“A good book might clarify something you knew little about, transform your world view, or move you in ways you didn’t think possible. The Soul of an Octopus(章鱼)delivers on all three, ”the magazine New Scientist commented.

After writing about birds, pigs and tigers, US naturalist Sy Montgomery decided to choose these many-footed animals as the subject of her latest book, The Soul of an Octopus: a surprising exploration into the wonder of consciousness.

“Here is animal with poisonous liquid like a snake,a beak(喙)like a parrot,and ink like an old-fashioned pen. It can weigh as much as a man and extend as long as a car, yet it can pour its baggy; boneless body through an opening the size of all orange. It can change color and shape. It has a tongue covered with teeth. It can taste with its skin.” Montgomery explained to the National Geographic on why octopuses inspired her.

What Montgomery is able to show in The Soul of an Octopus is that octopuses are creatures who exhibit personality, intelligence and emotion, despite having nervous systems completely different from our own. She uses different experiments to show that they possess consciousness as well as individual personalities. For example, based on her research, she finds out that Octavia, an octopus caught in the wild, is friendly and good at multi-tasking. And Kali, another octopus,who has been living at the New England Aquarium, is playful and loves exploring.

Montgomery is a good storyteller. Through her study of, and communication with, these extraordinary creatures she shares what she learns from both science and her experiences. Her skillful writing presents facts together with personal description, which makes the book very informative but easy to read.

1.Why is The Soul of an Octopus thought highly of ?

A. It is themed with a many-footed animal.

B. It mainly explores consciousness and wonders.

C. It compares octopuses with birds, pigs and tigers.

D. It offers new knowledge and changes your viewpoints.

2.Octopuses impress Montgomery greatly because.

A. they have unique physical functioning

B. their liquid can be used as good ink

C. they behave more like snakes and parrots

D. their body can be shrunk to the size of an orange

3.What does Montgomery think of octopuses according to Paragraph 4?

A. They are friendly with each other.

B. They are similar to humans in a way.

C. They communicate with humans well.

D. They have different nature from humans.

4.Which of the following best describes the book?

A. Vivid but unreal. B. Scientific and readable.

C. Boring and ridiculous. D. Interesting but fictional

Although heat wasn't an issue at first,as it would become later,coming from New York to India would shock any foreign tourists.Quickly,however,I noticed how nice and helpful everyone was to us.The guest house we stayed in was full of people willing to help.The other two volunteers also helped to calm my nerves about being in India so far away from my home.After the first few days I was eager to get to Bal Ashram.

Upon getting to Bal Ashram,I was able to meet the boys,who called Bal Ashram their home.The center itself helps to rescue boys from child labor in various areas of India and give them a jump-start into education for free where they will then return to their families and continue their education.They are taught that without education there can be no future.Through education,Bal Ashram also builds a sense of community which can be seen with everyone who works and is taught here.Teaching English here to the children gave me great pride in knowing that these children would be helped within their own experiences here at Bal Ashram and their future lives.Each child was always willing to learn more.

Boys there were always seen laughing.Afternoon sports and nightly social events,including dancing,were just one of the many highlights with me and the children.Even my inner life was enriched,let alone theirs.Living in Bal Ashram also gave us a first hand view of village life in India as well as the culture and religion that surrounds this country.

My time spent at Bal Ashram was one I will never forget.Through the simplicity and life of the people and the children who are full of innocence and joy,I have taken with me so much more than when I arrived.

1.Why did the author come to India?

A. To learn about Indian culture and religion.

B. To learn about the life in Indian villages.

C. To work as a volunteer English teacher.

D. To rescue Indian boys from hard labor.

2.What did the author suffer from most while staying in India?

A. The unfair treatment by other volunteers.

B. The hot weather.

C. The communication barriers.

D. The culture and religion differences.

3.According to the text,what is Bal Ashram?

A. small town where the author stayed.

B. A host family that offered the author food and shelter.

C. A nonprofit educational and service organization.

D. An educational program offered to poor children in Indian.

4.The boys the author communicated with were ______.

A. uninterested in education

B. optimistic and in high spirits

C. unable to forget their pain and sufferings

D. out of touch with their parents forever

How to Calm Down at Work

The workplace can be a stressful place. Anxiety, conflict, bad management and overwork can lead to frustration and stress. 1.

Keep something you like to look at within sight. A photo of a loved one or a favorite personal souvenir are the best examples. Keep such an item somewhere you can glance at it whenever you wish to do so. 2.

Take a moment to engage your body. If you’re unable to leave your work area, stand and stretch for a moment. Muscle tension exercises can also help you calm down. 3. For instance, start by squeezing all of your face muscles as tightly as you can for twenty seconds and slowly releasing them.

Write down the reason why you are upset. 4. Getting your thoughts and feelings out on paper can help clarify the issue you’re having. Writing down your thoughts can even help you determine the best way to address your frustration or anxiety and move forward.

5. If you and another co-worker are constantly frustrated with one another, set up a time to speak with him or her. Say something like, “Hey, Sarah, let’s sit down sometime soon and chat to make sure we’re on the same page about our upcoming project.”

A. Turn to your workmates for help.

B. Communicate with your workmates.

C. A vase of flowers on your desk is another good example.

D. Focus on one particular muscle or muscle group at a time.

E. Here are the steps you can take to help you calm down at work.

F. Engage your body by rolling your head, shoulder, and ankles while sitting.

G. The best way to figure out exactly what’s bothering you is to write it down.

Arriving in Sydney on his own from India,my husband,Rashid,stayed in a hotel for a short time while looking for a house for me and our children.

During the first week of his stay,he went out one day to do some shopping.He came back in the late afternoon to discover that his suitcase was gone.He was extremely worried as the suitcase had all his important papers,including his passport(护照).

He reported the case to the police and then sat there,lost and lonely in a strange city,thinking of the terrible troubles of getting all the paperwork organized again from a distant country while trying to settle down in a new one.

Late in the evening,the phone rang.It was a stranger.He was trying to pronounce my husband’s name and was asking him a lot of questions.Then he said they had found a pile of papers in their trash can(垃圾桶) that had been left out on the footpath.

My husband rushed to their home to find a kind family holding all his papers and documents.Their young daughter had gone to the trash can and found a pile of unfamiliar papers.Her parents had carefully sorted them out,although they had found mainly foreign addresses on most of the documents.At last they had seen a half?written letter in the pile in which my husband had given his new telephone number to a friend.

That family not only restored the important documents to us that day but also restored our faith and trust in people.We still remember their kindness and often send a warm wish their way.

1.What did Rashid plan to do after his arrival in Sydney?

A. To go shopping. B. To find a house.

C. To join his family. D. To take a vacation.

2.The girl’s parents got Rashid’s phone number from .

A. a friend of his family

B. a Sydney policeman

C. a letter in his papers

D. a stranger in Sydney

3.What does the underlined word “restored” in the last paragraph mean?

A. Showed. B. Sent out.

C. Delivered. D. Gave back.

4.Which of the following can be the best title for the text?

A. From India to Australia

B. Living in a New Country

C. Turning Trash to Treasure

D. In Search of New Friends

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