An Insignificant Task
The day when the jobs were handed out was one of the most exciting for all the children in the class. It took place during the first week of the term. On that day, every boy and girl was given a job for which they would be responsible for the rest of that school year.
As with everything, some jobs were more interesting than others, and the children were eager to be given one of the best ones. When giving them out, the teacher took into account which pupils had been most responsible during the previous year, and those children were the ones who most looked forward to this day. Among them, Rita stood out. She was a kind and quiet girl. During the previous year she had carried out the teacher’s instructions perfectly. All the children knew Rita was the favourite to be given the best job of all: to look after the class dog.
But this year there was a big surprise. Each child received one of the normal jobs, like preparing the books for the lessons, telling the time, cleaning the blackboard, or looking after one of the pets. However, Rita’s job was very different. She was given a little box containing some sand and one ant. Even though the teacher insisted that this ant was a very special ant, Rita could not help feeling disappointed. Most of her classmates felt sorry for her. They sympathised with her and remarked at how unfair it was that she had been given that job.
Yet, Rita, who liked her teacher very much, chose to prove her worth through excellence. “I will turn this little task into something great,” Rita said to herself. What she didn’t know was that the teacher had secretly entered her into a rainforest insect raising competition.
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。
Rita started investigating all about her little ant.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________On the last day of the school year, the teacher burst into the classroom with excitement.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________More young people are trying their hand at farming the soil. Guo Lan, 29, works in a vegetable greenhouse on his organic farm
“Growing tasty and healthy food
3 . I vividly remember the day when my husband and I set off on a new journey to Tanzania. He had been
As we got off the train, however, at six in the morning, a lady came rushing along the
I washed, changed, had a quick bite to eat and was
Though my entry into this
A.awarded | B.offered | C.allowed | D.presented |
A.disappointed | B.dissatisfied | C.unconcerned | D.uneasy |
A.priority | B.worry | C.action | D.response |
A.river | B.platform | C.sidewalk | D.channel |
A.probably | B.suddenly | C.desperately | D.occasionally |
A.longed for | B.waited for | C.heard about | D.worried about |
A.remark | B.interruption | C.suggestion | D.request |
A.keep | B.take | C.forget | D.quit |
A.introduced | B.recommended | C.assigned | D.compared |
A.colleagues | B.assistants | C.students | D.interviewers |
A.exactly | B.finally | C.immediately | D.smoothly |
A.expected | B.regretted | C.delayed | D.dropped |
A.career | B.country | C.agreement | D.relationship |
A.value | B.strengthen | C.renew | D.harvest |
A.comment | B.record | C.impact | D.impression |
4 . You are what you think. Whatever you are doing right now is determined by your thinking. All your emotions and desires are influenced by your thinking. The problem is that when you are not aware of your thinking, you have no chance of correcting it if it is poor. When thinking is subconscious, you are in no position to see any problems in it. And, if you don’t see any problems in it, you won’t be motivated to change it. What’s worse, few people realize the powerful role that thinking plays in their lives, so they don’t gain significant command of it. As a result, most people are in many ways victims of their thinking.
Consider your success as a student. The single most significant variable in determining your success as a student is the quality of your thinking. Your instructors will play a role in your learning, but even the best teachers cannot get into your head and learn for you. If you lack the intellectual skills necessary for thinking well through course content, you will not be successful in school.
Here is the key question we are putting to you in this book. If the quality of a person’s thinking is the single most significant determinant of both happiness and success, why not take the time to learn from the best thinkers?
This book will inform you of the tools that the best thinkers use and will illustrate the activities and practice you can use to begin to emulate them, and take control of your destiny as a thinker. Each chapter focuses on a different aspect of these thinking aids, helping you discover the power of your own mind and of your potential to think systematically about your thinking.
This book, as a whole, introduces you to the tools of mind that will help you reason well through various challenges you face. If you take these ideas seriously and practice using them, you can improve the quality of your thinking and ultimately, the quality of your life.
1. Why do many people lack motivation to change their poor thinking?A.They are victims of emotions. | B.They are unaware of the need. |
C.They think highly of themselves. | D.They lack the academic guidance. |
A.The course content. | B.The school environment. |
C.The commitment of teachers. | D.The quality of an individual’s thinking. |
A.Make friends with. | B.Win over. | C.Follow the example of. | D.Look up to. |
A.types of life challenges | B.varieties of thinking tools |
C.determinants of life value | D.ideas of different thinkers |
5 . For most of history, people lived in small groups of up to 150 people. Then villages and small towns developed, offering safety and support through the sharing of resources. As time passed, urban living brought additional advantages such as better jobs, schools and healthcare. Larger towns also gave people more chances to meet and interact. This is important.
Today, over half of the world’s population currently lives in towns and cities. But this has resulted in a strange paradox (悖论). Although social opportunities are one reason people choose to live in large cities, research suggests that city life can be lonely.
The development of virtual communities can be traced back to the 1860s. Back then, telegraph operators exchanged messages and gradually formed friendships over long distances.
These days, there are thousands of virtual communities and that number keeps growing. Many people believe they will become more important.
A.This trend, however, is not likely to continue. |
B.As Aristotle said, the nature of humans is to be social. |
C.That may explain why virtual communities are so popular. |
D.The first popular online communities developed in the 1980s. |
E.Before cell phones existed, radio was an easy way to communicate. |
F.Nevertheless, others worry about problems with these communities. |
G.This is among the earliest examples of virtual community interactions. |
6 . Human history is full of horse stories like guiding cowboys home on foggy nights and taking wounded soldiers through battle zones. Such sensible and highly trained horses made Elina Jatel, a computer scientist and roboticist, think of robots. “A horse that can take a rider home on its own would be the highest level of autonomy,” Jatel says. “You trust them with your life.” She was drawn to learning how such relationships form and if it could help improve human-robot interactions.
For a year, Jatel engaged herself in the horse world. She watched classes in horse training, and she also talked with students, instructors, trainers and horse owners. Along the way, Jatel even learned to ride.
Horses learn signals from their trainers on how to comfortably interact with people. People, too, must learn their part. Riders must learn what a horse wants or feels based on its behavior, and what signals to use to direct horses to perform in desired ways. Jatel found some similarities, here, to working with robots. People must learn how to direct robots to do specific tasks. They also must learn what to do when robots don’t perform as planned. The goal is to program robots that will respond predictably to inputs from people. But like horses, autonomous robots also should be able to respond on their own as conditions change. For example, a self-driving car must stop to avoid hitting something, even if some human mistakenly tells it to keep going.
Trainers and riders work with horses to build respect. Horses show that respect by matching their pace to a human or giving someone who is leading them a safe degree of personal space. Trainers begin their work with a horse by getting them to show signs of respect in basic interactions, Jatel says. Later, trainers will develop more complex interactions. Gradually, a horse’s respect can grow into trust.
But that trust is not given. And there may be a similar limitation with robots. What would it mean for robots and people to respect and trust each other? For now, she adds, this is largely uncharted territory. But she’s looking to build a path.
1. What drew Elina Jatel’s attention to horses?A.Horses’ amazing performance. | B.Long history of horse training. |
C.Horse-human interdependence. | D.Her horse-riding experience. |
A.To act like real horses. | B.To show respect to humans. |
C.To follow instructions from humans. | D.To make independent and sensible decisions. |
A.The limitations of robots. | B.Trust between robots and humans. |
C.Path toward higher robot efficiency. | D.Similarities between horses and robots. |
A.History of Human-Horse Relationship | B.Secrets of Human-Animal Interactions |
C.The Role of Trust in Human-Robot Partnerships | D.Horses as the Inspiration for Autonomous Robots |
7 . Some beaches are perfect for relaxing, while others offer activities like hiking and water sports. Visit these beautiful beaches for an unforgettable vacation.
Cannon Beach
If your perfect beach vacation spot features postcard-worthy scenery and peace, look no further than Cannon Beach. In this Pacific Northwest town, you can even build a fire on the beach to relax beside while watching the sun set. When you need a break from the beach, grab a bike and head downtown to explore its art galleries, shops and restaurants.
Horseshoe Bay Beach
For a one-of-a-kind beach experience, head to Horseshoe Bay Beach on Bermuda’s South Shore. Known for its pink sand, this beach is a popular destination for families looking to play in the calm blue-green waters and build blush-colored sandcastles. Adventure seekers can also take part in the self-guided island bicycle tour or engage in exciting water sports.
Mohegan Bluffs
This beach is famous for its natural beauty. Upon arrival, pause to admire your surroundings and learn about its ties to the native people, their ancient traditions, and connection to the land, adding depth to your beach experience. Then, take the 141 steps down to the sand to sunbathe. After that, climb back up to visit the Southeast Light for an up-close view of its 18th-century lighthouse.
South Beach
This tropical district on Florida’s Atlantic Coast is world-renowned for its powdery white sand. Although technically part of the Miami Beach area, South Beach stands out due to its Art Deco architecture seen in everything from the beachfront lifeguard towers to the high-rise buildings along the famed Ocean Drive.
1. What similarity do Cannon Beach and Horseshoe Bay Beach share?A.The chance to cycle around. | B.Their lively artistic scene. |
C.The unique water sports. | D.Their distinctive sand color. |
A.Those seeking water sports. | B.Fans of modern lighthouses. |
C.Those interested in local culture. | D.Enthusiasts of mountain climbing. |
A.Its beach sand. | B.Its architectural style. |
C.Its ocean drive. | D.Its high-rise buildings. |
8 . Falcons are powerful birds that may be trained to hunt in cooperation with humans. The art of training falcons as “hunting dogs of the skies” is called falconry (训鹰术). It was developed in the ancient Arabian Desert around 4000 B. C. In the past, falconry mainly involved hunting with falcons to supplement one’s diet. But now, it has become the favorite sport and pastime in the Arabian Peninsula.
Falconry includes three major processes: acquiring the falcons, training them, and hunting with them. Every year, falconers begin capturing wild falcons in June and July, the migration season. The best birds to catch are the ones with naturally nurtured hunting skills, aged one or two years. Once the falcons are captured, their heads are immediately covered with a leather hood. This is essential because they imprint as their master whomever they see first after the hood is removed. Right after a bird is caught, the training process starts. It begins by depriving (剥夺) the bird of food to make it easier to tame. The birds are taught to know their own name and respond to their master when called. Arab falconers live with their birds day and night in order to build a strong relationship with them.
By the end of October or mid-November, the trained falcons are ready to hunt in the desert. They have excellent vision, 2. 6 times greater than that of a human. They are also the fastest divers on the planet. One hunting technique that sets them apart from other animals is that they can be trained to deliver their prey, without killing it first. This is vital in Islamic culture because animals used for food must still be alive to ensure that the meat is halal, that is, properly prepared according to Islamic law.
Falcons have played such a crucial role in traditional Islamic cultures that a number of countries in the Middle East have made them their national bird. Falconry has grown so popular that specialist hospitals have been established to take care of these magnificent birds. Falcons are even issued their own passports. They are the only animals in the United Arab Emirates that are legally allowed to travel inside planes, enjoying a level of luxury that some humans can only dream of.
1. What is the main reason for Arabic people to hunt with falcons today?A.To serve as entertainment and exercise. |
B.To supplement their diet. |
C.To replace the practice of hunting with dogs. |
D.To honor their national bird. |
A.Falconers don’t give food to falcons in order to capture them. |
B.Falcons are not allowed to see their masters during the training process. |
C.Wild falcons with natural hunting skills are ideal for falconers to catch. |
D.The trainers’ names are written on the hoods covering the birds’ heads. |
A.Falcons keep their prey alive before delivering it to falconers. |
B.Falcons can form a strong bond with their owners quickly. |
C.Falcons’ vision is particularly suitable for hunting in deserts. |
D.Falcons are relatively easy to train for specific hunting. |
A.Free air ticket. | B.Passports issued by the King. |
C.Expensive meals. | D.Access to specialized medical care. |
9 . At 13, I resolved to be an amazing teacher, overwhelmingly driven by a
In fifth grade, Ms. Charlotte, an English teacher could magically
She told us stories from books we would otherwise never
What a man! So Ms. Charlotte inspired us to fight for our own pride and defend it,
Now, dear teachers, we love you and thank you from the bottom of our heart! I will keep the
When your dreams come alive you’re unstoppable
Take a shot, chase the sun, find the beautiful
We will glow in the dark turning dust to gold
1.A.depressing | B.burning | C.living | D.entertaining |
A.transport | B.interpret | C.deliver | D.transform |
A.feature | B.factor | C.function | D.flavour |
A.attached | B.advocated | C.breathed | D.exposed |
A.pursue | B.contract | C.emerge | D.correspond |
A.pick up | B.put up | C.set up | D.get up |
A.catching | B.carving | C.casting | D.ceasing |
A.seal | B.seashell | C.fish | D.dolphin |
A.declare | B.contain | C.encounter | D.integrate |
A.drilled | B.soiled | C.nailed | D.covered |
A.genuine | B.identical | C.tough | D.internal |
A.right away | B.at once | C.on the spot | D.on end |
A.embarrassed | B.depressed | C.disappointed | D.exhausted |
A.in addition | B.despite | C.due to | D.given |
A.stick | B.hit | C.strike | D.rank |
A.The twins have a lot in common. |
B.The twins don’t look the same. |
C.The twins don’t act alike. |