Reading and Optional Choices 閱讀七選五

根據(jù)短文內(nèi)容，從短文后的選項中選出能填入空白處的最佳選項。選項中有兩項為多余選項。

1

In a world surrounded by bad news， it may feel like an unhappy place sometimes. 1

If you make even one person smile today， you can help make this world a better place. Here is a list of ideas to help you.

2 In this day and age where everything is sent via the Internet， its a shock to receive a letter through the post. Putting pen to paper and writing a few words to a friend can be an easy way to make a positive impact.

Requiring some time and research to find the perfect project， volunteering is one of the nicest things you can do. Whether you volunteer at your local youth group or take dogs from shelters for a walk， the simple fact is incredible. There are so many opportunities. 3

Tell someone “I love you”. It can be anyone. 4 Perhaps you can tell a friend that you appreciate all they are to you. Sometimes， in our busy lives we forget to take a moment to tell people what they mean to us.

5 Whether youre creative or not， taking time to make something for someone else shows how much you appreciate them. Even if you think youre not creative， the recipient will feel lucky to get such a unique gift that you put your precious time into. Some ideas could include a card， painting， drawing， song， poem or cake！

A. However， you can make a difference.

B. Its a surprise to send a handwritten letter.

C. And you dont even have to say “I love you”.

D. And it wont necessarily take up all your life.

E. So you are sure to find one that is right for you.

F. Making something for a special person is always unique.

G. Even a postcard with a couple of sentences could make someones day.

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2

What makes people successful？ Successful people have adopted certain values which have proved important for their success.

It is evident that successful people take initiative （主動性）. When they find something needs to be done， they never hesitate to do it.? They weigh immediately what has to be done and then do it with pleasure， thus strengthening their reputation.

Successful people do things with great enthusiasm， especially when they believe in what they are doing. They are motivated by their own satisfaction and the joy they get from doing their work.

They do not fear failure. Failures and disappointments in life are unavoidable.? Successful people pick themselves up after a fall， try again with more determination and commitment and learn from each failure. They associate with those they can learn from and enjoy the company of those appreciating their achievement.

Having a good IQ often gets a person what he wants but its really the EQ that keeps him there and helps him enjoy a high reputation.? By giving respect to others， they command respect for themselves.

Its better to praise others and win favor with them. So instead of complaining about a situation， successful people always try to solve it.

A. Successful people never complain.

B. Successful people seldom make excuses.

C. They work hard even when no one is watching.

D. They believe that responsibility is taken， not given.

E. Its failure that teaches us much more than success.

F. Its hard to be successful if you dont trust the people around you.

G. Successful people are polite to everyone and treat others with respect.

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3

The Benefits of Keeping a Journal

If you want to grow， one important thing you should do is to keep a journal. It may seem simple， but it can make a big difference in your life. Writing all the lessons I learn and all the ideas I get has become a habit for me.? Here are some benefits you will get by keeping a journal.

◆ It prevents you from losing an idea. Have you ever gotten an idea only to lose it later because you didnt write it down？? But then I developed the habit of writing down every idea that came into my mind as soon as possible.

◆ It helps you review all the lessons youve learned. By reviewing your journal， you can quickly see the lessons youve learned and the ideas youve gotten.? You can use the ideas to propel （鞭策） yourself forward.

◆? After keeping a journal for years， you can look back at it and see how far youve gone. Things that were big problems in the past might seem small today. The raw ideas you had in the past might have been realized today.

◆ It helps you expand your ideas. When you try to come up with a sentence to express an idea， you are thinking actively about it.? In the end， you will expand your ideas.

A. I often experienced that myself.

B. It trains you to express your thoughts.

C. It allows you to see your progress over time.

D. Just use whatever ways you feel comfortable with.

E. Active thinking helps you connect your idea to another one.

F. And to be honest， I cant imagine what my life would be like without it.

G. Then you can do whatever necessary to avoid repeating the same mistakes.

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4

Lots of people find it hard to get up in the morning， and put the blame on the alarm clock. In fact， the key to easy morning wake-up lies in resting your body clock.? Here is how to make one.

●? In order to make a change， you need to decide why its important. Do you want to get up in time to have breakfast with your family， get in some exercise， or just be better prepared for your day？ Once you are clear about your reason， tell your family or roommates about the change you want to make.

● Rethink mornings. Now that you know why you want to wake up， consider re-arranging your morning activities. If you want time to have breakfast with your family， save some time the night before by setting out clothes， shoes， and bags.? Thats a quarter-hour more you could be sleeping if you bought a coffee maker with a timer.

● Keep your sleep/wake schedule on weekends. If youre tired out by Friday night， sleeping in on Saturday could sound wonderful. But compensating on weekends actually feeds into your sleepiness the following week， a recent study found.

● Keep a record and evaluate it weekly. Keep track of your efforts and write down how you feel. After youve tried a new method for a week， take a look at your record.? If not， take another look at other methods you could try.

A. Get a sleep specialist.

B. Find the right motivation.

C. A better plan for sleep can help.

D. And consider setting a second alarm.

E. If the steps you take are working， keep it up.

F. Stick to your set bedtime and wake-up time， no matter the day.

G. Reconsider the 15 minutes you spend in line at the cafe to get coffee.

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5

Finding your dream job can be difficult. This month， the search will become even harder as new graduates start looking for work.

Dont be disappointed.? Consider using these three methods to find and get your dream job.

The Front Door

These include checking company websites and employment services. Since lots of people use the front door， make yourself stand out. This means understanding what a company really needs and showing you can meet their requirements.? Find out who is doing the hiring， and try to give them your resume （簡歷） in person. Then follow up with a phone call， letter or visit.

The Back Door

A back-door job search means finding a job through people you know. The back door can help you avoid the crowd of job applicants using the front door.? What if you dont have any connections at your dream company？ Apply for an internship （實習(xí)職位）.

The Invisible Door

If youre still not getting hired， you might be running into an invisible door. Invisible doors are things companies want from new employees but dont list as job requirements. Many companies have special company cultures. Others are looking for people with very specific skills.

Its not always easy to find a good job. But with a little work， a door will open！

A. Create your own back door.

B. It is convenient to use the front door.

C. Read about each company you apply to.

D. This type of job search uses traditional ways of getting hired.

E. If you arent showing you are a perfect fit， you wont get hired.

F. There are still jobs out there for those who know what to look for.

G. But you still need to work hard to show you are the best option for the job.

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6

Why Dogs Chase Their Tails

It might look like a strange activity to humans， but tail-chasing is a way for dogs to burn off some energy. In most cases， theyre doing this for one of two reasons： 1

If a dog doesnt have anything （or anyone） to play with， it might need to entertain itself—in this case， by playing with its tail. On the other hand， the behavior could be a warning sign that your dog is becoming anxious or stressed. “We call these displacement （替代） behaviors， similar to a human playing with their hair or tapping their foot，” says Hartstein. “ 2 ”

One reason tail-chasing can be a must-do for dogs is that they start playing with their tails as playful puppies learning about their bodies. 3 “The dog then learns it can get attention from its owners when it does that，” says Hartstein.

4 But if your pet is doing it every day or it seems to become an obsession （強(qiáng)迫）， youd better watch out. Make sure its basic needs are being met， including exercise and socialization.

A visit to the vet is also a good idea. If the tail-chasing started suddenly， your dog might be reacting to a medical issue， like cognitive disorder， or tapeworm （絳蟲）， says Hartstein. 5 With some treatment and extra training， you and your dog will both be happier.

A. They are happy and content.

B. Theyre bored or theyre stressed.

C. The sooner you get a medical checkup， the better.

D. They gradually get into the habit of chasing tails.

E. Owners often laugh at the activity and talk about it.

F. They seek to do things that can comfort themselves.

G. Its normal for dogs to chase their own tails occasionally.

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7

Yes， you can definitely blame winter clothes for your overstuff （塞得過滿） suitcase. After all， warm clothing takes up a lot more room than summer T-shirts and shorts. To make matters worse， youve got to pack for overheated restaurants and freezing outdoor conditions. 1 Here are some winter-packing mistakes we learned the hard way， and tips you need.

2

Your shoes face a big challenge in winter. They need to be： insulated， waterproof， and warm; provide great traction in case of ice; be able to withstand salt; and be comfortable to walk in. So， your sneakers arent going to cut it. Just remember to wear your heavier snow boots on the plane; otherwise， theyll take up half your suitcase space.

Packing the wrong materials.

3 It absorbs moisture and sweat， which will make you cold and keep you freezing. You can replace cotton with wool， as wool is naturally odor-resistant and breathable.

Leaving behind sunglasses.

Since youre not headed to the beach， you might forget to pack your sunglasses. The sun can shine brightly on freezing days too tough， so be able to pack yours. 4

Not bringing medicine.

Cold and flu cases rise during the winter， and while you definitely dont plan on getting sick while traveling， you should be prepared in case it does happen. Make sure youve packed medication for upset stomach， fever relief， body aches， and congestion. 5 Just get travel-sized versions of your go-to drugs.

A. But were here to help.

B. Choosing the right shoes.

C. Wearing the wrong shoes.

D. Cotton is a terrible choice for the winter.

E. Better be a pair which is easy to pack and hard to break.

F. You dont have to travel with the whole medicine chest though.

G. Also throw some sunscreen in there as you can get sunburned in winter.

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8

Sometimes willpower （意志力） is a lot like the television remote control—hard to find just when you want it most. Whether youre trying to lose weight， stop smoking， or get to the gym regularly， developing your sense of willpower is an important part of changing any behavior.? But there are ways to increase your willpower.

Dont try to change your economic situation， win a promotion and lose weight all on the same morning. Establish one clear， specific goal and make a realistic plan for achieving it. Extra willpower sometimes requires extra energy， so dont stretch yourself too thin.

Whatever your goal is， dont expect to achieve it overnight.? If you are trying to kick a caffeine habit， start by replacing your morning cup of coffee with a glass of water， instead of vowing （發(fā)誓） never to drink coffee again. Congratulate yourself on the small achievements that will pave the way toward a larger one. These successes help your willpower grow.

Ask friends， family or colleagues for assistance and tell them exactly how they can help. Find a support group or organization related to your goal and attend their meetings. You can get valuable advice， understanding and information.

If possible， change your environment to encourage positive behavior. Want to get in shape？ Keep an extra set of workout clothes in your office as a reminder to stop by the gym on the way home. Quit smoking？? Hard things can become easy as your willpower grows stronger.

A. Real success takes time.

B. Focus on one goal at a time.

C. Change your environment to change your life.

D. Improve your willpower by a support network.

E. Changing your behavior requires more than willpower.

F. Avoid bars or restaurants where you might be attracted to light up.

G. Breaking a bad habit or forming a new and healthy one can be difficult.

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9

How to Stay Fit and Beautifully Healthy

Find the time.

Experts recommend that you should aim to be active for at least 30 minutes per day. Try scheduling your exercise the same way that you schedule other appointments and commitments. Youll be more likely to stick to it.

You will see the most benefits from exercise if you do it regularly. One good way to make it a habit is to pick a form of exercise that you enjoy. For example， if you like swimming， make it a point to swim twice a week.

Go outdoors.

There are definitely some benefits to work out at a gym—air conditioning and televisions are a few.? The varied terrain （地形） of a road， sidewalk， or trail challenges your body， which will do you good.

Use your local parks.

If you like sports， you can also make use of the tennis courts or basketball courts.

Be social.

If you involve other people in your exercise routine， youll see a positive impact in your results. Finding a workout friend can help with responsibilities. If you schedule an activity with a friend， you are less likely to cancel than if you were only canceling on yourself. Group exercise classes also offer benefits.? They can also motivate you and correct your form to make sure that you are doing each move safely and effectively.

A. Make it a habit.

B. Do sports individually.

C. These movements will exercise your arms.

D. In classes， instructors can offer encouraging words.

E. Many parks will have great areas for running or walking.

F. But scientists report that exercising outdoors can have major benefits.

G. Exercise is one of the most important aspects in staying fit and healthy.

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