The Power of a Parent

Tom is a young man being raised on the poor streets of Los Angles by his father, Frank Smith. He becomes friends with his neighbors Ricky and Doughboy. The three young men take different paths in life, due in large part to the parenting they receive.

Tom is the only one of the three with a father to guide him. He sometimes hates his father's discipline, but Frank explains that he is trying to teach Tom how to be responsible. He does not want him to be like his little friends across the street. Frank also fills Tom's mind and heart with messages about how to be a leader and how much he is loved. Tom becomes a strong young man who is able to resist the bad influence around him.

Ricky receives words of support and love from his mother, which helps raise his self-respect. He also looks to Frank and Tom for guidance and direction. Living in a single-parent family, he has never received this from his father. Doughboy. on the other hand.is told by his single mother from an early age that he will never achieve anything. Their mothers' words come true. The two boys grow up to be the type of person predicted by their mothers. Ricky becomes a star football player while Doughboy struggles aimlessly though life. The lesson from the story is clear: A parent's attitude towards his or her children can make all the difference.

A. True

B. False

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B. False

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A.True

B. False

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A.True

B. False

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A. True

B. False

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A. True

B. False

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A. True

B. False

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A. True

B. False

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A. True

B. False

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Doughboy becomes a successful person.

A. True

B. False

C. Not Given

Back, but Not Home

I was born in Cuba but came to the United States with my parents when I was almost five years old. We left behind grandparents, aunts and uncles. I grew up in a middle-class neighborhood in New York. All my friends were American. Outside of my family, Ido not know many Cubans. I often feel uneasy visiting relatives in Miami because it is such a different world. The way of life in the Cuban communities of Miami seems very strange to me. And 1 am criticized for being too "Americanized." Yet, although I am now an American citizen, whenever anyone asks me my nationality, 1 have always and firmly replied,"Cuban.."

When I try to review my life during the past 16 years, I almost feel as if I've walked into a theater right in the middle of a movie. And I'm afraid I won't fully understand or enjoy the rest of the movie unless I can see and understand the beginning. And for me, the beginning is Cuba. 1 don't want to go "home" again; the life and home we all left behind are long gone. My home is here and I am happy, But I need to talk to my family still in Cuba.

Like all immigrants, my family and I have had to build a new life from almost nothing. It was often difficult, but I believe the struggle made us strong. Most of my memories are good ones.

But I want to keep and renew my cultural tradition. I want to keep“a Cuban" within me alive. I want to make a visit to Cuba someday because the journey back will also mean a journey with my sol. Only then will I see the missing piece.

A. they feel uneasy with my strange behavior

B. I lead a middle class life while they are poor

C. they find that I am more American than Cuban

D. I have left behind my family members in Cuba

A. watch the movie about my family

B. have a clear idea about my nationality

C. reflect on my life experiences

D. truly understand my origin

A. return to live in Cuba

B. visit my relatives in Miami

C. get back to my home in New York

D. live in the Cuban communities in the US

A. makes us disappointed

B. gives us bad memories

C. makes us homesick

D. gives us confidence in life

A. the family left behind in Cuba

B. the Cuban cultural tradition

C. the journey back to Cuba

D. the Cuban immigrants

Reduce Differences in Dealing with People

➊What makes some people so easy to get along with and others so difficult? We think that conflict (冲突) in a relationship happens when the focus is on the differences, rather than on the similarities. Think of it as "United we stand, divided we can't stand each other."

❷So bringing down differences is important to dealing with people you cannot stand.Success in communication depends on finding common ground, and then trying to lead the communication toward a new outcome.

❸An important communication skill will help you get along with others: blending. "Blending" refers to behavior by which you reduce the difference between yourself and another person. This skill is not new, of course; it is part of normal human contact. In fact, you already use it, to some extent.

❹You can blend with people in many ways. You may blend by changing your facial expression or degree of body movement to mach that of the other person. You may also blend by trying to match the style and sped of he other person's speech. And you may even blend with people by matching their ideas.

❺When people feel you've listened to them and you understand them, that's the result of blending it's natural 1o blend with people you like or with people you share a goal with. It's also natural not to blend with difficult people, but the result is serious. Without blending, the differences between you become the basis for conflict.

Task 1

16. Paragraph ➊:

17. Paragraph ❷:

18. Paragraph ❸:

19. Paragraph ❹:

20. Paragraph ❺:

A. Results of blending and not blending

B. New outcome after blending

C. Different ways of blending

D. Definition of blending

E. Reducing differences

F. Reason for conflicts

Task 2

21. People cannot stand each other when they().

22. Successful communication is based on().

23. The skill of blending is often used in().

24. When blending with others, people can choose to().

25. If you do not blend with others, you may().

A. similar conflicts

B. human relations

C. focus on the differences

D. suffer bad consequences

E. the seeking of common ground

F. match the speech style of others

Water: How Much Should You Drink Each Day?

How much water should you drink each day?_ 26 Studies have produced different recommendations over the years. Although no single formula (配方) fits everyone, knowing more about your body's need for fluids will help you estimate how much water to drink each day.

Water is your body's main chemical element._ 27Every system in your body depends on water. For example, water carries nutrients (营养成份) to your cells, and provides a good environment for ear, nose and throat. Lack of water can lead to serious problems.

Every day you lose water. For your body to work properly, you must meet its water needs. So how much fluid does the average, healthy adult living in a moderate climate need? Studies show an adequate intake (摄入) for men is about 13 cups a day._ 28

Everyone has heard the advice, "Drink eight glasses of water day."_ 29 However, it remains popular because it's easy to remember. Just keep in mind that the rule should be changed to:“Drink eight gasses of fluid a day," because all fluids add up to the daily total.

You don't need to rely only on what you drink to meet your fluid needs._ 30 On average, food provides about 20 percent of total water intake. But water is still your best choice since it is inexpensive and is everywhere.

A. For women, it is about nine cups.

B. What you eat also provides fluid.

C. This rule isn't supported by hard evidence.

D. It's a simple question with no easy answers.

E. You must limit your fluid intake on this occasion.

F. It makes up about 60 percent of your body weight.

Phoenicians (腓尼基人)

The Phoenicians were a water-loving people. Their ships were_ 31 , compared with many lifeboats on modern ships. Yet they could_ 32 out into the open sea.

The Phoenician ships_ 33 wood, wine and tin to Egypt. In return, the Phoenicians got gold and fine handicrafts (手工艺品). They traded these products to other _34 for glasswork and spices (香料). And with each trade, the Phoenicians made a_ 35

But the Phoenicians'_ 36 contribution was their alphabet (字母). They used a different symbol for each sound, rather than for each word. So instead of_ 37 hundreds of symbols, the Phoenician alphabet had_ 38 twenty-two. The Phoenicians took their simpler_ 39 of writing to other lands. Most of today's alphabets are_ 40 on the Phoenician idea of using a litter for each sound or group of sounds. Although the Phoenicians are gone, their contribution lasts.

A. greatest

B. based

C. sail

D. profit

E. carried

F. peoples

G. small

H. clearly

I. having

J. working

K. way

L. only