It all started after a routine doctor visit. I’d been planning on getting healthy, but the number s showed that my vague efforts weren’t working at all. Weijing 325pounds, I found my blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure were all way over target. Things had to change. Dradically.
But I was definitely not doing another diet of cramming (塞满) denial and shame down my throat until I hit some number on a scale. I was tired of watching the weight return again and again. bringing with it more guilt and shame. Clearly, I needed to make lifestyle changes.
It occurred to me that I knew a lot about what didn’t work, since all my previous attempts had led me to this sorry state. I needed to get healthy, but in a slow, steady, rest-d-my-life kind of way.
I’ve been a software developer for twenty-five years, so naturally I went to that skill set. I thought. “What if the system I need to redesign is me?” I decided to reboot (重启) my own system. Could I make it easy? Make it fun?
That idea seems radical (过激的). It goes against diet culture and the advertising messages we’ve been bombarded with our entire lives. We’re told over and over that getting health y is difficult. No pain, no gain, right?
But I found out it doesn’t have to be that way. I started upgrading my system by reviewing all the times I tried to get healthy in the past. I made a list of what didn’t work. Then I wrote down what did work, or at least worked for a while, and why it stopped working. There were some surprises. My membership at 15-Minute Fitness, for example, was a huge success. I worked out with a trainer for an intense fifteen minutes twice a week and saw huge gains.
One by one, I went through every failed attempt. I realized that the consistent elements across all of them were guilt, shame and internal bullying.
注意：1. 续写词数应为150个左右；2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Then I came up with new rules.
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_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________2 . In my work as a vocational school teacher in Germany, some of my classes are full of students of different nationalities. More often than not, I will have a few refuges (难民) in the class, whose command of German is often rather incomplete regardless of whether they are blow-ins or not. Some of these students who manage to complete their three-year apprenticeships (学徒期) may actually continue to go to school to gain qualifications so they can attend university.
In the past few years, I have taken them aside and given them tips on how to improve their language skills via books, newspapers, apps or online grammar quizzes. And I have given them tips on how to integrate themselves into the German culture better.
Over the last few weeks, I have taken three young men aside and given them tips on how to improve their German such as joining sports clubs, finding ways to build their vocabulary outwith class and taking language immersion courses. After class, I actually even took a couple of them to a noticeboard which displayed valuable information on a poster and they were grateful for this little gesture that only took a minute of my time.
I do not get any extra money for offering this sort of advice and I have sacrificed the odd break over the years, but I feel it is important to help the youngsters in what I consider a valuable way, because once they pass their exams, they will be likely to set up a home and spend their working life here.
Good integration is so important as it builds bridges and expands horizons. It makes me happy to share my knowledge as a language teacher and spread those kindness ripples in everyday life.
1. What does the underlined word “blow-ins” in the first paragraph probably mean?| A．Newcomers. | B．Announcers. | C．Onlookers. | D．Job seekers. |
| A．By qualifying them for apprenticeship. | B．By enhancing their language competence. |
| C．By integrating diverse cultures. | D．By developing their interpersonal skills. |
| A．Far-reaching. | B．Time-consuming. |
| C．Pioneering. | D．Demanding. |
| A．One good turn deserves another. | B．Everything comes to him who waits. |
| C．A little kindness goes a long way. | D．Actions speak louder than words. |
Catia Lattouf de Arída has been using her apartment in Mexico City as a hospital and shelter for injured and abandoned hummingbirds(蜂鸟)for the last 11 years.
Hummingbirds are a very important part of Mexico’s ecosystem, but because of the ever-expanding urban landscape, they face all sorts of serious threats. That’s where 73-year-old Catia comes in. As a self-taught hummingbird caretaker, she devotes most of her free time and resources to nursing the tiny birds back to health. She has been doing it for over a decade and her home in Mexico City has become known as a hummingbird hospital.
Catia’s story as a hummingbird nurse began in 2011, at a very difficult moment in her life. She had lost her husband two years prior and she herself was battling cancer. She was walking on the street one day when she noticed a hummingbird that had suffered a serious eye injury. The kindhearted woman took it home, but she knew nothing about taking care of a bird, let alone such a tiny one. However, a veterinarian(兽医)friend encouraged her to look after the hummingbird, and that led to a life devoted to rescuing hundreds of tiny birds.
“It wrote me a new life,” Catia recently said about Gucci, the first hummingbird she ever cared for. Catia managed to nurse Gucci back to health, but she claims it was the tiny bird that saved her. She had sold her five high-end boutiques(精品店)in the city to focus on her battle with cancer and had fallen into a depression, but the hummingbird managed to pull her out of the sadness and loneliness that had taken over her life. And it was only the beginning.
注意：
1. 续写词数应在150左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Word of her success spread among Catia’s friends, and before long some of them began bringing her injured and abandoned hummingbirds.
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In order to raise awareness of the difficulty of hummingbirds in Mexico, Catia started posting videos of the patients on social media and many of them spread quickly.
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I spent almost three years in food service doing everything from washing dishes to working as a service director at a country club, Firstly, I waited tables, and it was actually one of my favorite jobs, mostly because of the people, One thing I learned is doing your job right .and focusing on ensuring that your customers have the best dining experience.
During college, I worked at a place called O’Malleys. It’s not open anymore so I don’t have to worry about getting anybody in trouble, and besides, this isn’t that kind of story.Every Sunday, these two ladies and a little girl would come in, and nobody wanted to wait on them because they were super cheap and never tipped, so I volunteered, and they became my regulars, I quickly learned that it was a mom, her young daughter, and her mother. They always ordered the same thing. They’d each get water, The two women would split an entree (主菜), and the young girl would get something off the child’s menu. And they’d leave no tip. I didn’t really care because Sunday lunch was always busy with the crowd, and their check was so small that even a 20% tip would have been just a few dollars. Besides, they were super nice, and I understood that this was their special time out. Going out just wasn’t something they could do. I did my best to treat them just like everybody else，which they appreciated.
This went on for over a year, Every Sunday, they would come in their pretty dresses, sit in my section, order the same thing they always did, and not leave me a tip... until one day,they did.
That day, they came in and ordered iced tea and a soda for the girl, I knew something was up. The two ladies each got their own entree nothing share, The little girl got a full order of chicken strips. I’m not sure why I remember exactly what she ordered.
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。
Of course, I asked what the celebration was.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________The mother said they were moving to Dallas the next week.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________5 . Recently, I accidentally found a set of Hanfu l only wore once from the bottom of the cupboard. I remember buying them simply to match the ancient-style hair accessories (配饰) a friend gave me. It occurred to me that 1 had been trapped in the “birdcage effect”.
“Birdcage effect” means that when you get an item one day, you will prepare more things to match it. Weeks ago, I was in the company of friends engaged in shopping. One said that she wanted to buy a good writing pen to match the delicate notebook that her sister gave her, so that she would fall in love with taking notes on reading, and thus love reading, not just reading. I joked that she must have fallen for the “birdcage effect”. But the friend said with a smile: “Why not use the ‘birdcage effect’ instead?”
For the first time, I heard that the “birdcage effect” can be used in reverse (逆向). However, this can’t help but remind me of middle school, and I seem to have used the “birdcage effect”. Passing by a bookstore one day, I purchased a magazine and saw the call for contributions published in the magazine, so I started writing with eager hands, and then I fell in love with writing.
After shopping with my friends that time, I began to proceed to use the “birdcage effect”. I bought a small fresh tablecloth to decorate my desk, and a beautiful notebook to record my inspiration. When everything was ready, I started writing again.
But how can we get rid of the “birdcage effect” in many things, and even use the “birdcage effect” in the opposite way? Various “birdcages” unavoidably appear in life, but we can distinguish them. If it is not in line with the actual situation, it is a “negative birdcage”, then we must learn to stop losses in time and maintain a heart of abandonment and separation. If it is a “positive birdcage” that motivates us to develop upward, we can clarify our goals, shop or decorate appropriately, and motivate ourselves to move towards our goals. At this time, you will find that the “birdcage effect” is actually not so terrible!
1. What is paragraph 2 mainly about?| A．The application of the “birdcage effect” in life. |
| B．The necessity of using the “birdcage effect” in life. |
| C．The turning point of the author’s idea on the “birdcage effect”. |
| D．The author’s conflict with her friend over the “birdcage effect”. |
| A．To recall her delightful days at school. |
| B．To explain the reason for her love with writing. |
| C．To confirm the positive of the “birdcage effect”. |
| D．To prove her knowledge of the “birdcage effect”. |
| A．By realizing this effect has two sides. |
| B．By promoting our personal consumption. |
| C．By recognizing this effect is not so terrible. |
| D．By guiding our acts to go with reasonable goals. |
| A．Getting Rid of the Birdcage Effect Confidently |
| B．Motivating Ourselves to Move Towards Our Goals |
| C．The Birdcage Effect: Influence on Consumer Behavior |
| D．The Birdcage Effect: How to Use It to Your Advantage |
Tom’s love for soccer ran deep, and he played the game with a passion that was infectious (有感染力的) to everyone around him. But there was one thing that upset him-his worn-out soccer shoes. These shoes had been passed down to him by his older brother, and they were falling apart. With his birthday drawing near, Tom secretly wished for a new pair of soccer shoes to lift his spirits so that he could have a good performance in the game. However, he was well aware of his parents’ constant struggles to make ends meet and knew that such a wish might remain a dream forever.
One sunny afternoon, Tom and his best friend, David, were at school, watching an exciting soccer match. The exciting run and shout, the determination on the athletes’ faces, and their fine equipment were enough to make anyone’s heart race. It was at this moment that Tom said about his biggest birthday wish. He took a long deep breath and said, “How I wish I could have a new pair of soccer shoes for my birthday, but I know it’s impossible.”
David, sitting beside him, couldn’t help but overhear Tom’s words. The idea of helping his best friend achieve this long-held dream began to form in his mind. After school, David ran home and couldn’t wait to share the idea with his mother.
“Mom, I really want to do this for Tom. He’s been playing with those old shoes for so long. It would mean the world to him,” David explained seriously.
His mother smiled warmly, proud of her son’s compassion (同情) . “David, it’s a wonderful idea. It’s not just about the gift; it’s about the thought and effort you’re putting into making Tom’s day special.”
As David thought about how to earn the money, his mother suggested, “You know, David, there are various ways you can earn some extra money to save for the soccer shoes. Many of our neighbors are looking for someone to help with lawn mowing (刈草坪) and other services. Some even need help with newspaper delivery. You can offer your services and earn money that way.”
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。
David’s eyes lit up as he realized the potential.
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The day of Tom’s birthday finally arrived, and David couldn’t wait to surprise his best friend.
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The telephone rang. Jack answered the call from his mother, “Mr. Richard died last night. The funeral is Wednesday.” Memories flashed through his mind like an old newsreel (新闻影片) as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days. It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man. College, career, and life itself got in the way. In fact, Jack moved across the country in pursuit of his dreams. There, in the rush of his busy life, Jack had little time to think about the past and often no time to spend with his wife and son.
“Jack, did you hear me?”
“Oh, sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. It’s been so long since I thought of him.” Jack said.
“Well, he didn’t forget you. Every time I saw him he’d ask how you were doing. He’d reminisced (追忆) about the many days you spent over ‘his side of the fence’ as he put it,” Mom told him.
After Jack’s father died, Mr. Richard stepped in to make sure Jack had a man’s influence in his life and it was Mr. Richard who taught Jack many things. Jack wouldn’t have been in this business if it hadn’t been for Mr. Richard.
Busy as he was, he returned home and attended the funeral, which was small and uneventful. Mr. Richard had no children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.
The night before Jack had to return home, he and his mother stopped by to see the old house next door one more time. Standing in the middle of the room, Jack paused for a moment. It was like crossing over into another dimension, a leap through space and time. The house was exactly as he remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of furniture... Jack stopped suddenly.
“What’s wrong, Jack?” Mom asked.
“Where is the watch, the thing he valued most?” he seemed to ask himself.
注意：
1. 续写词数应为150左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题纸的相应位置作答。
“It was a gold pocket watch that he used to wear every day,” he told his mom.
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One day Jack received a package on his desk.
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Mary frowned as she helped her mother and father set out the cooking supplies in the shiny steel kitchen. Her family had just moved here from New York, having bought a small restaurant, which was set to open in the next few days.
“Moving here was a stupid idea. I have lost all my friends in New York. What should I do now?” Mary grumbled (抱怨), mostly to herself.
“What’s that?” Her mother asked, opening a box and lifting out several pots. “Nothing,” Mary mumbled (嘟哝). The girl had been complaining about the move, but her parents had made the decision and were then too busy to listen to her complaints.
The first few days at her new school hadn’t been easy, either. She found it hard to talk to people she didn’t know, and it seemed that the students hadn’t even noticed her. Mary sighed and got back to wash dishes.
On the day of the grand opening, Mary’s parents were busy the whole day, welcoming customers into the restaurant, which was brightly decorated in gold and red. Even Mary was in a good mood as she rushed around, seating guests, handing out menus, and pouring glasses of water. This was a big day for her family.
At one of the tables sat a family with two daughters who were about Mary’s age. As she filled their glasses, Mary realized the twins were in her class. Mary ducked her head down. Her long hair covered her face, and she turned away from the table.
A few minutes later, Mary’s mother found her in the kitchen. “Honey, what are you doing back here? We need you out front with the customers.”
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。
Para. 1
“Mom, I don’t want to be out there!”
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Para. 2
Mary put a handful of cookies into a small plate and left the kitchen.
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World Olive (橄榄) Tree Day takes place
Protecting and growing the olive tree is
World Olive Tree Day is set up
There is much to learn, share and celebrate on World Olive Tree Day, and UNESCO encourages everyone to participate in
1. 稿件要求（主题；字数；原创性等）；
2. 投稿方式和截止时间；
3. 呼吁大家积极参与。
注意：
1. 词数：80词左右；
2. 可以适当增加一些细节，以使行文连贯。
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