1 . We often hear such statements “I spilled juice, but it wasn’t my fault.”, “I got in trouble at school, but it wasn’t my fault.” Or “I was in a car accident, but it wasn’t my fault.” That “It’s not my fault.” is a go-to response for so many people and especially teenagers.
Parents complain they are tired of the “excuse”. The reason why variations(变体) of “It’s not my fault.” are so popular is that it lets us off the hook from guilt and blame. I’m a fan of not owning responsibility for things that I can’t control. Teens who often say “It’s my fault.” when something bad happens tend to be highly self-critical, perfectionistic and more easier to be troubled by anxiety and depression.
While it is important to recognize a lack of reason to blame oneself, many teens over-rely on “It’s not my fault.” When trying to get them to take responsibility, parents usually attempt to convince their teens that something is their fault. The approach tends to be ineffective and turn into a power struggle. No one wins. A more effective approach can be to stress significant drawbacks to consistently focusing on removing our responsibility with this phrase.
Overuse of the phrase can result in feelings of lack of ability to control their own lives. This sense has been shown to cause low motivation. Besides creating feelings of lack of ability, overuse of “It’s not my fault.” focuses a teen’s attention on what is done as opposed to what needs to be done.
People may not have caused all their problems, but they have to solve them anyway. The example I frequently share with teens is the question of what one will do if he is pushed into a deep lake. One can certainly stay in water, yelling, “It’s not my fault.” However, that won’t get him out of water. He needs to swim to the shore, regardless of the fault.
If you take a proper approach to communicating with your teens, you can help them avoid over-reliance on “It’s not my fault.”.
1. What phenomenon is described in Paragraph 1?| A．The teenagers’ dislike for school life. |
| B．The common trouble faced by teenagers. |
| C．The reasons for blaming others for accidents. |
| D．The tendency for people not to be responsible for mess in life. |
| A．Those lacking confidence and ambition. |
| B．Those allowing others to find excuses. |
| C．Those unable to get along well with others. |
| D．Those often blaming themselves for some incidents. |
| A．Supportive. | B．Negative. | C．Ambiguous. | D．Neutral. |
| A．It’s harmful to overuse “It’s not my fault.”. |
| B．It’s important to learn lessons from faults. |
| C．It’s difficult for people to admit their fault. |
| D．It’s absurd to often find excuses for mistakes in life. |
| A．We should try to avoid troubling others. |
| B．We should focus on how to solve problems. |
| C．We should dare to point out others’ mistakes. |
| D．We should be self-critical as much as possible. |
2 . With Disney parks recently raising their ticket prices to $89, now is the perfect time to start thinking about smaller theme parks. Here are four theme parks where the price of adult admission（门票）is under $50.
Luna Park, Coney Island
How much you spend in enjoying Luna Park really depends on which rides you choose to go on. For anyone as indecisive as I am, stick with the $29 four-hour Unlimited Luna Park Ride Wristband or the $39 Ride and Play package.
Dorney Park, Allentown
Dorney Park lies about an hour outside of Philadelphia. The admission price is $39.99. And the Starlight Admission is $27.99, which is good for visits between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. during the summer months when the park is open late, or from 3:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. in winter when the park closes earlier.
Knotts Berry Farm, Buena Park
Home to some of the country’s craziest rides, Knotts Berry Farm also has calmer, more family-friendly rides. People ages 12-61 get in for $39.99 when tickets are bought online, while children ages 3-11 and adults over 62 pay $26.99.
Santa Cruz Boardwalk, Santa Cruz
Sitting on the warm beaches of Santa Cruz—about 90 minutes south of San Francisco—the Boardwalk is home to big roller coasters（过山车）, mini-golf, enough food and games to keep people of all ages busy. The best part? An all-day unlimited ride wristband is only $31.95.
1. What can we learn about the four theme parks?| A．They all have calm rides. |
| B．All of them are family-friendly. |
| C．They all require online bookings. |
| D．Their admission price is lower than that of Disney parks. |
| A．$20 | B．$39 | C．$29 | D．$59 |
| A．is aimed for kids | B．can be used twice |
| C．is designed for summer use | D．is for visits in the later part of a day |
| A．Luna Park. | B．Dorney Park. |
| C．Knotts Berry Farm. | D．Santa Cruz Boardwalk. |
| A．In a travel magazine. | B．In a research paper. |
| C．In a story book. | D．On a poster. |
3 . Todd Steinkamp left his hotel around 5:30 a. m. for a funeral in Green Bay. Wisconsin. About half an hour into his journey on the road, he noticed a strange sound coming from the front tire (轮胎). By 7 a. m, he still had 70 miles ahead of him, but the noise was so loud that he knew he had no choice but to stop.
Steinkamp thought there was little chance anyone in the little town could help him so early in the morning. Still, he took his chance at a repair shop and asked for help. The worker Geib checked out the car. Geib told Steinkamp the wheel bearing (轴承) was failing. Fixing it would take a few hours. And without being repaired, the car couldn't go further.
Steinkamp started working out another plan. Could he rent a car somewhere? Geib went to the store across the street, but its only rental car wasn't available. Finding another place to rent would need a 40-mile drive. Steinkamp was unhappy and worried at that time. “However, Geib reached into his pocket, pulled out the key to his own truck and gave me,” Steinkamp said. With a smile, Geib said the truck could go 120 miles per hour if needed.
The men had met just 10 minutes before. They didn't know each other's names, but Geib did that. Steinkamp jumped in the truck and drove it to the funeral. When he came back to the shop seven hours later, he chatted with Geib. He thanked the 74-year-old worker, who turned a terrible day into a good one with a great lesson. Just be kind and help if you can.
1. Why did Todd Steinkamp want to go to Green Bay?| A．To pay a visit to his friends. | B．To rent a car for his travel. |
| C．To attend a funeral. | D．To repair his own truck. |
| A．There was something wrong with his car. |
| B．He was too tired to go on with his trip. |
| C．There was something wrong with his friend. |
| D．He lost his way during the trip. |
| A．Embarrassed. | B．Impatient. |
| C．Sorry. | D．Upset. |
| A．Steinkamp was 74 years old |
| B．Steinkamp ran away with the borrowed car |
| C．Geib lent Steinkamp a truck |
| D．Geib worked for the author for free |
| A．Make enough preparations ahead. | B．Help others if you can. |
| C．Treat others with respect. | D．Learn from each other. |
4 . Spring lifts our spirits. It's a time for Nature to bring us back to life after a cold season. I live not far from the Kairaku Park, which is one of the largest gardens in Japan, and famous for its near 10,000 plum trees. I am fortunate to have them all outside my backyard, and take advantage of the walking paths daily.
I see the same trees and swans every day, but that day was different. At the edge of the small lake, I saw some new -born black swans. They were pretty and cute. They stayed with their mom.While taking a few photos of the sunset, I was interrupted by a high sound going on for some time. So, I turned around and saw one little swan was stuck by two stones. Its mother was trying to make it out but failed. I tried to get near but the mother was ever so angry! She wouldn't allow me to get close, so I turned to an old man sitting on the bench and said,“Excuse me, the swan baby can't move and I want to help it, but the mother is extremely angry! Could you please do me a favor?"
After hearing my words, the man smiled at me first and then agreed to help me. He drove the mother away with great efforts, and for several times, he was almost hurt by the mother. Thanks to him, I was able to get there and push the little swan out of the gap finally. Oh, I really hoped it wasn't injured, but at least it was alive and swimming!
In spring, I become more physically active. Things around don't make us, but Nature does, and it keeps us going. I am positive that all of us have a little piece of nature in our own neighborhoods. Somewhere we will be reminded why natural life is so important-- -because we grow with it! Personally, I am happy that baby birds can put a smile on my face! I struggle for having a small number of "things" in life, and being filled with simple reality--at one with Nature.
1. What can we know about the author from Paragraph 1?| A．Her favorite season is spring. | B．She enjoys doing outdoor sports. |
| C．Her backyard is filled with plum trees. | D．She is satisfied with her living environment. |
| A．She took a few photos of the sunset. |
| B．She made a little swan's mother angry. |
| C．She met some swans and helped one of them. |
| D．She met an old man and made friends with him. |
| A．Well-known. | B．Warm-hearted. | C．Selfish. | D．Outgoing. |
| A．Nature. | B．kindness. | C．The garden. | D．The things around. |
| A．is really a nature lover | B．is short of some life skill |
| C．asks people to help the weak | D．calls on more people to protect the environment |
5 . Interschool Sports Programme
Interschool Sports Programme is coming. It will start on 30th April and end on 15th June.
Students in our school will join the boys' basketball games. Each Wednesday the players will travel by bus to Sports Centre, Erinvale Street, Corinda. They will leave school at 12: 20 p.m. It will take them about 20 minutes to get there. The games will begin at 1:00 p.m. and end at 2:30 p.m. Players must wear their school clothes and sports shoes. It will be great if they can bring large water bottles.
If you are good at playing basketball and want to join the games, please go to Mr. David's office (Room503) before 15th April to fill in form. We will choose 15 players.
Volunteers are also needed. Anyone who wants to be a volunteer needs to send an email to Mr David (davidss@qq.edu.au) to introduce yourself before 20th April.
For more information, please call Mr David (6783-5682) or visit his office.
1. Interschool Sports Programme is about long.| A．half a month | B．one month | C．one and a half months | D．two months |
| A．12:20 p.m. | B．12:40 p.m. | C．1:00 p.m. | D．2:30 p.m. |
| A．practise every Tuesday | B．buy new sports clothes | C．call Mr David | D．fill in a form |
| A．know something about basketball | B．send an email to Mr David |
| C．bring a large water bottle | D．wear sports shoes |
| A．school notice | B．news report | C．teacher' email | D．students' entail |
6 . At the beginning of the 20th century there was a big farm called Hollywood Ranch. It was near Los Angeles in California. A few years later Hollywood was one of the famous places in the world. From the 1910s to the 1950s Hollywood was the film center of the world. Every family knew the names of its film stars—Charlie Chaplin, Greta Garbo, Ingrid Bergman and hundreds more.
The reason why people went to Hollywood to make films was the sun. At first，people made films in New York on the east coast of the United States. But then they heard about Los Angeles where there are 350 days of sun every year. As they made all the films by sunlight，the west coast was a much better place to make films. Also near Hollywood you can find mountains，sea and desert. They did not have to travel far to make any kind of film.
When TV became popular, Hollywood started making films for television. Then in the 1970s they discovered people still went to the cinema to see big expensive films. After about thirty years they are still making films in Hollywood and people watch them all over the world.
1. Hollywood used to be a __________.| A．cinema | B．big farm | C．park | D．market |
| A．famous theater | B．good place to have holidays |
| C．film center | D．home for stars |
| A．Charlie Chaplin. | B．Marilyn Monroe. |
| C．Ingrid Bergman. | D．Greta Garbo. |
| A．it was a beautiful place | B．you could find many film stars |
| C．there was a lot of sunlight | D．it was a famous place |
| A．The west coast was a better place to make films. |
| B．There are no mountains near Hollywood. |
| C．People no longer went to the cinema after television became popular. |
| D．Hollywood began to make films for television after the World War I. |
7 . Face Painting Academy Diploma
Subject Art & Design, Craft & Creative, Beauty
Delivery method Online
Study level Professional development, Short, Accredited
Ref FACE-GUARD
Price £30, was £299, use code: GUARD90
Start a career in Face Painting or simply learn for fun.
Do you have a love for entertaining people?
Are you artistic and want to impress people with a new skill?
Have you ever thought about doing a course in face painting, so you can earn fantastic money?
If so then with this course you could become a qualified face painter just like hundreds of other people who have taken our courses. For a one-off (一次性付款） you can study online and complete the diploma in about 28 hours.
The comprehensive syllabus （教学大纲）is supported by 16 instructional videos so you can learn all the designs with ease, and you will learn a wide range of designs including dog, rabbit and spider man. With 14 modules to cover, you can become an accomplished face painter.
Your qualification will be recognized and can be checked for validity by all of your future clients too! Take a step in the right direction and get your Face Painting Academy Diploma today. £30, was £299, use code: GUARD90
Module 1 Your Introduction to Becoming a Face Painter
Module 2 The Equipment and Materials You Will Need for Face Painting
Module 3 Health & Safety and Risk Assessments
Module 4 Starting / Running Your Own Business
Module 5 Pricing and Costs
Module 6 Marketing Your Business & Social Media
Module 7 1'he Do's and Don'ts and What to Do If Your Business Doesn't Go Well
Module 8 How to do a Dog / Cat Face Paint Design
Module 9 How to do a Butterfly / Dolphin Face Paint Design
Module 10 How to do a Monkey / Frog Face Paint Design
Module 11 How to do a Rabbit / Swan Face Paint Design
Module 12 How to do a Tiger / Dinosaur Face Paint Design
Module 13 How to do a Spiderman / Batman Face Paint Design
Module 14 How to do a Minnie Mouse / Princess Face Paint Design
1. The course is intended mainly for those _______.| A．keen on showing off new skills |
| B．eager to get an academy diploma |
| C．equipped with a unique taste for art |
| D．interested in learning face painting |
| A．30 | B．269 | C．299 | D．329 |
| A．It is presented both online and offline. |
| B．The diploma can be obtained in one day. |
| C．It provides not only many face paint designs but also lessons on business. |
| D．Some clients will be invited to examine your qualification. |
| A．Module 4. | B．Module 6. | C．Module 7. | D．Module 10 |
8 . Icons of the ANIMAL KINGDOM
CHIMU ADVENTURES
SOUTH GEORGIA
Join a Chimu Adventures cruise to South Georgia and experience one of nature’s greatest spectacles. Witness thousands of king penguins up close while making a landing from one of our expedition cruises. Chimu are the UK’s leading operator to South Georgia, the Falklands & Antarctica offering a full range of ships to suit all budgets and requirements. Contact one of our polar experts today for more info and special offers!
www.chimuadventures.com
Tel:02074038265
ON THE GO TOURS
CHINA
The panda is the beloved animal mascot (吉祥物) of China, native to the mountain ranges in the south central region. There are many conservation projects working to increase the panda population and last year they were successfully downgraded from ‘endangered’ to ‘vulnerable’ on the list of species at risk. Visit and support the Chengdu Panda Research Base with On The Go Tours where you can watch pandas in their natural habitat.
www.onthegotours.com
Tel:02073711113
SEA WOLF ADVENTURES
CANADA
Combine cultural discoveries with world-class whale and wild life viewing on an adventure into the heart of the traditional territory of the indigenous Kwakwaka’wakw: Vancouver Island North. Share our love of the local landscape and learn more about our connection with the wild life that makes these waterways home. Experience a fast-paced tour that offers a personal perspective of our 13, 000+ years old Kwakwaka’wakw culture.
www. seawolfadventures.ca
Tel: (001) 2509029653
PIONEER EXPEDITIONS
MADAGASCAR
Madagascar is the land of the lemurs (狐猴). Over 100 lemur species inhabit this extraordinary island nation, ranging from the pocket-sized ‘pygmy mouse lemur’ to the 4ft tall ‘indri’ (狐猴). With many threatened by extinction, there’s never been a better time to witness these mesmerizing (令人着迷的) primates. We’ll guide you through Madagascar, which is the only country where you can experience unforgettable lemur encounters in the wild.
www.pioneerexpeditions.com
Tel:01202798922
ABORIGINAL JOURNEYS
CANADA
We depart in search of orcas (虎鲸) from Campbell River on Vancouver Island in British, Columbia, Canada. Orcas are an apex predator, making them the kings and queens of the ocean. Orcas have very close-knit families and normally will stay together throughout their lifetime. We have many beautiful waterways in which to explore for these magnificent mammals. Tours are guided by experienced, locally born guides.
www.aboriginaljourneys.com
Tel: (001)2508501101
1. Which route may offer you discount in travelling fee?
| A．CHIMU ADVENTURES | B．PIONEER EXPEDITIONS |
| C．ABORIGINAL JOURNEYS | D．SEA WOLF ADVENTURES |
| A．you can only see pandas in limited areas as they are vulnerable to visitors |
| B．pandas are not endangered any more thanks to the efforts of many conversation |
| C．the panda is still an endangered species though its population has increased a lot |
| D．ON THE GO TOURS can help the Chengdu Panda Research Base save more pandas |
| A．Orcas. | B．Lemurs. |
| C．Pandas. | D．King Penguins. |
| A．They are born guides. | B．They are gentle animals. |
| C．They live alone after growing up. | D．They enjoy a close relationship. |
| A．You can enjoy the Kwakwaka’ wakw culture in ABORIGINAL JOURNEYS. |
| B．Orcas will depart the family once they become mature enough to feed themselves. |
| C．SEA WOLF ADVENTURES will present more than whales and wildlife to visitors. |
| D．Both SEA WOLF ADVENTURES and ABORINAL JOURNEYS set off in British, Colombia. |
| A．To attract readers to start a wildlife trip. |
| B．To introduce different kinds of animals. |
| C．To encourage people to protect animals. |
| D．To tell us that the animals are endangered. |
9 . Italian Language Immersion Class in Chicago, Illinois
Language stars:
FunImmersion Italian class at Language Stars in Illinois provides fun, full language immersion programs (全语言沉浸式教学) for children aged (1-10). Also: Spanish, French, German and Mandarin Chinese. Throughout their 3-hour class every day, the children take part in full-immersion activities, create art projects, sing and enjoy themselves all in Italian!
Quality teachers:
Teachers are the single greatest driver of the quality of our programs! Language Stars carefully selects our native-speaking Italian teachers, who have received extensive (广泛的) training before starting their teaching careers.
Teaching Style:
Language Stars makes learning a language fun, through a mix of games, songs, puppet shows, arts & crafts, cooking projects, treasure hunts, movement and drama, all in the foreign language. Our unique FunImmersion method is the best way for children to enjoy learning a foreign language.
The Benefits of Learning a Language at a Young Age:
It is uniquely suitable for young children to learn a second language. Exposing your child to a second language allows a child to optimize (使最优化) his or her learning potential, helping to shape the brain at its most flexible stage. Learning a second language at a young age is as easy as learning a first language.
Language Immersion Programs for Kids (Aged 1-10):
Language Stars offers play-based, full immersion programs in small groups of 4-8 children in Italian, Spanish, French, German and Mandarin Chinese in three exciting formats:
- Parents & kids (Aged 1-3)
- Kids Only Classes (Aged 3-5, 5-8, 8-10)
- Summer Immersion Camp
Free Trial Class:
During a free class we encourage your child to participate as if he / she is enrolled.
Tuition Fee:
$ 600
Address:
2105 N. Southport, Chicago, Illinois, USA
1. What do you know about the Language Stars?| A．Its teachers come from different countries throughout the world. |
| B．Children can spend 3 hours every week learning Italian. |
| C．It aims to teach children English through playing. |
| D．It provides language immersion programs for children. |
| A．learning a second language at a young age helps a kid to increase his or her learning ability |
| B．parents can attend all the classes together with their children |
| C．Language Immersion Programs are intended for children over 10 |
| D．children can speak their native language when they are doing their activities |
| A．Contact information. | B．Accommodation. |
| C．Tuition. | D．Courses and activities. |
| Free Online Courses |
| Reading in the Digital Age This course is for people from all walks of life who enjoy reading and would like to know how literary scholars understand texts in the digital age. It introduces you to a variety of ways of understanding texts. Through the course, you will become familiar with professional reading practices as well as newer, computer-driven reading skills. Duration: 6 weeks 4 hours pw 2 August |
| Exploring English: Shakespeare This course is aimed at high school students and university students who wish to learn more about Shakespeare. The first week will look at Shakespeare's life and times. For the rest of the course, we will look closely at a different play each week. Shakespearean actors will help us explore the universal themes in Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, The Tempest and Macbeth. Our video tutor will guide you through the course and look at the words and phrases that Shakespeare introduced to the English language. Duration: 6 weeks 2 hours pw 16 July |
| The European Discovery of China This course is aimed at anyone with an interest in Chinese, European or world history. It focuses on when and how the West first approached China. We will look at China's place in the world and connections to the West via the Silk Road, the rise of Genghis Khan and the Mongol Empire, and finally the Ming dynasty. We'll know this period of Chinese history through the eyes of Western travellers from the 13th to the 17th century. What these Western travellers saw, what they didn't see — that's the story that we will uncover in this course. Duration: 8 weeks 6 hours pw 6 July |
1. When you take Reading in the Digital Age, you will ________.
| A．walk into different people's life |
| B．learn ways of understanding texts |
| C．get better at computer skills |
| D．share opinions with literary scholars |
| A．Actors. | B．Scholars. |
| C．Historians. | D．Video tutors. |
| A．China's discovery of the West. |
| B．The rise and fall of the Qing Dynasty. |
| C．The importance of the Silk Road. |
| D．China's interest in Western travellers. |
| A．Science and history. |
| B．Media and health. |
| C．Nature and environment. |
| D．Language and culture. |
| A．They are aimed at students. |
| B．They are provided for free. |
| C．Each lasts 6 weeks. |
| D．Each takes 2 hours per week. |
