Most of us spend our lives seeking the natural world. To this end, we walk the dog, play golf, go fishing, sit in the garden, drink outside rather than inside the pub, have a picnic, live in the suburbs, go to the seaside, buy a weekend place in the country. The most popular free time activity in Britain is going for a walk. And when joggers (慢跑者) jog, they don’t run the streets. Every one of them automatically heads to the park or the river. It is my firm belief that not only do we all need nature, but we all seek nature, whether we know we are doing so or not.
But despite this, our children are growing up nature-deprived (丧失). I spent my boyhood climbing trees. These days, children are robbed of these ancient freedoms, due to problems like crime, traffic, the loss of the open spaces and strange new ideas about what is best for children, that is to say, things that can be bought, rather than things that can be found.
The truth is to be found elsewhere. A study in the US: families had moved to better housing and the children were assessed for ADHD (多动症). Those whose housing had more natural views showed an improvement of 19%; those who had the same improvement in material surroundings but no nice view improved just 4%.
A study in Sweden indicated that kindergarten children who could play in a natural environment had less illness and greater physical ability than children used only to a normal playground. A US study suggested that when a school gave children access to a natural environment, the entire school would do better in studies.
Another study found that children play differently in a natural environment. In playgrounds, children create a hierarchy (等级) based on physical abilities, with the tough ones taking the lead. But when a grassy area was planted with bushes, the children got much more into fantasy play, and the social hierarchy was now based on imagination and creativity.
Most bullying (恃强凌弱) is found in schools where there is a tarmac (柏油碎石) playground; the least bullying is in a natural area that the children are encouraged to explore. This reminds me unpleasantly of Sunnyhill School, with its hard tarmac, where I used to hang about in corners dreaming about wildlife.
But children are frequently discouraged from involvement with natural spaces, for health and safety reasons, for fear that they might get dirty or that they might cause damage. So, instead, the damage is done to the children themselves: not to their bodies but to their souls.
One of the great problems of modern childhood is ADHD, now increasingly and expensively treated with drugs. Yet one study after another indicates that contact with nature gives huge benefits to ADHD children. However, we spend money on drugs rather than on green places.
The life of old people is much better when they have access to nature. The most important for the growing population of old people is in quality rather than quantity of years. And study after study finds that a garden is the single most important thing in finding that quality.
In wider and more difficult areas of life, there is evidence to indicate that natural surroundings improve all kinds of things. Even problems with crime and aggressive behaviour are reduced when there is contact with the natural world.
Dr William Bird, researcher from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, states in his study, “A natural environment can reduce violent behaviour because its process helps reduce anger and behavior that people might regret later.” Wild places need encouraging for this reason, no matter how small their contribution.
We tend to think human beings are doing nature some kind of favor when we are protecting nature. The error here is far too deep: not only do humans need nature for themselves, but the very idea that humanity and the natural world are separable things is damaging.
Human beings are a species of animals. For seven million years we lived on the planet as part of nature. So we miss the natural world and long for contact with non-human life. Anyone who has patted a dog, stroked a cat, sat under a tree with a glass of beer, given or received a bunch of flowers or chosen to walk through the park on a nice day, understands that.
We need the wild world. It is necessary to our well-being, our health, our happiness. Without other living things around us we are less than human.
【小题1】What is the author’s firm belief?

A．Find more effective drugs for them.

B．Provide more green spaces for them.

C．Place them under more personal care.

D．Engage them in more meaningful activities

A．They look on life optimistically.	B．They enjoy a life of better quality.
C．They are able to live longer.	D．They become good-humored

Many of us spend a great deal of time and energy trying to prove that we are right and others are wrong. Many people believe that it’s their job to  36 others how their positions, statements and points of view are   37  and that in doing so, the person they are correcting is going to somehow   38  it, or at least learn something. Wrong！

Think about it. Have you ever been   39  by someone and said to him, “Thank you so much for showing me that I’m wrong and you’re right.” Or has anyone you know ever   40  you when you corrected him, or made yourself “right” at his 41  ? Of course not. The truth is, all of us   42 to be corrected. We all want our position to be   43  and understood by others. Being listened to and heard is one of the greatest   44  of the human heart. And those who learn to   45  are the most loved and respected. Those who are in the   46  of correcting others are often hated and   47 .

A wonderful way of becoming more peaceful and loving is to practice  48    others the joy of being right--- give them the glory.   49 correcting. When someone says, “I really feel it’s important to…” rather than   50  and saying, “No, it’s more important to…” , simply let it go and allow his statement to   51 . The people in your life will become less defensive and more   52 . They will appreciate you more than you could ever have   53  possible. You’ll discover the joy of joining in and seeing other people’s  54  , which is far more rewarding than a battle of egos（自我意识）. Starting today, and let others be “  55  ” most of the time.

1.                A．classify         B．show           C．advise    D．persuade

2.                A．unbelievable     B．imperfect       C．incorrect D．unimportant

3.                A．promote        B．appreciate       C．consider  D．understand

4.                A．corrected       B．fooled          C．helped   D．taught

5.                A．awarded        B．accepted        C．cared    D．thanked

6.                A．effort          B．price           C．expense  D．power

7.                A．afford          B．hate           C．like  D．prefer

8.                A．respected       B．received        C．admired  D．realized

9.                A．advantages      B．appetites        C．shortcomings  D．desires

10.               A．adjust          B．benefit         C．listen D．praise

11.               A．form           B．habit           C．purpose   D．position

12.               A．avoided        B．left            C．punished  D．scolded

13.               A．lending         B．owing          C．promising D．allowing

14.               A．Consider       B．Practice        C．Stop  D．Continue

15.               A．working out     B．jumping in       C．turning up D．putting off

16.               A．stand          B．last            C．harm D．work

17.               A．careful         B．helpful         C．popular   D．loving

18.               A．ordered        B．led            C．dreamed  D．demanded

19.               A．worries        B．happiness       C．sufferings  D．success

20.               A．right           B．satisfied        C．proud D．excited

Most of us spend our lives seeking the natural world. To this end, we walk the dog, play golf, go fishing, sit in the garden, drink outside rather than inside the pub, have a picnic, live in the suburbs, go to the seaside, buy a weekend place in the country. The most popular free time activity in Britain is going for a walk. And when joggers (慢跑者) jog, they don’t run the streets. Every one of them automatically heads to the park or the river. It is my firm belief that not only do we all need nature, but we all seek nature, whether we know we are doing so or not.

But despite this, our children are growing up nature-deprived (丧失). I spent my boyhood climbing trees. These days, children are robbed of these ancient freedoms, due to problems like crime, traffic, the loss of the open spaces and strange new ideas about what is best for children, that is to say, things that can be bought, rather than things that can be found.

The truth is to be found elsewhere. A study in the US: families had moved to better housing and the children were assessed for ADHD (多动症). Those whose housing had more natural views showed an improvement of 19%; those who had the same improvement in material surroundings but no nice view improved just 4%.

A study in Sweden indicated that kindergarten children who could play in a natural environment had less illness and greater physical ability than children used only to a normal playground. A US study suggested that when a school gave children access to a natural environment, the entire school would do better in studies.

Another study found that children play differently in a natural environment. In playgrounds, children create a hierarchy (等级) based on physical abilities, with the tough ones taking the lead. But when a grassy area was planted with bushes, the children got much more into fantasy play, and the social hierarchy was now based on imagination and creativity.

Most bullying (恃强凌弱) is found in schools where there is a tarmac (柏油碎石) playground; the least bullying is in a natural area that the children are encouraged to explore. This reminds me unpleasantly of Sunnyhill School, with its hard tarmac, where I used to hang about in corners dreaming about wildlife.

But children are frequently discouraged from involvement with natural spaces, for health and safety reasons, for fear that they might get dirty or that they might cause damage. So, instead, the damage is done to the children themselves: not to their bodies but to their souls.

One of the great problems of modern childhood is ADHD, now increasingly and expensively treated with drugs. Yet one study after another indicates that contact with nature gives huge benefits to ADHD children. However, we spend money on drugs rather than on green places.

The life of old people is much better when they have access to nature. The most important for the growing population of old people is in quality rather than quantity of years. And study after study finds that a garden is the single most important thing in finding that quality.

In wider and more difficult areas of life, there is evidence to indicate that natural surroundings improve all kinds of things. Even problems with crime and aggressive behaviour are reduced when there is contact with the natural world.

Dr William Bird, researcher from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, states in his study, “A natural environment can reduce violent behaviour because its process helps reduce anger and behavior that people might regret later.” Wild places need encouraging for this reason, no matter how small their contribution.

We tend to think human beings are doing nature some kind of favor when we are protecting nature. The error here is far too deep: not only do humans need nature for themselves, but the very idea that humanity and the natural world are separable things is damaging.

Human beings are a species of animals. For seven million years we lived on the planet as part of nature. So we miss the natural world and long for contact with non-human life. Anyone who has patted a dog, stroked a cat, sat under a tree with a glass of beer, given or received a bunch of flowers or chosen to walk through the park on a nice day, understands that.

We need the wild world. It is necessary to our well-being, our health, our happiness. Without other living things around us we are less than human.

1.What is the author’s firm belief?

　　A. People seek nature in different ways.

　　B. People should spend most of their lives in the wild.

　　C. People have quite different ideas of nature.

　　D. People must make more efforts to study nature.

2.What does the author say people prefer for their children nowadays?

　　A. Personal freedom.　　            B. Things that are natural.

　　C. Urban surroundings.　　          D. Things that are purchased.

3.What does a study in Sweden show?

　　A. The natural environment can help children learn better.

　　B. More access to nature makes children less likely to fall ill.

　　C. A good playground helps kids develop their physical abilities.

　　D. Natural views can prevent children from developing ADHD.

4.Children who have chances to explore natural areas ________.

　  A. tend to develop a strong love for science　    

B. are more likely to dream about wildlife

　  C. tend to be physically tougher in adulthood　   

D. are less likely to be involved in bullying

5.What does the author suggest we do to help children with ADHD?

　　A. Find more effective drugs for them.　　   

B. Provide more green spaces for them.

　　C. Place them under more personal care.　　

D. Engage them in more meaningful activities

6. In what way do elderly people benefit from their contact with nature?

　　A. They look on life optimistically.　　    B. They enjoy a life of better quality.

C. They are able to live longer.            D. They become good-humored

  Around me, I find people of my age doing drugs, going to parties ----- just to “fit in”, just to gain attention. We’re so   36  being selfish, comparing ourselves to others,   37  unrealistic goals for ourselves, wanting to look prettier or lose more   38  , making more money, and being more popular.

    But then I think, is that   39   what life’s all about? There are   40   kids out there, being abused, murdered, orphaned, and hungry. And here we are all   41   about how tough our lives are.

    Most of us self-harm and are always depressed. Why do we always try to   42   away from our problems,   43   just face them? I mean this is life! You cannot get away from it, and you can definitely not   44   it.

    All we can do is   45   what life gives us, and face our problems, face our difficulties, and face our frustrations. And maybe they’ll   46   your best friends, your companions. They’ll make you stronger, they’ll help you face reality and they’ll teach you to   47   the little things in life.

      48   we always fail to look at the brighter side of things, we always fail to find happiness in little things. There are so many beautiful things   49   us that we seldom notice. Maybe that is     50   people don’t find happiness; we keep looking for it in the   51   places------ money, fame.

When we really go to “look” for happiness, what we all fail to   52   is that happiness isn’t really something that we can “find”. It’s not a destination; it’s not something you find along the road of life; it’s a(n)   53  , a feeling------ you can be happy wherever and whenever, only if you CHOOSE to be. Happiness is something within you, waiting to be found, waiting to   54    you company, waiting to help you   55   from this harsh reality.

I used to believe in the American Dream, which meant a job, a mortgage (按揭)，credit cards, success. I wanted it and worked toward it like everyone else, all of us   36   chasing the same thing.

One year, through a series of unhappy events, it all fell   37   . I found myself homeless and alone. I had my truck and $56. I   38   the countryside for some place I could rent for the   39   possible amount. I came upon a shabby house four miles up a winding mountain road   40   the Potomac River in West Virginia. It was   41   , full of broken glass and rubbish. I found the owner, rented it, and   42   a corner to camp in.

The locals knew nothing about me,   43   slowly, they started teaching me the   44   of being a neighbor. They dropped off blankets, candles, and tools, and began   45   around to chat. They started to teach me a belief in a   46   American Dream—not the one of individual achievement but of   47   .

What I had believed in, all those things I thought were   48   for a civilized life, were nonexistent in this place.   49   on the mountain, my most valuable possessions were my   50   with my neighbors.

Four years later, I moved back into   51   . I saw many people were having a really hard time,   52   their jobs and homes. I managed to rent a big enough house to   53   a handful of people. There are four of us now in the house, but over time I’ve had nine people come in and move on to other places. We’d all be in   54    if we hadn’t banded together.

The American Dream I believe in now is a shared one. It’s not so much about what I can get for myself; it’s about   55   we can all get by together.

36. A. separately         B. equally             C. violently           D. naturally

37. A. off                     B. apart                C. over                 D. out

38. A. crossed             B. left                   C. toured              D. searched

39. A. fullest                B. largest             C. fairest              D. cheapest

40. A. at                      B. through            C. over                 D. round

41. A. occupied           B. abandoned      C. emptied            D. robbed

42. A. turned               B. approached     C. cleared            D. cut

43. A. but                    B. although          C. otherwise         D. for

44. A. benefit               B. lesson              C. nature              D. art

45. A. sticking              B. looking             C. swinging           D. turning

46. A. wild                    B. real                  C. different           D. remote

47. A. neighborliness B. happiness        C. friendliness      D. kindness

48. A. unique               B. expensive        C. rare                  D. necessary

49. A. Up                     B. Down               C. Deep                D. Along

50. A. cooperation       B. relationships    C. satisfaction      D. appointments

51. A. reality                B. society             C. town                 D. life

52. A. creating             B. losing               C. quitting             D. offering

53. A. put in                 B. turn in              C. take in              D. get in

54. A. yards                 B. shelters            C. camps              D. cottages

55. A. when                 B. what                 C. whether            D. how