The best TED Talks on gratitude (感激)
David Steindl-Rast: Want to be happy? Be grateful
This 15-minute talk, from “monk and interfaith scholar” David Steindl-Rast, discusses gratitude and specifically its relationship to happiness. In the talk, Steindl-Rast argues that: “it is not happiness that makes us grateful” but “gratefulness that makes us happy”.
Louie Schwartzberg: Nature. Beauty. Gratitude.
This 10-minute talk comes from photographer Louie Schwartzberg, with the aid from the above-mentioned Steindl-Rast. In the talk, Schwartzberg presents some of his photographs of nature and explains how they can lead to feelings of gratitude with a story about life from a child’s perspective (视角) as well as life from an elderly man’s perspective.
Brian Doyle: 365 Days of Thank You
This 8-minute talk comes from Brian Doyle, who discusses how a near-death experience led him to start thinking about the role of gratitude in his life. Specifically, Doyle made a commitment to sincerely thank one person in his life every single day for a full year. This short talk is not just an inspiring story but might cause the viewers to consider how they can be grateful in their daily lives.
Hailey Bartholomew: 365 Grateful Project
This 12-minute talk from Hailey Bartholomew is, like Doyle’s, centered on a daily, year-long project. Unlike Doyle’s, however, Bartholomew’s focuses on photography and using photography to find gratitude in her life every day. Photographers who enjoyed Schwartzberg’s TED Talk should give this one a watch, as should anyone who wants to go through a similar project to find the gratitude in their own lives.
1. What makes people happy according to David Steindl-Rast?| A．Beauty. | B．Gratitude. | C．Nature. | D．Faith. |
| A．It shows many pictures. | B．It’s based on a year-long project. |
| C．It’s the shortest of all the talks. | D．It tells about a child’s experience. |
| A．Education. | B．Opinion. | C．History. | D．Lifestyle. |
相似题推荐
British Prime Minister David Cameron and his ministers were attending a reception hosted by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. They insisted on wearing poppies(罂粟花) in their buttonholes.
What’s wrong with that?
According to the Global Times, Chinese officials apparently had asked the UK delegation not to wear poppies. The British said that poppies meant a great deal to them on that day and they would wear them all the same.
So what’s the significance of the poppy? It’s a flower which has different cultural and symbolic meanings for British and Chinese people.
From the Chinese point of view, the poppy is a symbol of China’s humiliation at the hands of European powers in the Opium Wars of the 19th century. Britain forced China to open the borders to trade —including in the opium —which was made from poppies grown in India.
Yet from the British viewpoint the poppy is a reminder of the killing during Word War I. Red poppies grew on the battlefields of Flanders in Belgium where many thousands of British soldiers died or were buried. Since then, Poppy Day (November 11) has become a time in the UK to wear poppies and remember the sacrifices of British soldiers and civilians in times of war.
So you can see that the poppy sets off strong feelings in the hearts of Chinese and British people for different reasons. And it makes sense for us to try to understand each other’s standpoint.
Of course cultural differences can also be interesting and funny. And what one nation thinks is an acceptable gift may be viewed differently by their guest from overseas. US President Barack Obama gave a gift of an iPod to Britain’s Queen —a dull person with no interest in music. Obama also presented Gordon Brown with a fine selection of American movies. But they were in US format and impossible to play on British DVD players.
Many countries have diplomats stationed overseas. Diplomats provide information and advice to their governments back home. However, sometimes it would seem that even diplomats can overlook the cultural significance of a small flower.
1. British Prime Minister David Cameron probably attended a reception in Beijing on .
| A．October 1 | B．November 11 | C．December 31 | D．January 1 |
| A．the shame caused by European countries in the 19th century |
| B．the British soldiers who were killed and buried during World War I |
| C．the Chinese soldiers killed during World War II |
| D．the suffering caused by Britain during World War I |
| A．the translation mistake | B．the language difference |
| C．the cultural difference | D．the different lifestyle |
| A．Britain’s Queen is not interested in art |
| B．Gordon Brown was fond of American movies US President Barack Obama sent him |
| C．US President Barack Obama received a gift for music |
| D．Britain’s Queen may not like the iPod US President Barack Obama presented her |
| A．Cultural difference can also be interesting and funny. |
| B．Cultural differences can cause a big problem. |
| C．US President Barack Obama likes to present gifts to other leaders. |
| D．US leaders and British leaders get along well with each other. |
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1. You can learn how to ______ at the Australian Institute of Applied Sciences College of Natural Medicine.
| A．apply science to our life |
| B．operate on various patients |
| C．adjust one’s diet or breath |
| D．look after mentally-ill people |
| A．it is the oldest college of this type in Australia |
| B．it offers more courses than any other college |
| C．you may find the best art facilities there |
| D．you will get accredited certificate or diploma |
| A．focus on your own interests |
| B．adjust your study schedules |
| C．get any help from instructors |
| D．keep up with new techniques |
A farmer can map his fields on GPS, spotting where soil turned out to be least fertile（肥沃的） and using more fertilizer the next year in those areas where corn didn’t grow as well.
Although Ohio farmers produced more corn, it was grown on less land than in the past years. Total area used for corn in Ohio was 3.35 million acres, about the same as in 2008 but down from 3.85 million acres in 2007, said Dwayne Siekman, director of the Ohio Corn Growers Association. “When you look at the total number of acres in Ohio used for corn, it’s clear that farmers are able to do more with less,” he said. “American farmers can grow five times more corn on 20 percent less land than they did in the 1930s, saying that modern farming techniques are necessary for a growing demand in the world today.” That technology includes using improved seeds that can withstand(忍受) greater temperature extremes and pests, Siekman said.
Farmers aren't the only ones who benefit. Consumers(消费者) do, too, as food costs reduce in the face of “enough supplies of corn,” said Fred Yoder, who runs a 1,500-acre corn, soybean and wheat farm in Plain City. “This is the best, highest-producing corn crop that I've raised in 30 years,” he said.
1. Most people usually use the GPS system for ______.
| A．driving their cars |
| B．telling the position |
| C．mending the car |
| D．supplying the sunshine |
| A．check if the soil is fertile in some areas |
| B．control the rain of the place |
| C．water the crops if the weather is dry |
| D．draw the map of all the crops |
| A．Because they expanded more land to grow corn |
| B．Because they turned to technological advances |
| C．Because they used more and more fertilizer. |
| D．Because they supplies themselves with more money. |
| A．John Davis hadn’t expected a good harvest. |
| B．farmers grew less land than in the 1930s |
| C．improved seeds cost much more money |
| D．the output of corn in the same field is increased. |
【推荐1】Adventure stories
Eva Lilly and the Three-Toed Snooch by Muggs
Eva Lilly has a million questions like “What if?” “Why?” “Where did I come from?” and “How big is the sky?” When the mysterious Snooch arrives in her world to become her best friend, he leads her on a voyage of self-discovery to explore, to learn and to grow. In Eva Lilly’s first adventure with the Three-Toed Snooch, you are invited into the magical world of “knowing” and “believing”.
About the author: Muggs is a New Zealander living in Dubai. She is inspired to share her passion for the magic of life with both children and readers. She is a published writer of stories for children. She is also a creative artist, educator, and philosopher, whose work continues to encourage the creativity of others on their voyages of self-discovery to explore, to learn and to grow .
The Adventures of Daniel and Tasco: A Day on the Farm by Nicky Liguori
The Adventures of Daniel and Tasco: A Day on the Farm is an adventure story about Daniel who travels to South Africa to visit his grandparents on the farm. While he is there, he meets Tasco, an Alsatian puppy. And they hang about all over the farm together.
About the author: Nicky grew up on a farm in South Africa. She spent most of her childhood playing sports and riding horses. She met her husband Julian while she was at university and after a few years they moved to Dubai where her son Daniel John was born. She is still living in Dubai and her family travel to South Africa every six months to ensure that Daniel John is fully aware of her rich and colourful childhood.
Shania Streep Wanted to Sleep by Shalina McPherson
As Shalina’s first children story and the first in the series, Shania Streep Wanted to Sleep is a story of a young girl who has trouble sleeping one night due to a strange sound. Shania then sets off for an adventure to discover the source of the sound and ends up teaching readers a valuable lesson.
About the author: McPherson is a young British expat (侨民) living in Dubai and working as a nursery teacher. She started writing poems at the tender age of six. Over the years her songs, short plays, movie scripts and writing skills advanced. In 2011, McPherson decided to combine her two loves: writing and teaching children. Thus, she developed the “Wanted to” series-a collection of fancy stories that at the same time, taught children an important life lesson.
1. Which of the following characters is full of curiosity?| A．Eva Lilly. | B．Snooch. | C．Daniel. | D．Shania. |
| A．teachers | B．children | C．parents | D．writers |
| A．friendship | B．science | C．adventure | D．trouble |
| A．They each developed a book series. |
| B．They limit themselves to writing stories. |
| C．None of them are native to Dubai. |
| D．They are all professional writers. |
【推荐2】The Best Music Apps for Your Mobile Phones
The following are some of the best music apps for your mobile phones that are both user-friendly and updated regularly. I bet they can make your music experience much better.
M Player
If you are looking for an app with a collection of almost all songs, you should definitely give M Player a try. Both the audio and video modes are accessible here to suit your needs.
Important Features:
• It provides over 22 different types of music styles.
• It supports Bluetooth control, and you can also shake your phone to go to the next song.
D Music
D Music lets you download songs at high speeds and play them while being offline. It’s also a good tool for discovering new songs based on your preferences.
Important Features:
• It provides amazing background themes for customization (定制).
• It lets you create playlists and share them with friends.
P Player
P Player provides users with access to millions of songs, both classic and latest. Its clean and decent layouts (布局) make it simple to use, and you can customize your background themes anytime.
Important Features:
• It offers 25 background themes, along with the coolest 3D effects.
• The Sleep Timing feature stops music after you fall asleep and saves your phone’s battery.
J Music
J Music serves both as a music player and as an online community. It is the perfect tool for you to find song reviews, latest concert information, and a good deal of unique user-generated music.
Important Features:
• It offers attractive sound quality with lots of effects.
• The Playlist Exchange feature allows you to meet people with similar tastes.
1. Which music app allows you to switch songs by shaking the phone?| A．M Player. | B．D Music. | C．P Player. | D．J Music. |
| A．It allows theme customization. | B．It has a huge collection of songs. |
| C．It can turn music off automatically. | D．It has complex and well-designed layouts. |
| A．Providing speedy downloads. | B．Receiving latest music updates |
| C．Playing music based on preferences. | D．Sharing personal playlists with others. |
【推荐3】CHAMBORD CASTLE, LOIR-ET-CHER, FRANCE
A remarkable example of classical French architecture, Chambord Castle is the largest castle in the Loire Valley of France. Built in 1519 as a hunting lodge for the royal court, the building was rarely lived in. There are one hundred rooms (of 440) open to the public and dozens of staircases, including one said to have been designed by Leonardo da Vinci. The surrounding 21-square-mile nature park entertains with hiking and biking routes and boat rentals.
LEEDS CASTLE, KENT, UNITED KINGDOM
Situated on two islands in the middle of a lake, Leeds Castle provides a grand and romantic experience. It has served as a royal residence for most of its 900-year history. The 500-acre English castle now hosts year-round cultural events, with three restaurants, a bed-and-breakfast and a yew tree maze.
MOSZNA CASTLE, POLAND
Moszna Castle was originally designed in Baroque style in the 17th century, but the later addition of a neo-Gothic brought Hogwarts appeal to the castle, especially at night when its 99 towers and glowing windows twinkle in the outdoor reflecting pool. Nowadays, art exhibits and indoor concerts attract visitors to the 365-room castle.
BRAN CASTLE, BRASOV, ROMANIA
Bran Castle originally dates back to the year 1212 and is mistakenly believed to be the home in Bram Stoker’s Dracula. The author never visited this fortress, commonly known as Dracula’s Castle, but it still attracts literature fans to its weakly-lit hallways for night tours and an annual Halloween party.
1. What can visitors in Chambord Castle do?| A．Hunt in the nature park. | B．Live in any of its rooms. |
| C．Enjoy da Vinci’s paintings. | D．Go boating with friends. |
| A．They’re designed in Gothic style. | B．They organize outdoor pool activities. |
| C．They can both be visited at night. | D．They both hold yearly Halloween party. |
| A．CHAMBORD CASTLE. | B．LEEDS CASTLE. |
| C．MOSZNA CASTLE. | D．BRAN CASTLE. |
