英语 热门试卷

A

Finding time to enjoy life is becoming harder and harder. As the average workweek lengthens, leisure time drops. Yet some of the world’s busiest people are able to develop rewarding careers and also make time for family and leisure activities. Here is their best advice, plus that of time-management experts:

Use your peak hours wisely.

People tend to be most alert in late morning and midevening. Afternoon brings an increase in sleepiness. Use your high-efficiency hours to handle difficult jobs or engage in creative thinking. For low-efficiency times, concentrate on cleaning up or sorting your mail. By adapting to your mental condition, you can accomplish more in less time.

Make a plan.

Just 20 minutes of organizing can save an hour of extra effort remembering what must be done. “Don’t try to carry your life around in your head,” says Lucy Hedrick, author of Five Days to an Organized Life. “Write things down so you can free your brain for more inventive pursuit (追求).”

Discourage drop-ins.

The person who welcomes every visitor will get plenty of conversation but won’t accomplish much.

The trick is to develop harmless ways to protect yourself from minute-stealing interruptions. David E. Levy, a public-relations consultant (顾问), uses an alternative to the open-door policy by keeping his door half open. The message is clear: he really doesn’t want you to come in, but you can if it is important.

Tame (驯服) the telephone.

Few devices save more minutes—or waste so many more—than the telephone. Signal the end of your conversation with a phrase such as “Before we hang up…” You can save even more time by not taking every incoming call.

Keep a record of when people you call regularly are least busy and call them at those times. Even better, make appointments to call important contacts.

To help us gain an extra hour every day, a clockmaker in Dallas has created a timer measuring each minute at 57.6 seconds. The 2.5 seconds borrowed from each minute add up to an extra 60 minutes at the end of each day.

【语篇导读】本文是一篇说明文，属于生活类话题，文章讲述了如何在一天中节省出更多的时间。

B

We live in a judgment world where people are quick to point out the faults and imperfections of others yet seem unaware of their own. Some misguided souls believe they have a civil duty to help you to be a better person by telling you what a failure you really are first and then offering suggestions as to how you can improve.

So what is the solution to criticism ? If you are the one forcing others to feel ashamed of themselves, STOP. Make a conscious decision that rather than focus on the negative aspect of a person’s performance or attitudes, you’ll offer helpful suggestions from the get-go . If I’m  living room and making a mess in doing so , I would like my husband to say to me , “This  is a tough job. Can I offer a suggestion that might make it easier for you ? ” rather than having him point out what a sloppy painter I am and tell me how I should be doing it .

If you are on the receiving end of criticism , the “OK ” response is a perfect solution. What someone comments negatively on a task you are doing or a personality issue, a natural response is to defend and attack. However , this approach is rarely effective as it puts both parties on the defensive .  Instead , simply reply with “OK ” . This brief one-word response acknowledges the other person’s comment without agreeing with it or feeling necessary to engage in a debate about it .

It is important to remain emotionally attached to what the other person is saying , to listen without feeling, to be an objective observer. It is much that one can learn form a negative review . You can ask yourself : Did I make a mistake ?  Could I have done better? Did I give 100% of myself to the task at hand ? If so , how can I improve ? As for chronic (习惯性的) criticizers: It is important to set strict boundaries with them .  Remove yourself from their presence when necessary .

In any event, one can learn to be “OK ” with criticism and not allow it to negatively impact their life or relationship with the other party . Examine it for any potential truths , and them let it go and just be “OK ”.

【语篇导读】本文是一篇论说文，属于社会生活类话题，文章论说了面对批评：批评别人和接受别人的批评应采取什么措施。

C

Natalie Doan, 14, has always felt lucky to live in Rockaway, New York. Living just a few blocks from the beach, Natalie can see the ocean and hear the waves from her house. “It’s the ocean that makes Rockaway so special,” she says.

On October 29, 2012, that ocean turned fierce. That night, Hurricane Sandy attacked the East Coast, and Rockaway was hit especially hard. Fortunately, Natalie’s family escaped to Brooklyn shortly before the city’s bridge closed.

When they returned to Rockaway the next day, they found their neighborhood in ruins. Many of Natalie’s friends had lost their homes and were living far away. All around her, people were suffering, especially the elderly. Natalie’s school was so damaged that she had to temporarily attend a school in Brooklyn.

In the following few days, the men and women helping Rockaway recover inspired Natalie. Volunteers came with carloads of donated clothing and toys. Neighbors devoted their spare time to helping others rebuild. Teenagers climbed dozens of flights of stairs to deliver water and food to elderly people trapped in powerless high-rise buildings.

“My mom tells me that I can’t control what happens to me,” Natalie says. “but I can always choose how I deal with it.”

Natalie’s choice was to help.

She created a website page matching survivors in need with donors who wanted to help. Natalie posted information about a boy named Patrick, who lost his baseball card collection when his house burned down. Within days, Patrick’s collection was replaced.

In the coming months, her website page helped lots of kids: Christopher, who received a new basketball; Charlie, who got a new keyboard. Natalie also worked with other organizations to bring much-needed supplies to Rockaway. Her efforts made her a famous person. Last April, she was invited to the White House and honored as a Hurricane Sandy Champion of Change.

Today, the scars(创痕) of destruction are still seen in Rockaway, but hope is in the air. The streets are clear, and many homes have been rebuilt. “I can’t imagine living anywhere but Rockaway,” Natalie declares. “My neighborhood will be back, even stronger than before.”

【语篇导读】本文是一篇记叙文，属于社会生活助人为乐的话题，本文介绍了小女孩塔莉如何帮助家乡重建的故事，说明了在灾难面前，小人物也有大作为。

阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容或括号内单词的正确形式。

What defines a healthy city? Is it a place with a lot of open spaces   61   people can exercise and enjoy the fresh air? A place with little or no pollution? A place in which people can    62    (free) socialize and express their ideas? Perhaps, it’s all that plus more. Other considerations are the availability of health and fitness facilities, an excellent healthcare program and sincere efforts by   63   local government to actively promote health and wellness among its citizens. Of all the cities in the world, one of the top six   64  (healthy) cities is Copenhagen, Denmark. Copenhageners love to walk. Foot traffic accounts   65  80% of all traffic in the Copenhagen city center. Those who prefer can also bike. It is estimated that more than a third of all work trips in Copenhagen   66  (carry) out on a bike. As for the climate here, the city does not have the blessing of pleasant weather all year round.   67  everything starts to freeze, it turns several city squares into huge skating fields. The frozen parts of the city also make   68 easier for residents to skate around. The city also has museums and art galleries for the kids and   69  (grown-up). It has the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Art and the Royal Library housed in a rather grand building   70   (call) the Black Diamond.

【语篇导读】本文是一篇说明文，是属于社会生活类话题，文章讲述了什么是健康的城市。