Living an Adventurous Life
Nearly ten years ago, I was told that I had a brain tumor (瘤), and this experience changed my attitude about adventure forever.I thought that I was going to die and that all my adventures were over.I did not have a brain tumor, it turned out, but rather multiple sclerosis (多发性硬化症), which meant that, although they were not over, the nature of my adventures could have to change.
Each morning that I wake up is a fresh event, something that I might not have had.Each gesture that I make carries the weight of uncertainty and demands significant attention: buttoning my shirt, changing a light bulb, walking down stairs.I might not be able to do it this time.If I could not delight in them, they would likely drown me in anger and in self-pity.
I admire the grand adventures of others.I read about them with interest.With Peter Matthiessen I have hiked across the Himalayas to the Crystal Mountain.I have walked with Annie Dillard up, down, into, and across Tinker Creek in all seasons.David Bain has gone with me along 110 miles of Philippine coast, and Ed Abbey has rowed me down the Colorado River.I enjoy the adventures of these courageous figures, who can strike out on difficult trips – 2 miles, 250 miles, 3000 miles – ready to bear cold and tiredness, indeed not just to bear but to celebrate.
But as for me, I can no longer walk very far from the armchair in which I read.Some days I don’t even make it to the backyard.And yet I’m unwilling to give up the adventurous life, the difficulty of it, even the pain, the anxiety and fear, and the sudden brief lift of spirit that makes a hard journey more attractive.
I refine adventure, make it smaller and smaller.And now, whether I am moving on my hands and knees across the dining room to help my cat, lying wide-eyed in the dark battling another period of sadness, gathering flowers from the garden, meeting a friend for lunch, I am always having the adventures that are mine to have.
【小题1】Which of the following is TRUE about the author’s reaction after the illness?

A.The author is drowned in anger and self-pity.
B.The author travels to places he/she has dreamed of.
C.The author can’t take care of himself/herself any longer.
D.The author adapts to the condition successfully.
【小题2】Why does the author admire the people mentioned in Paragraph 3?
A.Because they write popular novels.B.Because they are great adventurers.
C.Because they are famous geographers.D.Because they fight with hardship in life.
【小题3】Which of the following shows the author’s strong love for adventures?
A.The author spends almost every day looking for adventures.
B.The author works hard to make more money for adventures.
C.The author imagines having adventures while reading.
D.The author expects to recover only to continue adventures.

Don’t you just love ice skating every winterI am surethat since winter is approachingyour skates are set to come outjust waiting to be used.Impress your friends with your new trick on how to ice?skate backwards with the help of these tips.Skating backwards on ice is a bit difficult but once you master the basicthere’s nothing like it.Follow the steps given below and you will be able to skate backwards in no time.

Stand Straight

The first thing that you need to do isstand straight.If you feel that you are falling backwardsthen just put your chin(下巴) up and slightly bend your knees.Don’t worrythis happens to all.

Confidence Is What You Need

The most important step while learning how to skate backwardsis having enough confidence in yourself and in what you are doing.How can you achieve thisBy practice.Just practice rolling backwards down a gentle slop every single day or just by pushing off from a wall or something of that sort.But before you do thatmake sure that the place where you are practicing is free from any kind of debris(碎片) because otherwiseyou could land up in the hospital due to some accident.While going backwardsjust get used to the feeling of moving backwards.One of the important ice skating tips and techniques is that if you feel that you are losing your balancethen scissor(做剪式运动) your skates.Keep practicing this till you are confident about it.

Maintain Speed

Confident nowGreatNow the next step is to maintain your speed.While rolling in a straight line with one skatewith the other try sculling(划桨)that iskeep pushing yourself backwards with an outwards stroke(滑动)Now bring the skate which you were using to sculland then againrepeat the same process.Make sure that you put most of your weight on the skate which is moving straight and not the one with which you are sculling.Nowtry the same thing using the other foot.Again keep doing this till you are confident enough.

Increase Your Speed Now

Once you are confident that you can scull with either footthe next thing that you have to do is increase your speed.Try some of your own tricks now.Scull with either foot or with both at the same time.

Scull and Be Aware

While you keep one foot straightkeep sculling with the other.You can do that simultaneously with both feet.Concentrate on what you are doing but don’t get so involvedthat you don’t see where you are going.If you are not watching your backyou might just bang against something or someone.

1.According to the text confidence comes from ______.

Ahigh speed? Bstrict coaches

Cconstant exercise? Dgood techniques

2.Which is the right order of ice?skating backwards?

aIncreasing your speed.

bBeing able to scull with one foot.

cBeing about to stand straight.

dTrying some different tricks.

Ac→a→d→b? Bc→b→d→a

Ca→c→b→d? Dc→b→a→d

3.In order to keep balance when skating backwards you should ________.

Askate in a scissor gesture

Buse both your feet to scull

Cskate forward first and then backward

Dput most of your weight on the skate with which you are sculling

4.The purpose of the text is ________.

Ato compare different ways of ice?skating backwards

Bto introduce the culture of ice?skating backwards

Cto explain advantages of ice?skating backwards

Dto offer some advice on ice?skating backwards

 

If you haven’t heard or seen anything about Road Rage in the last few months, you’ve probably been avoiding the media. There have been countless stories about this new and scary phenomenon, considered a type of aggressive driving. You have most likely encountered aggressive driving or Road Rage recently if you drive at all.

While drunk driving remains a critical problem, the facts about aggressive driving are surely as disturbing. For instance, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Association, 41,907 people died on the highway last year. Of those deaths, the agency estimates that about two-thirds were caused at least in part by aggressive driving behavior.

Why is this phenomenon occurring more than ever now, and why is it something that seemed almost nonexistent a few short years ago? Experts have several theories, and all are probably partially correct. One suggestion is extreme overcrowding. In the last decade, the number of cars on the roads has increased by more than 11 percent, and the number of miles driven has increased by 35 percent. However, the number of new road miles has only increased by 1 percent. That means more cars in the same amount of space; and the problem is severe in urban areas. Also, people have less time and more things to do. With people working and trying to fit extra chores and activities into the day, stress levels have never been higher. Stress creates anxiety, which leads to short tempers. These factors, when combined in certain situations, can spell Road Rage.

 You may think you are the last person who would drive aggressively , but you might be surprised .For instance , have you ever yelled out loud at a slower driver ,sounded the horn long and hard an another car , or sped up to keep another driver from passing ?If you recognize yourself in any of these situations , watch out !.

Whether you are getting angry at other drivers, or another driver is visibly upset with you, there are things you can do to avoid any major conflict. If you are easily influenced by Road Rage, the key is to release your emotion in a healthy way. If you are the target of another driver’s rage, do everything possible to get away from the other driver safely, including avoiding eye contact and getting out of their way.

1. The first sentence in Para. 1 implies that ______. 

A. Road Rage has received much media coverage in the last few months

B. the media created the term “Road Rage” only a few months ago

C. one may be angered by media reports and wants to avoid them

D. people not interested in the media know little about recent happenings

2.The underlined word “spell” in Para. 3 means ________.

A. relieve              B. cause             C. spread              D. prevent

3.Which of the following characterizes aggressive driving?

A. Talking while driving.               B. Driving at high speed.

C. Shouting at another driver.           D. Sounding the horn when passing

4.The last paragraph is intended to _________.

A. tell people how to deal with Road Rage

B. inform people how aggressive drivers could be

C. show people how to control themselves when angry

D. warn people against eye contact with another driver

 

Many American youngsters earn their own allowance(零花钱)by doing temporary jobs for their neighbors. Babysitting is one of the common of these jobs. Most couples do not have maids or relatives living with them, and they need to have someone watch the children if they want to go out.

Another way is by mowing lawn in summer and clearing snow from sidewalks and driveways in winter. Many people mow their own lawns,but often people prefer to give the job to a neighbor’s child. In winter, snow clearing from streets and highways is the government’s responsibility. Homeowners or tenants, however, must clear sidewalks and driveways. Since clearing snow is very tiring, many people prefer to hire teenagers for this job rather than do it themselves.

Besides, many American teenagers usually work two to three hours after school and all day on Saturday or Sunday at the local supermarket. They work as cashiers or stockroom clerks. Or they help customers carry things to their cars. Other favorite jobs are waiting on tables in restaurants or working part-time at stores or gas stations.

By earning their own allowance,teenagers acquire a feeling of independence and a sense of responsibility which prepares them for a productive life in society.

1.What does “babysitting” mean in the first paragraph?

A. Watching a baby when its parents are out.                    B. Working as a maid.

C. Sitting with a baby.                                      D. Selling something.

2.How do American youngsters earn their allowance? Which one is NOT one of the ways?

A. By mowing lawn in summer.

B. By clearing snow from sidewalks and driveways in winter.

C. By working two to three hours after school and all day on Saturday or Sunday.

D. By doing some housework for the family.

3.When it comes to clearing snow,what do many people like to do?

A. Hire teenagers for this job rather than do it themselves

B. They do it themselves.

C. They hire their own children to do so

D. They don’t clean it at all.

4.What is the advantage of youngsters earning allowance?

A.They acquire a feeling of independence.

B. They acquire a sense of responsibility.

C. The actions prepare them for a productive life in society.

D. All of the above.

5.Who will clear the snow on the streets?

A. The inhabitants.              B. The neighbors

C. The government.            D. The police.

 

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