1 . Usually, someone would come up and ask, “What are you going to be when you grow up?” This kind of question is often raised when we have
Well, it started out being a cowboy or super hero. Later it was fireman, policeman, lawyer... As I grew older, my dreams of the future
By then, I had my heart set on
However, for many, there is a “thief”, which goes around
We find ourselves just about reaching our
A.difficulties | B.challenges | C.memories | D.gatherings |
A.changed | B.reduced | C.developed | D.disappeared |
A.live | B.major | C.believe | D.bring |
A.discovering | B.cheating | C.becoming | D.awarding |
A.spent | B.wasted | C.decided | D.took |
A.planning | B.teaching | C.planting | D.reading |
A.sensitive | B.objective | C.passive | D.positive |
A.disappoint | B.reflect | C.perform | D.achieve |
A.reaching | B.throwing | C.stealing | D.abandoning |
A.thief | B.teacher | C.robber | D.guider |
A.parents | B.ourselves | C.relatives | D.themselves |
A.homes | B.limit | C.dreams | D.potential |
A.possibly | B.quickly | C.frequently | D.gradually |
A.outcome | B.failure | C.moment | D.difference |
A.precious | B.original | C.faithful | D.ordinary |
2 . Julia found some of her grandmother Georgie’s old design sketches (草图) from the 1940s. Georgie told her granddaughter she was proud of the sketches and wanted them to be
Julia took some pictures of those sketches and made a post. It became
With the help of her grandmother, Julia spent countless hours
“You can have your own
A.shown | B.checked | C.discovered | D.appreciated |
A.fashion | B.performance | C.travel | D.play |
A.slightly | B.greatly | C.poorly | D.hardly |
A.popular | B.helpful | C.different | D.convenient |
A.taught | B.forced | C.challenged | D.encouraged |
A.necessary | B.special | C.limited | D.excellent |
A.copying | B.protecting | C.judging | D.improving |
A.recording | B.buying | C.changing | D.praising |
A.experience | B.freedom | C.pleasure | D.instruction |
A.service | B.creation | C.story | D.duty |
A.introduce | B.hand | C.connect | D.present |
A.promise | B.doubt | C.admit | D.warn |
A.education | B.surprise | C.interest | D.memory |
A.natural | B.meaningful | C.peaceful | D.practical |
A.work out | B.stand out | C.pass down | D.move around |
3 . We cannot argue with reality. We cannot argue with science. Therefore, we simply cannot argue with the fact that there are no straight lines in the universe.
Let’s start with science. The science of a straight line falls under the subject of physics. It might seem like a complicated topic, but the theory behind it is pretty simple. If you start rowing in a boat from one place and keep sailing, the concept of the curved (弯曲的) Earth will take you in a circle and you will end up where you started. The brain forms the concept of a straight line to simplify what you see in nature. Consider it a tool for the mind to recognize reality.
The concept of straight lines was controversial and heavily influenced the politics and society of Europe from the 15th century to the 17th century. Greek thinkers and scholars like Aristotle in the 5th century already proved that the Earth was a globe, but many Europeans at that time did not believe in this idea! However, some Europeans during the Age of Exploration denied this belief. Just as the famous Italian scientist Galileo Galilei was persecuted (迫害) for advocating a heliocentric (日心的) model of the solar system, many thinkers like Giordano Bruno were shamed for believing that the Earth was round.
Well, my friends, let’s move on to life. The concept of nothing going in a straight line can be associated with life as much as it relates to science and architecture. Whenever you do something, it never turns out to play out exactly as planned. I especially know that as a thirteen-year-old! Life is a rough road—every time you go forward, it is followed by two steps back or to the side. Just like how science explains it, life is a curvy path full of unexpected twists, turns, and adventures that nobody can ever predict.
1. What does paragraph 1 function as?A.An introduction to the topic. | B.A means to attract readers. |
C.An explanation of a common sense. | D.A proof of the author’s opinion. |
A.The mind could not recognize realities. | B.Things in nature might look complicated. |
C.What you see in nature could seem simple. | D.People in the 16th century might find the Earth flat. |
A.Plain and smooth. | B.Easy but fruitless. | C.Long and tough. | D.Bothersome but safe. |
A.A Straight Line: Everything Simple | B.A Straight Line: People’s Good Wish |
C.A Straight Line: Difficult To Prove | D.A Straight Line: Simply Nonexistent |
4 . I’ve always loved horses, but for years my riding took a back seat to my four kids’ soccer games, dance recitals and so on. As my children became more
I have a work-to-ride rent at a nearby stable (马厩). As soon as I arrive at the stable, I always
One day, as I wiped off my bridle (马笼头), my friend Mary asked with sad eyes, “Did you hear about Heather? She
“No, how awful! Heather’s son is around my age.” I murmured.
“Yes, it’s tragic,” she said. “I
“Yesterday? She was out here?”
“She and her grandsons went for a trail
I nodded
Relief from real life. We all need it, somewhere, somehow, because life is
A.ambitious | B.enthusiastic | C.independent | D.responsible |
A.on | B.in | C.off | D.behind |
A.forget | B.hesitate | C.regret | D.stop |
A.persuaded | B.joined | C.refused | D.forced |
A.replacement | B.recovery | C.recharge | D.repair |
A.lost | B.beat | C.abandoned | D.raised |
A.wrote | B.talked | C.explained | D.whispered |
A.adventure | B.walk | C.visit | D.ride |
A.get through | B.get over | C.get away from | D.get across |
A.silently | B.hurriedly | C.gratefully | D.eagerly |
A.spread | B.developed | C.controlled | D.prevented |
A.result from | B.recover from | C.depart from | D.suffer from |
A.concern | B.affection | C.escape | D.value |
A.tough | B.precious | C.simple | D.unclear |
A.neater | B.smoother | C.softer | D.higher |
5 . I’m in a coffee shop in Manhattan and I’m about to become the most disliked person in the room. First, I’m going to interrupt the man reading quietly near the window and ask for a drink of his latte. Next, I’m going to ask the line of people waiting to pay if I can cut to the front of the queue. This is how I chose to spend my last vacation. Here’s why.
Growing up, all I ever heard about was “EQ.” It was the mid-1990s, and psychologist Daniel Goleman had just popularized the concept of emotional intelligence. Unlike IQ, which tracked conventional measures of intelligence like reasoning and recall, EQ measured the ability to understand other people — to listen, to empathize (共情), and to appreciate.
My mother, an elementary school principal, prized brains and hard work, but she placed a special emphasis on Goleman’s new idea. To her, EQ was the elixir (万能药) that separated the good students from the great after they left school. She was determined to send me into the adult world with as much of this elixir as possible.
But when I finally began my first job, I noticed a second elixir in the pockets of some of my colleagues. It gave their opinions extra weight and their decisions added impact. Strangest of all, it seemed like the anti-EQ: Instead of knowing how to make others feel good, this elixir gave people the courage to do the opposite — to say things others didn’t want to hear.
This was assertiveness (魄力). It boiled down to the command of a single skill: the ability to have uncomfortable conversations. Assertive people — those with high “AQ”— ask for things they want, decline things they don’t, provide constructive feedback, and engage in direct confrontation (对峙) and debate.
A lifetime improving my EQ helped me empathize with others, but it also left me overly sensitive to situations where I had to say or do things that might make others unhappy. While I didn’t avoid conflict, I was always frustrated by my powerlessness when I had to say or do something that could upset someone. This is my problem and I’m working on it.
1. Why did the author act that way in the coffee shop?A.To improve a skill. | B.To test a concept. |
C.To advocate a new idea. | D.To have a unique vacation. |
A.She thought little of IQ. |
B.She popularized Goleman’s idea. |
C.She was a strict mother and principal. |
D.She valued EQ as the key to greatness. |
A.EQ. | B.AQ. | C.Empathy. | D.Courage. |
A.successful leaders | B.people pleasers |
C.terrible complainers | D.pleasure seekers |
6 . Dropping off my three-year-old boy at preschool, I came across Jessica, a fellow mom in pain about the upcoming Valentine’s Day party craft. Despite my exhaustion (筋疲力尽), I offered to deal with it for her. Later that night, my husband Eric found me cutting out construction paper hearts for Jessica’s project, in addition to the one I’d already prepared for our son’s party. Observing my stress, he questioned why I always put myself in such situations. It was a moment of reflection on my tendency to overpromise and please others, even at the cost of my own well-being.
I often did things I didn’t want to do because I was afraid of disappointing someone. It didn’t take long on the Internet to discover that I’m a people pleaser, eager to earn the acceptance of others. Eric was right. I couldn’t go on like this. So I spoke with two experts to find out how to balance a healthier relationship with helping others.
I told psychotherapist Kate Crocco, author of Drawing the Line: How to Achieve More Peace and Less Burnout in Your Life, about offering to do Jessica's craft. “People pleasers sometimes think that if they don’t bend over backward for others, the other person won’t survive. We need to believe that our friends and family can figure out things for themselves,” she says.
Karen Ehman, author of When Making Others Happy Is Making You Miserable: How to Break the Pattern of People Pleasing and Confidently Live Your Life, says, “People pleasers are often passive about how they spend their time. They can be easily swayed and fill their time with someone else’s plans and then become overwhelmed (被压垮的).”
I wondered if I could learn to say no without feeling guilty (内疚的). Recently hosting the family Easter celebration posed a significant task for my husband, one of eight children, and I needed to help. Meanwhile, the community leader requested my assistance in teaching the kindergarten class on Easter Sunday. Politely, I turned down. The community leader expressed understanding and mentioned seeking other volunteers. While it wasn’t a completely guilt-free refusal, it marked a long-awaited step in the right direction.
1. What problem did the author have?A.She wasn’t good at doing crafts. |
B.She didn’t know how to use Internet. |
C.She struggled with being a people pleaser. |
D.She had difficulty getting on with Jessica. |
A.Accepting others’ choices and lifestyles. |
B.Allowing others to solve their own problems. |
C.Being careful when making friends with people pleasers. |
D.Establishing clear limits when managing work and life. |
A.Influenced. | B.Frightened. | C.Misunderstood. | D.Cheated. |
A.She suggested other volunteers. | B.She hesitated for a while. |
C.She turned a deaf ear to it. | D.She refused it politely. |
7 . One early morning, I was cleaning the bathroom shower curtain and its liner (衬布) when it hit me. I had to clean a two-dollar plastic liner because I didn’t have a few extra dollars to buy a new one. I couldn’t believe it! Complaining wasn’t how I would start the day, especially when the sun was shining.
To continue the day optimistically, I left the cleaning for my daily walk at the beach. Along the way through the down town area, something on the sidewalk caught my attention. I walked over and picked it up. It was a small paper bag with no markings, so it wasn’t possible to figure out who it belonged to. I assumed someone must have dropped it, perhaps while loading other bags into his/her car. I turned it over for any identification. No store name, but the brand marking on the front clearly specified it was a shower curtain liner!
Speechless, I turned it over many times in my hands. Believe it or not, it was really an unopened shower curtain liner. I just happened to be the person who walked by and found it on the sidewalk. It took me a few minutes to decide what to do next, not wanting to claim something that wasn’t mine. If I brought it to the police station across the street, the police might just share a good laugh over a two-dollar shower curtain liner. I decided to keep it for myself.
But I was still surprised because the worthless plastic liner that had needed cleaning inspired my complaint and an early morning walk had suddenly transformed itself into a gift on the sidewalk for me. How that moment brightened my day!
At home, my focus was on myself, my anxieties, and my limits in being able to fix the problem. Once outside, I relaxed in the perspective of a much bigger picture. My personal complaint changed to thankfulness for the beauty that extended before my eyes in the form of a brand-new shower curtain liner, which matched perfectly with my bathroom!
1. What is the purpose of the author going for a walk on the beach?A.To seek a replacement for the liner. |
B.To start her day in an optimistic way. |
C.To get energetic for the day’s work. |
D.To get relaxed after the heavy cleaning. |
A.The curiosity of opening the bag. |
B.The urge to keep it to herself. |
C.The chance to find the owner. |
D.The fear of being laughed at. |
A.It was strange that a free liner should make her day. |
B.The worthless liner turned out a gift from friends. |
C.There was a special way for her financial support. |
D.A chance meeting gave her confidence in life. |
A.Learn to be grateful. | B.Fix the problem timely. |
C.Avoid complaints. | D.Broaden your perspective. |
8 . Sharon downsized her parents’ home and then cleared out her father’s stuff after he died. “So much of it hadn’t been used in years. So I decided that we wouldn’t do the same thing to our children.” Sharon spent six months looking over each object in her home. Each day, she sold, donated or threw one away. “It was liberating,” she said. “Now, life is much simpler and the clutter (杂乱) is gone.”
This process has its own reality TV show, The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning. Inspired by a best-selling book by Magnusson, 89, three Swedes travel across the Atlantic to help Americans clean house and face death. “A loved one wishes to inherit (继承) nice things from you,” mentions Magnusson in her book, “not all things from you.” If you’re lucky enough to meet your material needs, then letting go of some of your stuff, or not buying it in the first place, can bring immediate benefits. The clutter is linked to stress and anxiety, even depression. Prioritizing relationships and experience over possessions has been proven to boost our happiness.
What is Swedish death cleaning? It isn’t about clearing out closets. It’s about rethinking your relationship with things. Rather than making do with less, it’s about getting more from the things that make you happy. Death cleaning happens to agree with scientists’ understanding of our relationship with things and why we’re unwilling to part with them. Decades of research has shown that we subconsciously see our possessions as physical extensions of ourselves. For most of us, of course, a degree of attachment is healthy, but it’s not the number of things or the quality that matters. It’s about the symbolic meaning of it. That can bring a lot of happiness.
Things take up space in our minds, well beyond what our storerooms and garages hold. By clarifying what’s important and what’s not, you make room. Your loved ones can receive what they might like before you go, relieving themselves of the burden of cleaning up once you’re gone.
1. Why does the author mention Sharon’s experience in paragraph 1?A.To lead to the topic. | B.To make a comparison. |
C.To support an argument. | D.To reach a conclusion. |
A.To reduce the waste. | B.To remember their loved ones. |
C.To boost their happiness. | D.To make the reality TV show. |
A.The quantity. | B.The popularity. |
C.The significance. | D.The degree of attachments. |
A.Old Stuff: a Heavy Burden or a Sweet Memory. |
B.Everyone’s Stuff: Physical Extensions of Himself. |
C.The Way to Deal with Your Belongings: Give Away. |
D.Swedes’ Secret to Happiness: You Aren’t Your Stuff. |
9 . In my childhood, my parents would take me to watch games. I loved the excitement I would feel when we went to watch these events, especially when the scores were close until the very end of the game. My meaningful attempt at sports began with T-ball at the age of three, progressed to the basketball court at six, and finally turned into a firm devotion to the game of baseball from the age of eight onward.
One of my most memorable moments was at the World Series when I was eleven and played on the Texas Rattlers. The July heat was unbearable. It was the semi-final game. Sweating like a pig, we ran into the dugout for our last at-bat (上场击球); we were down one run now. I was the second hitter and captain of the team, and I was ready for this moment. In the next few seconds, I had the chance to show my strength as a hitter and my ability to be a leader under pressure by hitting a home run! We carried the day!
As the team captain, I remember the time I had to give a speech to my team because we had lost an important game. I was nervous, but I knew it was my responsibility to cheer my team up when they were cast down. This experience has shaped my mind, making me become more independent, so I’m obtaining the ability to talk like a leader in front of my team and a group. Sports get it through my head that you can’t win at everything in life all the time.
On and of the field, I am more iron-willed, disciplined (遵守纪律的) and respectful, and a better leader. I have had so many awesome experiences through sports, which have taught me much and prepared me for the future. The memories of all the trips and diverse experiences I have had will be with me for a lifetime.
1. What can we learn about the author from the first paragraph?A.He often switched sports. | B.He was a gifted child in sports. |
C.He had a busy childhood. | D.He was fond of sports from childhood. |
A.Stressed and tired. | B.Proud and confident. |
C.Unbearable and down. | D.Surprised and energetic. |
A.Leading his team to face failure. | B.Giving a speech before the team. |
C.Improving his leadership qualities. | D.Overcoming his own nervousness. |
A.Interesting Life of Sports | B.Life Lessons from Sports |
C.Deep Affection for Sports | D.Special Moments in Sports |
10 . Before setting out on her journey, Shirley led an elegant and peaceful life in the quiet countryside. Little did she
Regardless of her prior unwillingness, Shirley’s
Her ideal, to prove her
As her journey
A.expect | B.imply | C.acknowledge | D.decide |
A.security | B.comfort | C.relief | D.fear |
A.combination | B.patience | C.association | D.familiarity |
A.sufferings | B.protests | C.conflicts | D.dangers |
A.determined | B.excited | C.satisfied | D.inspired |
A.advantage | B.point | C.cost | D.worth |
A.exceptional | B.initial | C.fundamental | D.common |
A.brought about | B.came across | C.cut through | D.set off |
A.Conquered by | B.Contrary to | C.Content with | D.Concerned about |
A.creativity | B.courage | C.curiosity | D.care |
A.controlled | B.persuaded | C.astonished | D.disappointed |
A.accessed | B.acquired | C.approached | D.achieved |
A.leaving | B.digging | C.coming | D.stepping |
A.recognition | B.gratitude | C.respect | D.dependence |
A.changed | B.excused | C.relaxed | D.freed |