In a world where comparisons happen non-stop, it is difficult to look outside yourself and to ever be content with who you are. There's always someone who's a bit better. The only solution is to reach inside and measure against what Warren Buffett calls your own inner yardstick. There is no more accurate measure for comparison than who you were yesterday, last week or last decade, when you were at your best.

Nothing useful ever comes from comparison to others. Either you see yourself as better than someone and you get lazy, or you see someone else as better than you and you feel like all your hard work is for nothing. It is a fool's game. None of us are inherently above or below the person next to us. We are who we are. Not one of us is exactly alike. The only direct and honest comparison is within yourself. Everything else is apples to oranges.

My opinion is that you are only allowed to compare yourself to someone else if their life situation is the same as your own. Good luck finding that match. And one thing is for sure. No matter how hard you work and how dedicated you are, there will always be someone who can run a little faster, jump a little higher, score a little better or look a little nicer in a swimsuit. And if there's not, you can bet someone is coming up fast behind you. So how can you always win in life? Become your best competitor.

The following are the reasons why you are your own best competitor.

1. You will always be motivated.

Having an image of your most recent past limits is the perfect thing to push you to the next level. If you ran 7 flights of stairs yesterday, then do 8 today. Who cares if the guy next to you did 15? It doesn't make a bit of difference. You are a more fit person today than you were yesterday. Your own progress is all you need.

2. You will continuously be your personal best.

If you commit to a slightly higher standard of yourself every day, you will always be at the top of your game. And that game will only get better. But if for some reason you fall off your mark, you will always have the past image of your best performance to show you what you're capable of. Once you've done it, you know what's possible and then it's just a matter of doing it again.

Through the passage the writer advises the readers to ________.

A. avoid comparison with others                 B. work much harder

C. pay attention to others’ progress                  D. make full use of motivation

If you want to be content with yourself, according to the author, you should ________.

A. see yourself better than others                B. measure accurately  

C. compare with yourself                           D. be honest with yourself

Which of the following is certain to happen according to the author?

A. Finding someone else who is in the same life situation as you are.

B. Finding someone who runs faster and jumps higher than you.

C. Finding someone who is hiding right behind you.

D. Finding someone who almost always wins in their life.

What can help you up to higher level in your life according to the passage?

A. Comparing yourself with the guy next to you.

B. Thinking about your own progress.

C. Promising to play a game every day.

D. Thinking of your most recent past limits.

The key to happiness is how quickly you can get back your focus on what’s important.

                                                       -----Anonymous

Sixteen years ago I learned this lesson in the back of a New York City taxi cab. Here's what happened. I hopped in a taxi, and we took off for Grand Central Station. We were driving in the right lane when, all of a sudden, a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car’s back end by just inches!

The driver of the other car, who almost caused a big accident, started yelling bad words at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was friendly. So, I said, "Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!" And this is when my taxi driver told me what I now call "The Law of the Garbage Truck."

Many people are like garbage (rubbish) trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it. And if you let them, they'll dump it on you. When someone wants to dump on you, don't take it personally. You just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. You'll be happy you did.

I started thinking, how often do I let Garbage Trucks run right over me? And how often do I take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets? It was that day I said, "I'm not going to do anymore."

Good leaders know they have to be ready for their next meeting. Good parents know that they have to welcome their children home from school with hugs and kisses. Leaders and parents know that they have to be fully present, and at their best for the people they care about. The bottom line is that successful people do not let Garbage Trucks take over their day. What about you? What would happen in your life, starting today, if you let more garbage trucks pass you by? Here's my bet. You'll be happier. Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets. So, Love the people who treat you right. Forget about the ones who don't.

What happened one day when the author was taking a taxi?

A. The taxi almost hit another car.

B. The taxi driver was injured.

C. The author scolded the driver of the other car.

D. The author learned a lesson from the driver of the garbage truck.

How did the taxi driver respond to the behaviour of the driver of the black car?

A. He yelled back at the driver.            B. He sent the driver to the hospital.

C. He was friendly towards the driver.  D. He dumped some garbage in front of his car.

What can we infer from Paragraph 4?

A. The author used to have a lot of garbage trucks.

B. The author used to complain a lot.

C. The author used to have a lot of money.

D. The author used to be a good manager.

According to the passage, what should you do if people “dump garbage” on you?

A. Ignore them and go on with our own work.

B. Try our best to persuade them not to do that again.

C. Tell them to dump the garbage in the right place.

D. Take over their work and carry the garbage to somewhere else.

In a world where comparisons happen non-stop, it is difficult to look outside yourself and to ever be   21   with who you are. There’s always someone who’s a bit   22  . The only solution is to reach   23   and measure against what Warren Buffett calls your own inner yardstick. There is no more   24   measure for comparison than who your were yesterday, last week or last decade, when you were at your   25  .

Nothing useful ever comes from comparison to others .Either you see yourself as better than someone and you get   26  , or you see someone else as better than you and you feel like all your hard work is for   27  . It is a fool’s game. Not one of us is exactly   28  . The only direct and honest comparison is   29   yourself. Everything else is apples to oranges.

My opinion is that you are only   30   to compare yourself to someone else if their life   31   is the same as your own. Good luck finding that   32  . And one thing is for sure. No matter how hard you work and how dedicated（埋头苦干的）you are, there will always be someone who can run a little faster, jump a little higher, score a little better or look a little nicer in a swimsuit. And if there’s not, you can   33   someone is coming up fast   34   you. So how can you always win in life? Become your best   35  .

Having an image of your most recent past limits is the perfect thing to   36   you to the next level. If you ran 7 flights of stairs yesterday, then do 8 today. Who   37   if the guy next to you did 15? It doesn’t make a bit of   38  . You are a more   39   person today than you were yesterday. Your own   40   is all you need.

1.A. patient                                   B. strict                                 C. content                   D. concerned

2.A. stronger                                 B. better                               C. lazier                       D. wiser

3.A. inside                                     B. out                                    C. for                            D. up

4.A. accurate                           B. useful                                 C. careful                    D. powerful

5.A. end                                    B. best                                    C. convenience          D. side

6.A. satisfied                            B. busy                                   C. inspired                  D. lazy

7.A. nothing                                  B. fun                                    C. sure                         D. success

8.A. equal                             B. unique                              C. alike                         D. common

9.A. within                                     B. by                             C. for                            D. of

10.A. instructed                           B. allowed                            C. directed                  D. suggested

11.A. situation                     B. position                            C. occasion                 D. accommodation

12.A. game                                    B. match                               C. friend                      D. enemy

13.A. conclude                    B. bet                                    C. announce               D. declare

14.A. before                                 B. beside                              C. below                      D. behind

15.A. assistant                     B. competitor                      C. coach                      D. teacher

16.A. contribute                           B. expose                             C. push                        D. devote

17.A. cares                                    B. says                                   C. wonders                 D. asks

18.A. effort                                   B. sense                           C. difference               D. change

19.A. successful                           B. happy                               C. lucky                        D. fit

20.A. benefit                     B. progress                           C. habit                        D. result

E

The key to happiness is how quickly you can get back your focus on what’s important.

-----Anonymous

Sixteen years ago I learned this lesson in the back of a New York City taxi cab. Here's what happened. I hopped in a taxi, and we took off for Grand Central Station. We were driving in the right lane when, all of a sudden, a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car’s back end by just inches!

The driver of the other car, who almost caused a big accident, started yelling bad words at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was friendly. So, I said, "Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!" And this is when my taxi driver told me what I now call "The Law of the Garbage Truck."

Many people are like garbage (rubbish) trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it. And if you let them, they'll dump it on you. When someone wants to dump on you, don't take it personally. You just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. You'll be happy you did.

I started thinking, how often do I let Garbage Trucks run right over me? And how often do I take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets? It was that day I said, "I'm not going to do anymore."

Good leaders know they have to be ready for their next meeting. Good parents know that they have to welcome their children home from school with hugs and kisses. Leaders and parents know that they have to be fully present, and at their best for the people they care about. The bottom line is that successful people do not let Garbage Trucks take over their day. What about you? What would happen in your life, starting today, if you let more garbage trucks pass you by? Here's my bet. You'll be happier. Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets. So, Love the people who treat you right. Forget about the ones who don't.

57. What happened one day when the author was taking a taxi?

A. The taxi almost hit another car.

B. The taxi driver was injured.

C. The author scolded the driver of the other car.

D. The author learned a lesson from the driver of the garbage truck.

58. How did the taxi driver respond to the behaviour of the driver of the black car?

A. He yelled back at the driver.            B. He sent the driver to the hospital.

C. He was friendly towards the driver.  D. He dumped some garbage in front of his car.

59. What can we infer from Paragraph 4?

A. The author used to have a lot of garbage trucks.

B. The author used to complain a lot.

C. The author used to have a lot of money.

D. The author used to be a good manager.

60. According to the passage, what should you do if people “dump garbage” on you?

A. Ignore them and go on with our own work.

B. Try our best to persuade them not to do that again.

C. Tell them to dump the garbage in the right place.

D. Take over their work and carry the garbage to somewhere else. 

E
The key to happiness is how quickly you can get back your focus on what’s important.
-----Anonymous
Sixteen years ago I learned this lesson in the back of a New York City taxi cab. Here's what happened. I hopped in a taxi, and we took off for Grand Central Station. We were driving in the right lane when, all of a sudden, a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car’s back end by just inches!
The driver of the other car, who almost caused a big accident, started yelling bad words at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was friendly. So, I said, "Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!" And this is when my taxi driver told me what I now call "The Law of the Garbage Truck."
Many people are like garbage (rubbish) trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it. And if you let them, they'll dump it on you. When someone wants to dump on you, don't take it personally. You just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. You'll be happy you did.
I started thinking, how often do I let Garbage Trucks run right over me? And how often do I take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets? It was that day I said, "I'm not going to do anymore."
Good leaders know they have to be ready for their next meeting. Good parents know that they have to welcome their children home from school with hugs and kisses. Leaders and parents know that they have to be fully present, and at their best for the people they care about. The bottom line is that successful people do not let Garbage Trucks take over their day. What about you? What would happen in your life, starting today, if you let more garbage trucks pass you by? Here's my bet. You'll be happier. Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets. So, Love the people who treat you right. Forget about the ones who don't.
57. What happened one day when the author was taking a taxi?
A. The taxi almost hit another car.
B. The taxi driver was injured.
C. The author scolded the driver of the other car.
D. The author learned a lesson from the driver of the garbage truck.
58. How did the taxi driver respond to the behaviour of the driver of the black car?
A. He yelled back at the driver.            B. He sent the driver to the hospital.
C. He was friendly towards the driver.  D. He dumped some garbage in front of his car.
59. What can we infer from Paragraph 4?
A. The author used to have a lot of garbage trucks.
B. The author used to complain a lot.
C. The author used to have a lot of money.
D. The author used to be a good manager.
60. According to the passage, what should you do if people “dump garbage” on you?
A. Ignore them and go on with our own work.
B. Try our best to persuade them not to do that again.
C. Tell them to dump the garbage in the right place.
D. Take over their work and carry the garbage to somewhere else.