Fifteen years ago, I took a summer vacation in Lecce in southern Italy. After climbing up a hill for a panoramic (全景的) view of the blue sea, white buildings and green olive trees, I paused to catch my breath and then positioned myself to take the best photo of this panorama.

Unfortunately, just as I took out my camera, a woman approached from behind, and planted herself right in front of my view. Like me, this woman was here to stop, sigh and appreciate the view.

Patient as I was, after about 15 minutes, my camera scanning the sun and reviewing the shot I would eventually take, I grew frustrated. Was it too much to ask her to move so I could take just one picture of the landscape? Sure, I could have asked her, but something prevented me from doing so. She seemed so content in her observation. I didn’t want to mess with that.

Another 15 minutes passed and I grew bored. The woman was still there. I decided to take the photo anyway. And now when I look at it, I think her presence in the photo is what makes the image interesting. The landscape, beautiful on its own, somehow comes to life and breathes because this woman is engaging with it.

This photo, with the unique beauty that unfolded before me and that woman who “ruined” it, now hangs on a wall in my bedroom. What would she think if she knew that her figure is captured (捕捉) and frozen on some stranger’s bedroom wall? A bedroom, after all, is a very private space, in which some woman I don’t even know has been immortalized (使……永存). In some ways, she lives in my house.

Perhaps we all live in each others’ spaces. Perhaps this is what photos are for: to remind us that we all appreciate beauty, that we all share a common desire for pleasure, for connection, for something that is greater than us.

That photo is a reminder, a captured moment, an unspoken conversation between two women, separated only by a thin square of glass.

1.What happened when the author was about to take a photo?

A. Her camera stopped working. B. A friend approached from behind.

C. Someone asked her to leave. D. A woman blocked her view.

2.In the author’s opinion, what makes the photo so alive?

A. The woman’s existence in the photo.

B. The perfect positioning of the camera.

C. The rich color of the landscape.

D. The soft sunlight that summer day.

3.The photo on the bedroom wall enables the author to better understand ________.

A. the need to be close to nature B. the shared passion for beauty

C. the joy of the vacation in Italy D. the importance of private space

4.The passage can be seen as the author’s reflections upon _______.

A. the art of photography B. the pleasure of traveling

C. a particular life experience D. a lost friendship

One of the most popular comments I have heard about time is that we need to balance our time in order to live a more balanced life. We often feel that if we are focused and devoted, happy and positive, loving and generous, healthy and energetic, then we will be balanced people. And if the pie chart of our daily life has just the right ratios(比率) of work, life, family, health, and service, then our time will be balanced.

The problem with trying hard for balance is that most people’s understanding of this state is so different from what balance actually is! Balance is not about walking around with a bunch of positive qualities; it’s about walking on the tight rope between the poles within us and the circumstances outside of us. Strictly speaking, in order to achieve true balance, we should accept we may have some shortcomings. We should accept and love the most challenging parts of life because they offer gifts for full, real living.

Even though we measure time in a linear(线状的) way, time is and will always be asymmetrical(不均匀的). One moment is not like another, just like each day is different and each tide that rolls in is different from the previous one. This is why it is impossible to balance our time through a pie chart in a time management book. Exploring asymmetrical time allows us to move in line with an unbalanced time and thus regain our relative balance. If we stop measuring ourselves against the standards of linear time, we can accept ourselves more fully. New possibilities arise as we accept the uncertainty.

1.Why does the author think it’s difficult to achieve balance in life?

A. People don’t know the true meaning of balance.

B. People may not have enough good qualities.

C. People cannot create their pie charts of daily life.

D. People fail to realize the qualities they really need.

2.In the author’s opinion, what does a balanced life mean?

A. We should arrange our time wisely.

B. We should try to believe ourselves.

C. We should learn to improve ourselves and our lives.

D. We should accept the bad aspects of ourselves and life.

3.What does the last paragraph mainly want to tell us?

A. Uncertainty can help build up confidence.

B. It is difficult for us to accept ourselves fully.

C. There are always uncertain things occurring in life.

D. New possibilities can help us achieve balance in life.

4.What may be the best title for the text?

A. The true meaning of time

B. Seeking relative balance

C. Struggle for a balanced life

D. Popular comments about time

Today, I felt terrible. My head was full of problems, burdens and confusion. I decided to take a walk even though I didn't know where I would go.

The most extraordinary thing happened when I was on this walk.

I saw an old man sitting on a chair. He was a seller of second-hand shoes. I thought he looked at least seventy years old. He seemed so tired and nobody was buying his shoes. I wanted to give him something but I had not brought anything with me.

Then, a little girl came toward him. I heard the child say, “Grandfather, may I polish your shoes?” That old man took pity on her and he gave her a shoe to polish.

The girl said, “I polish the shoe because I need money to buy my brother a new school uniform.”

I heard this and tears came to my eyes. The old man answered, “Oh, little girl. Just stop doing this. Come with me and I will buy you a school uniform.” Then they walked to a market and I followed them behind. There he bought her a school uniform.

The girl said, “Thank you so much for doing this. May God bless you.” Then she left, leaving the old man smiling.

He walked away from the market, but I stopped him. I whispered in his ear, “You are a hero! Thank you for your kindness!” As I walked away, I glanced back and I could see him still smiling.

My own sadness disappeared and was chased away (赶走) by the light of this kind act. I began realizing that I have a lot to be thankful for. I hope, some day, I can show my appreciation of what I have by following the example of the old man who only had a little, but shared it beautifully with someone who had nothing.

1.When seeing the old shoe seller, how did the author feel?

A. Sympathy. B. Sorrow.

C. Regret. D. Disappointment.

2.Why did the girl offer to polish shoes for the old man?

A. She took pity on him.

B. She wanted to take care of him.

C. She meant to be friendly to him.

D. She expected to get help from him.

3.Why did the author follow the old man and the girl?

A. To witness a kind act.

B. To talk to the old man.

C. To know the old man.

D. To know where the market was.

4.By sharing the story, the author wants to convey a message that .

A. a kind act can cheer us up

B. the old man set us an example

C. some poor people need our help

D. we should stop pitying the old

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