The Meaning of Struggle
One day, a man found the pupa of a butterfly. Seeing an opening in the pupa, he realised that the butterfly was ready to emerge. So he sat down and watched as the butterfly struggled to force its body through the little hole. However, minutes passed and the butterfly still couldn’t get out. The struggle was too hard for its weak body. The man then kindly enlarged the hole in the pupa so that the butterfly could finally break free. But instead of flying away, it just dragged itself around weakly, then died. The struggle to break out of the pupa was necessary for the butterfly’s survival because it enabled its wings and body to grow strong. Without the struggle, it was too weak to live. In the same way, we need struggle to grow strong and survive. We must go through some difficult things if we really wish to spread our wings and fly.
1. What does a butterfly do to get out of its pupa?2. Why did the man think he needed to help the butterfly?
3. What happened to the butterfly after the man enlarged the hole in the pupa?
4. What is the lesson behind this story? What else can you learn from it?
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【推荐1】One evening I washed and dried my hair. Then, as I combed it, my hair began to shed(掉落)by the handful. I remember sitting on the floor crying. I used to take pride in my hair.
I lost hair from all over my head, especially on the top where I had a huge bald spot. I was devastated. I called Tonya and told her what happened to my hair with tears. She showed up at my house soon and took me to the wig(假发)store. I purchased the first wig in my life.
Years went by and I kept up my routine of wearing wigs when it was cold and wearing my natural hair in the summer. Then, in September of 2020, I was looking for a wig, but I couldn’t find one that satisfied my taste.
That evening I told my husband about it and he looked at me, smiled and said, “Baby, just wear your hair. I like your natural hair. ”
That night I was on the phone with my mother and told her about it and she said, “Cassie I love your natural look. I get to see how beautiful you are. ”She went on to tell me that when I wear wigs, I can be anybody, but when I’m natural, I have no choice but to be myself.
After we ended the call, I began to think about what she said. I made a decision.
The next day I contacted my cousin who owns a barbershop and set an appointment. I got my hair cut and purchased some dye in the beauty supply store, just to add a little color to my hair.
It feels good not to worry about what hair to wear each day. I feel free, and I can honestly say that I don’t miss wearing those wigs. I’m embracing(接受)my natural hair and absolutely love it !
1. What does the underlined word “devastated” in paragraph 2 probably mean?| A．Proud. | B．Frightened. | C．Curious. | D．Excited. |
| A．The expensive cost of wigs. | B．The trouble of wearing wigs. |
| C．The words from her loved ones. | D．The dull wigs of all styles. |
| A．To get her hair cut. | B．To buy a new wig. |
| C．To color her hair. | D．To fix her wigs. |
| A．Two heads are far better than one. |
| B．A friend in need is a friend indeed. |
| C．Nothing is impossible for a willing heart. |
| D．Nothing natural can be wholly unworthy. |
【推荐2】Reasons Why Change Is Good for You
We all know that change is hard because your brain is used to doing the same thing again and again.
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Life in the comfort zone is easy. You simply follow a routine and you can predict the results. Outside of the comfort zone, your assumptions are questioned. The idea of doing the same thing over and over without question is discouraged.
◆ You get to experience more.
◆ You’ll be more flexible and adaptable.
Without doubt, change makes you more flexible and adaptable. You learn to deal with things in a way that seems foreign but acceptable and achievable.
◆ You have more fun.
When you are open to change, you are open to saying YES to more. You are open to more experiences and opportunities.
| A．You are pushed out of your comfort zone. |
| B．Experience is waiting for you at the doorstep. |
| C．You have the opportunity to meet more people too. |
| D．Whether the change is good or bad for you, it does happen. |
| E．We also know how challenging it can be to go through change. |
| F．Then, you’ll be more confident when in the next uncomfortable situation. |
| G．Change is good because you have the chance to involve in new experiences. |
【推荐3】Imagine reading a story titled “Pursuing Success”. That would be an inspiring story, wouldn’t it? Maybe—but maybe not. It might well be the story of someone whose never ending chase for more and more success leaves them unsatisfied and incapable of happiness. Though it isn’t a conventional medical addiction, for many people success has addictive properties.
Obviously, success goes with praise. To a certain extent, praise stimulates the neurotransmitter dopamine (神经递质多巴胺), which contributes to all addictive behaviors.
The desire for success may be born to human nature, but specialness doesn’t come cheap. Success is tough work, and it requires bearing the cost of losing. In the 1980s, the physician Robert Goldman famously found that more than half of ambitious athletes would be willing to take a drug that would kill them in five years in exchange for winning every competition they entered.
Unfortunately, success is endless. The goal can’t be satisfactory; most people never feel “successful enough”. The high only lasts a day or two, and then it’s on to the next goal. Psychologists call this the hedonic treadmill (享乐跑步机现象), in which satisfaction wears off almost immediately and we must run on to the next reward to avoid the feeling of falling behind.
People should get off the treadmill. But quitting isn’t easy for addicts. For people hooked on substances, withdrawal can be a painful experience, both physically and psychologically. Research finds that depression and anxiety are common among outstanding athletes after their careers end. Olympic athletes, in particular, suffer from the “post-Olympic blues”.
Just like wine, success in and of itself is not a bad thing. Both can bring fun and sweetness to life. But both become bossy when they are a substitute for—a instead of a complement (补充物) to—the relationships and love that should be the center of our lives.
1. What can be inferred from the first paragraph?| A．Success doesn’t always bring positive results |
| B．A traditional, medical addiction leads to success |
| C．The passion for constant success is rarely praised. |
| D．Success addition has already drawn wide attention. |
| A．To stress the key to success lies in efforts. |
| B．To show success is a tough and cruel job. |
| C．To argue that athletes deserve more rewards. |
| D．To describe the routine training of an ordinary athlete. |
| A．Enjoying the beauty and love around you. |
| B．Being offered a promotion at work. |
| C．Having the house you want to live in. |
| D．Eating the food you’ve been longing for. |
| A．Satisfaction and a sense of pride. |
| B．Anxiety and short-lived happiness. |
| C．Relaxation and endless motivation. |
| D．Confidence and permanent happiness. |
| A．Stop chasing success. | B．Chase success at any cost. |
| C．Reflect on what matters in life. | D．Give up love and relationships. |
【推荐1】I stole your dog today. No, I didn’t set a foot on your house, but from the condition of your dog, I can imagine what it looks like ... the word “rubbish”comes to mind.
I found her along a road, with a heavy chain wrapped around her neck, still attached to rotten boards from her doghouse. Not only did I know that most of the town people had already ignored her, judging by where I found her, but I knew that if she had gotten into the woods, the “cross”that she dragged behind her would have wrapped around a tree until starvation(饥饿) or thirst killed her.
She has a beautiful name now. Already in the first week she has come to look more like she should. Her eyes sparkle and she has learned to wag her tail in greeting. She has stopped flinching(畏缩) when I make a sudden movement, because she knows now that I won’t beat her, in fact, she rarely leaves my side. She’s even become brave enough to bark at a cat and today I watched from the window as she attempted to play with the other dogs. No, it’s clear she does not miss you or her former life on a chain.
It’s not clear yet whether she’ll remain here or whether I’ll find her a loving home where she can count on more individual attention than I can give her, but one thing is certain, this is one bit of stolen “property” who is never returning to you. So sue me, accuse me, plead(申辩) with the courts that she is rightfully yours ... I'm convinced this is the best “crime” I've ever committed. Hardly anything has pleased me more than the day I stole your dog. I need only look into her beautiful brown eyes to know that she'd defend my decision with her life. If we have one prayer, it is that you will not replace her, and if we have one special day to celebrate together, it is the day I stole your dog and the day she stole my heart.
1. What is the author's purpose in writing the word “rubbish” in Paragraph 1?| A．To stress the importance of the theft. | B．To tell how dirty the dog was. |
| C．To show the author's anger. | D．To point out where the dog was picked up |
| A．Amused. | B．Angry. | C．Shocked. | D．Sympathetic. |
| A．the dog is not lovely |
| B．the dog tried to find a kind master |
| C．the dog was treated badly by its former master |
| D．the author will be charged with stealing a dog |
| A．playing with other dogs | B．barking at a cat |
| C．not missing her former master | D．waving her tail to make greetings |
| A．He was afraid of being punished. |
| B．He thought he had to do it. |
| C．He believed that the law would allow him to do so. |
| D．He did it with pride. |
【推荐2】Can a fish be depressed (沮丧）？ This question has been floating around my head ever since I spent a night in a hotel across from a sad-looking fish. His name was Bruce Lee,according to a sign beneath his little bowl.
The pleasant woman at the front desk promised to me that he was well taken care of. Did I simply classify his sleep into a sign of mental pain? When I sought answers from scientists,I assumed that they would find the question ridiculous. But they did not. Not at all.
Dr. Pittman likes working with fish because they are so obvious about their depression. He can reliably test the effectiveness of anti-depressants (抗抑郁剂）with something called the “novel tank test.“ A fish gets dropped in a new tank. If after five minutes it is hanging out in the lower half,it’s depressed. If it’s swimming up top —its usual tendency when exploring a new environment — then it’s not. The severeness of the depression,he says,can be measured by quantity of time at the top and the bottom,all of which seemed to confirm my doubts about Bruce Lee.
“ One of the things we’re finding is that fish are naturally curious and seek new things out,” said Dr. Pittman. In other words, your goldfish is probably bored. To help avoid depression,he urges introducing new objects to the tank or switching up the location of items.
The last time a guest posted Bruce Lee to Instagram he was looking good and lively. Perhaps that new green leaf in his bowl had provided the enrichment he wished.
1. How did the author get the name of the fish in the hotel?| A．From the attached caption. | B．From a travel guide. |
| C．From a science fiction. | D．From a hotel brochure . |
| A．Ridiculous. | B．Reasonable. |
| C．Indifferent. | D．Contradictory. |
| A．When fed with some fresh food. |
| B．When removed from the bowl. |
| C．When given new objects he was eager for. |
| D．When provided with some fish in his bowl. |
| A．Objects . | B．Tanks . |
| C．Fishes. | D．Foods. |
【推荐3】Snowy was a little cat. He lived with a little old lady who loved Snowy very much. Sometimes the old lady would sit in her rocking chair, rocking backwards and forwards until she fell asleep or sometimes she would play little tunes (曲子) on her piano.
One sunny day, Snowy jumped up on the window sill (窗台), Snowy wanted to go out and play with the pretty butterflies, but the window was shut and the old lady had fallen asleep in her rocking chair.
He ran to the door but that was shut, too. He sat down near the old lady’s feet and said, “Miaow?” That was his way of saying, “May I go out to play, please?” The old lady didn’t hear him but stayed fast asleep.
He rubbed his soft head against the old lady’s legs. Still the old lady slept. So Snowy sat down and thought hard. Then he had an idea. He would jump up on the piano and play a tune. That might wake her up. So Snowy jumped up onto the piano and was a little scared of the loud, big, deep drum sound he made as he landed.
He took another little step. It wasn't quite such a loud note (调子). Up and down the notes he walked until he reached the very high notes which sounded like lots of bells. But still the old lady slept. Snowy kept dancing about on them and made quite a pretty tune. At last the old lady woke up.
“What are you doing, Snowy?” She asked but she wasn’t angry. “Miaow,” said Snowy, running to the closed door. “How clever you are to wake me up!” said the old lady as she let Snowy out into the sunshine.
1. Why did Snowy jump up on the window sill?| A．To find the key to the door. | B．To see what is on the piano. |
| C．To ask someone to help the old lady. | D．To go out to play with someone else. |
| A．By moving her legs. | B．By playing the piano. |
| C．By opening the door. | D．By catching the butterflies. |
| A．Worried. | B．Noisy. | C．Happy. | D．Angry. |
| A．A Clever Cat | B．An Old Lady | C．A Loud Note | D．A Sunny Day |
