The life of an actor appears attractive and many young people dream about becoming one. But the truth is, it is very hard work. If you’re successful, there are deadlines to be met, appointments to keep and the press to deal with. If you’re not successful, then life is extremely tough.
I remember when I started out, I had to search the advertisement board at my drama school every day to look for acting jobs. Drama school was expensive and I needed extra cash to help pay the fees. I welcomed every small job. I played extras in many crowd scenes and became a confident participant in a lot of TV commercials for hair shampoo, soap and washing powder.
I had been working for about two years before I got my lucky break. One day, as I was passing the drama school, I decided to go in to check the notice board. There was nothing on it and I was just leaving when the secretary came along the corridor with a piece of paper. She asked me how I was and I told her life was hard and work was difficult to find. The next moment, she put the paper in my hand and walked away. My hands were shaking as I unfolded the paper, full of expectation. To my surprise, it was an audition (试演) for a clown（小丑）for the Canadian circus. I couldn’t stop myself from laughing. I had expected an audition with a famous director for a new film!
When I was at drama school, there had been a course in acrobatics and clown tricks. I had gained top marks in this course for originality and daring. Later I went to the audition feeling very strange. This was not what I’d had in mind when I enrolled in drama school. To my surprise, the job as a clown turned out to be exactly what I wanted. I loved every moment of getting dressed up and putting on the make-up. I had the opportunity to travel the world and I was more than an actor, I was an entertainer as well. I had visited over 32 different countries and entertained millions of people.
【小题1】The first paragraph is about how _______ it is to be an actor, whether you’re successful or not.

The life of an actor appears attractive and many young people dream about becoming one. But the truth is, it is very hard work. If you’re successful, there are deadlines to be met, appointments to keep and the press to deal with. If you’re not successful, then life is extremely tough.

I remember when I started out, I had to search the advertisement board at my drama school every day to look for acting jobs. Drama school was expensive and I needed extra cash to help pay the fees. I welcomed every small job. I played extras in many crowd scenes and became a confident participant in a lot of TV commercials for hair shampoo, soap and washing powder.

I had been working for about two years before I got my lucky break. One day, as I was passing the drama school, I decided to go in to check the notice board. There was nothing on it and I was just leaving when the secretary came along the corridor with a piece of paper. She asked me how I was and I told her life was hard and work was difficult to find. The next moment, she put the paper in my hand and walked away. My hands were shaking as I unfolded the paper, full of expectation. To my surprise, it was an audition (试演) for a clown（小丑）for the Canadian circus. I couldn’t stop myself from laughing. I had expected an audition with a famous director for a new film!

When I was at drama school, there had been a course in acrobatics and clown tricks. I had gained top marks in this course for originality and daring. Later I went to the audition feeling very strange. This was not what I’d had in mind when I enrolled in drama school. To my surprise, the job as a clown turned out to be exactly what I wanted. I loved every moment of getting dressed up and putting on the make-up. I had the opportunity to travel the world and I was more than an actor, I was an entertainer as well. I had visited over 32 different countries and entertained millions of people.

1.The first paragraph is about how _______ it is to be an actor, whether you’re successful or not.

A．easy             B．attractive          C．enjoyable         D．difficult

2.According to paragraph 3, the writer went into the drama school __________.

A．to look for a job

B．to see the secretary

C．to collect a piece of paper

D．to put a notice on the notice board

3.Which of the following can best describe the author’s feeling when he unfolded the paper?

A．Extremely frightened.                    B．Feeling anxious and excited.

C．Very worried.                          D．Trembling with fear.

4.From the whole passage, we can tell that the writer is ___________.

A．sad that he was not a famous actor

B．happy to travel the world

C．feeling very strange to be a clown

D．very content with his life

5.Which of the following would be the best title?

A．The Life of a TV Actor                    B．Acrobatics and Clown Tricks

C．More than an Actor                      D．Going to Drama School

D

School kids show talents for charity

Youngsters at Fulwood High School and Arts College in Preston will show their talents to raise money for sick children. It is putting on a wonderful show on Thursday November to support Derian House Children’s Hospice（安养院）near Chorley.

Pupils are planning a night to remember, with a wide range of acts from singers and dancers to a magician. Local band Vox Population, fronted by former pupil Laurence Holt, will be playing following their recent tour of Germany. The best part of the night will be a surprise act by a group of teachers.

Tickets are available from the school priced ￡1.50 for pupils and ￡2 for adults. The show starts at 7 pm.

Grants（补助金）aim to boost recycling

Children and community groups across Lancashire have been given help to recycle more. More than 40 schools, organizations and community groups have received Waste Action Grants.

Brinscall Primary School in Chorley has been awarded 500 pounds to provide money for its Infant Fruit Waste project. The money has been used to buy a Roly Pig composter that will turn fruit waste into compost（堆肥）.

Carole Lormer, from the school, said, “The children completely love the Roly Pigs. They have been feeding and turning them every day, using leftover fruit.”

For information visit www.globalrenewables.co.uk/wasteactiongrants or call 01172 642885.

Ready when you are

If you’re looking to bag that dream job, your basic maths and English skills need to be good. If you think your basic skills are a little out of practice, try taking Learnerdirect’s “Ready When You Are” challenge.

Hosted by Eamonn Holmes and Johnny Ball, it’s a fun and interactive quiz based on real life situations, which aims to help you decide where you might need to brush up on your basic skills. Log onto: www.learndirect.co.uk/ready

Good luck!

68.What information can we get from the first advertisement?

A. Laurence Holt is the main singer in the band.

B. Teachers will be surprised at the performance.

C. The show is held to celebrate students’ graduation.

D. Parents are expected to offer ￡2 to each pupil.

69.   How do the students in Brinscall Primary School recycle?

A. They feed pigs on the leftover fruit.

B. They turn waste fruit into fertilizer with a machine.

C. They awarded ￡500 to those who waste least at school.

D. They raised ￡500 for the Infant Fruit Waste project.

70.   “Ready when you are” is an advertisement for ________.

A. a good job.                 B. a skill learning course

C. an interactive quiz              D. an interesting website

My dream is to become an orthodontist, fly to new heights, and impact the world. Ever since the day I got braces(牙箍), I have thought about how __21__ it would be for me to become an orthodontist and make other __22__ like me have more beautiful smiles. The thought of helping other people overcome the fear of their __23__ or self-esteem became so real to me the day that I got my __24__ off two years later. After a long thought, I finally came to a(n) __25__ that I  wanted to do my senior exit project on orthodontics. I am in the __26__ of doing my project now and I cannot wait to see the wonderful __27__ that I’m going to achieve. In the long run, I know it will be a great __28__ to me down the road, opening doors to my __29__ path. Another goal in my life is to fly to new __30__ and go where no one else has __31__ to go before. I am a big leader at my school and I try to do new things that are __32__ in order to make things successful. I try to reach to the highest in order to make every event and idea __33__ “with a bang!” I also want to do things to __34__ the world somewhere down the road. After seeing friends go into __35__, I have thought about being a __36__ missionary(传教士) in a third world country for a couple of summers after I __37__ from the high school. I think it would be __38__ to impact the lives of powerless and torn people who need __39__ that seems unimaginable to them. I think __40__ more people reached out and conquered their dreams to help other people achieve theirs，this world would be a whole lot better of a place.

21. A. tiresome            B. occasional                C. cool                              D. fortunate

22. A. teens                 B. adults                     C. doctors                   D. patients

23. A. image                B. operation                 C. figure                     D. mouth

24. A. caps                  B. tools                       C. books                     D. braces

25. A. stop                  B. decision                  C. conclusion              D. end

26. A. end                   B. process                   C. beginning                D. trouble

27. A. scene                       B. occupation              C. start                              D. goals

28. A. advantage          B. honour                    C. chance                   D. pity

29. A. graduation                B. business                  C. career                     D. life

30. A. locations            B. heights                    C. interests                 D. events

31. A. hoped                B. expected                 C. needed                    D. dared

32. A. cared for           B. unheard of              C. put forward            D. thought of

33. A. turn out             B. move off                 C. go out                    D. die out

34. A. change              B. develop                   C. impact                    D. destroy

35. A. missions            B. difficulties               C. traps                      D. films

36. A. long­term          B. professional             C. short­term              D. part­time

37. A. attend                B. graduate                  C. dislike                     D. abandon

38. A. tiresome            B. harmful                   C. astonishing              D. remarkable

39. A. assistance          B. faith                              C. money                    D. laws

40. A. since                 B. unless                     C. although                  D. if

Work-life balance: Ways to restore harmony and reduce stress
Finding work-life balance in today’s frenetically paced world is no simple task.
Spend more time at work than at home, and you miss out on a rewarding personal life. Then again, when you face challenges in your personal life, such as caring for an aging parent or coping with marital problems, concentrating on your job can be difficult.
Whether the problem is too much focus on work or too little, when your work life and your personal life feel out of balance, stress — along with its harmful effects — is the result.
The good news is that you can take control of your work-life balance — and give yourself the time to do the things that are most important to you. The first step is to recognize how the world of work has changed. Then you can evaluate your relationship to work and apply some specific strategies for striking a healthier balance.
How work invades your personal life
There was a time when employees showed up for work Monday through Friday and worked eight- to nine-hour days. The boundaries between work and home were fairly clear then. But the world has changed and, unfortunately, the boundaries have blurred for many workers. Here’s why:
●Global economy. As more skilled workers enter the global labor market and companies outsource or move more jobs to reduce labor costs, people feel pressured to work longer and produce more just to protect their jobs.
●International business. Work continues around the world 24 hours a day for some people. If you work in an international organization, you might be on call around the clock for troubleshooting or consulting.
●Advanced communication technology. Many people now have the ability to work anywhere — from their home, from their car and even on vacation. And some managers expect this.
●Longer hours. Employers commonly ask employees to work longer hours than they’re scheduled. Often, overtime is mandatory. If you hope to move up the career ladder, you may find yourself regularly working more than 40 hours a week to achieve and exceed expectations.
●Changes in family roles. Today’s married worker is typically part of a dual-career couple, which makes it difficult to find time to meet commitments to family, friends and community.
Married to your work
It can be tempting to rack up the hours at work — especially if you’re trying to earn a promotion or some extra money for a child’s education or a dream vacation. For others, working more hours feels necessary in order to manage the workload.
But if you’re spending most of your time at work, your home life will likely pay the price. Consider the pros and cons of working extra hours on your work-life balance:
●Fatigue. Your ability to think and your eye-hand coordination decrease when you’re tired. This means you’re less productive and may make more mistakes. These mistakes can lead to injury or rework and negatively impact your professional reputation.
●Family. You may miss out on important events, such as your child’s first bike ride, your father’s 60th birthday or your high-school reunion. Missing out on important milestones may harm relationships with your loved ones.
●Friends. Trusted friends are a key part of your support system. But if you’re spending time at the office instead of with them, you’ll find it difficult to nurture those friendships.
●Expectations. If you regularly work extra hours, you may be given more responsibility. This could create a never-ending and increasing cycle, causing more concerns and challenges.
Sometimes working overtime is important. If you work for a company that requires mandatory overtime, you won’t be able to avoid it, but you can learn to manage it. Most importantly, say no when you’re too tired, when it’s affecting your health or when you have crucial family obligations.
Striking the best work-life balance
For most people, juggling the demands of career and personal life is an ongoing challenge. With so many demands on your time — from overtime to family obligations — it can feel difficult to strike this balance. The goal is to make time for the activities that are the most important to you.
Here are some ideas to help you find the balance that’s best for you:
●Learn to say no. Whether it’s a co-worker asking you to spearhead an extra project or your child’s teacher asking you to manage the class play, remember that it’s OK to respectfully say no. When you quit doing the things you only do out of guilt or a false sense of obligation, you’ll make more room in your life for the activities that are meaningful to you and bring you joy.
●Leave work at work. Make a conscious decision to separate work time from personal time. When with your family, for instance, turn off your cell phone and put away your laptop computer.
●Manage your time. Organize household tasks efficiently. Do one or two loads of laundry every day, rather than saving it all for your day off. A weekly family calendar of important dates and a daily list of to-dos will help you avoid deadline panic. If your employer offers a course in time management, sign up for it.
●Get enough sleep. There’s nothing as stressful and potentially dangerous as working when you’re sleep-deprived. Not only is your productivity affected, but also you can make costly mistakes. You may then have to work even more hours to make up for these mistakes.
●Communicate clearly. Limit time-consuming misunderstandings by communicating clearly and listening carefully. Take notes if necessary.
●Nurture yourself. Set aside time each day for an activity that you enjoy, such as walking, working out or listening to music.
●Set aside one night each week for recreation. Take the phone off the hook, power down the computer and turn off the TV. Discover activities you can do with your partner, family or friends, such as playing golf, fishing or canoeing. Making time for activities you enjoy will rejuvenate you.
Remember, striking a work-life balance isn’t a one-shot deal. Creating balance in your life is a continuous process. Balance doesn’t mean doing everything. Examine your priorities and set boundaries. Be firm in what you can and cannot do. Only you can restore harmony to your lifestyle

1. 1.

   What will happen if you’re spending most of your time at work?

   1. A.
      You might lose all your friends
   2. B.
      You will lose both health and wealth
   3. C.
      You perhaps be given more responsibility
   4. D.
      You may be misunderstood by your loved ones
2. 2.

   According to the passage, you’d better say no to mandatory overtime when ___________

   1. A.
      you get bored with the work
   2. B.
      you are not interested in the work
   3. C.
      you can’t get additional allowance
   4. D.
      you have crucial family obligations
3. 3.

   What does the underlined sentence mean?

   1. A.
      To do things people ask you to do can bring you a lot of joy
   2. B.
      You should do the things people ask you to do without feeling guilty
   3. C.
      You shouldn’t do the things people ask you to do if you don’t want to
   4. D.
      To do things for yourself is more meaningful than to do things for others
4. 4.

   What will not happen if you don’t get enough sleep?

   1. A.
      You can make costly mistakes
   2. B.
      You will have low productivity
   3. C.
      You will feel stressed while working
   4. D.
      You will have no sense of exhaustion
5. 5.

   What does the real balance mean according to the author?

   1. A.
      Being firm that working overtime will strike a work-life balance
   2. B.
      Examining priorities and deciding what is the most important to you
   3. C.
      Trying to carrying out everything you want to do whether you can do it or not
   4. D.
      Being cautious when saying no to somebody in a bid to maintain fine relationships