專題訓(xùn)練：閱讀七選五

任務(wù)群一說明文

A

主題 詞數(shù) 難度 建議用時(shí)減少考試壓力294 ★★★7 分鐘

Reducing test anxiety

As students throughout the state prepare to take their tests,they will feel some added anxiety.Some of that anxiety is good,but too much can have a bad effect on test performance.Here are some methods to reduce test anxiety.

1This is useful for two reasons:You'll be less nervous and you'll do better.A recent study at UC Berkeley showed that students who were tested on information they just learned actually did better than those who were asked to document what they were learning.2Then you can grade it for each other and harvest the benefits.The more real it feels,the more prepared you'll feel and be when the test day arrives.

Review that morning.3You want to be as calm and relaxed as possible and reviewing right before the test will do that.What's more，you'll regain the information.So on your way to class,whip out those flashcards for the last time.Consider listening to classical music.Though it doesn't make you smarter like some people believe,it can improve your memory.If you want to get super specific,listen to music that's 60 BPM.4

Do the easy questions first.An easy way to get stressed out and lose your cool is to focus on questions you don't know the answers to.5Don't fall into the trap and move on to what you do know.

Then you can hit the hard stuff dead on.

A.Take a pre-test.

B.Ask for help from your deskmate.

C.That's when the benefits will be highest.

D.Stay up late and drink as much coffee as possible.

E.So write up a pre-test and have your friend do the same!

F.This is good for the exact same two reasons as stated in the previous step.

G.You start worrying about the clock and thinking about how you didn't study enough.

B

主題 詞數(shù) 難度 建議用時(shí)和父母交談的方式273 ★★★6 分鐘

As most of us know,talking to and listening to parents don't always go smoothly.Emotions and past experiences can get in the way.Since communication is a two-way street,some depends on your parents and some of what happens depends on you.1So here are some guidelines to consider how to talk to parents:

●Be clear and direct.

Be as clear as you can about what you think,feel,and want.2They can listen better or be more helpful if they understand what you mean specifically and what's really going on.

●Be honest.

If you're always honest,a parent will be likely to believe what you say.3If you sometimes hide the truth or add too much drama,parents will have a harder time believing what you tell them.

●Try not to argue.

Using a friendly and respectful tone makes it more likely that parents will listen and take what you say seriously.4If you think your emotions might get the better of you,do something to let off steam and calm down before talking.

●5

If you have a disagreement,can you see your parents'side?If you can,say so.Telling your parents that you understand their views and feelings helps them be willing to see yours,too.

A.Communicate as often as possible.

B.Try to understand their point of view.

C.If you lie,they'll find it hard to trust you.

D.Make careful preparations before talking to your parents.

E.Give details that can help parents understand your situation.

F.The way you talk can influence how well a parent listens to and understands you.

G.Of course,this is hard for any of us when we're feeling heated about something.

C

主題 詞數(shù) 難度 建議用時(shí)人們不滿足的原因315 ★★★★7 分鐘

Can we be really happy and content with our life?Actually,we rarely come across a person who can claim to be perfectly content with what he has.We all wish to have more than what we already have.1Soon we would want something more or something different.

Why are humans never satisfied?One of the reasons is comparing with others. When comparing ourselves with others, we tend to rarely focus on our own unique talents and abilities,or what we already have.2

Curiosity can also make us not satisfied with our life because it makes us pay more attention to things we don't know about or don't have.3Thus, we never feel completely content.

4We enjoy anything that's unexplored.A good change in our life does keep us happy for some time, but soon the unavoidable boredom jumps in,and once again we wish for some more changes in life, which keeps us dissatisfied with our life.

Though humans can never really be completely content, we can be much more satisfied with ourselves if we try to determine how much is enough to keep ourselves happy,and limit ourselves to the pursuit(追求)of only that much.5As a result,we can finally make ourselves more content.In addition,it's better to live in the present moment and do things we really want to do.

A.Human curiosity is a double-edged sword.

B.We never feel content also because we want to change.

C.We do so many things just to improve others'opinions about us.

D.We always want to find out more about what we aren't familiar with.

E.But even if all our wishes came true,the satisfaction wouldn't last a very long time.

F.So we tend to become unhappy,thinking about what others have but we do not have.

G.Setting up achievable goals can keep us away from disappointments and regrets.

D

主題 詞數(shù) 難度 建議用時(shí)面對觀眾演講時(shí)遇到的問題及解決方法282 ★★★6 分鐘

Mary had feared the day she would draw a blank during a presentation. Then one day during a 45-minute speech,it happened.1To help herself get back on track,Mary asked the audience to look at the handout and tell herself what topic was up next.At the end of her presentation, audience members gave her top marks for organization.

“What I learned is that the audience doesn't care if you mess up,and what they care about is what you are going to do about it,”Mary said.“My nervousness went away when I concentrated not on myself,but instead just thought,‘How is my speech going to help the audience?’2Every single step of the way，ask yourself，‘What's in it for them?’”

3

Carter is the founder of a Canada-based presentation skills training company. When possible, he gets to the location of his presentation the day before to make sure all the electronic aids work.He wants to ensure the screen,lighting and inputs all work properly.“In addition, build an extra plan before you present,”he said.

Involve the audience

Whether you are giving a one-on-one talk or a speech in front of 400 people,think“storytelling”.4The way to a person's head is through their heart.Sometimes all it takes is a few seconds to connect an audience member with a story.

Moreover, one thing that shocks people back into attention is to leave an almost uncomfortably long pause.5

A.Keep order

B.Be prepared

C.That brings them back to the speaker.

D.She forgot what she was going to say.

E.Once you do that,you will get rid of the fear.

F.Story-telling makes messages easy to remember.

G.Stories combine data and information with emotion.

E

主題 詞數(shù) 難度 建議用時(shí)幾條克服在公眾面前講話害羞的方法321 ★★★7 分鐘

How to overcome shyness

Does the thought of talking in front of people make you shy?If so,you are far from alone.Many people in the world suffer from mild to extreme shyness and are struggling to overcome it.Remember that breaking out from that shell doesn't magically happen overnight.

1You're on the right track by just reading this article—now let's keep going.

Figure out your reasons.Do you become shy in front of new audience?Or when surrounded by people you know and admire?Try to find out the thoughts that go through your head right before the shyness hits.Chances are that not all situations make you shy. You're okay being around your family,right?Are they different from the strangers around you? Of course not.2

3For 99%of us,we become shy when we think if we speak up or stand out,we'll embarrass ourselves.That's why it's important to focus on others.When we stop focusing on ourselves,we stop worrying about our performance.

Practice speaking clearly to yourself.You have gotten used to hearing your own voice!Record yourself pretending to have conversations.That sounds ridiculous,sure,but you'll notice patterns,when and why you stop,etc.At the beginning you'll feel like an actor,but it will become an old habit.4

Don't compare yourself to others.The more you compare yourself to others,the more you will feel that you are not able to measure up.

5Even if you do,do it realistically.Everyone else has his own confidence problems,too!

A.Place your attention on others.

B.Practice makes habits,you know.

C.Take the challenge and face it bravely.

D.There is no use comparing yourself to anybody else.

E.It takes time,efforts and of course the desire to change.

F.You just know them better and what's more,they know you.

G.The reason for your shyness is that you are lacking in confidence.

F

主題 詞數(shù) 難度 建議用時(shí)做火鍋的步驟286 ★★★6 分鐘

How to make a Chinese hot pot

Eating a Chinese hot pot is a very common experience. People gather around the pot,dipping their food,waiting for it to cook,mixing their own seasonings（調(diào)味品）and enjoying each other's company.1

Firstly,prepare a large pot of soup.There is no right or wrong way to prepare a soup,so feel free to make your own.A simple soup can be made by boiling water with the addition of meat bones or fish heads and a mixture of herbs,seasonings and vegetables.

Then,cut a variety of meats and fish into thin slices.2Choose any food that you enjoy.Some common choices for a Chinese hot pot include thin pieces of beef,pork,lamb and so on.You can make your hot pot using the more traditional method of using the meats and seafood that are local to you.Meanwhile,select,wash and prepare some vegetables.3Mushrooms of all kinds are also common to Chinese hot pot preparations.

4At home,a single hot pot would work well up to 8 people depending on the size of the pot.Make sure everyone is sitting in a circle and has easy access to everything on the table.Prepare a separate small dish for each guest to mix their seasonings.5

A.Finally,arrange the seating reasonably.

B.Now comes the turn to enjoy your hot pot!

C.It will guarantee that the items will cook quickly and fully.

D.Here are some easy steps to make a Chinese hot pot at home.

E. For more variety, consider dumplings,rice cakes and tangyuan.

F. Popular choices include cabbage, pea leaves,winter melon and tomato.

G.It usually lasts a couple of hours because you are cooking and eating in small parts.

G

主題 詞數(shù) 難度 建議時(shí)間發(fā)掘創(chuàng)造力的方法290 ★★★6 分鐘

Some people are naturally more creative than others,but that doesn't mean you don't have some creative ideas locked away in your mind.You simply have to draw them out.1Take some time out to think.Sometimes we're so caught up in getting things done that we don't have time to be creative;this goes for work and home life.2It's extremely important to make time to simply stop and think.Just a couple of hours of free time each week could help you unlock your creative side.Sit down with no distractions,or go for a long walk and let your mind wander.

3Half the battle with being creative is to gain confidence to let your creativity shine through.If you're a painter,paint more.Writers should write more.Study techniques or analyze the work of other creative people you admire.By improving your practical skills,you'll feel more confident in using them in more creative ways.

Copy others, and then make it better.

4If you admire someone's work, you're bound to want to copy it and learn from it.Painters may find it useful to copy their favorite artist's work in order to improve their technique.5The original（原創(chuàng)的）artworks help them develop their own creativity,and in future they will be better practiced at creating something truly original.

A.Practice makes perfect.

B.That's where your creativity lies.

C.Try some of these techniques for unlocking your creative side.

D.There is no harm in taking someone else's idea and adapting it.

E.But they can then take it a step further by using their own style.

F.We have tasks to complete,deadlines to make and housework to get done.

G.Maybe you'd like to start your own business or create a new invention.

任務(wù)群二記敘文

A

主題 詞數(shù) 難度 建議用時(shí)1子5 和歲家女庭孩制作手工賀卡以籌集資金幫助貧困的孩300 ★★★★6 分鐘

In the late afternoon,15-year-old Saanya Hasan Ali can often be found in her comfortable family room.1She is cutting,drawing,gluing and folding,surrounded by colorful chaos of paper,rubber stamps,buttons,and ribbons（絲帶）.“I just love arts and crafts（手工藝）,”says Saanya.During the past six years,Saanya has raised $26,000 through the sale of her cards to help children and families in need.

2“My mother received an e-mail from the Pennies for Education and Health（PEH）organization.They were raising money for children in India to be able to go to school,”explains Saanya,who was nine years old at the time.Her mother,Salma,offered to donate$75 in Saanya's name.3

Saanya made cards to sell at a family wedding that summer. To her own surprise, she earned$600—enough to send eight children to school for the year. “I kept on making cards,and the following summer I was able to help support the kids for another year,” explains Saanya. One of her goals is to support the schooling of these eight children until they graduate from college.

Saanya acknowledges that her project has helped her to see the world through different eyes. “Now that I am in high school,I would also like to inspire other kids to do their own projects.4Making cards is my small effort,”she says.“5”

A.I was in third grade then.

B.Saanya's unexpected success began in 2005.

C.But Saanya decided to raise the money herself.

D.But she isn't doing homework or in front of a computer screen.

E.No matter who you are,there is always an opportunity to make a difference.

F.Saanya had established her own nonprofit organization called “Children Helping Children”.

G.If everyone does their small part,it can grow into something beyond your expectations.

B

主題 詞數(shù) 難度 建議用時(shí)電腦中bug 的來歷279 ★★★★6 分鐘

These days when someone says a computer has a bug （小蟲子）in it,usually it means that there's a problem with one of its programs.Maybe your computer crashed when you were in the middle of a game.1

But back in the early days of computers,a woman named Grace Hopper was part of the team that discovered the very first computer bug.

2She had been invited to help program a new computer,the job of which was to quickly deal with the math problems ships used to find their way.3Then it translated the patterns of holes into the math problems it was supposed to solve.

One afternoon in 1947 Hopper and her team were running a program.But the computer wasn't giving them the right results.4They finally ended up taking the computer apart,looking for problems.What did they find?It was a dead moth(飛蛾)! The moth was blocking some of the holes in the paper—no wonder the computer didn't know what to do.

Hopper knew that the term “bug”had been used before when there were problems with machines.5She thought it was funny that it was a real one.Some people think Hopper was the first person to use the word“debug”to mean“get rid of the problems in a computer”.

A.What could be wrong?

B.Hopper was a mathematician.

C.Who had operated the computer?

D.Hopper was a hard-working scientist.

E.But this was the first time a computer had ever had a bug.

F.Or you got an error message when you tried to go to a website.

G.The computer worked by reading instructions from a long piece of paper with holes in it.

C

主題 詞數(shù) 難度 建議用時(shí)作者及其家人始終堅(jiān)持寫信溝通情感313 ★★★★7 分鐘

The old-fashioned art of letter writing is at risk of disappearing altogether.Yet,to me,there is something about receiving a letter that cannot be matched by any other form of communication.

1It probably began with the little notes I would write to my mother.My mother,also,always,insisted I write my own thank-you letters.It didn't matter how short or untidy they were as long as they were letters.

When I left home at 18 to train as a doctor in London,I would write once a week,and so would my mother.Occasionally my father would write.2Of course,we also made phone calls but it is the letters that I remember most.

I love the letters that come with birthday or Christmas cards.3And it's even nicer when it's an airmail envelope with beautiful stamps.My overseas letters arrive from Sri Lanka,from someone I trained with over 20 years ago,and I have a penfriend in Australia and another in Vancouver.

My biggest letter-writing success,however,came this summer,when my family and I stayed with my American penfriend in Texas.We had been corresponding （通信）for 29 years but had never met.4The local press even considered the correspondence worth reporting on the front page.

5Like my mother,I insist they write their own thank-you letters.

However convenient communicating by email may appear to be,I strongly urge readers not to allow letter writing to become another“l(fā)ost art”.

A.As it is,we now have a regular correspondence.

B.It was always a joy to receive his long,amusing letters.

C.I am pleased that my children are carrying on the tradition.

D.Everyone was amazed that a correspondence could last so long.

E.Letter writing has been part of my life for as long as I can remember.

F.Notes are appreciated,but how much better it is to have a year's supply of news!

G.I found that I could often express myself more easily in writing than by talking.

任務(wù)群三議論文

A

主題 詞數(shù) 難度 建議時(shí)間早期教育315 ★★★7 分鐘

Early childhood education has long been debated by varying opinions.Some feel that young children belong at home and separate from instruction.1It has been said that this is the time period when the learning process should be introduced during these years.

Results have proven that early childhood education can be the correct choice for some children.There are many great early childhood learning programs.2Today's early childhood learning programs focus on the learning process along with other important functions.

They assure parents of the safety of their children throughout the week.Along with the time spent in these facilities,children enjoy learning curriculums,play,and socialization.3Some children will certainly progress more effectively than other children.

Being introduced to the learning process is an important step for these children.They soon embark on a whole new world of learning.These children are not only experiencing normal brain growth,but verbal and physical skills as well.Early childhood education teachers use a variety of techniques for instructing.4

The similarities between this sort of learning and what they will experience in the future are close.Many families have chosen to incorporate this sort of education at home.Home education systems focus on this same age group.5In home early education and outside early education can enhance the learning capacity of these children.

Preparation from early childhood education will follow these kids for years to come.When they are older students they will still be including these skills with their learning process.

A.These programs are sometimes called daycare.

B.Successful people all have early childhood education.

C.Early childhood education is only about learning basic skills.

D.They are performed in a less threatening and familiar environment.

E.Each of these works together to equip these young children with skill they will need in kindergarten.

F.Others feel that the ages up to 5 years are the most important years of education.

G.They use lesson plans,worksheets,and even teacher resources for these young students.

B

主題 詞數(shù) 難度 建議用時(shí)社會(huì)356 ★★★8 分鐘

Some people describe American society as a salad bowl while others think of it as a melting pot.

In a bowl of salad,all the ingredients are mixed together.1Together,however,the ingredients make up a unity.All the ingredients of a salad contribute to the finished product.They may be covered with the same dressing(調(diào)料),but the green vegetables,tomatoes and cooked corn can all be seen for what they are.

From this point of view,America is very much like a salad bowl where individual ethnic groups mix together,yet maintain their cultural uniqueness.People may work together during the day at similar jobs and in the same companies,but at night they may return to their ethnic groups where their own individual culture directs their way of life.2Each ethnic group has its own special customs,language,food and traditions to protect and defend.This idea of the salad bowl is referred to as cultural diversity;that is,American society is a collection of various cultures living together in harmony within one country.

3Here,society is like one large pot of soup.All cultural aspects are mixed together,sacrificing their original identity and keeping a bit of what they were to become a new reality.The longer the soup is cooked,the better the taste and the more likely it will be for the mixture to dissolve.In this sense,America can surely be seen as a melting pot where people from all over the world come to live and work together forming one nation.There are dozens of shared symbols.4In such a culture,symbols like the flag and the nation's official song serve to break down the walls which separate ethnic groups.

Whether a salad bowl or a melting pot,America can be best described as a mixture of both.5

A．Both are correct depending on one's point of view.

B．They never lose their shapes,colors or tastes.

C．This is why there is so much diversity within America.

D．In other words,America is a nation where there is unity in diversity.

E．Thus,one needs to abandon one's culture to be considered“American”.

F．They serve to develop the various ethnic groups to create a new American culture.

G．The other theory,which is also used to describe American society,is the melting pot.