Reading and Optional Choices

閱讀七選五

根據短文內容，從短文后的選項中選出能填入空白處的最佳選項。選項中有兩項為多余選項。

1

In a world surrounded by bad news， it may feel like an unhappy place sometimes. 1

If you make even one person smile today， you can help make this world a better place. Here is a list of ideas to help you.

2? In this day and age where everything is sent via the Internet， it's a shock to receive a letter through the post. Putting pen to paper and writing a few words to a friend can be an easy way to make a positive impact.

Requiring some time and research to find the perfect project， volunteering is one of the nicest things you can do. Whether you volunteer at your local youth group or take dogs from shelters for a walk， the simple fact is incredible. There are so many opportunities. 3

Tell someone “I love you”. It can be anyone. 4? Perhaps you can tell a friend that you appreciate all they are to you. Sometimes， in our busy lives we forget to take a moment to tell people what they mean to us.

5? Whether you're creative or not， taking time to make something for someone else shows how much you appreciate them. Even if you think you're not creative， the recipient will feel lucky to get such a unique gift that you put your precious time into. Some ideas could include a card， painting， drawing， song， poem or cake！

A. However， you can make a difference.

B. It's a surprise to send a handwritten letter.

C. And you don't even have to say “I love you”.

D. And it won't necessarily take up all your life.

E. So you are sure to find one that is right for you.

F. Making something for a special person is always unique.

G. Even a postcard with a couple of sentences could make someone's day.

1.?? _________???????? 2.???? _________?????? 3.??? _________??????? 4.??????? _________??? 5.?????? _________

2

What makes people successful？ Successful people have adopted certain values which have proved important for their success.

It is evident that successful people take initiative （主動性）. When they find something needs to be done， they never hesitate to do it. 1? They weigh immediately what has to be done and then do it with pleasure， thus strengthening their reputation.

Successful people do things with great enthusiasm， especially when they believe in what they are doing. They are motivated by their own satisfaction and the joy they get from doing their work.

2

They do not fear failure . Failures and disappointments in life are unavoidable .3? Successful people pick themselves up after a fall， try again with more determination and commitment and learn from each failure. They associate with those they can learn from and enjoy the company of those appreciating their achievement.

Having a good IQ often gets a person what he wants but it's really the EQ that keeps him there and helps him enjoy a high reputation. 4? By giving respect to others， they command respect for themselves.

5? It's better to praise others and win favor with them. So instead of complaining about a situation， successful people always try to solve it.

A. Successful people never complain.

B. Successful people seldom make excuses.

C. They work hard even when no one is watching.

D. They believe that responsibility is taken， not given.

E. It's failure that teaches us much more than success.

F. It's hard to be successful if you don't trust the people around you.

G. Successful people are polite to everyone and treat others with respect.

1.?????? _________???? 2.???????? _________?? 3.??? _________?? ???? 4.??? _________??????? 5.???????? _________

3

The Benefits of Keeping a Journal

If you want to grow， one important thing you should do is to keep a journal. It may seem simple， but it can make a big difference in your life. Writing all the lessons I learn and all the ideas I get has become a habit for me. 1? Here are some benefits you will get by keeping a journal.

◆ It prevents you from losing an idea. Have you ever gotten an idea only to lose it later because you didn't write it down？ 2? But then I developed the habit of writing down every idea that came into my mind as soon as possible.

◆ It helps you review all the lessons you've learned. By reviewing your journal， you can quickly see the lessons you've learned and the ideas you've gotten. 3? You can use the ideas to propel （鞭策） yourself forward.

◆ 4? After keeping a journal for years， you can look back at it and see how far you've gone. Things that were big problems in the past might seem small today. The raw ideas you had in the past might have been realized today.

◆ It helps you expand your ideas. When you try to come up with a sentence to express an idea， you are thinking actively about it. 5? In the end， you will expand your ideas.

A. I often experienced that myself.

B. It trains you to express your thoughts.

C. It allows you to see your progress over time.

D. Just use whatever ways you are familiar with.

E. Active thinking helps you connect your idea to another one.

F. And to be honest， I can't imagine what my life would be like without it.

G. Then you can do whatever necessary to avoid repeating the same mistakes.

1.????? _________????? 2.??? _________??????? 3.??? ? _________????? 4.?????? _________???? 5.????? _________

4

How to Stay Fit and Beautifully Healthy

Find the time.

1? Experts recommend that you should aim to be active for at least 30 minutes per day. Try scheduling your exercise the same way that you schedule other appointments and commitments. You'll be more likely to stick to it.

2

You will see the most benefits from exercise if you do it regularly. One good way to make it a habit is to pick a form of exercise that you enjoy. For example， if you like swimming， make it a point to swim twice a week.

Go outdoors.

There are definitely some benefits to work out at a gym—air conditioning and televisions are a few. 3? The varied terrain （地形） of a road， sidewalk， or trail challenges your body， which will do you good.

Use your local parks.

4? If you like sports， you can also make use of the tennis courts or basketball courts.

Be social.

If you involve other people in your exercise routine， you'll see a positive impact in your results. Finding a workout friend can help with responsibilities. If you schedule an activity with a friend， you are less likely to cancel than if you were only canceling on yourself. Group exercise classes also offer benefits. 5? They can also motivate you and correct your form to make sure that you are doing each move safely and effectively.

A. Make it a habit.

B. Do sports individually sometimes.

C. These movements will exercise your arms.

D. In classes， instructors can offer encouraging words.

E. Many parks will have great areas for running or walking.

F. But scientists report that exercising outdoors can have major benefits.

G. Exercise is one of the most important aspects in staying fit and healthy.

1.??? _________??????? 2.?? _________???????? 3.????? _________?? ???4.??????? _________??? 5.??????????? _________

5

Why Dogs Chase （追逐） Their Tails

It might look like a strange activity to humans， but tail-chasing is a way for dogs to burn off some energy. In most cases， they're doing this for one of two reasons： 1

If a dog doesn't have anything （or anyone） to play with， it might need to entertain itself—in this case， by playing with its tail. On the other hand， the behavior could be a warning sign that your dog is becoming anxious or stressed.“We call these displacement （替代） behaviors， similar to a human playing with their hair or tapping their foot，” says Hartstein.“ 2 ”

One reason tail-chasing can be a must-do for dogs is that they start playing with their tails as playful puppies learning about their bodies. 3? “The dog then learns it can get attention from its owners when it does that，” says Hartstein.

4? But if your pet is doing it every day or it seems to become an obsession （強迫）， you'd better watch out. Make sure its basic needs are being met， including exercise and socialization.

A visit to the vet is also a good idea. If the tail-chasing started suddenly， your dog might be reacting to a medical issue， like cognitive disorder， or tapeworm （絳蟲）， says Hartstein. 5? With some treatment and extra training， you and your dog will both be happier.

A. They are happy and satisfied.

B. They're bored or they're stressed.

C. The sooner you get a medical checkup， the better.

D. They gradually get into the habit of chasing tails.

E. Owners often laugh at the activity and talk about it.

F. They seek to do things that can comfort themselves.

G. It's normal for dogs to chase their own tails occasionally.

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6

Yes， you can definitely blame winter clothes for your overstuff （塞得過滿） suitcase. After all， warm clothing takes up a lot more room than summer T-shirts and shorts. To make matters worse， you've got to pack for overheated restaurants and freezing outdoor conditions. 1? Here are some winter-packing mistakes we learned the hard way， and tips you need.

2

Your shoes face a big challenge in winter. They need to be： insulated， waterproof， and warm; provide great traction in case of ice; be able to withstand salt; and be comfortable to walk in. So， your sneakers aren't going to cut it. Just remember to wear your heavier snow boots on the plane; otherwise， they'll take up half your suitcase space.

Packing the wrong materials.

Cotton is a terrible choice for the winter. It absorbs moisture and sweat， which will make you cold and keep you freezing. 3? It is naturally odor-resistant and breathable.

Leaving behind sunglasses.

Since you're not headed to the beach， you might forget to pack your sunglasses. The sun can shine brightly on freezing days too tough， so be able to pack yours. 4

Not bringing medicine.

Cold and flu cases rise during the winter， and while you definitely don't plan on getting sick while traveling， you should be prepared in case it does happen. Make sure you've packed medication for upset stomach， fever relief， body aches， and congestion. 5? Just get travel- sized versions of your go-to drugs.

A. But we're here to help.

B. Choosing the right shoes.

C. Wearing the wrong shoes.

D. You can replace it with wool.

E. Better be a pair which is easy to pack and hard to break.

F. You don't have to travel with the whole medicine box though.

G. Throw some sunscreen there as you can get sunburned in the season.

1.??????? _________??? 2.????? _________????? 3. _________??????????? 4.???????? _________? 5.?????????? _________

7

Easy Ways to Give Yourself a Fresh Start

It doesn't need to be complicated or challenging to turn a fresh page on each new day.

Whenever we mark a new year—by turning the calendar， returning to school or celebrating a holiday—we are looking for a fresh start. 1 But how？ Here are some easy ways to connect with that feeling of starting fresh， whether it's a new year or simply a new day in our life.

2? This means you have realized what serves your life now and what can stay in your past. Or invest in a new pen and a new notebook. Having fresh supplies can stimulate even the common task of creating your to-do list.

Moreover， you can learn something new by opening a book you've been expecting to read， searching a question that's been in your mind， enrolling （注冊） in a class that motivates your interest. Of course you can simply ask a friend for a fresh idea about an issue. 3

Take a break from technology for an hour， a day， or a week. 4 You should be able to put some space between yourself and digital devices.

One reason why you sometimes struggle to start fresh is that you get stuck with reflecting on worrisome thoughts about the past， the present or even the future. 5? Allow these thoughts into your day only at a brief （30 minutes or less）， specific time. The rest of the time， focus on what you are doing that's new and positive.

How do you give yourself that “fresh start” feeling？

A. Electronic products might not be serving you best.

B. Newness or freshness can guide us on a positive way.

C. Limit your daily “worry time” and make an appointment with yourself.

D. All of us enjoy newness， but what is it that leads to a sense of freshness？

E. Realizing your past mistakes， you should move forward with enthusiasm.

F. Increasing your knowledge on any topic means taking your mind into a fresh area.

G. First， even letting go of a single box or bag of items can give you a refreshing sense.

1. _________? 2.??? _________??????? 3. _________?????????? 4.???? _________?????? 5.?????? _________

8

Want to live in a perfectly clean environment and make it shine brightly？ 1? Then you will not need to purchase expensive cleaning products.

Clean the toilet with Coke. It's amazing how powerful Coke might be as a toilet cleaner.2? You'll save your health by not consuming chemicals that Coke contains and save money by not purchasing professional cleaners. Pour some cola over the stains and leave it all for a few hours. Then let water wash the toilet！

Remove water stains with orange peels. You've just eaten an orange. 3? Do not throw away those orange peels. You can use the skins to clean stainless steel. Your appliances （器具） will shine again after you rub them with the skins. The peels can easily make those stubborn stains disappear in a second.

Use banana peels to polish leather furniture. Experts claim that banana peels are great for polishing leather sofas and armchairs. Banana skins are rich in oils and have the right texture to do the task. 4 Afterwards， remove the leftover with a cloth. This trick is simple and cheap. Use it if you want your leather furniture to look brand new again.

5? Why would you want to buy one when you can make your own product that is cheap and non-toxic （無毒的）？ Just pour 2 liters of slightly warm water into a deep bowl. Then add 50 ml white vinegar and half a teaspoon of dishwashing liquid. Shake the bowl and then fill up a plastic spray with the mixture. Use it to clean windows and mirrors. Make your glass surfaces clean and shiny.

A. Wait a minute！

B. Make your own glass cleaner.

C. Follow the steps given below.

D. Of course your answer is “yes”.

E. They leave no marks or scratches.

F. Instead of drinking it， use it to clean the toilet bowl.

G. They are money-saving and safe to use on all furniture.

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