3 . Teens are now less likely to do part time jobs,drink alcohol or go out without their parents than their counterpart 10 or 20 years ago.This generation of teens is delaying the responsibilities and pleasures of adulthood.Some people think that today's teens are more virtuous(品行端正的)and responsible.Others have suggested that today's teens aren't working because they are simply lazy.
To figure out what's really going on,we should look at these trends with"life history theory" taken into consideration.A"fast life method"was the more common parenting approach in the mid-20th century,when fewer labor-saving devices were available and the average woman had four children.The parents needed to focus on day to day survival.As a result,kids needed to care for themselves sooner.A"slow life method"on the other hand is more common in times and places where families have fewer children and spend more time on each child's growth and development.When the average family has two children,preparing for college can begin as early as primary schools.The two methods are adaptations to a particular cultural background,so each isn't naturally"good"or"bad".
Delaying exposure to alcohol,then,could make young adults less prepared to deal with drinking in college.One study found teens who rapidly increased there binge-drinking(酗酒)were more at risk of alcohol dependence than those who learned to drink over a longer period of time.The same might be true of teens who don't work,drive or go out much in high school. College administrators describe students who can't do anything without calling their parents. Employers worry that more young employees lack the ability to work independently.
However,the"slow-life method"is also likely beneficial as teens are spending more time developing socially and emotionally before they drive,drink alcohol and work for pay.The key is to make sure that teens eventually get the opportunity to develop the skills they will need as adults: independence,along with social and decision making skills.For parents,this might mean pushing their teenagers out of the house more.
1. According to the text,teens in the past were more____.A.reliable | B.outgoing |
C.intelligent | D.independent |
A.Social standard |
B.Cultural changes |
C.Educational development. |
D.Methods of education |
A.Spend less time in accompanying their children. |
B..Force their children to leave home at an early age. |
C.Encourage their children to take part in social activities. |
D.Help their children to get to adulthood as soon as possible. |
A.How teens develop skills they need in future |
B.Teens take no responsibility for what they do |
C.Why today's teens aren't in any hurry to grow up |
D.Nowadays teens can't make decisions by themselves |
4 . Are you aware that every single person on this planet who has ever lived, lives now or will live, has a different perception of reality? The way each of us perceives the world is to some degree different than any other person's perception of reality. __①__ What is absolutely real and right for you may be an illusion, or nonexistent, or completely false for another!
It's important to know this. __②__ For example, the news media loves to create drama, and one of their favorite methods is to elicit(引起) fear: fear of other people, fear of the weather, fear of the economy, etc. The news media tells us how to perceive the world—and if a person takes the newscasters at their word, they perceive the world to be very dangerous and hostile. To that person,the mental images and emotions suggested by other people create a version of reality that is completely different from the reality perceived by someone who does not watch the news.
Things are not always what they seem. For most people, seeing is believing, which is why magicians, artists and marketers are so successful. Just like the TV news, they show you only what they want you to see and it is perceived as reality. But how would that reality change if you saw what went on behind the scenes or what was left out?
What's your story?
We all have a story. Over time, your story takes on a life of its own and you become your story. But who's the author and why did him put so much crap in there? All that unnecessary suffering, struggle, heartache, worry and pain... wouldn't it be better to live a story without all that? Who wants to live in a story with that much boredom and unfulfilled longings?
The story got its start when you were born, and was coauthored by you along with the influences in your life. __③__ Anytime you were influenced by someone or something, you unconsciously handed your pen over and said “Here, you write this about me.” So you are not even writing your OWN story! No one does—until they recognize that fact, and make a conscious decision to take control of the pen. You CAN write your story the way you want it to play out.
________________
It is helpful to understand how the brain takes reality and filters it to create your unique perception of reality. It's an automatic unconscious action that is based on:
● Physical experiences (which is why some optical illusions are extremely unsettling)
● Past conditioning (how you are programmed to see the world)
__④__ When you become aware of the fact that you are constructing your own reality, you can take charge and build one that is more pleasing. If you change your mind, your vibration and your intentions, you can change your circumstances! Instead of, “I am a victim of circumstance,” imprint in your mind, “I am the cocreator of my life”; Instead of, “I am sick and tired of...” imprint in your mind,“I am in control and enthusiastic about what I do”.
Raise your vibration by thinking, talking and acting more positively. As positiveness becomes a mental habit,that change will become your new inner reality, which will soon manifest in your outer reality.
The power of perception is immense. Choose to see more good than bad, more abundance than lack, more love than indifference and more success than struggle.
1. How does the author present his viewpoints in the first three paragraphs?A.By answering questions. | B.By giving examples. |
C.By making comparisons. | D.By drawing conclusions. |
A.① | B.② | C.③ | D.④ |
A.Seeing is not believing |
B.Live up to your expectations |
C.Change your perception and create a new reality |
D.Physical experiences and past conditioning really count |
A.Instructive. | B.Humorous. |
C.Critical. | D.Ironic. |
5 . Not too many decades ago it seemed “obvious” both to the general public and to sociologists that modern society has changed people’s natural relations, loosened their responsibilities to kin (亲戚) and neighbors, and substituted in their place superficial relationships with passing acquaintances. However, in recent years a growing body of research has revealed that the “obvious” is not true. It seems that if you are a city resident, you typically know a smaller proportion of your neighbors than you do if you are a resident of a smaller community. But, for the most part, this fact has few significant consequences. It does not necessarily follow that if you know few of your neighbors you will know no one else.
Even in very large cities, people maintain close social ties within small, private social worlds. Indeed, the number and quality of meaningful relationships do not differ between more and less urban people. Small-town residents are more involved with kin than are big-city residents. Yet city dwellers compensate by developing friendships with people who share similar interests and activities. Urbanism many produce a different style of life, but the quality of life does not differ between town and city. Nor are residents of large communities any likelier to display psychological symptoms of stress or alienation, a feeling of not belonging, than are residents of smaller communities. However, city dwellers do worry more about crime, and this leads them to a distrust of strangers.
These findings do not imply that urbanism makes little or no difference. If neighbors are strangers to one another, they are less likely to sweep the sidewalk of an elderly couple living next door or keep an eye out for young trouble makers. Moreover, as Wirth suggested, there may be a link between a community’s population size and its social heterogeneity (多样性). For instance, sociologists have found much evidence that the size of a community is associated with bad behavior including gambling, drugs, etc. Large-city urbanities are also more likely than their small-town counterparts to have a cosmopolitan(见多识广)outlook, to display less responsibility to traditional kinship roles, to vote for leftist political candidates, and to be tolerant of nontraditional religious groups, unpopular political groups, and so—called undesirables. Everything considered, heterogeneity and unusual behavior seem to be outcomes of large population size.
1. Which of the following statements best describes the organization of the first paragraph?A.An argument is examined and possible solutions given. |
B.Two contrasting views are presented. |
C.Research results concerning the quality of urban life are presented in order of time. |
D.A detail description of the difference between urban and small-town life is given. |
A.could not develop long-standing relationships. |
B.did not have the same interests as their neighbors. |
C.tended to be associated with bad behavior. |
D.usually had more friends. |
A.disrupt people’s natural relations. |
B.make them worry about crime. |
C.cause them no to show concern for one another. |
D.cause them to be suspicious of each other. |
A.the better its quality of life |
B.the more tolerant and open-minded it is. |
C.the likelier it is to display psychological symptoms of stress. |
D.the more similar its interests |
Why Should You Be an Intrapreneur at work?
Wikipedia defines intrapreneurship as “the act of behaving like an entrepreneur while working within a large organization.” In my view, intrapreneurs are people who have a strong interest in thinking outside the box, pushing new ideas forward in their companies and speaking their mind.
Taking this road isn’t usually a popular choice. It’s easier to go with the flow, collect your paycheck and call it a day. However, the benefits of being an empowered, vocal (直言不讳的) employee are huge. Becoming an intrapreneur at work can help your career and even the careers of people around you in a variety of ways.
Speaking up when something isn’t going as you think it should - even if it’s just the way a project is being approached - demonstrates confidence and forward thinking. If you’ve never viewed yourself as a leader, this might seem very daunting (使人畏缩的) at first. And many people, women especially, might even feel as though they need permission to make their voice heard. The following quote opened my eyes and shifted my perspective on this many years ago:
“The thing women have yet to learn is nobody gives you power. You just take it.”
-Roseanne Barr
Even if they disagree with you, your colleagues are more likely to respect you as a professional if you demonstrate assertiveness (自信) and independent thinking. Respect yourself and your own ideas, and others will respect you in turn.
Intrapreneurs understand that their careers are in their own hands. If they’re unhappy at work or don’t like something about their workplace or responsibilities, they don’t complain about it; they take steps to change it. Being active instead of passive about your goals and personal vision will make you happier - with your job and yourself - in the long run.
Vocal employees are more likely to produce a culture where everyone believes they can contribute to a larger conversation about the company and its future. This is the key to producing a truly collaborative (协作的) culture that fosters loyalty.
Intrapreneurs don’t think of an idea and then shelve (搁置) it because “the boss will never go for it.” They push forward and ensure their ideas have a voice. They also think creatively about finding a way to make the idea fit within an existing initiative or program. Without people who’re willing to go to bat for their ideas, nothing new and innovative is likely to happen.
Wouldn’t you rather be that person?
Why Should You Be an Intrapreneur at work? | ||
Concept of an intrapreneur | Someone who tends to think | |
It demonstrates leadership. | ◆ To say what you think if you find anything ◆ Hard as it is to make one’s voice heard, | |
You’ll be more respected. | ◆ If you think | |
You will be happier. | ◆ Facing something not ◆ Being active will bring more happiness to you. | |
Your company will become a better place for everyone to work in. | An intrapreneur | |
Pioneering new ideas is how innovation happens | ◆ An intrapreneur won’t come up with a new idea and then give it up. ◆ An intrapreneur will use his or her brain to ◆ It is because of the new ideas brought up by an intrapreneur that innovation appears in the company. |
7 . Exams never made me break out in a nervous sweat with tears threatening to ruin my already-trembling façade — but this one did. Even booking my piano exam reduced me to a blubbering mess of anxiety.
I feel permanently scarred inside churches — no longer admiring their beauty because, over the years, I have received such terrible marks from examiners hiding behind the stained-glass partitions. Despite being 15 — too old, too cool to be frightened — I remember trembling inside the bathroom stalls before my tests. I wished I never had to play in front of others.
But this time, after booking my Level 8 Royal Conservatory of Music piano exam, I went back to my normal routine. A little practice here, a little practice there. And then it happened.
My trusty, 10-year-old electric piano gave out. Middle C started to sound like an F-sharp and all other keys sounded like they were a fourth above their natural tone. Thankfully, my precious, boredom-saving buttons still worked. I could still change my piano’s settings from “piano” to “harpsichord .” I admit, it was a lot of fun banging on my wacky keys. Each note bonged like the sound on children’s TV shows when a character repeatedly runs into a wall.
Goofiness aside, I had to get my act together. I hated practicing but I really wanted a good mark. When I told my father what had happened to my piano, he only glared at me with disappointment, “When I was your age, I learned to be resourceful.”
Hmm. I had a broken piano, an exam coming up in a few months and a father who refused to buy me a new piano because he wanted to teach me a “life lesson”. I finally came upon a decision: I’d practice at school.
Going to a private school had to have its benefits, so I looked for a place to play. The school had many pianos but only a few in tune. Within a few days of searching, my piano books, my artistic best friend and I headed off to a music room at every available opportunity.
I loved finding new pianos in hidden corners of the school and I laughed at the dusty old historic pianos. They really had character. I spent hours in those music rooms while my friend honed her art skills in sketching and drawing. She suffered through my annoying, repetitive scales while I looked over my shoulder once in a while and admired her work. Not only did I become a better musician, but I also managed to gain a few subpar skills as an art critic.
As my exam drew close, all the music teachers knew to look for me in the piano rooms during recess, after school and late on Fridays. In anticipation of my assessment, one of my music teachers let me perform for her as a mini practice exam. To my surprise, she was greatly impressed.
Within a few months I went from not caring about my playing to feeling actually, maybe, kind of proud of my work. And over countless hours spent in my favorite, soundproof music room, I discovered that behind the piano, I could become anyone. Talking to other people never came easy to me, but I was able to express myself through music. I became overjoyed. It was like I had developed a sixth sense, one that only musicians could understand.
When I played, my worries about what others thought of me and how I viewed myself merged to reveal who I really am. All my adolescent musings made me feel like I was in a cage, but music gave me the key. Sitting behind a piano and creating music combined the movement of my body and the inner workings of my heart.
Music had never been the love of my life but that was changing. I loved the idea of being on a stage and creating something for others to enjoy and remember. Actually, it wasn’t a something, but rather a feeling that the audience would carry outside into a world where music wasn’t the only thing that people cared for.
When the time came to play in front of an examiner, instead of fearing my judge, I feared nothing but being unable to represent all my hard work. All the anxiety I had about going up on stage dimmed, and when the lights went on, all I could think about was the marvellous journey I’d had to get here. Trilling the keys reminded me of when I’d spent nearly two hours alone in a music room, more content than I had been anywhere else. Playing the melody reminded me of the bittersweet music experiences of past years.
Many days later, I received my mark. Not only did I earn a rarely mentioned “well done” and an 82 per cent, I had rewritten what music meant to me.
Now whenever I get caught up in the daily struggle, I remember the hard work that it took to reach my goal. Whenever I feel discouraged, I never forget to look at the gleaming keys of my new upright piano. As my father always says, some lessons are just learned the hard way.
1. What made the author so stressful inside churches these years?A.The religious atmosphere. | B.The artistic performance. |
C.The horrible surroundings. | D.Her colorful fantasy. |
A.The author’s family was too poor to afford a new piano. |
B.The father was quite angry about the author’s bad behavior. |
C.The author showed great dissatisfaction about her father. |
D.The father wanted the author to address the problem independently. |
A.mixed | B.separated | C.interacted | D.exploited |
A.Her good friend accompanied her to get through hard time. |
B.Her teachers treated her much better than before. |
C.Her family supported her quite well. |
D.Her own understanding of musical value. |
A.Nervous — disappointed — angry — calm |
B.Curious — frustrated — hopeful — grateful |
C.Frightened — indifferent — passionate — proud |
D.Depressed — satisfied — disappointed — peaceful |
A.An important Music Test |
B.A Hard but Enjoyable Life |
C.The Key to Happiness |
D.My Favourite Piano |
8 . On my first day of the sixth grade,I noticed one little girl called Amy on the school bus.”Don’t
Amy had many
Every day
But while I was insulting her, my heart
Our whole class was there, including Amy. Amy didn’t know how to
On the school bus the next morning there was much news about Amy and me
After graduation, I never
A.laugh at | B.ask about | C.talk to | D.be afraid of |
A.common | B.small | C.social | D.physical |
A.as | B.though | C.after | D.before |
A.pretty | B.strange | C.ordinary | D.lovely |
A.glasses | B.coat | C.shoes | D.hat |
A.frightening | B.interesting | C.encouraging | D.injuring |
A.Instead | B.After all | C.If so | D.Therefore |
A.beat | B.lost | C.ached | D.opened |
A.happier | B.taller | C.prettier | D.uglier |
A.give into | B.deal with | C.stand up for | D.believe in |
A.until | B.except | C.before | D.after |
A.stand | B.skate | C.play | D.walk |
A.catch up | B.have fun | C.sit down | D.fall over |
A.fear | B.surprise | C.comfort | D.joy |
A.talking | B.chatting | C.skating | D.travelling |
A.so | B.because | C.but | D.still |
A.wrote to | B.laughed at | C.heard from | D.made fun of |
A.hoped | B.wondered | C.thought | D.considered |
A.life | B.mind | C.interest | D.friend |
A.study | B.fight | C.act | D.play |
A.Considered | B.Supposed | C.Given | D.Supposing |
10 . A scientist
Now the question is why the monkey was unable to understand
A.kept | B.rose | C.fed | D.caught |
A.moving | B.removed | C.discovered | D.covered |
A.happily | B.anxiously | C.hurriedly | D.instantly |
A.suddenly | B.accidentally | C.occasionally | D.quickly |
A.as | B.that | C.what | D.until |
A.But | B.When | C.Therefore | D.Thus |
A.directions | B.explanations | C.performances | D.instructions |
A.effort | B.strength | C.power | D.force |
A.expecting | B.interesting | C.satisfying | D.desired |
A.what | B.how | C.why | D.which |
A.Probably | B.Likely | C.Simply | D.Nearly |
A.put | B.send | C.pay | D.shift |
A.gesture | B.mouth | C.hand | D.eye |
A.taken away | B.taken off | C.taken over | D.taken on |
A.that | B.the | C.those | D.this |