“Runners, to your mark, Get set…” Bang! And I was off, along with a bunch of other teenage cross-country runners from high schools across the county. The day was like any other fair-weather autumn day in Maryland. But the race that day felt unique from the get-go. For one thing, I liked the course. It was my team’s home course, one I was used to running during practices. It took runners along an area of land that included open fields, hills and even winding dirt paths through a small forest. It was a beautiful 5-kilometer course. This particular race was our team’s invite, and I was proud to be sharing the course with competitors from other schools. It also meant a lot―more than normal that my parents were there to cheer me on.
With so much to expect that day, I was ready to run! And I didn’t want to be stuck with the pack of other runners, as is typical at the beginning of most cross-country races. So when the gun sounded, I took off running, leaving everyone else in the dust.
The first part of our course followed the outside edge of a large open field before disappearing into the forest. Within seconds of the start, I was far ahead of everyone, and all of the fans could see it. It felt magnificent.
But that feeling didn’t last long. Little did I know my coach was laughing to himself, thinking, “Gabe is done for!” And I was. My body was telling me to slow down. My pride, however, said “No! Not until you’re out of sight of the spectators!” I was in agony, but I kept up my pace until I reached the forest. Once in among the trees. I slowed way down.
I enjoyed most races, even while pushing myself, but this one was not enjoyable in the least. I finished the race, but in nowhere near the time I could have if I’d paced myself well from the beginning. Every time I reflect on that cross-country season, I’m reminded of something: Pride is no substitute for pace.
1. What is special to the author about the race?| A．The weather condition was good for runners. |
| B．He was familiar with the home course. |
| C．He took pride in competitors from other schools. |
| D．His parents came to support him as usual. |
| A．suffering | B．comfort | C．relief | D．contest |
| A．He left everyone behind and took the first place. |
| B．He took the lead first and disappeared among trees. |
| C．He won the race under the pressure of his coach. |
| D．He finished the race but failed to reach his record. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】I’m approaching the Knight Street Bridge as I try to get home after work. It’s 5:15 pm. Traffic is slowing down and then it comes to a full stop. I’m stuck even before getting on the bridge.
This has become my normal work commute (上下班往返) routine. Ahead of me is a heavily jammed on-ramp (匝道). I stare at the endless rows of vehicles, depressed. Seconds pass. Minutes pass. Looking at the rows of cars and trucks, I start counting — 299, 300, 301 — and I give up.
Suddenly I remember I’m one of the 300 helpless drivers. When the cars do move, I move carefully, making sure not to knock into other vehicles. Finally, I make it onto the bridge. The traffic is still crawling at a snail’s pace. Tired and hungry, I become very anxious.
Just then, I hear a faint sound in the distance. The sound gradually becomes louder, until I can identify it as an emergency vehicle approaching from behind. What do we do? The bridge is packed. There’s no room for us to move.
But I’m wrong. Every single car quickly, yet carefully, moves to the side. Without thinking, I follow suit. The lane remains open for a few seconds during which the ambulance flashes through.
Afterward, every car moves back into formation (队形). We close up the emergency lane, continuing our patient wait. Back in my spot, I’m awestruck. My exhaustion and anxiety are gone. I start reflecting upon what 300 fellow drivers and I just did.
Despite our exhaustion, we all decided to help the stranger who needed the time more desperately than we did. We drew on our compassion (同情心) and intelligence, requiring no orders. Although I may seem alone stuck on the bridge, I’m connected to all the other drivers. Together we could make the impossible possible.
1. How does the author feel when seeing the on-ramp?| A．Calm. | B．Shocked. | C．Delighted. | D．Discouraged. |
| A．All drivers will be willing to move. | B．It will be hard for it to pass through. |
| C．Someone should direct the traffic. | D．Whoever is inside needs immediate help. |
| A．Deeply doubtful. | B．Extremely confused. |
| C．Feeling confident. | D．Filled with amazement. |
| A．People’s kindness. | B．The drivers’ positive attitude. |
| C．Instructions from a stranger. | D．The drivers’ good driving skills. |
【推荐2】In the classic episode (剧集) of the Simpsons, Homer’s class reunion ends in shame when one of Homer’s guilty secrets is exposed: he never graduated from high school. To get his diploma, he must pass a science test. As he sits down to retake the exam, he holds one of his trademark dialogues with his brain. “All right, brain. You don’t like me and I don’t like you. But let’s just do this and I can get back to killing you with beer.”
Many a true word is spoken as a joke. Homer Simpson’s Everyman character really is an Everyman. For most people, engaging in the kind of effortful thinking that is required to pass a science test feels too much like hard work. It is so much easier to quit and let the brain’s autopilot take over.
And no wonder. Evolution has blessed the brain with all kinds of mental shortcuts that make life manageable. If we had to think about every action or weigh up every decision, we would break down. As a result, certain ideas and modes of thinking come naturally to us, such effortless thinking.
But at huge lost. Our mental shortcuts work fine at the level of individuals and small-scale societies, but in an increasingly interconnected and globalized world, they are a danger to society. Effortless thinking is at the root of many of the modern world’s most serious problems: terrorism, hatred, inequality and religious extremism. All are caused by people disengaging their critical thinking and going with their gut (非理性的) feeling.
Everybody is capable of gut feeling, but also of the critical thinking. Both thinking styles are needed to make the world go round. Unfortunately, the latter requires training that is unavailable or unappealing to many people.
One of the bright spots in 2017 was the start of a movement called the March For Science. Those who believe in the power of science need to keep on marching, or give more power to people who don’t much like their own brains - or other people’s.
1. What does the author want to convey through Homer’s story?| A．Homer’s thinking is nothing but a joke. |
| B．Most people hate effortful thinking like Homer. |
| C．High school seniors should work hard. |
| D．Science is essential for all high school seniors. |
| A．Most people prefer to kill their brain cells by drinking beer as Homer. |
| B．Most people don’t want to bother themselves about scientific tests. |
| C．Most people would find it much easier to engage in effortful thinking. |
| D．Most people like Simpson’s ordinary character are willing to think simple. |
| A．It makes the world go round. |
| B．It needs necessary training. |
| C．It works fine at the level of personal affairs. |
| D．It leads to the March For Science in 2017. |
| A．Critical Thinking Is Urgently Needed. |
| B．Effortless Thinking Is Out of Date. |
| C．We Need to March Towards Science. |
| D．Thinking Contributes to Social Problems. |
Regret is as common an emotion as love or fear, and it can. be nearly as powerful. We feel it when we either blame ourselves for things that turned out bad, or long to undo a choice we made in the past. The effect regret has on our lives and .how we deal with regret are equally important.
According to recent research, people with less education, were more likely to report education regret. People with higher levels of education had the most career regrets. Broken down by sex, more women than men had regrets about love and family.
Held inside for too long, regret can affect the immune system.
To cope with regret, be aware that it is there for a reason. Our brain is telling us to take another look at our choices because they may be having negative consequences. Take “I can’t believe I crashed my car.” and turn it into “I’m so lucky I didn’t die in the accident. “
We have to see the mistakes we make as necessary lessons in life. If we can learn from them and make changes, we can turn our regrets into positive actions. We can use them to improve, guide, and shape our lives for the better.
| A．It is not surprising, as women value social relationships more than men. |
| B．However, when the situation can’t be changed, and there is nothing left for us to do, we have to let go of the situation and forgive ourselves. |
| C．Then youth will be delightful, old age will bring few regrets, and life will become a beautiful success. |
| D．Regret is negative feelings of guilt, sadness, or anger over past decisions, but it has some benefits to personal growth. and development. |
| E．In some cases, regret can be disastrous. |
| F．If one fails to learn and grow from past mistakes, deep feelings of regret can stay locked inside, keeping one from fully engaging with life. |
Film highlights accompanied by live performances of movie theme music by the China Opera and Dance Drama Theatre Symphony Orchestra, which has recorded the music for many films. Familiar tunes will come from such flicks as Titanic, Jurassic Park and Waterloo Bridge.
Where: Nationality Cultural Palace Theatre
When: March 8, 7:30 pm
Admission：80-380 yuan
Tel：6528 7674 ext 508
Fantastic View All the Way
The mountains in this area are not very high, but the vistas are excellent. This walk is gentle and very interesting, going through valleys, over passes, along a ridge and through a few little tranquil villages that are located in amazing places. Many sites along the walk offer panoramic view of the surrounding mountains.
Where: Pinggu, northeast of Beijing
When: March 9, meet 8：30 a.m. outside Starbucks at Lido Hotel, or 9 am at Capital Paradise front gate, return 5 p.m.
Admission: adults 150 yuan, children 100 yuan
Tel: 13701003694 Email: fjhikers @ yahoo. com..uk
Spring Greetings
Paintings in bold colors in a traditional Chinese style by young artist Tian Xifeng are displayed to welcome the spring. Tian is a student of famous bird-and-flower painting artist Wang Qing. He has won several prizes at various national painting exhibitions and developed a style emphasizing vivid close-ups of natural scenes.
Where: Melodic Gallery, 14 Jianwai Dajie, opposite Friendship Store
When：till March 31, 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.
Admission: free
Tel: 65188123
Cala, My Dog
Directed by Lu Xuechang, starring Ge You. The story is about a middle- aged working man, known as Lao Er, whose chief source of stability and comfort in life is his dog, Cala . One day, when his wife is out walking Cala, a policeman confiscates the unregistered canine. As Lao Er endeavors to recover his dog , the difficult circumstances of his life are revealed. Chinese with English subtitle(字幕).
Where: Dongchuang Theatre, 3 Xinzhongjie, Dongzhimenwai
When: March 13 and 20, 8: 30 p.m.
Admission: 20 yuan
Tel: 64169253
1. If you are a music lover you can go to ________ on Women's Day.
| A．Capital Paradise | B．Dongchuang Theatre |
| C．Capital Gymnasium | D．Nationality Cultural Palace Theatre |
| A．is open to the public from 7:30 am - 5pm till April lst. |
| B．presents the works by Tian Xifeng and his teacher |
| C．is to display some bird-and-flower paintings |
| D．costs the art lovers much money to visit |
| A．Both adults and children can take part in the walk in Pinggu. |
| B．Even you don't know English you can enjoy Cala, My Dog. |
| C．You'll have to dial 65188123 to book a ticket for the film. |
| D．You'll have a choice of two meeting places on March 9th. |
| A．music | B．movies | C．exhibitions | D．entertainments |
【推荐2】The Olympic Games may be on their way to Massachusetts. On January 8,2015, the U.S. Olympic Committee chose Boston as the city that will represent the United States in a bid(投标) to host the 2024 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games. It beat out Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C., for the bid.
If Boston is selected, it will be the first time in 28 years that the Summer Olympic Games have been held on American soil. The 2002 Winter Olympics took place in Salt Lake City, Utah. The U.S. last hosted the Summer Olympic Games in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia. Three other Summer Olympic Games have also been held in the United States — the 1904 Games in St. Louis, Missouri, and the 1932 and 1984 Games in Los Angeles.
Boston faces some tough competition in its quest to host the 2024 Summer Olympics. Rome, Italy, has already announced that it will bid to host the Games. Other cities expected to place bids are Paris, France; Istanbul, Turkey; Melbourne, Australia; and either Berlin or Hamburg, Germany.
Many say Boston has a good shot at winning. Since the Olympics have become extremely expensive in recent years, the IOC is encouraging potential host cities to try to cut costs. To do so, Boston plans to build a modular (模块化的) 60,000-seat Olympic stadium that can be used for something else after the Games by making it smaller or by taking it apart and moving it.
Boston also has many existing venues(体育比赛场馆) that have facilities and where various sports competitions can be held. Most of these venues are within a 6-mile radius(半径距离), which means people would be able to easily walk or take public transportation to the different events.
New York put in a bid to host the 2012 Games but London, England, was chosen instead. Chicago lost its bid to host the 2016 Games to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
＂The Olympic Games are unique in their ability to bring the world together in celebration and unity,＂ says IOC Executive Board member Anita DeFrantz. ＂I very much want to bring the Games to the United States to share the incredible spirit of the Games with another generation of Americans.＂
1. How many Olympics have been held in America in all?| A．3. | B．4. |
| C．5. | D．6. |
| A．It will be torn down after the Games. |
| B．It can be divided into smaller parts to be used. |
| C．It will be made up of existing event places. |
| D．It will be about a 6-mile radius with 10,000 seats. |
| A．Rome, Italy | B．Paris, France |
| C．London, England | D．Melbourne, Australia |
| A．Americans will have the spirit of competition |
| B．the USA shares its spirit with other countries |
| C．America has its ability to bring the world together |
| D．young Americans enjoy the spirit of Olympics |
| A．Could Boston host the 2024 Olympics? |
| B．Will Americans win in another Olympics? |
| C．Does Boston build movable stadiums? |
| D．Shall Boston be given a chance in 2024? |
Average Height and Weight Charts for Teens
Faster growth in kids usually can be noticed at age 8. Genetic factors also determine the physical growth of a child. So, it is perfectly normal for two kids of the same age to have different weights and heights. The following figures should be used as guidelines only.
| For Boys | For Girls | |||
| Age | Height | Weight | Height | Weight |
| in Years | in Inches | in Pounds | in Inches | in Pounds |
| 12-13 | 58-62 | 85-100 | 60-63 | 95-105 |
| 14-15 | 63-66 | 105-125 | 63-64 | 105-115 |
| 16-17 | 67-70 | 130-150 | 64 | 115-120 |
| 18-20 | 68-70 | 150-160 | 64 | 125-130 |
Ideal Body Fat Percentage
Fit men have 14% - 17% body fat.
Fit women have 21% -24% body fat.
Male athletes have 6% -13% body fat.
Female athletes have 14% - 20% body fat.
The ideal body fat percentage varies mainly according to age, sex and the physical activity of the individual. But it is a fat. So, it can be observed that other than the above mentioned factors, genetic factors also influence the body-fat rct that some female athletes have body fat as low as 10 % and some male athletes had lower than 4% body faatio.
Body Mass Index (BMI)
You may use the following formula to calculate your BMI:
As per SI Units (国际单位) : BMI =" mass" (kg)/[height (meters) ]2
Imperial (英制的) Units 1: BMI =" mass" (Ib. ) x703/[ height (in. ) ]2
Imperial Units 2: BMI =" mass" (Ib. ) x 4. 88/[ height (ft) ]2
Following conclusions can be derived from (得到) calculating the BMI:
| BMI Calculated | Conclusion |
| BMI 18.5~25 | Normal or ideal weight |
| BMI > 25 | Overweight |
| BMI < 18. 5 | Underweight |
| BMI < 17. 5 | Extremely underweight |
| BMI =" 30" or BMI > 30 | Obese(病态肥胖的) |
| BMI =" 40" or BMI > 40 | Extremely obese |
1. According to the Average Height and Weight Charts for Teens, ____.
| A．girls keep on growing taller during the teenage years |
| B．girls grow faster at the end of teenager years than boys |
| C．girls grow faster at the beginning of teenager years than boys |
| D．boys' average weight is always heavier than girls' during the teenage years |
| A．Fit men have higher body fat percentage than fit women. |
| B．Male athletes have higher body fat percentage than fit men. |
| C．Female athletes have lower body fat percentage than male athletes. |
| D．Male athletes have much lower body fat percentage than female athletes. |
| A．your weight is normal |
| B．your hormone level is normal |
| C．your height is right for your age |
| D．your body fat percentage is ideal |
| A．normal | B．obese |
| C．extremely obese | D．Underweight |
【推荐1】I was cutting up lettuce in the kitchen when I suddenly remembered watching a video about soaking the lettuce stub(残余部分)in water to grow a whole new vegetable. So I took out a wide-mouthed mug and placed the stub into it, gave it a little water, and placed it by the window.
On a snowy morning, I noticed the first sign. A first small leaf from its heart spread out. A tiny green flag of hope. Beaten, but not defeated. This lettuce was not done living! Within days, it was impossible to see the cuts where I had removed the leaves. The growth was explosive. And when I lifted the blossoming head out of the mug(大杯)，tiny root threads fell down, seeking for the earth. What is growing here? Lettuce or hope?
If I were a lettuce in a similar condition, I’d want to skeptically assess where I found myself before committing to full growth. Yet for this lettuce, my inadequate offering of water and a place by a window was enough for it to decide to reclaim itself again. It grew in a mug of water, in faith. This is the heart of this lettuce: alive, strong and fearless. It deserved a name. I decided to call it Monty.
Monty wanted to grow, as we all do. I think I gave him a little love and freedom. Those two ingredients were all he needed to return to himself. I see joy in this lettuce. The return to self is always an expression of joy, which is life itself. With the right ingredients, this is the tendency of all living things.
Monty still lives in a mug, but I’m going to transplant him outside. He deserves to become his full self. The only problem I see now is my capacity to support Monty. I hope I have enough of a green finger.
I’m surprised to find myself where I am. Maybe Monty is, too. I have the same choice as he does: give in and decay(腐败),or start again. The prospect of starting again is discouraging. But my lettuce-friend, Monty, leads the way. I can only hope to be as brave.
1. Why did the author soak the stub in water?| A．To hope that it would grow. | B．To decorate the nice mug. |
| C．To conduct an experiment. | D．To remove his bad mood. |
| A．The remaining stub. | B．The small leaf. |
| C．The disappearing cuts. | D．The tiny root threads. |
| A．Hesitant. | B．Fearless. | C．Aimless. | D．Annoyed. |
| A．Enjoying your own life to the fullest. |
| B．Believing in yourself when in trouble. |
| C．Never being afraid to restart yourself. |
| D．Giving freedom to the heart in a way. |
【推荐2】Last week, 84-year-old Janet Fein received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Dallas. Fein has had a full life. She has raised five children and then had a career as a secretary until she retired at age 77. But even then, she was not ready to take it easy and rest. She said she decided to major in sociology because she felt it was very important.
Fein grew up in the Bronx area of New York City. She just wanted to get a job in high school. After graduating at the age of 16, she went to work as a secretary. After getting married, she spent 18 years staying home with her children. She held several jobs throughout her life, including 20 years as a secretary at a hospital. She also worked for 20 years on earning an associate degree. But Fein also wanted to earn a bachelor's degree “with all of my heart”. Even with all of her life experiences, she still enjoyed reading, writing papers and learning new things.
Health experts say continuing with education later in life is one way to keep fit. Carmel Dyer, director of the UT Health Consortium on Aging at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, says keeping active and giving yourself something to look forward to “is just a really positive move”.
Fein kept going to class even as her health conditions worsened. During her studies, it became necessary for her to use a walker to get around and she required oxygen. She also developed knee problems. Therefore, Fein took online classes to finish the last part of her degree requirements. Her college advisor Sheila Rollerson said Fein never showed signs of giving up even with all of her difficulties. “She just kept plugging along,” Rollerson said.
1. What was Janet Fein’s last work before she retired?| A．A teacher. | B．A secretary. | C．A nurse. | D．A doctor. |
| A．Get a bachelor’s degree. | B．Keep fit by exercises. |
| C．Read all kinds of books. | D．Find a job at the hospital. |
| A．Life should be full of adventures. | B．People should have their own views. |
| C．Further study benefits the old’s health. | D．Healthy lifestyle is just to keep active. |
| A．Honest. | B．Determination. | C．Generosity. | D．Kindness. |
【推荐3】One spring day. once the flowers have begun to open, a bee will hover (盘旋)and zip through your yard and dive-bomb your picnic table. While you're thinking about avoiding an attack, that bee is focused on something else entirely: me.
A honeybee has about six weeks to live. Today, like most days, her task is to fly as many as three miles from home, stick her long, straw-like tongue into a hundred or so flowers. When the bee has had her fill, she'll fly home. There the bee will deposit what she has got into the mouth of one of her co-workers, who will relay it to another, and so on for about 20 minutes, until the mixture is ready to be placed into the comb. Then she and her 50.000 or so mates will hover in the dark all night every night, flapping their wings to create hot, breezy conditions to remove the water from the mixture. Several sunrises later, they will seal me off in a golden cell of beeswax. In her lifetime, our bee may visit 4.000 flowers, and yet will produce only one-twelfth of a tea spoon of me.
The average American consumes nearly a pound and a half of me every year, in tea, on toast, and beyond. If I do say so myself, I am a timeless treasure. Literally—I never go bad.
Unfortunately, my good health is not guaranteed. The problem lies in the growth of industrial agriculture and the use of pest control chemicals, as well as changes in weather patterns, all of which reduce the number of flowers bees have to visit. I'd appreciate your letting your own garden grow just a little wild. My future depends on all of us fostering spring and summers wild flowers, thus helping the bees, who give so much—to you, to me—without ever asking for anything in return.
1. What does "me" refer to in the passage?| A．The flower. | B．The bee. |
| C．Water. | D．Honey. |
| A．Bees' special talent. | B．Bees’ hard work. |
| C．Bees' living environment. | D．Bees' social behavior. |
| A．A bee will always prioritize attacking picnic lovers. |
| B．Before "me" is sealed off in beeswax, the drying process can take a few nights. |
| C．The lifework of a bee satisfies the average demand of an American consumer annually. |
| D．Bees are more likely to visit those deliberately pest-controlled gardens. |
| A．To appeal for help for honeybees. |
| B．To talk about the history of a treasure. |
| C．To put forward techniques for gardeners. |
| D．To argue against the control of chemicals. |
