Years ago, I decided to take the adventure and start working from home. I became a stay-at-home mom with two young boys. I felt lost after leaving the working world so I wanted something new to focus on.
But only weeks into my new adventure, I was trapped in the comparison game. I constantly compared my progress with that of others on my team. It seemed that this business was coming easily to everyone but me.
Then the leader of my team came to me. He gave me some advice and encouraged me to keep my blinders (马眼罩) on.
From this experience, I’ve learned that comparing myself to others truly gets me nowhere. It not only prevents my ambition, but also overshadows my successes. Whether in business or parenting, there will always be someone performing better than me.
| A．It turned out that it benefited me a lot. |
| B．But what was I going to do with the blinders? |
| C．I didn’t let others’ accomplishments lessen my own. |
| D．The weight of comparison made me close to quitting. |
| E．Do you know that horses wear blinders as they pull carriages? |
| F．And what I should hold to is that I’m not running in their race. |
| G．Preferably, it was something that had nothing to do with childcare. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】One evening I was going back from a supermarket. As I was approaching my car, I noticed that some person came and stood beside me. He was the one that could be considered as a bum. It seemed that he had no car, no home and no job. I thought that he would ask me for money, but he did not do that, he only said: “Your car is very nice”.
After several moments of silence, I replied: “Thanks”, and then the inner voice told me, “Ask him if he needs help”. After a short hesitation I asked him if he needed any help. His response was astonishing. I will never forget those simple three words that I heard from him: —“Don’t we all?”
It was a true discovery to me. I needed help. Although I had money and a place to sleep, I recognized that I needed help too. Then I opened my wallet and gave him enough money to get a meal and some shelter for a day.
Suddenly I understood that no matter how much money we have, we all need help. On the other hand, no matter how poor you are and how many material problems you have, you still might offer your help to others and you still might be giving. Even it’s just a nice word, you can give that and it can be priceless to other persons.
Maybe that man was just a homeless stranger, but to me he was more than that. Maybe he was sent by the Highest Loving Power personally to me to open my eyes and to show me that there is one thing, among all other values, which is very important and irreplaceable for each and every person. Actually, it is a true gift and it is called Giving.
1. The underlined word “bum” in Paragraph 1 can be a person _______.| A．who needs money | B．who is a homeless man |
| C．who is willing to help others | D．who is sent by the Highest Loving Power |
| A．The writer had enough money to help. |
| B．He needed money to eat and have a rest. |
| C．His words gave the writer deep thoughts. |
| D．The writer is kind and always helps others. |
| A．Not everyone needs help. | B．Giving is as important as receiving. |
| C．The rich should help the poor. | D．A helping and touching word can help others. |
| A．True meaning of giving. | B．True meaning of being rich. |
| C．True meaning of values. | D．True meaning of gifts. |
【推荐2】Life comes in a package. This package includes happiness and sorrow, failure and success, hope and despair. Life is a learning process.
1. Love
Love plays a key role on our life.
2. Happiness and Sorrow
Materialistic happiness is short-lived, but happiness achieved by bringing a smile on others' face gives a certain level of fulfillment. Peace of mind is the main link to happiness.
3. Failure and Success
4. Hope and Despair
Hope is what keeps life going. Parents always hope their children will do well. Hope makes us dream. Hope builds in patience.
| A．Failure is the path to success. |
| B．Life teaches us not to despair even in the darkest hour. |
| C．Life teaches us not to regret over yesterday. |
| D．Experiences in life teach us new lessons and make us a better person. |
| E．No mind is happy without peace. |
| F．Without love a person could become fierce and cruel. |
| G．The only choice is work hard today so that we will enjoy a better tomorrow. |
Once upon a time, in a little village called Charmington, there lived a shy and unconfident girl named Lily. Lily was a kind-hearted soul, but her lack of self-assurance often led her to doubt her own beauty and worth.
One sunny day, as Lily wandered through the streets of Charmington, she came across a charming little shop filled with shining hair accessories (配饰). Among the treasures, her eyes were attracted by a lovely bow (蝴蝶结) that seemed to callout to her. Despite her hesitation, something inside Lily told her to take a small act of self-expression and pay for the bow. She bought it and gently put it in her hair. At that very moment, a magical transformation took place. Lily felt a burst of confidence, as if the bow had given her a newfound confidence and charm.
Excited about her new accessory, Lily confidently walked down the busy streets of Charmington, unaware that the bow had slipped and dropped unnoticed from her hair. Her newfound confidence made her feel beautiful inside and out. As Lily walked, something amazing began to happen. People passing by couldn’t help but notice her beauty, the warmth that shined from herself. Strangers smiled at her, complimenting her on her look and bright smile.
Confused by their compliments, Lily touched her hair, only to realize that the bow was missing. Instead of feeling embarrassed or disheartened, she couldn’t help but be amazed by the power of her own confidence. Lily began to understand that true beauty lies not in outside decorations but in self-assurance and grace. It was her confidence that had caught the attention and admiration of those around her.
1. What was the biggest challenge for Lily? (No more than 15 words.)2. What happened to Lily’s new bow?(No more than 10 words.)
3. What does the underlined word “complimenting” probably mean? (Only 1 word.)
4. According to the passage, what is the true beauty? (No more than 15 words.)
5. In your opinion, how to build your own confidence? (No more than 20 words.)
【推荐1】Korten went to a public school. There were students who were friends with Korten and who weren’t, But deep down, our hero knew that he was “that kid” in school because of his Korten was often nulled Butism (自闭症). Diagnosed that he could never speak, Korten was often pulled out of class for speech treatment. He was infamous for having “breakdowns” in the middle of a class and for seeing specialists inside and outside of the school.
When all hope seemed lost, it was athletics that came to Korten’s rescue. After trying swimming, he took up running and joined the cross-country team of his school. But autism seriously affected him, In the beginning, Korten couldn’t run around the school yard without stopping at least a couple of times. Frustrated, he would often drop out of them.
However, the sportsperson’s mentality (心态) which was locked up by his autism before had begun to rise. Despite his condition, Korten decided to take part in the cross-country races during the upcoming season. He worked on his skills with his father during the summer break and to his surprise, Korten was not only competing but successfully finishing the races with some of the best records. He even almost won the 1,500-metre race that year.
When he started his college life, Korten realized that he wasn’t the only one with “issues”. There were people who, though, may not be autistic, were fighting their own battles. Having displayed his real and complete self in front of the world, Korten not only was able to give his 100% to sports, but also was awarded the “Who’s who among students on campus”, a valuable recognition given to those with high academics along with participating in many after-school activities.
1. Why was Korten referred to as “that kid” in school?| A．He dropped out of school. | B．He had no friends at school. |
| C．He was a hero of his school. | D．He was often absent for his condition. |
| A．His love for sport. | B．His special condition. |
| C．His newly-found fighting spirit. | D．His father’s encouragement. |
| A．One should accept his real self. | B．Everyone in college fought for a goal. |
| C．Few students in college knew Korten. | D．Korten was more recognized in academics. |
| A．Show Concern for Autism | B．Face Your Life Challenges |
| C．Find an Interest in a Sport | D．Recognize Your Own Issue |
【推荐2】It has always been horrible for me to picture my life in old age. My recent visits to the senior care center, however, relieved some of my fears and provided valuable food for thought.
Looking for meaningful ways to spend my weekends after my exams, I signed up for a program of arts and crafts for the elderly run by my schoolmates. I was informed that the Renci Nursing Home,where the program would be held, accommodated some of the less fortunate elderly in Singapore. Some background research gave me the impression that many of them suffered from physical problems and had little family support. As a result, I expected the atmosphere there to be discouraging. And, judging by the lack of interest in the painting activities, I truly sensed a feeling of aimlessness there. Given that we live in a society in which the relationships between the generations are weakening, perhaps the disappointing atmosphere in the home wasn’t surprising. The people were cut off from the ties that make life meaningful.
Is it safe to say then that our lives after retirement will likely feel aimless? But after I spoke to a Portuguese-Chinese man, I thought that this wasn’t necessarily so. At the age of 90, he displayed a surprisingly strong sense of control over his life. His liveliness was exceptional among the elderly population in the home. He had spent his life either traveling around the world as a backpacker, or working hard in Singapore to save up for his trips. He had made it a rule to learn foreign languages,exercise and eat healthily- something he continued to do during his stay in the nursing home.
While he spoke to me about how his time in London had shaped his view of cultural difference,I looked into his eyes. I knew that this was the kind of control over life that I wanted for myself. I don’ t want to spend half of my time wandering about in foreign countries like he did, but I do want to appreciate the richness that life has to offer.
1. Why did the author go to the Renci Nursery Home?| A．It was run by his schoolmates. | B．He meant to learn arts and crafts. |
| C．It housed some unfortunate seniors. | D．He wanted a significant weekend. |
| A．It was filled with depression. | B．It solved physical problems. |
| C．It was full of impressive activities. | D．It connected different generations. |
| A．The efforts of the elderly. | B．The view of cultural difference. |
| C．The liveliness of an old man. | D．The care of the nursing home. |
| A．He was trying to call on people to care for the elderly. |
| B．He found what he wanted for his life--living by his own law. |
| C．He would travel by himself like a backpacker. |
| D．He made adequate preparations for his old age. |
【推荐3】I left university with a good degree in English Literature, but no sense of what I wanted to do. Over the next six years, I was treading water(停滞不前), just trying to earn an income. I tried journalism, but I didn’t think I was any good, then finance, which I hated. Finally, I got a job as a rights assistant at a famous publisher. I loved working with books, although the job that I did was dull.
I had enough savings to take a year off work, and I decided to try to satisfy a deep-down wish to write a novel. Attending a Novel Writing MA course gave me the structure I needed to write my first 55,000 words.
It takes confidence to make a new start—there’s a dark period in-between where you’re neither one thing nor the other. You’re out for dinner and people ask what you do, and you’re too ashamed to say, “Well, I’m writing a novel, but I’m not quite sure if I’m going to get there.” My confidence dived. Believing my novel could not be published, I put it aside.
Then I met an agent(代理商) who said I should send my novel out to agents. So, I did and, to my surprise, got some wonderful feedback. I felt a little hope that I might actually become a published writer and, after signing with an agent, I finished the second half of the novel.
The next problem was finding a publisher. After two-and-a-half years of no income, just waiting and wondering, a publisher offered me a book deal—that publisher turned out to be the one I once worked for.
It feels like an unbelievable stroke of luck—of fate, really. When you set out to do something different, there’s no end in sight, so to find myself in a position where I now have my own name on a contract(合同) of the publisher—to be a published writer—is unbelievably rewarding.
1. Why did the author decide to write a novel?| A．Because she hated her previous jobs. |
| B．Because her parents and friends had encouraged her to do so. |
| C．Because she wanted to pursue her own dream of writing a novel. |
| D．Because she graduated from university with a good degree in English Literature. |
| A．She became less stubborn. |
| B．She became more stubborn. |
| C．She suddenly lost confidence. |
| D．She gradually gained confidence. |
| A．An agent who she signed with. |
| B．A rights assistant she once worked with. |
| C．An agent who advised her to send her novel out to agents. |
| D．A publisher who she once worked for as a rights assistant. |
| A．Tough but rewarding. | B．Interesting and smooth. |
| C．Difficult but thrilling. | D．Complicated and fruitless. |
【推荐1】When I was 13 years old, I went on a 735-mile cycling trip with my brother and father. We were all keen cyclists and I can say I felt like I was born on a bike. My father was a professional cyclist, and wanted to show us, his twin sons, the work of the trade and bond with us.
The trip was across the San Juan Islands and then Vancouver Island. We prepared for the journey by going on smaller rides and practiced cycling with panniers (货筐). Adjusting to the weight on the bike was harder than I thought. When we set out for the trip, I knew that I yearned to have an adventure and wanted to see the beautiful sights of mountains, bears, moose, deer, forests, and much more.
One night, after perhaps a week into the trip, we were on our last legs(路程)getting to a campsite, and going down a large hill. It was raining moderately and we were coasting down the hill in eager delight to take a rest from going up a mountain with all of our gear and sore legs.
Suddenly, my brother’s front tire slipped in the rain, and he slid into the middle of the road. My father and I stopped, asking if he was okay. Apparently, he was not hurt too much, but his leg was caught up in the bike frame. From the top of the hill, we saw the light of a car coming. My father and I looked on in shock. Chris could not seem to get out of the entrapment of his bike, and now the car was blasting its way. This all happened within seconds.
Instinctively, I rushed out in front of my brother in the middle of the road, and waved my hands frantically. The car rushed forward, but swerved to the left to go around my brother and I. My brother was saved from being crushed by the car.
My brother says I was incredibly brave, but I think we do what we know is right. I believe that one should listen to one’s gut in times of peril, and not intellectualize dilemmas. If I had thought about what I was doing on that night, my brother might have been robbed from this world. Life and death often swing in the balance between what seems natural and rational.
1. What does Dad expect from the cycling trip?| A．To spend time with his sons. |
| B．To instruct his sons how to cycle. |
| C．To show off his professional skills. |
| D．To explore the adventures in the mountain. |
| A．It rained cats and dogs. |
| B．A bear came out of nowhere. |
| C．The road down the hill was too slippery. |
| D．They were too excited to get back to the campsite. |
| A．A friend is never known till a man has need. |
| B．The best that we find in our travel is an honest friend. |
| C．Brothers concentrate on each other, and their strength runs out of gold. |
| D．If you are serious about what you’re doing, keep you head and follow your instinct. |
Dear sir,
In 1935 I got engaged. But unfortunately at that time there was a lot of unemployment and I lost my job. I was six months without a job and then I got work again. But of course I was very short of money. I came to your shop to buy a wedding ring. The assistant brought some rings for me to look at, but she was called away for a moment, and I put one of the rings in my pocket. When she came back, I said I did not know the size of my girl-friend’s finger. So I left the shop without buying a ring.
My wife died a short while ago and the fact that I never paid for her ring has been on my conscience (良心) all these years. At the time the ring cost ￡2 so I reckon (估计) that is about ￡10 at today’s price. And I am sending you that amount.
Yours truly,
A customer
“Well, well, well,” said the manager, “life is full of surprises!”
1. The best headline for this article would be _______.
| A．A Customer Pays His Bill | B．An Old Jeweler’s Shop |
| C．The Manager and the Letter | D．A Letter with￡10 |
| A．he was very busy |
| B．it was a personal letter |
| C．there was a ￡10 note in it |
| D．the letter was unimportant |
| A．He was engaged to a girl. |
| B．He was out of work for six months. |
| C．He lost a ring. |
| D．Both A and B. |
| A．She lost her job. |
| B．She was short of money. |
| C．She was called away while serving the customer. |
| D．She put one of the rings in her pocket. |
【推荐3】Like everybody else, I was addicted to my devices. When realizing its harm, I decided to make a change.
“I’m doing Tech-Free Sundays now!” I told my mother, on the Saturday night before my no-tech journey started. “Oh,” she said. “So are you giving up, like, the wheel?” I defined my terms. No: computer, phone, iPad. No: email, Twitter, Instagram. Yes: wheels, modern medicine.
But when I woke up in the morning, I failed. The problem was my work: I needed to meet a deadline. I thought I could just use the computer for work, and wouldn’t check Twitter. And I didn’t, for many hours. And then I did. It was right there! And though I checked it very briefly, just in case anyone was mad at me, the spell (咒语) was broken.
But the beautiful thing about Sundays is that there is always another one. The next week, I changed my approach: no tech, at all. This time, I was prepared. On Saturday, I made a list of everything I wanted to accomplish over the weekend, and then worked my way through all the parts that require technology. And then I put my phone down, and when I woke up on Tech-Free Sunday, I did not pick it up again.
Instead, I finish a book—one with paper! Do you know how pleasurable it is to read a book by touching it? It is a delight, like petting a very literary cat. However, the trouble came when I went to meet a friend. I was running late, but had no way to tell her because my phone was at home.
Was I relaxed on such a Sunday? It was an unfamiliar feeling, but I was. I felt a sense of control over my life. But because life is nothing if not a learning process, the next weekend, I told everyone who might need to get in touch with me that I would not be reachable on Sunday.
1. What can we infer from the author’s conversation with her mother?| A．The author’s mother agreed with her decision. |
| B．The author wouldn’t drive on Tech-Free Sundays. |
| C．The author wouldn’t refuse all modern technology. |
| D．The author’s mother was unfamiliar with technological terms. |
| A．The author broke a spell happily. |
| B．The author got annoyed by others. |
| C．The author got her computer checked. |
| D．The author went against her original wish. |
| A．Satisfied. | B．Tired. | C．Disappointed. | D．Hesitant. |
| A．I Realized the Harm of Devices |
| B．I Tried Going Tech-Free on Sundays |
| C．Being Addicted to Devices Is Harmful |
| D．“Tech-Free Sundays” Become Popular |
