Many visitors find the pace at which American people move very troubling. One’s first ______ is likely to be that everyone is in a rush. City people always ______ to be hurrying to get where they are going and are very impatient if they are delayed even for a brief moment.

____, this may seem unfriendly to you. But drivers will ______ you; storekeepers will be in a hurry as they ______ you; people will push you ______ they walk along the street. You will ______ smiles, brief conversations with people as you shop or dine away from home. Do not ______ that because Americans are in such a hurry they are ______. Often, life is much slower outside the big cities, as is true in other countries______.

Americans who live in cities such as New York, Chicago, or Los Angeles, often think that everyone is ______ in a hurry to get things done; they ______ others to “push back”, just as city people do in Tokyo, Singapore or Paris, for example. ______ when they discover that you are a stranger, most Americans become quite kind and will take great ______ to help you. Many of them first came to the city as ______ and they remember how frightening a new city can be. If you need help or want to ask a question, _______ a friendly-looking person and say, “I am a stranger here. Can you help me?”

Most people will stop, smile at you, and help you find your ______ or answer your questions. But you must let them know that you need help. Otherwise they are ______ to pass you by, not noticing that you are new to the city and in ______ of help. Occasionally, you may find someone too busy or perhaps too rushed to give you aid. If this happens, don’t be ______; just ask someone else. Most Americans enjoy helping a stranger.

1.A. mistake B. discovery C. experience D. impression

2.A. chance B. appear C. pause D. come

3.A. At times B. In the end C. At first D. Now and then

4.A. rush B. load C. remind D. send

5.A. drive B. persuade C. employ D. serve

6.A. because B. as C. although D. before

7.A. wear B. enjoy C. miss D. trust

8.A. think B. shock C. watch D. attract

9.A. unhappy B. unexpected C. uncertain D. unfriendly

10.A. as usual B. as well C. in need D. in reply

11.A. equally B. generally C. endlessly D. frequently

12.A. forbid B. limit C. expect D. choose

13.A. Even if B. So C. And D. But

14.A. temper B. care C. step D. energy

15.A. rebellers B. experts C. strangers D. patients

16.A. choose B. reject C. disturb D. avoid

17.A. hotel B. way C. necessity D. duty

18.A. likely B. unable C. nervous D. terrible

19.A. face B. charge C. front D. need

20.A. gentle B. tired C. discouraged D. surprised

What Does the Length of Your Fingers Say About You? Are you the peace-loving type or the ambitious go-getter?

Your finger length might be a clue. Take a look at your fingers. Would you believe me if I told you that the length of your fingers in relation to one another can predict your personality? I know that it sounds like one of those silly tests you see on Facebook, but I have to admit that it is exactly correct for me. Here’s how it works.

Look at your three middle fingers of your hand. Is your index finger longer than your ring finger? Is your ring finger longer than your index finger? Or are the two of the same length? Find the situation that best matches your hand and see if what follows is an accurate description of your personality.

Longer ring finger: The Sweet Talker

If your ring finger is longer than your index finger, research shows that you’re likely a charming type, and you can probably talk yourself out of any situation. Others often find this personality type irresistible and will go to great lengths to help you. You’re more likely to take risks, and you’re good at problem-solving. People in this category make great engineers, soldiers and crossword-puzzle solvers.

Longer index finger: The (Over) Confident One

If your index finger is longer than your ring finger, chances are you are full of confidence—possibly even to the point of being over-confident and proud. You are not necessarily introverted (内向的), but you do enjoy time to yourself, especially when you’re trying to complete a project. You are a dream pursuer who can make things happen, but you may be shy when it comes to taking the first step in a relationship. You are also probably happy with what you have, but you’re always wishing for more.

Index and ring finger are of the same length: The Peacemaker

If your index finger and ring finger are roughly of the same length, you are likely to avoid conflict at all costs and seek to keep the peace in your relationships. You are well-organized, faithful and sympathetic. But deep down under all of that caring and peace-loving, you also have a hot-tempered side that can appear unexpectedly when you’re pushed too far. You will try your hardest to avoid a fight.

How well do these descriptions match your personality? I was surprised at the accuracy in my case, but I’m not going to tell you which one it was!

1.Which of the following hand could be an engineer’s hand?

A. B.

C. D.

2.We can learn from the passage that the author ______.

A. is very charming and helpful

B. always tries hard to avoid a fight

C. often takes silly tests on Facebook

D. thinks the descriptions suit him well

3.What does the passage intend to tell us?

A. How accurate the description of the test is.

B. The length of fingers can reveal personality.

C. Why your fingers are not of the same length.

D. Personality is determined by your finger length.

4.Where can you probably find the text?

A. A popular magazine.

B. An official report.

C. A public advertisement.

D. A biology textbook.

It just may be the world’s most costly vacuum cleaner (吸尘器). The price of CleanSpace One is eleven million dollars. But yet, it has a big job to do. Recently, researchers in Switzerland said they planned to build this new cleaning machine.

CleanSpace One will not be for use in homes or businesses. It will be shot into space to help remove thousands of pieces of space junk floating around up there.

Last year, we reported on the problem of space junk. Over time, many unused spacecraft have hit each other far above the Earth. Big pieces break into thousands of small pieces. Sometimes they fall back into the atmosphere (大气层) and burn up. But when they do not, it creates big problems.

Scientists fear that if something is not done to remove these objects, it may soon become too dangerous to send people and machines into space. There is a large chance that they might hit some of this junk. So that is why the Swiss researchers are developing the new machine.

CleanSpace One is not really a vacuum cleaner. It will not be used to take away space junk. But scientists plan to move it close to an old satellite that is no longer being used. Then a claw-like instrument will catch the satellite, and force it back through the atmosphere. There, the satellite will be destroyed by the heat of friction (摩擦) with the air.

Researchers say that all they need to do is slow down the speed of some of these unwanted objects. Once they begin to move more slowly, they will fall back to the Earth. There is little chance that they will fall through the atmosphere and harm the people or things below.

1.Space junk is created when ____________.

A. unused spacecraft hit each other

B. people in space throw away rubbish

C. a new spaceship is sent up

D. an old spaceship creates friction with the air

2.What’s the danger of space junk?

A. It will pollute space. B. It will hurt people on the Earth.

C. It will hit a spaceship. D. It will burn in the atmosphere.

3.Unwanted objects will fall back to the Earth when _______ .

A. they are made to move slowly B. they meet other objects in space

C. they are not used for years D. they are near the atmosphere

Are you having trouble concentrating when you’re reading a book or listening to a lecture? This list of activities might help to improve your study habits.

Make a List. We often have trouble paying attention to one thing because our brain wants to think about something else. 1. You don’t worry about whatever else you should be doing.

Sleep More. Studies show that people who sleep fewer than eight hours a night for a period of time have slower response systems and more difficulty recalling information. 2.

Eat Healthier Foods. Many people enjoy foods high in fats and sugars. 3. They might give you a temporary burst of energy. However, that energy is soon followed by a crash.

Reduce Screen Time. This may be the most unpopular suggestion among young people. Screen time - or time spent looking at cell phones, televisions, computer screen, has a clear effect on the attention span. 4. Concentration improves for students who participate in team sports. It could be that being active is helpful in this way. Participating in a sport trains your brain to concentrate on specific tasks, and shut out other thoughts.

A. Be active.

B. Practice more.

C. These foods can provide enough energy for focusing.

D. But these foods can’t be helpful enough when it comes to focusing.

E. That is bad news for teens who stay up studying the night before a test.

F. Researchers advise parents to limit it when their children need to be focused.

G. By writing down all the things you need to do, you’ll gain a sense of control.

Wealth starts with a goal and saving a dollar at a time. Call it the piggy bank plan. There are lessons in that historic coin-savings container (容器).

Any difficult task seems easier when started from baby steps. If you wished to climb a 12,000-foot mountain, and could do it a day at a time, you would only have to climb 33 feet daily to reach the top in a year. If you want to take a really nice trip, to collect the $ 15,000 cost, you have to save $3.93 a day. If you drop that into a piggy bank and then once a year put $1,434 in a savings account, you will have your trip money.

When I was a child, my parents gave me a piggy bank to teach me that, if I wanted something, I should save money to buy it. We connect piggy banks with children, but in many countries, the little containers are also popular with adults. Europeans see a piggy bank as a sign of being rich. Around the world, many believe a gift of a piggy bank on New Year’s Day brings good luck and wealth.

Why is a pig used as a symbol of saving? Why not an elephant bank, which is bigger and holds more coins? In the Middle Ages, before modern banking, skillful workers made these inexpensive containers from an orange-colored clay (黏土) called “pygg,” and people then saved coins in pygg jars. As “pygg” pronounced much like the Middle English word “pigge” meaning “pig”, gradually, the two words changed into the same pronunciation. Once a clever worker made a pygg jar in the shape of a pig, pleasing children and adults. The piggy bank was born.

In the past, you had to break the bank to get the money, bringing in a sense of seriousness into savings. While piggy banks teach children the value of saving, adults often need to relearn childhood lessons. Think about the things in life that need a large sum of money – college education, weddings, starting a business, buying a home, and fun things like great trips. So when you have money, take off the top 10%, put it aside, save and use it wisely.

1.What is the piggy bank plan?

A. Setting a goal before making a travel plan.

B. Putting aside a little money regularly for future use.

C. Having determination even when doing small things.

D. Climbing a mountain a little a day before reaching the top.

2.Why did the writer’s parents give him a piggy bank as a gift?

A. To help him develop the habit of saving.

B. To encourage him to climb mountains.

C. To please him with the latest fashion.

D. To teach him English pronunciation.

3.The piggy bank was first ______ .

A. a pig-like toy for children B. a worker’s tool

C. an animal-look dish D. a cheap clay container

4.The last paragraph talks about ______ .

A. the enjoyment of taking a great trip

B. the importance of managing money

C. the difficulty of starting a business

D. the seriousness of educating children

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