Here is a story: A man sees a butterfly(蝴蝶). The butterfly tries to get out of its chrysalis(蛹). Feeling sorry for it, the man decides to help. He cuts the chrysalis and the butterfly comes out easily. Surprisingly enough, the butterfly is unable to fly. If the butterfly doesn’t struggle(挣扎;奋斗) to leave the chrysalis, it can’t fly! The struggle develops the energy in the butterfly which makes it fly. Similarly, the challenges of life bring out the best in young people and make the fly.
When people are young, meeting and overcoming challenges will make them strong and ready to face life. When we look at successful people, we see that the most successful of them are people who have had to struggle. One famous businessman, who now owns many big supermarkets, used to carry clothes on his back and sell them from door to door when he was young. Another successful man is Dennis. His father died when he was only twenty. His father’s death forced him to mature fast. He had to bring up a family of nine people. He took up the challenges and overcame them. Today his brothers and sisters are leading successful lives.
Sometimes challenges do not appear to us because we keep away from them. So some parents and teachers actively encourage young people to face challenges. They might organize some activities for young people which provide them with challenges, like rock-climbing, camping, volunteer work and so on. However, just passing exams will not prepare a person for life. We must meet and overcome challenges. The young people of today will become the leaders of tomorrow. For countries to continue to become successful, it is important that the young people learn to meet challenges and overcome them.
1. From the story we know that the butterfly can’t fly because ________.
A. it gets out by itself B. the man feels sorry for it
C. it tries to challenge itself D. the man helps it come out
2. Dennis’s example shows that successful people should ________.
A. overcome the difficulties B. take up business early
C. become the leaders of tomorrow D. sell clothes from door to door
3. The meaning of the underlined word “mature” in the passage is “________”.
A. wake up B. give up C. grow up D. bring up
4. What is the writer trying to do in this passage?
A. Describe where a butterfly comes from.
B. Encourage young people to face challenges.
C. Suggest how to become a successful businessman.
D. Explain what will happen if a person fails the exam
5. What is the best title for this passage?
A. Successful People Have a Sense of Achievement
B. Young People Must Develop Their Energy Actively
C. Countries Should Continue to Become Successful
D. Challenges of Life Bring Out the Best in Young People
1D 2A 3C 4B 5D
‘USA? Britain? Which country is better to study in?’ We often hear such discussions. As China opens its door, it is a dream for many Chinese students to study abroad. They want to learn about the outside world.
It’s true that studying abroad can help students develop themselves. Their foreign language skills will be improved and it may be easier to find jobs.
But there are problems that should be considered. Language is the first. Students must spend a lot of time learning another language.
Students must also learn to live without parents’ care and deal with all kinds of things they haven’t had to do before, like looking after themselves. There are reports about Chinese students abroad running into an ocean of difficulties and giving up finally. When they have to take care of themselves, it is hard for students to study well.
Finally, studying abroad brings a heavy burden(负担)to the family. For most Chinese parents, the cost of studying abroad is very high. But is it worth it?
We know that there are many famous people who have achieved success through their hard work in China. Liu Xiang is a good example. Once an American teacher invited him there, but he refused. He kept training hard with his Chinese teacher. He surprised the world when he won a gold medal at the Athens Olympic Games. So when you wonder which country is better to study in, think again.
Title: Studying at 56 or abroad | |
Phenomenon(现象) | Studying abroad has become a 57 for Chinese students. |
Advantages | ◆ It is helpful to the future 58 of Chinese students. |
◆ It helps to 59 foreign language skills. | |
◆ It enables Chinese students to find jobs more 60 . | |
61 | ◆ It 62 Chinese students too much time to learn a foreign language. |
◆ It’s hard for Chinese students to get used to the life abroad 63 parents’ care. | |
◆ Parents may be under pressure(压力)because the cost of studying abroad is very 64 . | |
Purpose: To tell us studying abroad is not the only way to be 65 by describing Liu Xiang’s example. |