Asleep on a plane: a case for window seats

I love tosleep on planes, and I have an unusual ability to sleep well on them. There have even been one or two occasions 【1】 I have fallen asleep before takeoff and awakened upon the impact of landing, not having realized we had even left the ground. So when 【2】 (book) my flights, I always choose the window seat whenever possible. This allows me to lean my sleepy headagainst the wall of the plane for a bit 【3】 (much) comfort.

Some 【4】 argue that the aisle（走廊）seat is superior for the leg space and the ability to get off swiftly and eye the snack cart. But in reality, we’re all getting our drinks and snacks 【5】 few seconds. Also, I find that if a person knows he’s in a window seat, he’ll choose to use the bathroom before boarding so that he 【6】 (not need) to disturb his neighbor, which is just considerate. And he’ll seize the opportunity to get up when another seatmate gets up so that the seatmate needn’t 【7】(bother) more than once.

As a photographer and visually oriented person, the window seat gives me the best views of cottony clouds, or a great sunset, or golden sunrise, etc. Most of all, 【8】 I’ve been flying for years, I still get pleasure of seeing my departing city or country 【9】 (shrink) into the distance,and the butterflies in my stomach when I see the horizon of my destination come into view. And those feelings of adventure and excitement are 【10】keep me coming back , flight after flight, to my window seat.

【1】这些安全措施仍将继续实施至下月初。(remain)

【2】完善自我是一个抽象的理想，无法激励一些学生真正对抗惰性。(incapable)

【3】由于缺乏受过专业训练的教师，一些美国学校很难加入汉语教学的竞争。(shortage)

【4】如今，病人能很便捷地下载他们的医疗记录以获取诸如检测结果之类的信息，大大节省了时间和人力。(so ... that)

Communication is important for strong family relationships. However, if you don't truly listen to others, it can be difficult to communicate. Working on your listening skills can help you communicate better and form stronger bonds.【1】

Stay in the present.

When listening to a family member, do not let your mind wander to other things. It's important to strive to stay in the present to make your family member feel heard and valued.

【2】Instead, focus only on what's being said. If you feel your mind wandering, return your thoughts to the speakers’ words.

【3】

When talking to someone, you often are focusing on what you're going to say next. This tendency can get more intense when talking to a family member. If you're, say, discussing a family problem or disagreement, you may be eager to share your thoughts. However, do not think about how you feel or wish to respond. Focus only on the speaker and their thoughts and opinions on the matter.

Show you're listening using non-verbal cues.

You want the speaker to feel valued. Make sure to show you're listening. You can convey you're paying attention via non-verbal cues. 【4】 Smiles and laugh when necessary, and keep eye contact.

Make sure the speaker has finished talking before you talk.

It's okay to accept a pause. A couple of seconds of silence in a conversation is not a bad thing, and allows the speaker a chance to fully express themselves. Instead of immediately launching into your response, pause for a moment after the speaker finishes talking.【5】

People have a natural tendency to pause when they speak. If you notice the speaker has paused, do not assume they've done talking. Give them a few seconds before you respond.

A.Focus on the speaker’s words and not what you'll say next.

B.Never think about other things when someone is talking.

C.You can think of how you will respond later.

D.Thus, it is necessary to make sure to listen actively and here are how.

E.This will allow you to make sure they’ve completely finished talking.

F.Therefore, the following will tell you how to be interactive with the speaker.

G.Nod as the speaker talks.

Online “friends” – a threat to development

The impact of technology on the nature of our friendships has been a much - debated topic since the dramatic rise of social networks. Advances in mobile technology and social networking websites mean we spend more time online than ever before. It is therefore not surprising that so many psychologists, sociologists, and others are eager to give their thoughts on how this is impacting negatively on our society.

There is one element of social networking that is deeply worrying. We find ourselves in a hyper - connected world where people access social media day and night, excited to make announcements about the tiniest details of their lives. Research is starting to show that this culture is negatively affecting not our friendships but our character. Professor Larry D. Rosen says that young people who overuse social networking sites can become ineffective, and display anti -social behavior in their offline lives. But perhaps an even more disturbing effect is that one of our most basic emotions seems to be disappearing --empathy. This is the emotion that allows us to see the world from our friends’ points of view. Without it, we are far less able to connect and form meaningful adult relationships.

Professor Sherry Turkle suggests that people are no longer comfortable being alone. This is something confirmed by a study where 200 university students were asked to go without social media for 24 hours. Many admitted an addiction to their online social network; most complained that they felt cut off from family and friends. And yet being alone is a time when we self-reflect and get in touch with who we really are. It is only when we do this that we can make meaningful friendships with others.

These potential changes in our characters are rather alarming, so it is clear that we can’t neglect those negative impacts of social networks.

She went home and spent her night learning American Sign Language so she could better__________with Ibby. The next day, she wrote him a small__________saying: “I’ve been learning ASL, just so you can have the same_________as everyone else.”

Ibby, who was overcome with emotion over this small act of kindness, has_________the note at home ever since. Ibby was so__________by Payne’s gesture (友好的示意) that he posted it on Facebook to share with his friends. His_________was then reposted by many other people – a result that he did not__________. But he is happy that Payne is getting the__________she deserves .

The next morning, Payne heard about the post when her manager__________her and mentioned that there were many requests from reporters to__________her. A Starbucks spokeswoman heard about her_________gesture and said the company was very________of Payne’s actions.“My job is to________people have the experience they expect and that’s what I gave him,” said Payne.

Ibby sees Payne’s act of kindness as a(n)__________. “It shows that she respects deaf people,” he said.Payne now knows enough ASL to take Ibby’s_________, which makes Ibby’s life much easier. In the past, Ibby would have to order through text messages that he would show to the staff. Ibby still loves to visit the coffee shop, saying it is something that “gave me genuine _________– even now, I’m still smiling”.

【1】A. Besides B. However C. Instead D. Also

【2】A. quiet B. famous C. deaf D. blind

【3】A. welcome B. cheerful C. different D. confident

【4】A. presents B. ideas C. service D. guide

【5】A. live B. compete C. play D. communicate

【6】A. note B. story C. tip D. report

【7】A. right B. experience C. chance D. emotion

【8】A. kept B. copied C. read D. shared

【9】A. bothered B. moved C. confused D. attracted

【10】A. story B. gesture C. post D. picture

【11】A. expect B. ignore C. want D. notice

【12】A. chance B. pay C. award D. recognition

【13】A. praised B. questioned C. criticized D. warned

【14】A. understand B. interview C. meet D. promote

【15】A. strange B. important C. kind D. brave

【16】A. proud B. fond C. afraid D. ashamed

【17】A. protect B. promise C. admit D. make sure

【18】A. trust B. inspiration C. opportunity D. guidance

【19】A. step B. rule C. order D. advice

【20】A. surprise B. pride C. challenge D. happiness

【1】Then, deal with the most important tasks first so you will feel a real sense of ______(成就).

【2】_________（激励） by the teacher’s words ,he is determined to study harder than before.

【3】It was very c_______________ of him to wait for us for such a long time .

【4】Our family enjoy drinking milk d_______________ to our door every morning.

【5】E_______________ with some advanced tools ,they began their exploration.

【6】His _______________(幽默的) words made us burst into laughter.

【7】_________________(不幸的是)，we missed the last bus ,so we had to walk home .

【8】As is well-known, a white pigeon _________________(象征) peace.

Sustainable Transport in Cities

Transporthas always shaped cities. In Medieval times crossroads gave birth to bloomingmarket towns. Many North American cities were created for the car. But how arethe cities of today being shaped by a need for more sustainable transport?

Manylocal governments are speeding up change through policy initiatives such asjoined transport, congestion charges and low emission zones, sustainablegaining and life-cycle costing, and opening data up to companies and academics.And these city level policies can move markets in more sustainable directions.【1】 This ha resulted in five vehicle manufacturers committing to meetingthat deadline, which is both in their own commercial interests and good for theenvironment.

The least dense cities, for example, Houston, have per capita（人均价）carbonemissions nearly ten times higher than the densest, such as Singapore. 【2】This involves gathering mixed use developments around a key transport center, as with the KL Central area in Kuala Lumpur, built around the largest railway station in Southeast Asia.

【3】Others are using motivations and behavioral change to encourage people to choose more efficient -- and often healthier -- forms of transport. Copen has a number of progressive cycling policies including the Green Wave, whichallows people cycling at 20km /h to hit all green lights during rush hour.

Light weighing and new engine and fuel technologies are helping to make existing road and rail vehicles more efficient. 【4】 The main options are hydrogen fuelcells, fossil fuel hybrids, and electric vehicles, and the best solution may well vary from city to city.

A. Many options require city - level investment in new facilities.

B. However, it is not yet clear which technologies and fuels cities will back.

C. Through their actions, city governments today are helping to shape the cities of the future.

D. For example, London is requiring all newly licensed taxis to be zero - emission capable from 2018.

E. City planners are using transport - oriented development to increase density while maintaining quality of life and property value.

F. Some cities, such as Delhi, are investing heavily in creating the mass transport systems needed to change how citizens travel.

1. 比赛时间、地点；

2. 赛后活动。

注意：1. 词数100左右；2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

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1.历史和文化；2.环境和特点；3.人民生活和城市状况。

注意：1.词数100左右；

2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

参考词汇：魅力中国城Charming Cities in China 大型的largescale

Dear Friends,

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Yours sincerely,

Li Hua

——母语是英语，汉语流利者优先

——解答用英语学习问题，协助组织英语活动

——每周4小时，报酬面议

——联系人：李华（Tel:13011223344）

生词：英语学习顾问English Study Advisor留学生an international student报酬 payment

注意：1.词数100左右；

2．可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；

3．启事标语和结尾已为你写好。

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