Several years ago, I read a book Your Money or Your Life, written by Joe Domingguez and Vicki Robin. The major theme of the book is the idea that if you want to cut your spending, you’ll have to begin by stopping trying to impress other people.
The authors divide people into two groups : people whose opinions you care about, and people whose opinions you don’t care about one way or another. It’s easy to stop caring about people whose opinions you don’t care about. Who cares what they think ? As long as you’re not doing something truly immoral —— something that might potentially create a negative reputation for you —— it doesn’t matter what they think.
But shouldn’t you impress other people whose opinions you do care about ? Anyway, they are people you want to meet : customers, friends and family.
The answer is that you don’t need to impress those people with expensive, shiny things. The relationship you’ve built with them —— or you’re going to build with them —— is based on you, not on the material items. They’ll either like you for you or they won’t.
To put it simply, take care of the basics. Keep yourself clean. Keep your weight under control. Wear reasonable clothing. Work on your communication skills. If you have them covered, you don’t need to invest time and money in impressing other people.
Coming to this realization is incredibly valuable. It drops your clothing budget. It drops your automobile budget. It drops your electronics budget. It drops your housing budget. You don’t need a shiny car, an iPhone, or a $50 haircut.
Yes , you may actually still want one or two of these things, but the impetus(动力) comes from what your personal values are, not what other people around you seem to value or what marketing messages you receive.
For some people, it seems impossible. Their social cues come from advertising-laden media and from friends who also get their cues from advertising-laden media.They believe they need a slick cellphone and $100 casual clothes. Their self-worth revolves around that little burst they get from impressing others.
People should learn to break through that situation. In short, don’t play socially by the tiring old rules that revolve around needing to impress people. Instead, spend your time on things that bring real value to you and give real value to others.
66. Which of the following behaviours is “immoral”according to the second paragraph ?
A. Caring about other people’s opinion. B. Dropping your clothing budget.
C. Copying existing works. D. Obeying the traffic rule.
67. To build relationship with others, you should pay attention to the following EXEPT _______.
A. dressing casually B. learning about weight control
C. improving communication skills D. being a tidy person
68. As for people we care about, what does the author advise us to do ?
A. To impress them in a proper way. B. To buy them special gifts.
C. To spare more time to be with them. D. To impress them with shiny things.
69. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage ?
A. An iPhone is totally unnecessary in our life.
B. Your family members’opinions are always worth caring about.
C. Learning how to impress others helps people save money.
D. You should always be aware of what other people around you seem to value.
70. What is the best title for the passage ?
A. Whose opinions do you care about ? B. Two different groups of people.
C. My favorite book : Your Money or Your Life D. Stop trying to impress other people.
科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
There was a time in my life when beauty meant something special to me. I guess that would have been when I was about six or seven ye ars old, just several weeks or maybe a month before the orphanage turned me into an old man.
I would get up every morning at the orphanage, make my bed just like the little soldier that I had become and then I would get into one of the two straight lines and march to breakfast with the other twenty or thirty boys who also lived in my dormitory.
After breakfast one Saturday morning I returned to the dormitory and saw the house parent chasing the beautiful monarch butterflies who lived by the hundreds in the azalea (杜鹃花) bushes strewn around the orphanage.
I carefully watched as he caught these beautiful creatures, one after the other, and then took them from the net and then stuck straight pins through their head and wings, pinning them onto a heavy cardboard sheet.
How cruel it was to kill something of such beauty. I had walked many times out into the bushes, all by myself, just so the butterflies could land on my head, face and hands so I could look at them up close.
Every year when the butterflies would return to the orphanage and try to land on me I would try and shoo (用"嘘"声赶走,吓走)them away because they did not know that the orphanage was a bad place to live and a very bad place to die.
1. According to the passage, how did the author find the orphanage?
A. A favorable place to live. B. A bad place to live.
C. A comfortable place for butterflies. D. A favorable place for the old.
2. How did the people go to their meals?
A. By car. B. On foot. C. Queuing in two ways. D. Any way they wanted.
3. Which of the following statements is TRUE, according to the passage?
A. I love everything of beauty when I was old.
B. The people in the orphanage stand in line doing everything.
C. The azalea bushes were planted by the people living in the orphanage.
D. I shooed the butterflies away because I didn’t want them to be killed.
4. What can we infer from the first two paragraphs?
A. I love beauty when I was about six or seven years old.
B. I became old very soon in the orphanage.
C. I had a very pleasant time in the orphanage.
D. I was tired with the life the way I lived in the orphanage.
5. What does the author think of the house parent?
A. Pitiless. B. Kind. C. Lovable. D. Beautiful.
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科目:高中英语 来源:2012-2013学年海南省琼海市高三下学期第一次月考英语试卷(解析版) 题型:阅读理解
Faced with a tough job market, fresh graduates are dreaming of running their own businesses instead.But a recent survey has showed that such ambitions lack the required support and remain just that---dreams.
The Shanghai Municipal Employment Promotion Center poll of 1,276 graduates in several universities and colleges in the city, released last Friday, showed 59.78 percent of respondents considered the possibility of setting up a company or at least a small store.“But they just stop at the‘thinking’stage,” it stated.
Respondents put the top reasons for not going it alone down to a shortage of investment and a lack of business opportunity.They also listed lack of business experience and social networks, the need to advanced study and objections from family members as factors that stood in their way.
More than 90 percent of the interviewees said they would rather take up a job after graduating and then consider starting their own business two or three years down the road.
Guo Bing, a senior student in Shanghai International Studies University majoring in English, decided he wanted to be his own boss last year.But he is looking for a job first.“If I fail to find a satisfying job, I would like to establish a company in exhibition services,” Guo said.The Shanghai native has some relatives working in a local printing plant.With their help, Guo hopes to produce exhibition brochures(小册子) at a relatively low price.He is also confident that his English language skills can help him do well in the industry.
“Social networking is an important factor leading to business success,” Guo said.
Guo said that the shortage of graduate jobs is the main reason driving more university students to set up a business right after their graduation.
Jiang Ye, deputy director of Yangpu District Business Guide Center, said the universitysets up a business guide team made of government officials and professionals.They
regularly give training courses to students who show an interest in having their own business.
The parents of university graduates are more willing to help their children start up alone, the survey showed."Once you win the support of your family, you have won half the battle," Guo added.
1.Which of the following can be the best title?
A.A Tough Job Market B.Graduates Dream of Being Boss
C.The Ambitious Fresh Graduates D.The Story of Guo Bing
2.In the view of Guo Bing, what is the key factor that makes fresh graduates dream of being boss soon after graduation?
A.Their family don't support them. B.Their social networking is not good.
C.There are not enough graduate jobs. D.They want to achieve greater success.
3.Who is this article mostly intended for?
A.The parents whose child goes to university soon.
B.Those who will graduate from university.
C.Those who want to be bosses.
D.The officials who work in the government.
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科目:高中英语 来源:2014届山西省高二上学期期末联考英语试卷(解析版) 题型:阅读理解
Zhang Lili, a 29-year-old middle school teacher at the No 19 middle school in the city of Jiamusi in Northeast China’s Heilongjiang province was crossing the road just outside the school’s gate when a school bus suddenly came rushing toward nearby students at 8:38 pm on May 8, 2012.
“There were three buses at the school gate ready to pick up students, but the one in the back suddenly crashed into the second bus and pushed it into the first one. There were several students standing between the first and the second buses and they were about to be crushed,” said Liu Ye, a student of No.19 middle school.
“We were waiting to board the bus when suddenly it began moving toward the teachers and students. Zhang Lili immediately pushed the students out of the way, but unfortunately she didn't escape. The bus crushed her legs.” added Liu.
Zhang Lili was sent to hospital at about 9 pm and she was critically injured and her blood pressure was low. The situation was quite serious when rushed to hospital.
After consulting specialists, the doctors decided that the only way to save her life was cut off both of her legs.
Upon learning about the accident, the deputy mayor of the city, Sun Zhe, asked the hospital to “save the young teacher regardless of the cost”
“If necessary, we will invite more specialists from the capital city, even from the whole nation,” said Sun.
Fortunately, after 58 hours of emergency medical attention after being transferred to the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Zhang finally regained consciousness on May 15.
“But it cannot be ruled out that her condition may worsen, and the doctors are still working full out to save the heroic teacher,” said Zhao Mingyan, ICU director at the hospital, where Zhang is now receiving treatment. “Her courage moved all of our staff, and we will try our best to help the brave teacher in her future life.” said Wang Jianwei, the director of center.
The Ministry of Education has also named her “National Outstanding Teacher” and called on the country’s educators to learn from her.
1.What does the underlined word “it” in the third paragraph refers to ________.
A.the bus in the back B.the bus in the middle
C.the bus in the front D.the third bus
2.What can be inferred from the remark of the deputy Mayor Sun Zhe?
A.Every possible means is being carried out to save the brave teacher.
B.It’s increasingly difficult to save the brave teacher.
C.The only way to save the brave teacher is to cut off her legs.
D.No more experts will be needed in the operation to save the brave teacher.
3.What does the underlined sentence in the ninth paragraph attempt to tell us?
A.The woman teacher’s condition will definitely get worse.
B.It is obvious that the woman teacher will recover shortly after.
C.There is little possibility that the woman teacher’s condition will improve.
D.It’s likely that the teacher will suffer from a worse medical condition.
4.Which of the following might be the best title for this passage?
A.National Outstanding Teacher B.A Heroic Teacher
C.An Example of Top Teachers D.An bus accident
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科目:高中英语 来源:2013届四川省成都市高二5月月考英语试卷(解析版) 题型:阅读理解
Zhang Lili, a 29-year-old middle school teacher at the No 19 middle school in the city of Jiamusi in Northeast China's Heilongjiang province was crossing the road just outside the school's gate when a school bus suddenly came rushing toward nearby students at 8:38 pm on May 8, 2012.
"There were three buses at the school gate ready to pick up students, but the one in the back suddenly crashed into the second bus and pushed it into the first one. There were several students standing between the first and the second buses and they were about to be crushed," said Liu Ye, a student of No. 19 middle school.
"We were waiting to board the bus when suddenly it began moving toward the teachers and students. Zhang Lili immediately pushed the students out of the way, but unfortunately she didn't escape. The bus crushed her legs. " added Liu.
Zhang Lili was sent to hospital at about 9 pm and she was critically injured and her blood pressure was low. The situation was quite serious when rushed to hospital.
After consulting specialists, the doctors decided that the only way to save her life was cut off both of her legs.
Upon learning about the accident, the deputy mayor of the city, Sun Zhe, asked the hospital to "save the young teacher regardless of the cost"
"If necessary, we will invite more specialists from the capital city, even from whole nation," said Sun.
Fortunately, after 58 hours of emergency medical attention after being transferred to the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Zhang finally regained consciousness on May 15.
"But it cannot be ruled out that her condition may worsen, and the doctors are still working full out to save the heroic teacher," said Zhao Mingyan, ICU director at the hospital, where Zhang is now receiving treatment.
"Her courage moved all of our staff, and we will try our best to help the brave teacher in her future life. " said Wang Jianwei, the director of center.
The Ministry of Education has also named her "National Outstanding Teacher" and called on the country's educators to learn from her.
1.What does the underlined word “it” in the third paragraph refers to ________.
A.the bus in the back |
B.the bus in the middle |
C.the bus in the front |
D.the third bus |
2.What can be inferred from the remark of the deputy Mayor Sun Zhe?
A.Every possible means is being carried out to save the brave teacher. |
B.It’s increasingly difficult to save the brave teacher. |
C.The only way to save the brave teacher is to cut off her legs. |
D.No more medical experts will be needed in the operation to save the brave teacher. |
3.What does the underlined sentence in the ninth paragraph attempt to tell us?
A.The woman teacher’s condition will definitely get worse. |
B.There is little possibility that the woman teacher’s condition will improve. |
C.It is obvious that the woman teacher will recover shortly after. |
D.It’s likely that the woman teacher will suffer from a worse medical condition. |
4.Which of the following might be the best title for this passage?
A.National Outstanding Teacher |
B.A Heroic Teacher |
C.An Example of Top Teachers |
D.An bus accident |
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科目:高中英语 来源:2009年高考试题(浙江卷)解析版 题型:阅读理解
In ancient Egypt, the pharaoh(法老) treated the poor message runner like a prince when he arrived at the palace, if he brought good news. However, if the exhausted runner had the misfortune to bring the pharaoh unhappy news, his head was cut off.
Shades of that spirit spread over today’s conversations. Once a friend and I packed up some peanut butter and sandwiches for an outing. As we walked light-heartedly out the door, picnic basket in hand, a smiling neighbor looked up at the sky and said, “Oh boy, bad day for a picnic. The weatherman says it’s going to rain.” I wanted to strike him on the race with the peanut butter and sandwiches. Not for his stupid weather report, for his smile.
Several months ago I was racing to catch a bus. As I breathlessly put my handful of cash across the Greyhound counter, the sales agent said with a broad smile, “Oh that bus left rive minutes ago.” Dreams of head-cutting!
It’s not the news that makes someone angry. It’s the unsympathetic attitude with which it’s delivered. Everyone must give bad mews from time to time, and winning professionals do it with the proper attitude. A. doctor advising a patient that she needs an operation dose it in a caring way A. boss informing an employee he didn’t get the job takes on a sympathetic tone. Big winners know, when delivering any bad news, they should share the feeling of the receiver.
Unfortunately, many people are not aware of this. When you’re tired from a long flight, has a hotel clerk cheerfully said that your room isn’t ready ye? When you had your heart set on the toast beef, has your waiter merrily told you that he just served the last piece? It makes you as traveler or diner want to land your fist right on their unsympathetic faces.
Had my neighbor told me of the upcoming rainstorm with sympathy, I would have appreciated his warning. Had the Greyhound salesclerk sympathetically informed me that my bus had already left, I probably would have said, “Oh, that’s all right. I’ll catch the next one.” Big winners, when they bear bad news, deliver bombs with the emotion the bombarded (被轰炸的) person is sure to have .
1.In Paragraph 1, the writer tells the story of the pharaoh to .
A. make a comparison B. introduce a topic C. describe a scene D. offer an argument
2.In the writer’s opinion, his neighbor was _____________.
A. friendly B. warm-hearted C. not considerate D. not helpful
3.From “Dreams of head-cutting!”(Paragraph 3), we learn that the writer .
A. was mad at the sales agent.
B. was reminded of the cruel pharaoh
C. wished that the sales agent would have had dreams.
D. dreamed of cutting the sales agent’s head that night.
4.What is the main idea of the text?
A. Delivering bad news properly is important in communication.
B. Helping others sincerely is the key to business success.
C. Receiving bad news requires great courage.
D. Learning ancient traditions can be useful.
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