I never thought I would go far from home. I was an ordinary high school student from a working-class family,and I didn’t think traveling the world was in the cards for me. For my undergraduate and doctor degree,I only applied to universities within an hour of my hometown in the United Kingdom. Staying at the same university seemed like the safe option. A few years later,as I was considering a postdoc(博士后),I once again wanted to stay close to home,in the comfort of my Ph. D. lab. But I hope to run my own lab one day,and I knew that seeing a different approach to science would be valuable.
I heard about a fellowship program in Japan that sounded like a good fit. The flexibility of the program appealed to me. I could choose how long I would be there-rom as little as a month to as month as a year-long enough to experience a new place, learn and get some msearch done but short enough to make the experience less scary. I thought of it almost as a holiday, somewhat like going to a conference in an interesting far-off place.
But when I was accepted, the head of the group I was going to join wanted me to stay for the full year. I hesitated. After much thought, I worked up my courage and signed on for the year-knowing that, if things went badly. I could come home earlier.
Almost everything was different from what I was used to, but getting used to these differences was easier than I had expected. Eating out with my labmates offers a great communicative opportunity. Talking with my new colleagues about their experiences conducting mearch in other countries helped open my eyes to new ways of doing things.
After my fellowship, I thought I would leave Japan to do a postdoc elsewhere. But when my fellowship adviser offered me a longer-term position in his lab. I couldn’t say no. This time,though,it wasn’t because I was afraid to go somewhere new. It was because I wanted to take advantage of an exciting opportunity. After the jump I took with fellowship. I now feel I can do anything.
1. What can we infer about the author from paragraph 1?A.He was a typical in doors man. |
B.He always worried too much. |
C.He suffered serious homesickness. |
D.He liked to stay in familiar places. |
A.The friendly labmates. |
B.The fun-filled holiday. |
C.The handsome starting salary. |
D.The flexible working schedule. |
A.slightly different |
B.very challenging |
C.easier than thought |
D.dull and predicable |
A.Learning Happens in a Comfort Zone-4. |
B.When in Japan. Do As the Japanese Do |
C.Leaving Comfort Zone Can Be Rewarding |
D.The Longest Joumey Begins with the First step |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】As I drove along the road, small car flew across the center divider from the opposite direction and crashed into my car head-on. I fell unconscious and was awakened by the ringing of my mobile phone.
I was brought to Kuala Lumpur General Hospital bleeding on from my nose, mouth and legs. But the hospital staff was too busy to attend to me, so I called a friend to tell him about the accident. Some friends arrived very soon and sent me to a private hospital nearby. I saw my injured feet hanging from my body, blue and lifeless, and I begged the doctors to save them at all cost. They calmly promised to do their best.
The doctors made it. After I was discharged, I was given ten months medical leave. My heart sank, knowing that it meant I, a big man, couldn't work. How was I going to support my 65-year-old mother and other family members? I felt completely helpless, but a la of unexpected blessings came my way. When I was recovering at home, friends and relatives helped me with my banking, insurance or simply came to cheer me up.
When the casts(石膏)were removed, I did not let the sight of my weak legs discourage me. I worked hard at my physiotherapy(物理疗法)with only one aim. After eight months, I was walking without the aid of a walking stick. Oh February the following year, I returned to my job again. Today, after eight years, I have travelled to many counties as a tour leader.
The accident makes me realize how lives can change in a second. I value life more, not only of my own but also of everyone I know, and I will always try to help when I know of someone in trouble.
1. What made the author come back to life in the traffic accident?A.Someone made a call to him. |
B.A car crashed into his ear head-on. |
C.One of his friends gave him first aid. |
D.His mobile phone was out of order suddenly. |
A.Was inspired. | B.Got injured. |
C.Was discovered. | D.Left hospital. |
A.He is honest and strong. | B.He is learned and intelligent. |
C.He is optimistic and determined. | D.He is discouraged and desperate. |
A.Life is very precious to people. | B.It's a hard job to be a tour guide. |
C.Many people are in trouble in life. | D.It's a must for someone to help others. |
【推荐2】In modern society there is a great deal of argument about competition. Some value it highly, believing that it is responsible for social progress and prosperity. Others say that competition is bad; that it sets one person against another; that it leads to unfriendly relationship between people.
I have taught many children who held the belief that their self-worth relied on how well they performed at tennis and other skills. For them, playing well and winning are often life-and-death affairs. In their single-minded pursuit of success, the development of many other human qualities is sadly forgotten.
However, while some seem to be lost in the desire to succeed, others take an opposite attitude. In a culture which values only the winner and pays no attention to the ordinary players, they strongly blame competition. Among the most vocal are youngsters who have suffered under competitive pressure from their parents or society. Teaching these young people, I often observe in them a desire to fail. They seem to seek failure by not trying to win or achieve success. By not trying, they always have an excuse: “I may have lost, but it doesn’t matter, because I didn’t try.” What is not usually admitted by themselves is the belief that if they had really tried and lost, that would mean a lot. Such a loss would be a measure of their worth. Clearly, this belief is the same as that of the true competitors who try to prove themselves. Both are based on the mistaken belief that one’s self-respect relies on how well one performs in comparison with others. Both are afraid of not being valued. Only as this basic and often troublesome fear begins to dissolve can we discover a new meaning in competition.
1. What does this passage mainly talk about?A.Competition helps to set up self-respect. |
B.Competition is harmful to personal quality development. |
C.Failures are necessary experiences in competition. |
D.Opinions about competition are different among people. |
A.Those who are against competition most strongly. |
B.Those who try their best to win. |
C.Those who value competition most highly. |
D.Those who rely on others most for success. |
A.One’s success in competition needs great efforts. |
B.One’s worth lies in his performance compared with others’. |
C.One’s success is based on how hard he has tried. |
D.One’s achievement is determined by his particular skills. |
A.Every effort should be paid back. |
B.Winning should be a life-and-death matter. |
C.Fear of failure should be removed in competition. |
D.Competition should be encouraged. |
【推荐3】“Can we look at the school supplies while we’re here?” my daughter, Julia, asked during a trip to the store. My favorite school-supply item is the daily planner because I struggle with organization. I always dream that the perfect planner will somehow cure me of my delay and turn my life into a paradise (乐园) of order and productivity.
The list of habits I wanted to develop was long. Exercising regularly. Drinking more water. Clearing a junk drawer or closet each week. Reading more books and watching less TV. Delaying less on work deadlines. Spending more time with each of my kids and reaching out to family and friends more often. Making special meals, and doing other things to make my loved ones feel loved.
Over the next few days, I was able to check off several items on my habit tracker. I was pleased with the progress, but I hadn’t done much with the habits intended to improve my relationships with others. I tried to put more focus on those habits.
One morning, I opened my planner and realized that it was Julia’s. The first task was “Write in my gratitude journal.” The second one was “Do something nice for someone else.” Julia was a busy college student. How did she find time to keep a journal and do random acts of kindness? When I asked her about it, she said, “Those two habits go together. Writing in my gratitude journal makes me want to do nice things for other people.”
“What a wonderful thing to do!” I said, “I love that your gratitude fuels your acts of kindness.” I took a plain notebook and wrote, “I’m thankful for...” I prepared my husband’s favorite dinner, sent an encouraging text to a friend, and baked another batch of cookies for Julia to share with her friends.
1. Why does the author like the planner most?A.She often used it while being a teacher. |
B.She wants to keep her life organized. |
C.She is a person of doing things in order. |
D.She tends to focus on working effectively. |
A.The various arrangements the author had a day. |
B.The constant changes the author made in life. |
C.The good habits the author wanted to develop. |
D.The different things the author delayed doing. |
A.Doing more exercise every day. | B.Completing her tasks in time. |
C.Keeping a balanced diet for her health. | D.Building more close bonds with others. |
A.Gratitude can fuel kindness. | B.Love is endless in a family. |
C.Blessing comes from nowhere. | D.Generosity is actually a virtue. |
【推荐1】Are you currently job searching?Whether you are looking for a new job or a part-time job,job searching can be difficult and frustrating.
It's important to determine what kind of jobs you want to apply for first,because everything you do and each step you take needs to support that direction.Once you are clear on what kind of jobs you want,it will help you find a more satisfying job.
Use Your Network.
At least 60%of jobs are found through networking,so you should not overlook the power of networking. Be strategic about your connections and the networking events you attend.
Read Job Descriptions Carefully.
Once you have found a job that you want to apply for,make sure to read the job description carefully.Do they want you to submit your resume online?Do they want a PDF of your resume?Do they want a cover letter or a bio video?
Set a Schedule and Stay Organized
You don't want to leave your job search to chance.Determine how much time a week you want to spend on your job search and then commit to that.Stay organized with your job searching efforts.You can include things like keywords and job titles you frequently search for.
A.Have a Clear Direction. |
B.You can also set a fixed time on your job searching. |
C.However,the good news is that you can find a satisfying job. |
D.We are exposed to all kinds of information. |
E.You can also keep track of the jobs you have applied for. |
F.Do they ask you to submit your application to a specific email address? |
G.Make sure you have something meaningful to contribute to the discussion. |
【推荐2】When I was named CEO of a global company in 2006, I was determined to run the company so that it would both deliver good short-term performance and thrive in the long term, years after I was gone. It was already in good shape, but I dreamed of creating a defining corporation of the 21st century, proud of its root, yet global and responsible in the shifting times.
For months, I quietly read all I could about the big social trends influencing business. I walked the market, and examined employees’ feedback. I also dug deep into the obligations of public corporations. From all of this emerged a vision for the company that guided us for the next dozen years or so. I called it “Performance with Purpose”. The goal was to deliver great financial returns, as we always had, with three additional clear objects: to nourish humanity and the communities, to protect our environment and to cherish our people.
My motivation was wholly to “future proof”, or de-risk. And it worked. In my 12 years as CEO, total shareholder return was 149%, and net profit jumped 80%. We cut the salt, fat, and sugar in so da and chips, added more healthful brands and products, and lowered the amount of water needed. We kept innovation going and our design studios won many awards. Our talent academy was so brilliant that nine senior managers left to take CEO jobs elsewhere.
I believe that leaders must think from the future back, even when things are going fine. And we now have a framework to help: the evolving templates (模板) for environmental, social, and governance metrics (ESG衡量标准) that, in essence, serve to de-risk companies and markets. These criteria force discussion of hard truths for anyone with the ambition to stay relevant in the long term. If the metrics are carefully selected, ESG is not contrary to investors’ interests. Importantly, de-risking the company actually creates shareholder value.
“Performance with Purpose” presented tough moments for me, including when one investor questioned, “Who do you think you are? A philanthropist (慈善家)?” But skepticism faded when a collective mission took hold that included both the bottom line and much beyond. This was my hope from the start.
1. The author’s new vision for the company came from _________.A.its unique cultural root | B.her thorough research |
C.customers’ fundamental needs | D.shareholders’ strong requirements |
A.shift its strategies properly | B.value employees’ feedback |
C.shoulder social responsibility | D.prioritize financial returns |
A.The risks a company may face. | B.The author’s ambition to create value. |
C.The interests investors seek after. | D.The author’s recipe for successful business. |
A.inspiring and warm-hearted | B.determined and far-sighted |
C.ambitious and generous | D.modest and strategic |
【推荐3】When I was six, I was so desperate to be out in nature. I’d be transported through David’s documentaries (纪录片) to all these amazing places. I did a PhD studying ants and butterflies, before getting a call from the BBC asking about my work for a show called Life in the Undergrowth. I was so excited and immediately begged, “Please let me help!”
Sir David himself came to film with me, so I got to meet him early on, and he is the loveliest person. Something was wrong with the car. He dived straight under it to try to fix it. His enthusiasm and passion was so real. The first trip I did with him was to Israel as an assistant producer, then in Madagascar. My dream came true.
Usually, we spend six weeks filming for about three minutes of TV. What usually happens is that we’re going to film one thing but the animal ends up doing something else. We stay in whatever basic accommodation is the closest, because we can’t waste time on the way. So it’s rare that we stay in a hotel. Patience is the key, then learning and listening.
Of course you encounter animals that could hurt you. There was a moment on Planet Earth where a wolf approached me and we had to push it off with a camera. During filming for Seven Worlds we came across a beautiful but deadly snake, which casually came into our room. I took it up in a hat and put it back into the jungle. I still remember the chimps in Senegal jumped on a tree next to me and pushed it to the ground. He was like saying, “You can stay here, but if I wanted to crash you, I could.”
When we film certain animals, like lions for example, we must be vigilant. We know they will attack other creatures for their territories, but there’s something fascinating in the small creatures. I’ve always cared about these beautiful lives and the planet. I desperately want to preserve the creatures in the natural world.
1. Why did the author agree to work for BBC?A.He could work with David. | B.He would travel abroad. |
C.He could study more animals. | D.He would become famous. |
A.Enthusiasm. | B.Listening. | C.Patience. | D.Observation. |
A.Clever avoidance keeps animals away. | B.Filming in nature has potential danger. |
C.The author prefers strange experiences. | D.Violent behaviors are common in the wild. |
A.Cautious. | B.Strict. | C.Energetic. | D.Powerful. |
【推荐1】My family and I belonged to a country club located across the street from the Long Island Sound. Each summer, the big attraction for us was the pool. I learned how to swim and joined the swimming team but was never really a good swimmer. However, swimming in my younger days was a way to keep cool, and swimming on a team gave me identity and a sense of belonging. It also became invaluable many years later.
Fast-forward (快进) to 1973 – I was married, pregnant and had a home. What made our little home even more wonderful was when I discovered that four blocks away was Rath Park Pool! For the next 30 years, most of our summer days were spent around that pool.
Each of my five kids took swimming lessons and learned all the different swimming strokes (姿势). They later joined the swim team and competed in meets. My daughter even became a lifeguard at the town pool. I sat back and happily took it all in!
As much as I would have liked to have life stand still, it doesn’t. My children outgrew their pool days and moved on. But the pool was still four blocks from my home, so I began to take up swimming again. And it was far better than I ever could have imagined. I got so much out of it that I joined the local pool so I could swim year-round. Whenever I swam, I would always come out feeling physically and mentally refreshed. I often felt that if I looked hard enough, I would be able to see all of the worries and problems I’ve had in life, sitting at the bottom of the pool!
What has swimming taught me? I’ve learned that balance is the key to being a good swimmer. If you are balanced in the water, you have no resistance. Working on staying balanced made me realize the similarities between life in and out of the swim lane (泳道). If you work on keeping yourself balanced, you will be able to swim right through the stress and problems life throws at you!
1. What can we learn about the author from Paragraph 1?A.Her family taught her how to swim. |
B.She swam with friends more often in summer. |
C.Swimming brought her lifelong benefits. |
D.She was elected to be the swim team captain. |
A.The author loved the pool days with her kids. |
B.Swimming was losing its appeal to the author. |
C.Her kids’ winning competitions made her proud. |
D.The author preferred to have a peaceful life. |
A.Sports can give you the courage to face difficulties. |
B.She mastered more swimming skills than expected. |
C.It enabled her to see how to handle problems in life. |
D.Swimming made her remember her younger days. |
A.The wonderful pool days with the author’s family. |
B.The influence of swimming on the author’s life. |
C.The physical and mental benefits of swimming. |
D.The similarities between swimming and life. |
【推荐2】One day I got in a taxi, and we left for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly,a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver stopped his car at once. The tire made a very loud noise, and at the very last moment our car stopped just one inch from the back of the other car.
I was frightened. But then I couldn’t believe what happened next. The driver of the other car, the guy who almost caused a big accident, turned his head and started yelling at us. I couldn’t believe it! But my taxi driver just smiled at the guy. So I asked,“Why did you just do that? This guy almost sent us to hospital.”
This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, “The Law of the Rubbish Truck.” He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of rubbish, full of anger. As their rubbish piles up, they look for a place to throw it away and sometimes they’ll throw it at you. Don’t take it personally. Just smile, wish them well, and move on. Don’t take their rubbish and spread it to other people at work, at home or on the streets.
Successful people never let rubbish trucks change their moods. Life is too short to wake up in the. morning with regrets, so love those who love you and pray for those who don’t.
1. Which of the following is NOT true according to the first paragraph?A.The writer went to the airport by taxi that day. |
B.The taxi driver stopped his car in time. |
C.The black car jumped out and crashed into the taxi. |
D.A car accident nearly happened on the writer’s way to the airport. |
A.道歉 | B.傻笑 | C.吼叫 | D.告别 |
A.silly and dishonest | B.wise and friendly |
C.helpful but nervous | D.modest but impatient |
A.Fight with people like rubbish trucks. |
B.Make friends with people like rubbish trucks. |
C.Have a quarrel with people like rubbish trucks. |
D.Don’t let rubbish trucks change our moods. |
【推荐3】In 1984, I was a painfully insecure teenage girl from a dysfunctional family, depressed, underweight, and rejected by my classmates. My only comfort was to be the stage manager at our school.
One day, actors from the famous Oregon Shakespeare Festival came to perform for the school. One of them was Barry Kraft, and he was unlike anyone I’d ever met. As I ran around backstage helping him, he treated me with friendliness and respect that he would show for friends in his living room.
He showed up at our drama class and asked everyone to narrate a monologue (独白). To my shock, he took me aside after class and said, “Your monologue was the best. That was really very good.”
I made it through graduation and got accepted to college. That summer, I traveled with a friend to see Mr. Kraft perform. During one performance, I gathered up my courage and dropped him a note during the break, saying I was visiting and if he looked he could see us. Almost immediately I regretted sending the note. I thought it was the most presumptuous (留失的) thing I had ever done.
At the end of the show, he was waiting for me! He smiled broadly and gave me a hug. Then he said, “Would you like to visit backstage?” And off we went. Every time we met someone, he introduced me and said, “She’s a very good performer who was a huge help to me at her school visit.”
It is difficult to describe how important this man’s attention was to me. A successful actor doesn’t have to give a depressed teenager the time of day, but he did far more. My confidence had just increased 800 percent. I am now a happily married professional, and whenever I notice a teenager in need, I remember Barry Kraft. He saw a teenager in need of attention and support, and he took the time to help. So now I take the time, too.
1. What do we know about the author?A.She was loved by her parents. | B.She felt left out by her classmates. |
C.She suffered terribly from stage fright. | D.She was troubled by the issue of overweight. |
A.Friendly and considerate. | B.Intelligent and patient. |
C.Committed and generous. | D.Confident and energetic. |
A.The author will continue with her education. |
B.Barry Kraft will team up with the author. |
C.Barry Kraft inspired the author to study drama. |
D.The author will make efforts to assist teenagers. |
A.To introduce a famous actor. |
B.To encourage people to overcome difficulties. |
C.To share the author’s experience and its impact on her. |
D.To explain the reason why the author loves stage management. |
【推荐1】Amsterdam is one of the most popular travel destinations in the world, famous for its beautiful canals, top art museum and cycling culture. It is the capital and most populous (人口稠密) city in the Netherlands and often referred to as the “Venice of the North” due to its convenient system of bridges and canals. Here are some of the key points to remember as you plan your trip to Amsterdam.
Must-See Attractions
Most visitors begin their Amsterdam adventure in the Old Centre, which is full of traditional architecture, shopping centers and coffee shops. Don’t miss the Dam Square and the areas around Spui and Nieuwmarkt. You’ll also want to check out Amsterdam’s Museum Quarter in the South District, which is great for shopping at the Albert Cuyp Market and having a picnic in the Vondelpark.
Transportation
Travelers should be aware that Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is one of the busiest airports in the world. You can catch a train from Schiphol to Amsterdam Central Station, which has many connecting routes. Cycling is very popular here, and it’s easy to find cheap bike rentals around town.
Recommended Restaurants
Amsterdam is a top destination for foodies (美食家), so it is difficult to narrow down your dining choices. Here are a couple of our favorites.
Restaurant | Cuisine (风味) | Location | Price | Notes |
Foodism | Mediterranean | Nassaukade 122, 1052 EC | dishes from € 20 | Small portions are served so order 2-3 dishes per person |
Ciel Bleu | French | Hotel Okura, Ferdinand Bolstraat 333, 1072 LH | set-price menus from € 110 for dinner | Make advance booking and ask for a table by the window |
Money Saving Tips
• Unless you really want to see the tulips (郁金香) blooming, avoid booking between mid-March and mid-May. This is when hotel and flight prices rise sharply.
• Look for accommodations in Amsterdam’s South District, where rates are generally cheaper than in the city center.
• Buy train tickets at the machine instead of the counter to save a bit of money.
• Check out our homepage to view price comparisons for flights, hotels, and rental cars before you book.
1. Amsterdam earns the name “Venice of the North” because of its .A.modern traffic systems |
B.popular places of interest |
C.large numbers of bridges and canals |
D.big population and warm climate |
A.The Albert Cuyp Market. | B.Ciel Bleu. |
C.Foodism. | D.Vondelpark. |
A.book a hotel in April |
B.make advance booking at the machine |
C.check into a hotel at the city center |
D.compare the prices on the website |
A.A travel webpage. | B.A business report. |
C.A research paper. | D.A geography textbook. |
【推荐2】In our increasingly fast-paced, technology-driven world, most adults do not get the 8-10 hours of sleep every night. Things are even worse for those with young children. A recent study showed that 86% of parents in the UK complain of tiredness and about 26% get less than 5 hours of sleep every night. To give tired parents a little relaxation from their tight schedules (时间表), David Lloyd Clubs, a chain of gyms and fitness centers in Europe, has introduced a napping (小憩)class!
As the name suggests, the hour-long group class, described as a way to " refresh the mind, improve moods, and even bum the odd calorie (卡路里)", does not involve any hard exercise. Instead, the members are guided through 15 minutes of light stretching (伸展)to help them relax. Then, they are encouraged to lie under the blankets of a comfortable bed, cover their eyes with an eye mask, and take a nap for 45 minutes. With music playing in the background and the room set to the perfect temperature, they can be assured of the best possible sleep. The class is now being offered at just one place. If popular, they will be expanded (延伸)to other David Lloyd Clubs.
Do you know the good points of nap? A study conducted by Pennsylvania's Allegheny College found that midday naps not only help participants feel well-rested, but also enable them to deal with stress better. A follow-up study carried out at the University of California at Berkeley concluded that a 45-minute nap in the middle of the day helps to improve the learning abilities. The good news is that you do not have to make a trip to the U. K. to join this latest exercise fashion. You can get involved with the comfort of your own bed. So, go ahead and encourage your entire family to try a napping class.
1. Which idea does the study support?A.Parents often suffer from stress. | B.Students shouldn't have tight schedules. |
C.There should be more gym classes. | D.Naps contributes to your good health. |
A.The class members. | B.The trainers. |
C.The napping classes. | D.The organizers. |
A.An introduction. | B.An advertisement. |
C.A medical report. | D.A school report. |
【推荐3】Perhaps people have never realized that fashion materials should be one of the worst destroyers on our environment in countries across the world.
Everybody enjoys wearing warm fashionable sweaters, but they never realize how much harm they have done to the environment . Studies suggest that 70 percent of the damage to the grasslands is due to overgrazing(过度放牧).Because of that, tile balance of nature is broken, extreme weather occurs frequently, species are under serious threat, and finally grasslands are becoming desert gradually. The major real cause driving this activity is that human beings demand for cheaper wool to make fashionable clothing.
What you might not know is that the natural fibers for making clothes are often taken from trees in ancient forests or other plants such as bamboo and cotton . This means that the clothes we buy and wear are contributing directly to destroying forests and habitats. In fact, cotton is by no means a fully environmentally friendly crops on the planet. For a start, it uses so much water to. produce, which leads to the freshwater shortage across the globe. It can take 2,700 liters of water to make just one cotton T-shirt. Additionally, growing cotton requires high levels of pesticide and other dangerous chemicals that often pollute waterways and soil. As for man-made fibers, the damage done by them is far worse than other materials.
In recent years, retailers (零售商)have increased the number of fashion collections each season even-each month or week. Throwaway culture is known as "fast fashion" due to low prices . Every year, 100 billion new garments made from new fibers are produced, many of which soon end up in landfill(垃圾填埋场).A dress might cost a few pounds for the consumer, but there is a hidden cost to the wider environment including ecosystems and other species.
1. According to the passage, the real destroyer on the grasslands is ___.A.overgrazing | B.unbalanced nature |
C.human beings’ need | D.change of weather |
A.The cotton fiber. | B.The tree fiber. |
C.The man-made fiber. | D.The bamboo fiber. |
A.Opposed. | B.Approved. | C.Neutral. | D.Sympathetic. |
A.Damage to Our Environment |
B.Fashion Materials, the Hidden Environment Destroyer |
C.Destroying Forests and Habitats |
D.Throwaway Culture |