1 . When I was a young man, I had a big ego (自负) and very little empathy (同理心). I thought I knew everything. I looked forward to fame and success. I can even remember proudly telling one of my friends in college: “If only everyone listened to me, they would all be happy.” I finally left school, ready to take on the world. Little did I know the world was about to take on me.
In the years following college, instead of success, I found struggles. I had trouble finding work. The jobs I did work at were either temporary or back-breaking and none of them paid well. When my wife and I had children, we were shocked to learn that not one but both of our sons had autis (自闭症) and would need to be taken care of for the rest of their lives. I had no idea why this had happened to us and I was very angry with the world.
In time, however, I began to change. My formerly massive ego was shrinking fast and my empathy was beginning to grow. Instead of finding joy in success, I found it in moments of love. Playing and laughing with my sons brought me so much happiness. My boys taught me more about peace, patience, kindness, joy, and unconditional love than I could have ever learned on my own. I began to share the lessons I learned through my writing and my life.
I finally realized that my purpose in this world had nothing to do with fame or success but everything to do with allowing love and light into my life and sharing it with everyone I could.
1. What was the author like when he was young?| A．He was popular. |
| B．He was a top student. |
| C．He was overconfident about his abilities. |
| D．He was warm-hearted to others. |
| A．found a tiring but well-paid job |
| B．wanted to live a challenging life |
| C．didn’t want to have children early |
| D．suffered many difficulties in life |
| A．The time with his family. |
| B．The books he wrote. |
| C．The difficulties in his work. |
| D．The improvement in his life. |
| A．Life can be very hard for some people. |
| B．Parents need to be patient with their kids. |
| C．It’s important to learn how to be a father. |
| D．The purpose of life is to share love. |
2 . The best-sellers of Amazon’s self-help list
With Mental Health Awareness Week in full swing, we’ve turned to the best-sellers of Amazon’s self-help list. Here are the most popular books over the past year.
Quiet
Fearne Cotton
Written to control the inner voice that says you can’t and silence what Fearne calls ‘brain-chatter’ that holds you back and stops you from believing in yourself. It’s a handbook to help deal effectively with modern life filled with expert advice and ideas you can put into practice.
Can’t Hurt me
David Goggins
Sharing his astonishing life story—from poverty, prejudice, and physical abuse to a U.S. Armed Forces icon and one of the world’s top endurance athletes. David Goggins reveals that most of us only ever tap into just 40% of our capabilities. Goggins refers to this as ‘The 40% Rule’, with his story lighting a path that anyone can follow to push past pain and reach their full potential.
The Wim Hof Method
Wim Hof
If you’re fascinated by Wim Hof and his amazing achievements. Think, barefoot marathons over deserts and ice fields. As an endurance (耐力) athlete, he’s multiple broken world records bearing the most extreme temperatures through the power of the mind. Exploring the ways to activate your potential and go beyond your limits. Taking control of both your body and life by releasing the great power of the mind Hoff explains his method for surviving extreme conditions.
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck
Mark Manson
“Don’t hope for a life without problems. There’s no such thing. Instead, hope for a life full of good problems.” Manson makes the argument, backed by academic research and amounts of toilet humour, that improving our lives depends not on our ability to turn lemons into lemonade, but rather learning to stomach lemons better.
1. Which of the following encourages self-confidence?| A．Quiet. | B．Can’t Hurt me. |
| C．The Wim Hof Method. | D．The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck. |
| A．They are short story writers. | B．They are world-class athletes. |
| C．They suffer from physical abuse. | D．They advocate living a good life. |
| A．Share inspiring personal experiences. | B．Explore the potential of the human brain. |
| C．Provide guidance for better mental health. | D．Find approaches to amazing achievements. |
3 . You come home on a hot summer day, hoping to have a cool bath, but find there is no water. Then you see how important water is in your daily life. While sometimes you have the idea in many parts of the world, water is not just about one’s everyday needs.
In countries like Tanzania, water is hard to get, and the job of collecting water falls on women’s shoulders. Girls often have to leave school to collect water, while their brothers stay at school studying. The girls spend more time collecting water. That means they have less time for learning.
For these girls, “Knowledge is Power” is not just words; it’s a sad fact in real life. As they spend less time at school, they have fewer chances of getting good jobs, and they often have no choices on important matters, like who to marry. These girls are often married into poor families. They have little money or knowledge to take care of their children. For the baby girls who are lucky enough to survive(生存), their life may be still around “water”, just like their mothers’.
1. What do the underlined words “the idea” mean?| A．Water is important in one’s everyday life. |
| B．Water is not just about one’s everyday needs. |
| C．It's nice to have a cool bath on a hot summer day. |
| A．men’s | B．women’s | C．boys’ |
| A．not just words | B．a sad fact in real life | C．both A and B |
| A．The girls have a hard life in countries like Tanzania. |
| B．Why it’s important to save water. |
| C．How water may give a country power. |
4 . Some people think that they will get ill if they use their brains (大脑) too much. It is not true. Through many studies, scientists show us that the more you use your brains, the better it will be, and the cleverer you will become.
Of course, if you want to keep your mind clear and active, you must take a proper rest and study properly. To the teenagers, using their brains in the morning is good for their health.
There are many ways to rest. One is a peaceful rest. Sleep is a peaceful rest. Another is an active rest. For example, take a walk outdoors, do more exercises every day. To change the way of the brains’ activities is also a good way to rest.
In everyday life, to eat some eggs, meat, fresh vegetables and fruit(水果)is also good for the brains.
Wish you a wise man and a happy life.
1. According to the writer of the passage, our brains should be used _______.| A．hardly | B．seldom |
| C．more often | D．at times |
| A．Sleep is a kind of a good rest. |
| B．Doing morning exercises is a peaceful rest. |
| C．Going out for a rest is an active rest. |
| D．There are different activities for a good rest. |
| A．Illness comes from the fact that the brains are used too much. |
| B．Fruits are the most important for the brains. |
| C．The brains will be better if they are used often. |
| D．Sleep is the only way of having a rest. |
| A．young girls | B．middle-school students |
| C．clever boys | D．poor students |
| A．How to use your brains |
| B．How to rest |
| C．How to become a wise man |
| D．Keep your mind clear |
5 . The Wonderful Things You Will Be
By Winfield Martin $14.96
4.9 out of 5 stars Age Range: 3—7 years
With beautiful and sometimes humorous pictures, this is a book grown-ups will love reading over and over to kids—both young and old. A special stand-out for birthdays and graduation. It has a loving and truthful message that will last for a lifetime.
Peek-a WHO
By Nina Laden $4.06
4.8 out of 5 stars Age Range: 1—3 years
With colourful pictures and simple rhyming texts, the guess of who's hiding on the next page, and the bright and attractive pictures will keep children guessing and laughing all the way to the surprise endings.
How to Draw People
By Barbara Soloff Levy $3.56
4.6 out of 5 stars Age Range: 5—10 years
By joining circles and other common shapes, even the beginner can easily create 30 different characters—a fireman, a mailman, a cowboy, an astronaut and more. Simple directions, step-by-step illustrations(图解), and blank practice pages make it even easier. You can color the pictures when you are done—it’s a fun-filled way to teach art to young children that enjoy drawing.
Karian Garcia's DIY
By Karina Garcia $5.78
4.2 out of 5 stars Age Range: 10-14 years
Get ready to become a slime(黏液) master with these feen DIY projects! Full-color and with step-by-step pictures, this book also includes tips on how to store your slime, all the amazing things you can do with slime, and cool fact about Karina.
1. Whose book is the best choice for kids as bedtime stories?| A．Nina Laden's. | B．Karina Garcia's. | C．Winfield Martin's. | D．Barbara Soloff Levy's. |
| A．$3.56. | B．$4.06. | C．$5.78. | D．$14.96. |
| A．How to buy high-quality slime. | B．How to arrange different colors. |
| C．How to create full-color pictures. | D．How to keep slime in good conditions. |
6 . 1. Macao Tower AJ Hackett Bungee Jump
The Macao Tower,338. meters tall, is the world’s 10th highest tower, with a variety of activities, such as gambling, eating and entertainment. One of the famous activities is the bungee jump. The AJ Hackett Macao Tower Bungee Jump is 233 meters high, making it a Guinness World Record as the highest commercial bungee jump in the world. Raise your arms and off you go! If you are not daring enough to jump that height, you can try the skywalk on the 57th floor-it’s still remarkable. Grab this chance and tick off this item on your bucket list.
2. Grab a traditional Portuguese dinner
Macao was colonized by Portugal before 1999. As a result, Portuguese culture is deeply into many corners of Macao. Many Portuguese settled and opened Portuguese restaurants in the special administrative region, but the flavor is more adaptable to Chinese people.
3. Visit a museum
Macao, as a tiny little city with only an area of 30. 5 square kilometers, has 23 eye-catching museums. Due to its unique history, both Eastern and Western historical sites can be found. Many of them are preserved for cultural heritage, tourist spots or museums, such as the Grand Prix Museum, Maritime Museum and Wine Museum.
4. Selfie (自拍) at the Ruins of St. Paul
The Ruins of St. Paul is the signature landmark of Macao. The ruins consist of the St. Paul’s College and the Church of St. Paul, built in 1583. However, after three fires in 1595, 1601 and1835, the church was seriously damaged. Surprisingly, after the rebuilding and fires, the huge front part and the front stairway remain unburned.
1. Which of the following is NOT true about Macao Tower according to the passage?| A．There are many activities in Macao Tower. |
| B．The bungee jump there holds a record in the world. |
| C．It is a thrilling place to go. |
| D．The skywalk is 233 meters high. |
| A．Cultural heritage is preserved here. |
| B．It has experienced several fires. |
| C．It is totally ruined by the fires. |
| D．It is still well reserved. |
| A．A textbook | B．An advertisement | C．A travel magazine | D．A research paper |
7 . 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. |
8 . Reese Witherspoon was born on March 22, 1976 in New Orleans, Louisiana. She is the second child of the family. Reese spent the first four years of her life in Wiesbaden, Germany, where her father John Witherspoon served in the US Army Reserves. Shortly after, John moved the family back to the United States, settling in Nashville, Tennessee.
Reese was introduced to the entertainment industry at a very early age. At age 7, she began modeling. This led to appearances on several local television commercials. At age 11, she was placed first in a Ten-State Talent Fair.
In 1990, she landed her first major acting role in The Man in the Moon(1991). Her role as a 14-year old tomboy earned her good reviews. Roles in bigger films such as Jack the Bear (1993) and A Far Off Place (1993) followed shortly after.
Following high school graduation in 1994, Reese decided to have a pause in her acting career and attend Stanford University where she would major in English literature. However, her plans were shortly stopped when she accepted roles to star in two major motion pictures. Although neither film was a huge box-office success, they did help to make Reese a rising star in Hollywood and open the door for bigger and better film roles.
Her breakthrough role came as Elle Woods in the 2001 comedy Legally Blonde In box office terms, the movie was a great success and made Reese one of the top female stars in Hollywood. In the year 2014, she produced both Gone Girl and Wild, for which she got nominated (提名) for a best actress Oscar again for her role.
Reese is actively involved in children's and women’s advocacy organizations. She is a longtime supporter of Save the Children, an organization that helps provide children around the world with education, health care and emergency aid.
1. Why did Reese stop her studies at Stanford University?| A．Because she starred in two successful films. |
| B．Because she was more famous in Hollywood. |
| C．Because she was involved in advocacy organizations. |
| D．Because she decided to take on roles in two important films. |
| A．Caring. | B．Defensive. |
| C．Confusing | D．Admiring. |
| A．Following the order of time. | B．Using figures. |
| C．Giving examples. | D．Making comparison. |
9 . Last fall, I went to New York for sightseeing. I visited many tourist attractions there, and I also saw many unfortunate citizens on the street, like beggars and homeless folks.
Standing outside the Metropolitan Museum of Art, I heard a voice ask, “Can you do me a favor?” When I turned around, I saw an elderly blind woman with her hand extended out. Naturally, I reached into my pocket for some change immediately and placed it in her hand without even looking at her. I was really annoyed at being bothered by a beggar. What I only thought at that moment was to send her away.
But the blind woman said with a warm smile on her face, "I don't want your money. I just need you to show me the way to the subway entrance."
In an instant, I realized what I had done just now. Her unexpected words took me by surprise and shame. I had acted with prejudice ——I'd judged another person simply for what I assumed she had to be. I felt ashamed of myself and couldn't face the old woman anymore. And I felt small beside her.
The incident reminded me that I believed in being humble, even though I had lost that belief for a moment. The thing I had forgotten about myself is that I am an immigrant. I left Honduras and arrived in the U. S. at the age of 15. Through the years, I have experienced many acts of prejudice. I remember a time at the age of 17 when I was a busboy, I heard a father tell his little boy that if he did not do well in school, he would end up like me. But now, living my American middle-class lifestyle, it is too easy to forget who I am and where I have been, and to lose sight of where I want to go. It is the blind woman who cured me of my blindness.
1. What did the author think the blind woman wanted at first sight?| A．To ask for directions. | B．To offer him some help. |
| C．To demand some donations. | D．To borrow money from him. |
| A．He had a prejudice on the woman. | B．He couldn't face the woman. |
| C．He was judged by his appearance. | D．He was an immigrant himself. |
| A．To indicate he led a miserable life. | B．To tell he didn't work hard at school. |
| C．To prove he used to be a humble man. | D．To show he used to be unfairly judged. |
| A．Be Considerate - Always Minding Your Words |
| B．Be Humble - Always Dropping Your Prejudice |
| C．Be Generous - Always Helping Those in Need |
| D．Be Aggressive - Always Having a Big Dream |
10 . Online Free Courses
English Grammar and Style
We’ll present materials that cover grammatical principles, word usage, writing style, sentence and paragraph structure and punctuation. We’ll challenge you with quizzes and writing activities that will give you strategies to enhance the quality of your writing, and invite you to participate in discussions and assess the work of your peers (同龄人).
Length: 8 weeks
Instructor: Roslyn Petelin from the University of Queensland
Academic Writing Made Easy
From structuring and organizing an academic text to avoiding common mistakes that can negatively affect your credibility, this course offers a guide for those who want to improve their writing. Each week is comprised of video lessons, followed by exercises and tasks of assessing your peers' work.
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1. What do the first two courses have in common?
| A．Both last for one and a half months. |
| B．Both involve some peer review tasks. |
| C．Both require upper-intermediate English. |
| D．Both are offered by the same university. |
| A．Roslyn Petelin. | B．Heidi Minning. |
| C．Joel Ozretich. | D．Daphne Mackey. |
| A．Improving email-writing skills. |
| B．Giving tips on academic writing. |
| C．Exploring grammatical principles. |
| D．Introducing the basics of networking. |
