1 . No matter what your goals are in life, there is one great law that you need to obey in order to be successful: No one else is going to climb the ladder (梯子) of success for you.     1     Prom the day you leave your parents’ house, you are responsible for your life and the choices you make.

If you want a better life, you need to make better decisions.     2     However, it doesn’t change anything. Only you can change your life by changing the choices you make. Take responsibility for everything in your life. Even if it’s not in your direct control, you can always choose how you respond.

    3     If you choose what is fun and easy over what is necessary, you will never reach the levels of success and happiness you are capable of achieving in your life. That’s because every great victory requires great sacrifice. If success was easy, everybody would be success.

There is nothing that you can’t achieve with hard work. People often think that their lives will suddenly change through some magical event in the future.     4     Your life changes only to the extent that you change. Nothing will ever change if you don’t change what you do daily.

A great way to actively create your future is to ask yourself: If I already achieved my goals, how would I act on a daily basis? What books would I read, how often would I work out, and how would I spend my time at the office?     5    

A．But that is not the case.

B．No one else is responsible for your life.

C．Now these questions seem like magic to you.

D．Nothing else can be the drive for your success.

E．Once you answer these questions, you know what to do.

F．The biggest enemy to success is the path of least resistance.

G．You can blame other people for your lack of happiness all life long.

2 . When Failure Is a Good Thing

Failure is an important process you can learn from.    1    

Most people view failure as something that should be avoided at all costs.    2    It may have been an “F” we received on a paper or the high expectations our parents placed upon our shoulders that stopped us from trying.

Award-winning psychologist and author, Ron Friedman, tells the story of how Sara Blakely, founder of Spanx, revolutionized the women's clothing industry and became a billionaire in his book, The Best Place To Work: The Art and Science of Creating an Extraordinary Workplace.

    3     She had zero experience in the clothing industry, lacked an education in business and raised only $5,000 to invest. When asked where she found the courage, she gave all credit to her dad. While most parents ask their kids, “How was your day?" when sitting down for dinner, Sara's parents asked her and her brother, “What did you fail at today?” each and every night.

When interviewed by CNN's Anderson Cooper, Sara said, “Instead of failure being the outcome, failure became not trying. It forced me at a young age to want to push myself so much further out of my comfort zone.”     4     It became more about learning and less about a personal weakness.

If we view failure as weakness, we avoid stepping out of our comfort zone.     5     It does not define us, but instead matures us. I 'm sure that there are many risks we would all take in our personal, professional and spiritual lives if we could get past a fear of failure.

What has been the greatest lesson you have learned when taking a chance? Please share with us.

A．And, most importantly, it means you tried.

B．Let's take a look at how Sara faced failures.

C．In reality, Sara's father had re-defined failure.

D．Early on, Sara overcame a series of difficulties.

E．Instead, we must remind ourselves that failure is an action.

F．It is important to reflect on what can be learnt from failure.

G．We tend to connect failure with a bad experience we had as a child.

3 . When evaluating people on various psychological tests, psychologists often distinguish between markers of absolute performance and relative performance. Absolute performance reflects the raw measurement of something, like the time it takes to run a mile. Relative performance is how a person rates in relation to their peers, as in what place a runner gets in a race.

The standards we use to evaluate ourselves are almost always relative, as we compare ourselves to our peers and the standards that are most familiar to us. For instance, in my private practice, I have one patient I will call “Omar” who is dependent on social services and makes less than $30,000 per year at his job. While this level of poverty would lead most people to wake up depressed each day, Omar is one of the most optimistic and appreciative individuals I know. Why? Because most of his closest peers — his siblings and friends from childhood — have lives far worse than his.

In contrast to Omar, I have another patient, an adolescent I’ll call “Lena”, whose family has property over $5 million. Lena, however, lives in an upper-class neighborhood where her family is at the lower end of the income level. Though Lena's family allows her to enjoy possessions and experiences that less than I percent of her peers across the world can share, she consistently feels “less than”. Why? Because Lena doesn't compare herself to the rest of the world; This is too abstract an exercise for her, as it would be for most of us.

Accordingly, whether a psychologist is psychodynamic or cognitive-behavioral, therapy (疗法) with individuals struggling with situational or psychological depression aims to solve the problems associated with basing one's self-worth on comparisons with others. Psychologists try to help people focus on personal growth around the achievement of concrete goals in line with their values. independent of the achievement of others. For all of us, defining these goals, especially during Periods of emotional calm, can go a long way in helping us to avoid the trap of relativity that often leads to situational and psychological depression.

1. What is the function of Paragraph 1?

A．To show the significance of evaluating people.

B．To motivate readers to study psychological tests.

C．To help people perform well in psychological tests.

D．To provide some background information on evaluating people.

2. Why does the author mention his two patients?

A．To measure different achievement.

B．To introduce the standards to evaluate people.

C．To explain relative performance with examples.

D．To contrast relative performance and absolute performance.

3. What does the last paragraph mainly talk about?

A．Setting goals in life is essential for everyone.

B．It's important to avoid unhealthy comparisons.

C．A sense of achievement can affect one's happiness,

D．Improving self-worth can help get rid of depression.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Happiness: Is it all relative?

B．Self-worth: Is it measurable?

C．Self-worth: Is it based on efforts?

D．Happiness: Is it associated with achievement?

4 . It’s no secret that college is expensive. I received financial aid, and I was able to cover the cost of enrollment, books, supplies, course materials, and additional school-related fees. But I could not afford housing, transportation, food, healthcare, or other basic necessities. The longer each semester went on, the harder the choices became.

When spring semester ended that first year at college, I had good grades, but I did not have two quarters to my name. I decided that if I could afford to be a full-time student, I would need to work a full-time job. Soon, I started working at the airport as a cleaner of aircraft cabins. My first shift at the airport was a graveyard shift, where I detailed aircraft of varying sizes. During this total night shift, I have to do “deep cleaning”, which meant cleaning everything and even I had to check every safety compartment and replace any missing items. This could be disgusting work.

Another fact upset me a lot that working at the airport and going to school did not fit easily together. Some days 1 was too exhausted after a night shift to get to class. Other days I didn’t have time to complete school assignments owing to a busy workday. At the end of the fall semester, I received a final warning for my attendance at my job. Once again, I was between a rock and a hard place and had to make a decision. I wanted to go to school and excel, but I also had grown accustomed to financially supporting myself.

Ultimately, I chose to temporarily stop going to school and to continue working, a decision. I would later regret. The airline closed for various reasons. I felt stupid. I had put a lot into this job, even sacrificing my education, and now I would have neither job nor education. I’d finally learned what my grandmother meant when she once said that your job is temporary, and your education is forever.

1. What can we infer about the author from paragraph 1?

A．He met with a long boring semester.	B．Food accounted for his biggest expense.
C．He left himself financially embarrassed.	D．His financial aid could cover his necessities.

2. What does the underlined word “detailed” in paragraph 2 most probably mean?

A．Cleaned.

B．Listed.

C．Repaired.

D．Replaced.

3. Which of the following best describes the author in paragraph 3?

A．Confused.

B．Critical.

C．Decisive.

D．Diligent.

4. What is conveyed in the text?

A．He who makes no mistakes makes nothing.

B．Nothing is difficult to the man who will try.

C．One should be financially supported by himself.

D．The significance of schooling should be recognized.

5 .

Last January, my wife received a 1,000-piece jigsaw (拼图) puzzle as a birthday gift from some dear friends. The puzzle was of a cabin by the lake that looked like the one we live in. We were not sure when we would actually do the puzzle, but it was nice to have it in case the need arose.

Then the need arose.

On the 16th day of our isolation (隔离), we cut the box open and ceremoniously (郑重地) dumped (倒) the pieces on the table. We knew the drill. We tackled the frame first and then the large objects with distinctive lines and colors. My wife primarily used the color and shape of the pieces to solve the puzzle; I relied more heavily on the picture on the box as a guide. And so began our odyssey (漫长的历程) of the puzzle.

I came to know every piece of that puzzle more intimately than I have known anything in my life. Some pieces found a home in the puzzle the first time I picked them up. Others hung around for more than a week until the puzzle filled in enough to be properly placed. But once a piece joined the collective (整体), it lost its individuality and blended into the puzzle to complete the picture.

What is a jigsaw? First and foremost, it is a puzzle to be solved. But unlike many puzzles, it can be solved eventually with some talent and a sufficient (充足的) reserve (储备) of stubborn determination. In our case, three to four hours a day for 16 days.

Ultimately (根本上), a jigsaw puzzle is a testament (证明) to one’s character. You usually complete this time-consuming but ultimately useless task for no better reason than not quitting. I documented the odyssey on Facebook and received both encouragement along the way and hearty congratulations upon our eventual success.

So what to do with the completed puzzle? The only reasonable option seemed to be to break it up and put it back in the box. It took 16 days to put the puzzle together and only two minutes to tear it apart.

Once our pieces were back in the box, it became apparent (显而易见的) that the goal was never to complete the puzzle at all. Rather it was merely a mechanism (方法) to kill time. In this way, jigsaw puzzles are like life itself: It’s all about the journey; the destination is, in fact, of little importance.

1. Why did the author and his wife decide to do a jigsaw puzzle?

A．Their friends encouraged them to do so.	B．They were attracted by the picture on the box.
C．They wanted to kill time during isolation.	D．They wanted to document it on Facebook.

2. What does Paragraph 3 mainly talk about?

A．How the couple solved the jigsaw puzzle.

B．How the couple felt about doing the jigsaw puzzle.

C．The support the couple got from friends while doing the jigsaw puzzle.

D．The problems the couple came across doing the jigsaw puzzle.

3. How did other people respond to the couple’s completion of the puzzle?

A．They made fun of their efficiency.	B．They were pleased for them.
C．They persuaded them to tear it apart.	D．They considered it meaningless.

4. What does the author want to tell us from this article?

A．It is helpful to do jigsaw puzzles.	B．Determination matters in life.
C．It takes patience to achieve success.	D．The process matters more than the result.

5. What can be the best title for the story?

A．A wonderful birthday gift	B．How to play with jigsaw puzzles
C．Playing with jigsaw puzzles	D．Ways to kill time during isolation

6 . “Let’s go outside and water the plants,” urged Fiona, my energetic 4-year-old granddaughter, during a recent visit from Maryland to my New Jersey home.

Fiona and I filled our watering cans. Out we went and I walked directly to the newly-planted begonias (秋海棠). “No, Granny, what about the grass and that tree?” Fiona insisted, pointing to the sycamore tree (悬铃木) that decorated a patch of earth between the sidewalk and the street, typically cared for by the town.

Through Fiona’s eyes, the begonias, the grass and the tree were all equal in nature’s esteem, all worthy of attention and care. At first, I didn’t want to deny my red begonias preferential treatment. I thought that the rain or the town would tend to the grass and the tree.

Even so, I turned and joined in Fiona’s universal watering party. Thanks to Fiona, I saw how the grass and the sycamore tree could assume their rightful place, equal to the begonias. I wondered if I sincerely accept all of nature and all people with an open mind and heart. My time with Fiona inspired me to doubt myself since I couldn’t even apply my equalitarian beliefs to a tree, grass and flowers.

I paused and reflected on unspoken prejudice, the tendency for stereotyped (模式化的) thoughts to pass automatically through our minds. Studies on unspoken prejudice show that sorting people, nature and objects into categories is a natural phenomenon. Rarely do we question it. Instead, we may assume, quite wrongly, that some people are less worthy, less valuable or, worse, hateful and dangerous.

1. What did Fiona want the author to do when they were out?

A．Clean a patch of earth for the town.

B．Tell her more about the sycamore tree.

C．Water the begonias, the grass and the sycamore tree.

D．Help make the sidewalk and the street more attractive.

2. How did the author feel about Fiona’s suggestion at first?

A．Supportive.	B．Curious.
C．Uncertain.	D．Uninterested.

3. What made the author take a fresh look at the grass, the tree and the begonias?

A．They received the same attention and care.

B．They were found in Maryland by Fiona.

C．They were all close to the neighborhood.

D．They were all typically cared for by the town.

4. What can we infer about unspoken prejudice from the last paragraph?

A．It is what fools use for reason.	B．It pushes people to think about what goes wrong.
C．It is the original form of prejudice.	D．It often leads to unfairness.

7 . Many years ago, I met a man whose unique psychology helped me to get away from a life of struggle and uneasiness for great happiness, for peace of mind, and for a measure of success I otherwise would not have attained.

He was George Robert White, who lost his parents at eight, badly off for a long time. However, his God-given beliefs made him both a material and a spiritual millionaire at thirty. As a young man, Mr. White took over the leadership of a small plant, and throughout his career he donated a large part of his net profits to charity. Despite his unusual business practice, he built that tiny concern into a world-famous corporation, and became the multi-million-dollar manufacturer.

Before I met him, my path to success was the ordinary road over which most American businessmen travel—endless hours of hard work, social contacts, wise investments. But where was the resulting happiness that my material gain was supposed to have afforded me? I discovered that I had no more peace of mind.

I took the advice of Mr. White to open the pathway to happiness and freedom of mind. “Personal and business success, built upon materialism alone, are empty shells over disappointment and saddened lives,” he emphasized, “Cast your bread upon the waters and it will come back in abundance. ” If we are to be happy, to be successful in every aspect of the world, and to live truly full lives, we must share ourselves, as well as our material gain, with our fellow men.

Since Mr. White’s death, I have made great efforts, as his successor, to stick to his code of morality. Two dollars out of every three earned by our corporation is shared with others. My reward and my blessings have come to me in the form of personal satisfaction and peace of mind that had been foreign to me.

1. What was Mr. White’s unusual business practice?

A．His concern about the poor.

B．His leadership of a small plant

C．His way to deal with the net profits.

D．His becoming a millionaire at thirty.

2. How was the author’s life before he met Mr. White?

A．Busy and uneasy.

B．Wealthy and full.

C．Successful and happy.

D．Struggling and hopeful.

3. What was Mr. White’s advice?

A．Be a breadwinner.

B．Be ready to share.

C．Build personal reputation.

D．Seek material abundance.

4. What is the author’s main purpose in writing the text?

A．To call back his own life.

B．To introduce Mr. White’s lifestyle.

C．To show his concern about charity.

D．To express his gratitude to Mr. White.

8 . We all need confidence sometimes, especially when something goes wrong in our world. Here are some helpful tips on how to believe in yourself more.

    1     Don’t listen to what others tell you unless it’s positive. When you know someone respects or likes you, be happy. You can also ask them what it is about you that they like. This will prove the best parts of you and help you believe in yourself. Some of us may find it more difficult to take in positive feedback（反馈) than negative one, and that needs to change.

Remember your last (or greatest) success, and think about it for a few minutes. Reviewing your past successes will help you reach for others. Quite simply, it reminds you that you have the talent and tools needed to get your life to the next level.    2     Picture your greatest success so far, and then imagine the goal you are going for.

Know that you are the person your loved ones think you are. It goes for your dog, too.     3     You are expected to pull yourself up when you feel down. All that’s required is to feel the love that’s all around you. Start with one person (or your dog), and feel the difference.

If you have succeeded before, you can do it again. Maybe not in the same way, but you can reach the same level of influence and fulfillment. Nothing feels quite the same as being on stage and having several thousand people call your name, but other things can feel good too.     4    

These guidelines in how to believe in yourself do work, but don’t try doing them all at once.     5     You will be pleased with the results and with yourself.

A．Take in positive feedback.

B．Be happy towards what others tell you.

C．Go for what you want, no matter what it is.

D．Forming a picture in your mind also helps here.

E．When feeling down, it can be so easy to beat yourself up.

F．Concentrating on the love you get from others helps you feel good about yourself.

G．Start with the one that’s easiest for you and stick with it for a week or so before trying other exercises.

9 . Now that my children are grown, I have resumed (中断后继续) a habit: solo travel. The seed was planted when I was 17 and went on a class trip to Spain. The experience was similar to reading my first book. I remember when I separated from the group and went through the busy streets of Madrid on my own, looking at the architecture gawkingly, trying unfamiliar foods, and gathering the courage to engage the natives with my high school Spanish. After that adventure I sought every opportunity to explore on my own, because I wanted to move according to my ideas.

I recall, many years ago, before I became a dad, arranging to work for a summer on an Icelandic farm in exchange for room and board. The driver stopped at the appointed place, but no one was there to meet me. And so I put my backpack down and read a book, knowing that when one travels one is never lost.

I tell this story to calm the fears of friends and others who have occasionally raised their hands to their faces upon hearing what I was up to. Some are specialists in outlining for me all the things that can go wrong when one launches oneself into the unknown. But for me, that’s the whole point of travel: to go where I haven’t gone before, to discover friendships waiting to be made, to interface with unfamiliar scents (气味) and tastes, to enter a new and, for me, undiscovered environment where being pleasantly surprised is the reward.

A few years back I went to Greenland. I spent a week hiking its mountains, interacting with the natives, and sailing the bays. It was inspiring. I hopped (登上) my flight back to Iceland feeling well satisfied. But when I got off the plane and saw the line of passengers waiting for their flight to Greenland, all I wanted to do was turn around and join them. Once again it was proved for me that I would never get travel out of my system.

1. How did the class trip to Spain affect the writer?

A．He discovered the magic of solo travel.

B．He realized the pleasure of reading books.

C．He became interested in learning Spanish.

D．He formed a habit of collecting plant seeds.

2. What does the underlined word “gawkingly” in the first paragraph most probably mean?

A．Curiously.

B．Randomly.

C．Casually.

D．Anxiously.

3. What does the travelling mean for the writer?

A．Going wherever you would like to.	B．Going in the unknown environment.
C．Exploring something new all the way.	D．Getting a reward from challenging fear.

4. What did the writer’s trip to Greenland reflect?

A．His impatient personality.	B．His crazy desire for travelling.
C．His quickness to follow others.	D．His tendency to be easily satisfied.

10 . Simple Tips to Increase Self-Confidence

Having confidence begins with having a mind full of confident thoughts. A mind is controlled by you, therefore believing only the things that will bring you things you desire. Almost anyone in the world can have confidence.     1    . It is a matter of following these easy steps.

Set goals

It’s a great idea to keep a “Goals Book” and every time something enters your mind you’d like to achieve, list it in the book. Soon you’ll see a pattern among all your goals.     2    , you begin to see simple changes in your life. There is no greater joy in life than to realize a goal.

    3    

People usually can’t tell you how you should live your life when it’s just an expression of their own shortcomings. Don’ allow the shortcomings of others to affect your life negatively. No one but you knows your interests and ambitions. Work in the direction of your true loves and ignore everything that enters your mind going against your own desires.

Challenge your beliefs

    4    . If they are not, cross them out. You may find it difficult to get rid of some of the deep-rooted beliefs, but with true desire you can abandon negative beliefs about yourself and you will realize enormous benefit in growing self-confidence and self-esteem.

Get started

Don’t expect changes right away and have patience in knowing that it takes time to be the person you wish to be. The wonderful thing about becoming a more self-confident person is that little benefits start taking shape almost immediately.     5     — as long as you continue to keep a positive outlook and display your confidence.

As you achieve confidence, and find little moments of confidence coming closer and closer, all the things you desire will come to you easier than you ever imagined.

A．Follow your heart

B．They keep coming one after the other

C．Believe in a power greater than yourself

D．When you make conclusions about your goals

E．If you maintain a confident position long enough

F．And, it is entirely easier than you may have once believed

G．Examine all of your beliefs and determine if they are in line with the life you desire