1 . Students are sitting in a classroom at P.S.54, a public elementary school in Brooklyn, New York. When their teacher, Adrienne Heim, strikes a bell, they take a deep breath.
The kids are practicing mindfulness. That means they are learning to pay attention to the present moment. Why?
Being mindful can help people stay calm and focused, according to Heim. She is the founder of Green Generations. The organization brings mindfulness classes to eight schools in New York City.
Isafye Lewis, 10, has been taking in the class at P.S.54 for two years. "Mindfulness teaches me to relax, " he told TFK. "It really helps me feel better when I'm sad or angry."
At P.S.54, students practice mindfulness through deep breathing, movement, and relaxation exercises. But Heim says that mindfulness is about more than just staying calm. It also boosts confidence. "It helps children have a right attitude, " She says, "so they can make healthy decisions."
Recent research published in Developmental Psychology supports this view. The study also found that mindfulness training can help kids succeed in school. That's because it trains the brain to pay attention and manage stress.
"It doesn't solve math equations for kids," Mariam Gates, author of This Moment Is Your Life, told TFK. "But what mindfulness does for all of us is help us focus on the moment we're in, which is the only place we can learn, change, or grow."
But you don't have to be in a classroom to practice mindfulness. Gates says, "You can always bring your attention to this moment and change how you experience it."
1. Why do the students take a deep breath when the teacher strikes a bell?| A．They are afraid of the teacher. | B．They are practising mindfullness. |
| C．They are taking an exam. | D．They are having singing class. |
| A．How to take it easy. | B．How to stay focused. |
| C．How to stop being sad. | D．How to get high grades. |
| A．shakes. | B．studies. | C．raises. | D．requires. |
| A．It does little to help kids' studies. | B．It helps kids make decisions. |
| C．It makes kids less stressful. | D．It helps kids pay attention. |
| A．An organization centered on mindfulness. | B．A new study on mindfulness. |
| C．An introduction to mindfulness. | D．The influences of mindfulness. |
2 . In the past 50 years, the amount of water in the open ocean with zero oxygen has increased more than four times. In coastal water bodies, including the river mouth and seas, low-oxygen sites have increased more than 10 times since 1950. Scientists expect oxygen to continue dropping even outside these zones as the Earth warms. To stop the decline, the world needs to control in both climate change and nutrient pollution.
Oxygen is a must to life in the oceans. The drop in ocean oxygen is among the most serious effects of human activities on the Earth’s environment.
This is the first time for the scientists to take such a deep look at the causes, consequences and solutions to low oxygen worldwide, in both the open ocean and in coastal waters. About half of the oxygen on the Earth comes from the ocean. However, combined effects of nutrient loading and climate change are greatly increasing the number and size of “dead zones”in the open ocean and coastal waters, where oxygen is too low to support most sea life.
In areas traditionally called “dead zones”, like those in Chesapeake Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, oxygen drops to levels so low that many animals have trouble in breathing and die. As fish run away from these zones, their living areas become smaller and smaller. But the problem goes far beyond “dead zones”. Even smaller oxygen drops can hold up the growth in animals, reproduction and lead to disease or even death. Low oxygen also can cause the release of dangerous chemicals. While some animals can thrive in dead zones, overall biodiversity falls.
1. What does the underlined word “decline” mean ?| A．Increase. | B．Drop. | C．Keep. | D．Double. |
| A．10%. | B．25%. | C．40%. | D．50%. |
| A．The oxygen in these areas is too low for the animals to live. |
| B．Ships are easy to break down and sink in these areas. |
| C．There are no animals living in these areas. |
| D．Many people died in these areas. |
| A．All animals living in the sea need oxygen. |
| B．Climate change can help cut down the dead zone. |
| C．Fish grow faster and better in low oxygen area. |
| D．Human activities have many bad effects on environment. |
| A．Dead zone in water is becoming larger. |
| B．Oxygen in water is necessary for sea animals. |
| C．The drop in ocean oxygen causes bad effects. |
| D．Low oxygen can cause the release of dangerous gas. |
3 . I hear some actors keep a sad thought or memory tucked away to help them with scenes where they might need to cry. I think we should each try to find the opposite; a happy memory, something to lift us up on those inevitable down days. I’m saying this because I think I just found mine!
I had some work in Glasgow today. I was on a really tight schedule, which meant I would have no time for myself (or my own work) all day. I was having one of those days, the train was completely packed out and the conversation going on around me seemed to be particularly inane. On top of all that, I had a bit of a headache.
Walking briskly across the concourse, I fished some change from my pocket. There was usually someone at the exit selling The Big Issue (a magazine that helps homeless folk earn a living).
As the crowd parted ways at the bottom of the concourse, I saw someone selling the Big Issue. You had to be homeless to sell the Big Issue. She really looked like she’d been sleeping rough. Her clothes were ragged and she obviously hadn’t had a scrub up for quite a while.
As I approached the exit, I saw that she was also rocking from side to side. At first I thought maybe she was trying to keep warm against the biting wind. But she wasn’t, she was moving in time to a tune. I couldn’t hear her, but I could see her lips moving.
As I got closer, I saw a white cane hanging from her elbow and noticed that she had sunken eyes. She was blind, dirty and living on the streets. I came closer and through the noise of the traffic and the commuters I heard her sing the immortal line, “… and I think to myself, what a wonderful world!”
I bought her last magazine for twice what I’d originally intended. She thanked me, then she picked up her stuff and went tapping off along the pavement - still singing!
So, I have my happy memory for the day. And I think it will stay with me a long, long time. Feel free to borrow it if you like.
1. Why do some actors keep a sad thought or memory according to the passage?| A．Because some of them always feel unhappy | B．because they are scolded by the director |
| C．Because it helps meet the needs of their roles | D．Because they can’t find a happy memory |
| A．Made | B．exchanged | C．pull into | D．took out |
| A．Only those homeless people can sell the magazine |
| B．The author heard her singing as he came close to the exit |
| C．The girl selling the magazines was blind, dirty and homeless |
| D．The author never heard what the girl was singing |
| A．the author had a headache because of his busy work |
| B．the author bought more magazines than planned to |
| C．the girl went away as soon as she sold out magazines |
| D．the author felt unhappy because he missed his train |
| A．A happy Memory to Lift You Up |
| B．An Unforgettable Day I Experienced |
| C．The Roses in Her Hand: the Flavor in Mine |
| D．A Bird in the Hand is Worth than Two in the Bush. |
4 . You can choose happiness regardless of your circumstances. You can choose to be happy no matter what challenges life brings you. Let the following simple strategies guide you back to your natural happy state.
Make lemonade when life gives you lemons.
Besides happiness, trouble will also be part of life. It’s how you choose to react to your situations that make the difference. If you look at something hard enough, you’ll see the positive side of it.
Do what you love doing.
Do you have a lifelong dream or desire? If so, start working towards it. Taking baby steps towards a goal will help you feel like you’re accomplishing something. You’ll find drive and determination to reach that goal when it’s something you love doing.
Use one of your talents.
One reason why so many people are unhappy is that they’re not doing what they’re called to do with their God-given talents. Each of us has a purpose in life. You have natural talents to help you achieve your purpose, so use your talents effectively.
Call a friend who you know is positive and cheerful.
Talk about your feelings and listen to their advice. Usually, people allow themselves to go deeper and deeper into self-depression. The truth is that you don’t have to be sad. You can decide to be happy. You just have to make up your mind to do so.
Gratitude is the quickest cure for sadness.
When you focus on what’s wrong with your life, you forget to look at what’s right and good. Take a step back and reflect on your life. Do you have children or family to be thankful for? Yes, they may not be the person we’d like them to be, but imagine life without them. Now, be thankful that you have them in your life.
Let your feelings out on paper.
Often you’ll find that just getting your feelings down on paper will allow you to work through them, helping you feel better about yourself and your beautiful life!
1. The first paragraph is used to _______.| A．expect readers to ignore themselves |
| B．start a discussion among readers |
| C．introduce the topic to readers |
| D．carry out a challenge among readers |
| A．trouble is part of life |
| B．lemonade is very delicious |
| C．life is full of sweetness and bitterness |
| D．lemons can only be used to make lemonade |
| A．diverse | B．natural |
| C．excellent | D．learned |
| A．Be grateful. | B．Do many activities. |
| C．Call a cheerful friend. | D．Use one of your talents. |
| A．excited | B．depressed |
| C．bad-tempered | D．kind-hearted |
Can’t your newspaper do something about the custom of hitchhiking?
A short time ago, on a car travel I counted at least 50 people standing beside the road, asking for rides. Many of them were young women.
Don’t they understand how dangerous it is to get into the car driven by a stranger? How much do they know about the driver? Is he a good driver of not? Nothing!
Many of these young hitchhikers may come from good families. Don’t their parents teach them anything about the world? I always taught my children not to talk to strangers. I never let them take rides from people they didn't know.
Isn’t there enough crime (犯罪) today without asking for trouble by hitchhiking? On the other hand, hitchhiking may bring some traffic trouble. Don’t you think what I said is true?
A Worried Grandfather
1. The word “hitchhiking” means ______.| A．waiting for a bus at the bus station |
| B．driving to somewhere in a dangerous way |
| C．going somewhere by getting free rides in others’ cars |
| D．asking a stranger the ways in a car |
| A．He will either return the letter to the old man or give it to the police station. |
| B．He will write back to the Worried Grandfather and tell him not to hitchhike. |
| C．He will write something about the danger of hitchhiking in the newspaper. |
| D．He will hold a meeting to tell the drivers to make less traffic trouble. |
I needed to get some money so, after Christmas, I took a job in the clothes department at Graham’s for the first fortnight of the January sale. I can’t say that I enjoyed it, but it was an experience I’ll never forget.
I could never understand why there were so many things in the sales; where did they all come from? Now I know the secret! Firstly, there is the special winter stock (货物) and the stock that people buy all the year round; some of these things are slightly reduced. Secondly, there are the summer clothes they couldn’t sell last year; these are heavily reduced to clear them. Thirdly, there are cheap clothes bought in specially for the sales; these are put out at high prices ten days before the sale begins and then are reduced by 60% in the sale. Clever! Lastly, they buy in “seconds? (clothes not in perfect condition) for the sale and they are sold very cheaply.
When I arrived half an hour before opening on the first day of the sale, there was already a queue around three sides of the building. This made me very nervous.
When the big moment arrived to open the doors, the security guards, looking less confident than usual, came up to them, keys in hand. The moment they had unlocked the doors, they hid behind the doors for protection as the noisy crowd charged in. I couldn’t believe my eyes; this wasn’t shopping, it was a battlefield! One poor lady couldn’t keep her feet and was knocked over by people pushing from behind.
Clothes were flying in all directions as people searched for the sizes, colours and styles they wanted. Quarrels broke out. Mothers were using their small children to crawl(爬行) through people’s legs and get hold of things they couldn’t get near themselves.
Within minutes I had half a dozen people pushing clothes under my nose, each wanting to be the first served. Where had the famous English Queue gone? The whole day continued like that, but I kept my temper(脾气)! I was taking money hand over fist and began to realize why, twice a year, Graham’s were happy to turn their expensive store into a battlefield like this.
In the sale fever, people were spending money like water without thinking whether they needed what they were buying. As long as it was a bargain it was OK.
You won’t believe this but as soon as I got home I crashed out for four hours. Then I had dinner and went back to bed, fearing the sound of the alarm which would tell me to get ready for the second day of the sale.
1. What kind of clothes is likely to be sold 5% cheaper?
| A．Last summer’s clothes. | B．Clothes not in perfect condition. |
| C．Clothes bought in specially for the sales. | D．Clothes for winter. |
| A．The customers gave up the queuing for which the English are famous. |
| B．The customers kept their temper while looking for clothes they wanted. |
| C．Small children enjoyed crawling through people’s legs. |
| D．The security guards were fearless of the crowd. |
| A．There were too many clothes and they wanted to clear them in the sales. |
| B．They were eager to show that they were clever at doing business. |
| C．They could take the chance to raise the prices of all their clothes. |
| D．They wanted to make more money by having sales. |
| A．chatted with her friends | B．slept soundly |
| C．broke down | D．dined out |
| A．The Best Bargain. | B．Hunting for a job. |
| C．Sale Fever. | D．A Pleasant Fortnight. |
