Passage 1 Professor Bumble
Professor Bumble is not only absent-minded but short-sighted as well. /His mind is always busy with learned thoughts and he seldom notices what is going on around him./ On a fine day recently he went for a walk in the countryside. /But as always he read the book as he walked. /He hadn't gone far when he ran into a large cow and fell down./ He had lost his spectacles in the fall, and he thought he had stumbled over a fat lady. /"I beg your pardon, madam," he said politely before searching for his glasses./ As soon as he had put the glasses on，he realized his mistake./ Soon he was concentrating on his book again and paying no attention to anything else./ He had scarcely been walking for five minutes when he fell over again,/ losing both his book and his glasses. /This time he became very angry./ Seizing his umbrellas, he struck the "cow" in anger. /Then, after finding his glasses, he realized with horror that he had made a second mistake. /A large fat woman was running away from him in terror./
Passage 2 Teamwork Team
work is just as important in science/ as it is on the playing field or in the gym./ Scientific investigations are almost always carried out by teams of people working together./ Ideas are shared, experiments are designed, data are analyzed, /and results are evaluated and shared with other investigators./ Group work is necessary and is usually more productive than working alone./ Several times throughout the year you may be asked to work with one or more of your classmates. /Whatever the task your group is assigned, /a few rules need to be followed to ensure a productive and successful experience/ What comes first is to keep an open mind/because everyone's ideas deserve consideration /and each group member can make his or her own contribution./ Secondly, it makes a job easier to divide the group task among all group members./ Thirdly, always work together, take turns, and encourage each other by listening, clarifying and trusting one another. /Mutual support and trust often make a great difference.
passage 3 Mistakes Are Good Teachers
After the birth of my second child, I got a job at a restaurant. Having worked with an experienced waitress for a few days, I was allowed to wait tables on my own. When Saturday night came, I was luckily given the tables not far from the kitchen. However, I still felt a little hard to carry the heavy trays. So I moved slowly, minding every step. I remember how happy I was when I saw the tray standing next the tables. It looked different from the one I was trained on. It had nice handles which made it easier to move around. I was pleased with everything and began to believe I was a natural at this job. Then, an old man came to me and said that was his wife’s walker. I stood frozen as ice, but my face was on fire. Since then, I have learned to be more careful and not to be too sure of myself
Passage 4 Time Has the Powe
r to Change Attitude
Last week, my youngest son and I visited my father at his new home. My earliest memories of my father are of a tall, handsome, successful man devoted to his work and family but uncomfortable with his children. As a child I loved him; as a school girl and young adult, I feared him and felt bitter about him. On the first day of my visit, we did some shopping, ate on the street table, and laughed over my son’s funny facial expressions. Gone was my father’s critical air and strict rules. Who was this person I knew as my father, who seemed so friendly and interesting to be around? The next day, my dad pulled out his childhood pictures and told me quite a few stories about his own childhood. Although our times together became easier over the years, I never felt closet to him at that moment. After so many years, I’m at last seeing another side of my father
Passage 5 Experiences Speak
There are many different ways of seeing a town for the first time. One of them is to walk around it, guidebook in hand. Of course, we may study with our guidebooks the history and special developments of a town and get to know them. But then, if we take out time and stay in a town for a while, we may get to know it better. When we look it as a whole, we begin to have some questions, which even the best guidebooks do not answer. Why is the town just like this, this shape, this plan, this size? Here even the best guide-book fails us. We can’t find in it the information about how a town has developed to the present appearance. However, we may get some idea of what it used to look like by walking around the town. A personal visit to a town may help one better understand why it is attractive than just reading about it in a guidebook.
Passage 6 Representatives of Civilization: Pottery
Ancient people made clay pottery because they needed it for their survival. They used the pots they made for cooking, storing food, and carrying things from place to place. Pottery was so important to early cultures that scientists now study it to learn more about ancient civilizations. The more advanced the pottery in terms of decoration, materials, glazes and manufacture, the more advanced the culture itself. The artisan who makes pottery in North America today utilizes his or her skill and imagination to create items that are beautiful as well as al, transforming something ordinary into something special and unique. The potter uses one of the Earth's most basic materials, clay. Clay can be found almost anywhere. Good pottery clay must be free from all small stones and other hard materials that would make the potting process difficult. The most important tools potters use are their own hands; however, they also use wire loop tools, wooden modeling tools, plain wire, and sponges.
Passage 7 Words Can Make a Difference
On August 26, 1999, New York City was struck by a terrible rainstorm during the morning rush
hour that caused the streets to flood. Many people who were going to work were forced to go home. Some battled to call a taxi, get a bus or walk miles to get to work. I soon discovered most of the subway lines had stopped service. I finally found an operating line, but there were so many people that I couldn’t initially get to the platform. Finally, I got to my office, wet through, and exhausted. After an unenjoyably day, Garth, my Director, sent an e-mail to everyone: “Thanks to everyone who reported to work. It is always reassuring when employees show their devotion to their jobs. Thank you.” Garth’s email was short，but welcomed. It made me realize that even when times are tough, a few words can make a big difference.
Passage 8 Fairy Tales
Tales of the supernatural are common in all parts of Britain. In particular, there was a belief in fairies. Not all of these fairies are the friendly, people-loving sprites that appear in Disney films, and in some folktales they are cruel and cause much human suffering. This is true in the tales about the Changeling. These tell the story of a mother whose baby grows sick and pale and has changed so much that it is almost unrecognizable to the parents. It was then feared that the fairies had come and stolen the baby away and replaced the human baby with a fairy Changeling. In those cases there was often a way to get the real baby back. You could place the Changeling on the fire--then it would rise up the chimney, and you would hear the sound of fairies’ laughter and soon after you would find your own child safe and sound nearby.
Passage 9 Self-Image
Self-image is your own mind’s picture of yourself. This image includes the way you look, the way you act, the way you talk and the way you think. Interestingly, our self-images are often quite different from the images others hold about us. Unfortunately, most of these images are more negative than they should be. Thus changing the way you think about yourself is the key to changing your self-image and your whole world. It might be that you are experiencing a negative self-image because you can’t move past one flaw or weakness that you see about yourself. Well, roll up your sleeves and make a change of it as your primary task. The best way to get rid of a negative serf-image is to realize that your image is far from objective, and to actively convince yourself of your positive qualities. Changing the way you think and working on those, you will go a long way towards promoting a positive self-image.
Passage 10 Shopaholics
The word addiction usually makes you think of alcohol or drugs, but in modern-day society we are seeing some new kinds of addictions. Some people are compulsive shoppers. Others find it impossible to pull themselves away from their work. Still others spend countless hours watching TV or playing computer games. Over the years, shopping has become a very common activity. Many p
eople enjoy going to malls or stores more and more every day, but it’s more than a common hobby for some of them. They have turned into shopaholics. They are people who simply enjoy shopping and walking around spending money without being able to stop doing it. They are hooked on shopping and usually buy things that they don’t need. Even though they don’t have enough money, they buy everything they want. Why do they have this addiction? There isn’t a specific answer. Some people go shopping when they are sad, worried, upset or lonely. Some even tend to have this addiction when they feel guilty.
Passage 11 Time Management
Time is something from which we can’t escape. Even if we ignore it, it’s still going by, ticking away, second by second, minute by minute, hour by hour. So the main issue in using your time well is, “Who’s in charge?” We can allow time to slip by and let it be our enemy. Or we can take control of it and make it our ally. By taking control of how you spend your time, you’ll increase your chances of becoming a more successful student. Perhaps more importantly, the better you are at managing the time you devote to your studies, the more time you will have to spend on your outside interests. The aim of time management is not to schedule every moment so we become slaves of a timetable that governs every waking moment of the day. Instead, the aim is to make informed choices as to how we use our time.
Passage 12 Charity Shops
The charity shop is a British institution, selling everything from clothes to electric goods, all at very good prices. You can get things you won't find in the shops anymore. The thing I like best about them is that your money is going to a good cause and not into the pockets of profit-driven companies, and you are not damaging the planet, but finding a new home for unwanted goods. Most of the people working in the charity shops are volunteers, although there is often a manager who gets paid. Over 90% of the goods in the charity shops are donated by the public. The shops have very low running costs: all profits go to charity work. Charity shops raise more than ￡110 million a year, funding medical research, overseas aid, supporting sick and poor children, homeless and disabled people, and much more.
Passage 13 Passive Learning
We can achieve knowledge either actively or passively. We achieve it actively by direct experience, by testing and proving an idea, or by reasoning. We achieve knowledge passively by being told by someone else. Most of the learning that takes place in the classroom and the kind that happens when we watch TV or read newspapers or magazines is passive. Conditioned as we are to passive learning, it's not surprising that we depend on it in our everyday communication with friends and co-workers. Unfortunately, passive learning has a serious problem. It makes us tend to accept what we are told even when it is little mor
e than hearsay and rumor. That's what happens in daily life. The simple fact that people repeat a story in their own words changes the story. Then, too, most people listen imperfectly. And many enjoy adding their own creative touch to a story, trying to improve on it, stamping it with their own personal style. Yet those who hear it think they know.
Passage 14 Different “Styles” of Directions
I travel a lot, and I find out different “styles” of directions every time I ask ”How can I get to the post office?” In Japan, people use landmarks in their directions instead of street names. For example, the Japanese will say to travelers, “Go straight down to the corner. Turn left at the big hotel and go past a fruit market. The post office is across from the bus stop.” In the countryside of the American Midwest, instead of landmarks, people will tell you directions and distances. For example, people will say, “Go north two miles. Turn east, and then go another mile.” People in Los Angeles, California, have no idea of distance on the map; they measure distance in time, not miles. “How far away is the post office?” you ask. “Oh,” they answer, “it’s about five minutes from here.” You say, “Yes, but how many miles away is it?” They don’t know.
Passage 15 Rain Forests
Rainforests are the lungs of the planet – storing vast quantities of carbon dioxide and producing a significant amount of the world’s oxygen. Rainforests have their own perfect system for ensuring their own survival; the tall trees make a canopy of branches and leaves which protect themselves, smaller plants, and the forest animals from heavy rain, intense dry heat from the sun and strong winds. Amazingly, the trees grow in such a way that their leaves and branches, although close together, never actually touch those of another tree. Scientists think this is a deliberate tactic to prevent the spread of any tree diseases and make life more difficult for leaf-eating insects. They are not called rainforests for nothing! Rainforests can generate 75% of their own rain. At least 80 inches of rain a year is normal – and in some areas there may be as much as 430 inches of rain annually. This is real rain. In just two hours, streams can rise ten to twenty feet.
Passage 16 Juana Lopez’s Invention
One day, Juana Lopez had an idea for a dish washing machine that worked without using water. She went to see several dish washer manufacturers about producing the machine, but none of them were interested. Joanna found investors to support her idea and founded her own production company. She spent millions of dollars on developing her dish washer, and it was lunched three years later. From then on, sales were very good, better even than Joanna had hopped. But Global Domestic, one of the companies that she has been to, made its own waterless dish washer. Joanna obtained one and found they use the technical ideas
she had developed. She had obtained legal protection for these ideas so that other companies could not use them. After a long legal process, glob domestic was forced to stop making its competing dish washer and to pay Joanna several million dollars. Now Joanna’s waterless dish washer has 40℅of the worldwide dish washer market, and this is increasing every year.
Passage 17 Rising Sea Level
Latest research predicts that the global sea level is expected to rise 9 to 88 centimeters by 2100, with a “best estimate” of 50 centimeters. This is due to global warming which is causing the ice caps to melt. This great rise of close to one meter would threaten huge areas of low-lying coastal land as well as major cities such as London, New York and Tokyo. In many places, 50 centimeters would see entire beaches being washed away. On low-lying pacific islands, the highest point is only two or three meters above the current sea level. If the sea level was to rise by 50 centimeters, big parts of these islands would disappear under the water. Even if they remain above the sea, many island nations will have their supplies of drinking water reduced because sea water will pollute their freshwater. There are also tens of millions of people living in low-level coastal areas of southern Asia, such as the coastline of Pakistan and India, who would be in danger.
Passage 18 What Is a Father?
A father is a person who is forced to endure childbirth without an anesthetic. He growls when he feels good and laughs very loud when he is scared half-to-death. A father never feels entirely worthy of the worship in a child's eyes. He is never quite the hero his daughter thinks. Never quite the man his son believes him to be. And this worries him sometimes. A father is a person who goes to war sometimes and would run the other way except that war is part of an important job in his life, which is making the world better for his children than it has been for him. I don’t know there father goes when he dies, but I’ve an idea that, after a good rest, where it is he won't just sit on a cloud and wait for the girl he's loved and the children she bore. He'll be busy there too repairing the stars, oiling the gates, improving the streets, smoothing the way.
Passage 19 Little Boy’s Big Idea
The Intellectual Property Owner Association (IPO) is running a project to encourage young inventors. Samuel Houghton, a five-year-old boy has become the youngest Briton to hold a patent after watching his father struggling in the garden. Samuel developed a garden tool after watching his father Mark use two brushes to sweep up leaves outside their house. His father used a large brush to gather leaves and small branches, and then got a small brush to pick up what was left. Samuel came up with the idea for a labor-saving tool, which has been patented and named the Improved Broom. It is a simple idea that combines two ordinary brooms with d
ifferent-sized bristles and brush-heads to enable different-sized dirt to be swept up more efficiently. “The small one gets the first bits and the one at the back gets those left behind, Samuel explains. The IPO says that Samuel is its youngest known patent holder.
Passage 20 Cultural Differences
Meeting people from another culture can be difficult. Different cultures emphasize the importance of relationship building to a greater or lesser degree. For example, business in some countries is not possible until there is a relationship of trust. Even with people at work, it is necessary to spend a lot of time in "small talk", usually over a glass of tea, before they do any job. In many European countries—like the UK or France—people find it easier to build up a lasting working relationship at restaurants or cafes rather than at the office. Even within Northern Europe, cultural differences can cause serious problems. Certainly, English and German cultures share similar value; however, Germans prefer to get down to business more quickly. We think that they are rude. In fact, this is just because one culture starts discussions and makes decision more quickly.
Passage 21 Stress
Stress is what you feel when you react to pressure, either from the outside world or from inside yourself. Stress is a normal reaction for people of all ages. Most people think that pressure is always a bad thing. In fact, a little bit of stress is good. Without stress, most of us couldn’t push ourselves to do well, especially in difficult things. People usually complain about feeling pressed for time when they are under certain pressure. It is true that you can’t always control the things that are stressing you out, but you can control how you react to them. The way you feel about things results from the way you think about things. If you change how you think, you can change the way you feel. Try the following tips to deal with your stress: Make a list of the things that are causing your stress. Give yourself an excuse. Don't promise to do things you can't do or don't want to do. Find someone to talk to.
Passage 22 Love is a telephone
Love is a telephone which is always silent when you are hoping for a call, but rings when you are not ready for it. As a result, we often miss the love coming from the other end. Love is a telephone which is seldom program-controlled or directly dialed. You cannot get an immediate answer with a simple “hello”, let alone go deep into your lover’s heart with one call. Usually it has to be relayed by an operator, and you have to wait patiently. Love is a telephone that is always busy. When you are ready to dial for love, you only find, to your disappointment, the line is already being used by someone else. Love is a telephone, but it is difficult to know when to dial. You will miss the opportunity if your call is either too early or too late.
Passage 23 Jealousy
Th
e experience of jealousy varies enormously from age to age, from culture to culture, from couple to couple, from person to person, and can be different within the same person from time to time. In the United States, there has been a change of attitude toward jealousy in recent years. “Normal” jealousy, which has been seen as an inevitable accompaniment of love and support of marriage, has come to be seen by some as evidence of personal insecurity and weakness in the relationship, and therefore a threat to the partnership. Most jealous flashes come from feeling left out of an activity involving your partner and another person or other people. When your partner pays attention to another, your first reaction is to note that they are “in” and you are “out”. You feel excluded, ignored, unappreciated. This kind of experience is not uncommon, and dealing with it gracefully is part of the etiquette of our time.
Passage 24 Differences Between Television and Radio Announcers
When television first began to expand, very few of people who had become famous as radio announcers were able to be equally effective on television. Some of the difficulties they experienced when they were trying to adapt themselves to the new medium were technical. When working on radio, for example, they had become accustomed to seeing on behalf of the listener. This art of seeing for others means that the commentator has to be very good at talking. In the case of television, however, the announcer sees everything with the viewer. His role, therefore, is completely different. He is there to make sure that the viewer does not miss some point of interest, to help him focus on particular things, and to help him understand the images on the television screen. Unlike his radio colleague, he must know the value of silence and how to use it, at those moments when the pictures speak for themselves.
Passage 25 The African Elephant
The African elephant, the largest land animal remaining on earth, is of great importance to African ecosystem. As a big plant-eater, it largely shapes the forest-and-savanna surroundings in which it lives, setting the terms of existence for millions of other animals that live in its habitat. It is the elephant's great desire for food that makes it a disturber of the environment and an important builder of its habitat. In its continuous search for the 300 pounds of plants it must have every day, it kills small trees and underbushes, and pulls branches off big trees. This results in numerous open spaces in both deep tropical forests and in the woodlands that cover part of the African savannas. What worries scientists now is that the African elephant has become an endangered species. If the elephant disappears, scientists say, many other animals will also disappear from vast areas of forest and savanna, greatly changing and worsening the whole ecosystem.
Passage 26 Operations on the Brain
It is dif
ficult for doctors to help a person with a damaged brain. Without enough blood, the brain lives for only three to five minutes. Dr. White thinks doctors should try to make the brain very cold. If it is very cold, the brain can live without blood for 30 minutes. This gives the doctors a longer time to do something for the brain. Dr. White tried his idea on 13 monkeys. First he taught them to do different jobs. Then he operated on them. He made the monkeys' blood go through a machine which cooled the blood, and then sent the blood back to the monkeys' brains. When the brain temperature was 50 degrees, Dr. White stopped the blood to the brain. After 30 minutes he turned the blood back on. He warmed the blood again. After their operations the monkeys were like they were before. They were healthy and busy. Each one could still do the jobs the doctor had taught them.
Passage 27 Depression
The dictionary describes depression as the state of feeling very sad, anxious and hopeless. The question here is why one gets depressed. Is it the inability to deal with the situation or the high stress levels that come with success or failure? Life is full of twists and turns. Some are pleasant and some are not so pleasant, and sometimes even terrible. No one has a lack of problems in his or her life. Everyone has a personal set of problems. Even the people who constantly have a smile on their faces have problems. The only difference is that they know how to deal with the problems and smile about the fact that they can overcome them. Seasonal changes are the main reason for depression in nature. Change is unavoidable. It may happen in nature or in life, but the way the change makes us feel is subjective1. They differ from person to person, along with the ways we deal with them. Feeling depression is a normal phenomenon2, but letting it overtake3 us completely is not the best thing. There are no specific rules or concepts to deal with it. Whatever way a person feels is the best way to deal with it should be adopted, but be sure it will not hurt another person.
Passage 28 White Noise
There are different kinds of noise with distinct frequencies that are classified by color，namely: white noise, pink noise, brown noise, blue noise, and gray noise. Below is an overview of white noise. Generally speaking, white noise is a part of the full scale of sound frequencies a human ear can recognize. White noise is a mixture of sound frequencies in equal levels. It is a very quiet sound that is relaxing and pleasant to the ears of anyone. A number of people say that it is similar to the sound of the rain or the ocean waves. White noise offers countless benefits. The noise comes in different forms that serve different purposes. Some white noise works better than others for particular uses. Some people may find some white noise sounds more pleasing than others. Moreover, white noise is said to have a more calming effect than music does.
Passage 29 Cell Phone
Nowadays, with the rapid development of IT and information industry,/ cell phones play a dominant role in people’s life. /On the one hand, the mobile phone is portable and convenient. /Being wireless, you can carry them everywhere with great ease. /You can reach a person wherever and however far away he is./ On the other hand, it is a friend indeed./ Whenever you come across trouble, you can call for help immediately./ However, just as every coin has two sides,/ the cell phone also has its many disadvantages. /Some people complain that mobile phones give unpleasant noise on some important occasions/ when the owner forgets to turn them off. /And it also cuts into people’s spare time,/ because with the mobile phone the boss can easily reach them and call them to duty during their spare time. /Worst of all, the electromagnetic wave emitted from the phone is said to be harmful to people’s health/ and does often cause headaches to the owner./
Passage 30 Facing the Enemies Within
We are not born with courage, but neither are we born with fear. Maybe some of your fears are brought on by your own experiences, by what someone has told you, by what you’ve read in the papers. Fears, even the most basic ones, can totally destroy your ambitions, fortunes, relationships, and even life. Another enemy we face is indecision. Indecision is the thief of opportunity and enterprise. It will steal your chances for a better future. The third enemy inside is doubt. Sure you can’t believe everything. But don’t let doubt take over you. It will destroy your life and your chances of success. It will empty both your bank account and your heart. Also, there are indifference, worry and over caution that you should do battle with. Be courageous in your life and in your pursuit of the things you want and the person you want to become.
Passage 31 The tower of London
In 1078, King William began to build a large stone building on the north bank of the Thames River and named it the Tower of London. The tower was finished 20 years later. Around 1240, King Henry III made it his home. He painted the tower white, and widened the grounds to include a church, a great hall and other buildings. In 1381, Richard II became King of England. A group of farmers attacked the tower. In the end, Richard was forced to give up his power to Henry IV. Queen Elizabeth was held prisoner in the tower for two months by Queen Mary, her half-sister. She was set free on May 19, 1554, and in 1558 became the Queen of England. In I603, part of the tower became a museum. A lot of royal jewels were kept in the tower for visitors to see. The tower has been a place of interest in London ever since. (158 words)
Passage 32 Can’t
"Can't" is the worst word that can be written or spoken, and can do more harm than lying. Many strong spirits have been broken by it. It springs from the lips of thoughtless people each morning
and robs us of the courage we need that day. It rings in our ears like a timely sent warning and laughs when we fall by the way. "Can't" is the father of weak effort, and the parent of fear and half-hearted work. It weakens the efforts of clever craftsmen, and makes people work less. It poisons the soul of a person with an illusion. It laughs at people's hopes and dreams. Whatever the goal you are seeking, keep trying, and answer by saying, "I can!" "Can't" is the enemy that is ready to ruin your will. It will only give way to courage, patience and skill. Treat it with strong and continuous hate, for once it is welcomed it can break any man. (160 words)
Passage 33 The First Music Road in the U. S.
In the city of Lancaster, there is a wonderful road that can play music. Due to its special design, when cars drive on it, the road will produce beautiful notes. This road is believed to be the first music road in the U.S.. Citizens have different attitudes towards it. Some of them live near the road. They complain that the road is so noisy that it keeps them awake. But there are still many local people who are in favor of the road. "You drove on it and you didn't know what to happen. When I got to the end, I was smiling from ear to ear," said an old driver. In addition, the city has received hundreds of calls praising the road. The road has become a tourist attraction and the city has decided to recreate the road in an industrial area away from homes. (146 words)
Passage 34 Easter
Easter is a festival that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. A Sunday between March 22 and April 25 is called Easter Sunday. People eat some cakes during this festival. They also give colorful eggs to each other. It is said that the Earth came from an egg. In England, people write messages and dates on their eggs and give them to friends or loved ones. A rabbit called the Easter Bunny visits children on Easter Sunday. He often leaves some candy and eggs. So on Easter Sunday morning, children always get up early to find these candy and eggs all around the house. In fact, it is their parents who buy them candy and hide their eggs. The story of the Easter Bunny’s visit comes from Germany. The story goes that a poor woman hid eggs for her children to find. At the moment they found them, they looked up to see a big rabbit running away.
Passage 35 Sleepwalking
Sleepwalking is a sleep disorder affecting an estimated 10 percent of all humans at least once in their lives. It is far more common in kids than in adults, as most sleepwalkers outgrow it by the early teen years. It may run in families. So if you or your partner are or were sleepwalkers, your child may be too. Other factors that may bring on sleepwalking include lack of sleep, irregular sleep schedules, illness or fever, and stress. Of course, getting out of bed and walking around while still sleeping is the most obvious sleepwalking symptom. But young sleepwa
lkers may also sleep talk. Also, sleepwalkers’ eyes are open, but they are not awake and may not realize what they’re doing. It’s hard to wake them up. Sleepwalking is not usually a sign that something is emotionally or psychologically wrong with a child. And it doesn't cause any emotional harm. They probably won't even remember the nighttime stroll.
Passage 36 Why Are Some People Left-handed?
Why is a mere 4% of the population left-handed? Most authorities agree, to the relief of many a mother of a left-handed child, that if the child prefers using the left hand, and functions well with it. There is no need to correct this "condition. " One theory centers on the two halves of the brain, each of which functions differently. Medical science believes that the opposite sides of the body are supplied by the opposite sides of the brain. The predominant left half of the brain, which controls the right half of the body, makes it more skillful in reading, writing and speaking, and makes most people right-handed. "Lefties", however, are the product of an inversion. They also work best with the left side of their bodies. There is no doubt that all exist in a "right-handed society", which manufactures most basics for the 96%. But don't forget many of the greatest geniuses are left-handed, including Leonardo da Vinci. (159 words)
Passage 37 Summon Up Courage
There were two men who both decided to get a horse for riding. One man found a red horse with much spirit while the other chose one more docile. The two men would go riding together every day. It so happened that one day on the route, there was a ditch about eight or nine feet wide. When coming up to this ditch, the red horse was quick to respond and jumped it with no difficulty. Yet the more docile horse would shrink every time it came to the edge. It would stand on the edge, shaking. Then after a while, coming up to the ditch and watching its companion jump it easily, something happened within it—an idea was born that it could too. So it smoothly jumped over the obstacle. Life is much like what happened to the two horses. It all comes to a choice whether we look for the spirit within or just stand on the edge and shrink. (162 words)
Passage 38 A Burden You Don’t Deserve
It's easy to blame someone else for your troubles. Yet, when you're truly honest with yourself, it's clear that blaming others will not add the slightest bit of value to your life .To move your life in the direction you choose to go, you must be willing to take full responsibility for it. That means you must accept that things are not always going to be fair. Perhaps life has given you a burden you don't deserve. Instead of seeing that as an excuse to give up, see it as an opportunity to give more. Though you may not have brought your troubles upon yourself, you can still make positive use of them. Choose to take full responsibility for your own situation, and you'll begin
to see how you can rise from it to a level that's higher than ever before. Real success does not result from everything going perfectly. Real success comes when you're willing to move forward no matter what may happen. (164 words)
Passage 39 Culture
Living in a new country means experiencing a different way of life. This is very exciting and interesting! But it can also be a little challenging at times, because the cultures of all countries are unique. Culture is like an iceberg. You can see some parts of an iceberg—just like you can see some parts of a country's culture when you visit it. For example, you can see different ways of greeting people, hear different languages and observe different festivals and customs. However, a much bigger part of every iceberg is hidden under water. Even though this part of the iceberg is hard to see, it is very important— without it, the iceberg would not exist. The same is true of culture. There are many aspects of it which you cannot see when you visit a different country, for example, the nature of friendship and the importance of time. It will take a long time to understand those values and beliefs. (162 words)
Passage 40 Benjamin Franklin
Franklin's life is full of charming stories which all young men should know— how he sold books in Boston, and became the guest of kings in Europe; how he was made Major General Franklin, only to quit because as he said, he was no soldier, and yet helped to organize the army that stood before the trained troops of England and Germany. This poor Boston boy, without a day's schooling, became master of six languages and never stopped studying; this neglected apprentice conquered the lightning, made his name famous, received degrees and diplomas from many colleges, and became forever remembered as "Doctor Franklin", philosopher, scientist and political leader. He built America, for what America is today is largely due to the management, the forethought, the wisdom, and the ability of Benjamin Franklin. He belongs to the world, but especially he belongs to America. (144 words)
Passage 41 Light Pollution
We usually think of pollution as a harmful waste substance that threatens the air and water. But some people have become concerned about another kind of pollution. It can be everywhere, depending on the time of day. And it is not thought of as a substance. It is light. The idea of light pollution has developed with the increase of lights in cities. In many areas, this light makes it difficult or impossible to observe stars and planets in the night sky. Light pollution threatens to reduce the scientific value of research telescopes. Light pollution is the result of wasted energy. Bright light that shines into the sky is not being used to provide light where it is needed on Earth. Lights that are brighter than necessary also cause light pollution. Recently, two Italian astronomers and an American environmental scientist cr
eated a world map of the night sky. The map shows that North America, Western Europe and Japan have . the greatest amount of light pollution. (165 words)
Passage 42 Monkeys That Eat Less Live Longer
A study of monkeys over a twenty-year period suggests that eating less may extend life and prevent disease. American researchers said they believe their findings could apply to people as well. Half of the monkeys were permitted to eat as much as they wanted. The other half ate a controlled diet. The researchers found that thirty-seven percent of the monkeys that ate as much as they wanted had died of causes related to aging after twenty years. In comparison, only thirteen percent of the monkeys on restricted diets had died. Extended life was not the only observable difference between the two groups. The monkeys that ate less bad half the amount of heart disease and cancer. In addition, there is also a difference in the appearance. The monkeys that ale less look younger and healthier than fatter monkeys on a normal diet. The researchers say this study is not complete and that they will continue to observe the remaining monkeys throughout their lives. (163 words)
Passage 43 Dangerous Lead-based Faint Common Around me World A new study shows that lead-based paint remains a worldwide threat to public health. Paint containing lead is a major cause of lead poisoning in children. The heavy metal enters the body when children breathe the paint dust or fumes in the air. Or when babies put their mouth on painted surfaces or swallow pieces of paint. Lead can damage the brain and the nervous system. It can decrease intelligence* create behavior problems and slow a child's growth. Researchers tested new household paints from twelve countries in Africa, Asia and South America. The paints were sold under different brand names. The study found that almost three-fourths of the brands had dangerously high levels of lead. The professor says high quality paint can be produced without lead. He and his team are calling for a worldwide ban on lead-based paint. He says many parts of the world are doing too little to correct the problem of lead poisoning in children. He notes that research has found no safe level of lead. (171 words)
Passage 44 Expressions That Are Old and True
A proverb is a short, well-known saying that expresses a common truth or belief. Many proverbs give advice about how to live. For example, my son is just like his father in many ways. We often say the two of them prove the proverb that the apple does not fall far from the tree. My daughter is very short. She would like to be taller. But I tell her that good things come in small packages，like diamonds and other jewels. Also, I tell them do not judge a book by its cover. Do not be fooled by appearances. Another proverb is, do not bite off more than you can chew. This means do not try to do more than you are able to do. Finally, I always like this proverb: Yo
u can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. Honey is sweet while vinegar is not. In other words, you can win people to your side more easily with gentle persuasion than by hostile actions.
Passage 45 Death Valley: A Beautiful but Dangerous Place
Death Valley is a land of beautiful but dangerous extremes. There are mountains that reach more than three thousand meters into the sky. There is a place called Badwater that is the lowest area of land in the Western Hemisphere. If there were water there, it would be eighty-six meters below the level of the ocean. Death Valley can be dangerously cold during the winter months. Storms in the mountains can produce sudden flooding on the floor of the Valley. The extreme heat in summer has killed people in the past. It will continue to kill those who do not honor this extreme climate. Death Valley does not forgive those who are not careful. It is a good example of the violence of nature. However t it would be wrong to think that nothing lives there. The Valley is full of life. Wild flowers grow very quickly after a little rain. Birds, snakes and other animals always enjoy their stay. (159 words)
Passage 46 Death Valley: the Coming of the Name
The area was named by a woman in 1849. That was the year after gold was discovered in California. Thousands of people from other parts of the country traveled to the gold mining areas in California. They were in a hurry to get there before other people did. Many people were not careful. They made bad choices or wrong decisions. One group trying to reach California decided to take a path called the Old Spanish Trail. By December, they had reached Death Valley. They did not have to survive the terrible heat of summer, but there was still an extreme lack of water. There were few plants for their work animals to eat. The people could not find a pass through the tall mountains. Gradually, they began to suffer from a lack of food. To survive, they killed their work animals for food and began to walk out of the Valley. As they left, one woman looked back and said, "Good-bye, death valley. " The name has never been changed. (169 words)
Passage 47 An Old Saying
Today we explain a very old saying that has had a big influence on rock-and-roll music. That saying is a rolling stone gathers no moss. It has several meanings. One meaning is that a person who never settles down in one place will not be successful. Another is that someone who is always moving, with no roots in one place, avoids responsibilities. This proverb was said to be first used in the 1500s. But in the 1960s, the expression rolling stone became famous in the world of rock-and-roll music. It became the name of a rock group, a song and a magazine. Experts say it all started with a song by the American singer and guitarist Muddy Waters. He was one of the country's top blues musicians until his death in 1983. His music influenced singers like Elvis Presley an
d Bob Dylan. In 1950, Muddy Waters recorded a song called "Rollin" Stone. " (152 words)
Passage 48 Study Finds More Trees on Farms Than Was Thought
Farmers, especially in developing countries, are often criticized for cutting down forests. But a new study suggests that many farmers recognize the value in keeping trees. Researchers using satellite images found at least ten percent tree cover on more than one billion hectares of farmland. That is almost half the farmland in the world. Earlier estimates were much lower but incomplete. The authors of the new study say it may still underestimate the true extent worldwide. The study found that climate conditions alone could not explain the amount of tree cover in different areas. Nor could the size of nearby populations, meaning people and trees can live together. There are areas with few trees but also few people, and areas with many trees and many people. The findings suggest that things like land rights, markets or government policies can influence tree planting and protection. (144 words)
Passage 49 Going Digital: California's Textbook Project
California approves traditional textbooks in six-year cycles. Digital ones can offer the latest information. They lighten the load of school bags. They save paper and trees, and make learning more fun and interactive. And lastly they help schools with their finances. The state has had to make severe cuts in school spending because of deep financial problems. More than six million students attend California public schools. Earlier this year, California invited content developers to offer digital math and science materials for high schools. These had to meet at least ninety percent of the state's learning requirements. Specially trained teachers examined sixteen textbooks and approved ten of them. School administrators point out that the texts may be free online, but students need a way to access them. Not everyone has a computer or electronic reader. Schools could print out copies, but that would not help the environment. Also, there is the cost to train teachers to use digital textbooks effectively. (165 words)
Passage 50 American and British English
Language experts say that spoken English was almost the same in the American colonies and Britain. Americans began to change the sound of their speech after the Revolutionary War in 1776. They wanted to separate themselves from the British in language as they had separated themselves from the British government. Webster published The American Dictionary of the English Language in 1828. It established rules for speaking and spelling the words used in American English. The different languages of the immigrants who came to the United States also helped make American English different from British English. Many foreign words and expressions became part of English as Americans speak it. Sometimes Americans and British people do not understand each other because of d
ifferent word meanings. For example, a "wastebasket" in America is a "dustbin" in Britain. French fried potatoes in the United States are called "chips" in Britain. All these differences led British writer George Bernard Shaw to joke that Britain and America are two countries separated by the same language. (170 words)
Passage 51 Town and Country Life in England There is a big difference between town life and country life in England. In the country, everybody knows everybody else. They know what time you get up, what time you go to bed and what you have for dinner. If you want help, you will always get it and you will be glad to help others. In a large town like London, however, it can sometimes happen that you have never seen your next door neighbor and you do not know his name or anything about him. People in London are often very lonely. This is because people go to different places in the evenings and at weekends. If you walk through the streets in the centre of London on Sunday, it is like a town without people. One is sorry for old people living on their own. They could die in their homes and would not be discovered for weeks or even months. Passage 52 A Change in Women’s Life The important change in women’s life-pattern has only recently begun to have its full effect on women’s economic position. Even a few years ago most girls left school at the first opportunity, and most of them took a full-time job. However, when they married, they usually left work at once and never returned to it. Today the school-leaving age is sixteen, many girls stay at school after that age, and though women tend to marry younger, more married women stay at work at least until shortly before their first child is born. Very many more afterwards return to full-time or part-time work. Such changes have led to a new relationship in marriage, with the husband accepting a greater share of the duties and satisfactions of family life and with both husband and wife sharing more equally in providing the money, and running the home, according to the abilities and interests of each of them.