The First Americans

    There was a time long ago when a land bridge connected Asia and North America. The first settlers in North America crossed this land bridge from what is now Siberia to Alaska. The people who made this initial crossing were probably following the animals they used for food.

    Finally, the oceans rose and the land bridge between the continents disappeared. The settlers, who I shall call the “First Americans”， could not return to their homeland.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    For the next few thousand years, the First Americans moved south and east throughout North and South America. They made the journey all the way from Alaska to the southern tip of South America, a distance of more than 10,000 miles.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    In the far north, above the Arctic Circle, the First Americans became hunters of the ocean.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}In the summer, they gathered berries and other plants. In the winter, they stayed in lodges much of the time preparing for the next summer. It was a hard life, but they learned to survive in these terrible conditions.

    Farther south, in what is now Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico, the First Americans became cliff dwellers. They began by living in caves that already existed in the cliffs.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}The dwellings they built in many ways resembled today's apartment buildings.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} They built a system of dams and canals so they could store and use water almost any time of the year. They were so successful that they could raise fruits and vegetables that were not found naturally in the desert.

A．They also discovered foods like corn and potatoes.

B．Along the way, they established many different civilizations.

C．They discovered how to add to the caves by building structures of wood and stone.

D．People living near each other tended to share similar environments and customs.

E．They built boats of animal skins and hunted or fished for their food.

F．They would have to survive in the New World they had discovered.

G．The First Americans of the Southwest learned to water the desert.

Forgiveness

    To forgive is a virtue (美德), but no one has ever said it is easy. When someone has deeply hurt you, it can be extremely difficult to let go of your hate. However, forgiveness is possible, and it can be surprisingly beneficial to your physical and mental health. People who forgive show less sadness, anger and stress and more hopefulness, according to a recent research.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}Try the following steps:

    Calm yourself.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}You can take a couple of breaths and think of something that gives you pleasure: a beautiful scene in nature, or someone you love.

    Don't wait for an apology. Many times the person who hurt you does not intend to apologize. They may have wanted to hurt you or they just don't see things the same way.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}Keep in mind that forgiveness does not necessarily mean becoming friends again with the person who upset you.

    Take the control away from your offender(冒犯者). Rethinking about your hurt gives power to the person who causes you pain. Instead of focusing on your mounded feelings, learn to look for the love, beauty and kindness around you.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}If you understand your offender, you may realize that he or she was acting out of unawareness, fear, and even love. You may want to write a letter to yourself from your offender's point of view.

    Don't forget to forgive yourself.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}But it can rob you of your self-confidence if you don't do it.

A. Why should you forgive?

B. How should you start to forgive?

C. Recognize the benefits of forgiveness.

D. Try to see things from your offender's angle.

E. For some people, forgiving themselves is the biggest challenge.

F. To make your anger die away, try a simple stress-management technique.

G. If you wait for people to apologize, you could be waiting an awfully long time.

    As we all know, friendship is important in our daily life. A friend can give us help and share our difficulties and happiness. But how to make friends is still difficult to some of us. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

Be friendly to others. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} You should try to make a stranger feel at home wherever he happens to be. Think more of others than of yourself and never judge a person by his look and clothes.

    Be reliable. If you and your friend agree to meet somewhere, don't be late. If you're not going to make it on time or make it at all, call them as soon as you realize it. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Be someone that people know they can depend on.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Listen carefully to what people say, remember important details about them （their names, their likes and dislikes）, ask questions about their interests, and just take the time to learn more about them.

    Encourage your friends. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} A friend to all is a friend to none. Never make fun of or laugh at your friends in front of others. You should come to support them.

A.  Be a good listener.

B.  When you say you'll do something, do it.

C.  A true friend always gives courage to his friends.

D.  Never leave your friend when he is in trouble.

E.  The following information can give you some tips.

F.  Smile at others and you are sure to get a smile in return.

G.  He will remain with them in both good as well as bad times.

More candidates, less bonus points

    The Ministry of Education said in March that it would remove some preferential provisions (优惠的规定) that award bonus points to some students' total score. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    According to the statement, no bonus points will be awarded for exceptional sports ability, w inning academic Olympiads or science and technology competitions.

    Reforms of the enrollment (录取) process {#blank#}2{#/blank#}Key universities and others will be combined into the same round of enrollment to provide more choices for different students. Tianjin, Guangdong and Liaoning will adopt the reforms this year.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    There will be 2,311 new majors to choose this year, many of which are oriented toward science and technology's new front—big data and artificial intelligence.

    Around 250 colleges will set up courses on “data science and big data technology” and around 60 colleges will add “robotic engineering” as a new major. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Ban on publicity of top scorers

    In recent years, over-emphasis or even hype (炒作) of the top scorers and highest enrollment rate received negative reviews. This year, the ministry published a notice which stressed its firm stance (立场) of banning the practice before the exam. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. New majors for artificial intelligence

B. New majors for the age of intelligence

C. According to it, violators would be punished severely.

D. Talent selection process will be simplified in many places this year.

E. Cyberspace security is also a new option in this year's major selection.

F. Previously, students with top performance were awarded bonus points.

G. This effort, hopefully, will positively promote a more fair and scientific selection process.

    For each working person, the rarest resource is your daily time. You may feel like that you do not have enough hours in the day, only endless things to do. Of course, some of these things are not part of your job, such as other colleagues asking for your help or bosses making new demands.

    How can we reasonably refuse them?

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Just by doing the following three steps, you can usually make yourself and the other person comfortable while refusing them.

    Listen patiently to others' requests

    It's not simply hearing what the other person is saying. You have to stop what you're doing and carefully listen to what they say. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} The point is to let the other person see that you are willing to help, and let them understand that you've already known their needs. In this way, even if you eventually refuse them, they'll understand that you are not available, instead of not willing to help.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    When we listen, we all hope that other people will come to a conclusion quickly. But when we speak, we instinctively（本能地）start from the beginning of the story. In fact, this way of speaking is not good for communication. So if you want to refuse somebody, just tell them No, and then explain the reasons why.

    Provide an alternative solution

    Maybe you really don't have the time to listen to the other person's request. In situations like this, don't just tell the other person that you don't have the time. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} For example, you may say, “Sorry, I really don't have the time right now. Is it OK if we talk tomorrow morning?” In this way, although you refuse him, he still can feel your support.

    In conclusion, refusal is unavoidable, but you can choose the way to refuse. An inappropriate refusal may cause great harm to your working life.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. Begin with conclusion when refusing.

B. Start from the beginning when refusing.

C. Even if your time is limited, it is best for you to do so.

D. Instead, you should give them a time when you would be available.

E. In addition, this willing-to-help attitude also shows leadership skills.

F. In fact, there has been a mature methodology (科学方法) for this matter since long ago.

G. An artistic refusal, on the other hand, may lead you to some unexpected benefits.

    Is there anything more important than health? I don't think so. "Health is the greatest wealth (财富)," wise people say. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    If you have a headache, toothache, backache, earache or bad pain in the stomach, if you complain of a bad cough, if you run a high temperature and have a bad cold, or if you suffer from high or low blood pressure, I think you should go to the doctor.

    The doctor will examine your throat, feel your pulse, test your blood pressure, take your temperature, sound your heart and lungs, test your eyes, check your teeth or have your chest X－rayed. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} The only thing you have to do is follow his advice. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    An old gentleman came to see the doctor. The man was very ill. He told the doctor about his weakness, memory loss and serious problems with his heart and lungs. The doctor examined him and said there was no medicine for his disease. He told his patient to go to a quiet place for a month and have a good rest. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} In other words, the doctor advised him to follow the rule: "Eat at pleasure, drink with measure and enjoy life as it is." The doctor also said that if the man wanted to be well again, he shouldn't smoke more than one cigarette a day.

    A month later the gentleman came into the doctor's office. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} He thanked the doctor and said that he had never felt a healthier man.

    "But you know, doctor," he said, "it's not easy to begin smoking at my age."