Thinking is something you choose to do as a fish chooses to live in water. To be human is to think. But thinking may come naturally without your knowing how you do it. Thinking about drinking is the key to critical（判断性的）thinking. When you think critically, you take control of your thinking processes（过程）. Otherwise, you might be controlled by the ideas of others. Indeed, critical thinking is at the heart of education.

The word “critical” here has a special meaning. It does not mean taking one view against another view, as when someone criticizes another person for doing something wrong. The nature of critical thinking is thinking beyond the easily seen-beyond the pictures on TV, the untrue reports in the newspapers, and the faulty reasoning.

Critical thinking is an attitude as much as an activity. If you are curious about life and desire to dig deeper into it, you are a critical thinker. If you find pleasure in deep thinking about different ideas, characters, and facts, you are a critical thinker.

Activities of the mind and higher-order reasoning are processes of deep and careful consideration. They take time, and do not go hand in hand with the fast speed in today’s world: fast foods, instant coffee, and self-developing film. If you are among the people who believe that speed is a measure of intelligence（智力）, you may learn something new from a story about Albert Einstein. The first time Banesh Hoffman, a scientist, was to discuss his work with Albert Einstein. Hoffman was too nervous to speak. But Einstein immediately put Hoffman at ease by saying, “Please go slowly. I don’t understand things quickly.”

1.Critical thinking is important to us because if we do not think critically, _______.

A．it will be hard for us to think naturally and fast.

B．we might be controlled by other people’s ideas.

C．we will follow the ideas of others naturally.

D．we might be footed by other people’s ideas.

2.If you are a critical thinker, you will ________.

A．think deeply about different ideas　　 B．trust the reports in the newspapers

C．take one view against another view  　D．criticize other people for their mistakes

3.In the last paragraph, “something new” suggests that ________.

A．the smarter you are, the faster you do things

B．the faster you do things, the smarter you become

C．speed can improve intelligence

D．intelligence is not decided by speed

4.What would be the best title for the passage?

A．Thinking and Critical Thinking.　　 B．Understanding Critical Thinking.

C．Thinking Is Natural and Human.　　D．Thinking Fast Means Intelligence.

My father’s reaction to the bank building at 43rd Street and Fifth Avenue in New York city was immediate and definite: “You won’t catch me putting my money in there!” he declared, “Not in that glass box!”
　  Of course, my father is a gentleman of the old school, a member of the generation to whom a good deal of modern architecture is upsetting, but I am convinced that his negative response was not so much to the architecture as to a violation of his concept of the nature of money. In his generation money was thought of as a real commodity (实物) that could be carried, or stolen.
　　Consequently, to attract the custom of a sensible man, a bank had to have heavy walls, barred windows, and bronze doors, to affirm the fact, however untrue, that money would be safe inside. If a building’s design made it appear impenetrable（难以渗透的), the institution was necessarily reliable, and the meaning of the heavy wall as an architecture symbol reflected people’s prevailing attitude toward money.
　　But the attitude toward money has, of course, changed. Excepting pocket money, cash of any kind is now rarely used; money as a tangible commodity has largely been replaced by credit. A deficit (赤字) economy, accompanied by huge expansion, has led us to think of money as product of the creative imagination. The banker no longer offers us a safe: he offers us a service in which the most valuable element is the creativity for the invention of large numbers. It is in no way surprising, in view of this change in attitude, that we are witnessing the disappearance of the heavy-walled bank.
　　Just as the older bank emphasized its strength, this bank by its architecture boasts of imaginative powers. From this point of view it is hard to say where architecture ends and human assertion (人们的说法) begins.
36. 【小题1】The main idea of this passage is that________.

My father’s reaction to the bank building at 43rd Street and Fifth Avenue in New York city was immediate and definite: “You won’t catch me putting my money in there!” he declared, “Not in that glass box!”

　  Of course, my father is a gentleman of the old school, a member of the generation to whom a good deal of modern architecture is upsetting, but I am convinced that his negative response was not so much to the architecture as to a violation of his concept of the nature of money. In his generation money was thought of as a real commodity (实物) that could be carried, or stolen.

　　Consequently, to attract the custom of a sensible man, a bank had to have heavy walls, barred windows, and bronze doors, to affirm the fact, however untrue, that money would be safe inside. If a building’s design made it appear impenetrable（难以渗透的), the institution was necessarily reliable, and the meaning of the heavy wall as an architecture symbol reflected people’s prevailing attitude toward money.

　　But the attitude toward money has, of course, changed. Excepting pocket money, cash of any kind is now rarely used; money as a tangible commodity has largely been replaced by credit. A deficit (赤字) economy, accompanied by huge expansion, has led us to think of money as product of the creative imagination. The banker no longer offers us a safe: he offers us a service in which the most valuable element is the creativity for the invention of large numbers. It is in no way surprising, in view of this change in attitude, that we are witnessing the disappearance of the heavy-walled bank.

　　Just as the older bank emphasized its strength, this bank by its architecture boasts of imaginative powers. From this point of view it is hard to say where architecture ends and human assertion (人们的说法) begins.

36. The main idea of this passage is that________.

A. money is not as valuable as it was in the past

B. changes have taken place in both the appearance and the concept of banks

C. the architectural style of the older bank is superior to that of the modern bank

D. prejudice makes the older generation think that the modern bank is unreliable

37. How do the older generation and the younger one think about money respectively?

A. The former thinks more of money than the latter.

B. The younger generation values money more than the older generation.

C. Both generations rely on the imaginative power of bankers to make money.

D. To the former money is a real commodity but to the latter be a means to produce more money.

38. The words “tangible commodity” (Line 2, Para. 4) refer to something ______.

　 A. that can be replaceable              B. that is usable

　 C. that can be touched                 D. that can be reproduced

39. According to this passage, a modern banker should be _______.

A. ambitious and friendly                             B. reliable and powerful

C. sensible and impenetrable                         D. imaginative and creative

40. It can be inferred from the passage that the author’s attitude towards the new trend in banking is _______.

A. cautious        B. regretful       C. positive        D. hostile

　In Mr．Allen’s high school class , all the students have to “get married ．”However , the wedding ceremonies are not real ones but imitations ． These 1ceremonies sometimes become so noisy that the loud laughter 2the voice of the“minister．”

　Even the two students 3often begin to giggle ． The teacher , Mr．Allen , believes that marriage is a difficult and serious business ． He wants young people to understand that there are many changes that must 4after marriage ． He believes that the need for these psychological and financial 5should be understood before people marry ．

　Mr．Allen doesn’t only 6his students to major problems 7in marriage 8 illness or unemployment ． He also 9 to the 10problems they will face every day ． He wants to introduce young people to all the 11that can strain a marriage to the breaking 12． He even familiarizes his students with the problems of divorce and the fact that 13men must pay child support money for their children and sometimes pay monthly 14 to their wives ．

　It has been 15for some of the students to see the problems that a 16couple often faces ． Until they took the 17, they had not 18much about the problems of marriage ． However , both students and parents feel that Mr．Allen’s course is valuable and have 19the course publicly ． Their statements and letters supporting the class have convinced the school to 20 the course again．

1．A．false B．imitation C．unreal D． untrue

2．A．buries B．covers up C．drowns out D． floods

3．A．being married B．getting married C．to get married D． to be getting married

4．A．Appear B．happen C．come into being D． take place

5．A．Additions B．changes C．judgments D． operations

6．A．refer B．lead C．introduce D． guide

7．A．face B．faced C．facing D． to be faced

8．A．for example B．for instance C．e．g． D． such as

9．A．keeps them in the dark B．Asks them to stay behind

　C．lets them remain　　 D． leaves them uncovered

10．A．basic B．necessary C．important D． pressing

11．A．Anger-causing troubles B．discomfort-causing troubles

　C．either A or B　　　　 D． both A and B

12．A．dot B．drop C．edge D． point

13．A．divorce B．divorces C．divorced D． divorcing

14．A．extra money B．pocket money C．hard-earned money D． support money

15．A．settled B．unsettled C．settling D． unsettling

16．A．marrying B．being married C．getting married D． married

17．A．course B．lesson C．lecture D． subject

18．A．Anxious B．eager C．doubted D． worried

19．A．praised B．prized C．prided D． supported

20．A．offer　　B．take　　C．Attend D． plan

Sometimes you’ll hear people say that you can’t love others until you love yourself. Sometimes you’ll hear people say that you can’t expect someone else to love you until you love yourself. Either way, you’ve got to love yourself first and this can be tricky. Sure we all know that we’re the apple of our parents’ eyes, and that our Grandmas think we’re great talents and our Uncle Roberts think that we will go to the Olympics, but sometimes it’s a lot harder to think such nice thoughts about ourselves. If you find that believing in yourself is a challenge, it is time you build a positive self-image and learn to love yourself.

　　Self-image is your own mind’s picture of yourself. This image includes the way you look, the way you act, the way you talk and the way you think. Interestingly, our self-images are often quite different from the images others hold about us. Unfortunately, most of these images are more negative than they should be. Thus changing the way you think about yourself is the key to changing your self-image and your whole world.

　　The best way to defeat a passive self-image is to step back and decide to stress your successes. That is, make a list if you need to, but write down all of the great things you do every day. Don’t allow doubts to occur in it.

　　It very well might be that you are experiencing a negative self-image because you can’t move past one flaw or weakness that you see about yourself. Well, roll up your sleeves and make a change of it as your primary task. If you think you’re silly because you aren’t good at math, find a tutor. If you think you’re weak because you can’t run a mile, get to the track and practice. If you think you’re dull because you don’t wear the latest trends, buy a few new clothes. But remember, just because you think it doesn’t mean it’s true.

　　The best way to get rid of a negative self-image is to realize that your image is far from objective, and to actively convince yourself of your positive qualities. Changing the way you think and working on those you need to improve will go a long way towards promoting a positive self-image. When you can pat(拍) yourself on the back, you’ll know you’re well on your way. Good luck!

1.You need to build a positive self-image when you.

A．dare to challenge yourself

B．feel it hard to change yourself

C．are unconfident about yourself

D．have a high opinion of yourself

2.According to the passage, our self-images .

A．have positive effects                     B．are probably untrue

C．are often changeable                    D．have different functions

3.How should you change your self-image according to the passage?

A．To keep a different image of others.

B．To make your life successful.

C．To understand your own world.

D．To change the way you think.

4.What is the passage mainly about?

A．How to prepare for your success.

B．How to face challenges in your life.

C．How to build a positive self-image.

D．How to develop you good qualities.

5.Who are the intended readers of the passage?

A．Parents.           B．Adolescents.       C．Educators.         D．People in general.