There are so many expressions in American English that sound pleasant but are not.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}When someone says they have to “face the music” , it does not mean they are going to a concert. “Facing the music” means to accept and deal with the punishment of an action.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}For example, “ I can't face another night of camping! It's a cold and rainy”. Or “In life, you must face your fears”. Face used in this way is very common.

    But now, let's go back to facing the music. Imagine a friend asks you to take care of her beautiful red sports car. She gives you the keys and says, “Thanks so much for watching my car while I'm away. But please, do not drive it. It is an extremely fast car.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}You drive it around town one night. And you lose control of the car and drive it into a stop sign. Bang!

    When your returns you must tell her what you have done and “face the music”{#blank#}4{#/blank#}It could be losing her friendship or paying for repairs to her sports to her sports car or both.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}To “take your medicine” means to accept the results from something bad you have done. And if someone says, “You made your bed. Now lie in it” they mean you created a bad station and now you will experience the results.

A. But you do not listen.

B. “Face the music ”is a good example.

C. The “music ” here is the result of your actions.

D. American often use the word “face” in this way.

E. Everyone likes to enjoy a concert in the evening.

F. You are very afraid of losing your trust of your friend.

G. There are other American expressions that mean the same thing as “Face the music”.

    People Are People

    Globalization has brought different cultures together in a way unimaginable one hundred years ago. Today, Chinese, Indians, Arabs, Africans, Anglos, and Hispanics may all work in the same offices, attend the same schools or live in the same neighborhoods{#blank#}1{#/blank#} And our society has lately emphasized（强调）the importance of diversity.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}Take the following old proverbs for example.  

    “Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.” Thomas Jefferson, American President

    “One falsehood spoils a thousand truths.” African proverb

    “Be honest to those who are honest, and be also to those who are not honest.” Lao Tzu, Chinese philosopher

    “A sacrifice is written off by a lie and the merit of devotion by an act of cheat.” Hindu saying

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} These seems to be a sort of cultural unity.

    We don't wish to imply all cultures are the same. Cultural diversity is real, and people from different cultures view many situations in different ways. However, historically, different cultures seem to share many common values. They are justice, courage, patience, generosity, equality, mercy and kindness, respect for the elders, and many more. Lying and stealing appear to be wrong no matter where you go. Perhaps some cultures make room for extenuating（情有可原）circumstances more than others; perhaps cultures apply these virtues in different ways; and when values disagree, different cultures may place different levels of importance on them{#blank#}4{#/blank#} But both cultures may still value both.

    To us, it seems as if there is some sort of code of right and wrong that everyone everywhere seems to understand, regardless of culture. It is almost as if, behind all of the diversity, one finds a common understanding – a human culture, if you will – that goes beyond racial, social, and political boundaries.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. All people seem to agree that we should tell the truth.

B. As cultures meet with each other, many differences stand out.

C. Each value supports many more sayings from different cultures.

D. We want to show, however, that there is more to these cultures than diversity.

E. These sayings from four separate cultures all support the same value – honesty.

F. It is almost as if, despite all our differences, we are all still the same – we are just people.

G. In other words, one culture may lean more toward justice and another culture more toward mercy.

How to Avoid Weight Gain Over Holidays

    Do you love the holidays, but hate the pounds that follow? You are not alone. Holidays are times for feasting and celebrating. Many people are worried about their weight.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}Whether you are celebrating at the office party or sitting down for the traditional family dinner, regard eating as a time for tasting a variety of foods. The idea is to enjoy the holidays but not to eat too much. You don't have to turn away from the foods that you enjoy.

    Here are some tips for preventing weight gain and maintaining physical fitness:

    Don't skip meals.

    Before you leave home, have a small, low-fat meal or snack.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Control portions.

    Use a small plate (about 10 inches) and put aside the large ones that may encourage you to "load up."{#blank#}3{#/blank#}Once you have your "tasting" serving, move away from the dining table. Doing so will make it less tempting (吸引人的) to be eating constantly as your appetite is inspired by the sight of food.

    Begin with soup and fruit or vegetables.

    Fill up beforehand with water-based soup and raw fruit or vegetables. Or drink a large glass of water before you eat to help you feel full.

    Stick to physical activity.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}A 20-minute walk after a meal can help burn off additional calories.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    Dishes that look oily or creamy may have a large amount of fat. Choose lean meats. Fill your plate with salad and green vegetables. Use lemon juice instead of dessert or butter.

A. This may help to avoid getting too excited before delicious food.

B. You had better turn your attention away from delicious foods.

C. With proper planning, though, it is possible to keep normal weight during the holidays.

D. You should be most comfortable eating an amount of food about the size of your fist.

E. Avoid high-fat foods.

F. Don't let exercise take a break during the holidays.

G. You'd better remember the Dos and Don'ts for keeping fit and slim.

    Parents often say that they don't mind what their children do in life just as long as they are happy. Happiness and pleasure are almost universally seen as among the most precious human goods.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}Philosopher Jeremy Bentham believed that all sources of pleasure are of equal quality, but John Stuart Mill disagreed. Mill argued for a difference between higher and lower pleasure.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}Lower pleasure, in contrast, requires mere (仅仅的；纯粹的) senses.

    The entire debate assumes a clear divide between the physical and the mental.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}What will it mean for our ideas about pleasure?

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}Food is usually considered to be the lower pleasure. All animals eat, using the senses of smell and taste. It doesn't require any complex cognition (认知) to conclude that something is delicious. However, these people failed to appreciate something that the French food writer Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin captured. That is, "Animals feed; man eats; only the man of intellect(才智) knows how to eat."

    Eating shows that the difference between higher pleasure and lower pleasure is not what you enjoy but how you enjoy it.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}Preparing it using the powers of reflection and attention turns it into a higher pleasure.

A. The dining table is a good place to start.

B. Wolfing down your food is a lower kind of pleasure.

C. What's the real difference between high and low pleasure?

D. What happens if the physical and the mental cannot be separated?

E. All philosophers believed that cookery could never be a form of art.

F. Higher pleasure depends on human abilities such as self-awareness or language use.

G. However, disagreements will be caused about whether some forms of pleasure are better than others.

    It is an old expression about some people who are highly motivated about work in itself with the opposite view of someone who works to live. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} But answering it honestly and accurately is critical to making intelligent career choices, and to your ultimate happiness in life. Unfortunately, many people lack the self-knowledge and realistic expectations necessary to address this vital issue properly.

    Certain people, it is said, live to work. Their lives center on their work or careers and that achievement in their professions is a major source of satisfaction and meaning in their lives {#blank#}2{#/blank#} In some cases, achieving huge levels of pay is considered more as a means of proving your worth than it is for the money itself.

    By contrast, other people work to live. These people view their work or careers largely as toil whose purpose is to earn the money necessary to support themselves and their dependents. Their real interests lie elsewhere. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Some of these people try to cut comers, to gain the maximum pay for the minimum amount of effort. Others do indeed take great pride in their work and put great effort into doing their jobs well, but their jobs simply are not the centers of their lives.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Examples abound of individuals who lose their native passion for work because they cannot find an adequate position or pay in their preferred fields of endeavor. When they settle for jobs in other fields, they often do so strictly for benefits, such as compensation (补偿). {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. It's critical to understand it.

B. Money may not be a motivation.

C. They may develop-a same attitude.

D. And their work or careers are only means to an end, not an end in itself.

E. There is no right or wrong answer to the question of which attitude is better.

F. The answer for a given individual may differ based on his or her circumstances.

G. Many individuals used to work to live but after a change of career start living to work.

Cute Ways to Wake Someone Up over the Phone

    In the morning waking someone up is what many people dislike. However, maybe waking up on a special phone call changes a person's opinion.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} As a result, give a person a special morning wake-up call to start his day off and hopefully improve his view for the rest of the day.

    Playing a Song

    Play a song when your lucky one answers the phone. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} If you don't want to start the day with a bright song, choose his favorite music or one that has a special meaning for the two of you to make sure he'll know at once who is providing his cute wake-up call.

    Making an Impression

    Try out a few expressions to wish your special person a good morning. You can choose a phrase from her favorite movie and imitate (模仿) the actor's voice from the movie.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Joking Around

    Start the morning off with a joke included in your wake-up call. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} No matter how funny you may be, waking someone up before her body is ready is no joke.

    Using Different Languages

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Or go over a few ways to wish your friend a good morning in his native language. For a humorous touch, be creative.

A. Try singing or playing music yourself.

B. You can also choose your favorite line.

C. Choose one that will put a smile on his face.

D. Use any foreign language you are familiar with.

E. Humor, for example, helps improve an individual's view.

F. No matter which type of joke you choose, keep the content lighthearted.

G. You don't want to interrupt your friend or family member's biological clock.