Everyone knows that the Frenchmen are romantic, the Italians are fashionable and the Germans are serious. Are these just stereotypes or is there really such a thing as national character? And if there is, can it affect how a nation succeed or fail?

    At least one group of people is certain that it can. A recent survey of the top 500 entrepreneurs (企业家) in the UK found that 70% felt that their efforts were not appreciated by the British public. Britain is hostile (敌意的) to success, they said. It has a culture of jealousy(嫉妒). {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Jealousy is sometimes known as the “green – eyed monster” and the UK is its home.

    Scientists at War wich University in the UK recently tested this idea. They gathered a group of people together and gave each an imaginary amount of money.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}Those given a little were given the chance to destroy the large amount of money given to others – but at the cost of losing their own. Two thirds of the people tested agreed to do this.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} . But there is also opposite evidence. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development recently reported that the UK is now the world's fourth largest economy. That is not bad for people who are supposed to hate success. People in the UK also work longer hours than anyone else in Europe. So the British people are not lazy, either.

    “It is not really success that the British dislike,” says Carey Cooper, a professor of management at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology. “It's people using their success in a way that seems proud or unfair or which separates them from their roots.”

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} They set out to do things in their way. They work long hours. By their own efforts they become millionaires. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}It hardly seems worth following their example. If they were more friendly, people would like them more. And more people want to be like them.

A. This seems to prove that the entrepreneurs were right to complain.

B. The one who owns most money in the end is the winner.

C. As a result, the survey said, entrepreneurs were “unloved, unwanted and misunderstood.”

D. It is not true that British people are born jealous of others' success.

E. Some were given a little, others a great deal.

F. But instead of being happy they complain that nobody loves them.

G. Perhaps it is the entrepreneurs who are the problem.

    Everyone wants to be self-confident, but maybe we just don't know how to be. Here are some tips on how you can feel more confident about yourself.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Everyone has shortcomings. When you have found your shortcomings, work to overcome them. If you are a shy person, take part in social activities, such as parties, and speak to at least one or two people there.

Second, try to spend more time with positive people. Successful and confident people have their own ways of settling problems. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Third, set goals for yourself. With each goal you achieve, you self-confidence will increase.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}We are afraid that we might lose. Stop thinking like that and give yourself a chance.

    Fourth, start each day with a sense of opportunity. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}Think positively about yourself.

    Actually everyone has his or her own way of becoming confident. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}Friends might have useful suggestions, too.

    In short, as long as you try new things, you are sure to become more confident.

A. You should talk with your friends.

B. Pay attention and learn from them.

C. First, don't think about your weak points.

D. It's not always right to ask friends for help.

E. sometimes we might be afraid of trying new things.

F. First, you should know what your weak points are.

G. Start your day by reading something encouraging.

    Looking back on the first twenty years of my life,I feel grateful to have been so healthy and happy.I'm happy because of many key factors（因素）.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Health comes first for me, because without health everything else is meaningless. Imagine starting a career without good health. Imagine achieving anything without good health.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Good health is not enough to be happy.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}Money obviously pays for the basic necessities of life—food, housing, clothing, etc.—but it is also necessary for other reasons. Money guarantees(保证) we always get good medical treatment when we fall ill. Besides, we can also use money for entertainment that can add to our quality of life.

    Family is another important factor in having a happy life because it provides the love, joy, and support that everyone needs. I love my family with all my heart. I get pleasure from their pleasure. I suffer when they suffer.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} They give me advice when I have misunderstandings with my friends. More importantly, they are always there to share everything with me.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} As long as I stay healthy, work hard to earn enough money and share both good times and bad times with my family,I will always be the happiest girl in the world.

A. Money is the most important factor which contributes to a happy life.

B. These three factors are all that I need and want in this world.

C. My family help me get through worries, pressures and difficulties.

D. We still need to have money in today's society.

E. Finally, I'm quite thankful that I am healthy, wealthy and happy.

F. Clearly, good health is much more important than any other things of one's life.

G. They include my physical health, healthy finances and my family's happiness.

    Although many Chinese students say that their knowledge of English grammar is good, most would admit that their spoken English is poor. Whenever I speak to a Chinese student, they always say, “My spoken English is poor.” {#blank#}1{#/blank#} I would like to suggest that there may be some reasons for their problems with spoken English.

    First, they fail to find suitable words to express themselves due to a limited vocabulary. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}However, you can speak with a limited vocabulary, if you choose a positive attitude. Others will follow you as long as you use the words that you know.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}Sometimes they make mistakes when they are speaking because they are shy and nervous. Yet students should remember that their goal should be FLUENCY NOT ACCURACY. Your aim in writing is to be accurate following the rules for grammar and using the right words and spelling them correctly. However, in speaking your aim is fluency. You want to get your message across, to talk to someone in English, as quickly and as well as you can, even though sometimes you may use a wrong word or tense, but it doesn't matter. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    The third reason is that not enough attention is paid to listening. You have one mouth but two ears! All that hearing is necessary for you to start speaking.

    Fourth, most Chinese students are reactive rather than proactive(主动的) language learners. Instead of actively seeking out opportunities to improve their spoken English they passively wait for speaking opportunities to come to them and wonder why their English always remains poor. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. The person you are speaking to will understand you and make allowances for any mistakes he hears.

B. Obviously the better answer is to expand their vocabulary.

C. They may try to avoid making similar mistakes next time.

D. If you have this proactive outlook, then you will see English opportunities wherever you go.

E. Second, they are afraid of making mistakes.

F. However, their spoken English does not have to remain “poor”!

G. The second reason lies in the reluctance of using what has just been learned.

    Florence Nightingale was named after her birthplace, Florence, Italy. When she was almost a year old, she returned with her family to England.

    Florence often helped her mother deliver(运送) food to the poor and sick.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} Her family was shocked because nursing was not a respected profession.

    But Florence was determined. She studied books on medicine. Later, she visited hospitals in France, Germany and Ireland and learned everything she could.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

In 1854, Britain was at war with Russia. Florence went to the British hospital in Scutari (now Üsküdar in Istanbul) and she was shocked. The hospital left men lying on the floor, and rats were running everywhere.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} Many soldiers died before receiving help.

    The doctors wouldn't listen to Florence because they didn't like the idea of women in army hospitals—until one day 500 unexpected casualties(伤亡者) arrived. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Florence made changes, making sure the men were washed and their injuries were cared for. Every night she would check the patients with her lamp.

    When she returned home after the war, a fund had been set up in her honor. Many of the soldiers she had nursed had made contributions(捐款).Now she could set up the Nightingale Training School in London.

    After years of hard work, Florence Nightingale saw cleaner and more cheerful hospitals.{#blank#}5{#/blank#} All of this was because of the "lady with the lamp".

A.Nursing became an honored profession.

B.There was no running water and no heat.

C.She knew she had much to learn about nursing.

D.Florence saw the soldiers' health had improved.

E.As she grew older, she decided to become a nurse.

F.They soon realized that Florence knew what she was doing.

G.Upon returning home, she was an expert on hospital management.

    12 months ago, we tested most of the drone (无人机) models on the market. Typically models under $100 were very difficult to control even in light wind. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} However in the last few months, a cheap drone model called the DroneX pro has been receiving a lot of praise among experts.

    Why is this extremely high quality drone so cheap?

    The DroneX Pro was designed by two engineers and drone lovers. They did lots of research and came to a shocking conclusion. The high-quality technology in most expensive brand drones comes mostly from the SAME supplier companies and was quite inexpensive. In other words? {#blank#}2{#/blank#} it's because the cost of advertising the brand name itself is very high.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Intelligent flight modes enable the drone to land safely and make 3D spins & other cool flips.

    The high-quality hidden 3-axis gimbal (三轴万向节)is able to stabilize the camera even at high speed for sharp images and jitter-free video. Even with wind, the videos are razor-sharp in real-time transmission from your environment -like a HD live stream.

    The wide-angle lens provides 100mbps ultra-HD images for wonderful and crystal clear images.

    When folded up, the drone is barely larger than a fist. It fits in every belt bag and in every backpack! You do not need a film crew when flying the DroneX Pro.

Why is this drone so popular?

    This drone costs only a small part of the price of professional brand drones. It comes in a sleek and compact design and can be taken anywhere. It is also quiet in the air and has an improved flight time.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Flying feels very natural. Even a first time drone flyer can learn to use it in a matter of minutes. It is unbelievable how easy to fly the drone is thanks to its included controller.

    Our conclusion

    This brilliant new drone is taking the world by storm. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} the best el ling gift in 2019.

A. This cheap drone might be the best selling gift in 2019.

B. Their camera also struggles to deliver high-quality photos and videos.

C. Is this inexpensive drone really as good as the experts are saying?

D. What makes the DroneX Pro so special?

E. That means they're able to offer a world class quality drone at an incredibly low price.

F. The reason why brand name drones are so expensive isn't because of their technology.

G. This drone makes beginners look like professionals.