修改时间：2021-05-20 浏览次数：214 类型：高考模拟
The other day I was shopping at a local store and came upon a lady from India squatting on the floor looking for a certain product on the bottom shelf. She sprang up when she saw me as if to get out of my way. Apologetically she explained that she was a cashier at a nearby store and was on her lunch break, trying to get a few needed items before her time was up.
I reassured her, "I am in no hurry. Go ahead and do what you need to do." While she searched for a particular brand, she said that sometimes customers were rude to her at the store and she really appreciated my kindness. I told her that I had noticed cashiers being treated rudely by some people.
I also explained to her that I was a retired nurse and understood some of what she was saying first hand. Sometimes patients, families, or doctors could be very rude or mean. But I tried to understand why they were feeling that way and let it go. "The world would be a better place if we all acted kindly toward each other. Those who are rude may have bad karma coming after them eventually." I added.
She nodded and was surprised, "So you know about karma?" My reply was simple. "A little bit. Karma is the same thing as doing something bad and it comes back to bite you on the butt." She paused, looked puzzled, then broke out in a big smile and covered her mouth with her hand, laughing as she walked away.
It felt so good that in a brief exchange I showed her there were kind people in the world, which might have helped her regain her faith in humanity.
(Robin ran into the forest and was wanted by the soldiers.)
For several hours Robin ran, until tired and hungry, he came to a small house. When he was younger, he had visited the kind lady who lived in this house. So this time, he opened the door straight and entered. The old widow was happy to see him and gave him some bread. Robin told her his story, and she sighed.
"An evil wind is blowing through this place, she said." The poor have nothing because the rich take everything. My three sons killed the King's deer to keep us from starving. They are outlaws, and now they hide in the forest. They tell me that 40 men, all skilled archers (弓箭手), are hiding with them.
"Where are they?" cried Robin. "I would like to join them."
"My boys will visit me tonight," said the widow. "Stay here, and meet them if you want."
When Robin met the three sons, he was eager to join their band. They were men like him who loved the forest and were skilled with a bow. They accepted him and told him that their band was looking for a leader.
"We are looking for someone who can use his head and his bow," said one. "All of us are wanted by the Sheriff (州长). So if one of us wins the archery (箭术) contest in Nottingham, he will be our leader."
"What a coincidence!" said Robin, standing suddenly. "I was on my way there before all this trouble started. I will disguise myself and win the prize."
He spoke with such confidence and passion that the three sons were impressed. They told him they would serve him gladly if he was the winner. He must bring the golden arrow as proof.
Villavicencio, a shabby city of half a million people, considers itself the city of half a gateway to los llanos, Colombia's eastern plains. Now and for the next few months few people will be passing through it. Mudslides (泥石流) since May have blocked the main highway, the Vaal Llano, which connects the city to Bogota, Colombia's capital. More rocks and mud threaten workers trying to unblock the road, along which two-thirds of domestically produced goods are transported. Colombia's government says this could take up to three months.
Residents of Villavicencio and the surrounding plains are beginning to feel the consequences. Potatoes, garlic and eggs have become scarce in grocery stores. Shoppers hunt through produce bins to find the few tomatoes and carrots that have not rotted. More than 90% of hotel reservations in the plain's region have been cancelled.
Colombia is a road-builder's nightmare. The Andes (安第斯山脉) separate into three ranges at the southern border. The mountains can climb to 4,000 metres from sea level in less than 100km. Colombia gets more rain than any other country in the world, which makes it harder to keep the road in good condition. Short of cash, the government has given private firms special rights to build roads. Vaal Llano, among the earliest projects built in this way, are likely to cause accidents.
To relieve los llanos's isolation (隔离), Satena, a state-owned airline, and EasyFly have announced more flights between Bogota and Villavicencio. The government has currently stopped passenger fees on flights between the cities. Goods can get through on two smaller alternative roads and money paid to use the two roads will be halved. But what the plains need most is a road that can cope with Colombia's dangerous, rain-soaked topography (地形). That goes for much of the rest of the country.
The victims were carried in one by one, their paws and fur burned, suffering from dehydration (脱水) and fear. Their caretakers bandaged their wounds, wrapped them and laid them in baskets with the only thing that was familiar - the leaves of a eucalyptus (桉树) tree.
As catastrophic fires have burned more than two million acres in Australia, dozens of koalas have been rescued from burning trees and ashen ground. The animals, already threatened as a species before these latest fires destroyed an essential habitat, are being treated in rescue centers, and at least one private home, along the country's east coast.
The difficult situation of the koala—a national symbol of Australia—has raised questions among conservationists and scientists about what it will take to preserve biodiversity in a country increasingly exposed to intense fire, extreme heat and water scarcity, and which already has among the highest rates of species extinction in the world.
While koalas have evolved to exist alongside wildfires 
the animals are facing new threats not just from climate change but also from human development, which has dislocated local populations, damaging their ability to survive fires. In some regions, scientists say, koalas' numbers have declined by up to 80 percent, though it is difficult to know how many remain across Australia.
"We have these unique animals not found anywhere else on this planet, and we're killing them," said Cheyne Flanagan, the clinical director of the Koala Hospital, the only facility of its kind in the world. "This is a big wake-up call."
Say Goodbye to Post-holiday Syndrome
You've spent countless days waking up late, enjoying watching your favorite TV shows and lying on the beach. It's time to go back to work. Here are some tips to make the shift from vacation to work smoother.
Tidy up your work-space first.
Chances are you'll be greeted by piles of unopened mail, files, and other office items sitting on your desk.The longer you wait, the more likely these items will be sitting around your desk later in the week.
You may feel the urge to work on three different things at the same time in order to catch up on work. However, this is not the most efficient approach. Instead, you should make a point to focus your mind and to only work on one item or task at a time.
Remove unnecessary distractions.
It's incredibly important to get serious about cutting out obvious distractions. This way, you can catch up on things efficiently without being bothered every five minutes.
Make plans to enjoy yourself the first week back.
Scheduling a lunch date or two with friends can make the week back seem a bit less painful.
Treat yourself to your favorite drink at the local cafeduring your coffee break.
It may take several days for you to finally get readjusted and that's perfectly fine. Stay calm, focused and relaxed. You'll be back to your old routine at work before you know it.
A. Do one thing at a time.
B. Make a list of tasks based on their importance.
C. Then you suddenly come to an uncomfortable realization.
D. So it's a good idea to attend to these items as soon as you can.
E. You're back at work, but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy yourself.
F. Rather than ignoring these items, take a few minutes to process them.
G. Switch off your cell phone, and close out of any social media accounts.
With five naughty children in our family, my husband Neal had many pet peeves (烦恼的事), but having to 1 his hairbrush each morning ranked among the 2. Sometimes, he'd find it in the boys' bathroom. Other times, it would be in the girls' toy box. On rare 3, he might find it where it 4 in his bathroom drawer.
While 5 our local home improvement store, he hit upon an idea to 6 his hide-and-seek routine with his hairbrush and came back with a bag. While cooking supper, I heard banging and drilling noises in our bathroom. 7, he called me to see his inspired 8. He had chained his hairbrush to the wall. To my 9, he drilled a hole ruining my new wallpaper. It looked awful, but Neal's motto is "10 is better than pretty."
His idea was working out just as he 11. Every morning, the hairbrush was right there beside the sink. At that time using gel (发胶) was the "in" 12 for boys. A few days after Neal 13 his hairbrush to the wall, I noticed my youngest son William's hair looked 14. It didn't much look like gel, so I asked him. He 15 that he used the Vaseline (凡士林) gel he found in our bathroom. His blue eyes danced. 16, he was so proud of himself. I took great17 to get that greasy (油腻的) stuff out of my baby's hair.
The next morning, Neal 18 for me. Running into the bathroom, I found him, hairbrush in hand, looking a lot like William did the day before. I 19 in laughter. Chaining his hairbrush to the wall seemed right to Neal, but it led to 20!
For some people, choosing to be scared can be fun. Going through a haunted house (鬼屋) might make (they) scream, then laugh! Dr. Margee Kerr, a sociologist, has seen a lot of people (thrill) to be scared.
"Some people like to be scared because they like the way their body changes," she says. "Think of your heart pounds when you're going to a birthday party. Some feel that same kind of (excite) when they watch a scary movie or go on a thrill ride.”
For others, that feeling takes their mind off their worries. "When we're scared, our attention (shift) to the present moment." Dr. Kerr says. "You're (probable) not thinking about your homework that's due next week when you're playing a game of hide-and-seek."
Fear is tool that the brain uses to keep the body safe. It urges a person (hide), run away, or defend oneself. (fast) heartbeat and breathing send more blood and oxygen to the muscles so they're ready when they're needed. Our memories also help protect us and experiences can lead to long-lasting fears that may stop a person trying new things.
"Did you hear what happened to Adam Last Friday?" Lindsey whispers to Tori. With her eyes shining, Tori brags, "You bet I did, Sean told me two days ago." Who are Lindsey and Tori talking about? It just happened to be yours truly, Adam Freedman. I can tell you that what they are saying is (a) not nice and (b) not even true. Still, Lindsey and Tori aren't very different from most students here at Linton High School, including me. Many of our conversations are gossip.
An important negative effect of gossip is that it can hurt the person being talked about. Usually, gossip spreads information about a topic—breakups, trouble at home, even dropping out—that a person would rather keep secret. The more embarrassing or shameful the secret is, the juicier the gossip it makes. Probably the worst type of gossip is the absolute lie. People often think of gossipers as harmless, but cruel lies can cause pain.
If we know that gossip can be harmful, then why do so many of us do it? The answer lies in another effect of gossip: the satisfaction it gives us. Sharing the latest rumor (传言) can make a person feel important because he or she knows something that others don't. Similarly, hearing the latest rumor can make a person feel like part of the "in group."
Gossip also can have a third effect: it strengthens unwritten, unspoken rules about how people should act. Professor David Wilson explains that gossip is important in policing behaviors in a group. Translated into high school terms, this means that if everybody you hang around with is laughing at what John wore or what Jane said, then you can bet that wearing or saying something similar will get you the same kind of negative attention. This pressure will certainly force you to pay special attention to your own words and deeds. The dos and don'ts conveyed through gossip will never show up in any student handbook.
The effects of gossip vary depending on the situation. The next time you feel the urge to spread the latest news, think about why you want to gossip and what effects your "juicy story" might have.
试题篮
