I ran into a stranger as he passed by, and I at once apologized to him. We were both very _36_, he stranger and I. Then we went    37  our way after saying good-bye.

But at home a   38  story is told. Later that day, when I 39  supper in the kitchen, my daughter suddenly stood behind me very   40 . When I turned back, I     41  knocked her down. “Don’t be in my   42   !” I shouted angrily. She walked away with her little heart     43 .On the kitchen floor later, I found some flowers by the door.

That night, while I lay     44  in bed, a voice in my deep heart said, “While 45  with a stranger, you are so polite, but with the children you love, you are so easily _46   .Why are there some flowers by the door? Those are the flowers she brought for you. She    47 them herself, pink, yellow and your favorite blue. She stood quietly in order to give you a    48 , and you never saw the         49  in her eyes.”

By this time, I felt very       50  and now my tears began to fall. I quietly went and knelt (跪下) by her __51__, “Wake up, little girl, wake up,” I said, “Are these the flowers you picked for me?” She smiled, “Yes, because I knew you’d like them, especially the  52_  .” I said, “Daughter, I’m sorry for the way I acted today; I       53  have shouted at you that way.”

She said, “Oh, Mom, that’s okay. I love you 54 .” I hugged her and said, “Daughter, I love you too, and I do like the flowers.”

Through this    55 , I realize what FAMILY means:

FAMILY="(F)ATHER" (A)ND (M)OTHER, (I) (L)OVE (Y)OU

Oh, boy, why are you just playing games all day? Can't you find something ______ doing at all?

A．practical　　　　   B．valuab1e          C．worth　　　　     D．positive

The term “multitasking” originally referred to a computer's ability to carry out several tasks at one time. For many people, multitasking has become a way of life and even a key to success. In fact, some excellent mental aerobic exercises (大脑训练) involve engaging the brain in two or more challenging activities at a time. Although checking e-mail while talking on a phone and reading the newspaper may be second nature for some people, many times multitasking can make us less productive, rather than more. And studies show that too much multitasking can lead to increased stress, anxiety and memory loss.

In order to multitask, the brain uses an area known as the prefrontal cortex (前额叶脑皮层). Brain scans of volunteers performing multiple tasks together show that as they shift from task to task, this front part of the brain actually takes a moment of rest between tasks. You may have experienced a prefrontal cortex “moment of rest” yourself if you've ever dialed (拨电话) a phone number and suddenly forgotten who you called when the line is answered. What probably occurred is that between the dialing and the answering, your mind shifted to another thought or task, and then took that “moment” to come back. Research has also shown that for many volunteers, job efficiency (效率) declines while multitasking, as compared to when they perform only one task at a time.

Multitasking is easiest when at least one of the tasks is habitual, or requires little thought. Most people don' t find it difficult to eat and read the newspaper at the same time. However, when two or more attention-requiring tasks are attempted at one time, people sometimes make mistakes.

We often don't remember things as well when we're trying to manage several details at the same time. Without mental focus, we may not pay enough attention to new information coming in, so it never makes it into our memory stores. That is one of the main reasons we forget people's names—even sometimes right after they have introduced themselves. Multitasking can also affect our relationships. If someone checks their e-mail while on the phone with a friend, they may come off as absent-minded or disinterested. It can also cause that person to miss or overlook key information being passed on to them.

1. Why are some mental aerobic exercises designed to engage people in multitasking?

A. To make them more productive.                 

B. To reduce their stress and anxiety.

C. To develop their communication Skills.         

D. To help them perform daily tasks more easily.

2. According to Paragraph 2, why may a person suddenly forget who he has called?

A. He may have his prefrontal cortex temporarily damaged.    

B. He is probably interrupted by another task.

C. He is probably not very familiar with the person he has called.    

D. He may need a rest between dialing and speaking.

3. People tend to make mistakes when       .

A. they perform several challenging tasks at a time 

B. new messages are processed one after another    

C. their relationships with others are affected       

D. the tasks require little thought

4. What is the main idea of the passage?

A. Multitasking has become a way of life.

B. Multitasking often leads to efficiency decline.

C. Multitasking exercises need to be improved.

D. Multitasking enables people to remember things better.[来源:Z#xx#k.Com]

----Tomorrow is a holiday. Why are you doing your homework?

-----I am doing these exercises now so that I won’t have _____ on Sunday.

When I walked into the house after school, the first thing I noticed was a box with items I recognized from my dad’s office.

“What are you doing at home?” I asked casually.

“Andrew, I was    31    today,” he answered quietly.

I was sure he was joking. “No, you weren’t. Why are you    32    at home?”

Then I noticed his    33    and realized he was telling me the truth. My father has always been a hard worker and prided himself on his career.    34    our family has been his joy, and I guess I have    35    his work for granted.

My father’s unemployment    36   many changes in our lives. For starters, he was at home all the time, which meant my bed had to be    37  , my room cleaned up, and my     38    done right after school. I would come home every day to find him at the computer     39    jobs. I began to notice how    40    he seemed, and how losing his job affected his self-esteem, though he tried to be    41   . For the first time, I    42   my dad as vulnerable (易受伤的). He asked my brother and me to    43    less. I gave up my pocket money,    44    it wasn’t much. I felt I was doing the right. I also found a part-time job.

After several difficult months of searching, my dad    45    to go in a totally different direction. He    46    that he never wanted to be laid off again, so he was going to start his own business. Day by day, I watched him    47    it, and I admired how much time and     48    he expended. I    49   knew he was a hard worker, but watching him in action really affected me.

Although this was one of the    50    experiences for our family, it taught me a lot about dealing with adversity (逆境), and will be my foundations for success.