Winter’s short days are more than cold. For many people, winter depression, the most common type of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), is as much a part of the season as hats and scarves.

       Winter serious SAD sufferers may need medical treatment. Those feeling a little depressed can help themselves by sticking to a healthy lifestyle. Here are some tips:

       Pace yourself. Don’t expect to do everything you normally can. Set a realistic schedule. Don’t listen to negative thinking, like blaming yourself or expecting to fail.

       Get involved in activities that make you feel good or feel like you’ve achieved something. For example, play table tennis or badminton.

      If you are feeling depressed, you may feel like staying away from friends. Yet this is a time when friends’ support can be helpful. Call them regularly. Remember, the more we put off calling or visiting a friend, the harder it is to rebuild a friendship.

       Think clearly about what’s wrong or right. Instead of giving in to vague(含糊的) feelings of sadness, look at your problems objectively. Break down problems into specific issues that you can work on.

       Regular exercise helps to prevent and ease depression.

       Eat well. Studies show that a healthy diet can help to maintain a healthy body and mind. The vitamins, minerals and micro-nutrients found in a balanced diet may help our bodies to produce feel-good hormones. Foods containing chemicals to help produce feel-good hormones include bananas, turkey, nuts and seeds. Eat at least five pieces of fruit and vegetables every day.

       P.S. Symptoms of SAD:

       No interests or pleasure in things you used to enjoy

       Increased need for sleep

       A change in eating habits, especially an appetite for sweet or starchy (含淀粉的) foods

       Weight gain

       A heavy feeling in the arms or legs

       A drop in energy level

       Difficulty in concentrating

       Overly emotional

       Avoidance of friends and social situations

       Frequent feelings of guilt

       Long-term feelings of hopelessness, and physical problems, such as headaches

The writer of the passage agrees that      .

       A. the cold in winter makes us suffer from SAD

       B. hats and scarves are as important as SAD

       C. everyone of us meets SAD in winter

       D. we are depressed mainly because of short days in winter

When we pace ourselves, we      .

       A. don’t do anything we can        B. expect to succeed in nothing    

C. make a practical plan D. think something of guilt

The passage includes the following EXCEPT      .

       A. the earlier we meet friends, the easier it is to rebuild a friendship

       B. playing table tennis helps us achieve whatever we want

       C. if we give in to unclear feelings of sadness, we’ll be caught in the SAD

       D. feel-good hormones from a balanced diet can help keep a healthy body

I still clearly remember that day. I was on the side of the road for close to four hours with my big Jeep. I put signs in the windows that said, “NEED A JACK（千斤顶）”.
Right as I was about to give up, a truck stopped and a man got off. He sized up the situation and went back to take a jack. After about two hours, we finished the job with sweats. We were both dirty. His wife produced a large water jug for us to wash our hands in.
I tried to put $20 in the man’s hand, but he wouldn’t take it, so instead I went up and gave it to his wife as quietly as I could. I thanked them up one side and down the other. I asked the little girl, their daughter, where they lived, thinking maybe I’d send them a gift. She said they lived in Mexico. They were in Oregon now so Mommy and Daddy could pick cherries for the next few weeks. After that, they were going to pick peaches, and then go back home.
After I said my goodbyes and started walking back to the Jeep, the girl called out and asked if I’d had lunch. When I told her no, she ran up and handed me a tamale（玉米粽子）. I thanked them again and walked back to my car. When I opened the tamale, what did I find inside? My $20 bill! I ran to the van and the guy rolled down his window. He saw the $20 in my hand, started shaking his head smiling, and with what looked like great concentration said in English: “Today you, tomorrow me.” Then he rolled up his window and drove away, with his daughter waving to me from the back.
This family, working on a seasonal basis where time is money, took a couple of hours to help a stranger while others passed by quietly.
Since then I’ve helped many people like the Mexican family. I didn’t accept money. But every time I was able to help, I felt as if I was putting something in the bank.
【小题1】From the passage we know that __________.

A．the Mexican man couldn’t speak English

B．the author’s car broke down on the road

C．the Mexican family came to Oregon for a visit

D．$20 was a small amount for the Mexican family

【小题2】Why did the author give the money quietly to the man’s wife?

A．Because the man had refused to accept it.

B．Because the man’s wife needn’t wash her hands.

C．Because the author thought the Mexican family was poor.

D．Because the author thought the man’s wife would take it.

【小题3】The Mexican man helped the author because he tended to think that ___________.

A．it was completely wrong for others to pass by quietly

B．it was quite easy to help the author mend the jeep

C．it was possible that everyone might get into trouble

D．the author was a polite stranger and deserved the help

【小题4】Which of the following is TRUE about the author?

A．He hated those who didn’t offer help.

B．He would send a present to the family soon.

C．He wondered why they didn’t take the money.

D．He considered helping others as saving money in the bank.

【小题5】What can we infer from the passage?

A．The Mexican family lived a richer life than the author.

B．The Mexican family did seasonal work in Oregon each year.

C．The author was inspired to help others by the Mexican family.

D．What made the writer moved was the tamale given by the girl.

You’re rushing to work and a man ahead of you collapses on the sidewalk. Do you stop to help? In a study of by-standers, it was found that some people avert their gaze and keep on  walking rather than stop and get involved.
“There is a tendency to decide that no action is needed.” says a psychologist. “The first thoughts that pop into your mind often keep you from offering help. In order to take action, you have to work against them.” Here are some common thoughts that might prevent you from helping.
● Why should I be the one? I’m probably not the most competent person in this crowd. You might think someone older or with more medical knowledge should offer assistance.
● What if he doesn’t really need my help? The fear of embarrassment is powerful; no one wants to risk looking foolish in front of others.
● No one else looks concerned- this must not be a problem. We can follow the people around us, but most people tend to hold back their emotions in public.
“If you spot trouble and find yourself explaining inaction, force yourself to stop and evaluate the situation instead of walking on,” says the psychologist. “Then retry to involve other people; you don’t have to take on the entire responsibility of being helpful. Sometimes it’s just a matter of turning to the person next to you and saying, ‘It looks like we should do something.’ Or asking someone if an ambulance has been called and, if not, to call for one. Once you take action, most people will follow you.”
【小题1】Which is NOT the common thought that stops you from helping others?

A．I’m not the very person capable of setting the problenu.

B．It looks like we should do something.

C．It must not be a problem as no one else is concerned.

D．He doesn’t really need my help.

【小题2】According to a study of by-standers, what will some people do when a man ahead falls down on the sidewalk?

A．They will call for help and then walk away.

B．They will stop and offer help.

C．They will turn away their eyes and go on walking.

D．They will laugh at him.

【小题3】We learn from the last paragraph that if we spot ttouble, _______．

A．we sbould call the ambulance as soon as we can.

B．we should take on the whole responsibility and do something alone.

C．we should stop and evaluate the situation and try to make other people follow.

D．we should turn to other people and ask them to take on the responsibility

【小题4】In order to offer others your timely help, you need to_______．

A．ask others for help and call the police

B．get along well with the passers-by who spot the trouble

C．go directly to the police station

D．work against the rirst thoughts that prevent you offering help

【小题5】The main purpose of the text is to tell readers_______．

A．to give others a hand	B．to be more competent
C．not to risk looking foolish	D．to stop and evaluate the situation

It’s not uncommon in America for a person to belong to some kind of volunteer group. Donating one’s time and services is very much a part of the American way of life. Most charitable activities are organized by churches and groups around the nation and even encouraged by the government. The helping hand is extended to the poor， the homeless and the disabled. Some people work to teach youngsters how to read. Others open up soup kitchens to feed the homeless. Volunteers also take care of the disabled by making reading tapes for the blind and working in orphanages（孤儿院）to help children without parents.
High school students are often encouraged to become volunteers and many school club activities center around volunteer services. Students may work with disabled children during a summer program， or participate in a club activity which helps to bring meal to senior citizens who are shut-ins. With their sense of idealism（理想主义）students are often eager to donate their spare time. They see such activities as a way of becoming involved in the community and the adult-world. Social action for them becomes as   important as their academic studies.
In a like manner， throughout the year，fund raising drives are also conducted by schools and community groups to raise money for a worthy cause. They may respond to a recent earthquake in a foreign country， a flood somewhere within their own， or another natural disaster which has left people destitute and homeless. They may organize drives to collect food， clothing and medicines to serve an immediate need. Today even the Halloween custom of ‘trick or treat’has become an occasion to collect money for a charitable cause.
The motive to help those less fortunate comes from the poor origins of the American nation. Those immigrants who were poor and downtrodden（受压迫的）became dependent on the kindness of their neighbors to make a new life for themselves.
American volunteers work throughout the world in less developed countries. They volunteer by serving as a champion of goodwill both at home and abroad， which no doubt enriches both his life and those whom he serves.
【小题1】 Which of the following charitable activities is NOT mentioned in the passage?

A．Some people open up soup kitchens to feed homeless people.

B．Some students bring meals to old people who can’t go out easily.

C．Some people collect money to help a foreign country with a recent earthquake.

D．Some students donate books to children in mountainous areas.

【小题2】 Why are American high school students eager to do voluntary work?

A．Because they want to participate in some social activities.

B．Because they want to go to better universities.

C．Because they can get higher scores at school.

D．Because they can realize their dream sooner.

【小题3】The underlined word “destitute” in Paragraph 4 probably means           .

A．lifeless

B． penniless

C．useless

D．valueless

【小题4】 American charitable activities started because ___________.

A．Americans are always ready to share with others

B．Americans are mostly kind

C．poor immigrants needed help badly

D．poor Americans couldn’t live on without help

【小题5】 What’s the best title of the passage?

A．The Call from the Poor	B．Voluntary Work in the US
C．Ways to help the Poor	D．American Volunteers Around the World

Children, especially at young ages, are very creative. And creativity can be a glorious thing. Look at all the amazing artists and architects that have created glorious pieces of history. Look at all the authors with the award winning books. Now I am not saying everyone is going to end up this way but creativity is an important part of growing up and becoming who you are. This should be encouraged in young children as well as the older children.

Young children grow up playing with make-believe. And so many people try to make their young child see that their invisible friend isn’t real or that talking when someone is not in the room is weird. To adults it is, but for small children it is them being creative. May it be them playing house, or chef, or playing with stuffed animals, it is their creative part coming out. Some kids can have fun playing with rocks and sticks and it’s because of their creativeness that they can do this. The invisible friend part is another part of being imaginative, and is not a bad thing since they will grow out of that phase. So encourage this and play along with them, play house or stuffed animals or whatever they want to play. Help keep their imagination running. You can even make up games, like treasure hunts, dinosaurs, or super heroes; there is just so much you can choose from.

For older children, talk to them. Help them see things through others’ eyes, or help them see things from a different point of view. Helping children see things from other views helps them keep their minds open for new ideas and new things.

All this can help your children’s minds stay creative. The arts and music, even thoughts are an important part of life and important in our society. If we didn’t have and encourage creative thinking, we wouldn't have had inventors, or philosophers, or as I said before, artists.

1.The underlined word “weird” is the closest in meaning to “_______”.

A．similar

B．strange

C．common

D．natural

2.If a child plays with his invisible friend, it shows that _______.

A．the child is longing for friendship

B．the child has no one to play with in life

C．the child has great imagination

D．there is something wrong with the child’s mind

3.According to the author, if a child talks alone in a room, we should _______.

A．let him be

B．stop him from doing so

C．give him some advice

D．know that he is suffering from loneliness

4.What is mainly talked about in the passage?

A．How creative artists and architects can be.

B．How to help children grow up in a healthy way.

C．What kind of activities children like.

D．How to protect and encourage children’s creativity.