From the age of 12, I have kept a handwritten journal, recording my thoughts and feelings regarding both the significant and boring aspects of my life. Through this daily practice I connected with myself, explored experiences and found a way to interpret and make sense of my relationships. Although I rarely reread my written material, the process of writing has remained with me as a means of processing my feelings and filtering(过滤)my experiences.
Yet today, handwritten letters are as rare as a red panda. Few of us write letters any longer, even to those to whom we are close. We communicate differently when we e-mail or text, both methods characterised by speed and informality. The deep thinking, which accompanied a handwritten letter, is almost entirely absent. We may be communicating more frequently and with more people, but the depth and quality of our communication has reduced.
Sadly, modern technology tends to be temporary. Few of us keep old e-mails or even print them out, so a sense of history and memory is lost. Archivists(档案管理者)report that more information has been lost in the past decade than in the previous 150 years. It is too easy to press the delete button.
In many other areas of records, material is now in the digital format. Yet saving material in a digital format only is extremely unstable. How it will survive the future remains a problem.
In this digital world of text, e-mails and instant messaging, the perceived value of writing is no longer obvious and the case for retaining the practice of writing needs to be made. Should we save the humble pen and paper when laptops and mobiles are functional, universal and unstoppable? Should children continue to be taught to write with a pen and paper?
With its passing, a good mode of self-expression is being lost. I invite readers to engage with handwriting and become aware of this special skill that has created civilization for centuries.
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I needed to run away and the Bloomsburg Fair was the best place to go.
I don’t know if you can call it running away wince it was only and hour away from my home. But once I entered the fair grounds, I crossed over into another world. The loudspeaker offered background music over the sounds of people of people talking, bargaining and food sellers yelling for your attention.
I belonged here. I didn’t know if I had it in my blood or not, but I always wanted to have a small food stand and travel in my off season from fair to fair selling goodies. Perhaps one day. It certainly wasn’t a priority(优先考虑的事)in my life , Perhaps it should be.
After I was there a while, I needed to get away to a quiet spot. Most of the time, I could find that anywhere the farm animals were kept. They needed the quiet. So I went there to find peace with the cows, goats, horses, pigs and yes, the turkeys. You'd think being this close to "Thanksgiving", they'd be a little scared, but they were not.
It was in the dairy barn(仓库)where I found peace this time. I so admired the young folks who tended to farm animals. I thought they had a greater appreciation for life. They participated in it firsthand. I once watched a young fanner help bring a baby cow into the world.
My favorite scene was to come across a young cowboy lying in the hay asleep among the cows that had settled down for a rest. There, with his heads in a small soft spot alongside his favorite cow, I had seen him in a much deserved sleep. Perhaps better at rest there than in his own bed.
I had the pleasure of speaking with a young teenage farm girl that day.
"You look so comfortable," I said to her.
"Oh I am," she said. "Life makes it comfortable for me."
"You mean being a farm girl?"
"No, Life! That's the name of my cow," she said, smiling as she gently patted the cow's side.
"I thought they called cows Betsy and Elsie. Why did you call her Life?"
“I discovered life again here. It was the only meaningful name that came to mind. I had been raised in the big city and really hated it. Then we moved to the country, running away from Lt all. I think my parents called it a mid-life crisis," she said, laughing.
"Oh, I can understand that. I've been in one since birth," I said.
"It was on the farm that I learned to love life again. I was there when Life was born. It was so exciting. My whole outlook on the world changed. So I named her Life. Now, I can say I really love 'Life'," she said.
"How amazing! I write stories and I am always trying to get people to enjoy life, to wake up each day expecting the best from it. But they all too often go to bed with so much bad stuff in their soul, and on their mind, that they wake up feeling bad and expect it to only get worse from there. All too often it does, just because that's all they choose to see in that otherwise perfectly beautiful day," I told her.
"That's too bad. They need to see a cow born, a chicken hatch. I guess they need to wake up early and hug Life!" she said, laughing.
"When was the last time you hugged Life?" she asked me.
"I am sorry to say even I have had trouble doing that lately," I said.
"Come here!" she said.
Then standing up and stepping aside, she said, "Go ahead…hug Life!"
I paused for a moment and dropping all thoughts of looking silly, I did. I hugged a cow.
1. The writer went to the Bloomsburg Fair probably in order to .
A.have fun | B.get ideas for writing |
C.do shopping | D.escape something he disliked |
A.food sellers' shouting |
B.the writer's selling goodies |
C.people's bargaining and talking |
D.the loudspeaker's broadcasting music |
A.The writer tended to farm animals firsthand. |
B.The cowboy was lazy and fell asleep among the cows. |
C.The writer found peace where farm animals were kept. |
D.The turkeys got into panic with "Thanksgiving" approaching |
A.the city | B.the country | C.the barn | D.the fair |
A.expected to get the best things |
B.enjoyed perfectly beautiful days |
C.ignored the bright side of each day |
D.felt really bad due to poor sleep at night |
A.Farm Life and Happiness | B.Hugging Life |
C.A Farm Girl and Her Cow | D.Enjoying Freedom |
3 . How many of us have heard that question, “Where was GOD when the World Trade Center (世贸中心) and the Pentagon (五角大楼) were attacked?” Well, I know where my GOD was the morning of September 11, 2001, and He was very busy!
He was trying to discourage anyone from taking these flights. Those four flights together held over 1000 passengers and there were only 266 aboard.
He was on 4 commercial flights giving frightened passengers the ability to stay calm. Not one of the family members who were called by a loved one on one of the hijacked (被劫持的) planes said that passengers were screaming in the background. On one of the flights he was giving strength to passengers to try to overtake the hijackers.
He was busy trying to create obstacles (阻碍) for employees at the World Trade Center. After all, only around 20,000 were at the towers when the first jet hit. Since the buildings held over 50,000 workers, this was a Miracle in itself. How many of the people who were employed at the World Trade Center told the media that they were late for work or they had traffic delays.
He was holding up 2-110 story buildings so that 2/3 of the workers could get out. I was so amazed that the top of the towers didn’t fall when the jets crashed. And when they did fall, GOD made them fall inward, as many more lives would have been lost.
So when anyone asks, “Where was your GOD on September 11,” you can say “everywhere”! And yes, although this is without a doubt the worst thing I have seen in my life, I see God’s miracles in every bit of it. I can’t imagine going through such a difficult time and not believing in GOD — life would be hopeless. So shines a good deed in a weary world!
1. In what way the author tried to prove his point in the passage?A.By telling a story. | B.By giving examples. |
C.By answering questions. | D.By performing experiments. |
A.There were three planes together hijacked in the attack. |
B.The passengers on the planes were not frightened at all. |
C.Many people working at WTC were delayed by traffic jams on Sept. 11. |
D.Many more people were killed in the buildings than we could imagine. |
A.Something funny. | B.Something important. |
C.Something reliable. | D.Something unbelievable. |
A.Everyone has a GOD. |
B.Where was the GOD? |
C.Never forget September 11 |
D.September 11 — A Disaster To America |
4 . Two elderly women in my community died "full of years,"which means both died from the normal wearing out of the body after a long and full life. Their homes happened to be near each other, so I paid visits to the two families.
The son of one of the deceased(已故的) women said to me,"If only I had sent my mother to Florida and got her out of this cold ,she would be alive today. "The son of the other deceased woman said, "If only I hadn't insisted on my mother's going to Florida, she would be alive today. That long airplane ride, the sudden change of climate, was more than she could take. "
When things don't turn out as we would like them to, it is very likely for us to think that if we had done things differently, the story would have had a happier ending. Any time there is a death, the survivors will feel guilty.
There seem to be two elements in our readiness to feel guilty. The first is our pressing need to believe that the world makes sense and that there is a cause for every effect and a reason for everything that happens. That leads us to try to find the patterns and connections.
The second element is the notion(观念)that we are the cause of what happens, especially the bad things that happen. Psychologists trace this feeling back to our childhood. A baby comes to think that the world exists to meet his needs, and that he makes everything happen in it. The world works for him. When he cries, someone comes to attend to him. When he is hungry, people feed him, and when he is wet, people change him. Very often, we do not completely outgrow the notion that our wishes cause things to happen.
1. What is said about the two deceased elderly women?A.They lived long and died after a natural life. |
B.They died due to lack of care by family members. |
C.They died of the tiredness after the long plane ride. |
D.They weren't quite used to the change in weather. |
A.they believe that they were responsible |
B.they do not know the natural course of events |
C.they couldn't find a better way to express their grief |
D.they didn't know things often turn out in the opposite direction |
A.we have to be sensible so as to understand the world |
B.everything in the world is pre-determined |
C.there's an explanation for everything in the world |
D.the world can be interpreted in different ways |
A.every story should have a happy ending |
B.their wishes are the cause of everything that happens |
C.life and death is an unsolved mystery |
D.everybody should obey their wills without question |
5 . There is an old Spanish saying which states, "Tomorrow is often the busiest day of the week." How many times have we put off our dreams until tomorrow?
A.Our dreams should not, and cannot wait. |
B.Therefore, today is all we have. |
C.Don't let fear win. |
D.In other words, dreams don't work unless you do. |
E.Doors that you couldn't imagine open up when you go after what you want. |
F.You were born into the world with a unique gift, which nobody can copy. |
G.You'll be much happier if you go for it. |
Is there link between humans and climate change or not? This question was first studied in the early 1900s. Since then, many scientists have thought that our actions do make a difference. In 1997, the Kyoto Protocol explained our role in the Earth’s changing atmosphere and set international limits for gas emissions(排放) from 2008 to 2012. Some countries have decided to continue these reductions until 2020. More recently, the Paris Agreement, stuck by nearly 200 countries, also aims to limit global warming. But just now how much warmer it will get depends on how deeply countries cut carbon emissions.
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1. It can be concluded from paragraph 1 that _______.
A.the problem of global warming will have been quite solved by 2020 |
B.gas emissions have been effectively reduced in developed countries |
C.the Paris Agreements is more influential than the Kyoto Protocol |
D.humans have made continuous efforts to slow down global warming |
A.The human population would increase by one third. |
B.Little over 50% of all species would still exist. |
C.Nations would not need to tighten their emissions targets. |
D.The Agreement’s minimum goal would not be reached. |
A.0.8℃ | B.1.5℃ |
C.2℃ | D.3.5℃ |
The last time I was there he introduced me by saying, "I want to tell you why I let Jack use my house.” It all goes back to a story about a young man who was the son of a horse trainer who would go from stable to stable, race track to race track, farm to farm and ranch to ranch, training horses. As a result, the boy's high school career was continually interrupted. When he was a senior, he was asked to write a paper about what he wanted to be and do when he grew up.”
That night he wrote a seven-page paper describing his goal of someday owning a horse ranch.He wrote about his dream in great detail and he even drew a diagram of a 200-acre ranch, showing the location of all the buildings, the stables and the track. Then he drew a detailed floor plan for a 4,000-square-foot house that would sit on a 200-acre dream ranch.”
He put a great deal of his heart into the project and the next day he handed it in to his teacher. Two days later he received his paper back. On the front page was a large red F with a note that read, "See me after class.”
1. Why can the writer use Roberts's house to raise money for youth at risk programs?
A.Because they are good friends. |
B.Because the youth has the same dream as Monty Roberts. |
C.Because Monty Roberts has a poor childhood. |
D.Because Monty Roberts like to help youth. |
A.romantic | B.real |
C.dream | D.false |
A.Monty Roberts got very angry at this. |
B.The teacher would criticize him. |
C.The teacher wanted to tell him that his dream would come true. |
D.The teacher would encourage him. |
The device is an improvement of the “Sonicguide”, an instrument produced by Telesensory Systems, Inc., of Palo Alto, Calif, and used by blind adults in addition to a smart or guide dog. As adapted for Dennis, it consists of a battery-powered system about the size of a half dollar that is on a headgear. A transmitter sends out an ultrasonic(超声的) pulse that creates an 80 degree cone of sound at 6 feet. Echoes from objects within the cone are perceived (felt) as sounds that vary in pitch(音调) and volume(音量) with the size and distance of the object.
The closer an object is, the lower the pitch, and the larger the object, the louder the signal. Hard surfaces produce a sharp ping, while soft ones send back signals with a slightly fuzzy quality. An object slightly to the right of Denny’s sends back a louder sound to his right ear than to the left. Thus , by simply moving his head right and left and up and down, he can not only locate an object but also get some notion of its shape and size, thanks to the varying qualities of sounds reaching his ears as the cone of ultrasound(超声波) passes
What remains to be determined is how well the device will help Dennis cope with his surroundings as he begins to walk and venture further into his environment.
Meanwhile, Telesensory, Inc, is working on the development of sonar(声呐) device with somewhat the same sensitivity as Dennis’s for use by school-age children.
1. Dr. and Mrs. Daughters’ research is directed to ________.
A.helping the blind to see and learn as well as others |
B.benefiting the learning process of blind children |
C.solving blind children’s psychological problems |
D.finding out how children develop intellectually |
A.he already lags behind the sighted children |
B.he leads a life as normal as any other children |
C.he is at the early stage of the learning process |
D.he has the aid of a sonar-type electronic device |
A.Its first design was designed for blind adults. |
B.Its battery is as small as a half-dollar coin. |
C.It is functionally similar to a sane and guide dog. |
D.It has been improved by Telesensory Systems, Inc. |
A.the edge of an object |
B.the edge of the device |
C.the boundary of Dennis’ movement |
D.the boundary of the sound pitch. |
Three times I tried to write an email to my friend and three times words failed me. I am a person who is not often lost for words and I decided to have a sleep. Upon waking up I could hardly wait for my computer to work, the words I needed were there. I was still left with a heavy heart although I had sent an email.
Everything in this universe is balanced and indeed it is. Three days later, I received his reply letter. I was happy to hear that he’d been admitted to (录取) Cambridge University. It served as a gentle reminder for me that my friend would be okay and that life would go on.
Everything in life is balanced; the lowest feelings change places with the highest feelings. Without the lows, we would never appreciate the highs. No matter how dark the clouds seem to be, the sunshine is always there and just waiting for the opportunity to shine through.
1. When the author learnt her friend had lost his mother, she ______.
A.gave him some money | B.wrote an email to him |
C.went to visit him | D.went for a journey with him |
A.He received the author’s email. | B.He was told that life would go on. |
C.He would go to Cambridge University. | D.His life would go back to normal again |
A.The author wrote four emails to her friend. |
B.The mother of the author’s friend died from cancer. |
C.The author’s friend is a teacher in Cambridge University. |
D.The author felt relaxed after sending the email. |
A.life is not fair to everybody | B.time waits for no man |
C.everyone has good and bad times in life | D.where there is a will, there is a way |
“Could you possibly give us a room here?” the husband asked.
The clerk, a friendly man with a winning smile, looked at the couple and explained that there were three conventions in town.“All of our rooms are taken,” the clerk said.“But I can’t send a nice couple like you out into the rain at one o'clock in the morning. Would you perhaps be willing to sleep in my room? It’s not exactly a suite, but it will be good enough to make you folks comfortable for the night.”
When the couple declined, the young man pressed on.“Don’t worry about me; I’ll make out just fine.” the clerk told them. So the couple agreed.
As he paid his bill the next morning, the elderly man said to the clerk,“You are the kind of manager who should be the boss of the best hotel in the United States. Maybe someday I’ll build one for you.” The clerk looked at them and smiled. The three of them had a good laugh. As they drove away, the elderly couple agreed that the helpful clerk was indeed exceptional, as finding people who are both friendly and helpful isn’t easy.
Two years passed. The clerk had almost forgotten the incident when he received a letter from the old man. It recalled that stormy night and enclosed a round—trip ticket to New York, asking the young man to pay them a visit.
The old man met him in New York, and led him to the corner of Fifth Avenue and 34th street. He then pointed to a great new building there, a pale reddish stone, with turrets and watchtowers thrusting up to the sky.“That,” said the older man,“is the hotel I have just built for you to manage.”“You must be joking,” the young man said.“I can assure you I am not,” said the older man, a sly smile playing around his mouth.
The older man’s name was William Waldorf Astor, and that magnificent structure was the original Waldorf—Astoria Hotel. The young clerk who became its first manager was George C.Boldt. This young clerk never foresaw the turn of events that would lead him to become the manager of one of the world’s most glamorous hotels.
1. The purpose of the author writing this story is to_______.
A.give people a good laugh | B.cover some facts |
C.promote the business of Waldorf—Astoria Hotel | D.deliver a lesson |
A.The story took place at about one a.m.. |
B.The old couple was too poor to afford a luxurious room. |
C.The clerk was willing to help those in need. |
D.The clerk received an unexpected invitation from the old man. |
A.rooms | B.suites | C.meetings | D.hotels |
A.Every little thing helps. |
B.Make hay while the sun shines. |
C.Man proposes; God disposes(处理,决定). |
D.One good turn deserves another. |