Stepping out of your comfort zone can be a powerful experience, offering opportunities for growth and self-discovery. Here are four effective ways to break free from the familiar and welcome new challenges.
Do one thing you’ve always wanted to
If you have a list of things you’ve always wanted to do but just haven’t gotten around to yet you’re not alone. Many people have so-called bucket lists (愿望清单) filled with meaningful experiences and goals they want to accomplish
Try a 30-day fitness challenge like running or cycling. Fitness challenges not only push you beyond your comfort zone but also improve your physical health and well-being.
Studies show that regular exercise decreases the effects of stress on the body, lowering anxiety levels. This makes it easier for you to try things outside your comfort zone, as one of the barriers to stepping outside of it is the feeling of anxiety that it triggers.
Change up your routine
Changing your routine actively is one way to get out of that boring cycle.
Choose a fear, and face it
You need to be brave to step out of your comfort zone.
Choose one fear that’s currently holding you back and face it. You can start with something small. For example, if you’re afraid of public speaking, practice speaking up more during meetings or join a local Toastmasters club.
A.Take on a fitness challenge. |
B.Improve your mental health. |
C.These changes break you out of old, comfortable routines. |
D.Being brave is not about removing fear but moving forward despite it. |
E.Challenge yourself by picking one thing you’ve always wanted to do and doing it. |
F.A routine built on good habits gives people stability and helps them get things done. |
G.For example, say you’re working remotely from the comfort of your home office every day. |
2 . On the side of the road in the Hoh Xil Nature Reserve (可可西里自然保护区) in Qinghai, you might see a fat wolf (狼). It wags the tail (摇尾巴) in front of the passing cars, hoping to get a meal.
However, the wolf was skin and bones a few months ago. It’s said that the old hungry wolf had to leave other wolves because it was not good at hunting (catching animals for food). But that all changed after a passing driver gave it some snacks to eat and put a video of it online. It made the wolf very popular, and a lot of people came to the reserve to provide it with food.
After that, the wolf started asking passing drivers for snacks. The snacks are high in sugar and salt. The wolf gets fatter and the change makes it look like a pet dog. Later, more wolves joined it.
People care about wild (野生的) animals, but their acts of feeding wild animals can be bad for both animals and themselves. It is hard for people to know if wild animals may hurt them or not, so it is better not to get close to wild animals.
1. What does the underlined part “skin and bones” probably mean?A.Thin and weak (虚弱的). | B.Fat and strong. |
C.Tired and dirty. | D.Healthy and happy. |
A.It’s interesting. | B.It’s dangerous. | C.It’s difficult. | D.It’s necessary. |
A.A popular fat wild wolf in the reserve. | B.Wild wolves are in danger now. |
C.Wolves are popular animals online. | D.A wolf brings much fun to people. |
(①=Para. 1)
A.①②|③|④ | B.①|②③|④ | C.①②|③④ | D.①|②③④ |
3 . I will never forget my experiences in the United States. I went to an American college a year ago. Yet I did not know the real American society until I was hurt in a car accident because after the accident I had to see a doctor and go to court (法院).
After the accident, my roommate called a doctor for me. I was very grateful and decided to repay him one day. But the next day, he asked me to pay him $200 for what he had done. I was amazed. He had good reason to charge me, he said. And if I wanted to collect money from the person who was responsible (负有责任的) for my accident, I’d have to have a good lawyer. And only a good doctor can help me get a good lawyer. Now that he had helped me find a good doctor, it was only fair that I should pay him. But every day I went to see the doctor, I had to wait about 50 minutes. He would see two or three patients at the same time, and often stop treating one so as to see another. Yet he charged me $115 each time. The final examination report consisted of ten lines, and it cost me $215. My lawyer was all smiles the first time we met. But after that he avoided seeing me at all. He knew very well the other party was responsible for the accident, yet he hardly did anything. He simply waited to collect his money. He was so irresponsible that I decided to refuse his help. And he made me pay him $770. Now I had to act as my own lawyer. I told the insurance (保险) company the date I was leaving America because of my inexperience (缺少经验). Knowing that, they played for time and I left without getting a cent.
My experiences taught me two things about America: firstly, in a country like America money is everything. It is more important than friendship, honor or professional morality. Secondly, foreigners are still being unfairly treated. So when we talk about America, we should see both its good and bad sides.
1. The writer’s roommate offered to help him because ________.A.he thought it was a chance to make some money | B.he felt sorry for the writer |
C.he knew the doctor was a very good one | D.he wanted the writer to have a good lawyer |
A.be well treated by the doctor | B.talk with the person responsible for the accident |
C.get what he should pay for his injury | D.get well before he leaves that country. |
A.selfish | B.friendly | C.rude | D.busy |
A.职责 | B.掌管 | C.索价 | D.命令 |
GT4 Mini Scooters (踏板车) $499.99WAS $799.99 Save $300.00 Choose color: black (5 in store), blue (0 in store), red (8 in store) Buy 2 or more can get an extra 5% off. Product Description: Designed with stability (稳定性) in mind, this lightweight four-wheel mini scooter can be divided into different parts and put in your car. It has a top speed of 3.8 mph and a range of up to 8 miles on a single battery, which can be charged (充电) on or off board. Weight carry ability is 115 kg. The GT4 has a height adjustable (可调节的), extra wide seat and adjustable armrests (扶手). When not in use, the seat can be taken off for easy storage. It also has a special braking (刹车) system for safety. Colors and Codes: black, D5858; blue, D5069; red, D5070 Weight: 48.4 kg Measures: 39in.(L) * 20in.(W) * 33in.(H) and it has a wheelbase of 30in. Delivery (递送): Heavy items are sent through specialist couriers (快递员) at a cost of $9.95. If the order has been sent in this way, delivery information will be included, helping you to know the progress of your order online. Delivery will take between 5 and 7 days. Returns Policy: For your complete peace of mind, our products may be returned to us within 30 days for the order price. Items must be returned unused, at your cost and in new condition. |
1. To buy a GT4, you should pay ________ in all.
A.$499.99 | B.$300.00 | C.$474.99 | D.$509.94 |
A.Its design makes it difficult to put in a car. | B.Its battery can be charged on or off board. |
C.Its armrests cannot be adjusted. | D.Its customers can choose a blue or a red one. |
A.the GT4 can carry at least 115 kg of things |
B.the GT4 will be sent to its customer in about 5 or 7 days |
C.a customer cannot follow the progress of the order online |
D.a product can be returned if you are not satisfied after using it |
5 . Ida Nelson was enjoying in her sister’s sauna (桑拿室) when she heard the sound of a small airplane circling the nearby airport.
It was 11:30 at night in a small village with a population of 70, and she said, “Any time a planeflies over that late, you know something is wrong.” Nelson and her sister ran to the window, and saw the problem—the airport’s runway lights were out.
Nelson put on her clothes, and drove her car to the airport, where she found a local pilot trying to turn on the lights manually. But the lights didn’t work with his hands.
Normally, if you push the button 10 or 15 times, the lights will just light up. Not this time. Meanwhile, she and the pilot learned of the plane’s task: it was a medevac (空中救护) there to send a seriously ill local girl, to the nearest hospital, 280 miles away in another city.
Nelson had a plan. Driving her car to the end of the runway, she shone her headlights for the plane to follow. Great idea, but it wasn’t enough. More light was needed, so she called nearly every home in the village—32 of them.
Within 20 minutes, 20 cars arrived at the airport, many of the drivers still in pajamas (睡衣). Following directions from the medevac pilot, the cars lined up on one side of the runway. The medevac, guided by the headlights, landed safely. The young patient was sent onto the plane, and the plane immediately took off. Her illness was never open to the public, but she has since been recovered.
Without them, the girl might not have made it. However, for Nelson, it was “quite a normal thing.”
1. What does the underlined word “manually” mean?A.Having the ability to think and understand. | B.Working by hand, rather than by electricity. |
C.In a way that is easy to understand. | D.Having the imagination to produce something new. |
A.Its lights went out by accident. | B.It couldn’t carry the patients as many as possible. |
C.It didn’t arrive at the airport’s runway on time. | D.It couldn’t land safely at dark night. |
A. | B. | C. | D. |
A.Serious and polite. | B.Quiet and friendly. |
C.Kind-hearted and honest. | D.Helpful and smart. |
A.The Sound of the Planet | B.A wonderful Sauna Try |
C.Great Little Thing | D.An Unusual Community |
6 . When it comes to clothes, especially for children, why do we buy new ones? Alison Howes, an Australian mom, recently asked herself this question. She realized that there was a need for pre-owned clothes and then started a community clothes exchange. “The cost of living is getting high and we need choices like this,” she said.
Howes’ clothes exchange works on a very simple basis. People receive credit (信用) for bringing clothes they no longer use and the credit can be used to buy other clothes.
Although clothes exchanges aren’t new, there is increasing popularity because of social media. “I like the fact that you can come in and exchange small baby sizes for larger sizes when your kids grow,” said Cassandra, a mother of two children.
Besides, clothes exchanges are also good for the environment. The coming of fast fashion (时尚) means that people can buy more clothes that don’t last as long as they used to. Over 15 tons of unwanted clothes and textiles (纺织品) end up in landfills (垃圾填埋场) in Australia every year. Only 7% of them get recycled, so reusing clothes can cut down on the waste.
Giving pre-worn clothes a second chance will make the life of the textiles last longer and that is what clothes exchanges are all about. Perhaps it will become a start as more and more things will appear on the exchange list and become part of our lives.
1. Why did Howes start the community clothes exchange?A.Because many people didn’t like new clothes. |
B.Because she had lots of pre-owned clothes. |
C.Because she wanted to help people save money. |
A.Bring her old clothes. |
B.Use her credit card. |
C.Share Howes’ project online. |
A.To tell us why fast fashion is popular. |
B.To encourage us to buy more clothes. |
C.To show us the huge waste of used clothes. |
A.Clothes exchanges will change the ways of making clothes. |
B.Clothes exchanges will set an example to other exchanges. |
C.Clothes exchanges will influence people’s emotions. |
A.Don’t Follow Fast Fashion Blindly |
B.Clothes Exchanges Are Becoming More Popular |
C.Exchanging Things Helps Protect the Environment |
Riding a bike can be great fun for you, and it’s a good way to keep fit. However, bike riding is also dangerous, especially when you’re sharing the road with motorized (机动车的) traffic.
Do not use your mobile phone while cycling
You should not use mobile phone while riding bikes because it can take the rider’s attention away from the road and people around you.
Do not change your direction suddenly
Make sure your bike is safe
Is your bike checked from time to time? If not, why not? Brakes (刹车) must work well in all situations: dry and wet.
Follow traffic laws
Traffic laws apply to you as a cyclist, as well as other road users.
A.So cyclists should follow traffic rules. |
B.Are the tyres in good condition to protect the safety of your trip? |
C.Here are some suggestions on how to keep safe. |
D.Show drivers what you plan to do in plenty of time. |
E.Ride across pedestrian crossings, unless you are allowed to. |
F.It can increase the risk of accidents. |
8 . Yan Minwen, a retired (退休的) engineer in Beijing, set up a free class to teach left-behind children in her hometown in Hebei Province.
Although Yan is not a teacher, it is a common wish of her and her husband to open such a class in the village. She told her husband that she wanted to open a class in her hometown, and her husband agreed.
However, before she set up the “small desks”, her husband fell ill and died. Yan was very sad, but she didn’t forget their wish. She rented (租) a room from her uncle, bought some used desks and chairs and started the class on March 23.
There are 19 students from Grade One to Seven in Yan’s class. Yan knows about each child well and talks about them as if they were her own grandchildren. They learn together and work together to solve problems.
“It is not about teaching, but about company (陪伴),” Yan said.
After learning that Yan is teaching in the village to help left-behind children, her old classmates send books to her every now and then to help her.
Some young people also want to help with “small desks” and Yan is always happy to see this happen. She said, “I am too old to take care of the class all by myself.” Yan wants to see more volunteers help these left-behind children and is planning to open a library in the village as soon as possible.
1. Why did Yan set up a free class?A.To make herself famous. |
B.To make as much money as possible. |
C.To help her grandchildren with their studies. |
D.To help the left-behind children in her hometown. |
A.Rent a room. | B.Buy some desks. |
C.Buy some chairs. | D.Buy food for children. |
A.Yan always feels lonely. |
B.Teaching is Yan’s dream. |
C.Company is the most important. |
D.Yan doesn’t teach children anything. |
A.Yan’s husband died. |
B.Yan wanted to set up a free class. |
C.19 students started to learn in Yan’s class. |
D.Yan first received books from her old classmates. |
A.A newspaper. | B.A storybook. |
C.A cartoon book. | D.A medical magazine. |
9 . Did you cut yourself by accident before? It is important to know the right steps to care for cuts and they are easy to follow. Please see the pictures and words below.
1. What does the writer think of following the right steps to care for cuts?A.Important and easy. | B.Unnecessary and difficult. |
C.Important but difficult. | D.Unnecessary but easy. |
A.Wash your hands. | B.Press the cut to stop bleeding. |
C.Use soap to wash the cut. | D.Cover the cut with a bandage. |
A.For 1 minute. | B.For 3 minutes. | C.For 5 minutes. | D.For 7 minutes. |
10 . Summer is almost here and for many it means — summer camp! In Guffey, Colorado USA, there is a very special camp each summer — Nighthawk Ranch.
Nighthawk Ranch is a camp for kids aged 10 to 18 who are recovering (康复) from cancer (癌症). Tom and Dorothy Evans started the camp to provide a good place for those children, helping them build hope and confidence (信心) in their future.
Each session of the camp is organized (被组织) for 7 kids at most, and each session lasts one week. All the sessions at Nighthawk Ranch are free! Many people and organizations give away money to Nighthawk Ranch, so the campers and their families don't need to pay anything.
At the camp, each camper needs to look after a horse for the week, and they will learn to ride the same horse. Also, campers get to experience other activities, like water sports, archery (射箭) and arts.
Most of the campers start the week a little unfriendly to each other, and a little shy around the horses. By the time the last day comes, they are completely different children! It is great to see the changes in them.
Nighthawk Ranch is so much more than a summer camp. It's a truly wonderful experience for children and their families.
根据短文内容选择最佳答案。1. The underlined word “it” in the first paragraph refers (指代) to ________.
A.the summer camp | B.summer | C.Nighthawk Ranch |
A.help kids learn life skills |
B.make kids get close to animals |
C.help kids with cancer build hope and confidence |
A.a period of time spent on an activity |
B.a group of people doing the same thing |
C.a couple of activities |
A.how popular the camp is |
B.how kids change after the camp |
C.what kids do at Nighthawk Ranch |
A.The campers and their families need to pay much money for the camp. |
B.Each camper will only learn how to ride a horse at the camp. |
C.We may find the passage in a magazine for kids. |