I’d been retired for four years, when a friend suggested university. I thought he was joking—I was rubbish at school and failed my 11-plus. But we love to compete over Mastermind and University challenge, and he thought I’d make it. And he was absolutely right!
I did a foundation course first, which was part time at the University Lifelong Learning Centre(LLC), two nights a week and the odd Saturday. I did quite well, and that gave me the confidence to do a full time, three year degree. I’m passionate about art and I always wanted to be here for the journey and not the destination. That sounds really corny, but it was the truth in my case.
Initially it was a bit strange fitting in with my course mates. They were all 18, straight out of sixth form or college. Over time, though, they’ve all been fine — now, we all get on really well and there is no issue. I’ve made plenty of friends as a member of the mature students society, and I do some volunteering through the LLC, chatting to prospective students about my experience of coming to university. I tell them my story and basically encourage them to give it a go because you’ve got nothing to lose. I like to think I’ve convinced a few of them.
I have no regrets at all. Enrolling in university was the best piece of advice I’ve received in years, especially post-retirement. I needed routine in my life; I needed purpose. I’m not going to spend my day in the bookies or the pub. If you’ve got a passion for something, you should pursue it.
1. What do we learn from Paragraph 1?| A．The author often competed with his friend at university, |
| B．The author was satisfied with his performance at school, |
| C．The advice of his friend was a big challenge for the author. |
| D．The author’s friend told a joke when suggesting university. |
| A．His long held passion for art. |
| B．His boring retirement life. |
| C．His success in the foundation course. |
| D．His desire to travel to the destination. |
| A．How he got along with his course mates |
| B．How he helped his friends at university. |
| C．What activities he took part in at school |
| D．What he experienced as a volunteer. |
| A．Knowledge is power. |
| B．It’s never too old to learn. |
| C．Failure is the mother of success. |
| D．A friend in need is a friend indeed. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】Procrastination is often seen as the enemy of productivity. Images of lazy people with feet up on desks or wasting time to avoid work spring to mind at the very mention of the word. And there are many things indicating that procrastination is a problem which needs addressing.
We live in a fast-paced world, racing from one task to another. And at times, duties, be it work or personal, seem endless. Sometimes we just need to switch off and relax ourselves.
According to psychotherapist F Diane Barth, watching TV, taking a long bath or listening to music can help us to ease off.
And it's possible that procrastination has become more common during the pandemic.
While being productive is important, it seems that some amount of downtime and procrastination can help us to relax and become more focused.
| A．Then how can we handle the problem? |
| B．But could there be some benefits too? |
| C．So the next time you feel stressed, just waste a little time. |
| D．The time we spend watching TV or drinking coffee is wasted. |
| E．The issue is that many of us see that time not working as lost time. |
| F．As a result of the lockdowns, we have found ourselves with more time. |
| G．A little procrastination can help relieve us of the pressures of modern life. |
【推荐2】Sitting in the garden for my friend’s birthday, I felt a buzz (振动) in my pocket. My heart raced when I saw the email sender’s name. The email started off: “Dear Mr Green, thank you for your interest” and “the review process took longer than expected.” It ended with “We are sorry to inform you…” and my vision blurred (模糊). I had put so much time and emotional energy into applying for the programme, and I thought the rejection meant the end of the road for my science career.
So I was shocked when, not long after the email, Professor Mary Devon invited me to observe the work being done in her lab. I jumped at the chance, and a few weeks later I was equally shocked — and overjoyed — when she invited me to talk with her about potential projects I could pursue in her lab. I got it and decided I was going to give it my all.
I found myself working with a robotics professor on techniques for collecting data from the desert remotely. That project, which I could complete from my sofa instead of in the burning heat of the desert, not only survived the lockdown but worked where traditional methods didn’t. In the end, I had a new scientific interest to pursue.
When I applied to graduate school, I found three programmes promising to allow me to follow my desired research direction. This time I had the perspective (视角) to keep it from sending me into panic due to my being rejected. It helped that in the end I was accepted into one of the other programmes I was also excited about.
Rather than setting plans in stone, I’ve learned that sometimes I need to take the opportunities that are offered, even if they don’t sound perfect at the time, and make the most of them.
1. What do we know from Paragraph 1?| A．I was actually declined. |
| B．I was spending my birthday. |
| C．I felt peaceful receiving the email. |
| D．I had devoted little to my dream job. |
| A．Criticize the review process. | B．Stay longer in the Sahara Desert. |
| C．Apply to the original project again. | D．Put his heart and soul into the lab work. |
| A．Demanding. | B．Inspiring. | C．Misleading. | D．Amusing. |
| A．An invitation is a reward. | B．An innovation is a resolution. |
| C．A rejection can be a redirection. | D．A refusal can be a discouragement. |
【推荐3】Stephen Covey's book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is very popular among business people who want to improve their careers.
Covey begins by discussing habits and effectiveness,and why they are both important to success.According to Covey,for an action,such as listening to others,to become a habit,you must know what to do and why you should do it.However,you also must want to do.On the other hand,effectiveness means having a balance between success and a good relationship with the people around you.
Covey includes exercises to help you analyse your life.He challenges you to identify what you want to contribute to society in your lifetime.He does this by asking you to think about what people to say about you after you die.
| A．It has the potential to really improve your life. |
| B．In this way,you can challenge yourself to make your dreams and ambitions come true. |
| C．However,its principles can be applied to any area of life. |
| D．In order to be successful,you must have habits that make you able to deal effectively with others and your own personal life. |
| E．For example,a company might focus completely on making a profit. |
| F．Your answer to this question will help you make better decisions about how to spend your time. |
| G．Covey also introduces the seven habits of highly effective people. |
【推荐1】For a special and friendly international experience, you may choose to study in Canada.
◊Leading education systems.
If you wish to be in front of computer and information technology, then Canada might just be the right place. There are many high-ranking universities all over the country.
◊Beautiful wilderness and lively cities.
Much of Canada is an exciting playground for those who love the outdoors. You can hike, climb mountains, ski, or even visit a beach on the west or east coasts.
◊Safe and friendly environments.
◊Life-changing professional experience.
Many Canadian universities offer professional experience in the form of internships (实习期的工作) with various companies.
◊
Whether you live with a host family or with students of the same age on a college campus, you are likely to have an effect on the people you meet while studying abroad. Some of those relationships might even last a lifetime. Whatever happens, you probably will never forget the experience you acquire while studying in Canada.
| A．Room for growth |
| B．Here are just a few ways that a Canadian study abroad program benefits you |
| C．This helps you to gain practical experience |
| D．Good memory |
| E．There is a saying that Canadians are some of the friendliest people in the world |
| F．If possible, then you can live in Canada for the rest of your life |
| G．The campuses alone provide plenty of activities |
【推荐2】We know that choosing a college major can be very hard. But have no fear! Your choice of major will not lock you into a specific career for the rest of your life. Here's what you need to know about college majors before you commit.
What is a major?
How important is my major?
The major you choose will neither predict nor guarantee your future. Many graduates find jobs that have nothing to do with what they studied in college. If you intend to earn a professional degree after college， you will probably need certain courses.
When do I declare a major?
This varies widely across schools and programs.
Definitely. One of the most exciting aspects of college life is that it introduces you to new subjects and arouses new passions. However， keep this in mind. Every major has necessary coursework. If you change your major late in the game， it may take more than the traditional four years to earn a degree.
What are minors and double majors?
If one field of study doesn’t satisfy your intellectual appetite， consider a minor. A minor is similar to a major in that it’s an area of academic concentration.
| A．Can I change my mind? |
| B．Is my major time-consuming? |
| C．It's your specialized area of study in college. |
| D．Most students find one major is more than enough. |
| E．Some schools may give you one year or more to decide. |
| F．But many future doctors major in non-science related fields. |
| G．The only difference is that it doesn’t require as many classes. |
【推荐3】We can achieve knowledge either actively or passively. We achieve it actively by direct experience, by testing and proving an idea, or by reasoning.
We achieve knowledge passively by being told by someone else. Most of the learning that takes place in the classroom is passive, and so is the kind that happens when we watch TV or read newspapers or magazines. Conditioned (习惯) as we are to passive learning, it’s not surprising that we depend on it in our everyday communication with friends and co-workers.
Unfortunately, passive learning has a serious problem. It makes us tend to accept what we are told even when it is little more than hearsay (传闻) and rumor (谣言).
Did you ever play the game Rumor? It begins when one person writes down a message but doesn’t show it to anyone. Then the person whispers it, word for word, to another person. That person, in turn, whispers it to still another, and so on, through all the people playing the game. The last person writes down the message word for word as he or she hears it. Then the two written statements are compared. Typically, the original message has changed.
That’s what happens in daily life. The simple fact that people repeat a story in their own words changes the story. Then, too, most people listen imperfectly. And many enjoy adding their own creative touch to a story, trying to improve on it, stamping (打上标记) it with their own personal style. Yet those who hear it think they know.
This process is also found among scholars and authors: A statement of opinion by one writer may be restated as a fact by another, who may in turn be quoted by yet another; and this process may continue, unless it occurs to someone to question the facts on which the original writer based his opinion or to challenge the interpretation he placed upon those facts.
1. According to the passage, ________ belongs to passive learning.| A．doing a medical experiment | B．solving a math problem |
| C．visiting an exhibition | D．doing scientific reasoning |
| A．a message may be changed when being passed on |
| B．a message should be delivered in different ways |
| C．people may have problems with their sense of hearing |
| D．people tend not to believe in what they know as rumor |
| A．Active learning is less important | B．Passive learning may not be reliable |
| C．Active learning occurs more frequently | D．Passive learning is not found among scholars |
| A．introduce the advantages of passive learning | B．persuade us to adopt active learning |
| C．explain why passive learning can be bad | D．compare active learning and passive learning |
【推荐1】I had just delivered a memorable speech, and I was about to learn how the judges decided my performance. The audience leaned forward and a period of silence fell across the room. I felt the drum rolled in my heart.
The third-place winner was announced. The name was not mine. Then the second-place winner, still not me. At last, the moment of truth came. I was about to either enjoy the warmth of victory or regret the months’ preparation. My heart felt closer to the latter.
Losing is a part of life, and I have dealt with it on more than one occasion. However, it was an indescribable feeling to drive a 200-mile round trip, get up very early on a freezing Saturday morning, and yet still finish fourth out of four competitors in my group. After Lincoln lost the 1858 Illinois Senate race, he said, “I felt like the 12-year-old boy who kicked his toe. I was too big to cry and it hurt too bad to laugh.” Oh yeah, I could relate.
I had spent many hours in front of a computer and in libraries doing research for the Lincoln Bicentennial Speech Contest. After not placing in the first year of the contest, I really wanted to compete again. Lincoln had many failures, but he never allowed them to defeat his spirit or ambition, so I was not going to give up on a second contest! I reworked my speech for the following year, but again I did not place.
I couldn’t accept the fact that I failed twice in something that I had worked so hard on, until I thought about my hero. Never mind the lost prize money and praise—through learning stories about Lincoln, I discovered that I can fail successfully.
1. How did the author feel after finishing his speech?| A．Delighted. | B．Annoyed. | C．Thrilled. | D．Nervous. |
| A．He was regretful about his not being fully prepared. |
| B．He felt upset for getting up early on a chilly morning. |
| C．He once kicked and hurt his toe when he was 12 years old. |
| D．He turned out to be the last one of his group in the contest. |
| A．He was eager to prove himself to be the best contestant. |
| B．He was inspired by the never-give-up spirit of Lincoln. |
| C．He was willing to enjoy the warmth and joy of victory. |
| D．He was determined to win the prize money and praise. |
| A．A memorable hero in my life | B．Never mind others’ judgments |
| C．Losing is an indescribable feeling | D．Stand up from where we tripped over |
【推荐2】Leaving junior high school,and going up to the high school was a very frightening change for me. I went there with no friends. The only two people who came from my previous school were two girls, Donna Davis and Sakjinda Rai, but I developed little friendship with them. At first I was scared and looked stupid. But after a few months, I tried keeping my arms open and making friends with people around me.
After an unsuccessful relationship with Amit Sharmar, who ran away from me whenever I said hello to him, Sher Bhachu joined me, and we seemed to have a bit in common. So I made my first friend, and I wasn’t on my own any more! But after a few days, he broke his leg,and was off for a couple of months! I was on my own again!
Anyway, when Sher finally did return, I introduced him to another friend of mine, Graeme Parker. They got on like a house on fire, but unfortunately that little threesome (三人一组) only managed to last about a week or two before they had a bit of fight, and poor Graeme went his own way. Shortly after that we met and later joined with another gang. Others later joined at various stages,including: Chris Elemen, Venay Maru, Amandeep Vidhani, Yaser Ghauri and Paul Barrance. It was with these people that I spent most of my life in senior high school.
1. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?| A．The author didn't like Sakjinda Rai at all. |
| B．The author's junior high school was not very good. |
| C．The author felt frightened in the new school with no friends. |
| D．The author had tried his best to make friends with Donna Davis. |
| A．they quarrelled about something | B．his friend was off because of injury |
| C．the author moved to another school | D．they found they had nothing to share |
| A．the author made more friends as time went on |
| B．the author missed his little threesome |
| C．the author and Graeme had a fight |
| D．Graeme Parker and Sher Bhachu were close friends |
| A．introduce some friends to readers |
| B．prove senior high school life is hard |
| C．tell readers his friendship in senior high school |
| D．show his attitudes toward life in senior high school |
【推荐3】My senior years, I can’t believe it is almost over. Now when I look back, it was stressful, but exciting, the ball, graduation, and then of course, college.
I started applying for my college months before Christmas. My parents told me it would be smart if I set up interviews and tours. But I wasn’t motivated. I wanted to go to college, but I didn’t want to deal with the stress.
As the days flew by, my applications lay on my desk just as I had left them three months before. “You are wasting valuable time,” my parents complained. Sweeping away the gathered dust on the applications, I worked on them every Sunday until I finished. Next came writing the essays. I had many ideas, but every school had different requirements. I changed them until I was pleased. Finally, everything was underway.
Now I just had to wait. In March, I started receiving letters of rejection. I began to think that I had set myself up for disappointment. I had a letter from Salem State College starting that they wanted to see my grades before they made their decision. Yes! At least someone wanted to consider me. At the beginning of April, I received a letter from Keens State. Those opening words: “We regret to inform you…” made me sit down and cry. I had lost all hope. Then I heard from Plymouth State. Not my first choice, but…I had been accepted. Maybe if I get my grades up, I can choose another school…
The college application hurt me deeply. All my friends had dozens of schools to choose from. I guess my parents were right. High school grades are undoubtedly important to your future plans. If I could do it all over again, I would take it more seriously.
1. What does the sentence “We regret to inform you…” mean?| A．The writer was accepted by the college. |
| B．The writer couldn’t go to college forever. |
| C．The writer couldn’t go to any college. |
| D．The writer was rejected by the college. |
| A．honorable | B．regretful（遗憾的） |
| C．hopeless | D．happy |
| A．the writer didn’t go to a college |
| B．the writer thought senior years was easy |
| C．the writer didn’t desire to go to college. |
| D．the writer didn’t prepare interviews actively |
| A．He didn’t choose a good college. |
| B．He got bad grades in senior years. |
| C．He wanted to deal with the stress. |
| D．Every school had different requirements. |
【推荐1】I work as the reception manager at my hotel.
A booking came in a few weeks ago with a note attached that a guest would be travelling with her deaf father. This note helped us in preparing for their arrival. As they would be here for a number of days, his daughter wanted to make his trip to Ireland as smooth as possible.
Upon seeing this note and knowing I would be the one to check them in, I decided to learn some very basic sign language. I greeted the guest in my usual fashion, asking for the surname on the booking. Once I heard the name，I immediately realized who was standing in front of me.
I had been learning for two weeks how to say: “Welcome to Ireland. My sign language is terrible, but please, if you need anything during your stay, just let me know and we will help you.”
I smiled at the father and daughter in front of me. Turning to the father, I greeted him in ASL (American Sign Language) and began the bit I had learned for him. His daughter broke down crying and told me I was sweet. But the father just smiled and was so happy. Honestly, seeing his reaction was enough for me. It was absolutely worth the last few weeks of learning basic ASL.
Sadly, I wasn’t working the day they checked out, but they left a gift for me, a small box with some chocolates and a book on ASL. Inside was a note saying: “Thank you very much for what you did. My father has been in amazing spirits from the time you checked us in and insisted we get you a gift before we left. You have no idea how much this meant to my father and me, and we can’t thank you enough. You've made his trip very special with one simple gesture.”
I cried for a solid five minutes when I came into work the next day and found this gift in my locker.
1. The daughter left a note when booking the hotel in order to __________.| A．ask for special service for herself |
| B．give some useful advice to the hotel |
| C．express gratitude to the hotel manager |
| D．make her father’s trip more comfortable |
| A．the author’s sign language was really terrible |
| B．her father was unwilling to live in that hotel |
| C．she appreciated what the author had done for her father |
| D．the author wouldn’t be working when they checked out |
| A．thankful | B．satisfied |
| C．disappointed | D．regretful |
| A．the author made the daughter’s check-out smooth |
| B．the author was deeply moved by an unexpected gift |
| C．the daughter cried for five minutes before they left |
| D．the daughter asked the author to learn sign language |
【推荐2】In this digital age, people measure their popularity by the number of likes and followers they get on social media. But as it turns out, people are happiest when their friends are high quality - not high quantity.
Scientists from the University of Leeds, UK, studied data from two online surveys of nearly 1,500 people. Those who took the survey gave details about their age, social interactions, and how satisfied they were with their social lives. The researchers found that those who had a small number of close friends generally tended to be happier than those who had a large number of superficial (关系浅表的) friends.
“Loneliness has less to do with the number of friends you have, and more to do with how you feel about your friends,” said Wandi Bruine de Bruin, one of the researchers.
Bruine de Bruin found that older people tended to have smaller social circles than young people, but the people in these circles tended to be closer to them.
Younger people, on the other hand, tended to have bigger circles that were made up of “peripheral (次要的) others” - people who are not true friends, but just people they know. These people had no influence on the happiness of the younger surveyed.
The results of the study show that the prejudice society has about old people being sad and lonely might not be accurate.
“The research shows that older adults’ smaller networks didn’t undermine (破坏) social satisfaction and well-being. In fact, older adults tend to report better well-being than younger adults,” said Bruine de Bruin.
1. According to the study, people are likely to be happier when they .| A．have a lot of followers on social media |
| B．are satisfied with their work and lives |
| C．make friends with people who are older |
| D．have a small circle of people who understand them well |
| A．Older people’s friends seem to be of higher quality. |
| B．Young people don't need to make peripheral friends. |
| C．Older people's happiness has nothing to do with their friends. |
| D．Both old and young people find it hard to make close friends. |
| A．Superficial. | B．Happy. |
| C．Lonely. | D．Sad. |
| A．Different types of friends. |
| B．Changes in people's happiness levels. |
| C．The relationship between happiness and number of friends. |
| D．Interactions between old and young people. |
【推荐3】Choosing the right hiking equipment will make your walk safer and more comfortable. Getting it right is easy with our pick of the best, don’t hesitate to grab them.
SMART SOCKS
Smartwool Women’s PhD Outdoor Light Print Crew Walking Socks (£16.09) Built for mile after mile of trail, these socks are so light and seamless you’ll barely notice you’re wearing them.
Darn Tough Kelso Micro Crew Light Cushion (£20) Keep you cool while going the distance in these wool socks. They’re cushioned and silky soft.
1000 Mile Fusion Walking Sock (£15.99, twin pack) Need extra comfort? The Fusion Walking Sock has a blister-free guarantee thanks to clever double-layer technology and padded zones.
LIGHTWEIGHT JACKETS
Smartwool Merino Smart Ultra Light Hoodie (£114.99) This windproof layer packs away into its pocket.
Berghaus Women’s Skerray Smock (£70) Stay warm if the wind gets up in this super-light, water-repellent smock jacket with a fitting hood. It packs away into the small pocket.
Finisterre Mistral Waterproof Jacket (£185) Light yet fully waterproof, this cool high- quality jacket has zipped pockets and an adjustable foldaway hood.
SUMMER SHORTS
Jack Wolfskin Overland Zip Away (£115) Always chilly when you set out but boiling by the time you’re climbing that hill? With these clever pants, you get a pair of soft-shell trousers and a pair of shorts in one.
1. What can we know from the passage?| A．If you want to protect your feet, you’d better choose Crew Walking Socks. |
| B．Crew Light Cushion is a kind of sock special in material to keep you cool. |
| C．Both the Light Hoodie and Skerray Smock can keep out the wind. |
| D．All the equipment recommended can be folded and put in a pocket. |
| A．Crew Walking Socks & Waterproof Jacket |
| B．Light Hoodie & Fusion Walking Socks |
| C．Overland Zip Away & Crew Light Cushion |
| D．Fusion Walking socks & Skerray Smock |
| A．New Technology. | B．Life Style. |
| C．Fashion Costume. | D．Advertisement. |
