In the fall of 2008, I was looking to leave my current job in a doctor’s office to explore something more
At this time, I am working on all areas of my life...... in the
I was anxious to
Now as fate would have it, Carlyn has
| A．complicated | B．universal | C．challenging | D．profitable |
| A．confidence | B．luck | C．fear | D．pride |
| A．power | B．hope | C．absence | D．sense |
| A．learning | B．complaining | C．discussing | D．worrying |
| A．shape | B．order | C．place | D．touch |
| A．abandoning | B．explaining | C．experiencing | D．delivering |
| A．meet | B．phone | C．persuade | D．inform |
| A．put away | B．backed down | C．carried on | D．pulled up |
| A．trick | B．power | C．choice | D．origin |
| A．students | B．workmates | C．strangers | D．learners |
| A．influenced | B．left | C．explored | D．enjoyed |
| A．as a result | B．by accident | C．with a bang | D．in a way |
| A．suspect | B．accomplish | C．witness | D．appreciate |
| A．anxiety | B．persistence | C．charity | D．passion |
| A．recovery | B．comparison | C．example | D．diligence |
In Japan, you are what your blood type is. A person’s blood type is popularly believed to decide his/her character and personality. Type-A people are generally considered sensitive perfectionists and good team players, but over-anxious. Type Os are curious and generous but stubborn. Type ABs are artistic but mysterious and unpredictable, and type Bs are cheerful but eccentric, individualistic, and selfish. Though lacking scientific evidence, this belief is widely seen in books, magazines, and television shows. Last year, four of Japan’s top 10 bestsellers were about how blood type determines personality, through which readers seemed to be able to discover the definition of their blood type or have their self-image confirmed.
The blood-type belief has been used in unusual ways. The women softball team that won gold for Japan at the Beijing Olympics is reported to have used blood-type theories to customize training for each player. Some kindergartens have adopted teaching methods along blood group lines, and even major companies reportedly make decisions about assignments based on an employee’s blood type. In 1990, Mitsubishi Electronics was reported to have announced the formation of a team composed entirely of AB workers, thanks to “their ability to make plans”.
The belief even affects politics. One former prime minister considered it important enough to reveal in his official profile that he was a type A, while his opposition rival was type B. In 2011, a minister, Ryu Matsumoto, was forced to resign after only a week in office, when a bad-tempered encounter with local officials was televised. In his resignation speech, he blamed his failings on the fact that he was blood type B.
The blood-type craze, considered simply harmless fun by some Japanese, may reveal itself as prejudice and discrimination. In fact, this seems so common that the Japanese now have a term for it: bura-hara, meaning blood-type harassment (骚扰). There are reports of discrimination leading to children being bullied, ending of happy relationships, and loss of job opportunities due to blood type.
1．What’s the main idea of paragraph 1?| A．The Japanese attach great importance to blood type. |
| B．The books about blood type are popular in Japan. |
| C．The Japanese confirm their personality totally through blood type. |
| D．The Japanese think blood type bestsellers are important to their self-image. |
| A．Type A. | B．Type B. |
| C．Type O. | D．Type AB. |
| A．he revealed his rival’s blood type |
| B．he was seen behaving rudely on TV |
| C．he blamed his failings on local officials |
| D．he was discriminated against because of blood type |
| A．Negative. | B．Defensive. |
| C．Objective. | D．Encouraging. |
Yours,
Li Hua
As the late afternoon sun beat down on his farm in Missouri last May, Brandon finished feeding his cows and decided to go home. As they often did, his two sons, Louie, 7, and Everett, 5, followed closely.
As they headed for the house, the two boys ran ahead of their father, who stopped to close the gate. Louie paused at a board covering an old well. The board had, over time, become easily broken. When Louie stepped on it, it caved in and he fell into the well. Brandon had just close the door when he heard a cry for help. He turned around and found his younger son Everett standing alone beside the well, pointing to it and screaming.
Brandon quickly realized what had happened. “No, Louie can barely swim,” he panicked, his mind almost going blank. However, he knew he should calm down. He ran to the well and heard Louie hitting the water. Without thinking, he jumped in. Somehow, Brandon managed to grab on to a pipe that ran down the side of the well. He hit the cold water at the bottom of the well and lifted Louie up as he stuck his own legs and back against the narrow walls for support. “All right, Dad, we can climb out now,” Louie said.
If only it were that easy!
The pipe that he’d grabbed during his fall was too slippery to be of any use. There was only one way out. Looking up to see Everett looking down at them, Brandon shouted, “Everett, you’re going to have to be a big boy and save us. Run to the road and stand by the mailbox until someone stops. Tell them we need help. And Everett, stay off the road.”
Everett did as he was told.
The couple hurried to the well with Everett.
It was time to go home.“Remember to work on your class speeches for homework, ”Miss Walker called, as everyone started talking and packing their school bags. Jenny felt sick. She hated having to read aloud in class. She was sure everyone got really bored listening to her. Once, when Jenny was reading out her holiday diary, Lee was even looking at his watch, a silver and blue one which seemed just magical.
Jenny watched Lee walk ahead of her as they left school. He seemed so clever, and he had a certain sort of shining confidence. He was just one of those people who were good at everything. Jenny sighed. As she turned the corner, she saw Lee’s watch lying right in the middle of the path.
Jenny knew she should just pick it up and return it to him, but she didn’t want to run after him. Jenny bent down quickly, picked up the watch and ran home. On arriving home, Jenny put it on almost without thinking. She was surprised it fitted so well. She walked to the mirror and started practicing her speech. Words just flooded out of her.“I’m going to talk about swimming. I have been lucky. I’ve won lots of competitions. But when I’m in a race, I’m not really thinking about winning. I’m just loving the feeling of being in the water...”Jenny laughed with excitement. She walked across the room. She suddenly seemed to have a certain sort of confidence. Turning back to the mirror, Jenny saw a flash of light from the watch in the glass. The flashes of silver seemed almost magical. So maybe Lee’s watch really DID have something magic.
The next day, as the lesson began, Miss Walker asked who was going to be brave and go first. No-body moved. Jenny slowly raised her arm. Before Miss Walker could say anything, there was a shout from behind. “She’s stolen my watch!” Lee said angrily,“ It went missing at school yesterday.”
Personal growth doesn’t necessarily only happen when the conditions are perfect. Seeds tend to develop only when conditions are right. A seed will remain dormant (休眠) until moisture (湿度) and temperature are favorable for growth. Unfortunately, as humans, we don’t always have the luxury of growing when conditions are just right. Sometimes you must cultivate (促进) personal growth and flower where you’re planted, often in spite of external (外部的) circumstances.
For much of my life, I let external circumstances control my happiness. If things weren’t going well, then I wasn’t well. I told myself that I would be happier if conditions were right. With this mindset, I gave myself permission to stay emotionally dormant. I was waiting for things around me to change before I would do the work to become a better version of myself. In other words, I made my personal growth conditional on external circumstances.
The problem with waiting for change outside of yourself is that you might have to wait a very long time, maybe even forever. And if you stay dormant while waiting, you aren’t growing. You’re simply stuck in place. You certainly aren’t becoming the better version of yourself that you want to be.
If you want to engage in personal growth, like planting seeds, you have to do some work to make it happen. You can’t wait around for everything to fall into place. Start with pulling up your emotional weeds. Examine yourself and remove the pessimistic thoughts and behaviors that are holding you back. Then, work on the foundation that you have. Practice positive life habits that build your self-respect and happiness.
Personal growth is something you can fight for. It may not come naturally, but when you develop this mindset, you will flower no matter where you’re planted.
1．What is the author’s purpose in writing the first paragraph?| A．To stress the importance of personal effort in growth. |
| B．To complain about the lack of perfect conditions. |
| C．To highlight the influence of external circumstances. |
| D．To compare human development and seed growth. |
| A．Personal experiences. | B．Outside influence. |
| C．Sense of timing. | D．Positive thoughts. |
| A．To look for the right conditions. | B．To get emotionally prepared for failures. |
| C．To stop waiting and take action. | D．To keep yourself pure through gardening. |
| A．Happiness: You Are Your Own Master |
| B．Life Journey: Insist Till Efforts Bear Fruits |
| C．Growth: Flower in Any Circumstances |
| D．Life Changes: The Chance Is in Your Possession |
This year, September 15 took on a whole new meaning for me. I met Bill two years ago, as a freshman in high school when we were in the same drama class. Bill was very popular — it seemed like everyone knew him. He had a way of finding joy in every detail of life.
This is all the more remarkable because Bill is in a wheelchair. He doesn’t let a tragedy stop him from making the most of every opportunity. Whereas most teens in his place take special classes separate from the rest of the school, Bill instead has chosen to attend the normal high school, in an effort to be just like every other ordinary teenager. But I knew from the moment I met him that Bill was anything but ordinary. Indeed, he was extraordinary.
Bill was a hit in drama class. Everyone wanted to act in a scene with him, because he was so fun to be around. He never failed to entrance the audience with his expressive face and bright smile. Bill also took part in our school’s annual student art event, skillfully building a “race car” around his wheelchair. No greater applause was heard than the cheers that erupted from the student body when Bill was wheeled past, sounding the horn (鸣笛) and dramatically turning the steering wheel of his “car”.
I am a member of the Interact club at my school, which is committed to bringing students together in positive ways and breaking down barriers. We hold a special party on September 15 annually, which is especially for students like Bill who have special needs. As the party organizer, I went to the party, but last party things changed. Many had found their dancing partners and wanted to use the extended lunch period to practise new dance steps. So I, alone in my “single status” attended the dance solo (独舞).
Including children in the farming lifestyle has many benefits. Sure, it is nice to have the additional help with chores, but it also fosters so much growth, sending our kids down a good path towards who they will someday become. It is possible that our children will grow up to lead lives that do not include farming.
Through caring for farm animals, kids learn that in life others often come before self.
Additionally, farming teaches patience.
There may not be any instant reward, but in the long-term kids will see the benefit of all their efforts during those hard days.
| A．Fairly often, things do not go your way. |
| B．Kids also learn to be grateful to animals. |
| C．In the meantime, they learn to work with others. |
| D．Teamwork is no longer a significant skill to develop and use. |
| E．Animals need to be fed and cared for before we get to sit down and relax. |
| F．Kids are also able to comprehend the value of hard work through farm life. |
| G．What they learn on a farm, however, can be instrumental in their future lives. |
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