题目内容
inspiring
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Like many of my generation, I have a weakness for hero worship. At some point, however, we all begin to question our heroes and our need for them. This leads us to ask: What is a hero?
Despite immense differences in cultures, heroes around the world generally share a number of characteristics that instruct and inspire people.
A hero does something worth talking about. A hero has a story of adventure to tell and community who will listen. But a hero goes beyond mere fame.
Heroes serve powers or principles larger than themselves. Like high-voltage transformers, heroes take the energy of higher powers and step it down so that it can be used by ordinary people.
The hero lives a life worthy of imitation. Those who imitate a genuine hero experience life with new depth, enthusiasm, and meaning. A sure test for would-be heroes is what or whom do they serve? What are they willing to live and die for? If the answer or evidence suggests they serve only their own fame, they may be famous persons but not heroes. Madonna and Michael Jackson are famous, but who would claim that their fans find life more abundant?
Heroes are catalysts (催化剂) for change. They have a vision from the mountaintop. They have the skill and the charm to move the masses. They create new possibilities. Without Gandhi, India might still be part of the British Empire. Without Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, Jr., we might still have segregated (隔离的) buses, restaurants, and parks. It may be possible for large-scale change to occur without leaders with magnetic personalities, but the pace of change would be slow, the vision uncertain, and the committee meetings endless.
【小题1】Although heroes may come from different cultures, they __________.
| A.generally possess certain inspiring characteristics |
| B.probably share some weaknesses of ordinary people |
| C.are often influenced by previous generations |
| D.all unknowingly attract a large number of fans |
| A.they have a vision from the mountaintop |
| B.they have warm feelings and emotions |
| C.they can serve as concrete examples of noble principles |
| D.they can make people feel stronger and more confident |
| A.they are popular only among certain groups of people |
| B.their performances do not improve their fans morally |
| C.their primary concern is their own financial interests |
| D.they are not clear about the principles they should follow |
| A.be delayed without leaders with inspiring personal qualities |
| B.not happen without heroes making the necessary sacrifices |
| C.take place if there were heroes to lead the people |
| D.produce leaders with attractive personalities |
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’s 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 alsobe 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.
【小题1】The main idea of the first paragraph is that ________.
| A.not sticks and stones but words will hurt us |
| B.inspiring words give us confidence |
| C.negative words may let us down |
| D.words have a lasting effect on us |
| A.almost everybody has the habit of talking to themselves |
| B.we can benefit from talking to ourselves |
| C.talking to ourselves always gives us courage |
| D.it does no harm to have “self-talk” when we are alone |
| A.praise ourselves | B.remind ourselves |
| C.make ourselves relaxed | D.give ourselves amusement |
| 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 |