A popular saying goes, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” However, that’s not really true. Words have the power to build us up or tear us down. It doesn’t matter if the words come from someone else or ourselves --- the positive and negative effects are just as lasting.

We all talk to ourselves sometimes. We’re usually too embarrassed to admit it, though. In fact, we really shouldn’t be because more and more experts believe talking to ourselves out loud is a healthy habit.

This “self-talk” helps us motivate ourselves, remember things, solve problems, and calm ourselves down. Be aware, though, that as much as 77% of self-talk tends to be negative. So in order to stay positive, we should only speak words of encouragement to ourselves. We should also be quick to give ourselves a pat on the back. The next time you finish a project, do well in a test, or finally clean your room, join me in saying “Good job!”

Often, words come out of our mouths without us thinking about the effect they will have. But we should be aware that our words cause certain responses in others. For example, when returning an item to a store, we might use warm, friendly language during the exchange. And the clear will probably respond in a similar manner. Or harsh（刻薄的）and critical language will most likely cause the clerk to be defensive.

Words possess power because of their lasting effect. Many of us regret something we once said. And we remember unkind words said to us! Before speaking, we should always ask ourselves: Is it loving? Is it needed? If what we want to say doesn’t pass this test, then it’s better left unsaid.

Words possess power: both positive and negative. Those around us receive encouragement when we speak positively. We can offer hope, build self-esteem（自尊）and motivate others to do their best. Negative words destroy all those things. Will we use our words to hurt or to heal? The choice is ours.

60．The main idea of the first paragraph is that______.

A. words have a lasting effect on us　 B. inspiring words give us confidence

C. negative words may let us down　 D. not sticks and stones but words will hurt us

61．There is no sense for us to feel embarrassed when we talk to ourselves because _____.

　　　 A. almost everybody has the habit of talking to themselves

　　　 B. talking to ourselves always gives us courage

　　　 C. we can benefit from talking to ourselves

　　　 D. it does no harm to have “self-talk” when we are alone

62．The underlined part in the third paragraph means that we should also timely ______.

　　 A. remind ourselves　 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. praise ourselves

　　　 C. make ourselves relaxed　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. give ourselves amusement

63．The author would probably hold the view that ______.

　　　 A. encouraging words are sure to lead to kind offers

　　　 B. negative words may stimulate us to make more progress

　　　 C. people tend to remember friendly words

　　　 D. it is better to think twice before talking to others

Small moments sometimes last a very long time. And a few words—though they mean    1   at the time to the people who say them—can have great power.

    I recently heard a story from Malcolm Dalkoff, who has been a professional   2 for the last twenty-four years, mostly in advertising.

    As a boy, Dalkoff was terribly shy and     3   . He had few friends and no self-confidence. Then one day, his high-school English teacher, Ruth Brauch, asked the class to write their own chapter that would    4     the last chapter of the novel since they had been reading To Kill a Mockingbird. Dalkoff wrote his chapter and turned it in. Today he cannot recall anything special about the chapter he wrote, or what    5   Mrs. Brauch gave him.   6    , what he does remember is the four words in the paper: “This is good writing.” Four words. They 7   his life.

    “Until I read those words, I had no idea of who I was or what I was or what I was going to be,” he said, “After reading her    8    ,I went home and wrote a short story,    9   I had always dreamed of doing but never believed I could do.”

     Over the rest of that year in school, he wrote many short stories and always brought them to Mrs. Brauch for instruction. “She was   10   , helping and honest. She was just what I needed,” Dalkoff said. 

1．A .much                                 B. little                      C. well                      D. ill

2．A. report                                                                B. designer                C. writer      D. teacher

3．A. weak                                 B. independent           C. troublesome          D. helpless

4．A. follow                               B. change                  C. connect                D. explain

5．A. help                                   B. encouragement      C. grade                    D. words

6．A. Therefore                          B. However               C. Meanwhile            D. Besides

7．A. improved                           B. developed              C. changed                D. enriched

8．A. chapter                              B. novel                    C. note                     D. explanation

9．A. everything                          B. something             C. nothing                 D. anything

10．A. encouraging                       B. careful                   C. strict                 D. effective

Pregnancy(妊娠) and childbirth kill more than 536,000 women a year. More than half of the cases happened in Africa, according to the World Health Organization. In fact, most of the deaths are preventable with basic medical care.

The five leading causes are bleeding, infection, high blood pressure, long­time labor and bad abortions (流产). Mothers' deaths from such causes were largely reduced nearly a century ago in developed countries.

Experts say that what kill many women are “the three delays”— the woman's delay in deciding to go to the hospital, the time she loses traveling there and the hospital's delay in starting treatment. Only about 15 percent of births have dangerous complications(并发症)．

Women lack education and information about birth control. Husbands and in­laws, may decide where a woman gives birth and insist that she stay at home to save money. However, there is no single solution to a problem with so many factors—shortages of doctors, nurses, drugs, equipment, roads and transportation—though hospital officials are trying many things now.

One stopgap measure to solve the problem for the present has been to train assistant medical officers, to perform certain operations. Some African countries are now struggling to train more assistants and midwives (接生婆) , and provide places for pregnant women to stay near hospitals.

But there is a long way to go. Only 20 percent of women in the continent give birth at the hospital. More than 50 percent stay at home to give birth, and the rest go to local clinics that cannot handle emergencies.

1.Which is not included in the five leading causes of women's deaths during pregnancy and childbirth?

A. Infection.                               B. High blood pressure.

C. Traveling long distances.                D. Bleeding.

2.The underlined word “stopgap” probably means “________ ”in the passage.

A. final            B. temporary            C. effective        D. instant

3.What can we learn from this passage?

A. The governments of African countries have to take more effective measures to save pregnant women.

B. Developed countries should help African countries reduce mothers'deaths.

C. The husbands in poor countries should take responsibility for their wives'deaths.

D. Most problems that cause women's deaths during pregnancy and childbirth can be treated or prevented.

4.What is the author's attitude towards the future of preventing women's deaths during pregnancy and childbirth?

A. Positive.        B. Negative.            C. Objective.           D. Subjective.