C

Choosing the Right Resolution (决定)

Millions of Americans began 2014 with the same resolution they started 2013 with, a goal of losing weight. However, setting weight loss as a goal is a mistake.

To reach our goal of losing weight --- the output, we need to control what we eat --- the input ( 输入). That is, we tend to care about the output but not to control the input. This is a bad way to construct goals. The alternative is to focus your resolution on the input. Instead of resolving to lose weight, try an actionable resolution: “I’ll stop having dessert for lunch,” or “I’ll walk every day for 20 minutes.” Creating a goal that focuses on a well-specified input will likely be more effective than concentrating on the outcome.

Recently a new science behind incentives (激励) , including in education, has been discussed. For example, researcher Roland Fryer wanted to see what works best in motivating children to do better in school. In some cases, he gave students incentives based on input, like reading certain books, while in others, the incentives were based on output, like results on exams. His main finding was that incentives increased achievement when based on input but had no effect on output. Fryer’s conclusion was that the intensives for inputs might be more effective because students do not know how to do better on exam, aside from general rules like “study harder.” Reading certain books, on the other hand, is a well-set task over which they have much more control.

As long as you have direct control over your goal, you have a much higher chance of success. And it’s easier to start again if you fail, because you know exactly what you need to do.

If you want to cut down on your spending, a good goal would be making morning coffee at home instead of going to a cafe, for example. This is a well-specified action-based goal for which you can measure your success easily. Spending less money isn’t a goal because it’s too general. Similarly, if you want to spend more time with your family, don’t stop with this general wish. Think about an actionable habit that you could adopt and stick to, like a family movie night every Wednesday.In the long run, these new goals could become a habit.

1.The writer thinks that setting weight loss as a goal is a mistake because_______ .

A. it is hard to achieve for most Americans

B. it is focused too much on the result

C. it is dependent on too many things

D. it is based on actionable decisions

2.In Roland Fryer’s research, some students did better than the others because _________ .

A. they obeyed all the general rules

B. they paid more attention to exams

C. they were motivated by their classmates

D. they were rewarded for reading some books

3.According to the writer, which of the following statements is a good goal?

A. “I’ll give up dessert.”

B. “I’ll study harder.”

C. “I’ll cut down my expense”

D. “I’ll spend more time with my family”

4.The writer strongly believes that we should ________ .

A. develop good habits and focus on the outcome

B. be optimistic about final goals and stick to them

C. pick specific actions that can be turned into good habits

D. set ambitious goals that can balance the input and output

There are quite a few advantages of wearing school uniforms.The idea may seem disagreeable at first,but considering all the positive effects coming from wearing uniforms you would be more likely to enjoy them.

Teachers love school uniforms because it helps provide an orderly learning environment.Having students dressed in uniforms may teach them how to present themselves in a neat and professional manner.It gives students the opportunity to learn how to dress like young ladies and gentleman.And they can focus their attention on academics rather than style.

Purchasing school uniforms is easy and needs less hesitation and consideration.No matter what the school's policy is,there are only specific essential pieces to the wardrobe(服装) that are necessary,so it won’t break the bank.A few wardrobe items can last a long time.Parents could also enjoy an easy morning,as it will take less time to choose a set of clothes for the school day.

Students wearing uniforms will feel less pressure about what to wear or not to wear when their classmates are dressed similarly.Getting dressed before school becomes less of a chore when students are limited in their choices,so there shouldn’t be any trouble about choosing an outfit the day and getting ready quickly.Some students may not like the lack of individuality with a uniform,but some school dress code policies may offer them the opportunities to show their unique styles.

Uniforms today are also becoming trendier and can be seen in many areas of pop culture.Celebrities(名人)and fashion designers are using uniforms as inspiration for new looks which also appeal to students.

1.Teachers think that wearing school uniforms __________.

A.helps students put more effort into their studies

B.makes students feel less pressure in study

C.is just a tradition that students should follow

D.makes students lose their independence and identity

2.The underlined part “it won't break the bank” in Paragraph 3 probably means “______”.

A.a school uniform should be worn every day

B.parents will have to go to the bank many times

C.a school uniform doesn’t cost a lot of money

D.parents who work in a bank can afford the uniform

3.We can infer from the text that school uniform __________.

A.will be more fashionable in the future

B.are not popular with fashion designers

C.were not accepted by parents in the past

D.will be designed by students themselves

The iPhone, the iPad: each of Apple’s products sounds cool and has become a fad(一时的风尚). Apple has cleverly taken advantage of the power of the letter “i” –-- and many other brands are following it. The BBC’s iPlayer --- which allows Web users to watch TV programs on the Internet ---used the title in 2008. A lovely bear --- popular in the US and UK --- that plays music and video is called “iTeddy”. A slimmed-down version(简装本) of London’s Independent newspaper was started last week under the name “i”.

In general, single-letter prefixes(前缀) have been popular since the 1990s, when terms such as e-mail and e-commerce(电子商务) first came into use.

Most “i” products are targeted at (针对)young people and considering the major readers of Independent’s “i”, it’s no surprise that they’ve selected this fashionable name.

But it’s hard to see what’s so special about the letter “i”. Why not use “a”, “b”, or “c” instead? According to Tony Thorne, head of the Language Center at King’s College, London, “i” works because its meaning has become ambiguous. When Apple uses “i”, no one knows whether it means Internet, information, individual or interactive, Thorne told BBC Magazines. “Even when Apple created the iPod, it seems it didn’t have one clear definition(定义),” he says.

“However, thanks to Apple, the term is now connected with portability (轻便) .”adds Thorne.

Clearly the letter “i” also agrees with the idea that the Western World is centered on the individual. Each person believes they have their own needs, and we love personalized products for this reason.

Along with “Google” and “blog”, readers of BBC Magazines voted “i” as one of the top 20 words that have come to define the last decade(十年).

But as history shows, people grow tired of fads. From the 1900s to 1990s, products with “2000” in their names became fashionable as the year was connected with all things advanced and modern. However, as we entered the new century, the fashion disappeared.

1. People use iPlayer to __________.

A. listen to music B. make a call

C. watch TV programs online D. read newspapers

2. The underlined word “ambiguous” means “__________”.

A. popular B. uncertain C. clear D. unique

3. Nowadays, the “i” term often reminds people of the products which are __________.

A. portable B. environmentally friendly

C. advanced D. recyclable

4. The writer suggests that __________.

A. “i” products are often of high quality

B. I Teddy is alive bear

C. the letter “b” replaces letter “i” to name the products

D. the popularity of “i” products may not last long

Three Japanese tourists taking a holiday in Australia got stuck when their GPS told them they could drive from the mainland to an island, failing to mention the 15 kilometres of water and mud in between.

As they drove their hired car from Moreton Bay to nearby North Stradbroke Island, they started to notice the firm surface they were driving on giving way to the well-known bay mud. However, being confident that their GPS would direct them to a road soon, they decided to drive on, managing to travel around 500 metres before their car was up to its tires in mud. To make matters worse, the tide(潮汐) started to come in and soon forced them to seek help and abandon the vehicle. Just four hours later the car was trapped in two metres of water — to the great amusement of onlookers on the shore and passengers on passing boats and ferries.

Yuzu Noda, 21, said she was listening to the GPS and “it told us we could drive down there. It kept saying it would navigate(导航) us to a road. But we got stuck…there’s lots of mud.” She and her travel companions Tomonari Saeki, 22, and Keita Osada, 21, instead had to give up their plans for a day trip to the island and headed back to the Gold Coast of a lift from the RACQ tow truck(吊车) driver who was called to the trapped car. No such luck for the hired car though – after assessing the situation, no attempt was made to recover it. The students from Tokyo, who are due to return home tomorrow, said the experience would not put them off returning to Australia for another visit. Mr. Tomonari said, “It has rained every day on our six day holiday. Hopefully next time we come back, it will be sunny.”

The car was covered by insurance, but the tourists will have to pay up to about $1500 in extra charges.

1.The three Japanese tourists got stuck because___________.

A. there was no way to the island

B. their GPS was broken during their journey

C. their GPS had given the wrong information

D. their car was not made in Japan

2.They didn’t abandon their car until _________.

A. some onlookers went to save them

B. they got stuck in the mud

C. there came the tide

D. they managed to travel around 500 metres

3.How did these Japanese students get back?

A. They had to walk back to their living place.

B. They had to take a lift from the tow truck driver.

C. They had to repair their GPS and drove back.

D. They had to turn to passengers on boats and ferries.

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