Many of us feel uneasy when someone stands too close to us, talks to us too loudly or makes eye contact(接触) with us for too long. But have you ever wondered why those things make you uncomfortable?

     It’s all about personal peace, which means not only an imaginary space around the body, but also the space around all the senses. People feel that their space is being violated(侵犯) when they meet with an unwelcome sound, smell or look. This is probably why a man on a crowded bus shouting into his mobile phone or a woman next to you putting on strong perfume(香水) makes you feel angry.

     Whether people have had a stronger wish to protect their personal space in recent times is hard to say. Yet studies of airlines show that people have a strong desire(渴望) to have space to themselves. In a survey by TripAdvisor, a travel website, people said that if they had to pay more for some extra service, they would rather have larger seats than extra food.

     Although people may need their personal space, some hardly realize it. For example, people on a bus who hold newspapers in front of their faces to read in fact keep a distance from strangers.

     Go and watch a library table. You will notice that one of the corner seats will usually be taken first, because they are the farthest way. What if someone sits opposite to you? Maybe you will pile up books as if to make a wall.

     Preference(偏好) for personal space are different from culture to culture. Scientists have found that Americans generally prefer more personal space than people from other cultures. In Latin(拉丁人的) cultures, however, people are more comfortable standing close to each other.

1.The writer mainly _________ in this article.

A. tells us how to achieve personal space

B. explains why people need personal space

C. introduces some knowledge about personal space

D. argues for the importance of keeping personal space

2.Who might feel his personal space is safe according to the passage?

A. A person who has to sit next to a lady putting on strong perfume.

B. A person who has been watched by a stranger for a long time.

C. A person who hears strange noises when reading at home.

D. A Latin boy who is chatting with a friend sitting close to him.

3.What can we know from the survey by TripAdvisor?

A. People need a smaller personal space in recent times than before.

B. People have a strong desire for personal space in recent times.

C. There are not enough seats on the plane to meet people’s needs.

D. Food service is better provided than seats on the plane.

4.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A. The space around the body is more needed than that around all the senses.

B. If you hold newspapers on the bus, your personal space won’t be violated.

C. People usually choose the corner seats first in a library for personal space.

D. Different cultures share the same preferences for personal space.

 

Chinese are very generous when it comes to educating their children. Not caring about the  money, parents often send their children to the best schools or even abroad to England, the United States and Australia. They also want their children to take extra-course activities where they will either learn a musical instrument(乐器) or ballet, or other classes which will give them a head in life. The Chinese believe that the more expensive an education is, the better it is. So parents will spend an unreasonable amount of money on education. Even poor couples will buy a computer for their son or daughter. However, what most parents fail to see is that the best early education they can give their children is usually very cheap.

Parents can see that their children are very skilled in some areas while poor in others. What most parents fail to realize though, is that today's children are short of self-respect and self-confidence.

The problem is that parents are only educating their children on how to take multiple-choice tests and how to study well, but parents are not teaching them the most important skills that they need to be confident, happy and clever.

Parents can achieve this by teaching practical skills like cooking, sewing and doing other housework. Teaching a child to cook will improve many of the skills that he will need later in life. Cooking requires patience and time. It is an enjoyable but difficult experience. A good cook always tries to improve his cooking, so he will learn to work hard and finish his job successfully step by step. His result, a well-cooked dinner, will give him much satisfaction and lots of self-confidence.

Some old machines, such as a broken radio or TV set that you give your child to play with will make him curious and arouse(激发) his interest. He will spend hours looking at them, trying to fix them; your child might become an engineer when he grows up. These activities are not only teaching a child to read a book, but rather to think, to use his mind. And that is more important.

1.Most Chinese parents don't realize_______.

A.how much the best education is worth       B.when children should be educated

C.what children really need in later life        D.why school tests don't satisfy children

2.What is the main idea of the last paragraph?

A.Fixing old machines is very important.        B.Interest is necessary for everything.

C.Broken things are useful for children.        D.Using hands helps improve thinking ability.

3.The writer's attitude(看法) to children's education is that

A.the cheaper an education is, the better it is

B.children today should learn different skills

C.practical skills are useful to children's growth

D.school education can't meet parents' expectation.

 

完型填空

How do you feel when you have to make a report in front of your classmates? What about when you go to a birthday party? Do you get    1   shy?

Shyness means feeling nervous or     2   when you’re round other people. Everyone experiences(体验)this shyness     3  they grow up. Most people have red faces and talk in broken sentences when they are in the center of attention. It’s OK if it takes you a while to feel yourself again when you go to a new place or meet strangers.     4  , everybody gets a little shy sometimes. It’s just a case(事)of how much. But many teenagers think that they hate themselves and that they won’t fit in the future at come point.

Stop the negative(消极的)thoughts about yourself. If shyness doesn’t keep you     5  something you want to do, being shy isn’t a very big problem. Some experts say shy people are not only cleverer, but also better at working with others, because they think more and talk     6   . Some great people in history were shy, too.

You see, being shy isn’t all    7  . But remember not to let good chances 8  just because of it ! Your shyness will     9  . When you grow up year after year, you’ll become brave enough to speak to anyone. But now, you need practice! If you have to sing a song at a party, just do it! There’s nothing to be afraid of !

Remember, though you’re shy, you do not lack in(缺少)  10 .Cone on,our shy friends!

1.A. true                    B. real             C. really

2. A. comfortable            B. frightened       C. proud

3. A. as                     B. since            C. by

4. A. What is worse        B. In fact          C. For example

5. A. to do                  B. doing            C. from doing

6. A. much                   B. more             C. less

7. A. good                   B. bad              C. wonderful

8. A. go down                B. go over          C. go by

9. A. past                   B. pass             C. passed

10.A. confidence            B. confident    C. confidently

 

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