A. The mistaken belief 

B. The need for tolerance 

C. Unpunctuality at dinners

D. Punctuality and confidence 

E. Self-discipline and punctuality 

F. Avoid anxiety by being punctual 

1      

2.   

        To be punctual one has to have self-discipline(自律), and the lack of it affects others. A school boy or girl is unpunctual because he or she does not have the necessary human virtue of self-discipline. It is also a mark of disrespect for a system or an institution. Unpunctual people seldom realise that their habit cause problems to others. A salesman who is not punctual may not make a sale if he arrives late for an appointment. If one is late for a job interview, it is not likely that he will get the job.

3.       

        Being punctual, we can avoid anxiety. Imagine the anxiety if you do not want to be considered unpunctual. You will be anxious if you 

set out for a dinner late. The person who sets out late might be careless in driving. He will ignore traffic rules. A traffic jam, flat tyres, etc.

 can delay him further. Happy and calm is the man who takes all these possibilities into consideration and arrives at the appointment either

 early or on time.

4.    

        Many of those who attend dinners are notorious (声名狼藉的)for unpunctuality. They ignore the appointed time and leave their homes only after the fixed time. They are indifferent to the inconvenience caused to others. If the self-centred guest arrives late, the nine others at the table set for ten will have to wait. The host is put in an unpleasant situation and this man seldom thinks of the inconvenience caused to all -the waiters, the management staff, etc. It is necessary for us to think of others and be considerate to them.

5.     

        In modern society, punctuality is a necessary virtue. It is a recognition of the importance of other people.  

A: I need to lose some weight. My clothes don’t fit anymore. 

B: Well, instead of watching TV all day, you could do more exercise.

A: 

B: Like cycling, or you could work out at the gym.

A: I don’t have time.  

B: OK, then you could change your diet.  

A: You mean no more hamburgers! Oh no!

B: OK.  

A . Like what ?
B. I’m too busy .
C. What should I do?
D. Some more hamburgers?
E. Buy some larger clothes then.
F. That's a good idea. Thanks a lot.
G. Eat something healthier, like fruit.

（1.）

    The ancient Greeks were very good at making conversations, and the greatest talker of them all was philosopher Socrates. His pupil, Plato, recorded some of his supposed conversations, and we read them in ‘The dialogues' of Plato. In many classrooms today, Socrates' method of teaching is used.

（2.）

    The best talkers appear to have a great interest in and love for their fellow creatures; a curiosity about the world in general; some powers of observation and reflection; respect for their own opinions and tolerance for those of others; and quick thinking. And they talked for the fun of it, not to show off their knowledge.

（3.）

    A good voice must have the help of good speech, whose two assistants are clear enunciation(清晰发音)and correct pronunciation. Poor enunciation may suggest to your listeners that you lack consideration, and that you are not especially concerned about their opinion of you.

（4.）

    Pronunciation is settled by common agreement of the community or group speaking the particular language or dialect. For standard pronunciation of words, a dictionary is your best friend. The usage of words is somewhat the same as pronunciation. To be accurate in your use of words is very important in your conversation. Dictionaries usually provide the usage of words. So whenever you meet with new words, it is a good idea to look them up in the dictionary.

（5.）

    Think of meeting a stranger as a chance to have a good time to talk, to make a friend. Look with a smile directly into the other's eyes when you are introduced, and shake hands with a firm, friendly clasp. This will give you confidence. Then try to have a smooth and pleasant conversation with him.

A． Strong Is Your Hold

This book was written by Galway Kinnell, who spent many years in finishing the book．Kinnell's first collection of new poems in more than a decade revisits themes of marriage, friendship and death, with long, loose lines reminiscent of Whitman．It is popular with the people who are interested in literature．

B． The Letter

The murder of a television star appears to be the work of thieves who are quickly caught．But they escape from prison and a young lawyer says she knows who the real criminals are．Written with intelligence, this story is so fast-moving that it demands the reader's complete attention．

C． London Alive

This author of many famous novels has now turned to writing short stories with great success．The stories tell of Londoners' daily lives and happen in eighteen different places——for example, one story takes place at a table in a cafe, another in the back of a taxi and another in a hospital．

D． Gone West

A serious look at one of the least-known regions of the United States．The author describes the empty villages which thousands left when they were persuaded by the railway companies to go west in search of new lives．The author manages to provide many interesting details about their history．

E．Cutting for Stone

This book was written by Abraham Verghese．It is a powerful story about twin brothers born in a Catholic hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia． Their mother, an Indian nurse at the hospital, dies in childbirth．The brothers are raised by two Indian doctors who live at the hospital．One brother later moves to the United States．This is a story about the extremes of love, family, and medicine．

F．Jane Eyre

There is great kindness and warmth in this love story．Poor and plain as Jane Eyre is, she has a strong will, sharp wisdom and great courage．She is forced to battle against a harsh employer and a rigid social order．Yet she is never defeated． Standing on her feet, she gains her own happiness in the end．

请阅读以下读者的相关信息，然后匹配他/她感兴趣的书籍：

⒈Takumi doesn't have much free time so he reads short stories which he can finish quickly．He likes reading stories about ordinary people and the things that happen to them in today's world．

⒉Terresha Houghs has read widely since she was in university．She can recite most of essays and poems she has read, especially poems from Leaves of Grass．She is fond of traditional themes in poetry and still keeps her habits of reciting poems．

⒊Ali enjoys reading crime stories which are carefully written so that they hold his interest right to the end． He enjoys trying to guess who the criminal really is while he's reading．

⒋Lucy is a quiet girl who likes to read in a quiet corner in the library．Her favorite stories are those with characters brave enough to face and overcome difficulties in life．

⒌Charlie, who attends college in the Midwest, majors in medicine．He is fond of reading stories about family and love, especially those related to his future career．

    At times, our worries and anxieties can defeat us. Here is a brief list of techniques that you can use to help gain a better viewpoint on things during the anxious moments.

     A person should take a deep breath and try to find something to do for a few minutes to get their mind off the problem. A person could get some fresh air, listen to some music, or do an activity that will give them a fresh perspective on things.

    Remember that our fearful thoughts are made to seem worse and can make the problem worse. When unexpectedly having thoughts that make you fearful or anxious, challenge these thoughts by asking yourself positive questions that will maintain objectivity and common sense.

    Be smart in how you deal with fears and anxieties. Do not try to deal with everything all at once. When facing a current or upcoming task that makes you anxious, break the task into small ones.

    Remember that all the worrying in the world will not change anything. Most of what you worry about never comes true.  Then you should leave everything else in the hands of God.

    It is not easy to deal with all the fears and worries. When your fears and anxieties have the best of you, try to calm down and then get the facts of the situation. The key is to take it slow. All you can do is doing your best each day, hope for the best, and when something does happen, take it easy. Take it one step at a time and things will work out well at last.

A. When feeling anxious, stop what you are doing and try to do something relaxing.

B. This will give you the confidence to manage your anxiety.

C. Instead of worrying about something that probably won't happen, concentrate on what you are able to do.

D. The next time you fell depressed, review your list and think about the good things that you have in your life.

E. A good way to manage your worry is to challenge your negative thinking with positive statements and realistic thinking.

F. In addition, our worries can change our understanding of what is reality and what is not.

G. Completing these smaller tasks once at a time will make the stress more manageable and increase your chances of success.

Doctor: Good morning, Sir.

Johnson: Yes, doctor.  I'm always tired but when I go to bed I can't sleep.

Doctor: 

Johnson: Since I started my new job two months ago.

Doctor: What is your job?

Johnson: I'm in advertising. 

Doctor: It depends. How many hours do you work?

Johnson: About 80 hours a week

Doctor: . Do you often take exercise?

Johnson: Not very often.  .

Doctor; Well, you do need to find some time.  Try to work less, or look for a more stress-free job.

A. That's a lot!

B. I like my job.

C. Does it matter?

D. How can I help you?

E. I don't have the time.

F. What time do you usually go to bed?

G. How long have you had this problem?

    Eating together as a family is a rare thing these days.Once I start my own family, I'll definitely do anything possible to establish a tradition of eating together as a family. Here's why.

    When you eat together as a family each day, your children will learn to respect both parents. They know you two are busy, but still find time to share meals with them.

    Learn good table manners

    When you have small kids, eating together as a family is an easy way to show and teach them good table manners, of course, if yours are good.,how to be on time so that other family members don't starve, and how to behave at the table. You want to be proud of your grown-up kids, don't you?

    Create wonderful memories

    .They will know how important it is to eat together as a family, and will definitely teach their kids to do the same. Your family tradition of sharing meals together as a family will pass down from generation to generation.

    There are many benefits of eating together as a family that many of us didn't even think about. Teach your children to appreciate family time and food, and show them how to behave well at the table. .

A. Respect both Mom and Dad

B. Your children will learn when it's best to eat

C. They will thank you down the road

D. Parents are always busy and kids have their own plans

E. When you eat together, you do eat those healthy meals too

F. When your children grow up, they will never forget those funny and precious family mealtimes

G. It's an excellent opportunity to become a family unit and improve your relationship with kids

    Are you truly happy? Do you ever know what it means to be happy and what it takes to achieve happiness?   The following are a few tips that I follow to create happiness in my life.

    Make a plan for attaining goals that you believe will make you happy. Your mood will very likely increase if you are going after something you value.

    Surround yourself with happy people. It is easy to begin to think negatively when you are surrounded by people who think that way.

    When something goes wrong, try to figure out a solution instead of being absorbed in self-pity. Truly happy people don't allow setbacks to affect their mood because they know that with a little thought they ran turn the circumstances back to their favor.

     These few minutes will give you the opportunity to focus on the positive things in your life and will lead you to continuous happiness.

     Whether you treat yourself to lunch, take a long, relaxing hath or simply spend a few extra minutes on your appearance, you will be subconsciously putting yourself in a better mood.

    Keeping healthy is another way to achieve happiness. 

    A rejection letter is one of those letters that are not very easy to write.. For example, organizations usually have to send rejection letters to applicants they cannot hire. So how to write a rejection letter?

    Make the words professional and proper

    What matters most in a rejection letter is the professional tone and wording. Instead, your choice of words should make the reader feel that he or she would do the same thing if they were in your place.

    Keep it clear and simple

    . Nobody likes to read a long, winding rejection letter. Therefore, it is better to deliver the message of rejection in the beginning itself. Clearly state that you have decided to reject the request or application. Don't beat about the bush and don't try to give the impression that your decision could change. Explain why your decision is good for everyone.

    Conclude with a statement of goodwill(友好). You may have rejected this application, but if you intend to consider this person for another job in the future, you may express that as well. However, that isn't always necessary. In some situations such endings might offend(冒犯) the reader.

    Living with other people can be difficult, especially when each person has their own ideas about how they want to live. . Taking a few simple steps will help you share your living space harmoniously.

    Discuss your expectations ahead of time.

    . This applies to finances, food, possessions, use of common areas, loud activities or parties, quiet hours, and so on.

    Divide responsibilities.

    Make a plan to divide up responsibilities and chores（家常杂务）between you and your roommate. For example, if your roommate is a good cook and you are not, . It may also be a good idea to set up a chores schedule, where you will take turns cleaning the bathroom, raking out the trash and so on.

    .

    Not everyone has the same ideas about day to day living as you do. Take your roommate's feelings into consideration. For instance, if you are dying to throw a party on Thursday night but your roommate has a final early the next morning, agree to postpone the party till Friday evening, instead.

    Communicate effectively.

    Communication is key in making the relationship work. If a problem comes up, it's better to talk about it right away than to ignore it. For example, say “Chris, it upsets me when I wake up to find all the milk gone. If you use the last of something, can you please add it to the list?” If you simply cannot communicate openly and there is tension all the time,.

Digitalization could Pay Off in Health and Sustainability

With technology permeating (渗透) everything we do, it has led to a significant transformation in the workplace — specifically, how, where, who is working and what work employees do. The speed of change across industries has also caused greater uncertainty as many businesses rethink the way they manage their talent and real estate.

For one, automation and artificial intelligence will change many job functions—particularly jobs and tasks that are manual or process driven. Research has found that the future workforce will be divided into three parts；core employees，freelancers（自由职业者）and consultants．Core employees will be concentrated in smaller and fewer locations, ideally in central business districts with transportation and amenities(便利设施) concentrated nearby —reducing their energy and resource usage. This smaller core workforce could mean smaller office footprints requiring less energy from power and less waste produced. In parallel, the appearance of the “liquid workforce”— freelancers, consultants and more — means potentially less commuting(通勤) and perhaps a cleaner way of working. The need for flexibility to accommodate the uncertain operating environment and more project-based work could require possibly less material and waste in the building process.

We've seen how many forward-thinking organizations have already adopted more efficient real estate management in the form of smart buildings and smart offices. This is essentially powered by the Internet of Things(物联网) to drive efficiency and real-time optimization (最优化）of building operations such as automatic monitoring and optimization of air conditioning— of particular interest in Asia, where indoor as well as outdoor air quality is a long-time issue.

    Some features of smart buildings and workplaces also announce a shift to a less paper-based workplace. Companies are also accepting a whole view of sustainability. They're thinking about more than cost-savings or making the most of space. They are considering creating a healthy, fulfilling, and productive environment for employees.

We now speak about healthy buildings instead of simply sustainable ones. In fact, the World Green Building Council now promotes the concept of healthy green buildings—buildings that are not only environmentally sensitive but also provide for the well-being of staff. For instance, buildings with more access to nature and greenery make a significant difference to workers. A survey done last year found that over 90% of those surveyed felt more productive and creative with access to fresh air, indoor light, healthy food, fitness centers and even mental health services.

    Overall, the drive towards a digitized workplace and improved employee experience could just lead us to a healthier, happier life and a more sustainable future.

    Do you know Australia? Australia is the largest island in the world. It is a little smaller than China. It is in the south of the earth. The population of Australia is nearly as large as that of Shanghai. The cities in Australia have got little air or water pollution. You can clearly see fish swimming in the rivers. Plants grow very well.

    Last month we visited Perth, the biggest city in Western Australia, and went to a wild flowers' exhibition. There we saw a large number of wild flowers we had never seen before. We had a wonderful time. In spring every year Perth has the wild flowers' exhibition.

    After visiting Perth, we spent the day in the countryside. We sat down and had a rest near a path at the foot of a hill. Suddenly we heard bells ringing at the top of the hill. What we saw made us pick up all our things and run back to the car as quickly as we could. There were about three hundred sheep coming towards us down the path. After a short drive from any town, you will find yourself in the middle of white sheep. Sheep, sheep, everywhere are sheep.

A. The people of Australia are very hard-working.

B. Australia is the sixth largest country in the world.

C. Australia is famous for its sheep and kangaroos.

D. Australia is big, but its population is not large.

E. Perth is famous for its beautiful wild flowers.

F. The sky is blue and the water is clean.

G. It was quiet and we enjoyed ourselves.

                   How to make friends at a new school

    Starting with a new school can be difficult. Everything seems to be different, and you don't even know where to go for your own classes.However, if you use these skills, you can quickly turn some of those strangers into friends.

Be yourself.

    If some people don't accept you, they're not the kind of friends you need. People often stay together because they have similar interests. For example, someone who does a lot of sport may make friends with those who also run or swim a lot. 

    Remember to be nice to the people you meet at your new school. If you think that you will say something that may make them feel sad, do not say anything and just nod your head if they talk to you. Also, remember to be as helpful as possible!

Believe in yourself.

    A smile goes a long way. When you walk in the halls, don't keep your eyes on the floor. Raise your head and make eye contact (目光接触) with other people.Introduce yourself. Tell them your name and where you're from.

Remember people's names.

    You like it when people use your name, and so do other people.Besides, ask them in a kind way if they have a nickname (昵称). You'd be surprised how often this might come in handy.

A. Be friendly to others.

B. Making new friends can be hard, too.

C. Join after-school activities you like.

D. Never change who you are to try and fit in.

E. If you see someone you know, smile or say “Hi”.

F. People may become angry if you just begin by saying “Hey” each time.

G. Don't sit at the back of the classroom where other people don't notice you!

                         Improve your memory

    Some people often complain about their poor memory. Actually there are several ways to keep your memory sharp. This article will show you some simple tips.

    . When you say these things, you begin to plant the thought in your mind and it may become true. Tell yourself you can remember anything as long as you put your mind to the task. You will see an improvement in your memory.

    . If you have trouble remembering phone numbers or other blocks of numbers, it can be really helpful to try this method. If you remember them in smaller groups, like two or three digits(数字), it will also be much easier to remember the number.

    Be sure to see a doctor if you really are losing your memory. A poor memory can be a sign that you are in low spirits..

    Playing games also helps improve your memory. Any type of games that involves(涉及) remembering things is wonderful.. Try and remember it when you have nothing better to do. A useful tip for anyone interested in games is to often work on solving word puzzles and similar types of games. . Not only will your memory probably improve, you will also have a great deal of fun.

A. Take a right attitude.

B. Remember numbers in small groups.

C. Stop telling yourself you have a weak memory.

D. If you don't know your condition, you cannot treat it!

E. If you don't like games, you can go over a list of “to do things”.

F. If so, treating it could be the key to getting your memory back.

G. Such games use the same skills needed to remember facts and help keep the mind sharp.

注意:每个空格只填1个单词。

Time for Americans to act on climate change

    The climate crisis is worsening at a rate that is becoming harder and harder to ignore. For more than two decades, scientific reports have made it clear that global warming is real, that humans cause it and that the consequences will be disastrous.

    The scientific community has become increasingly panicked over the past year. The latest assessment from the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change painted a far more terrible picture than its previous analyses, and the long-awaited National Climate Assessment made clear that climate change represents a severe threat to human health as well as our economic security. Out of this panic came the treaty(条约)reached this past weekend by world leaders to keep the Paris climate agreement alive.

    Yet many Americans still don't regard the threat as a key priority for our government, and support President Trump's decision to withdraw from the Paris treaty. Campaign contributions from fossil fuel companies have convinced elected officials to look the other way. A certain amount of despair has resulted in widespread apathy(漠然).

    But there is another reason that has been discussed far less openly. While a growing number of people understand that climate change will have significant worldwide consequences, many Americans have an intuitive(直觉的)belief that their nation is more capable than others of adapting to a changed environment. Why? Because they have before.

    This historical success, however, resulted from the federal government taking science seriously, and making investments to urge revolution and innovation.

    But these innovations did not happen by themselves, or simply because of the United States' rich resources. They depended on consistent support from the leaders about the need to take action when faced with crises. This has been especially true in the environmental crisis.

    President Bill Clinton had a shockingly modest record of advancing climate security, particularly given that his vice president, Al Gore, had been one of the most outspoken environmentalists in Congress. By far Clinton's biggest accomplishment was assigning Gore to participate іn thе Куоtо Рrоtoсоl negotiations. Сlіntоn сhоѕе, hоwеvеr, tо аvоіd whаt ѕurеlу wоuld have been a terrible fight in the Senate to gain approval of the treaty. While this effort probably would have failed, it would have signaled to the American people how seriously the Democratic Party took climate change.

    Thus, the time has clearly arrived for progressive candidates to start campaigning on a platform built around the need for a sustainability revolution. Such a plan should include a carbon tax, well-funded clean energy research, evolved agricultural policies and smarter public transport. Given that Generation X and millennials(千禧一代)never bought into the fiction that the United States is immune to the dangers of global warming, the time is ripe to make climate security a crucial government responsibility. Only by doing so can we begin the long-overdue(拖延好久的)campaign to save the planet.

Time for Americans to act on climate change

    Directions：Read the passage carefully. Fill in each blank with a proper sentence given in the box. Each sentence can be used only once. Note that there are two more sentences than you need.

    Most parents know that they need life insurance. But many would rather have a root canal than shop for the best life insurance policy.

    “People don't think about, What will my family do if I am gone and not earning a living?'” says Peter Katt, a fee-only life insurance adviser.“ The whole point of this kind of planning is to provide the family with maximum flexibility so they're not stuck.”

    Planning for your death is not a cheerful topic. Too often, parents make a quick decision, ignoring important considerations. Among their mistakes one is that they do not buy enough life insurance. “They don't think that the person who is not bringing in an income needs life insurance,” says Greg Daugherty, executive editor of Consumers Union. But if that person dies, the other parent can't stop working and usually has to pay someone to help care for the family.

     Katt recommended that one young couple should buy $3 million for the husband who earns $100,000 a year and $1 million for the stay-at-home wife.

    At the same time, many families rely on employer-provided life insurance, but employer-provided coverage is rarely sufficient to support your family. Many employer-provided policies provide a death benefit of $10,000 to $25,000—barely enough to cover your funeral expense. Some employers provide a year's salary, but that may also fall well short of the amount your family would need to maintain its standard of living.

    Some employers let workers buy group life insurance through payroll deductions. They may be a good deal for workers who have health problems that would disqualify them for an individual policy. But if you're young and healthy, you may be able to get a better rate on your own.

    Another drawback is that if you leave your job, you may not be able to take your insurance.“ Given the job market, most of us are not absolutely certain that our jobs are secure,” Daugherty says.“”

    On the other hand, some families buy too much insurance. Not everyone needs life insurance. Some people buy life insurance for babies, which is unnecessary, unless the baby is a child model who is supporting the family, Daugherty says: The purpose of insurance is to replace the income that a family has been relying on. Single people and those who have no children to care for usually don't need life insurance.

    Katt says a man with substantial savings in stocks and bonds and other sources of income recently asked him how much life insurance he needs.“ I said none,” Katt says. “”

A. There are people who don't need life insurance but have it and many more people who need it but are woefully uninsured.

B. Families don't always insure a parent who is staying home to care for the children.

C. Most people put off buying life insurance for any number of reasons if they even understand it.

D. Even if you have a lot of insurance at work, it makes sense to have some more insurance on your own.

E. If you fall seriously ill of suffer significant injury later, it will make it tougher to get that kind of policy, if any at all.

F. To make insurance more affordable, you may not need to buy the same amount of insurance for both parents.

If you want to finish this task, I that you some professional advice.