Thoughts claim our attention continuously, and waste our time and energy on unimportant and useless matters. They actually rule our life. We have become so used to this slavery, that we take it for granted, and have become unconscious of this habit, except on certain occasions.

While breathing, we do not need to pay attention to each inhalation and exhalation. We become conscious of the process of breathing only when we have some difficulty with breathing, such as when our nose is blocked, due to a cold, or when we are in an unventilated(不通风的) room.

It is the same with thinking. We become conscious of the constant onslaught of our thoughts, and of our inability to calm them down, only when we need to concentrate, solve a problem or study. We are also aware of them when we have worries or fears.

Look at the following familiar situation. You need to study something for an exam. You sit comfortably on the sofa with the book in your hands and start reading. After a while you feel hungry and go to the kitchen to eat something.

You return to read, and then hear your people talking outside. You listen to them for several moments and then bring your attention back to the book.

After a while you feel restless and switch on the radio to listen to some music. You continue to read for a little while, and then remember something that happened yesterday, and you start thinking about it.

When you look at your watch, you are amazed to find out that one complete hour has passed and you have hardly read anything. And at this time, you feel you’re thinking.

This is what happens when one lacks concentration. Imagine what you could have accomplished if you could control your attention and focus your mind!

1.When can you feel you are thinking?

A. While breathing.                                                                    B. While not reading.

C. When you need to concentrate.                                         D. When you waste your time.

2.Why does the author put forward the exam situation?

A. To explain the course of thinking awareness.

B. To show how to get ready for an exam.

C. To present an example of concentration.

D. To emphasize the importance of reading.

3.Where can you most probably find the above passage?

A. In a guidebook of natural science.

B. In the front page of a newspaper.

C. In an advertisement part of a magazine.

D. In the section of psychology of a magazine.

4.This passage is mainly about _______.

A. the relationship between thoughts and breathing

B. how people’s thought and mind work

C. what happens when one wants to think

D. the ways to increase your thought

 

 Marry me! During the "Idol" finale, season 5 singer Ace Young proposed live to season 3 runner up Diana DeGarrno. She was genuinely surprised in one sense but the two have bonded closely since they met on Broadway during a production of“Hair." The first true“ldol' couple (though others have dated) have already set a wedding date on June  l  of 2013,

    Ten years and still relevant. Season one winner Kelly Clarkson has survived a decade in the brutal music business with her dignity intact and enough chart-topping songs to generate a greatest hits album at the tender age of 30. Her career is as strong as ever. She sang the “Star Spangled Banner” at the Super Bowl. Her song “Stronger” was a No. I hit.  She was a mentor on an ABC summer series“Duets.” She became engaged to Reba McEntire's stepson in November. All in all, life is good for Clarkson and we as“Idol" fans couldn't be more proud.

     Keep calm and Carrie on! Season four victor Carrie Underwood has now sold more albums than any other "Idol" with about 14 million to date. Her current album “Blown Away” has generated two top two hits in 2012: “Good Girl” and the title track. That makes 15 consecutive top 2 hits on the Billboard country chart over seven years dating back to "Jesus, Take the Wheel." She hosted the CMAs for a fifth year with Brad Paisley. Last month, she landed a role as lead in a remake of“The Sound of Music.” She toured to sold-out crowds again, hitting Gwinnett Arena earlier this month, where she thankecl "Idol" for getting her to where she's at, something, she certainly no longer needs to do but still does. Class act, that lady.

1.What may the ldol probably be?

A. A popular Ainerican singer                     B. A American year figure of

C. A popular American programme                 D. A famous American avenue

2.Who hit Gwinnett Arena of the following?

A. Carrie Underwood                            B. Kelly Clarkson

C. Ace Yong                                   D. Diana DeGarmo

3. Who was the Idol winner of ten years ago?

A. Reba McEntire                               B. Kelly Clarkson

C. Carrie Underwood                            D. Not mentioned

4.In which year was the Idol first held according, to the text?

A. In 2012          B. In 2007           C.ln 2008          D.In 2002

5.Where can we probably read the news?

A. In business section                            B. In advertisement section

C. In sports section                             D. In entertainment section

 

Germany has a variety of cities each with its own characteristics, from the busy city of Berlin, to the ancient city of Cologne, to the Bavarian capital of Munich. Thankfully, these major German cities offer sightseeing tours that offer the opportunity to better explore the surrounding regions and the country’s most historic sites.

  Berlin on Bike

  Berlin on Bike takes visitors through the German capital via five bicycle tours, all with guides. Regular tours include the Wall Tour and Berlin’s Best, with stops at some of the city’s most famous landmarks, such as the Reichstag explores what life was like in East Berlin under Communist Rule. The cost of the tour includes the bike and helmet rental, and tourists may choose to continue renting their bikes once the tour has ended.

Berlinonbike.de/English/index.php

Munich City Sightseeing Tour

The Munich City Sightseeing Tour transports travelers throughout the city via an open-air, double-decker bus. Passengers can hop on and off at various stops throughout the day. This tour includes stops at such sites as the Munich central train station, the 1972 Olympic Stadium Park, Munich’s opera house and Karlsplatz, the gate to the historic city. The bus features a narrated tour guide and offers an English-language option.

Raileurope.com/activities/munich-city-sightseeing-tour/index.html

Nice City Tours- Cologne

Nice City Tours offers three tours of Cologne, available to private or business groups in a variety of languages. The old Town Tour runs for two hours and includes a guided tour of the Cologne Cathedral and some of the city’s old squares. The Brewery Pub Tour explores some of the city’s most beloved breweries and pubs, and details the history behind Kolsch, Cologne’s resident beer. Finally, the Old Town and Rhine Tour begins by visiting some of old town’s most historic sites and ends with a ride down the Rhine River.

Nicecitytours.con/tours.htm

The similarity of the three tours lies in that they all include_____.

   A. bus tours B. English service   C. three routes        D. guide’s service

If you take a great interest in beer, which tour might be suitable for you?

   A. The Wall Tour    B. The Brewery Pub Tour

   C. The Old Town Tour            D. The Munich City Sightseeing Tour

Where can you probably see this passage?

   A. In a textbook.        B. On a website.

   C. In an encyclopedia.   D. In a journal.

Research shows that humans switch from selfish to unselfish behaviour when they are watched. Do you?

A picture of a set of eyes on a computer screen can cause a change in the way people act. Even images of eyes on a charity donation, collection box encourage people to be unselfish, because people put more money in a collection box that has a picture of eyes on it than they do when a flower symbol is on the box.

Manfred Milinski from the Max-Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology in Germany and Bettina Rockenbach of the University of Berlin, the authors of a new study, found that people act better when they are being watched because they feel they will be rewarded for good behaviour. Their report also referred to other research showing that this response of behaving well when watched is somehow coded into humans and people respond this way unconsciously, or without realizing it.

It is not just humans that act unselfishly when they are being watched. A fish called the grooming fish cleans other fish. When other fish are around, it is gentler. When no other fish are around, however, the grooming fish bites chunks from the fish it is supposed to be cleaning.

The researchers suggest that the best way to get people to behave in the correct way is to make them feel watched. This could be the reason for the success of a famous American army poster. On it was a picture of an elderly man staring fiercely and pointing, it appeared, to the person who was looking at the poster. Under the picture was the caption 'I Want You' It encouraged hundreds of thousands of young American men to join the army during the Second World War to fight the Germans and Japanese.

1.According to the report, why does a person behave better when he feels he is being watched?

A. He does not want to be shamed by others.

B. He needs to show he is a good person.

C. He desires others to like him more.

D. He feels he will receive some social reward.

2.What is the text mainly about?

A. It describes changed behaviour when observed.

        B. It details ways to control people's behaviour.

         C. It tells how to make people work harder.

       D. It discusses different advertising methods.

3.Where would the study described in the text most likely be found?

         A. In a newspaper.                                   

B. In a scientific journal.

         C. In an advertising magazine.                     

D. In a science textbook.

 

 

Research shows that humans switch from selfish to unselfish behaviors when they are watched. Do you?

A picture of a set of eyes on a computer screen can cause a change in the way people act. Even images of eyes on a charity donation, collection box encourage people to be unselfish, because people put more money in a collection box that has a picture of eyes on it than they do when a flower symbol is on the box.

Manfred Milinski from the Max-Planck Institute for Evolutionary

Biology in Germany and Bettina Rockenbach of the University of Berlin,

the authors of a new study, found that people act better when they are being

watched because they feel they will be rewarded for good behaviour.

Their report also referred to other research showing that this response of

behaving well when watched is somehow coded into humans and

people respond this way unconsciously, or without realising it.

It is not just humans that act unselfishly when they are being watched.

A fish called the grooming fish cleans other fish. When other fish are

around, it is gentler. When no other fish are around, however, the grooming fish bites chunks from the fish it is supposed to be cleaning.

The researchers suggest that the best way to get people to behave in the correct way is to make them feel watched. This could be the reason for the success of a famous American army poster. On it was a picture of an elderly man staring fiercely and pointing, it appeared, to the person who was looking at the poster. Under the picture was the caption ‘I Want You’. It encouraged hundreds of thousands of young American men to join the army during the Second World War to fight the Germans and Japanese.

1. According to the report, why does a person behave better when he feels he is being watched?

         A. He does not want to be shamed by others.

         B. He needs to show he is a good person.

         C. He desires others to like him more.

         D. He feels he will receive some social reward.

2. The underlined word ‘coded’ (paragraph 3) is closest in meaning to______.

         A. hidden            B. programmed     C. forgotten         D. leaned

3. What is the text mainly about?

         A. It describes changed behaviour when observed.

         B. It details ways to control people's behaviour.

         C. It tells how to make people work harder.

         D. It discusses different advertising methods.

4. According to the text, which of the following statements is True?

         A. People pretend to behave better when they are watched.

         B. Fish bite other fish in a fish tank when they are alone.

         C. People donate more money when they feel they are watched.

         D. Soldiers fought better during World War II because of a poster.

5. Where would the study described in the text most likely be found?

A. In a newspaper.                     B. In a scientific journal.

C. In an advertising magazine.           D. In a science textbook.