Make Up Your Mind to Succeed

Kind-hearted parents have unknowingly left their children defenseless against failure. The generation born between 1980 and 2001 grew up playing sports where scores and performance were played down because “everyone’s winner.” And their report cards sounded more positive than ever before. As a result, Stanford University professor Carol Dweck, PhD, calls them “the overpraised generation. ”

Dweck has been studying how people deal with failure for 40 years. Her research has led her to find out two clearly different mind-sets that have a great effect on how we react to it. Here’s how they work:

A fixed mind-set is grounded in the belief that talent is genetic(遺傳的) – you’re a born artist, point guard, or numbers person. The fixed mind-set believes he’s sure to succeed without much effort and regards failure as personal shame. When things get difficult, he’s quick to blame, lie, and even stay away from future difficulties.

On the other hand, a growth mind-set believes that no talent is entirely heaven-sent and that effort and learning make everything possible. Because the ego (自尊) isn’t on the line as much, the growth mind-set sees failure as a chance rather than shame. When faced with a difficulty, he’s quick to rethink, change and try again. In fact, he enjoys this experience.

We are all born with growth mind-sets. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be able to live in the world. But parents, teachers, and instructors often push us into fixed mind-sets by encouraging certain actions and misdirecting praise. Dweck’s book, Mind-set: The New Psychology of Success, and online instructional program explain this in depth. But she says there are many little things you can start doing today to make sure that your children, grandchildren and even you are never defeated by failure.

1.What does the author think about the present generation?

A. They don’t do well at school.

B. They are often misunderstood.

C. They are eager to win in sports.

D. They are given too much praise.

2.A fixed mind-set person is probably one who ___ .

A. doesn’t want to work hard

B. cares a lot about personal safety

C. cannot share his ideas with others

D. can succeed with the help of teachers

3.What does the growth mind-set believe?

A. Admitting failure is shameful.

B. Talent comes with one’s birth.

C. Scores should be highly valued.

D. Getting over difficulties is enjoyable.

4.What should parents do for their children based on Dweck’s study?

A. Encourage them to learn from failures.

B. Prevent them from making mistakes.

C. Guide them in doing little things.

D. Help them grow with praise.

In the countries of South and Southeast Asia, the elephant has been an important part of the culture, economy and religion for centuries. And nowhere more so than in Thailand. Unlike its African cousin, the Asian elephant is easily domesticated（馴化）. The rare so-called white elephants have actually lent the power of royalty (皇室)to its rulers，and until the 1920s the national flag was a white elephant on a red background. To the early Western visitors, the country's romantic name was“ Land of the White Elephant".

Today, however, the story is very different. Out of work and out of land, the Thai elephant struggles for survival in a nation that no longer needs it. The elephant has found itself more or less deserted by previous owners who have moved on to a different economic world and a society in the western part. And while the elephant's problems began many years ago, now it has a very low national advantage.

How does the national symbol turn into ignored animals? It is a story of worse environment and the changing lives of the Thais themselves. According to Richard Lair, Thailand's expert on the Asian elephant and author of the report Gone Astray, at the turn of the last century, there may well have been as many as 100,000 national elephants in the country.

In the north of Thailand alone, it was estimated（估計）that more than 20,000 elephants were employed in transport, 1,000 of them alone on the road between the cities of Chiang Mai and Chiang Saen.

This was at a time when 90 percent of Thailand was still forest---a habitat that not only supported the animals but also made them necessary to carry goods and people. Nothing ploughs through thick forest better than lots of sure-footed elephants.

By 1950 the elephant population had dropped, but still to the number of 13, 397. However, today there are probably no more than 3,800, with another l,350 wandering free in the national parks. But now, Thailand's forest covers only 20 percent of the land. This deforestation（采伐森林）is the central point of the elephant's difficult situation, for it has effectively put the animals out of work. This century, as the road network grew, the elephant's role as a beast of burden decreased.

1.What can we know about African elephants from the passage?

A. It is of little value to domesticate them.

B. It is hard to domesticate them.

C. They are living a better life than Asian elephants.

D. Their fate is quite similar to that of Asian elephants.

2.Thailand was once called "Land of the White Elephant" because ________.

A. white elephant was a national symbol until the 1920s

B. white elephant is rarely seen and thus very special

C. white elephant has helped kings to gain the ruling authority

D. this name was so romantic that it was popular among visitors

3.Why is the Thai elephant "out of work", according to the author?

A. Because there are too many elephants but too few jobs.

B. Because the elephants can't do labor work any longer.

C. Because the government pays little attention to the problem.

D. Because the elephants are no longer useful to their owners.

4.The passage is most probably from ________.

A. a travel guide

B. a history book

C. a popular science magazine

D. an official announcement

For many centuries，countless scholars have asked the question：What is beauty? As designers update the latest fashions and artists create their masterpieces, what is considered beautiful changes at an alarming pace. Fifty years ago, the full-figured American actress Marilyn Monroe was a symbol of the American aesthetic(美學的)value；today, many Hollywood actresses different in appearance from Marilyn’s have taken her place. However，aesthetic values not only differ from generation to generation，but do so along cultural lines as well. Often, what is considered hating one civilization is just the aesthetic appeal in another. Thus it is difficult to give an absolute definition(定義)of beauty.

As fundamental(基礎的)physicists，my colleagues and I like to believe that we are involved in a search for a beauty that affects definition. The beauty that we search for is not what is set up through the work of people and subject to the tastes, but rather what has been laid down by nature Physics allows its students to look past outer appearances，into a deeper beauty. As a human being, I am attracted by the visual appeal of a wave crashing on the beach. As a physicist, however I am able to see the deeper beauty of the physical laws that govern such a phenomenon.

In truth，since Albert Einstein put forward the idea that there might be one main physical theory that governs the universe，aesthetics have become a driving force in modern physics. Einstein and other later physicists have discovered that：Nature, as its most fundamental level，is beautifully constructed. The extraordinary simplicity (樸素)of the laws that govern the universe is really breathtaking. As Einstein said, it would seem more likely that we should find ourselves living in a “chaotic (無秩序曲)world，in no way graspable（能理解的） through thinking”. Yet we are now closer than ever to a full understanding of the universe’s beautiful clockwork. As new discoveries and technologies allow us to examine the physical world on deeper and deeper levels，we find that the beauty itself becomes much deeper.

1.The reference to “Marilyn Monroe” in Paragraph 2 mainly serves to___________.

A. provide an example of today’s beauty standards

B. show there is no fixed definition of aesthetics

C. compare traditions of the East to the West

D. discuss her abilities as an actress

2.When appreciating a wave crashing on the beach，a physicist sees the beauty of_____.

A. the visual attraction

B. the powerful sounds

C. the physical laws behind

D. the lovely creatures

3.Why are Albert Einstein’s words mentioned in Paragraph 3?

A. To detail the functions of physical laws.

B. To highlight the range of Einstein’s influence.

C. To show that Einstein doubted the beauty of physics.

D. To stress the very simplicity of the laws of the universe.

4.The passage is mainly to___________.

A. present a special way of seeing beauty

B. emphasize the influence of physics

C. discuss the awareness of cross-culture

D. argue the traditional ideas on value

根據(jù)所提供語境，用方框中所給短語的適當形式填空。（每題1分，共15分）

1.The Red Army _______ from the south of China to the northwest with great difficulties, which is called the Long March.

2.He _________ Chairman of the Students’ Union in our school last week.

3.An astronaut will _______ leave the stationary spaceship and then return to it.

4.A film star will come to our town ______ next week.

5.At the meeting, all the members ______ the plan to build a power plant in their hometown to meet the demand of local people. .

6.If left untreated, the condition will eventually ______ blindness.

7.Do these paintings of traditional style__________ you?

8.– Mr. Smith , I’ve got an ache in my leg.

-- _________. Let me have a look.

9.Among all the English poems, I enjoy those written by Shakespear __________.

10.The project had to be abandoned_______ lack of funding from the government.

11.The girl ______ a scream when a dog suddenly passed by her.

12.Teaching methods ______ teacher______ teacher.

13.Do you ___ sharing your experience of giving first aid with the rest of your group?

14.He ________ the habit of taking drugs, which would worry his parents.

15.Many old men _________ cutting down the 100-year-old tree for rebuilding the shopping center.

With the help of Gloria ,his wife ,Tom Peterson worked for many years to build a solid business selling television sets, stereo systems, and home appliances. Tom developed an excellent with their full satisfaction guarantee and friendly service. He was proud of his high percentage (百分率)of repeat .

About five years ago, Tom was by the owners of a competing company, Stereo Super Stores. They wanted him to them out. The price was very attractive. Everything looked good. Before making his final ,Tom asked Gloria what she thought about the purchase(購買). She told him that the numbers looked good, it didn't feel to her. However, Tom was so self-confident and so convinced that this was a rare , he went ahead and it. Within months he discovered that he had made a big . He had paid too much for a company. He tried as hard as he could to make it work out, but he couldn't turn things . He was forced into bankruptcy(破產(chǎn)). He was about to lose everything, including his business.

Tom was embarrassed, but he is a survivor. He looked at his situation. He decided to admit his mistake and, rather than getting stuck in lawsuits(訴訟), he would focus his on saving and rebuilding his original business. He saw also that he had made a mistake by not listening to his , and that he needed to learn from this .He dealt with the crisis(危機) in a way that delighted people, who in turn respect for him. Old customers poured into his store. He and Gloria _to changes in retailing(零售) and have built an even better business than before.

In the business world, it is natural to gain and lose, of Peterson’s experience is an example. Only those who regard their mistakes as gifts and learn from them attract endless profits.

1.A. produceB. fameC. causeD. home

2.A. customersB. assistantsC. friendsD. visitors

3.A. appointedB. approvedC. approachedD. appreciated

4.A. sellB. payC. buyD. check

5.A.decisionB. choiceC. determinationD. judgement

6.A.as thoughB. now thatC. even thoughD. in case

7.A.terribleB. fairC. rightD. attractive

8.A.possibilityB. occasionC. eventD. opportunity

9.A. protectB. madeC. returnD. exchange

10.A.differenceB. discoveryC. commitmentD. mistake

11.A.dyingB. controversialC. casualD. tiring

12.A. inB. aroundC. downD. up

13.A .originalB. variousC. specialD. precious

14.A.quietlyB. loudlyC. openlyD. secretly

15.A. beliefsB. spiritsC. attemptsD. energies

16.A. producerB. wifeC. relativeD. adviser

17.A. experienceB. progressC. processD. history

18.A. wonB. showedC. achievedD. earned

19.A.belongedB. adaptedC. adoptedD. appealed

20.A. themB. whatC. thatD. which

As children，loving our parents is an important part of life. It is our parents who create us, 1. (撫養(yǎng)) us, make us who we are and keep a roof over our heads in all kinds of weather.

Here are some ways to love our parents. Firstly, tell them we love them every day. A gentle“I love you”will w 2. a coldest heart. Parents brought us into this world. 3. them，we might still wander at an unknown corner of an unknown world. Then，show 4. (尊敬)to them and don’t get angry easily because anger helps 5. us nor our parents. Instead，keep c 6. and sometimes share our feelings with them. Besides, obey their requests, 7. will make our attitudes better. What’s more，understand that parents should be f 8. when they make mistakes . We should also keep company with them as much as p 9. . Learn from them by listening to their stories as parents are one of the 10. (資源) of our growth and even our teachers in one way or another.

高中生面臨沉重的學習壓力. 因此，很多同學課間休息時間也坐在教室里學習，但效果并不理想。就此，班主任準備開一次班會課，以勸誡這些同學：適當?shù)男菹⒑苡斜匾��，F(xiàn)請你以“The Ten-minute Break Between Classes”為題，按以下要求寫一篇英語短文，讓這些同學從中受到啟發(fā)。要點如下：

1.請簡要描述現(xiàn)象：很多同學在課間休息時間也坐在教室里學習，但學習效果并不理想；

2.十分鐘的課間休息很有必要；

3.你是如何利用這十分鐘休息時間的。

注意：詞數(shù)120詞左右，開頭已給出，不計入總詞數(shù)。

The Ten-minute Break Between Classes

Time seems to be so limited for us senior high school students….

After doing series of exercises, he finally passed driving test.

A. /；the B. a；the C. the；a D. /；a

Many Chinese students speak English with a strong Chinese ,but foreigners can understand what they say.

A. noise B. voice C. accent D. Sound

Only when you study abroad the importance of English.

A. can you realize B. you can realize

C. did you realize D. had you realized