We would probably all be amazed if we watched a videotape of ourselves performing basically unconscious acts as we go about the business of the day. These unconscious acts consist of all the little personal habits that we don’t even think about, but definitely should. These are some of the things that present an image of who we are to others, and if we are careless in performing them, this image may well be other than we would like it to be.
Parents who insist that their children practice good manners and habits at home are doing them a great service, for these habits then become lifelong and the natural way they do things. It proves true that their unconscious actions will reflect a well-mannered person.
People who, for example, eat with both arms on the table at home will likely do so when out. Those who are lazy and slow in private will certainly be so in public. Children who are permitted to be disrespectful to their parents will follow suit with other adults, and will, most likely, become adults who are disrespectful of others. This is an area where the saying “practice makes perfect” may be applied.
There is an article about the actress, Audrey Hepburn, known for her beautiful carriage and posture. According to her biographer, her grandmother tied her neck to the back of her chair, at table, so that she would not drop down suddenly over her food, but rather would learn to put only small amounts of food on her spoon or fork and bring them to her mouth. This is a rather extreme “at home” method for the development of erect (直立的) posture, but it does illustrate the effectiveness of practicing good habits so that, when in public, they are instinctive.
【小題1】
Which of the following expresses the main idea of the passage?

A．Parents should be responsible for their children’s good habits.

B．The actress is well known for her beautiful posture.

C．We should always be aware of our manners.

D．Without good manners, one can never be perfect.

【小題2】
Those who eat with both arms on the table at home ______.

A．will probably have the same habit when they have meals in the restaurant

B．will probably change the habit when eating out with their relatives

C．will feel embarrassed when having meals with so many strangers in public[來源:Z&xx&k.Com]

D．will always put their arms on the table no matter where they eat

【小題3】
The meaning of “practice makes perfect” in the third paragraph is ______.

A．the more practice one has, the better job he will do

B．the more perfect one is, the more practice he needs

C．if one has enough practice, he will become perfect

D．perfect makes a person practice more

【小題4】
Which of the following are NOT true?

A．If we are not careful about our unconscious acts, the images of ourselves presented to others will be quite undesirable.

B．The good habits formed in one’s childhood will benefit him throughout his life.

C．If parents do not care about the disrespectful attitude adopted by their children towards themselves, their children might be disrespectful of others.

D．It is unlikely that a well-mannered person will not embarrass himself in public.

Why should I teach my children history? That sounds like a stupid question to even ask. But, as I hear different home schooling teachers discuss history, I get the idea that there may be different reasons for teaching history. Let me briefly explain the three good reasons for studying history and two bad reasons for studying history.
The major reason I see for studying history is that we can learn from the past. I am convinced that the world would be a much better place if more people understood the successes and failures of the past and the things that made these successes and failures. However, as the unfortunately true statement goes "the one thing we seem to learn from history is that we don't seem to learn from history." Perhaps at least in teaching history to my children I can do a small part in changing this.
A second major reason for studying history is that it is hard to understand the current political climate in the absence of an understanding of its historical context. We cannot even understand why we are and where we are without history, much less (更不必說) try to figure out where we are going or how we should get where we want to be.
I teach my children history, for one more reason. I purchased a set of historical audio (錄音機(jī)) tapes for our children. My seven-year-old son listened to them over and over. It was my hope that he would become inspired by the accomplishments of people like the Wright brothers to accomplish things by himself. I think that it is good that we celebrate the accomplishments of people like Martin Luther King Jr. if, in doing so, young people are called on to stand for the principles that he stood for and accomplish what he accomplished. I also think that by studying people like Adolph Hitler, people can learn to stand against the things that he stood for.
【小題1】
What message can we get from the underlined sentence in Paragraph 2?

A．Many people aren't clever enough to learn well from the past.

B．Many people fail to make good use of history and make the same mistakes.

C．Many people feel it hard to understand history.

D．Many people have no interest in studying history.

【小題2】
In Paragraph 3, the author shows that history is useful because ___________.

A．it makes the current political situation go smoothly

B．it helps us realize the importance of historical events

C．it helps us understand why things are the way they are

D．it helps people accept the present situation where they live

【小題3】
What would be talked about in the following paragraph?

A．How to teach history effectively.

B．Some negative reasons for studying history.

C．How to get more people to study history.

D．Some bad historical figures.

【小題4】
The main purpose of this passage is to ____________.

A．inspire the parents to teach their children history

B．show the importance of history in politics

C．explain the reasons why children study history

D．introduce the writer’s own way of teaching history

Count Me Out
Call me old-fashioned. Call me old. Call me what you want, but I refuse to become part of this new Internet world.
I do not possess a computer at home or at the office. Actually, I stopped going to an office 35 years ago, when all communications were done with a pen, a typewriter, or, if the matter was of world-shaking importance, over the telephone. Likewise, if you like something advertised in a newspaper or magazine, you visited the shop selling it at the given address, or you phoned the number shown. Then you spoke to the fellow and asked for further details.
Tell me what you think of the following ad that appeared the other day in the newspaper. It was for a cure for cancer and this is what it said: “Awareness is the key. Visit spfulford. com at the awareness site.” There was no address or telephone number for the site. So what do unfortunate people without a computer do if they are seeking a cure for their illness?
There are, I am told, certain advantages in having access to the Internet. You can, for example, send love messages across the world or even get married to someone that you meet online. This bit doesn’t interest me; I have been happily married for 60 years. There are, of course, other activities for Internet users besides finding love. They can pay bills, order groceries, or discuss with their doctors.
And this is by no means all. More amazing things are yet to come in the near future. I read a newspaper report recently that quoted Stephen Hawking, an important British scientist. “The complexity of a computer as it exists today is probably less than the brain of an earthworm,” he said. “But, as technology advances, computers will become more complex, and a time may come when the Internet may develop ‘consciousness.’ In other words, the Internet will be able to think, have feelings, and may well be able to act on its own.”
If Professor Hawking is right, I may change my attitude to computers. As I grow older each day, I would like one of those that not only thinks for me but also accepts responsibilities for all my mistakes.
【小題1】
What’s the meaning of the title “Count Me Out”?

A．Get me out of the Internet world.

B．Computers are trying to take control of life.

C．Modern technology pushes old people away.

D．Do not expect me to be a supporter of the Internet.

【小題2】
According to Paragraph 2, the author thinks computers are         .

A．unnecessary

B．convenient

C．expensive

D．a(chǎn)dvanced

【小題3】
What might the author like about the future computer?

A．Taking blames.	B．Curing illnesses.
C．Delivering messages.	D．Responding to emotions.

One hot night last July, when our new baby wouldn’t or couldn’t sleep, I tried everything I could think of : a warm bottle, songs gentle rocking. Nothing would settle him down. Guessing that I would have a long night ahead of me, I brought a portable (便攜式)TV into his room, figuring that watching the late movie was as good a way as any to kill off the hours till dawn. To my surprise, as soon as the TV lit up, the baby quieted right now, his little eyes focused brightly on the tube. Not to waste an opportunity for sleep, I then walked out of the room, leaving him to watch the actors celebrate John Bellushi's forty-fifth birthday.
My wife and I heard no more of the baby that night, and the next morning when I went into his room, I found him still watching TV himself. I found in my baby's a metaphor（啟示）for the new generation. My wife and I had given him some books to examine, but he merely spit upon them. When we read to him, he did not feel comfortable. And so it is in the schools. We find that our students don't read , that they look down upon reading and scold those of us who teach it. All they want to do is watching TV.
After this experience with the baby, however, I have reached a conclusion: “Let them watch it!” If television is that much more attractive to children than books, why should we fight it? Let them watch it all they want!
【小題1】
Father brought a TV set into his son's room____.     

A．to stop his son crying	B．to let him learn something
C．to make him frightened	D．to let his son spend a good night

【小題2】
To the couple’s surprise the boy ___after they brought a TV set into his room.

A．soon fell asleep	B．cried all that night
C．became quiet and silent	D．slept quite well that night

【小題3】
Form the last paragraph we know that the writer thinks it____.

A．terrible for children to watch so many TV programmes

B．useless for parents to blame their children

C．necessary for TV stations to improve their TV programmes

D．favorable for children to watch the programmes they like

            475 Riverside Drive
New York N.Y. 10027
Jan.15, 2011
Dear John,
I'm sorry you didn't get the part you tried out for in that play. I know how much you wanted to be in the play. Now you feel that maybe acting isn't the right future for you. I think you're wrong. You're a good actor. Do you remember when you played Caesar in your summer theatre group's play? You were excellent . People clapped(鼓掌)every time you walked on stage（舞臺(tái)). Even the other actors loved you.
All actors have to get used to being turned down for a job. It's part of an actor's life. Even famouse actors don't get every part they want. I think you should give acting another chance. You love it so much, and you're good at it. Don't be discouraged because you lose one part in the play. Wait a bit, and try for another one. After all , you can always give up some other time.
Love,
Jane
【小題1】
Jane wrote this letter because____.

A．she wanted John to get a part in the play he was trying out for

B．she wanted to tell John that he shouldn't give up acting.

C．she wanted to tell John how to become an actor.

D．she was unhappy with John.

【小題2】
Jane talks about other actors to show Jon that ____.

A．they are as bad as he is	B．a(chǎn)cting is a hard life
C．they sometimes get turned down for parts they want	D．they are lucky enough

【小題3】
What does Jane think of John?

A．He is a good actor, and some day he will be successful.

B．He is too easily dicouraged to become a good actor.

C．He is a better actor than the person who has got the part.

D．He is as unlucky as the other actors.

【小題4】
The person who wrote this letter probably ____.

A．is an actress.	B．cares about John
C．wants to be an actress some day	D．envies at John's success.

Negative （消極的）self talk and negative energy can affect you m many ways and cause you additional stress. Because of this，developing more Positive self talk’s an important way to reduce stress in your life. You can help yourself maintain a positive frame of mind 一which will help with positive self talk一by surrounding yourself with positive energy in your life. You can get that by adding some elements to your life.
Listening to music that not only has a soothing melody，but an uplifting message，can be great for developing positive self talk. Have you ever had a song “stuck in your head” for a few hours or days，the lyrics repeating themselves in your mind?’’ If those lyrics were positive and inspirational，that would be a good thing. It’s a much better mental soundtrack to have than a running stream of complaints，criticisms of self-limiting thoughts，or even songs that had more depressing or sad lyrics.
Books on strength, personal power, enlightenment, or self help can be good resources to help you change your outlook and the things you say to yourself. Rather than bringing habitual self-defeating thoughts，you can find yourself thinking of new can-do concepts when times get tough.
One of the most important ways you can get and keep positive energy in your life is with the company you keep. Do your friends uplift you，or bring you down? Are they critical，or complementary? Ideal friendships provide support when you’re down, fun when you’re up，wisdom when you’re lost，and positive regard. Good friends can inspire you to reach greater heights，and see your strengths even when you don’t always. Pay attention to how your friends make you feel，and if they’re less than supportive，start putting your energy and time toward people who are better suited to be your friend.
In addition，positive affirmations （肯定） can certainly change your self talk from negative to positive. Now，why not begin working positive affirmations into your life in some creative ways?
【小題1】
What does the passage mainly talk about?

A．Reducing stress by surrounding yourself with positive energy.

B．Adding some elements to your life.

C．Getting positive energy from the company you keep.

D．Changing your self talk with positive affirmation.

【小題2】
How many ways does the author suggest to maintain a positive frame of mind?

A．3.

B．4.

C．5.

D．6.

【小題3】
If you have something “stuck in your head”。 you probably ________.

A．keep singing the same song for a long time

B．keep thinking of this thing all the time

C．regard the lyrics of a song as positive

D．a(chǎn)re developing positive self-talk

【小題4】
According to the passage，your best company should be those who __________.

A．uplift you or bring you down	B．provide fun when you’re down
C．encourage you to do things even better	D．a(chǎn)re less than supportive

【小題5】
What will probably be talked about in the following paragraph?

A．How negative self talk influences a person.

B．How positive self talk reduces stress in one’s life.

C．Some great ways of making great friends.

D．Some creative ways of practicing affirmation.

Beliefs form a big part of our lives. Successful people have always believed that they can be and will be successful in their lives, such as Michael Phelps. Many of us have seen Michael Phelps win 8 gold medals in a single Olympic Games. That has created a history for himself. Many people have admired his success and the first reaction in their mind will be, “Wow, how I wish I could be like him!” Have you ever wondered what brought him success?
In fact, anyone can achieve what they have wanted to achieve. It is about beliefs. Everyone is a born winner. It is this belief that drives an individual to be successful in his or her own field. All successful individuals have strong beliefs and it is one of the bases for their success. If we start to believe in ourselves, the things that we can achieve will definitely give us a pleasant surprise.
Other than having a strong belief, it is the attitude that drives the individual to create their own history. The devotion towards themselves and the drive must also be present. Imagine having a strong belief in oneself and having a poor attitude towards life. Then how would that individual turn out to be? One’s attitude comprises the drive, the devotion and the desire to achieve his goals. If one has strong beliefs about the goals that he can achieve and he displays good attitudes towards them, it would be no surprise to anyone that he will be able to achieve his goals.
Start believing in yourself and you will achieve your goals and with the right positive attitude, you will definitely be able to create the miracle that you have always dreamt of.
【小題1】
Which of the following is the best summary of Paragraph2?

A．Where there is a will, there is a way.

B．Good begun is half done.

C．No pains, no gains.

D．God helps those who help themselves.

【小題2】
The underlined word comprises in Paragraph3 most probably means_______?

A．serve as	B．belongs to
C．consists of	D．stands for

【小題3】
It can be inferred from the passage that ______.

A．a(chǎn)ttitudes can be learned from one’s parents

B．only strong beliefs can’t ensure you a promising future

C．copying other’s behaviors is a good way to succeed

D．a(chǎn)ttitudes can only be learned through one’s success

【小題4】
What would be the best title for the passage?

A．Differences Between Beliefs and Attitudes

B．The Nature of Beliefs and Positive Attitudes

C．Relationship Between Beliefs and Attitudes

D．The Power of Beliefs and Positive Attitudes

My students often tell me that they don’t have “enough time” to do all their schoolwork.
My reply is often a brief “You have as much time as the president.” I usually carry on a bit about there being twenty-four hours in the day for everyone, and suggest that “not enough time” is not an acceptable explanation of not getting something done.
Once in graduate school, I tried to prove to one of my professors by saying that I was working hard. His answer to me was, “That’s irrelevant (無關(guān)的). What’s important is the quality of your work.” Since then I have had time to think carefully about the “hard worker” dodge (訣竅), and I have come to some conclusions — all relevant to the problem of how much time we have.
If you analyze the matter, you can identify two parts of the problem: There is, of course, the matter of “time”, which we can think of as fixed. Then there is the problem of “work” during that time. But, as my professor suggested, it’s not how hard one works but the quality of the product that’s important.
That led me to a new idea: the quality of the work. That concept is perhaps best explained by a sign I once saw on the wall in someone’s office: “Don’t work harder. Work smarter.” There is a lot of sense in that idea.
If you can’t get more time, and few of us can, the only solution is to improve the quality of the work. That means thinking of ways to get more out of the same time than we might otherwise get. That should lead us to an analysis of our work habits. Since “work” for students usually means “homework”, the expression “work habits” should be read as “study habits”.
Then, as a smart student, you will seek to improve those skills that you use in study, chiefly reading and writing. If you learn to read better and write better, there are big benefits that pay off in all your studies.
【小題1】
From the passage, we know that the author is probably ______ .

A．a(chǎn) poet

B．a(chǎn)n educator

C．a(chǎn) novelist

D．a(chǎn)n engineer

【小題2】
We can infer from the 2^nd paragraph that we students still _____ .

A．have enough time	B．can meet the president
C．get everything done well	D．should accept the explanation

【小題3】
Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A．The author’s students make good use of their time to do all their homework.

B．The author tried to tell the professor that he/she (author) had done a good job.

C．You can’t improve the quality of the work if you can’t get more time.

D．You’ll try to improve your skills in reading and writing if you’re a clever student

Tim Richter and his wife, Linda, had taught for over 30 years near Buffalo, New York--he in computers, she in special education. "Teaching means everything to us," Tim would say. In April1998, he learned he would need a heart operation. It was the kind of news that leads to some serious thinking about life's purpose.
Not long after the surgery, Tim saw a brochure describing Imagination Library, a program started by Dolly Parton' s foundation (基金會(huì)) that mailed a book every month to children from birth to age five in the singer's home town of Sevier, Tennessee.“I thought, maybe Linda and I could do something like this when we retire," Tim recalls.  He placed the brochure on his desk, "as a reminder."
Five years later, now retired and with that brochure still on the desk, Tim clicked on imagination library .com. The program had been opened up to partners who could take advantage of book and postage discounts.
The quality of the books was of great concern to the Richters. Rather than sign up online, they went to Dollywood for a look-see. “We didn’t want to give the children rubbish,” says Linda. The books-reviewed each year by teachers, literacy specialists and Dollywood board members-included classics such as Ezra Jack Keats’s The Snowy Day and newer books like Anna Dewdney’s Llama Llama series.
Satisfied, the couple set up the Richter Family Foundation and got to work. Since 2004, they have shipped more than 12,200 books to preschoolers in their in their area. Megan Williams, a mother of four, is more than appreciative: “This program introduces us to books I’ve never heard of .”
The Richters spend about ＄400 a month sending books to 200 children. “Some people sit there and wait to die,” says Tim. “Others get as busy as they can in the time they have left.”
【小題1】
What led Tim to think seriously about the meaning of life?

A．His health problem.	B．His love for teaching.
C．The influence of his wife.	D．The news from the Web.

【小題2】
What did Tim want to do after learning about Imagination Library?

A．Give out brochures.	B．Do something similar.
C．Write books for children	D．Retire from being a teacher.

【小題3】
According to the text, Dollly Parton is           .

A．a(chǎn) well-known surgeon	B．a(chǎn) mother of a four-year-old
C．a(chǎn) singer born in Tennessee	D．a(chǎn) computer programmer

【小題4】
Why did the Richters go to Dollywood?

A．To avoid signing up online.

B．To meet Dollywood board members.

C．To make sure the books were the newest.

D．To see if the books were of good quality.

【小題5】
What can we learn from Tim’s words in the last paragraph?

A．He needs more money to help the children.

B．He wonders why some people are so busy.

C．He tries to save those waiting to die.

D．Hconsiders his efforts worthwhile.

“Be nice to people.” This sounds like a platitude（老生常談）,but I’ll never forget my father’s words. I was 10, and I had been mean to someone. He said, “There is no point in being mean to anyone at any time. You never know who you’re going to meet later in life. And by the way, you don’t change anything by being mean. Usually you don’t get anywhere.”
“Remember you can do anything you want to do. Don’t let anyone say, ‘You’re not smart enough, it’s too hard, it’s a foolish idea, no one has done that before, girls don’t do that.’ ”My mom gave me that advice in 1973. And it allowed me to never worry what others were saying about my career direction.
“Always do the best job you can do at whatever you’re assigned（分派）,even if you think it’s boring.” Jerry Parkinson, my boss at P&G, told me this in 1979. Here I was fresh out of Harvard Business School(HBS), and I was assigned to determine how big the hole in the Ivory shampoo bottle should be: 3/8 of an inch or 1/8 of an inch. I did research, focus groups and I would come home at night wondering how I had gone from HBS to this. But later I realized any job you’re given is an opportunity to prove yourself.
“Don’t be a credit hog. If you’re constantly in the neighborhood of good things, good things will happen to you.” Tom Tierney, who was my boss at Bain in 1981 and is now on the eBay board, told me this. It’s true that you get ahead by praising other people.
Finally, in 1998, I was in New York watching the ticker as eBay went public. My husband is a surgeon（外科醫(yī)生）.I called him and told him the great news. And he said, “That’s nice. But Meg, remember that it’s not brain surgery.”
【小題1】 We can learn that ______ from the passage.

A．“Be nice to people” is the topic that people like

B．it’s not necessary for us all to be too mean at any time

C．I never forget any word that father spoke to me

D．we won’t be successful if we are too mean to others

【小題2】 How many pieces of advice were given by her family?

A．Two.

B．Four.

C．Three.

D．One.

【小題3】This passage was written by _____ order.

A．story development

B．time

C．working conditions

D．ideas

【小題4】 The author’s husband is more concerned _____ than eBay’s going public.

A．his success	B．opportunity to prove himself
C．brain surgery	D．his career

【小題5】 What’s the main idea of the whole passage?

A．Advice in life really made a difference to us.

B．We should be nice to people around us.

C．People can succeed by praising others.

D．Too mean persons will get nothing from life.