1 . How to Teach A Child to Ride A Bike?
You never forget how to ride a bike, but most of us forget how hard it was to learn.
Begin with the right equipment. Start with a bicycle that’s the right size. A newbie should be able to sit on the seat with both feet flat on the ground. If the child has been using a bike with training wheels, remove them.
Emphasize the basics. The fundamentals of biking are balance, coasting, pedaling, and steering. To help a child learn these basic skills, remember to show how to do that in the flesh and dare to let him try. No doubt there will be more than a few stops and starts and maybe even a fall or two.
Now practice a lot. After a fair number of dry runs, it’s time to move to the big stage. Find a bike path or a little-travelled street in a residential neighbourhood.
A.Find a safe spot to learn |
B.Go to practice with the child |
C.Encourage him to slow down and go on |
D.Show him how to share the road with cars |
E.A good-quality, well-fitting helmet is also a must |
F.That’s why the experience of teaching children to ride can be frustrating |
G.But eventually, he will manage to ride a fair stretch without stopping or falling |
A New Addition to the Family
For the initial ten years of his life, Victor was the prince of the household. As he was an only child, his parents petted him and showered all their love and attention on him. Whatever toys his parents bought, they were always meant for him. Whatever food was in the refrigerator, there was no one to compete with him to polish it off first. Victor could leave his toys or books around the house with complete ease of mind, knowing that there was no one who would get their hands on his belongings and cause any damage.
However, all that was to change overnight when Victor’s parents brought back his new baby sister, Lina, from the hospital. With her rosy cheeks, wide open eyes and angelic smile, Lina caught the hearts of her parents, grandparents and relatives. Everyone focused their attention on the cute bunch of joy. Whenever she cried, her mother or father would rush to her bed. She simply cried because she wanted to be carried. There was little time left for Victor.
Now that Victor’s mother had his baby sister to take care of, she expected Victor himself to do most of the chores he can do. Victor was asked to clean his own room, iron his own school uniform and clean his own shoes. Before Lina’s arrival, he had never lifted a finger to help out with these tasks. The whole family also went out less because it was unhealthy to expose Lina to the bacteria(细菌) being in the outside world too often.
Victor felt neglected by his parents. He felt that they loved Lina more than him. As a result, he tried to attract his parents’ attention by becoming resistant. One evening, Victor’s parents were called up by his teacher because Victor had got into a fight at school. His teacher had noticed Victor’s behaviour and work attitude changing downwards in the past two months. Before that, he had been a model student.
注意:1.续写词数应为150左右;2.请按如下格式在答题卡相应位置作答。
Upon hearing the teacher’s feedback, Victor’s parents got lost in thought.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Victor realized that his parents still cared for him.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________3 . I’m an American-born Chinese. I wouldn’t say I’m more American than Chinese or vice versa. My character was equally molded by both cultures. For a long time, I was comfortable with being from two cultures. I was fluent in “Chinglish”.
However, as I grew up, something unexpected rose, causing a parallel tension between the two corresponding cultures. During Chinese events when I was in China, the host would sometimes make fun of America. My relatives would look at me and laugh, asking me how I felt. But how could I respond to a question like that? If I said I was uncomfortable, it would just make me seem even more American in their eyes. But I couldn’t pretend to laugh either. So, I often just stayed quiet and smiled.
Sometimes, I’d leave China feeling less Chinese than when I went in.
This past summer, on my way back to Rochester, a man at the airport kept asking my father and I where we were from. When I told him I was from the United States, he didn’t seem to believe me.
He then went on to ask the terrible question, “But like where are you really from, like, where were you born?” And no matter how specific our answers were, the man still seemed a little doubtful. He then went on to ask us if we knew where Tampa, Florida was and if we knew anything about it. It’s moments like these when I realize that sometimes my appearance makes it hard for me to seem fully American.
These experiences made me question if I was more Chinese or American.
I felt like I was neither. So, if I wasn’t completely one culture or the other, what was I? In China, I would feel more American, while in America, I would feel more Chinese. There was no balance between my two cultures.
But this doesn’t mean that I don’t embrace (拥抱) both my identities. I love both my Chinese cultural identity and my American one. I just need to learn to love them together.
1. How did the author feel about his identity at the very beginning?A.Special. | B.Confident. | C.Confused. | D.Ridiculous. |
A.Because he found it hard to remain quiet and have a big smile. |
B.Because he was unable to speak fluent Chinese at his hometown. |
C.Because he had lost face in front of his relatives and friends. |
D.Because he was treated as an American by his Chinese relatives. |
A.His cultures. | B.His experience. | C.His look. | D.His air tickets. |
A.Being Culturally Homeless | B.A Boy with Two Identities |
C.A Chinese Boy Born in American | D.Better Chinese than American |
4 . For most people, life has become a burden on their shoulders, and its weight is growing heavier and heavier, until one day they can’t carry it anymore. So how can we design a life that is less complex and more meaningful? With minimalism (极简主义).
Appreciate all the amazing things you already have. We constantly compare ourselves to others who seem happier, more beautiful and more important than us. We try our best to imitate those we envy.
Do one thing at a time. Minimalist living actually means making the most out of each and every moment. We’re usually carrying out different tasks at the same time. So whatever we are doing, our mind is partly wondering somewhere else.
Develop mindfulness.
A.It is about enjoying life more with less. |
B.Stop consuming products you don’t need. |
C.Yet no matter how much we try, we always fail. |
D.Get rid of things that don’t serve your happiness. |
E.minimalist living requires a calm and undisturbed mind. |
F.Stop multitasking and concentrate on a single thing at a time. |
G.Unfortunately, our minds are filled with worries in our busy lives. |
5 . If you are currently learning English, 1 highly recommend you check out the apps below.
Quizlet
When learning English, you probably have to memorize a lot of words. If you want to grow your vocabulary as fast as possible, a flashcard app like Quizlet is a great shortcut. With Quizlet, you can create a set of flashcards with new English words you are trying to learn, and practice typing them out until you know them by heart. It's a simple concept, but it's highly effective.
Spotify
Spotify is not a language learning app. But chances are that you already use it or a similar app for listening to music or podcasts(播客), and one of the effective ways to study is combining something you already use into your existing habits. If Spotify is already on your phone, you can subscribe to some podcasts for English learners or download playlists of songs for learning English, or make your own.
Beelinguapp
Beelinguapp makes reading in English as convenient as possible. It shows you a text in your own language with the English translation side-by-side. Texts are short enough so that you can really dig into every word. They cover topics from fairytales, to science, to current news articles. There's even a "karaoke" feature where you can read along to audio, which helps you match up the English pronunciation with the English spellings.
Tandem
Tandem is a language exchange app which connects learners from all over the world. It can help you find a native English speaker who is trying to learn your native language, so you can swap language skills. If you only have five minutes to spare, you can simply exchange messages with a native English speaker. If you have more time, you can have a longer, digital language exchange" by sharing voice notes, or using video chat. It's a great way to test your English skills out with real people.
1. What is Spotify intended to help people do?A.Develop a good habit. | B.Listen to music or podcasts. |
C.Learn a foreign language. | D.Memorize words with flashcards. |
A.Learners can use their native language as a reference. |
B.It's convenient for learners to translate voice notes. |
C.It provides learners a chance to tell their own stories. |
D.Learners can sing English songs along to the music. |
A.Quizlet. | B.Spotify. | C.Beelinguapp. | D.Tandem. |
6 . Decision hard
From the moment we wake up each day, we’re faced with a continuous stream of choices.
When decision fatigue kicks in, you may feel like you just don’t have the mental bandwidth to deal with more decisions.
Here’s how to minimize or manage this phenomenon:
Tune into how you’re feeling. Be watchful of signs of decision fatigue and act accordingly: If you’ve had a demanding day that was filled with lots of decisions, put off making another one if you can. If things that wouldn’t normally upset you start bothering you, consider that a sign that you may not be in the best state of mind to make a major decision. “People may not realize that they’re experiencing decision fatigue,” Baumeister, a professor of psychology at the University of Queensland in Australia, says. “
A.Make some choices automatic |
B.It’s something to watch out for |
C.They should turn to the experts for advice |
D.Put down what you have in hand and take a break from them |
E.This can lead to decisional disfunction or decreased self-control |
F.If you like having oatmeal for breakfast, stick with it on a daily basis |
G.We tend to feel overwhelmed, anxious, stressed or otherwise out of sorts |
7 . Matt Haig, the best-selling author of the novel “The Midnight”, recommends some books that offer wisdom or comfort in difficult times.
Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Rilke (1929). This is the ultimate comfort read. The book is what the title suggests: letters from an older poet to a younger one. The great thing about Rilke’s advice is that it acknowledges the darkness and suffering of existence, yet manages despite that—or maybe even because of that—to inspire.
When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chödrön(1996). I read this book during the first lockdown, and it was the perfect read for uncertain times. Chödrön is a Buddhist, but the advice and philosophy in these relatively few pages speaks universally. It’s a great book about embracing life in its totality, about seeing hope and suffering as part of a whole.
The House at Pooh Corner by A.A. Milne(1928). The Winnie-the-Pooh stories really speak to people going through tough times. In many ways, each of the characters reflects a different mental state: Eeyore is depressed, Tigger is hyper-active, Piglet is anxious, and Pooh reflects a hope and optimism much needed in recovery. I reread this book when I was ill with a panic disorder, and it soothed me.
Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott (1994). In my opinion, this is the greatest book about writing ever written. But like Rilke, Lamott is offering far more than writing advice. She is offering wisdom on life and how to embrace its imperfect nature.
1. Which book came out first?A.Bird by Bird. |
B.The Midnight. |
C.Letters to a Young Poet. |
D.The House at Pooh Corner. |
A.The tough times are everywhere. |
B.Life consists of hope and suffering. |
C.People have a variety of mental states. |
D.The undesirable things of life can be ignored. |
A.All contain inspiring advice. |
B.They are based on true facts. |
C.Matt Haig instructed their novelists. |
D.Writing will be improved by reading them. |
8 . Ways to Show Gratitude (感激)
COVID-19 has a way of making people feel like their world was turned upside down overnight. They struggle with feeling frightened and feeling like everyone is overreacting (反应过度).
Give thanks for everyday things
One way to make gratitude a regular part of your day is to make it a habit to think of three things you are thankful for each day. It doesn’t really matter whether you perform this exercise first thing in the morning or just before you go to bed. The important thing is that you’re taking time and reflecting on what you are grateful for.
Keep track of everything you’re grateful for
Using a phone app like Gratitude Plus, you can record the things you’re grateful for. Another option is to use social media or even post-it notes to express your gratitude.
Reflect on past negative experiences
Look back on the worst moments in your life.
A.Make gratitude a daily habit. |
B.Stick to expressing gratitude in public. |
C.Then, compare those with where you are now. |
D.Gratitude doesn’t have to be over the top or something significant. |
E.You can hardly stay strong while recalling the moments that ever happened. |
F.But learning to practice gratitude every day can bring some changes to your life. |
G.The key is to use a method to help you remember the things you are grateful for. |
It doesn’t impress like George Washington’s plantation on the Potomac, but Lincoln’s home in downtown Springfield, Illinois,
When the house was built, it was much
Although Mary loved flowers,
A MOTHER’S DAY SURPRISE
The twins were filled with excitement as they thought of the surprise they were planning for Mother’s Day. How pleased and proud Mother would be when they brought her breakfast in bed. They planned to make French toast and chicken porridge. They had watched their mother in the kitchen. There was nothing to it. Jenna and Jeff knew exactly what to do.
The big day came at last. The alarm rang at 6 a.m. The pair went down the stairs quietly to the kitchen. They decided to boil the porridge first. They put some rice into a pot of water and left it to boil while they made the French toast. Jeff broke two eggs into a plate and added in some milk. Jenna found the bread and put two slices into the egg mixture. Next, Jeff turned on the second stove burner to heat up the frying pan. Everything was going smoothly until Jeff started frying the bread. The pan was too hot and the bread turned black within seconds. Jenna threw the burnt piece into the sink and put in the other slice of bread. This time, she turned down the fire so it cooked nicely.
Then Jeff noticed steam shooting out of the pot and the lid starting to shake. The next minute, the porridge boiled over and put out the fire. Jenna panicked. Thankfully, Jeff stayed calm and turned off the gas quickly. But the stove was a mess now. Jenna told Jeff to clean it up so they could continue to cook the rest of the porridge. But Jeff’s hand touched the hot burner and he gave a cry of pain. Jenna made him put his hand in cold water. Then she caught the smell of burning. Oh dear! The piece of bread in the pan had turned black as well.
注意:1.续写词数应为150左右。2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
As the twins looked around them in disappointment, their father appeared.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________The twins carried the breakfast upstairs and woke their mother up.
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