I read somewhere that we spend a full third of our lives waiting. But where are we doing all of this waiting, and what does it mean to an impatient society like ours? To understand the issue, let’s take a look at three types of “waits”.
The very purest form of waiting is the Watched-Pot Wait. It is without doubt the most annoying of all. Take filling up the kitchen sink(厨房洗涤盆) as an example. There is absolutely nothing you can do while this is going on but keep both eyes fixed on the sink until it’s full. During these waits, the brain slips away from the body and wanders about until the water runs over the edge of the counter and onto your socks. This kind of wait makes the waiter helpless and mindless.
A cousin to the Watched-Pot Wait is the Forced Wait. This one requires a bit of discipline. Properly preparing packaged noodle soup requires a Forced Wait. Directions are very specific. “Bring three cups of water to boil, add mix, simmer for three minutes, remove from heat, let stand for five minutes.” I have my doubts that anyone has actually followed the procedures strictly. After all, Forced Waiting requires patience.
Perhaps the most powerful type of waiting is the Lucky-Break Wait. This type of wait is unusual in that it is for the most part voluntary. Unlike the Forced Wait, which is also voluntary, waiting for your lucky break does not necessarily mean that it will happen.
Turning one’s life into a waiting game requires faith and hope, and is strictly for the optimists among us. On the surface it seems as ridiculous as following the directions on soup mixes, but the Lucky-Break Wait well serves those who are willing to do it. As long as one doesn’t come to rely on it, wishing for a few good things to happen never hurts anybody.
We certainly do spend a good deal of our time waiting. The next time you’re standing at the sink waiting for it to fill while cooking noodle soup that you’ll have to eat until a large bag of cash falls out of the sky, don’t be desperate. You’re probably just as busy as the next guy.
1. While doing a Watched-Pot Wait, we tend to________.| A．keep ourselves busy | B．get absent-minded |
| C．grow anxious | D．stay focused |
| A．The Forced Wait requires some self-control. |
| B．The Forced Wait makes people passive. |
| C．The Watched-Pot Wait needs directions. |
| D．The Watched-Pot Wait engages body and brain. |
| A．Take it seriously. | B．Don’t rely on others. |
| C．Do something else. | D．Don’t lose heart. |
| A．exploring various causes of “waits” |
| B．describing detailed processes of “waits” |
| C．analysing different categories of “waits” |
| D．revealing frustrating consequences of “waits” |
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【推荐1】I still remember that busy autumn evening as I hurried with my eldest daughter, Athena, to get to her classroom on time for parent-teacher night. We walked in and all eyes were on me. A few adults quickly quieted their kids’ whispers. A classmate yelled to my daughter, “What’s wrong with your mom’s face?”
Shocked, I started to explain my condition but my 6-year-old daughter looked at him and said, “It’s my mom’s birthmark! Don’t be rude!” I was extremely proud of how she approached that situation.
I was quite young when I realized I looked different because of my large facial birthmark. I always thought I would be alone hecause of it. Being compared to Batman’s evil Two-Face made me believe I could never find love, but I was lucky enough to meet my husband, who saw me for who I am inside.
When I had my first daughter, I was overjoyed, but I began to worry if world would judge my children. I also worried I might pass my condition onto my children; I didn’t want them to grow up feeling judged.
Unfortunately, my facial difference has impacted my children. My daughters get disinvited (取消邀请) from birthday parties or sleepovers, or I learn certain kids are no longer friends with mine after their parents saw me at school.
When my kids were young, I explained how my special purple skin was rare, and we talked about acceptance and never judging others on how they look. When my girls kiss my purple-skinned cheek, I feel “normal” around them and their unconditional love.
With time, both my daughters have become my strongest supporters. Thanks to them, I’ve begun to feel more self-confident as I try to be a good role model.
Their worldviews are similar to mine: we see the world a little differently and with a kinder, more accepting heart. As the saying goes, your daughters will grow up to be your best friends. I know that will be the case for me!
1. What happened during the parent-teacher night?| A．The writer came late. |
| B．The writer felt proud of Athena’s academic performance. |
| C．Athena saved her mother from embarrassment. |
| D．Some adults whispered about the writer’s face. |
| A．Because Athena also had a birthmark. |
| B．Because Athena was seriously ill. |
| C．Because Athena felt judged. |
| D．Because Athena might be looked down upon. |
| A．Critical. |
| B．Disappointed. |
| C．Grateful. |
| D．Ashamed. |
| A．Don’t judge a book by its cover. |
| B．No pains, no gains. |
| C．Nothing is impossible. |
| D．Misfortune may be an actual blessing. |
【推荐2】It was a beautiful Southern California morning. I walked through the parking lot of the shopping mall thinking of little else than my appointment with a pecan roll at the local bakery.
As I walked in front of the grocery store, I noticed a young woman with a sad look standing next to the store entrance with bags of groceries. As is my practice with strangers, I made eye contact with her and smiled. When I took a few steps past her, I heard her say, “Thank you for seeing me!”Her words brought me to a stop. Still smiling, I turned around and walked over to her, extending my hand. “My name’s Mark. What’s yours?”
For the next twenty minutes, I listened with attention to Dominique telling about her experiences. She had grown up in Louisiana where her mother and sisters still lived. Three weeks ago, a family tragedy made her make the move to California, where without contacts or the promise of employment, she had managed to create a life of purpose and fulfillment. After telling her story, she looked better and walked away.
With the pecan roll on my plate in the bakery, I looked at the people there. I nodded to the regulars sitting at their favorite tables, some reading the daily newspaper, and others on their laptops. I smiled while thinking about what I had just experienced with Dominique — a simple smile and a short time of listening brightened her.
Every person has a story to tell if we’re willing to take the time to listen. Greeting a stranger with a smile is a small thing to do and yet can have a great effect. I have found the benefit of doing these small things not only helps me keep a positive outlook on life, but also may even plant a few seeds of hope for someone else.
1. What did the author do in front of the grocery store?| A．He carried things for a woman. | B．He made friends with a stranger. |
| C．He greeted a stranger with a smile. | D．He was stopped by a woman in trouble. |
| A．asked the author for help | B．refused to talk to the author |
| C．listened to the author patiently | D．shared her story with the author |
| A．Kind and helpful. | B．Brave and patient. |
| C．Outgoing and creative. | D．Considerate and hardworking. |
| A．No man is born wise or learned. | B．A small act of kindness means a lot. |
| C．A candle lights others and consumes itself. | D．Nothing is impossible to a willing mind. |
【推荐3】Dreams can be familiar and strange, fantastical or boring, but some dreams might be connected to the mental processes that help us learn. In a recent study, scientists found a connection between nap time dreams and better memory in people who were learning a new skill.
In the study, 99 college students between the ages of 18 and 30 each spent an hour on a computer, trying to get through a virtual maze (逃宫). The maze was difficult, and the study participants had to start in a different place each time they tried, making it even more difficult. They were also told to find a particular picture of a tree and remember where it was.
For the first 90 minutes of a five - hour break, half of the participants stayed awake and half were told to take a short nap. Participants who stayed awake were asked to describe their thoughts. Participants who took a nap were asked about their dreams after sleep and they were awakened within a minute of sleep to describe their dreams.
Stickgold, a neuroscientist, wanted to know what people were dreaming about when their eyes weren't moving during sleep.Four of the 50 people who slept said their dreams were connected to the maze. Some dreamed about the music that had been playing when they were working; others said they dreamed about seeing people in the maze. When these four people tried the computer maze again, they were able to find the tree faster than before their naps.
Stickgold suggests the dream itself doesn’t' help a person learn, it’s the other way around. He suspects that the dream was caused by the brain processes associated with learning.
All four of the people who dreamed about the task had done poorly the first time,which makes Stickgold wonder if the dreams show up when a person finds a new task particularly difficult. People who had other dreams, or people who didn’t' take a nap, didn't show the same improvement.
1. What were the participants of the experiment asked to do before having a short nap?| A．To stay in adifferent place in the maze. |
| B．To design a complex virtual maze to get through. |
| C．To experience the experiment and try to remember something. |
| D．To get through a virtual maze on a computer from the same place. |
| A．Participants who took a nap were required to express their thoughts. |
| B．Participants who dreamed about films could finish the task more easily. |
| C．Participants whose dreams linked with the maze could find the tree faster. |
| D．Participants who dream may encourage themselves to invent something new. |
| A．every person may dream about what they learned. |
| B．people's brain processes may be connected with their learning in dreams. |
| C．once people's eyes stop moving, they are sure to dream about something. |
| D．no matter how fantastical or boring, dreams are connected with people's life. |
| A．Dreaming Makes Sense | B．Not All Dreams Are True |
| C．Dreams Are Strange | D．Stickgold, a Dream Expert |
【推荐1】Though many people tell us we can’t succeed, we need to hear others，opinions. I remember my high school English teacher telling me not to apply to Cornell University because they wouldn’t accept me and even if they did, I wouldn’t be able to do the work. I almost didn’t apply but a few days 
later I saw Ivan Goldfarb, a former teacher and asked him about Cornell. He said, “If you get in，then you go. You can do it.” His words made all the difference. I applied, and was accepted.
Too often we think it’s our role to put “reality” into someone’s life. We think it’s our job to protect people from the pain of failure and defeat. We think we must point out how bad the economy is and how horrible the job market is and how the sky is falling. We think that dreams are meant for others.
I say there are enough “realists” in the world. The world doesn’t need more negativity and impossible thinkers. The world needs more optimists，encouragers，and inspirers. The world needs more people to speak into the hearts of others and say “I believe in you.” “Follow your passion and live your purpose.” “The job market is not great but I believe you’ll find the right job for you.” and so on.
When it comes to encouragement, I know that everyone loves working for and with people who bring out the best in us. And while we'll always remember the negative people who told us we couldn’t accomplish something, we will always cherish and hold a special place in our heart for those who encouraged us.
Today I want to encourage you to be an encourager. So often the difference between success and failure is belief. And so often that belief is instilled (逐步灌输) in us by someone who encouraged us.
1. After a talk with the English teacher, the author thought .| A． he would have a try even if he was to meet with a failure |
| B．he cast much doubt on what the teacher had said |
| C．whether he should give up his dream |
| D．he should turn to another person for advice |
| A．One who can foresee your failure in the future. |
| B．One who can analyze the severe situation ahead. |
| C．One who is willing to help you with your work. |
| D．One who can stimulate your courage and creativity. |
| A．Your casual words may have a big effect on others. |
| B．It is better not to tell truth when you are asked for advice. |
| C．No one on earth is content to believe a true word. |
| D．Teachers should be cautious of what they do. |
【推荐2】Sohrab's gaze bounced from the kite to me. Back to the sky.
I took off running, my sneakers splashing rainwater from puddles, the hand clutching the kite end of the string held high above my head. It had been so long, so many years since I'd done this, and I wondered if I'd make a spectacle of myself. I let the spool roll in my left hand as I ran, felt the string cut my right hand again as it fed through. The kite was lifting behind my shoulder now, lifting, wheeling, and I ran harder. The spool spun faster and the glass string tore another gash in my right palm. I hadn't flown a kite in a quarter of a century, but suddenly I was twelve again and all the old instincts came rushing back.
I felt a presence next to me and looked down. It was Sohrab. Hands dug deep in the pockets of his raincoat. He had followed me.My heart quickened as I spun the spool to gather the loose string.
Then I saw we had company. A green kite was closing in.
His gaze flitted between our kite and the green one. His face was a little flushed, his eyes suddenly alert. Awake. Alive. I wondered when I had forgotten that, despite everything, he was still just a child.The green kite drew closer yet, now rising a little above us, unaware of the trap I'd set for it. "Watch, Sohrab. I'm going to show you one of your father's favorite tricks, the old lift-and-dive.The park shimmered with snow so fresh, so dazzling white, it burned my eyes. It sprinkled soundlessly from the branches of white-clad trees.
The green kite hovered directly above us now. "He's going for it. Anytime now,?I said, my eyes flicking from Sohrab to our kite.The green kite hesitated. Held position. Then shot down. "Here he comes!?I said.
I did it perfectly. After all these years. The old lift-and-dive trap. I'd already slipped him Hassan's trick. I pulled hard and our kite plummeted. I could almost feel our string sawing his. Almost heard the snap.
Behind us, people cheered. Whistles and applause broke out. I was panting. The last time I had felt a rush like this was that day in the winter of 1975, just after I had cut the last kite, when I spotted Baba on our rooftop, clapping, beaming.
I looked down at Sohrab. One corner of his mouth had curled up just so.
A smile. Lopsided. Hardly there. But there.
"Do you want me to run that kite for you??
His Adam's apple rose and fell as he swallowed. The wind lifted his hair. I thought I saw him nod.
"For you, a thousand times over,?I heard myself say.
Then I turned and ran.
It was only a smile, nothing more. It didn't make everything all right. It didn't make anything all right. Only a smile. A tiny thing. A leaf in the woods, shaking in the wake of a startled bird's flight.
But I'll take it. With open arms. Because when spring comes, it melts the snow one flake at a time, and maybe I just witnessed the first flake melting.
I ran. A grown man running with a swarm of screaming children. But I didn't care. I ran with the wind blowing in my face, and a smile as wide as the Valley of Panjsher on my lips.
I ran.
1. What can we infer from Para2 ?| A．The protagonist longed for freedom of getting rid of religious barriers |
| B．The protagonist couldn’t bear the physical or mental pain |
| C．What struck the protagonist was the attempts to pursue perfect |
| D．What was really cherished may be more than just flying kites |
| A．His personalities and being reminded the protagonist of something emotional |
| B．He approved to trick the green kite off after inner conflicts |
| C．His father used to fly kites with the company the protagonist’s Papa |
| D．He rejected the protagonist’s request due to inferiority |
| A．Sohrab’s innocent smile of appreciation and respect |
| B．People’s sincere praises and cheers |
| C．The re-finding process of his previous childhood |
| D．The promise of thousands of times made by Hassan |
| A．Putting off prejudices always serves as the healing medicine of heart |
| B．Collision between hearts can eliminate misunderstandings |
| C．The poem of love and salvation is as warm as the sunshine |
| D．Compassion from the harmonious world helps melt the snow |
【推荐3】Imagine that you’ve just experienced something unpleasant—your friend has forgotten your birthday, you’ve been rejected for a new job, or you’ve just woken up after a long holiday and remembered you need to go to work. How would you typically respond to those feelings? You might try to tell yourself that it doesn’t matter, and not to let it get to you. This tendency could be described as “mood shame”: The belief that having bad feelings is a personal failing.
Continually looking on the bright side of life might seem strong, even courageous. While it’s natural that we might prefer to avoid uncomfortable feelings like disappointment, worry, anger, or sadness, recent psychological research supports the idea that they serve useful purposes in our lives. By learning to see that value and accept those feelings without judgement, we may enjoy better physical and mental health.
Consider anxiety. We may assume that anxious feelings destroy our concentration and reduce our performance on difficult tasks—that we can only succeed on an exam or in an interview if we learn to relax. Alternatively, we can see the feeling as a source of energy. Besides, disappointment may feel unpleasant—but you could recognize that the emotion helps us to learn from our mistakes. And by assigning a more positive meaning to the feeling and acknowledging its potential uses—rather than feeling it is somehow unhealthy—you might change the brain and the body's responses to an upset.
Rather than judging yourself harshly for bad feelings, you might lean into that bad mood, and allow yourself the self-care you need to get through it. Without fighting the emotions themselves, you could start to question whether those feelings have value. Perhaps they’ll help you to identify an important change you can make in your life.
1. What do the underlined words “get to” in Paragraph 1 mean?| A．Bother. | B．Cheat. | C．Scare. | D．Inspire. |
| A．Bad moods lead to bad health. |
| B．Exercise will keep people in high spirits. |
| C．Positive feelings help improve people’s working efficiency. |
| D．Negative feelings can have positive effects if handled properly. |
| A．By making a comparison. | B．By giving examples. |
| C．By analyzing causes. | D．By following the order of time. |
| A．The causes of bad feelings. | B．The consequences triggered by bad feelings. |
| C．The suggestions of dealing with bad feelings. | D．The preventative measures against bad feelings. |
【推荐1】Did you ever notice how your favorite clothes lose their color and seem thinner with time ? Washing may be to blame.
According to a new study, clothes lose fewer dyes （染料）and fibers when washed in shorter cycles and in cool water. That means they will fade and thin less. These wash settings are greener, too— good for the environment.
As clothes are being washed in a washing machine, some of the fabric's fibers loosen and are washed away. Clothes also lose some of dyes that colored them and the dyes and fibers lost in the water will end up in the environment.
“There is some sort of environmental impact as to almost everything you do," says Lucy Cotton from the University of Leeds. Her research team put together two batches of clothes for tests. One had dark-colored T-shirts. The other had shirts in lighter colors. The team washed each batch in the same machine but used two different cycles. The first cycle lasted 30 minutes and used 25℃ water. The second cycle used 40℃ water and ran for 85 minutes.
After each cycle, the team collected fibers in the wash water and from an extra empty wash cycle afterward. They found that all shirts lost more color when washed in hot water in the longer cycle. Room-temperature water released fewer dyes than the hotter water did. The shirts also lost more tiny fibers in the longer, hotter cycle. Those microfibers matter because they give fabric its weight and strength. When the fabric loses too many microfibers, it will thin and weaken. Those microfibers will also pollute waterways.
And, just as microfibers add up to tons of waste, even small steps to cut waste will also add up. "Everything that you can do can make a difference," Cotton says, “even if it is something as simple as changing your wash settings."
1. What did the new study mainly indicate?| A．The benefits of washing clothes. |
| B．The frequency of washing clothes. |
| C．The problems with washing clothes. |
| D．The influence of washing time and water temperature. |
| A．They are useless at all. |
| B．They do harm to fabric. |
| C．They improve water quality. |
| D．They are bad for the environment. |
| A．We should wash clothes as often as possible. |
| B．We must spend more time in washing clothes. |
| C．We'd better use cool water when washing clothes. |
| D．We need a proper washing machine when washing clothes. |
| A．Wash Quickly, Spend Less |
| B．Wash Properly, Pollute Less |
| C．The Research on Microfibers |
| D．The Way to Prevent Clothes Fading |
【推荐2】Under the first full moon of the year, music lovers in Norway sit on seats made of ice and covered with animal skins. On a frozen stage, musicians in furry hats and coats play instruments carved from ice! This show is the Ice Music Festival, the only concert in the world of its kind. This cool idea began in 1999, when musician Terje Isungset played music inside a frozen waterfall. The amazing sounds that he heard led him to start using ice as a musical instrument. Isungset spent years experimenting with ice instruments. The more he learned, the more excited he became. After years of trial and error, he was ready to start the Ice Music Festival in 2016.
To prepare the frozen instruments, Isungset hunts for the best natural sources of ice. He tests each source of ice by cutting out a piece, tapping it with his finger, and listening to the sound it produces. Experience tells him whether the ice will make a good instrument. He prefers not to use human-made ice, because he believes frozen lake water sounds better. This may be supported by science. Scientists have noticed that natural ice has fewer bubbles (气泡), which could lead to a clearer sound.
Once the ice has been sourced, professional ice carvers use tools to create instruments. They carve everything from saxophones to xylophones. The carvers often change the look of the instruments, which helps them produce special, even unique, sounds. Each year, the goal of the festival is to challenge musicians to make creative music when playing these one-of-a-kind ice instruments.
Playing the frozen instruments is a challenge. Each performance surprises both the musicians and the audience. After the concert is over, Isungset jokes that the musicians will drink their instruments. Actually, they just leave their stage and instruments behind, giving it all back to nature.
1. What inspired Isungset’s interest in ice music?| A．Learning to play an ice instrument. |
| B．Attending the first Ice Music Festival. |
| C．Playing music in a frozen environment. |
| D．Experimenting with frozen instruments. |
| A．By testing the sound that it makes. |
| B．By referring to scientific explanations. |
| C．By comparing the sources of ice pieces. |
| D．By checking the number of bubbles it has. |
| A．Playing in such cold weather. |
| B．Getting rid of their instruments. |
| C．Selecting their instruments’ look. |
| D．Predicting their instruments’ sounds. |
| A．To promote the talents of Terje Isungset. |
| B．To review a recently-held music festival. |
| C．To introduce a new and original type of music. |
| D．To encourage people to join in the Ice Music Festival. |
【推荐3】Fan Shenghua, is one of the inheritors (继承人) of West Lake Longjing tea roasting technique(炒茶技艺). He has been making Longjing tea for more than forty years. Longjing tea leaves are famous for their color, taste and shape.
“You have to touch the leaves with your hands to feel how much water is being removed (去除),” Fan said. “If too much is removed, the leaves will break into pieces; if not enough is removed, the tea will taste bitter(苦的).”
This traditional technique dates back to the Ming and Qing dynasties. It not only makes the tea taste good, but has also become an important part of Chinese tea culture.
These days, however, more people are using machines to do the job. “It’s easier, but the quality is not as good,” Fan said. “Machine-made tea floats longer in water and tastes bitter.”
When President Xi Jinping visited Hangzhou, he watched Fan roast tea. Fan changed the strength and movement of his hands as he roasted leaves. Xi later said, “The things made by two palms (手掌) cannot be replaced by modern technology.”
Fan is now teaching some young men. His son, a 27-year-old college graduate, is one of them. “It’s a tradition. We need to pass it down,” he said.
1. According to Paragraph 2, what will happen to tea leaves if they have too much water?| A．They will go bad quickly. | B．They will break into pieces. |
| C．They will lose their fresh taste. | D．They will have a bitter taste. |
| A．Picking tea leaves. | B．Roasting tea leaves by hand. |
| C．Drinking tea in a traditional way. | D．Growing tea plants on the mountains. |
| A．It is easier than by hand. | B．It has a long history in China. |
| C．It makes tea taste better and better. | D．It becomes an important part of tea culture. |
| A．Fanˈs son studies tea culture in college. |
| B．Fan will open his own tea houses in China. |
| C．Fanˈs son is learning the tea roasting technique. |
| D．Fan is making this technique popular worldwide. |
| A．How to tell good tea apart from bad tea. |
| B．Longjing tea leaves are the best in the world. |
| C．How tea is packed and sent to many different countries. |
| D．Sometimes only by hand can we make the best of the things. |
