Recently I have discovered it’s often easier for me to do something every day than to do it just some days. I post to my blog six days a week. I take notes every day. I write in my one-sentence journal every day. Many people have told me that they find it easier to exercise when they exercise every day. If I try to do something just four days a week, I spend a lot of time arguing with myself: Is today the day, or is it tomorrow, or the next day? Does the week start on Sunday or Monday?

If you do something every day, you tend to fall into a routine. Routine has a bad reputation for lacking excitement. It’s true that novelty and challenge bring happiness and that people who break their routines, try new things, and go to new places are happier, but I think that some routine activities also bring happiness. The pleasure of doing the same thing, in the same way, every day, shouldn’t be overlooked. By repeating, you can find happiness in activities like doing dishes or sweeping the floor as well as in your beloved morning coffee-and-news routines.

Two geniuses whom I know of also wrote about the power of doing something every day. Andy Warhol wrote, “Either once only, or every day. If you do something once it’s exciting, and if you do it every day it’s exciting. But if you do it, say, twice or just almost every day, it’s not good any more.” Gertrude Stein made a similar point, “Anything one does every day is important and anywhere one lives is interesting and beautiful.”

So if there’s something that you wish you did more regularly, try doing it every day; if you do something every day, take great pleasure in it.

1.In the first paragraph, what does the author try to tell us?

A. It’s easier to do the same thing every day.

B. It’s important to do the same thing every day.

C. He has a good habit of following routines.

D. He enjoys the habit of following routines.

2.People usually tend to break their routines because they________.

A. hope to have a better reputation

B. would like to get rid of the old habit

C. want to have fun and excitement

D. are willing to face new challenges

3.Which of the following statements does Andy Warhol probably agree to?

A. Doing something that is exciting.

B. Doing something almost every day.

C. Doing something every day, not only once.

D. Doing something every day or only once.

4.Which can be the best title of the passage?

A. A Way To Form A Habit B. Do Anything Every Day

C. Repeat Regularly D. Power Of Everyday Repetition

A

My father wasn't a king, he was a taxi driver, but I am a prince-Prince Renato II, of the country Pontinha, an island fort on Funchal harbour. It's in Madeira,Portugal, where I grew up. It was discovered in 1419.

In 1903, the king of Portugal sold the land to a wealthy British family, the Blandys, who make Madeira wine. Fourteen years ago the family decided to sell it forjust ?25,000, but nobody wanted to buy it either. I met Blandy at a party. and he asked if I'd like to buy the island. Of course I said yes,but I had no money-I was just an art teacher.I tried to find some business partners, who all thought I was crazy.So I sold some of my possessions,put my savings together and bought it.Of course, my family. my friends-all thought I was mad.

When the King originally sold the island,he signed a document, selling all the “possessions and the dominions”of the island.It means I can do what I want with it-I could start a restaurant, or a cinema but nobody thought someone would start a country.So that's what I did:I decided it would be my island, about the size of a one-bedroom house.

I have both a Portuguese passport and one for Pontinha (where my passport number is 0001).There are four citizens: me, my wife, my son and my daughter.I am the police, the gardener,everything.I am whatever I want to be-that's the dream,isn't it?If l want to have a national flag,it could be blue today,red tomorrow.I can change it any time.Of course,my power is only absolute here, where I am the true sovereign.

I don't live in my country full time, but I am often there.My family sometimes drops by, and other people come every day because the country is free for tourists to visit; I never close for bad weather.Sometimes I come here when I'm feeling lively,after a few drinks.

Madeira is surrounded by water,but for some reason we all have to pay to swim in the ocean now,at the swimming spots.However.I have my island,which means I can come swimming whenever I want-it's as if someone has given me the key to the waters.

Our lives are gone in a flash.All change in the world begins with something very small, and this is my country-just a small island.

1.How did the author get the island?

A.It was a present from Blandy.

B.The king sold it to him.

C.He inherited from his father.

D.He bought it from Blandy.

2.It can be learned from the passage that____.

A.the author made his living by driving

B.the author's wife supported to buy the island

C.blue and red are the main colors of his national flag

D.people can travel around the island free of charge

3.What did the author do with his island?

A.He set up a restaurant.

B.He started a cinema.

C.He founded his own country.

D.He opened a swimming pool.

4.From his own experience, the author wanted to tell the readers that____.

A.you can change your life through small things

B.you should buy your own country and become a king

C.becoming a real ruler is of much fun

D.life is too short, so enjoy it to the fullest

违法和不良信息举报电话:027-86699610 举报邮箱:58377363@163.com

精英家教网