In all one's lifetime it is oneself that one spends the most time being with or dealing with. But it is exactly oneself that one has the least understanding of. When you are going upwards in life you tend to overestimate yourself. It seems that everything you seek for is within your reach. When you are going downhill you tend to underestimate yourself, mistaking difficulties for your own incompetence. To get a thorough understanding of oneself is to gain a correct view of oneself-aware of both one's strengths and shortages. You may look forward hopefully to the future but be sure not to expect too much, for ideals can never be fully realized. You may be courageous to meet challenges but it should be clear to you where to direct your efforts. That's to say so long as you have a perfect knowledge of yourself there won't be difficulties you can't overcome. To get a thorough understanding of oneself needs self-appreciation. Whether you think you are a towering tree or a blade of grass, a high mountain or a small stone, you represent a state of nature that has its own value. If you earnestly admire yourself you'll have a real sense of self-appreciation, which will give you confidence. As soon as you gain full confidence in yourself, you'll be enabled to fight and overcome any adversity. To get a thorough understanding of oneself also requires doing oneself a favor when it's needed. In time of sadness, do yourself a favor by sharing it with your friends so as to change a gloomy mood into a cheerful one; in time of tiredness, do yourself a favor by getting a good sleep. As you are aware, what a person physically has is but a human body that's vulnerable when exposed to the elements. So if you fall ill, it's up to you to take a good care of yourself. In a word, to get a thorough understanding of oneself is to get a full control of one's life. Then one will find one's life full of color and flavor. Having a real sense of self-appreciation can enable one _ . A) to realize one's shortages B) not to be too proud C) to gain enough self-confidence D) not to go downhill
C
(Question)
I believe children have a very pure sense of humor. Well, I would like to share my experiences with you. The other day when I was out with a friend and her daughter Jane at a restaurant, Jane ordered an apple dessert, which was the most attractive dish in that restaurant. However, when she had a bite of the pie, she shouted loudly, "Mom, why does it look good but tastes like rubber?" My friend was uneasy. Then the waiter gave us another dish. A child can say funny things. I was at a friend's home for tea and her son, Mark, wanted her to get up. His mom replied, "I can't, because my foot has fallen asleep now." Little Mark then sang a song and asked, "Mom, will it wake up now?" We laughed together. The other day we were having an interesting conversation over lunch and my friend, an animal activist , was arguing with another group member. Her son Tommy suddenly stood up, "Mom, people should never be allowed to shoot extinct animals!" That was funny and the child did manage to turn the argument into a pleasant conversation. Well, children sometimes really surprise us. I think we can have a lot to learn from them. They can help us understand the simple world through their eyes. What Tommy said made the whole group _ . A) have a pleasant conversation B) stop their conversation C) all argue with him at once D) stand up and laugh happily
(Answer)
A
Ques: Most great singers have had learnt singing lessons since childhood. Occasionally, though, a great voice comes through untrained, a voice that is unbelievably, naturally beautiful. Mahalia Jackson had such a voice. Without having had a lesson, she was able to attract listeners with her magnificent voice that never seemed forced or pretended. Mahalia Jackson was a gospel singer. She preferred to sing the soul music or folk songs rather than popular songs or rocks. Since financial rewards didn't concern her, she refused many opportunities to become wealthy. She sang for the simple country people and also for the rich, sometimes. But she never changed her style or her point of view. At one point, after some discussions, her husband advised her to try out for a regular stage role. Then, she reluctantly paid 2. 5 dollars for a song sheet and went to the interview. All the judges agreed to offer her the part, for they were highly impressed. At this point, however ,her husband got a job ,and she turned down the offer. She wanted to go on singing at concerts. Mahalia Jackson was a down-to-earth person, showing no self-pride. She considered her singing talent a gift from God and accepted it humbly. She would help box-office clerks and would even help sell tickets out front, if necessary. Therefore ,she was loved by people around her. Perhaps Mahalia Jackson's greatest moment was singing "The Star-Spangled Banner" at President John F. Kennedy's inauguration The national anthem may never have been sung better. After all her success, Mahalia Jackson always remained _ A) critical B) modest C) shy D) uncertain
Ans: B
Scientists have transformed men's minds into avirtual woman's body in an experiment that could throw light upon how humans distinguish themselves form others. In a study at Barcelona University, men wore a virtual reality headset that allowed them to see and hear the world as a female character. When they looked down, they could even see their new body and clothes. The "body-swapping" effect was so convincing that the men's sense of self was transferred into the virtual woman, causing them to react to events in the virtual world they wereimmersed . "This work opens up another avenue for virtual reality, which is not just to transform your sense of place, but also your sense of self," said Mel Slater, "If you can temporarily give people the illusion that their bodies are different, then the evidence suggests it also affects their behavior and the way they think. They can have new experiences: a person who is thin can know what it is like to be fat. A man can have an experience of what it's like to be a woman." During the experiment, a "female" approached and hit the face of the character another man was playing. "Their reaction was immediate," said Slate. "They would take in a quick breath and maybeflinch . The more people reported being in the girl's body, the stronger physical reaction they had." But in all cases, the feeling was temporary and lasted only as long as the study. The study shows that our minds have a very fluid picture of our bodies. The research is expected to shed light on the puzzle of how our brain tells the difference between a part of our own body and something else in the wider world. Thus the work might improve the conditions for those who have experienced strokes by placing them in a world that helps them to use their bodies to the full again. How can a man's mind get into a woman's body? A) by distinguishing themselves from women B) by taking part in an activity actively C) by wearing a special device D) by transforming his sense of place
C