In modern society there is a great deal of argument about competition. Some value it highly, believing that it is responsible for social progress and prosperity; others say that competition is bad because it sets one person against another and because it leads to unfriendly relationship between people.

I have taught many children who held the belief that their self-worth relied on how well they performed at tennis and other skills. For them, playing well and winning are often life-and-death affairs. In their single-minded pursuit of success, the development of many other human qualities is sadly forgotten.

However, while some seem to be lost in the desire to succeed, others take an opposite attitude. In a culture which values only the winner and pays no attention to the ordinary players, they strongly blame competition. Among the most vocal are youngsters who have suffered under competitive pressures from their parents or society. Teaching these young people, I often observe in them a desire to fail. They seem to seek failure by not trying to win or achieve success. By not trying, they always have an excuse: “I may have lost, but it doesn’t matter because I really didn’t try.” What is not usually admitted by themselves is the belief that if they had really tried and lost, that would mean a lot. Such a loss would be a measure of their worth. Clearly, this belief is the same as that of the true competitors who try to prove themselves. Both are based on the mistaken belief that one’s self-respect relies on how well one performs in comparison with others. Both are afraid of not being valued. Only as this basic and often troublesome fear begins to dissolve (缓解) can we discover a new meaning in competition.

1.What does this passage mainly talk about?

A. Failures are necessary experiences in competition.

B. Competition can help people to set up self-respect.

C. Opinions about competition are different among people.

D. Competition is harmful to personal quality development.

2.Why do some people favor competition according to the passage?

A. It pushes society forward. B. It builds up a sense of duty.

C. It improves personal abilities. D. It encourages individual efforts.

3.The underlined phrase “the most vocal” in Paragraph 3 means ________.

A. those who try their best to win

B. those who value competition most highly

C. those who depend on others most for success

D. those who are against competition most strongly

4.What is the similar belief of the true competitors and those with a desire to fail?

A. One’s success in competition needs great efforts.

B. One’s success is based on how hard he has tried.

C. One’s achievement is determined by his particular skills.

D. One’s worth lies in his performance compared with others.

We are not suggesting that you can reach a permanent state called “happiness” and remain there. But there are many ways to turn the path of anxiety, anger, and sadness into a state of happiness. Here are four ideas to get you started.1.

● Laugh out loud

Just expecting a happy, funny event can raise levels of pleasure-causing hormones (荷尔蒙) and lower production of stress hormones. Researchers at the University of California tested 16 men who all agreed they thought a certain videotape was funny. Half were told three days in advance they would watch it.2. When they actually watched the video, their levels of stress hormones dropped greatly, while their levels of pleasure-causing hormones rose 27 percent.

● Do one thing at a time

Edward Suarez, professor of medical psychology at Duck, found that people who do several things at the same time are more likely to have high blood pressure. 3. Instead of talking on the phone while cleaning the kitchen, sit down in a comfortable chair and turn your entire attention over to the conversation.

4.

Although relationships help take away stress, sometimes you need time to recharge and reflect on your own. Take yourself out to lunch or to a movie, or simply spend an afternoon reading at home, or looking through books in a bookstore.

● Practice mindfulness

5. Instead of worrying about your check-up tomorrow while having dinner with your family, focus on the here and now — food, the company, and the conversation.

A. Spend time alone.

B. Focus on the present.

C. Take care of the soul.

D. Take that finding seriously.

E. Choose the ones that work for you.

F. They started experiencing biological changes right away.

G. Find a quiet place near your house and make it your secret place to escape.

A group of graduates got together to visit their old university professor.

The conversation soon turned into complaints about __ in work and life. To offer his __ coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and __ with a large pot of coffee and a __ of cups---plastic, glass, metal, porcelain (陶瓷), crystal, some plain-looking, some beautiful. The professor told his students to ___themselves to hot coffee.

When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said, “lf you have __, all the nice-looking expensive cups have been __, leaving behind the plain and __ ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the __ of your problems and stress.”

The professor continued, “Believe that the cup itself adds no __ to the coffee. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases it even __ what we drink. What all of you __ wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went __ the best cups.”

Now __ this: life is the coffee; the jobs, money, and __ in society are the cups. __ are just tools to hold and contain life, and the different types of cups we have don’t decide, nor __ the quality of life. If we concentrate only on the cups, we will __ to enjoy the coffee in it. So don’t let the cups ___you...enjoy the coffee instead.

At these words, the graduates looked at each other in __ embarrassment.

1.A. stress B. dream C. sorrow D. truth

2.A. friends B. customers C. fellows D. guests

3.A. carried B. returned C. arrived D. reached

4.A. kind B. variety C. sort D. number

5.A. devote B. expose C. help D. addicted

6.A. searched B. witnessed C. noticed D. discovered

7.A. taken up B. brought in C. sold out D. cut down

8.A. expensive B. cheap C. beautiful D. usual

9.A. point B. answer C. source D. result

10.A. quality B. energy C. weight D. color

11.A. makes B. gives C. hides D. includes

12.A. finally B. really C. especially D. nearly

13.A. for B. with C. off D. to

14.A. forget B. discuss C. consider D. try

15.A. position B. relation C. workmates D. friends

16.A. They B. We C. You D. What

17.A. damage B. determine C. change D. increase

18.A. come B. stop C. have D. fail

19.A. drive B. force C. take D. amaze

20.A. quiet B. speechless C. amazing D. reasonable

Son’s Help

Mr. Lang worked in a factory. As a driver, he was busy but he was paid much. His wife was an able woman and did all the housework. When he came back, she took good care of him and he never did anything at home. So he had enough time when he had a holiday. A few friends of his liked gambling(赌博) and he learned it soon. So he was interested in it and forgot anything except gambling. He lost all his money and later he began to sell the television, washing machine and so on. His wife told him not to do it but he didn’t listen to her. She had to tell the police. He and his friends were punished(惩罚) for it. After he came out of lockup(拘留所), he hated her very much ,and beat her so the woman had to leave him.

It was New Year’s Day. Mr. Lang didn’t go to work. He felt lonely and wanted to gamble again. He called his friends and they came soon. But they were afraid the police would come. He told his five-year-old son to go to find out if there were policemen outside. They waited for a long time and didn’t think the police would come and began to gamble. Suddenly opened the door and in came a few policemen.

“I saw there weren’t any policemen outside, daddy,” said the boy, “so I went to the crossing and asked some to come.”

1._______, so he was put into lockup.

A. Mr. Lang often gambled B. Mr. Lang was late for work

C. Mr. Lang didn’t help his wife at home D. Mr. Lang wasn’t polite to the police

2.The woman had to leave Mr. Lang because _______.

A. he hated her and treated her badly. B. he wouldn’t stop gambling

C. he loved another woman. D. he was hardly sent away by the factory

3.Which of the following is right?

A. The boy expected his father to be put into lockup again.

B. The boy thought his father needed some policemen.

C. The boy expected his father to stop gambling soon.

D. The boy expected his mother to come back.

There are many international organizations(组织) which work to save and protect endangered(濒危的) species(物种)and natural environment.If you would like more information about any of the organizations listed below, you can write to the addresses (地址)given.

Friends of the Earth(FOE) campaigns on a range of problems including rainforests,the countryside,water and air pollution and energy.

Friends of the Earth International Secretariat P.O.Box 19199

1000 G.D.

Amsterdam

The Netherlands

Greenpeace uses peaceful but direct action to defend the environment. It campaigns(运动,战役) to protect rainforests and sea animals,stop global warming and end pollution of air,land and seas.It also opposes(反对) nuclear(核)power.

Greenpeace International

Keizergracht 176

1016 DW Amsterdam

The Netherlands

BirdLife International is an organization

which works to save endangered birds all over the world.

BirdLife International

Wellbrook Court

Girton Road

Cambridge CB3 ONA

England

WWF-World Wide Fund For Nature is the world's largest private(私人的) international organization for the protection of nature and endangered species.

Information Officer

WWF International

Avenue du Mont-Blanc

1196 Gland

Switzerland

1.If you want to learn more about the organizations,you can .

A. call them B. write them a letter

C. visit them D. send them an e-mail

2.BirdLife International is an organization trying to .

A. reduce pollution B. defend(保护) rainforests

C. protect ocean animals D. save endangered birds

3.If you oppose nuclear power,you can join .

A. Friends of the Earth B. World Wide Fund For Nature

C. Greenpeace D. BirdLife International

4.What can we learn about WWF?

A. It helps to protect nature and save endangered animals.

B. It is the world’s largest international organization.

C. It works for private companies and rich people.

D. It is a private organization in China

Everyone needs friends. We all like to feel close to someone. It is nice to have a friend to talk, laugh and do things with. Surely, there are times when we need to be alone. We don't always want people around. But we would feel lonely if we never had a friend.

No two people are the same. Sometimes friends don't get along well, which doesn't mean that they no longer like each other. Most of the time they will go on being friends. Sometimes friends move away, then we feel very sad. We miss them much, but we can call them and write to them. Maybe we would never see them again, and we can make new friends. It is surprising to find out how much we like new people when we get to know them. Families sometimes name their children after a close friend. Many places are named after men and women, if they are friendly to people in a town. Some libraries are named this way. So are some schools. We think of these people when we go to these places.

There's more good news for people, if they have friends. These people live longer than those people if those don't have friends. Why? It could be that they are happier. Being happy helps you stay well. Or it could be just knowing that someone cares, if someone cares about you, you take better care of yourself.

1.The first paragraph tells us __________.

A. none needs friends B. we need friends around us all the time

C. making friends is the need in people's life D. we need to be alone

2.Which of the following is the most probable(可能的) place people name after friendly people?

A. A house. B. A room.

C. A library. D. A village.

3.If people have friends, they would live longer, because __________.

A. they feel happier and healthier B. they get a lot of help from their friends

C. they take better care of themselves D. both A and C

4.This passage tells us __________.

A. that people are all friends B. that people need friends

C. how to get friends D. how to name a place

Johnny Smith was a good math student at a high school. He loved his computer. He came home early every day, then he worked with it till midnight. But Johnny was not a good English student, not good at all. He got an F in his English class.

One day after school,Johnny came back home and joined his computer to the computer of his high school office. The school office computer had the grades of all the students: the math grades, the science grades, the grades in arts and music, and the grades in English. He found his English grade. An F! Johnny changed his English grade from an F to A. Johnny' parents looked at his report card. They were very happy.

"An A in English!" said Johnny's Dad. "You're a very clever boy, Johnny."

Johnny is a hacker(黑客). Hackers know how to take information (信息)from other computers and put new information in. Using a modem(调制解调器), they join their computers to other computers secretly. School headmasters and teachers are worried about hackers. So are the police, for some people even take money from bank (银行)computer account (账户)and put it into their own ones. And they never have to leave home to do it! They are called hackers.

1.Johnny changed his English grade with the computer in _______.

A. the classroom B. the school office

C. a bank near his house D. his own house

2.When Johnny's parents saw the report, they were happy because _______.

A. Johnny was good at math

B. Johnny loved computers

C. Johnny could join one computer to another

D. they thought Johnny was not poor in English any longer

3.What should the hackers know well, do you think, after you read this story?

A. Information. B. English

C. Computers. D. Grades.

4.The last paragraph is about _______.

A. Johnny B. computers

C. hackers D. modem

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