“Well, I made it,” says Greg Daniels with a smile.
Recently there have been news reports and television shows reporting on the quality of school lunches. According to federal guidelines, French fries count as a serving of vegetables. Many parents and others are upset that a salty, deep-fired food is replacing healthier options like carrot sticks. As a result, the potato — what French fries are made of — has been getting a bad rap.
“The problem is not the potato,” insists Greg. “Potatoes are very healthy. But any food, even carrots or lettuce (生菜), will be less healthy if it’s cooked in grease(油脂).”
Two months ago, Greg decided to eat nothing but potatoes for 60 days. As a high school science teacher and son of a potato farmer, he wanted to do something to draw attention to potatoes as a healthy food and a good choice as part of anyone’s regular meals.
“It’s been an interesting experience,” Greg said. “For a while, I wasn’t sure I would make it. I was pretty tired of eating potatoes after a few weeks.”
But for Greg there were some benefits that he hadn’t expected. He’s lost 15 pounds and he feels better than he has in years. “I have so much more energy,” he says. “I’ve been running and playing on a local basketball team, and I feel like I’m playing as well as I did when I was in high school.”
And Greg has gotten a lot of attention, much more than he expected. “It’s been fantastic. Thousands of people have read my blog. I’ve been sharing recipes and talking about the experience. Every day I get to tell people what a great idea it is to eat potatoes.”
Greg is glad to be back to a normal diet, but he still eats potatoes at least 5 or 6 times a week. “Everyone should!” he says with a smile. “Potatoes are healthy and taste great!”
1. What does the underlined part “getting a bad rap” in Paragraph 2 mean?| A．Receiving little attention. | B．Obtaining an unfair judgement. |
| C．Getting more and more popular. | D．Becoming good for people’s health. |
| A．Because potatoes are cheap. | B．To draw attention to himself. |
| C．To prove that potatoes are healthy. | D．Because he loves potatoes very much. |
| A．gave up his plan | B．put on some weigh |
| C．became less healthy | D．was sick of potatoes |
| A．Intelligent. | B．Humorous |
| C．Determined | D．Courageous |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】There it was. A test of will power. I’m on a special diet with foods carefully selected for balanced nutrition and caloric value. A piece of cheese cake is not an option. So here was my dilemma: Should I not eat the cheese cake, feel dissatisfied and take out my frustration on the annoyingly skinny physical instructor at the gym? Or should I eat the cheese cake and work off the calories?
The latter seemed like a win-win solution. Not only would I get to enjoy the cheese cake, but I’d get an exercise session. And then it hit me: a delicate plan to use my cheese cake as an exercise incentive. I plated a thin slice of cheese cake and carefully walked it up the stairs and set it on my bedside table with a small fork. I put on my exercise outfit and went downstairs.
The appeal of the cheese cake got stronger so I launched my plan: I would run up and down the stairs and then back up again. My reward: one small bite of cheese cake. If I wanted another, I’d have to run down and up and down and up again. Off I went. Ah, creamy vanilla goodness without guilt. I wanted another bite so I quickly sprinted through another stair climbing run.
Admittedly, it is harder to enjoy the creaminess of the cheese cake when my tongue was dry from over-breathing. I placed a bottle of water next to the cake.
Down and up and down and up again. When I struggled over to the cheese cake, my hand bypassed the plate and went for the water instead. I didn’t want the cake any more. I wanted all this sweat and effort to do more than cancel the calories from cheese cake. I was exhausted and sure the cheese cake tasted fine but just not good enough to make me run up and down the stairs one more time.
My plan worked. Now, any time I felt tempted to indulge in a former favorite, I remembered my stairs trick.
1. What can we infer about the author from paragraph 1?| A．She has weak will power. |
| B．She is bad-tempered and very critical. |
| C．She needs assistance with making the choice. |
| D．She hesitated over eating something against her diet. |
| A．Motivation. | B．Excuse. |
| C．Substitute. | D．Companion. |
| A．It involved much energy consumption. |
| B．It rid the cake of the pleasant taste. |
| C．It changed the author’s preference for food. |
| D．It was exhausting and caused suffering. |
| A．A costly dilemma. |
| B．An evil cheese cake. |
| C．A trick that worked. |
| D．A sweating experience. |
【推荐2】My presentation was horrible. I knew it before I heard "we'll be in touch” from the client. Then the rest of my day was spent in relative silence，I was left alone. Eventually, I left my air-conditioned office and outside there was a heat wave.
I boarded a bus but couldn't tolerate it as its air-conditioner wasn't working, so I got off at the next stop and walked home. I declined to take off my jacket because “when it rains let it pour" was my philosophy.
A block from my building, I heard the water splashing and kids screaming. As I turned the corner, there were kids playing in the water. When they saw me in my suit they stopped the water and when they saw my mean look, they even got quiet.
Then I noticed the youngest kid no older than five, holding a water gun down by his side, eying me hard. I eyed him back. Suddenly, he shot his gun at me. As I took my first step toward him, another boy threw his water gun towards me. I caught it and pulled the trigger toward the five-year-old. He fought back but his shooter was no match for my power so instead, he turned his water gun on a few other kids who were shocked into stillness at what just happened. Then, I also turned my water gun on these kids and before long we were in all-out water warfare.
Needless to say, I was wet and laughed like I'd never done it before. I couldn't remember my last water fight and if I did, it couldn't have been as enjoyable as this one. It took a five-year-old to bring out the kid in me and help me realize that you may not be able to control disappointment but you can still welcome those things that make you happy.
1. Why did the author feel unhappy on the way home?| A．He most likely lost a deal | B．He saw some annoying people. |
| C．He had to bear the cold weather. | D．He was caught in the heavy rain. |
| A．Ashamed. | B．Relieved. | C．Excited. | D．Frightened. |
| A．In paragraph 2. | B．In paragraph 3. | C．In paragraph 4. | D．In paragraph 5. |
| A．Surround ourselves with happy kids. | B．Remember to let in joy in hard times. |
| C．Let go of old memories and move on. | D．Avoid feeling disappointed or upset. |
【推荐3】Tired of working in IT and staying the same in Australia, Paulo Cattaneo decided to make a change. In 2015 he started a strict budget so he could save up enough money to buy his dream KTM 1190 motorbike, a camera, and enough funds to support himself for a few years.
Then he gave up his job, packed his things, and set off on an adventure, travelling the world on his motorbike. Paulo, 39, has spent the last four years biking through Australia, South America, North America, and Europe, riding up to 12 hours a day and spending his nights in his tent under the stars.
“Australia for me was my first experience riding long distance and I was mind-blown by the beauty of the old continent.” Paulo wrote on his travel journal, “Traveling through Latin America, I explored the rainforest and learned Spanish and Portuguese. Mexico has some of the best food I ever had and Peru is an interesting place where I can enjoy the unique local Indian culture, also called Inca civilization.”
Paulo has managed to keep his travels going by keeping his budget tight, so he hasn’t had to get a job for his travels. To keep costs low, he seldom looked for accommodation in hotels and went camping instead. Thankfully, the motorbike, which Paulo bought secondhand in Australia, has not required any major repairs since he set off. The journey isn’t always easy, but Paulo has never looked back.
Sadly, the Covid-19 pandemic put a stop to his travels in Greece when he traveled around Europe, and Paulo has had to spend the last few months in Italy, his homeland. Once the world is back up and running, he plans to return to life on the road and explore Asia and Africa.
1. What did Paulo begin to do in 2015?| A．Change his job to live a better life. | B．Travel the world on his motorbike. |
| C．Collect enough money to buy a car. | D．Prepare for his trip around the world. |
| A．The way to travel. | B．The last destination of travel. |
| C．The places he’d been to. | D．The accommodation of travel. |
| A．He enjoyed the best food in Peru. | B．He got a job to support his travel. |
| C．The motorbike often troubled him. | D．The view in Australia attracted him. |
| A．Paulo was glad to return to his homeland. | B．Paulo had to find accommodation in hotel. |
| C．The Covid-19 couldn’t stop Paulo’s dream. | D．Being alone was a challenge during Paulo’s trip. |
【推荐1】For the past 11 years, 83-year-old Al Merritt has been a reliable and cheery presence in his neighborhood.
Since 2010, Merritt has been trying to achieve the mission to cycle the circumference (周长) of the Earth — 24,901 miles — without ever leaving his own neighborhood. As a result, Merritt got to know many of his neighbors. Up until October 24, (2021), he never realized that his daily bicycle trips were as important to them as they were to him.
At 3 p.m., nearly 200 people gathered near his home to surprise and congratulate Merritt on the ending of his “round-the-world” adventure, and a large trophy (奖杯) was placed in his arms. “It’s just unbelievable. I couldn’t have imagined anything like this,” he said.
11 years ago, when his son Kevin brought a bike, Al started cycling around. At first, his rides were about five miles long, then 10 to 12 miles, and gradually the length of his outings grew. As time went by, he began to think big——the circumference of the Earth. By the end of 2020, he had covered 21,565 miles in total and knew he could complete his goal by the end of 2021.
There was no celebration of the goal planned until Natalie London and Taylor Plecity came along. They were visiting London’s mom when Merritt flew by on his bike. Attracted by his story, they walked over to introduce themselves. When they discovered Merritt was just weeks away from completing his goal, they asked if they could film a short documentary.
“We wanted to tell the story of this guy. What Merritt represents is how an individual’s small acts can change an entire community,” said London. To celebrate the completion of Merritt’s cycling goal, they secretly printed up flyers and placed them on doorsteps for several blocks. But even they were surprised at the huge crowd that gathered.
Although Merritt has now achieved his goal, he has no plans to change the routine that has become the highlight of his daily life.
1. What can we know about Al Merritt?| A．He bicycles with lots of neighbors. | B．He began his task during his seventies. |
| C．He was awarded a trophy by his club. | D．He visited various places around the world. |
| A．He was persuaded by neighbors. | B．His son made a practical suggestion. |
| C．His physical capability improved gradually. | D．He watched an inspiring documentary. |
| A．To share unforgettable experiences. | B．To promote a healthy outdoor sport. |
| C．To stimulate positive life attitudes. | D．To show a harmonious community. |
| A．A senior bike racer. | B．An unexpected harvest. |
| C．A successful big adventure. | D．A neighborhood inspiration. |
【推荐2】Gary McKee ran 365 marathons in as many days to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support and Hospice at Home West Cumbria.
Gary McKee, 53, from Cleator Moor in Cumbria raised his arms in victory and was cheered by a crowd of supporters as he completed his 365th marathon of the year on New Year’s Eve. As of (截止) 4 pm on Saturday, he had raised more than £890,000 for the charities Macmillan Cancer Support and Hospice at Home West Cumbria, just shy of (缺少) his £1 million fundraising target. The father of three has gone through 22 pairs of sports shoes and has run 9,563 miles in rain, snow and sunshine to raise money for the charities.
“The support has been amazing and it always is and the West Cumbrians get behind us, but cancer affects everybody so it isn’t just a West Cumbrian thing, it’s a national thing,” said Gary.” I just hope that people do get behind us and we do raise those million pounds.” Gary has not only raised money for two fantastic charities, but he has also sprinkled magic on the local community and brought people together to support him with the challenge.
Chris Young, 29, ran 90 marathons with Mr. McKee. “Gary has set a good example to me this year when I began running frequently with him and has given me both physical and mental resilience (适应力) that I don’t know if I would have ever discovered in myself in a million years. I know I don’t just speak for myself on that front as he has inspired not just me or the few, but the entire local community and beyond,” said Chris, “This challenge has raised a great amount of money for two fantastic charities, but the impact (影响) Gary has provided to the community and people around him is immeasurable. A lot of people’s lives will be much better off thanks to Gary’s efforts, mine included.”
1. What’s the purpose of Gary McKee running?| A．To celebrate the New Year’s Eve. |
| B．To complete his 365th marathon challenge. |
| C．To meet his health target. |
| D．To raise money for charities. |
| A．Locals showed support for him. | B．The community was under a spell (中邪). |
| C．Some expressed concerns for him. | D．They ran 9,563 miles together. |
| A．McKee would share sporting skills and tricks to help Chris. |
| B．He was grateful for McKeevs encouraging impact. |
| C．McKee’s challenge has attracted millions of people to join him. |
| D．Fundraising was brought to the community to improve people’s lives. |
| A．McKee: Run for the Community. | B．McKee: Be It Rain or Snow. |
| C．McKee: A Challenge Completed. | D．McKee: Inspire All to Run. |
【推荐3】As parents, we always hope to develop character traits (特征) in our children that will enhance their success in life. When our daughter Meegan, the eldest of five children, lost her front tooth at the age of six, we found the following note wrapped around the tiny tooth.
Der Tooth Fairy,Pleze leve me yor majik wand (杖). I want to be a tooth fairy, too.
Luv Meegan
Recognizing potential leadership skills, precious opportunity and the teachable moment, the “Tooth Fairy” left the following note for little Meegan:
Dear Meegan,I have worked hard to be a good Tooth Fairy and I love my job. You are too young for the job just now, so I cannot give you my wand. But there are some things that you can start to do to prepare yourself for the job:
1) Always do your best in every job that you do.
2) Treat all people as you wish to be treated.
3) Be kind and helpful to others.
4) Always listen carefully whenever people speak to you. I will interview you one day when you are older and ready for the job.
Good Luck, Meegan!
The Tooth Fairy
Meegan was excited at the response from the Tooth Fairy. She took the message to heart and carefully followed the instructions, always working to improve as she grew. Her character, her strength and her leadership skills grew right along with her. After graduating from college, Meegan accepted a challenging management position. She excelled, and by age 27, she was the top manager of the company.
One day Meegan and I were talking about her success. She told me that the company president had once asked her what influences had motivated her toward success.
“What did you tell him?” I asked.
She replied, “My parents, my teacher and my friends. And, of course, the Tooth Fairy!”
1. What does the underlined phrase “the teachable moment” refer to?| A．Meegan lost a tooth. | B．Meegan received a note. |
| C．Meegan wrote a note. | D．Meegan wrapped a tooth. |
| A．The Tooth Fairy. | B．Her parents. | C．Her teacher. | D．Her friends. |
| A．It helped Meegan see her goal reachable. |
| B．It promised Meegan a high-ranking position. |
| C．It displayed desirable character traits to Meegan. |
| D．It taught Meegan to build enjoyable interpersonal relationships. |
| A．She was gifted with supernatural power. |
| B．She was appreciated for outstanding talent. |
| C．She was motivated to develop fine qualities. |
| D．She was encouraged to work in a challenging position. |
