Are you an optimist? Do you look at your glass and see it as half full? Do you believe that every cloud has a silver lining and that things generally turn out for the best? Do you believe that if something is meant to be, it will be? If you reply “yes” to all of these questions, then you are an optimist. You probably are enthusiastic, cheerful and outgoing. You may be successful at work and in love.

But you may be misguided because things don’t turn out for the best. You may believe that when one door closes another one opens (for example, you may fail to obtain a new job; another chance will come around soon). Wrong. When one door closes, another door slams (砰然关上) in your face. That’s bitter reality.

Now a book has been published which confirms what pessimists (悲观者) have suspected all along. It’s called The Positive Power of Defensive Pessimism. Its author argues that defensive pessimism can lead to positive results. Defensive pessimism is a strategy used to manage fear, anxiety and worry. Defensive pessimists prepare for the things by setting low outcomes for themselves. They carefully consider everything that may go wrong and plan for ways to handle these problems. And this gives them a sense of control. Lawrence Sanno, a psychology professor, says, “What’s interesting about defensive pessimists is that they tend to be very successful people, so their low opinion of the situation’s outcomes is not realistic. They use it to motivate themselves to perform better.”

So far, so good. This is not rocket science. Defensive pessimists prepare carefully and consider what might go wrong, whether at work, on date or even in a sports game. It makes sense to have a back-up plan. There are many sayings in English urging caution. For example, “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” And “Don’t count your chickens until they hatch.” To have a confident and optimistic approach to life’s problems is good. But listen to what Woody Alien, the American comedian says, “Confidence is what you have before you understand the problem.”

There are pros and cons to being an optimist and a pessimist. Don’t feel bad if you see the glass half empty. You are a realist. But lighten up and hook up with someone who sees the same glass half full.

1.What’s the passage mainly about?

A. The benefits of defensive pessimism.

B. A book that has recently been published.

C. The dangers of being too optimistic.

D. How to become successful in life.

2.The underlined sentence “This is not rocket science” (Para. 4) means __________.

A. there is no real proof                  B. it is quite simple to understand

C. the cost is not so high                                  D. it’s not a dangerous thing to do         

3.Which of the following English expressions would a defensive pessimist believe?

A. Whatever will be, will be.             B. The glass is half full not half empty.

C. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.    D. Every cloud has a silver lining.

4.The writer would probably describe himself as __________.

A. a realist                     B. an optimist                   C.  a   defeatist                    D. a scientist

 

One dark stormy night, an elderly couple hurried into a hotel and asked whether they could be put up for the night. “I’ m very   31   ,” the clerk(职员) on night shift(值晚班) said politely, “we are all    32 tonight. But you could stay in my room if you don’t    33 . As I’m on duty, I’ll be staying up in the office anyway,” The young man gave the    34 _ advice.

The elderly couple    35  his offer with gratitude(感激). They    36  for the inconvenience(不便) they had caused him. The next day, the rain stopped and it cleared up. When the old gentleman went to pay his   37 , the clerk behind the counter was that same helpful young man. “The room you and your wife stayed in is not a proper guest room in this hotel,  38  you don’t need to pay,” said the clerk, with the same friendly smile.

The old gentleman nodded in    39 , “You are an employee that every boss in the hotel business would    40 . Perhaps   41  I’ll build a hotel for you. ” The clerk was surprised but, deciding that the guest must have been joking, he gave the words no more    42 .

Two years later, the young man received a registered letter(挂号信) from the old gentleman, in which he   43 the experience of that dark stormy night. The letter also enclosed(附上) a formal    44  and a round-trip air ticket to New York, asking the young man to pay a visit.

At a street comer in Manhattan, the young man met his   45  guest. The old gentleman, pointing to a beautiful new    46  towering over(耸立) the crossroads, said, “Look, that is the hotel I    47 to build for you. I hope you will manage it for me. Remember what I said then? Well, I was serious about it.”

“But…will there be any conditions, sir? Why do you choose me? And who are you?”

“My name is William Aster. There’s not any condition.   48  I told you before, you are the best employee…!”

This building was    49 the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. Starting business in 1931, this hotel has been a symbol of honor in the city of New York. The young man who became its first    50  was George Boldt, the man who turned Waldorf into one of the best hotels in the world.

1.

A.sorry

B.happy

C.anxious

D.lucky

 

2.

A.advertised

B.decided

C.booked

D.taken

 

3.

A.mind

B.bother

C.trouble

D.complain

 

4.

A.bad

B.valuable(贵重的)

C.beautiful

D.sincere(真诚的)

 

5.

A.accepted

B.thanked

C.refused

D.weighed

 

6.

A.affected

B.prepared

C.balanced

D.apologized(道歉)

 

7.

A.service

B.house

C.food

D.bill

 

8.

A.but

B.however

C.so

D.yet

 

9.

A.comfort

B.gratitude

C.surprise

D.silence

 

10.

A.give up

B.dream of

C.devote to

D.fight for

 

11.

A.any time

B.another day

C.the other day

D.some day

 

12.

A.guidance

B.thought

C.freedom

D.argument

 

13.

A.called on

B.called at

C.called for

D.called up

 

14.

A.invitation

B.check

C.card

D.letter

 

15.

A.old

B.interesting

C.former

D.new

 

16.

A.house

B.building

C.room

D.park

 

17.

A.wanted

B.agreed

C.promised

D.liked

 

18.

A.Since

B.Once

C.If

D.Though

 

19.

A.just

B.only

C.anyhow

D.finally

 

20.

A.professor

B.manager

C.waiter

D.president

 

Maybe you are an average student. You probably think you will never be a top student. This is not necessary so, however. Anyone can become a better student if he or she wants to. Here’s how:

1. Plan your time carefully. When you plan your week, you should make a list of things that you have to do. After making this list, you should make a schedule of your time. First your time for eating, sleeping, dressing, etc. then decide a good, regular time for studying. Don’t forget to set aside enough time for entertainment. A weekly schedule may not solve all your problems, but it will force you to realize what is happening to your time.

2. Find a good place to study. Look around the house for a good study area. Keep this space, which may be a desk or simply a corner of your room, free of everything but study materials. No games, radios, or television! When you sit down to study, concentrate on the subject.

3. Make good use of your time in class. Take advantage of class time to listen to everything the teachers say. Really listening in class means less work later. Taking notes will help you remember what the teacher says.

4. Study regularly. When you get home from school, go over your notes. Review the important points that your teacher mentioned in class. If you know what your teacher is going to discuss the next day, read that material will become more meaningful, and you will remember it longer.

5. Develop a good attitude about tests. The purpose of a test is to show what you have learned about a subject. They help you remember your new knowledge. The world won’t end if you don’t pass a test, so don’t be overly worried.

There are other methods that might help you with your studying. You will probably discover many others after you have tried these.

How to become a better student

General method

How to

Advantage

Plan your time carefully

Make a list

Force you to realize(76) ____ is happening to your time

Make a (71) ______

Find a good place to study

Free of everything but study (72) ______

You can (77) ______on the subject

Make good use of your time in class

Listen to everything the teachers say

Really listening in class means (78) ______ work later

Taking (73) ______

Study regularly

Go over your notes

 

(74) ______ new material

Help you (79) _____it better , remember it longer

Develop a good attitude about tests

Don’t be (75) ______ worried

Remember your new

(80) ______

 

Dear Teresa Silva,

The official of the university has reported to us that you are an English major who meets the high standards for membership in Sigma Tau Delta. As is known, Sigma Tau Delta was founded in 1924 at Dakota Wesleyan University. It is an international collegiate honor society for students of English. It presently has over 850 chapters in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and the Caribbean. Over 9,000 new members are admitted into the organization annually.

Sigma Tau Delta’s purpose is to promote literature and writing and to advance the study of the written word. Members gather annually in the spring at the international meeting to present papers and share experiences and ideas within the English subject. The Society offers tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships, awards, as well as publication chances in its journals The Rectangle and The Sigma Tau Delta Review.

It is our pleasure if you can complete the application for Sigma Tau Delta membership. If you would like to be included in this spring’s induction (入会) ceremony, please complete the application form, and include amount to cover both local and international fees. Your completed form must be received by date to be considered for the upcoming induction ceremony.

We congratulate you on your outstanding academic record and hope you will join us as a Sigma Tau Delta member. If you want to get more information, please visit our website www.sigmataudelta.org, or give us a call. The phone number is 583-2864.

Sincerely,

Emily Lister

1.According to the passage, Sigma Tau Delta ______.

A.deals with language learning

B.opens its door to all the students of English

C.changes its members every year

D.mainly takes charge of scientific publications

2.At the annual meeting, members of Sigma Tau Delta have the chance to ______.

A.meet all the chapter leaders

B.receive tens of thousands of dollars

C.share experiences and views

D.choose a particular subject as a major

3.This passage is basically a letter of _____.

A.introduction

B.congratulation

C.thanks

D.invitation

 

Dear Teresa Silva,

The official of the university has reported to us that you are an English major who meets the high standards for membership in Sigma Tau Delta. As is known, Sigma Tau Delta was founded in 1924 at Dakota Wesleyan University. It is an international collegiate honor society for students of English. It presently has over 850 chapters in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and the Caribbean. Over 9,000 new members are admitted into the organization annually.

Sigma Tau Delta’s purpose is to promote literature and writing and to advance the study of the written word. Members gather annually in the spring at the international meeting to present papers and share experiences and ideas within the English subject. The Society offers tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships, awards, as well as publication chances in its journals The Rectangle and The Sigma Tau Delta Review.

It is our pleasure if you can complete the application for Sigma Tau Delta membership. If you would like to be included in this spring’s induction (入会) ceremony, please complete the application form, and include amount to cover both local and international fees. Your completed form must be received by date to be considered for the upcoming induction ceremony.

We congratulate you on your outstanding academic record and hope you will join us as a Sigma Tau Delta member. If you want to get more information, please visit our website www.sigmataudelta.org, or give us a call. The phone number is 583-2864.

Sincerely,

Emily Lister

1.According to the passage, Sigma Tau Delta ______.

A. deals with language learning

B. opens its door to all the students of English

C. changes its members every year

D. mainly takes charge of scientific publications

2.At the annual meeting, members of Sigma Tau Delta have the chance to ______.

A. meet all the chapter leaders

B. receive tens of thousands of dollars

C. share experiences and views

D. choose a particular subject as a major

3.This passage is basically a letter of _____.

A. introduction       B. congratulation       C. thanks           D. invitation

 

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