When I walked into the house after school, the first thing I noticed was a box with items I recognized from my dad’s office.
“What are you doing home already?” I asked casually.[来源:学科网ZXXK]
“Andrew, I was laid off today.” he answered quietly.
I was sure he was joking. “No, you weren’t. Why are you really home?”
Then I noticed his seriousness and realized he was telling the truth. My father has always been a hard worker and prided himself on his career. Providing for our family has been his joy, and I guess I had taken his work for granted.
My father’s unemployment created many changes in our lives. For starters, he was home all the time, which meant my bed had to be made, my room cleaned up, and my homework done right after school. I would come home every day to find him at the computer searching for jobs. I began to notice how down he seemed, and how losing his job had affected his self-esteem, though he tried to be optimistic. For the first time, I saw my dad as vulnerable. He asked my brother and me to spend less. I gave up my allowance, which even though it wasn’t much, felt like the right thing to do. I also found a part-time job.
After several difficult months of searching, my dad decided to go in a totally different direction. He explained that he never wanted to be laid off again, so he was going to start his own business. Day by day, I watched him build it, and I admired how much time and energy he expended.
One evening I asked if he needed help.
“Only if it doesn't interfere with school,” he said.
I showed up at his office the next afternoon, and most afternoons after that for two months. I always knew he was a hard worker, but watching him in action really impacted me. Although this was one of the worst experiences for our family, it taught me a lot about dealing with adversity. Now I know that through creative problem-solving, I can always find Plan B, ask for help, and take risks. What I have learned from my dad’s understanding of business and his work ethic are two of the most important lessons I will ever learn, and will be my foundations for success.
1. The author’s father stayed at home because ________.
A. he had to help with the author’s lesson
B. he had been unemployed by his company
C. heavy housework was waiting for him to do
D. he wanted the author know the truth?
2. What made the author know the truth?
A. The box from his dad’s office                         B. His father’s words
C. His father’s expression                                          D. Being informed by his family
3. The author’s attitude toward his father’s former job was ________.
A. unconcerned                      B. sympathy                 C. doubt                D. tolerance
4. By saying “Only if it doesn't interfere with school”, the author’s father seemed ________.
A. to refuse the author’s advice on the new business
B. to show his discontent with the author’s schoolwork
C. to have said yes to the author’s offer of help
D. to be looking forward to the author’s good behavior at school
5. It can be inferred from the text that ________.
A. the author’s father was more optimistic to stay at home
B. the author couldn’t put up with his dad’s own business
C. the author’s father offered little allowance to the author
D. the author benefited from his father on how to deal with adversity

When I walked into the house after school, the first thing I noticed was a box with items I recognized from my dad’s office.

“What are you doing home already?” I asked casually.[来源:ZXXK]

“Andrew, I was laid off today.” he answered quietly.

I was sure he was joking. “No, you weren’t. Why are you really home?”

Then I noticed his seriousness and realized he was telling the truth. My father has always been a hard worker and prided himself on his career. Providing for our family has been his joy, and I guess I had taken his work for granted.

My father’s unemployment created many changes in our lives. For starters, he was home all the time, which meant my bed had to be made, my room cleaned up, and my homework done right after school. I would come home every day to find him at the computer searching for jobs. I began to notice how down he seemed, and how losing his job had affected his self-esteem, though he tried to be optimistic. For the first time, I saw my dad as vulnerable. He asked my brother and me to spend less. I gave up my allowance, which even though it wasn’t much, felt like the right thing to do. I also found a part-time job.

After several difficult months of searching, my dad decided to go in a totally different direction. He explained that he never wanted to be laid off again, so he was going to start his own business. Day by day, I watched him build it, and I admired how much time and energy he expended.

One evening I asked if he needed help.

“Only if it doesn't interfere with school,” he said.

I showed up at his office the next afternoon, and most afternoons after that for two months. I always knew he was a hard worker, but watching him in action really impacted me. Although this was one of the worst experiences for our family, it taught me a lot about dealing with adversity. Now I know that through creative problem-solving, I can always find Plan B, ask for help, and take risks. What I have learned from my dad’s understanding of business and his work ethic are two of the most important lessons I will ever learn, and will be my foundations for success.

1. The author’s father stayed at home because ________.

A. he had to help with the author’s lesson

B. he had been unemployed by his company

C. heavy housework was waiting for him to do

D. he wanted the author know the truth?

2. What made the author know the truth?

   A. The box from his dad’s office                         B. His father’s words

   C. His father’s expression                                          D. Being informed by his family

3. The author’s attitude toward his father’s former job was ________.

   A. unconcerned                      B. sympathy                 C. doubt                D. tolerance

4. By saying “Only if it doesn't interfere with school”, the author’s father seemed ________.

   A. to refuse the author’s advice on the new business

   B. to show his discontent with the author’s schoolwork

   C. to have said yes to the author’s offer of help

   D. to be looking forward to the author’s good behavior at school

5. It can be inferred from the text that ________.

   A. the author’s father was more optimistic to stay at home

   B. the author couldn’t put up with his dad’s own business

   C. the author’ s father offered little allowance to the author

D. the author benefited from his father on how to deal with adversity

When I walked into the house after school, the first thing I noticed was a box with items I recognized from my dad’s office.

“What are you doing home already?” I asked casually.

“Andrew, I was laid off today.” he answered quietly.

I was sure he was joking. “No, you weren’t. Why are you really home?”

Then I noticed his seriousness and realized he was telling the truth. My father has always been a hard worker and prided himself on his career. Providing for our family has been his joy, and I guess I had taken his work for granted.

My father’s unemployment created many changes in our lives. For starters, he was home all the time, which meant my bed had to be made, my room cleaned up, and my homework done right after school. I would come home every day to find him at the computer searching for jobs. I began to notice how down he seemed, and how losing his job had affected his self-esteem, though he tried to be optimistic. For the first time, I saw my dad as vulnerable. He asked my brother and me to spend less. I gave up my allowance, which even though it wasn’t much, felt like the right thing to do. I also found a part-time job.

After several difficult months of searching, my dad decided to go in a totally different direction. He explained that he never wanted to be laid off again, so he was going to start his own business. Day by day, I watched him build it, and I admired how much time and energy he expended.

One evening I asked if he needed help.

“Only if it doesn't interfere with school,” he said.

I showed up at his office the next afternoon, and most afternoons after that for two months. I always knew he was a hard worker, but watching him in action really impacted me. Although this was one of the worst experiences for our family, it taught me a lot about dealing with adversity. Now I know that through creative problem-solving, I can always find Plan B, ask for help, and take risks. What I have learned from my dad’s understanding of business and his work ethic are two of the most important lessons I will ever learn, and will be my foundations for success.

1. The author’s father stayed at home because ________.

A. he had to help with the author’s lesson

B. he had been unemployed by his company

C. heavy housework was waiting for him to do

D. he wanted the author know the truth?

2. What made the author know the truth?

   A. The box from his dad’s office                         B. His father’s words

   C. His father’s expression                                          D. Being informed by his family

3. The author’s attitude toward his father’s former job was ________.

   A. unconcerned                      B. sympathy                 C. doubt                D. tolerance

4. By saying “Only if it doesn't interfere with school”, the author’s father seemed ________.

   A. to refuse the author’s advice on the new business

   B. to show his discontent with the author’s schoolwork

   C. to have said yes to the author’s offer of help

   D. to be looking forward to the author’s good behavior at school

5. It can be inferred from the text that ________.

   A. the author’s father was more optimistic to stay at home

   B. the author couldn’t put up with his dad’s own business

   C. the author’s father offered little allowance to the author

D. the author benefited from his father on how to deal with adversity

Her point is that blind luck is very rare. You may have to be lucky to find a good job these days but that does not mean you should sit at home waiting for the opportunity to come to you. If you’re a Chinese, you may already be familiar with the tale of a farmer waiting by a tree stump(树桩) for a rabbit to run out and break its neck.
A book by the UK psychologist Richard Wiseman, called The Luck Factor, argues we can all make ourselves luckier. It’s not about going to a temple to burn some incense(香) hopes that the gods will give you good fortune; it’s practical advice you can follow each day.
Wiseman conducted an experiment as part of his studies. First he divided volunteers into two groups; those who said they were lucky in life and those who said they were not. He gave everyone a newspaper and asked them to look through it to count how many photographs it had inside. On average, the unlucky people took about two minutes to count the photographs while the lucky people took just seconds. Why? On the second page of the newspaper, a command, “Stop counting. There are 43 photographs in this newspaper,” was written in big letters. The unlucky people mostly did not spot the message.
It’s easy to compare this situation to a young person looking for jobs in a local paper. They might search so hard for one type of position that they miss an even better opportunity. People who are “lucky”, in fact, keep an open mind and don’t go through the same routine every day.
I first came to China in 2002 when it was considered a rather strange thing to do. Like many foreigners, my plan was to teach English for one year. Seven years later, and still here, I’ve had many great opportunities such as writing for newspapers and magazines. I did not dream these would have been possible. I’ve also never been sick, had an accident, got into a fight or had problems with the police. Coincidence? After reading about Professor Wiseman’s studies I think not.
As Wiseman advises, I usually trust my own judgment. Your friends and parents may give you advice based on rational thinking, but it’s important to consider how you feel about each choice you make. Your feeling acts as a warning for a potential problem.
Finally, try to turn bad luck into good. Even if you do fall down and break a leg, the time spent at home can be used wisely to study English.

1. 1.

   Which of the following proverbs most agrees with the writer’s point?

   1. A.
      Make the best of a bad job.
   2. B.
      Rome was not built in a day.
   3. C.
      All is not gold that glitters.
   4. D.
      A good heart conquers ill fortune.
2. 2.

   What do you know about Oprah Winfrey?

   1. A.
      She became famous through her family background.
   2. B.
      She is a British talk show host.
   3. C.
      She became successful by her own effort.
   4. D.
      She was very lucky and seldom suffered setbacks in her life.
3. 3.

   The writer quoted the Chinese tale of a farmer in order to show __________.

   1. A.
      man can conquer nature
   2. B.
      luck is in your own hand
   3. C.
      bad luck can turn into good
   4. D.
      you should not sit at home waiting for the opportunity to come to you

You might say that Barack Obama was elected President of the US because he knows how to give a good speech. In 2004, the little-known Obama gave a speech at the Democratic national Convention(民主党全国会议). It was a great speech---poetic, and inspiring. The people who heard it would remember it for a long time.

  Since 2004, Obama has written and delivered thousands of speeches. These are usually praised for two reasons: he treats the audiences like intelligent adults, and he is able to express difficult ideas in a straightforward, natural way.

  Before becoming President, Obama was a lawyer, a college professor, and a successful writer---his two memoirs have become best-sellers. The skills he needed to succeed in his previous jobs have also contributed to his success as a speechmaker.

  As a lawyer, Obama learned how to make strong, convincing arguments. As a professor, he learned how to explain complex subjects in ways that helped students understand without boring them. As a writer, he learned how to use language to have a powerful influence on his audience.

     Secret weapons of Obama 

     Writing team: Obama has a team of people who write his speeches. The writers chat with Obama for hours about what he wants to say. They listen to recordings of past presidential addresses and seek advice from advisers. Obama usually edits and rewrites the drafts several times.

     Make fun of the guests: Obama starts his speech by gently making fun of his guests. His opening lines attract the audiences’ attention while giving them an opportunity to relax and laugh at themselves and each other.

     Making fun of himself: Obama laughs at his past mistakes and is never afraid of showing them to the public.

     Obama delivers speeches to audiences large and small. He can make his audiences laugh or cry. His speeches are always thoughtful, well written, and just right for each occasion.

 1... The third and fourth paragraphs mainly talk about _____.

     A. why Obama’s speeches are praised       B. how Obama acquired his speaking ability     C. what subjects Obama’s speeches about    D. Obama’s success as a writer and a lawyer

  2.. When delivering a speech, Obama ______.

     A. usually starts with some famous sayings    B. sometimes turns his speech into a song

     C. sometimes shares a joke with the audience  D. is very strict most of the time

 3.. What is the main idea of the passage?

     A. Obama won the election campaign.       B. Obama is a brilliant speechmaker

     C. Obama had taken a couple of jobs.        D. Obama is good at writing.