From Penny To Anna
Subject A family memory
Hi Anna,
Great to hear from you! Yes, we had a fantastic holiday. Mum, Dad and I went camping in Beidaihe. In fact, we stayed at the same campsite as we did ten years ago. Dad showed me a photo we had taken then—just see how time flies!
Dad has changed quite a bit! In his thirties, he was quite thin and pale, and he had red, bushy hair. Nowadays, he’s well-built and tanned. He’s always had a square jaw, but now he’s grown a beard. Strangely, his beard is still red even though his hair is turning grey!
Mum looks almost the same, though. She still has smooth skin and straight black hair, and jogging has kept her slim and fit.
I still have light skin and black hair, of course. But I usually wear my hair in a ponytail these days as it has got a lot longer. Mum says I had cute rosy cheeks, but now I have freckles. I think they are kind of cute too, right?
Can’t wait to see you back in school!
Penny
1. What did Penny’s dad look like ten years ago?
2. What does Penny’s mum look like now and why?
3. How does Penny look different now compared to ten years ago?
2 . My 15-year-old boy is a high achiever. He is very bright, pursuing everything he does with devotion and determination. And he is a great kid; honest, kind, faithful and caring.
Like a lot of kids who are high achievers, he is a perfectionist and very easy to fall into anxiety. That is manifested in his study, and other things he does as well. For example, he loves tennis but he is often worried about losing in the game. Now he has to stop competing because the pressure he puts on himself is becoming unhealthy. He still plays, but playing socially rather than competitively means that it’s an outlet for him rather than a source of stress.
He does not manage stress well. He puts so much pressure on himself to the point of worrying himself sick over just about every assessment. And he gets so negative about it, everything I say to him is met with negativity, every suggestion with a response that it won’t work, and honestly it’s depressing and tiring.
To help my son, I had a patient conversation with him, and he finally followed my advice about physical exercise to ease stress. Whenever he was under a lot of pressure, I would run with him for half an bour and do some push-ups to relax the pressure. Gradually, he became less nervous in the later exams and his scores became more and more stable.
Pressure from grades and perfectionism can be really hard to manage when it comes to schooling. As kids, what they need is effective communication and sincere encouragement. So I have always told and shown my son that we’re proud of him, and that pride doesn’t merely depend on top grades.
1. Which of the following best explains “manifested” underlined in paragraph 2?| A．Exchanged. | B．Explored. | C．Achieved. | D．Reflected. |
| A．He is a high achiever. | B．He’s easy to fall sick. |
| C．He hopes to release stress. | D．He wants to win the game. |
| A．His son fails to handle stress properly. | B．His son becomes tired of stress. |
| C．His son is good at some sports. | D．His son is doing well at school. |
| A．Taking up a new hobby. | B．Hanging out with some friends. |
| C．Doing some exercise with him. | D．Talking to friends as much as possible. |
3 . If you are looking to improve your relationship with your parents, you are not alone.
Be grateful. Consider all that your parents have done for you. You may find yourself feeling thankful to your parents. You will be more willing to improve the relationship. Let your parents know that you are appreciative for all they have done for you.
Avoid unnecessary arguments. Sometimes arguments are unavoidable, but do your best to avoid unnecessary quarrels. This may mean that you have to bite your tongue when one of your parents says something controversial.
Don't ask for their advice unless you really want it. Sometimes problems arise in relationships between parents and children, particularly at the teenage years and beyond, because parents can try to give advice that might hurt your sense of independence.
| A．Put yourself in their shoes. |
| B．Be happy with them for this. |
| C．Show your appreciation with your actions. |
| D．It can hurt to feel taken for granted, even for parents. |
| E．Problems between parents and children are common. |
| F．So try only asking for their advice when you really want it. |
| G．Determine whether the need to respond is really necessary. |
1. 凯特考得很糟糕，见到妈妈就哭了起来 (burst into tears)。妈妈关切 (concern)地看着她。
2. 了解到她考试不佳，妈妈没有批评 (criticise)她。相反，妈妈决定帮 (help out)她一把。
3. 这两个人分析了原因，并提出两个学习策略。凯特选择了后者 (latter)。
4. 与此同时，凯特意识到了，勤奋学习是学生应尽的义务 (duty)。她保证 (ensure)一定做好分内事 (pull one's weight)。
