One Bite at a Time

One summer day when I was heading for the teaching building, I met Philip, one of my colleagues ( 同 事 ), who worked in the same office with me. Beside him stood another young man. Philip introduced me to the young man, named Stephen. He told me that Stephen would take one of my classes Introduction to American History. Stephen asked if my class was going to be hard. I felt he was worried about failing before the opening day of classes. We talked about what the class would cover and I saw Stephen’s eyes getting big with fear.

Then I remembered a classical dialogue: Question: “How do you eat an elephant?” Answer: “One bite at a time.”

I told him to deal with his work that way — to do all his assignment (作业) and to hand them in on time. I added that most successful students I knew made a timetable in order to plan their study well.

As time went on, I learned more of Stephen’s story. He had difficulty in study when he was in the middle school. Family members, including his mother, kept telling him that he was a failure. He told me that before coming to our college no one had believed he had much potential (潜力).

Stephen didn’t become an “A” student. Still, he managed to pass most of his courses by being in class every day, turning in all of his assignment on time and breaking down his studying into bite-sized parts. By passing course after course he began to build up bit of self-respect.

Every time I saw him, he would brighten up and say, “One bite at a time.” He told his friends that he was succeeding when he was supposed to be failing. His secret, he said, was that he was practising what I taught him before classes ever started: “Take it one bite at a time.”

1.What is the relationship between the writer and Stephen?

A.Father and son. B.Teacher and student.

C.Classmates. D.Colleagues.

2.To plan their study well, most successful students .

A.made a timetable B.chose many courses

C.asked teachers questions D.took notes carefully

3.Stephen’s story mainly tells us that .

A.it is hard to pass courses in college B.we all need good luck to make a success

C.bad things can turn out to be good sometimes D.taking one bite at a time can help students succeed

Answer the questions(根据短文内容回答下列问题):

Electives(选修课) are always popular with students because they offer the chance to learn something exciting, and they’re a welcome break from regular courses like maths and physics. Here are just a few of the exciting electives lucky teenagers can take in some of China’s middle schools.

Self-defense skills

A school from Chongqing

The school offers a self-defense course — just for girls. Those who attend the lessons have the chance to study basic self-protection skills in a one-on-one practice. They learn how to get away when they need to and defend themselves against attacks. “I feel safer in myself now,” said Zhang Yi, 15, a girl student.

Pottery

A school from Tianjin

The famous pottery scene in a movie called Ghost is a lasting memory for many movie-goers. Young artists at the school love to get their hands dirty creating beautiful pieces. Students learn how to design and make various clay projects. At the end, they have the skills to make their own clay bowls, cups, vases and pots.

Horse riding

A school from Beijing

Equestrians(马术) can look pretty cool, can’t they? Teenagers at this school can now choose a course in riding skills. They’re taught to communicate with their horses and how to use reins. To ride a horse in the proper way, a student must hold the head forward and keep his back straight. Students come away from this elective not only knowing how to ride a horse gracefully, but also physically fitter!

Couplets

A school from Nanjing

How many of you can write a couplet? This old literary(文学的) form is slowly disappearing, but Chinese culture lovers at the school are trying to make it alive. For their elective, teenagers study old couplets and try to rhyme(押韵) their own lines. Many of this year’s students can’t wait for the Spring Festival, when they’ll be able to show off their new skills.

1.Maths and physics are electives in middle schools of China, aren’t they?

___________________________________________

2.How many electives in Chinese middle schools are introduced in the article?

___________________________________________

3.Which elective course is especially designed for girl students?

____________________________________________

4.What kind of art works can students have at the end of the elective “Pottery”?

_____________________________________________

5.What are the common advantages of “Self-defense skills” and “horse riding”?

Both of the electives enable students _____________________________________.

6.Whom will the elective “Couplets” probably attract? Why?

______________________________________________

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