The world is filled with smart, talented, educated and gifted people. We meet them everyday. A few days ago,my car was not running well. I pulled it into a garage and the young mechanic had it fixed in just a few minutes. He knew what was wrong by simply listening to the engine. I was amazed. The sad truth is, great talent is not enough.
l am constantly shocked at how little talented people earn. I heard the other day that less than 5 percent of Americans earn more than $ 100,000 a year. A business consultant who specializes in the medical trade was telling me how many doctors and dentists struggle financially. It was this business consultant who gave me the phrase," They are one skill a way from great wealth.”
There is an old saying that goes, "Job means 'just over broke'". And unfortunately, I would say that the saying applies to millions of people. Because school does not think financial intelligence is intelligence, most workers "live within their means" They work and they pay the bills. Instead I recommend to young people to seek work for what they will learn, more than what they will earn.
When I ask the classes I teach, "How many of you can cook a better hamburger than McDonald's? " almost all the students raise their hands. I then ask,“So if most of you can cook a better hamburger, how come McDonald's makes more money than you?”The answer is obvious: McDonald's is excellent at business systems. The reason why so many talented people are poor is that they focus on building a better hamburger and know little or nothing about business systems. The world is filled with talented poor people. They focus on perfecting their skills at building a better hamburger rather than the skills of selling and delivering the hamburger.
1. What can we know about the mechanic from paragraph 1?| A．He is a talented person. | B．He is always amazing. |
| C．He has a good sense of hearing. | D．He is good at making money. |
| A．Live in their own circle. |
| B．Do in their own way. |
| C．Live within what they earn. |
| D．Spend more than they can afford. |
| A．Lacking financial intelligence. |
| B．Not working hard enough. |
| C．Not making full use of their talents. |
| D．Having no specialized skills. |
| A．What schools should teach students. |
| B．Why so many talented people are poor. |
| C．How McDonald's makes much money. |
| D．How young people can find a satisfactory job. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】The park bench was deserted as I sat down to read beneath the branches of an old willow tree, with good reason to frown, for the world was dragging me down. At this time, a boy approached me. He stood right before me, and said with great excitement, “Look what I found!”
In his hand was a flower, and what a pitiful sight, with its petals (花瓣) all worn. Wanting him to take his flower and go off to play, I managed a smile and then turned to the other side.
But instead of leaving, he sat next to my side and placed the flower to his nose and declared, “It really smells pretty and it’s beautiful, too. That’s why I picked it. Here it’s for you.”
The flower before me was dying or dead. But I knew I must take it, or he might never leave. So I reached for the flower, and replied, “Just what I need.”
But instead of placing the flower in my hand, he held it in mid-air. It was then that I noticed that the boy was blind.
I heard my voice quiver (轻微颤抖), and at the same time my tears shone like the sun. As I thanked him for picking the very best one, he smiled and said, “You’re welcome.” And then he ran off to play, unaware of the impact he’d had on me.
I sat there and wondered how he managed to see a self-pitying woman beneath an old willow tree. Perhaps from his heart, he’d been blessed with true sight.
Through the eyes of the blind boy, I could see the problem was not with the world; the problem was me. And for all of those times I had been blind. From now on, I promised to see beauty and appreciate every second. Then I held the flower up to my nose and breathed its fragrance and smiled as that young boy.
1. When she sat down to read on the bench, the author _______.| A．felt relaxed and peaceful |
| B．wanted to have a friend keeping her company |
| C．felt upset and unhappy with her life |
| D．felt proud to have overcome the difficulties in life |
| A．Because she was really moved by the boy. |
| B．Because she didn’t want to hurt the young boy. |
| C．Because she thought the flower was really beautiful. |
| D．Because she didn’t like being bothered by the boy any more. |
| A．Handsome and intelligent. |
| B．Kind and optimistic. |
| C．Warmhearted and sensitive. |
| D．Independent and active. |
【推荐2】Four Top Skills I’ve Learned From My Kids
In my journey as an entrepreneur (企业家), one of the best sources of leadership development is parenthood. There’s one thing that being a parent and being a business leader have in common.
Give up control
As a parent, I’ve learned that there’s only so much control you can really have over your kids. They need to make their own decisions — and mistakes — and learn from them. You can try to control your kids when they are young.
Become more flexible (灵活)
We all make mistakes, and it can be tempting to hide those mistakes, especially from people you want to look up to you. But since we teach our kids to admit when they’ve made a mistake and apologize if they hurt someone, it’s important that we do the same when we make a mistake that hurts them.
Become more understanding and empathetic (共情的)
Emotional intelligence is one of the most important skills for effective leadership. And there’s nothing like being a parent to help you better understand people’s emotions and motivations.
| A．Admit your mistakes |
| B．Kids come with unknown risks |
| C．It’s that there’s a lot to be learned |
| D．As they grow up, you should let go |
| E．You’d better stick to your perfect plan |
| F．That can help you develop your empathy |
| G．Correct the mistakes as soon as possible |
【推荐3】When I was a high school student, mathematics looked like a big barrier for me and several of my classmates. When we reached the ninth class, we got Mr Iyer, a strict maths teacher who was also our class teacher. He always stuck to his discipline. We had to arrive on time, pay undivided attention to his lectures, and dared not to neglect any of his homework.
Even so, as our class teacher, we got to know him better. Noticing some of us fidgeting one day as the midterm exams approached, he stopped solving a mathematical problem to ask us why. “There’s too much to do, ” we sighed. “We’re afraid we’ll never manage to finish our revision before the exam.” “Nothing is impossible, ” Mr Iyer told us. “This classroom is on the second floor. Do you have a problem reaching here?” We reacted with blank stares.
“No, you don’t!” he said, answering his own question.“You have a staircase to help you climb up to this level. No one expects you to make it in two giant leaps. You simply take one step at a time. Any task can be solved if you focus on the immediate action to be taken. The rest will take care of itself, if you keep at it. One step at a time. That’s the secret.” Then he wrote down an old motto on the blackboard—the longest journey starts with a single step. Having heard his staircase analogy(比拟), we understood why he asked us the question and we saw him in a new light.
Most of my classmates scored distinctions in maths. And I went on to become an English teacher. To this day, whenever I pass on Mr Iyer’s invaluable advice to my own students, they brighten up at the prospect of a lighter academic burden.
1. What can we learn from the first paragraph?| A．Maths was difficult for most of the author’s classmates. |
| B．The students thought Mr Iyer was not a good teacher. |
| C．Mr Iyer would punish the students neglecting his discipline. |
| D．The students showed great fear to Mr Iyer. |
| A．excited | B．nervous | C．hardworking | D．calm |
| A．Because they were too tired to understand what Mr Iyer said. |
| B．Because they felt surprised at such an unbelievable problem. |
| C．Because they had no interest in any subjects that were no good for their exams. |
| D．Because they first thought reaching the second floor had no connection with the worry. |
| A．Goals can be reached step by step. |
| B．One can reach his/her goals in a giant leap. |
| C．Tasks can be solved under the guidance of the teacher. |
| D．There is only one step between success and failure. |
【推荐1】The old Chinese saying "as happy as spending the New Year" might be outdated now in the busy modern world. The Spring Festival is regarded as the most important festival for Chinese people and an occasion for all family members to get together, like Christmas in the West. But many traditional customs accompanying the Spring Festival, however, have weakened in practice.
Setting off fireworks was once the most typical custom of the Spring Festival. People thought the sputtering(爆裂) sound could help drive away evil spirits. However, the activity has been completely or partially forbidden in big cities for years as the government has taken security, noise and pollution factors into consideration.
"In recent years, some cities have begun to allow people to light fireworks during limited hours at the Spring Festival, surrendering to(屈从于) public demand. Respecting folk traditions is a gesture of respect toward public opinion," said Zhou Xing, a folklore researcher.
"As people gain more income and it becomes easier to buy daily goods, the New Year holiday is just like any other. After long workdays, many people use the New Year holiday to take a rest, rather than visiting friends and neighbors. The process of making and enjoying the family dinner on Spring Festival Eve is the most important thing. However, many families would like to eat out to save time and energy," said Li Shunzhi, a resident of Harbin, Heilongjiang.
"I enjoy the holidays very much in the countryside. My family has been preparing for the Spring Festival more than two weeks before the holiday, cleaning the house, buying holiday goods and decorating the house with paper cuttings. On New Year’s Eve, the whole family stays up to see the New Year in, and in the days to follow, a series of activities such as lion dancing, dragon lantern dancing, lantern festivals and temple fairs will be held. Without the ancient traditions, the holiday is nothing to us," said Zhang Hui, from Hebei.
1. Which of the following is WRONG according to the passage?| A．Setting off fireworks has been forbidden in some big cities for years. |
| B．Nowadays, people can light fireworks in some cities at the Spring Festival. |
| C．People believe that the sound of fireworks can drive away evil spirits. |
| D．In the past, setting off fireworks couldn’t be seen almost anywhere. |
| A．what people do during the festival now is different from the past |
| B．people would like to have the family dinner on Spring Festival Eve |
| C．people prefer to visit friends and neighbors rather than take a rest |
| D．the New Year holiday is just like any other day |
| A．Zhang Hui often spends two weeks preparing for the Spring Festival. |
| B．Zhang Hui is used to spending the Spring Festival with his family. |
| C．Zhang Hui always takes part in a series of activities after the Spring Festival. |
| D．Zhang Hui lives in the urban area. |
| A．The Spring Festival is as lively as before. |
| B．The Spring Festival is outdated now. |
| C．The Spring Festival is losing its qualities. |
| D．The Spring Festival in China is more important than Christmas in the West. |
【推荐2】Over the years, you've probably known a good number of people-some for only a short period and others for a much longer time. If you spend a moment thinking back on the people who have meant the very most to you, selflessness will be the same thing they share. There might have been a person who really believed in you. Someone taught you something important. Someone cared for you in his or her own way. Someone has simply always remained your friend.
Many years ago, I traveled through the beautiful, history-rich country of Greece. With only a small backpack, I stayed at youth hotels, visiting city after city. One day, a shoulder strap on my backpack broke. I didn't speak any Greek and the owner didn't speak any English. I went to the front desk of my hotel and tried to ask him if there might be a shop nearby where I could have it repaired. He was clearly very busy. But he asked someone to watch over the front desk and then signed to me to follow him. We walked together for a few blocks,arriving at a little shoe repair shop. Within ten minutes, my backpack was repaired, and then the hotel owner insisted on paying for it!
I was shocked by this powerful, unexpected kindness. More than any other thing, it's what I recall most often when I think about my trip to Greece. Sometimes, you may not have even realized how much your selflessness toward someone has mattered. As the saying goes, "To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world."
1. What's wrong with the author's backpack？ ________| A．One of its shoulder straps was broken. | B．It was got dirty by a cleaner. |
| C．One of its pockets was broken. | D．There was a hole in it. |
| A．Mean. | B．Warm-hearted. | C．Clever. | D．Humorous. |
| A．He became a lifelong friend of the hotel owner. | B．He spent all his money in travelling in Greece. |
| C．He picked up Greek while travelling in Greece. | D．He'll never forget the hotel owner's kindness. |
| A．To show his love of travelling. | B．To explore the value of selflessness. |
| C．To give a short introduction to Greece. | D．To introduce a shoe repair shop in Greece. |
【推荐3】Our house was across the street from a big hospital, so we rented our spare upstairs room to outpatients (门诊病人). One evening, there was a knock at the door. I opened it to see a truly sick-looking man.
His face looked terrible - it was swollen (肿胀的) and red. Yet his voice was pleasant. He told me that he came for treatment and that he’d been hunting for a spare room since noon. but no one would give him one. “I guess it’s my face. . . ”
For a moment, I hesitated, but his next words convinced me: “I’ll sleep in this rocking chair on the porch. My bus leaves early in the morning. ”
The old man had a huge heart inside his tiny body. He told me that he fished for a living to support his daughter, his daughter’s five children and her disabled husband. He didn’t complain while telling me his story. He was grateful that no pain accompanied his disease, which was seemingly a form of skin cancer.
The next morning, he said, “Can I come back and stay the next time I need treatment?” I told him he was welcome to come again.
On his next trip, as a gift, he brought a big fish and some large oysters (牡蛎). In the years that he stayed with us, there was never a time that he did not bring us gifts like these. My neighbor warmed me that I could lose potential renters by putting up the old man after he left the first morning.
Maybe we did lose renters once or twice. But if they had known him, perhaps their illnesses would have been easier to bear. I know our family will always be grateful to have known him. From him, we learned what it was to accept the bad without complaint and the good with gratitude.
1. The author hesitated to answer at first, which suggests that _____.| A．he was frightened by what the man looked like |
| B．there were difficult neighbors to consider |
| C．he wondered how the man found him |
| D．there was no space for the man to stay |
| A．He could sleep on the porch. |
| B．He supported a large family. |
| C．He felt skin cancer wasn’t painful. |
| D．He complained about how others treated him. |
| A．The author truly appreciated the old man. |
| B．The author looked down on his neighbor. |
| C．The author was grateful for the neighbor’s warning. |
| D．The author was disappointed to lose potential renters. |
| A．Powerful | B．Talent | C．Possible | D．Ability. |
| A．A kind word is like a spring day. |
| B．Where there is a will, there is a way. |
| C．Don’t judge a person by his appearance. |
| D．Don’t complain to the bad but be grateful to the good. |
【推荐1】Holiday Celebrations Throughout Orlando
It's time again for our best free holiday events in Orlando! This year we could all use a little extra holiday cheer. Thankfully, despite some changes, there are still lots of free holiday events in Orlando and throughout Central Florida.
Winter Park "Ye Olde Hometown" Parade(游行)
December 5,2020, starts at 9: 00 a.m.
Central Park on Park Avenue, Winter Park
The Winter Park Chamber of Commerce is proud to host the 68th annual Winter Park Ye Olde Hometown Christmas Parade. The event has been held each December for more than 60years, making it the oldest continuous holiday parade in Central Florida. Reserved spaces for the live event are full, but the parade will be streamed live via Facebook.
20th Annual Christmas Parade
December 5, 2020, starts at 10;00 a.m.
Downtown Mount Dora
Enjoy this annual parade through the streets of downtown Mount Dora. Pets are notallowed.
Winter at Lake Eola Park
December 12, 2020, 5:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.
Lake Eola Park
There is an annual tree-lighting, announcement of holiday art contest winners and, of course, Santa Claus at Lake Eola Park. Masks and social distance are among the safety measures to be in place.
9th Christmas Light Ride
December 12,2020,7:00 p.m.
Retro City Cycles, Orlando
Ride through Ivanhoe Village and College Park to take in the great light displays. Ride starts at Retro City Cycles and will be about 6 miles at a casual pace; all bikes are welcome! Don't forget to decorate your bike !
1. What do we know about the event in Winter Park?| A．It enjoys a long history. | B．It has lost its popularity. |
| C．It is hosted by Facebook. | D．It requires reservations online. |
| A．Winter Park. | B．Downtown Mount Dora. |
| C．Lake Eola Park. | D．Ivanhoe Village. |
| A．Wear face masks. | B．Keep social distance. |
| C．Make your bike more beautiful. | D．Arrive at Ivanhoe Village before 7 :00 a.m. |
【推荐2】Four Great Destination Cities to Visit on a Vacation to Australia
Adelaide
Adelaide, the capital city of South Australia, is known for its beauty and outdoor natural areas, many of which are protected and preserved for the use of the people that live there and those that visit there too. Adelaide has a number of popular attractions including attractive swimming beaches, an exciting nightlife, interesting shopping opportunities, great restaurants. and much more.
Canberra
The city of Canberra dates back to 1913 when it was purposefully built to be the capital of the nation of Australia. It has grown over time to not only be the location of the government of the nation, but also a city in its own right with a particular culture and atmosphere of its own. Canberra offers the chance to see the more official side of Australia and learn a little bit about how the country was founded, formed, and how it developed.
Darwin
Unlike other major cities in Australia, Darwin is of the rather small size. Darwin sits in the north-central region of Australia, right on the Timor Sea. The lifestyle in Darwin has been described as laid back by many who have visited there before. A visit to Darwin is a visit to one of Australia's truly unforgettable cities.
Sydney
The most famous, most traveled to, and most popular city in all of Australia is the city of Sydney. Sydney sits on the shores of Sydney Harbour and is an exciting city that offers an unbelievable experience to those travelers. Sydney has been the main point of tourism in Australia for decades and it will continue to be that so long as it keeps offering the amazing experiences that it does right now.
Travel to Australia with Travelocity, get discounts on www. couponcodes, com.
1. What can visitors learn about in Canberra?| A．An exciting art show. | B．The outdoor natural areas. |
| C．The development of AustraliA. | D．The attractive swimming beaches. |
| A．Its size. | B．Its history. |
| C．Its position. | D．Its attractions. |
| A．Adelaide. | B．CanberrA. | C．Darwin. | D．Sydney. |
【推荐3】Finland is offering free trips to people in need of happiness lessons
For the past two years, Finland has been named the happiest country in the world. Its citizens are relaxed and cheerful, enjoying life in a technologically advanced society. The Finns themselves owe(归功于) this to their connection with nature and their instinct(本能) to go outside whenever anxiety appears: “When others go to therapy(治疗), Finns put on a pair of rubber boots and head to the woods. A project called Rent A Finn will send a select number of guests to live in Finland for three days this summer. All travel and accommodation costs are covered, but you must be willing to be filmed throughout the experience.
Guest’s activities
Experience anything from visiting a national park to spending a weekend fishing at a real summer cottage， berry picking in the wilderness, enjoying a proper Finnish sauna(桑拿浴)一 basically all the things that we Finns love to do in nature and what makes Finland the happiest country worldwide.
Esko, mayor(市长) of a small town, will take you boating and teach you to play molkky, a Finnish throwing game. If you stay with Hanna, an IT professional, you’ll travel to her grandmother’s lakeside home outside Helsinki, where you’ll pick blueberries and eat traditional foods. Linda and Niko, who live on Uto, an island with a population of around 40, will take you sailing, show you the lighthouse, and camp out on an island.
Application
Now is the time to apply by filling out an online application form and filming a 3-minute video describing yourself, your connection to nature, and why you want to visit Finland. Submit, breathe deeply, and wait. I know what I’ ll be doing this weekend.
1. What do the Finns think mainly brings them happiness?| A．Getting close to nature. |
| B．Living in a rich country. |
| C．Remaining in high spirits. |
| D．Getting on well with others. |
| A．Esko. | B．Linda. |
| C．Hanna. | D．Niko |
| A．Complete a form online. |
| B．Make a video about Finland. |
| C．Pay the activity expenses in advance. |
| D．Learn how to make traditional Finnish food. |
【推荐1】As the capital city of Thailand, Bangkok is also the country's most popular city with more than 8 million people. Over the years, Bangkok has established itself as one of the most important regional centers for arts, entertainment and fashion. It is also a major regional force in business and finance.
Bangkok is one of the most popular travel destinations for people all over the world. This is primarily due to its energetic city life and its incredible cultural landmarks. Bangkok has much to offer to tourists. From shining temples to magnificent palaces, from its well-known floating market to its traditional Chinatown, Bangkok is a city that should not be missed.
There are also numerous hotels, guesthouses and hostels available for travelers that are intended to make their stay pleasant and comfortable. There are many that are located right in the center of the city enabling tourists to have access to shopping centers, restaurants, bars and popular landmarks.
Most hotels in Bangkok offer 24 hours free Internet access, daily newspapers, theaters, luggage rooms and comfortable bedrooms. For example, Lubd is located in Bangkok’s best hang-out area. You will have access to all that this city has to offer whether it is culture, entertainment, bars, restaurants, clubs or shopping. At Lubd, you will find high quality accommodation and a fun and friendly staff. It has been picked as one of the seventeen coolest hostels to stay for backpackers by the Observer, UK.
The atmosphere of Bangkok is extremely convivial and that is why there is always something going on in the city. These include royal anniversaries, Buddhist rites, lunar religious festivals and other cultural events. Foreign festivals are also celebrated with great passion in Bangkok. These include Christmas and Halloween. Overall, if you're looking for an exciting travel destination in Asia, Bangkok is a city that should definitely not be missed.
1. Why do so many people come to see Bangkok?| A．Because it is the capital city of Thailand. |
| B．Because people go after fashion in the city. |
| C．Because of its rich culture and fullness of life. |
| D．Because of the mysterious temples and palaces. |
| A．Where to live. | B．What to eat. |
| C．What to visit. | D．How to enjoy. |
| A．Relaxing | B．Cheerful |
| C．Different | D．Nervous. |
| A．Lubd is considered the best hostel in the world. |
| B．Most of the star hotels are located in the downtown. |
| C．Bangkok is highly recommended when we travel in Asia. |
| D．Bangkok provides visitors with expensive accommodations. |
【推荐2】Earthquakes are something that people fear. There are some places that have few or no earthquakes. Most places in the world, however, have them regularly ( 有规律地). Countries that have a lot of earthquakes are usually quite mountainous.
The most-talked-about earthquake in the United States was in San Francisco in 1906. Over 700 people died in it. The strongest one in North America was in 1964. It happened in Alaska.
Strong earthquakes are not always the ones that kill the most people. In 1755, one of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded was felt in Portugal. Around 2，000 people died.
In 1923, a very strong earthquake hit Tokyo, the Yokohama area of Japan. A hundred and forty thousand people died. Most of them died in fires which followed the earthquake.
One of the worst earthquakes ever was in China in 1976. It killed a large number of people. The worst earthquake ever recorded was also in China, in which about 80，000 people were killed or injured. This earthquake happened in 2008.
Earthquakes worry people a lot. The reason is that we often do not know when they are coming.
People can't prepare for them.
1. Earthquakes happen _______．| A．in all the places in the world |
| B．only in the countries that have a lot of mountains |
| C．regularly in most places in the world |
| D．only in a few places along the mountains |
| A．4; Alaska. | B．2008; China. |
| C．1923; Japan. | D．1976; China. |
| A．How do earthquakes worry people? |
| B．What will people do to prepare for earthquakes? |
| C．How can we save people when earthquakes happen? |
| D．How do earthquakes happen? |
【推荐3】The province of Pescara surrounds the city of the same name and lies in the very centre of the region of Abruzzo. This is a part of Italy of remarkable beauty and with cultural riches, yet it has never been a major destination for international visitors, largely because the region is not very well served by international flight routes. However, many Italians make their way to the coast here in the summertime. Here are places to visit around the Pescara province.
The city of Pescara
The city of Pescara is the most famous today for being the birthplace of Gabriele D’ Annunzio, perhaps the greatest Italian writer of the modern times. It is a developed coastal resort (胜地) with several miles of popular sandy beaches and a range of summertime activities for all the family to enjoy.
Citta Sant’ Angelo
Lying just a few miles northwest of the city of Pescara in an area famous for the production of Montepulcianod’Abruzzowine, its main visitor attractions are the churches of San Michele Arcangelo and Santa Chiara.
Loreto Aprutino
Almost directly west of Pescara, and north of Bolognano, it is worth visiting just to see its wall painting of The Judgement, but this small town has many more to offer the visitor including the region’s pottery industry and some excellent olive oil.
Castiglione a Casauria
If you enjoy further southwest from Loreto Aprutino, you will come to Castiglione a Casauria and the remains of the 9th-century Abbey (修道院) of San Clemente.
1. Why did the Pescara province see fewer foreign tourists?| A．It is a place newly opened to the world. |
| B．Its climate is not well appropriate for them. |
| C．Most foreign tourists dislike its specific culture. |
| D．It is inconvenient for visitors to arrive in Pescara. |
| A．It has remains of the 9th-century Abbey. |
| B．It is one of the most attractive coastal cities. |
| C．It appeals to writers of the modern times. |
| D．It is near the Pescara province. |
| A．The city of Pescara. | B．Citta Sant’ Angelo. |
| C．Loreto Aprutino. | D．Castiglione a Casauria. |
