| A．What it is that; To be forbidden | B．What is that; Forbidden |
| C．What is it that; Being forbidden | D．That is what; Having forbidden |
The easy way out isn't always easiest. I learned that lesson when I decided to treat my father to a special meal. I glanced through the cookbook and chose a menu which included homemade bread. Knowing the bread would take time, I started on it as soon as he left for work.
As I was not experienced in cooking, I thought if a dozen was good, two dozen would be better, so I doubled everything. As Dad loved oranges, I also opened a can of orange and poured it all into the bowl. Soon there was sticky dough (面团) covered with ugly yellowish marks. Realizing I had been defeated, I put the dough in the rubbish bin outside so I wouldn't have to face him laughing at my work.
I went on preparing the rest of the meal, and, when Dad got home, we sat down to Cornish chicken with rice. He tried to enjoy the meal but seemed disturbed. Twice he got up and went outside, saying he thought he heard a noise. The third time he left, I went to the windows to see what he was doing.
Looking out, I saw Dad standing about three feet from the rubbish bin, holding the lid up with a stick and looking into the container. When I came out of the house, he dropped the stick and explained that there was something alive in the rubbish bin. Picking up the stick again, he held the lid up enough for me to see. I felt cold. But I stepped closer and looked harder.
Without doubt it was my work. The hot sun had caused the dough to double in size and the. fermenting yeast (酵母) made the surface shake and sigh as though it were breathing. I had to admit what the "living thing" was and why it was there. I don't know who was more embarrassed by the whole thing, Dad or me.
My dad tapped me gently on the shoulder, and we went inside.
At a party three months later, everyone wanted to try my bread.
Armed with a toolkit of techniques and tricks to calm the mind and bring focus back to your body, you can stop stressful situations from sabotaging your day, says Katy Georgiou.
Making contact with the ground is your baseline go-to response for stress. This technique can be especially helpful if you find your stress regularly turns into panic. Wherever you are, whatever you’re doing, place your feet flat on the ground so that you feel stable, and then close your eyes. If you’re able to sit on the floor cross-legged or to lie down flat, then even better.
Think of this as earthing: really connect with the ground beneath your body. Some studies suggest that this simple act can help reduce or relieve symptoms of stress such as pain and fatigue, reduce blood pressure, and improve sleep. If you’re feeling disconnected from the world, it can also remind you that you belong to it and are a crucial part of it — the ground will always be there for you.
Adopting regular, daily or weekly routines for self-care can be very containing, creating consistency amid all sorts of stressful life events happening around you. Looking in the mirror each day can actually remind you that you exist, so feel free to factor some reflective gazing into your daily routine, whether it’s while applying moisturiser, shaving, or brushing your hair. Studies have shown that being confronted with your reflection can have powerful effects, taking us out of our heads and into the immediate present. For added effect, pay attention to the way your products interact with your hair and skin as you apply them.
Playing around with smells, colours and textures in your hands will also engage your senses. Using a scented shampoo or smoothing on body lotion after a warm bath can be easy ways to do this.
Abandon all your thoughts and try to focus only on your surroundings. What can you see, hear, smell, taste and touch? Identify three things you can hear, one thing you can taste, four things you can see and two things you can feel on your skin. Pick out colours in the room you are sitting in, notice textures and different kinds of light. If somebody is with you, tell them what you are experiencing. The point here is that your senses are your best and easiest route back to feeling calm, by coming out of your head and rooting yourself back in the present. This is incredibly helpful if you’re having a panic attack or flop response.
1．If your friend Jane always feels worn out and suffers from sleep deprivation, which of the following techniques will you especially recommend to her?| A．Connect her body to the ground beneath her. |
| B．Adopt a daily gaze at her reflection in the mirror. |
| C．Exchange her scentless shampoo for an aromatic one. |
| D．Focus on what she can see, hear, smell, taste and touch. |
| A．Lying down flat can better relieve your stress. |
| B．Grounding yourself can give you a sense of belonging to the world. |
| C．Brushing your hair while looking in the mirror can remind you of your existence. |
| D．Those having a panic attack should shut their senses down. |
| A．help people understand themselves better |
| B．introduce some practical methods for stress management |
| C．emphasize the significance of exploiting multiple senses |
| D．promote a mindset of living in the moment |
Better to Give than to Receive
When a special occasion arrives, a gift often finds its way to a doorstep or an office desk. But once in a while, a present arrives at an unexpected moment as a reminder that someone is thinking about us.
Wanda Anderson remembers such a gift.
The rosebushes were finally in full bloom that day. Seeing roses always brings to mind Wanda's childhood memories. To this young girl, those flowers were a luxury. "We never had money to buy extra things, so even a tired rose was something to cherish," Wanda said.
Nowadays, to have a backyard filled with many different roses is pure enjoyment. Wanda especially loves the very first blooms. Her husband, Dale, devotedly tends the roses and knows this little fact about his wife. So, on this particular morning, he picked the very first flowers of spring, fresh from the garden, just for Wanda.
But as Dale came back, he was met by a neighbor who had dropped by. As the woman turned to go, Dale graciously (有风度地)handed the roses to her. Even though their visitor insisted she didn't want to take them, she was repeatedly assured that the flowers were hers to keep.
“I told her I was happy for her to keep them, but I really wasn't," Wanda said, recalling the emotions she was feeling right then. Seeing her very precious first blooms go out of the door filled her with regret.
Throughout the rest of the morning, Wanda argued with herself, knowing logically it was “better to give than to receive. Nevertheless, she wished she could have kept the roses for herself.
Later that day, the couple just arrived at the post office, where they were about to park the car.
Then, without warning, a bunch of multi-coloured roses appeared at the car's window.
For the rest of the day, she was happy and moved.
Lei Feng’s Spirit Shines Forever
It’s the 60th anniversary of learning from Lei Feng.
The British are known for their sense of humour. However, it is often difficult for foreigners to understand their jokes. The main point to remember is that the British often use understatement.
Understatement means saying less than you think or feel. For example, if someone gets very wet in a shower of rain, he might say, "It's a little damp(潮湿的)outside.”Or, if someone is very impolite and shouts at another person, someone else might say, "She isn't exactly friendly." Understatement is often used in unpleasant situation or to make another person look silly. Understatement plays an important part in British humour.
Another key to understanding British humour is that the British like to make fun of themselves as well as others. They often laugh about the silly and unpleasant things that happen to our everyday life when someone accidentally falls over in the street. They also like to make jokes about people from different classes of society. They like to make jokes about their accents, the way they dress and the way they behave. What's more, the British love to watch comedies about people who do not know how to behave in society. The comedy series Mr. Bean is a good example of this kind of humour. Mr. Bean is the character created by British actor Rowan Atkinson in 1990.
Mr. Bean doesn't talk often, and instead he uses his body movements and facial expressions to make people laugh. Perhaps what makes Mr. Bean so funny is that he does things that adults in the real world cannot do. Mr. Bean is popular in many countries around the world because you do not have to speak English to understand the humour. Because of this, many people have become familiar with the British sense of humour.
1．Why is it difficult for foreigners to understand British jokes?| A．The British often enlarge the fact. |
| B．British jokes are connected with many different cultures. |
| C．The British try to make out that something is less important than it is. |
| D．British jokes are not as funny as jokes in other countries. |
| A．using examples | B．making comparisons |
| C．following time order | D．describing a process |
| A．telling funny stories | B．making jokes about others' accents |
| C．copying how others behave | D．using his body movements and facial expressions |
| A．British Humour in Comedy | B．Humour in Different Cultures |
| C．Developing Your Sense of Humour | D．Understanding British Humour |
The day when the jobs were handed out was one of the most exciting moments for all the children in the class. It took place during the first week of the term. Every kid was given a job for which they would be responsible during the rest of that school year.
Some jobs were more interesting than others, and the children were eager to be given one of the best ones. When giving them out, the teacher took into account which pupils had been most responsible during the previous year. Rita, a kind and quiet girl, had carried out the teacher’s instructions perfectly. All the children thought Rita would be given the best job. But there was a big surprise. Each child received a normal job like preparing the computer for lessons, cleaning the blackboard, or looking after one of the pets. But Rita’s job was very different. She was given a little box containing some sand and one ant. Though the teacher insisted that this ant was very special, Rita couldn’t help feeling disappointed. With tears welling up in her eyes, she stood up and asked why she was given such an insignificant task.
The teacher hugged her, kissed her on her forehead and said, “If you can take good care of the ant, you are sure to win a reward. After all, you have to do what are apparently the smallest tasks before being given the most important ones. I believe you can make it.” Most of her classmates felt sorry for her. They said it was unfair for her.
However, Rita preferred to show the teacher her error by doing something special with that job of little interest. “I will turn this little task into something great,”Rita said to herself. So, Rita started investigating everything about her little ant, modified the little box to make it perfect for the ant and gave the ant the best food, and it ended up growing quite a bit bigger than anyone had expected.
One day in spring, the classroom door opened and in came a man, who looked very important. The teacher interrupted the class with great joy, and said, “This is Doctor Martinez, an entomologist (昆虫学家) from Florida Natural Reserve. He has something special to announce.
All the students looked at the doctor with curiosity.
Hearing the good news, the whole class was filled with joy and celebration.
Several years ago I started riding a bike. At first, I thought it was only a
When I signed my name, the
The ride began on a Sunday morning in the Georgia countryside,
As I topped the hill, the nice sunset
My focus
It rained all the second day. I
| A．free | B．short | C．hard | D．boring |
| A．trips | B．fights | C．swims | D．jumps |
| A．gives | B．borrows | C．counts | D．raises |
| A．dream | B．life | C．idea | D．advice |
| A．record | B．distance | C．job | D．fame |
| A．self-doubt | B．self-respect | C．self-control | D．self-love |
| A．hike | B．walk | C．bike | D．drive |
| A．but | B．so | C．and | D．or |
| A．adventure | B．experience | C．excitement | D．struggle |
| A．low | B．proud | C．brave | D．high |
| A．carry on | B．give up | C．break out | D．hold back |
| A．kept | B．protected | C．stopped | D．found |
| A．called | B．interviewed | C．saw | D．missed |
| A．approved | B．hoped | C．remembered | D．noticed |
| A．look back | B．pay back | C．cheer up | D．catch up |
| A．determined | B．forced | C．strange | D．shy |
| A．strengthened | B．changed | C．built | D．fixed |
| A．person | B．will | C．bicycle | D．cause |
| A．never | B．often | C．even | D．still |
| A．tired | B．comfortable | C．strong | D．injured |
My family and I were taking a well-deserved vacation to Disneyland. I had never been there before and was eagerly anticipating experiencing the magic.
There was another reason that this trip was special. My father was a workaholic who worked long hours. I longed to spend time with him. I wanted to be able to sit down with my father, who I loved more than life, and just talk. It always seemed like there was never time.
The day finally arrived when I was allowed to pack my clothes. I chose only my favourite outfits. I threw in my autograph book and then muscled the suitcase zipper around the overflow of clothes. I set my suitcase on my comforter and smiled. I was ready.
I didn’t get any sleep that night. I lay in my bed and stared out the window. I knew that my father’s work was going to be left at home, finally.
After a brief breakfast we hit the open road. It was all smooth sailing for the first couple of hours until I unexpectedly felt a sharp stop. We coasted to the side of the road, and my dad said something was wrong with the engine. We were in the middle of four lanes of traffic, so he decided the easiest thing to do would be to signal someone to stop and get a ride into town.
An hour later, my dad was still waving his hands at each and every passing car but it wasn’t doing any good. Not a single person would stop to assist my helpless family. Finally, Father gave up and decided to walk into town. I was certain it was a very long distance. I pleaded with him to stay and try again, but he was deaf to my pleading. He just said that he wouldn’t let anything ruin this trip for me. My heart ached as he put on his coat and began to walk away from our car. My dad has a back problem, and he was too stubborn to admit that he wasn’t in any condition to even walk a couple of miles.
Then I saw a man out of the window, who was a truck driver.
After reaching the town, we expressed our thanks again.
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