1 . Benjamin Franklin clearly knew how to get things done. After scanning the long list of Benjamin Franklin’s achievements, one can only come to one conclusion that the American man probably never had a wasted day in his life. When he was 84 years old, he became a successful author, printer, politician, postmaster, inventor, musician, and diplomat.
There’s much we can learn from Benjamin Franklin’s work habits and opinions on life that can increase our own productivity. Here are some ways Franklin overcame lazy, wasted days.
Start a group and share knowledge. When Franklin was 21, he was a struggling printer in Philadelphia. To increase his connections and to learn more about his industry, he created a group. The group was in great need of books, but books were expensive. Franklin helped start a library where books were bought and lent to members. This sharing of knowledge, experience, and connections helped Franklin become a famous and respected printer in Philadelphia.
Attack opportunities. “To succeed,” Franklin wrote, “jump as quickly at opportunities as you can.” We can all agree, but when an opportunity comes we often look the other way. It’s because the opportunity isn’t dressed the way we expect. We often think that the opportunity was only in the form of a golden egg or a million-dollar lottery ticket or a new job offer. But more often than not, the opportunity comes in smaller, less beautiful packages.
Time is something in short supply. Franklin wrote “ Lost time is never found again”. This may sound like it came from the pen of a poet, but it’s really an inspirational call to action. Franklin worked, created, and lived knowing that time is scarce. He never put off his work.
While Franklin was an able inventor we can be sure that his notebook contained a few unsuccessful ideas. Franklin wrote, “ Do not fear mistakes. You will know failure. Continue to reach out.”
1. Benjamin Franklin succeeded in many ways mainly because ________.| A．he was very clever and popular. |
| B．he could make good use of his time |
| C．he often shared knowledge with others |
| D．he could do many things at the same time |
| A．writing | B．invention | C．music | D．printing |
| A．are easy to catch hold of |
| B．are difficult to see and catch |
| C．are often dressed the way we expect |
| D．always come in the form of a golden egg |
| A．Franklin wrote a lot of famous poems |
| B．Franklin sometimes wasted time |
| C．Franklin never met with failures |
| D．Franklin learned from failures |
2 . Making the Most of the Body Clock
Want to know the best time to do your homework and study for your exams? Then just make the most of your body clock, and you can work more efficiently (效率高地) and more happily.
It is reported that in the morning your body can take fatty foods more easily, so don’t worry too much about having a big breakfast.
Have you ever got the idea that the best time for the brain to work well is between 10:00 am and noon? Therefore, that’s the time when you should be listening to your teachers in full attention.
Lunch-timeBetween 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm is the most suitable time for eating. The body clock tells your body to help you digest (消化) your food at this time, so you have less chance of suffering from stomachache.
Early AfternoonAfter three o’clock, the body clock starts to tell your body to work again.
Between 8:00 pm and 10:00 pm is the time people are most likely to feel lonely.
| A．Everyone’s body clock is slightly different. |
| B．From 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm your body is at its fittest. |
| C．A good sleep helps to clear your brain and relax your mind |
| D．This maybe why students like to phone or meet their friends at this time. |
| E．Let’s now find out what activities are best for us at different times of the day. |
| F．The body is best at fighting pain between the hours of 9:00 am and 10:00 am. |
| G．Body temperature usually drops at this time and all the body systems slow down. |
3 . Quick Tips for Better Time Management
Are you a good time manager? If your answer is “no”, here are some tips on how to be a better time manager:
•Create a daily plan. Plan your day before it starts. The plan gives you a good description of how the day will go on. That way, you will be ready to deal with most of the things you meet.
•Focus. Are you multitasking so much that you’re just not getting anything done?
•Stay away from your time wasters. What takes your time away from your work? WeChat talking? Email checking?
•
•Decide to be early. When you prepare to be on time, you’ll either be on time or late.
| A．Learn to say “No”. |
| B．It is really a waste of time. |
| C．Stop checking them so often. |
| D．Most of the time you’ll be late. |
| E．Great ways to know your time spent. |
| F．If so, focus on just one key task at one time. |
| G．Your job for the day is to follow the plan as best as possible. |
4 . Tips on Time Management for Students
Nowadays, students are faced with lots of challenges, of which the, biggest one probably is managing their time.
Treat school like a job.
Students should prepare for and attend all their classes. They also need to spend some time each week learning new things. They should work on their courses regularly, at a time when their concentration is best and in a place where they won’t be disturbed.
Plan each week and term.
Students should have their own goals. But just having a goal is not enough.
Seek out support services.
Students need to take responsibility for their learning but this does not mean doing everything on their own. Independent students should know how to find and ask for help.
| A．Try time management self assessment. |
| B．Spend time on each course every week. |
| C．They just have so much to learn and their time is so limited. |
| D．If students are registered full-time, school is their primary job. |
| E．Keep in mind that a 40-hour workweek could take the form of five eight-hour days. |
| F．They should also learn about the different student services and make good use of them. |
| G．Successful students develop a plan to increase the likelihood that their goals are realized. |
5 . Time is one of the most valuable commodities we have. It is a non-renewable resource that,once lost, cannot be regained.
We frequently run out of time in today’s fast-paced world. We have deadlines, appointments and responsibilities to meet within a certain time.
The proverb “time and tide wait for none” reminds us that time is a limited resource that we must make the most of.
“Time and tide wait for none” also reminds us that time is valuable and should not be squandered (挥霍). We should treasure every moment and make the most of it. We should spend time with our loved ones, pursue our passions and do things that make us happy.
The proverb serves as a powerful reminder of the value of time management. Time is a finite resource that must be used wisely. So, let us all strive to maximise our time and live our lives to the fullest.
| A．We all have the same amount of time in a day. |
| B．Life is too short to waste time on things that don’t matter. |
| C．Distractions are one of the most difficult challenges we face. |
| D．It encourages us to be mindful of our time and to use it wisely. |
| E．It’s all too easy to let time slip away while browsing our news feeds. |
| F．It illustrates the idea that time is fleeting and it doesn’t wait for anyone. |
| G．With so much to do, it’s easy to lose track of time and allow it to pass by you. |
6 . I often find myself running late on the edge of missing appointments. It’s not that I enjoy being late, but somehow, it keeps happening. A delayed train, a miscalculation in time, a wrong turn — the reasons for my lateness are many. I dislike being late, and yet, I frequently find myself in a rush or arriving behind schedule.
Michaela Thomas, a Swedish clinical psychologist, calls people like me “time optimists” or “tidsoptimists”. We underestimate how long tasks will take and overestimate the time we have.As a result, we often find ourselves rushing, causing stress for both ourselves and those around us. This might sound like a charming trait, but it can be perceived as disrespectful when it leads to lateness, as it signals that our time is more valuable than others’.
Lateness not only affects the latecomer but also impacts loved ones and colleagues. It creates a domino effect of chaos, annoyance, and inconvenience for everyone involved. It can even have severe consequences.
The causes of chronic lateness are complex. People, according to Jung, fall into two categories: “timekeepers”and“timebenders.” Timekeepers work methodically, stay organized,and usually finish tasks ahead of schedule. In contrast, timebenders, like me, push things to the last minute, feeling most energized and creative when under pressure.
Many see procrastination (拖延) as a key reason for lateness, but it’s not simply a time management issue. Fuschia Sirois, a professor of social and health psychology, believes procrastination often arises from mood management. People put off tasks to avoid dealing with emotions like anxiety, fear, or frustration. It can also be a form of rebellion when face d with boring or uncontrollable tasks.
Is there a solution for latecomers? Researchers suggest creating pre-event deadlines for important occasions like a wedding or catching a flight, so that the extra time can help you avoid being late when unforeseen circumstances arise. You can inform friends, family, and colleagues about your commitment to punctuality and ask for their support in helping you stay on time. For everyday improvement, setting alert s on phones for getting ready instead of departure time,breaking tasks into smaller, manageable parts and prioritizing time-flexible tasks can be helpful.As we seek to overcome our lateness, understanding the root causes is the first step to making a positive change.
1. According to the passage,“time optimists” refer to people who tend to .| A．leave things until the last minute | B．always be punctual |
| C．work in an organized manner | D．have a casual personality |
| A．It is always due to a lack of time management skills. |
| B．It is driven by the desire for perfectionism. |
| C．It is a charming and creative quality in individuals. |
| D．It may arise from a desire to avoid uncomfortable emotions. |
| A．Setting departure time alerts on the phone. |
| B．Prioritizing time-sensitive tasks over flexible ones. |
| C．Allowing enough time for important events. |
| D．Relying on friends to make plans in advance. |
| A．Ways of strict time management. | B．The impact of procrastination on punctuality. |
| C．Benefits of punctuality in daily life. | D．Reasons for lateness and strategies to address it. |
7 . Feeling exhausted by your to-do list can make you unhappy, but a new study suggests that more free time might not be the magic elixir (灵丹妙药) most of us dream it could be.
The researchers analyzed data from 35,000 subjects about how Americans spend their free time. They found people with more free time generally had higher levels of subjective happiness—but only up to a point. Compared to those with less time, people with up to two hours of free time a day generally felt better. However, people with five or more hours of free time a day generally felt worse. So the free-time “sweet spot” might be two to three hours per day.
Part of finding this “sweet spot” is connected with how people spend their free time. In an online experiment, the subjects were asked to imagine having four to seven free hours per day and spending that time doing “productive” or “unproductive” activities. Most of them believed their happiness would suffer if they had a lot of free time during the day — but only if they used it unproductively. Though that experiment was based on the previous assumptions, which is one limitation, it agrees with other experiments showing that being in a state of flow can benefit people’s mental health.
Of course, for you, any activities that increase your happiness are “productive”. If watching soap opera in your free time makes you feel better, you should do that due to self-care. And some traditionally productive activities can be easy and fun. For example, walking and cooking can help burn stress and put people in a state of flow.
“In cases where people find themselves with large amounts of free time, such as retirement or unemployment,” Sharif said, “our results suggest they can benefit from spending their newfound time with purpose.”
1. How did the researchers carry out the study of the free-time “sweet spot”?| A．By studying the collected data. | B．By doing the experiment again and again. |
| C．By observing the respondents. | D．By doing an interview with the subjects. |
| A．The activity. | B．The whole day. | C．Free time. | D．The experiment. |
| A．To present a fact. | B．To make a prediction. |
| C．To explain an opinion. | D．To introduce a topic. |
| A．Only complicated activities can increase your happiness. |
| B．People will always feel much happier with more free time. |
| C．The “sweet spot” has little connection with the amount of free time. |
| D．Much free time with purposeful activities can affect people’s happiness. |
8 . For many high school students, it seems that there is never enough time. There are several steps you can take to organize your time better.
Make a to-do list every day. It makes it easy to plan any activities or meetings you may have in addition to homework. Be sure to set priorities (优先事项).
Use spare time wisely. Instead of wasting your spare time, read a book or do homework.
Decide on the time that is good for you to do certain things. If you are more of a morning person, try getting up an hour earlier and do schoolwork before school.
Review your notes every day.
Tell your friends and family about your work timetable. Explain that you will be working at certain times and ask them not to disturb you.
| A．Set goals for yourself. |
| B．Get a good night’s sleep. |
| C．Do the most important tasks first. |
| D．And also, do not be afraid to say “no”. |
| E．You should finish your task on time. |
| F．Don’t take phone calls during the time you set aside for work. |
| G．Don’t wait until just before a test to try and remember everything. |
9 . How to Teach Time Management Skills to Teens
Teens usually have fairly structured schedules. Their school day and their after-school activities are planned out for them. As a result, many of them don’t learn how to manage their time wisely when they have some downtime.
Advise your teen to write down his schedule. Your teen’s time may easily get taken up with video games or social media if he’s not careful. Teach him to schedule his day so he can set aside time for chores(琐事), homework, and other responsibilities.
Help him to set goals.
Help your teen prioritize activities. It’s common for teens to have conflicts in their schedules. A basketball game, birthday party, and church activity may all coincide(同时发生).
Set limits on electronics. Your teen may waste countless hours on social media or playing video games if she’ not careful. Establish rules that help her create healthy habits with her cellphone and other digital devices.
| A．Model good time management habits |
| B．Give your teen time management tools |
| C．Practise managing your own time wisely |
| D．Encourage him to schedule free time as well |
| E．Here are some steps you can take to teach your teen |
| F．Talk to your teen about the personal goals he wants to reach |
| G．Talk to your teen about how to prioritize activities based on his values and commitments |
10 . I read somewhere that we spend a full third of our lives waiting. But where are we doing all of this waiting, and what does it mean to an impatient society like ours? To understand the issue, let’s take a look at three types of “waits”.
The very purest form of waiting is the Watched-Pot Wait, It is without doubt the most annoying of all Take filling up the kitchen sink(洗碗池)as an example. There is absolutely nothing you can do while this is going on but keep both eyes fixed on the sink until it’s full. During these waits, the brain slips away from the body and wanders about until the water runs over the edge of the counter and onto your socks. This kind of wait makes the waiter helpless and mindless.
A cousin to the Watched-Pot Wait is the Forced Wait. This one requires a bit of discipline. Properly preparing packaged noodle soup requires a Forced Wait. Directions are very specific. “Bring three cups of water to boil, add mix, simmer three minutes, remove from heat, let stand five minutes.” I have my doubts that anyone has actually followed the procedures strictly. After all, Forced Waiting requires patience
Perhaps the most powerful type of waiting is the Lucky-Break Wait. This type of wait is unusual in that it is for the most part voluntary. Unlike the Forced Wait, which is also voluntary, waiting for your lucky break does not necessarily mean that it will happen.
Turning one’s life into a waiting game requires faith and hope, and is strictly for the optimists among us. On the surface it seems as ridiculous as following the directions on soup mixes, but the Lucky-Break Wait well serves those who are willing to do it. As long as one doesn’t come to rely on it, wishing for a few good things to happen never hurts anybody.
We certainly do spend a good deal of our time waiting. The next time you’re standing at the sink waiting for it to fill while cooking noodle soup that you’ll have to eat until a large bag of cash falls out of the sky, don’t be desperate. You’re probably just as busy as the next guy.
1. While doing a Watched-Pot Wait we tend to __________.| A．keep ourselves bus | B．get absent-minded | C．grow anxious | D．stay focused |
| A．The Forced Wait requires some self-control. | B．The Forced Wait makes people passive. |
| C．The Watched-Pot Wait needs directions. | D．The Watched-Pot Wait engages body and brain. |
| A．It is less voluntary than the Forced Wait. | B．It doesn’t always bring the desired result. |
| C．It is more fruitful than the Forced Wait. | D．It doesn’t give people faith and hope. |
| A．Take it seriously | B．Don’t rely on others | C．Do something else | D．Don’t lose heart |
