, aunts or friends to help them. Schools were few and not very good.
They could not depend upon them for education. They saw how it was, and set to work with all their strength to know something. They worked their own way till they became well-known. One of the most famous teachers in England used to tell his pupils, “I cannot make worthy men of you, but I can help make men of yourselves.”
Some young men do not try their best to make themselves valuable to society. They can never gain achievements unless they see their weak points and keep improving themselves. They are nothing now and will be nothing as long as they live, unless they accept the advice of their parents and teachers, and depend on their own efforts.Which of the following titles fits this passage best?
| A．How to Become Famous | B．What Helps to Make a Good Teacher |
| C．Men Must Help Each Other | D．Depend on Your O wn Efforts |
Many great men succeeded because_________.
| A．they were anxious to become rich |
| B．they had received good education |
| C．they had made great efforts to learn and work |
| D．they wanted very much to become well-known |
If young people depend on their own efforts, _________.
| A．they are more likely to succeed in their lives |
| B．they are sure to be famous in the world |
| C．they will need no advice from their parents and teachers |
| D．they will be nothing as long as they live |
From this passage we can see that the writer_________.
| A．is a man with a strong will |
| B．shows great respect for teachers |
| C．is in favour of those who struggle for success |
| D．feels it important to accept the advice of others |
A Train Floating On Air
A train that floats on air? It's not magic―it's magnets (磁).And it's close to reality.
In Virginia USA the fall of 2002, a train with no wheels traveled on air and carried college students across their campus.In Japan, a whisper-quiet railway engine hovered and raced at 350 miles per hour using magnets and electricity as the power.And in China, a magnet train line linked Shanghai with nearby Pudong Airport.
These trains use magnetic levitation (悬浮) technology, “maglev” for short. They use the same rules as the magnets you pick up at home or school: opposite poles of magnets attract each other, and like poles repel each other.
How does it work?
Powerful magnets on the bottom of the train repel magnets on the track, which is actually just a magnet-filled guiding way. With a magnetic field of sufficient force, the train will go hovering on air, which seemed impossible to us in the past.
When an electrical current is sent through the track, the train moves. Turn the current backwards and the train slows down.
Maglev doesn't rely on the friction (摩擦力) of wheels on track, so it can climb a much steeper hill than a traditional train. And it can travel easily in snow and ice, something that could bring normal trains to a screaming stop.This passage is about __________.
| A．maglev | B．magnets | C．levitation | D．electricity |
Which of the following is a repelling action?
| A． | B． | C． | D． |
What can we learn from the text?
| A．A magnet-filled guiding way is formed inside a maglev train. |
| B．Instead of electricity, magnets are used as the power of a maglev. |
| C．Maglev trains can climb hills with the help of magnetwheels. |
| D．Electric currents decide the movements of a maglev train. |
What is the difference between a maglev train and an ordinary train?
A．A maglev train can climb mountains without power while an ordinary o ne can’t. |
| B．A maglev train can travel in college campus while an ordinary train is not allowed. |
| C．Travelling without a track, a maglev train is safer and smoother than an ordinary one. |
| D．Floating on a track, a maglev train is faster, quieter than an ordinary railway train. |