I always feel sorry for world leaders busy dealing with fights between nations. When my three children were young，most days it was hard to keep my house from becoming a battlefield.
It got worse as they grew older. Three years ago，Zack，then 16，couldn’t make it through a day without making his sisters，Alex 11 and Taryn 9，angry.
My husband and I tried to be understanding the boy at such an age. We reasoned，punished，and left heartfelt notes on his bed about how he was hurting our family. His answer was “I say it because it’s true.”
I even tried telling the girls to fight back. Bad idea. Now I had three children at war. Whatever I said to them，they paid no attention. When there was no way out，I told everything to my sister，Mary，in an email. She replied，“Don’t email me. Email him.”
Our son was online every day，mailing and talking with his friends. Maybe he would actually hear me this way. I didn’t say anything different，but email just took the tension away. There’d be no shouting or door banging. Zack wouldn’t feel under attack.
Zack didn’t reply for days. When he finally did，his entire message was four small words. I smiled when I read them：“You’re right. I’m sorry.”
The children still fought，of course，but Zack changed. Best of all，I now have a better way to talk with not one but three of them. I like it that they don’t tune me out as much as they used to. They like not having to listen to me shouting to them. Or as Alex says，“You’re so much nicer online.”
All I know is that the house is quiet. But we’re talking.
1. What was the trouble before the online talk in the family?| A．The writer failed to understand her daughters. |
| B．The children couldn’t get along peacefully. |
| C．The family found it difficult to keep the house clean. |
| D．The parents were not willing to talk with their children. |
| A．to escape from the problem |
| B．hoping she’d email the boy |
| C．asking about childraising |
| D．to tell her about the family problem |
| A．Because she doesn’t think the leaders are successful. |
| B．Because she can understand that the leaders’ job is hard. |
| C．Because she doesn’t think fights can be stopped. |
| D．Because she has nothing to do with the leaders. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】Being sociable looks like a good way to add years to your life. Relationships with family, friends, neighbors, even pets, will all help, but the biggest longevity (长寿) seems to come from marriage. The effect was first noticed in 1858 by William Farr, who wrote that widows and widowers (鳏夫) were at a much higher risk of dying than the married people. Studies since then suggest that marriage could add as much as seven years to a man’s life and two to a woman’s. The effect can be seen in all causes of death, whether illness, accident or self-harm.
Even if the chances are all against you, marriage can more than compensate you. Linda Waite of the University of Chicago has found that a married older man with heart disease can expect to live nearly four years longer than an unmarried man with a healthy heart. Similarly, a married man who smokes more than a pack a day is likely to live as long as a divorced man who doesn’t smoke. There’s a flip side, however, as partners are more likely to become ill or die in the couple of years following their husband or wife’s death, and caring for your husband or wife with mental disorder can leave you with some of the same severe problems. Even so, the chances favor marriage. In a 30-year study of more than 10,000 people, Nicholas Christakis of Harvard Medical School describes how all kinds of social networks have similar effects.
So how does it work? The effects are complicated, affected by socio-economic factors, health-service provision, emotional support and other more physiological mechanisms(生理机制). For example, social contact can promote development of the brain and immune system, leading to better health and less chance of depression later in life. People in supportive relationships may handle stress better. Then there are the psychological benefits of a supportive partner.
A life partner, children and good friends are all recommended if you aim to live to 100. The overall social network is still being mapped out, but Christakis says: "People are inter-connected, so their health is inter-connected."
1. It can be inferred from the context that the "flip side" (Para. 2) refers to _________.| A．the disadvantages of being married |
| B．the emotional problems arising from marriage |
| C．the responsibility of taking care of one's family |
| D．the consequence of a broken marriage |
| A．They have effects similar to those of a marriage. |
| B．They help develop people's community spirit. |
| C．They provide timely support for those in need. |
| D．They help relieve people of their life's burdens. |
| A．It's important that we develop a social network when young. |
| B．To stay healthy, one should have a proper social network. |
| C．Getting a divorce means risking a reduced life span. |
| D．We should share our social networks with each other. |
【推荐2】How to Create a Home First Aid Kit
Emergencies can happen anytime, anywhere, so having a properly stocked first aid kit in your home is an easy but essential part of good emergency preparation. Here are some useful tips for you to personalize your own first aid kit.
Pick a good container. You can buy pre-filled first aid kits, and you can also buy empty first aid kit containers.
Teach your family about the kit.
Keep your kit up-to-date. No one wants to fetch a first aid kit and find the bandage box empty or the painkillers expired.
Create a checklist to include with the kit. Stock your first aid kit and record every item on a sheet of paper you can keep it in the kit. Record amounts and expiration dates next to the listed items on the checklist you include in your kit.
| A．Make sure anyone who retrieves the kit knows what it includes and does not include. |
| B．Make sure everyone in your home knows the location of the kit and when to retrieve it. |
| C．Make your kit safely accessible. |
| D．But you almost already have a perfectly good first aid kit container in your home. |
| E．Keep track of supply amounts and expiration dates regularly. |
| F．Make your kit clearly recognizable. |
| G．Or you can buy a first aid kit in the store. |
【推荐3】It was one of those days when there was way too much to do. I had fallen behind in most of my household chores.
After breakfast, I sat down at the computer to write an article. My youngest daughter, Julia, walked toward me. "But, Mommy, I thought we were going to do something fun today," she said. "Since it's our day off from school." "I know it's your day off, but it's not Mommy's day off," I explained.
"Can you play a game with me?" she begged. "Like Candy Land? Or beauty shop?" I sighed. I really didn't have time to play. I desperately needed to get some work done. But then I had an idea. "Can we play beauty shop while I work?" So I got my article done, and my toenails(脚趾甲) painted at the same time. My oldest, Austin, volunteered to fix lunch so I could keep working. Shortly after lunch, we went to the grocery store and I got what I needed. Back at home, the kids decided to play "grocery store". For the remainder of the afternoon, I cleaned house, folded laundry, and started dinner. The kids continued with their game until my husband, Eric, walked through the door.
He saw me and smiled. "So how was the kids' big day off today?" I began to explain that we hadn't done anything special. But my two middle kids, Jordan and Lea interrupted me. They told their dad, "We had such a special day today, Dad! It was a blast!" I looked at my children's faces. They were lit up with excitement.
I nodded, realizing how right he was. Happiness is far more about our attitude than our circumstances. I hugged my kids and thanked them for reminding me to look for happiness in the little things. Julia smiled and said, "And the little things that make you the happiest are us, right, Mommy?" Wow, my kids sure are smart.
1. How did Julia probably feel after hearing what her mother said in Paragraph 2?| A．A little down. | B．A little puzzled. |
| C．Quite surprised. | D．Quite content. |
| A．She decided to relax herself. | B．She meant to finish her work. |
| C．She liked the game very much. | D．She wanted to keep her promise. |
| A．It was different. | B．It was ordinary. |
| C．It was successful. | D．It was amazing. |
| A．Family life brings us greatest joy. |
| B．Life is made up of small pleasures. |
| C．Happiness can be gained in little things. |
| D．Little things can make a great difference. |
【推荐1】I was a single parent of four small children. Money was always tight.
It was Christmas, and although there wasn’t money for a lot of gifts, we planned to celebrate with parties and friends, drives downtown to see Christmas lights, special dinners, and by decorating our home. But the big excitement for the kids was the fun of Christmas shopping at the mall. I have saved $120 for presents to be shared by all five of us.
The big day arrived and we started out early. I gave each of the four kids a twenty-dollar bill and reminded them to look for gifts about four dollars each.
Back in the car driving home, everyone was in high Christmas spirits, but my younger daughter, Ginger, was unusually quiet. I noticed she had only one small, flat bag with her. I could see enough through the plastic bag to tell that she had bought candy bars — fifty-cent candy bars! What did she do with that twenty-dollar bill I gave her? I wanted to yell at her, but I didn’t say anything until we got home. I called her into my bedroom and asked her what she had done with the money. This is what she told me:
“I was looking around, thinking of what to buy when I saw the little cards on one of the Salvation Army’s ‘Giving Trees’. One of the cards for a little girl, four-year-old, and all she wanted for Christmas was a doll with clothes and a hairbrush. So I took the card off the tree and bought the doll and hairbrush for her and took it to Salvation Army booth.”
“I only had enough money left to buy candy bars for us.” Ginger continued.
“But we have so much and she doesn’t have anything.” I never felt so rich as I did that day.
1. What excited the children most at Christmas time?| A．Seeing the Christmas lights. | B．Having special dinners. |
| C．Decorating their home. | D．Doing Christmas shopping. |
| A．twenty dollars | B．one dollar and fifty cents |
| C．nineteen dollars and fifty cents | D．fifty cents |
| A．a market that sells Christmas trees |
| B．an organization that helps the poor |
| C．a workshop that produces Christmas presents |
| D．an army that joins in Christmas celebrations |
| A．easy-going | B．sweet-tempered |
| C．strong-minded | D．kind-hearted |
| A．To introduce the history of Christmas. |
| B．To discuss methods to make gifts. |
| C．To praise a good deeds for kindness. |
| D．To advertise Christmas goods to people. |
【推荐2】It was last weekend when my kids and I flew to Texas for my daughter’s trampoline (蹦床) competition, plus a couple of side trips. We would tour the Dallas Cowboys Stadium. We would visit Waco’s Magnolia Market. We would play outdoor mini golf in January.
We would have nothing to complain about! We would be leaving behind school and work for a hotel pool and having wall-to-wall fun!
And yet — we found things to complain about. The pool was bigger in that other hotel! Why do you get to shower first? They call this coffee?
Luckily, I remembered to take my imaginary coat of armor (盔甲) with me. I’ve learned to put it on as soon as we arrive somewhere as no complaint can get through it. They simply bounce off it and land harmlessly at my feet. I shrug (耸肩). I smile.
For three days, we had great fun. Silly complaints were ignored, and we had greater fun. Until it was time to return the car, get on a plane, and fly home.
Except our flight was canceled. And so was the flight after that. And once that airline resumed (恢复) flying, there would be no room on any of its flights for another 21 hours.
We spent the next couple of hours securing seats for the next evening, tracking down our already-checked bags, and finding a hotel room. We hit the hotel pool before bed. We swam well into the night, my kids making up songs and singing and jumping and laughing.
And that was when it hit me that family travel is a lot more than I thought before. It’s discovering that things don’t have to go right to go well. It’s remembering that joy and memories are where you make them, not where you find them. My kids made them at the tail end of a very long day, in a tiny pool near a Texas airport. So I did too.
1. What was the author’s main reason for travelling to Texas?| A．To visit a football stadium. |
| B．To take part in a golf event. |
| C．To accompany her daughter to a game. |
| D．To shop on a famous international market. |
| A．She paid no attention to them. |
| B．She turned to strangers for help. |
| C．She put on her armor to avoid them. |
| D．She asked her children to solve them. |
| A．Travel more with children. | B．Happiness is something you make. |
| C．Book a flight in advance. | D．Respect children’s rights. |
| A．The Best Family Vacation Ever |
| B．The Best Things About Travelling |
| C．Find the Source of Happy Memories |
| D．Travelling with Children Around the World |
【推荐3】“The only way to accomplish something is through hard work,” says actor Greg Tarzan Davis. “The first step is to get started.”
In a virtual interview, I asked Davis about his life and career. He grew up in a large family in New Orleans, Louisiana. After earning a degree in elementary education at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Davis became a teacher. He always encouraged his young students to follow their dreams.
One day, he decided to take his own advice. Although he enjoyed teaching, he had been enthusiastic about acting. “The first step is always the hardest,” Davis said. “But once you get past it and stay consistent, I promise, you will achieve your goal.”
At the age of 29, Davis had roles in Top Gun: Maverick and Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One. He also starred in Grey’s Anatomy, a TV series about a group of young doctors. For 2022’s Top Gun, the actor learned how to fly a fighter jet in order to play the role of Lieutenant Javy “Coyote” Machado.
Davis sees the connection between acting and teaching. “As an actor, you’re required to dig deep into the depths of your childlike imagination when playing different roles,” he said. “What I learned the most as a teacher was how to be free with my mind and imaginative with my thoughts by simply observing my first-grade students and listening to the big ideas they had, which were so real to them.”
Davis still keeps an eye on the future. He is motivated by a desire to help the next generation follow their dreams. “The people who come after me inspire me,” he said. He wants to show others, especially kids, that anything is possible. He hosted movie screenings in New Orleans as a way to give back to the community that nurtured him as a child.
1. What did Davis encourage his students to do?| A．Value time and energy. | B．Become film stars. |
| C．Go after their goals. | D．Work hard at their lessons. |
| A．No pains, no gains. | B．It is the first step that costs. |
| C．Think carefully before you act. | D．Where there is a will, there is a way. |
| A．They need a lot of patience. | B．They are related to imagination. |
| C．They bring a sense of achievement. | D．They help realize the author’s dream. |
| A．Brought up. | B．Watched over. | C．Looked for. | D．Took control of. |
【推荐1】Underwater Museums Many underwater museums are supported by companies that offer guided tours. A trained guide leads groups around a striking underwater display of statues in each museum. Depending on the depth of the museum, visitors may be able to view the sculptures from the glass bottomed boat or by swimming on the surface. Other underwater museums are deeper and are most accessible to scuba divers.
Underwater museums have many functions. One of their main purposes is to create an artificial reef environment where sea creatures can live. That’s why some of the museums are located in areas that were damaged by hurricanes or are considered underwater “deserts”. The statues in the museum are designed in a way that encourages the growth of coral and plant life. Over time, the statues and plants attract more and more fish to the area.
Florida, U.S.AFlorida is home to different types of underwater museums. The state’s newest underwater museum, the Underwater Museum of Art, can be found off the coast of Grayton Beach. This part of the Gulf of Mexico is an underwater desert, so creators hope that the exhibit will improve the marine ecosystem.
Cancun, MexicoFor years, Cancun has been a popular tourist destination. And one of the major draws is the water. The Museo Subacuatico de Arte is an ideal place for snorkelers and first time divers. There they can enjoy more than 500 statues that help to make up an artificial reef. This museum was created to give visitors an alternative attraction to the area’s natural reef, which has been damaged.
Canary Islands, SpainMuseo Atlantio, off the coast of Lanzarote, has an impressive display of more than 300 statues. They were created by Jason Decaires Taylor, a British sculptor, who has contributed to the creation of several underwater museums including the ones near Cancun and the Canary Islands. The Cancun statues focus on man’s interaction with the marine world.If you’re looking for a different museum experience, check out one that’s underwater.
1. In underwater museums, visitors can see the following things except.| A．statues | B．deserts |
| C．reefs | D．sculptures |
| A．Underwater museums can not be visited through guided tours. |
| B．Underwater museums are all located in areas damaged by hurricane. |
| C．Underwater museums can be viewed all over the world. |
| D．Underwater museums can help improve underwater environments. |
| A．over 300 statues can be seen in the Underwater Museum of Art |
| B．natural reef hasn’t been damaged in Cancun |
| C．the statues of Cancun and the Canary Islands are made by the same sculptor |
| D．plant life can’t grow in underwater museums |
| A．A personal diary. | B．A tourist guidebook. |
| C．An official report. | D．A hotel brochure. |
【推荐2】Does your ideal vacation include going skiing across frozen ice, spying the northern lights, and playing in the snow? Then you’ll want to skate straight to these winter spots.
Fairbanks, Alaska
Alaska is a good choice for a great winter getaway. For winter fun, head to Fairbanks, where you can stay at a new cottage with glass-ceiling domes for aurora (极光) viewing in comfort and then head out ice fishing and snowmobiling. Want even more adventure? Consider a guided adventure that combines northern lights, cross-country skiing, and dog mushing.
Kirkenes, Norway
The Kirkenes Snow hotel here welcomes visitors to its ice-sculpted rooms. Besides, you can jump on a sled (雪橇) pulled by dogs or bring your appetite for a King Crab Safari. First, you’ll be on a sled pulled by a snowmobile across the icy sea. Then crab fishermen drill into the ice to create a hole to pull up the large crabs. Another quick sled trip and you’ve reached a cozy cottage where crab claws as long as your forearm are served up minutes after being pulled from the cold waters, tasting of salt water. A rich reward for braving the cold.
St. Moritz, Switzerland
Skiing down the Alps is obviously a highlight here, but did you know that night skiing in this Swiss town is some of the best in the world? Picture it: Clear sky, full moon, inky quiet, and a sky full of stars. If you need energy for skiing, you can always refuel with pizza from the wood-fired oven at Murtèl middle station. You can keep skiing until the last cable car at 1:40 a. m. Then, check into your room at the Carlton Hotel, where there are a series of daylight activities.
Quebec City, Canada
In the summer months, Quebec City is an excellent destination thanks to its French features and historic old port. But in the winter, don’t miss the Winter Carnival, the Carnaval de Quebec, the largest winter carnival in the world. During 17 days the Carnival offers more than 200 activities and welcomes nearly 500,000 people (upcoming dates are January 26 to February 11, 2018, and February 1 to 17, 2019).
1. What is considered to be the most adventurous activity in Fairbanks, Alaska?| A．Going snowmobiling. |
| B．Going ice fishing. |
| C．Appreciating aurora viewing. |
| D．Conducting a guided adventure. |
| A．Living in ice-sculpted rooms. |
| B．Having a sled trip. |
| C．Tasting the freshly-cooked crabs. |
| D．Having a taste of salt water. |
| A．Skiing down the Alps. | B．Night skiing. |
| C．Watching stars. | D．Tasting pizza. |
| A．It’s second to none in the world. |
| B．It lasts throughout the winter. |
| C．Few people show interest in it. |
| D．It is famous for its French features. |
| A．A diary. | B．A novel. |
| C．A tour brochure. | D．A textbook. |
Why do they want to do this? The sun’s rays could be helpful in many ways. They could light up cities by night. The warm rays could stop frosts (霜冻) which might come at night and hurt fruit crops. They could melt (融化) dangerous icebergs in the ocean. Perhaps they could change cloud movements and bring rain where it is needed.
1. The huge mirror would ______.
| A．stand 60 miles in height (高度) | B．be 60 miles from side to side |
| C．cover 60 miles of the earth | D．be 60 miles above the earth |
| A．reflect (反射) sunlight | B．absorb (吸收) sunlight |
| C．see what the earth looks like | D．see how clouds move |
| A．hurt fruit crops | B．set fire to cities |
| C．bring longer daytime | D．shine through walls |
| A．something in a story | B．already made |
| C．just an idea | D．to be made soon |
【推荐1】Let’s face it—you’re attached to your phone. You use it to communicate, play games and surf the Internet. But there’s a great way to make your smartphone a life-enriching device without hurting your eyes. Check out the world of podcasts.
Think of podcasts as YouTube camels for listeners that you can download to your phone. What’s so exciting about that? Well you can find a lot of amazing shows! Whatever you find that catches your attention, one thing is sure—listening inspires the imagination. Because you can only listen to a show and not see it, you have to pay more attention. Therefore, your imagination has the potential to become stronger and more vivid as a result.
Podcasts allow you to experience the world from various angles. Take America’s NPR and Britain’s BBC, for example. Both have produced several podcasts. By listening to them, you can learn to appreciate cultural to linguistic distinctions. Choose what you like. In the end it’s your device—you get to decide who influences you!
So what’s out there? Lots! Since podcasts are created for very specific audiences, you’re sure to find one that interests you. Podcasts had been around for more than a decade, and one that really put podcasting in the spotlight is called Serial. It’s in the form of a story, broken up over several weeks, complete with cliffhangers. Or maybe you like listening to people discuss interesting topics. My personal favorite is White Horse Inn. If you’re a fan of informative speeches, subscribe to one of the many TED talks podcasts. There are several language-learning podcasts too, like ESLPod. The list goes on. If you’re not sure where to start, look up “top podcasts” and give one of their recommendations a try.
Whether you’re riding a bus, exercising, or just relaxing, put on some headphones and put your listening skills to the test. Download a podcast App, subscribe to a few and get listening. Or, better yet, if you have an idea for a podcast, why not produce one yourself!
1. Paragraph 2 mainly tells us podcasts help ________.| A．to make your life more meaningful | B．to develop your imagination |
| C．to improve your listening ability | D．to know the world better |
| A．by giving examples | B．by making comparisons |
| C．by giving detailed facts | D．by giving causes and effects |
| A．you can make progress by just downloading a podcast App |
| B．Serial is a listening program telling interesting stories |
| C．White Horse Inn is a program that discusses dull topics |
| D．people can be taught to learn all kinds of languages |
| A．to introduce the topic | B．to give you more evidence |
| C．to talk about the function of phones | D．to make the text informative |
【推荐2】Just Released: Secure Your New U.S. 2019 Silver Dollars Now
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1. We can learn that the Silver Dollar is ______.| A．newly designed | B．currently in circulation |
| C．issued in limited quantity | D．intended for top collectors |
| A．It is made of precious metal. | B．It is government guaranteed. |
| C．It is popular with customers. | D．It is beautifully designed. |
| A．contact the United States Mint | B．visit GovMint.com first . |
| C．call at 1-888-835-8675 now | D．buy eight or more at a time |
| A．present and argue | B．inform and persuade |
| C．introduce and analyze | D．compare and evaluate |
【推荐3】Are you a music lover? If your answer is yes, you might be interested in the following music services.
Apple Music
Apple Music has more than 30 million songs and is available in over 100 countries.
Search for “Holiday Music” to find playlists. Then tell voice assistant Siri to “play holiday music” to open the music program on your iPhone, iPod or Apple TV. The app will provide holiday playlists and stations.
You can also listen to Apple Music on your computer through the iTunes store or on Apple TV.
Apple Music is free for the first three months. After that, users must pay a subscription (订阅) fee.
Google Play Music
Google Play Music is also in the holiday spirit. Go to the Google Play Music Holiday page or app and search for “Holiday Music”.
Google Play Music is available for free if you don’t mind the advertisements. If you do, buy a paid subscription to avoid them. Google Play Music offers more than 30 million songs in 58 countries.
The service is available on your computer, and through apps on your Android phone and iPhone.
Live365
Live365 is an internet radio service available on your computer or mobile device. The service has 158 Christmas music stations, such as Contemporary Christmas, Christmas Breezes and Classical Christmas.
Live365 is free and available around the world. Searching for “Holiday Music” lets you listen to more stations without advertisements.
Spotify
Spotify, another online service, is filled with holiday music. Listen to playlists on Spotify by searching for “Holiday Music”. The playlists include Merry Christmas. The Best Holiday Music, Pure Christmas Music and Pure Holiday Music.
1. What do the music services have in common?| A．They are free of charge . | B．They have endless songs. |
| C．“Holiday Music” can be searched for. | D．They have music stations. |
| A．Google Play Music. | B．Live365. |
| C．Spotify. | D．Apple Music. |
| A．Merry Christmas. | B．The Best Holiday Music. |
| C．Classical Christmas. | D．Pure Christmas Music. |
