Jason was a 10-year-old football player who lacked a little speed, yet he made up for it through his good attitude. Jason never missed a practice, even though he was a substitute (替补队员) on my team and had few chances to attend the game. Even so, Jason was never discouraged, and always made a sincere effort.
One day, he didn’t come to practice. When he didn’t show up on the second day, as his coach, I called his home to check on him. One of his out-of-town family members informed me that Jason’s old grandfather had passed away and that the family was making funeral (葬礼) arrangements. When his grandfather was alive, he never could see Jason play; it made Jason feel bad. Now his grandfather had gone; I felt sorry for Jason.
Two weeks later, Jason returned to my team, ready for practice. Only three days of practice remained before our next game. This was an important game because we were against a very strong team. And we only had a one-game lead over them. This was a critical game at a key point in the season.
When the big day rolled around, my top players were ready to rush onto the field. It was a summer evening and the sky was filled with beautiful shiny stars. Before the game, Jason and other players lay on the grass to relax. Jason, who lay beside me, stared at the sky all the time. Suddenly, he whispered to me with excitement, “Coach, look at that shiniest star! My grandpa is on it. He said he would be on the shiniest star in the sky after he was gone.” Touched, I said, “Sure, boy!”
Minutes later, the game started and my top players ran to the field. Jason together with me and a few other substitutes watched on the bench. To my disappointment, my team didn’t perform well.
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When the other team scored two goals while my team scored none, I was so anxious.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Motivated by Jason, my team played with more enthusiasm.
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3 . There is a famous study called “the marshmallow (棉花糖) test”, conducted by Stanford University professor Walter Mischel. The experiment measured how well children could delay immediate gratification (满足) to receive greater rewards in the future an — ability that predicts success later in life.
For a long time, people assumed that the ability to delay gratification had to do with the child’s personality and was, therefore, unchangeable. But more recent research suggests that social factors—like the reliability of the adults around them — influence how long they can resist temptation (诱惑). Now, findings from a new study add to that science, suggesting that children can delay gratification longer when they are working together toward a common goal.
In the study, researchers repeated a version of the marshmallow experiment with 207 five- to six-year-old children from two very different cultures —Western, Germany and a farming community in Kenya. Kids were first introduced to another child and given a task to do together. Then, they were put in a room by themselves, presented with a cookie on a plate, and told they could eat it now or wait until the researcher returned and receive two cookies. (The researchers used cookies instead of marshmallows because cookies were more attractive treats to these kids.) Some kids received the standard instructions. But others were told that they would get a second cookie only if they and the kid they’d met (who was in another room) were able to resist eating the first one. That meant if both cooperated, they’d both win.
Results showed that both German and Kikuyu kids who were cooperating were able to delay gratification longer than those who weren’t cooperating. Apparently, working toward a common goal was more effective than going it alone.
“Delaying gratification is not just about material benefits,” says Sebastian Grueneisen, coauthor of the study. “Addressing various social issues often necessitates giving up short-term gains for long-term advantages.”
1. What was the traditional belief about kids’ ability to delay gratification?| A．It is dependent on rewards. | B．It is relevant to intelligence. |
| C．It is linked to social factors. | D．It is a fixed personality trait. |
| A．It is an extended version of Mischel’s experiment. | B．It took age differences into consideration. |
| C．It was carried out on a local basis. | D．It reveals the secret of success. |
| A．Self-control. | B．Reliable adults. | C．Cooperation. | D．Cultural differences. |
| A．Instant rewards bring short-term benefits. | B．Delaying gratification holds social value. |
| C．Cooperation is motivated by self-satisfaction. | D．Social development outweighs personal benefits. |
4 . As a mother who had three kids in public schools, it always bothered me that the elementary school had a voluntary “reading club” in which students received prizes based on how much reading for pleasure they did each week. The message seems all wrong: We have to bribe (贿赂) you to read for fun.
A survey by the National Assessment for Educational Progress found that the numbers of 9- and 13-year-olds who say they read for enjoyment almost every day dropped from slightly more than half in 1984, to 42% during the 2019-20 school year. The trend among middle schoolers is worse. The percentage who frequently read for fun dropped by more than half, to 17%, while the percentage who seldom or never do more than tripled (增至三倍).
Meanwhile, a British study found that reading for pleasure had much wider benefits, resulting in better vocabulary, spelling and mathematical abilities. According to the nonprofit reading-advocacy group Kids Read Now, readers also learn better empathy (同理心), decision-making and social skills.
One contributor to this disappointing trend seems obvious: Social media and other digital activities are heavy draws and can consume hours of time. But some librarians and students point to other reasons as well: As students advance in school, required reading of textbooks and classroom-assigned literature increases. They may be reading more, but often enjoying it less.
Reading for pleasure isn’t the same as assigned reading because kids need to be able to relax with the reading material of their choice. As a child, my son used to finish his reading for school and then sigh (叹息) with pleasure, saying, “Now I can read.”
Parents play a key role in changing this situation, but many may not realize how important it is to expose their kids to books, magazines and the like. Giving older students more choices in what they read for class would help encourage pleasure reading too. The class could make group choices or students could pick from a menu of options instead of being assigned a single book. When there are just a few choices and we spoon-feed them to kids, we just deprive them of the experience of realizing there’s a bigger world of books out there for them to explore.
1. What made the author annoyed according to paragraph 1?| A．The messages sent by the reading club each week. |
| B．The lack of reading clubs in the elementary school. |
| C．The unrealistic reading goals set by the elementary school. |
| D．The way to encourage elementary school students to read for fun. |
| A．By listing some persuasive figures. | B．By providing some research results. |
| C．By referring to some experts’ views. | D．By sharing her own parenting experience. |
| A．It takes time to finish reading for school. |
| B．Parents should read together with their kids. |
| C．The reading for school is hardly fun for children. |
| D．Children have difficulty choosing reading materials. |
| A．Keep them from. | B．Prepare them for. |
| C．Lead them to. | D．Fill them with. |
1. Who first made the nickname “The Big Easy” popular in the early 1970s?
| A．A newspaper writer. | B．A crime novel writer. | C．A politician. |
| A．Gentle and slow. | B．Easy-going. | C．Quick and busy. |
| A．For its yearly music festival. |
| B．For its wild celebrations each year. |
| C．For its shape. |
| A．NOLA. |
| B．The Crescent City. |
| C．The Birthplace of Rock and Roll. |
1. When should you arrive when invited to a party at 8:00 in America?
| A．From 8:00 to 8:30. | B．From 8:30 to 9:00. | C．From 9:00 to 9:30. |
| A．Music. | B．Cigarettes. | C．Games. |
| A．Beer. | B．Wine. | C．Cookies. |
| A．He will attend a party. |
| B．He has never been to a party. |
| C．He is good at dancing. |
7 . Dragons, a famous imaginary beast born from fantasy, are often present in stories in the west and east. In both cultures, dragons are generally recognized as massive creatures capable of flight. They have great power and are often associated with magical abilities. However, due to their different cultural roots and images, there exist significant differences in the way dragons are regarded in the west and east, particularly in China.
Chinese dragons most resemble snakes, and have four claws and no wings. They often have features of other animals, including carp, tigers, and eagles. In the contrast, Western dragons look like huge lizards with big claws and large bat-like wings, and are often shown with spines or rough scales.
In traditional Chinese culture, a dragon is a symbol of luck, power and high status. They can cause weather changes and bring rainfall to the fields to ensure rich harvests. They are considered divine (神圣的) creatures, which hold an important position as the head of the four spirits. Therefore, to symbolize their power, ancient Chinese emperors decorated their clothes with dragon patterns. These clothes are known as dragon robes. Many Chinese view the dragon as a national symbol, proudly referring to themselves as “descendants of the dragon”. In the west, however, a dragon symbolizes an evil creature that spreads violence and terror throughout the land. They are believed to be transformed by the devil, with the ability to breathe fire or spit poison. Many western tales show dragons being defeated and killed to protect people from danger.
Today, dragons continue to evolve, exceeding traditional boundaries and finding new significance in global culture. They are no longer associated with evil or good, but rather as complex characters with their own unique personalities and motivations. For example, Toothless from How to Train Your Dragon begins as a dangerous dragon but evolves into a misunderstood being with love and compassion. This challenges the idea of dragons as naturally evil, presenting them as complex beings with emotions and motivations.
1. What do western dragons and eastern dragons have in common?| A．They have rough skin. | B．They are huge and powerful. |
| C．They are in the shape of snakes. | D．They have big claws and wings. |
| A．Western dragons are a symbol of authority. |
| B．Dragons in China can protect people from danger. |
| C．Chinese dragons can control rainfall and breathe fire. |
| D．Dragons are believed to cause chaos in western culture. |
| A．They are regarded as adventurous creatures. |
| B．They are closely associated with evil or good. |
| C．They have more diverse emotions and personalities. |
| D．They tend to represent human spirits facing challenges. |
| A．The Dragon Elements in Global Culture |
| B．The Origin of Dragons in Chinese History |
| C．The Magical Animals in Different Countries |
| D．The Images of Dragons in Western Traditions |
8 . This Week’s Events & More to Come
SIP & SUPPORTEnjoy dinner, delicious wine, dancing and music by Lonesome Found, all while supporting a great cause. This night of fun and fund raising will benefit the Pocono YMCA’s scholarship programs, which assist children and seniors.
Stroudsburg-2332 Walters Rd.(570) 421-2525 poconoymca. org
Price: $85/person; $170/couple; $450/table of six
HOUSEPLANT HOW — TO’S
Spring is here, and it’s the perfect time to address your houseplants’ needs before the growing season. Each participant can bring a houseplant in need of a little rehab(修复) and will choose a 6-inch houseplant to take home. Come for a night of fun and learning! Cocktail/mocktail and snacks provided. Reservations required.
Hawley -210 Welwood Ave.(570) 576-0490 gorgeous-floral. com
Price: $45/person
TRAVIS TRITT
Thirty years after Travis Tritt launched his music career, the Southern rock-influenced artist continues to sell out shows and stay true and relevant to country music fans across the globe. Tickets can be purchased at the Penn’s Peak Box Office (walk-up only) or through Ticketmaster.
Jim Thorpe-325 Maury Rd.(866) 605-7325 pennspeak. com
Price: $48/person
BODYWORKS GENTLE FLOW
Gentle Flow will take yoga beginners to the next level with a slower paced flow. This class will also allow for more time with each pose, softening and going deeper into the pose increasing strength and flexibility. Reservations required. An eight-hour cancellation policy is required. Class cards must be used within 90 days.
East Stroudsburg-95 Crystal St.(570)213-8356 bodyworkswellnessstudios.com
Price: $16/per class; $ 140/10 classes
1. What’s special about SIP & SUPPORT?
| A．It requires reservations. | B．It’s for charity purposes. |
| C．It aims at kids and seniors. | D．It provides snacks for free. |
| A．Have a houseplant improved. | B．Enjoy dinner and snacks for free. |
| C．Exchange houseplants with others. | D．Hold parties throughout the night. |
| A．TRAVIS TRITT. | B．HOUSEPLANT HOW-TO’S. |
| C．SIP & SUPPORT. | D．BODYWORKS GENTLE FLOW. |
1. What is the speaker most probably?
| A．A doctor. | B．An engineer. | C．A guide. |
| A．The muscle. | B．The blood. | C．The brain. |
| A．About 3%. | B．Less than 30%. | C．Nearly 50%. |
| A．Their brain can change eyes into ears. |
| B．Their brain can rewire itself for sounds. |
| C．Their brain can help ears to get simple images. |
1. How does the man feel about playing a game?
| A．Stressed. | B．Curious. | C．Relaxed. |
| A．Football. | B．Basketball. | C．Ice hockey. |
| A．Do some sports. | B．Watch more matches. | C．Make new friends. |
| A．It is easier to start. | B．It needs more skills. | C．It is competitive. |
