Apple’s so-called iPhone 4 “Death Grip” ----where holding the phone in the left hand weakens the signal ---- may rank among the top marketing failures of the 2010s.
Frustrated iPhone 4 owners don’t need to wait around for Apple to handle the problem. They can solve the calling problems on their own. I’ve got five guaranteed solutions, but you probably won’t like them.________________. In most US states, purchasers can return phones within 14 days - 30 days in states like California. It’s the “buyer’s regret” period, and for some people who can’t make clear calls there surely is some kind of regret. Apple’s newest handset may be the most fashionable phone on the planet, but it is by no means the only choice. Yes, you can use another smart phone and find happiness.
________________. OK, so this might seem like an extreme choice, but, hey, aren’t all those phone calls annoying? I’ve dramatically reduced the number of phone calls and must say it feels good to be free of them. The iPhone has a touchscreen for a reason. Use it. But, please, don’t text and drive.
________________. If you must make phone calls, change your location. Repeatedly test for the Death Grip, but don’t let the sellers know the real reason for moving. Surely they’ll think that anyone willing to wait all night in a line to buy a cell phone is some one who is easily tricked or taken in. Don’t let your iPhone 4 enthusiasm drive up the seller’s counter offer.
________________. Hey, why should Apple be the only one who makes money? The iPhone 4 eBay auctions（拍卖）are crazy. There are “buy it now” prices of $1,000 and auctions with bids（出价）starting above $800. While writing this post, I watched one auction count down 7 minutes to zero, where in the final seconds the winning bid was $1,300 for the 32GB black model, unopened.
_______________. It’s surprising how effectively some people can just ignore problems like they don’t exist. No matter what the situation, they ignore it. “Hey, Johnny, don’t you know Toyota recalled（召回） a bazillion cars for accelerator pedal defects?” You know his answer: “Toyota is the best company on the planet. There is no problem with my car.” I’ve seen this kind of denial behavior among some Mac enthusiasts, too. About Death Grip, Apple CEO Steve Jobs is on record firmly stating: “Just avoid holding it in that way.” Apple claims the problem really isn’t iPhone 4 but you. Hey, you can choose to believe that. Denial will fix your problem, because you’ll never admit to having one.
| A．Live in denial |
| B．Sell your iPhone |
| C．Stop making phone calls |
| D．Purchase a car rather than an iPhone |
E. Move to a location with strong carrier signal
F. Return the phone and get one from a different manufacturer（制造商）
根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。选项中有两项为多余选项。
Where would you most like to go on vacation? Paris? London? The Amazon Rainforest? Each of these destinations is attractive.
As a new word, staycation refers to people staying at home during their vacation time, and going sightseeing around their hometown.
Staycations have become really popular recently, as a way of having an enjoyable vacation, without spending too much money. There are shortcomings to every positive thing, however.
You also might prevent yourself from enjoying things to the fullest, as the atmosphere
might be the same as any other time.
It means you won't be available for work or other activities.
What can you do to make your staycation fun?
1.Go to a nearby town, or to a fancy hotel in your hometown and stay over night. Treat yourself to room service and any other fun things the hotel has to offer.
2. You would have done it on a vacation, right? Treat yourself to this, at least for one day!
3.Throw a small party. Think about the money you are saving by not going away. You will still save money, but have more fun, and you will help other people to have fun too!
4.Go shopping! Window shopping, or the super fun type, where you buy things! You would have bought souvenirs if you had gone on a vacation, so treat yourself during your staycation!
The most important thing to remember is to do things that make you and your family excited!
| A．Eat out for every meal! |
| B．Go on a day trip to a nearby town, or to a beach. |
| C．But why not remain at home and enjoy a staycation? E. Most of the time it involves dining out more frequently than usual. |
| D．If you are on a staycation, you might get calls from work. |
F. Make sure you all have fun, and when it is over, you feel refreshed.
G. The trick is to make sure your friends and coworkers know you are on a staycation.
根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。选项中有两项为多余选项。
Smiling is a great way to make yourself stand out while helping your body to function better. Smile to improve your health, your stress level, and your attractiveness.
We are drawn to people who smile. There is an attraction factor. We want to know a smiling person and figure out what is so good because anxieties can push people away, but a smile draws them in.
Smiling Changes Our Mood
Next time you are feeling down, try putting on a smile. Smiling can trick the body into helping you change your mood.
Smiling Relieves Stress
Stress can really show up in our faces. Smiling helps to prevent us from looking tired or worn down. The stress should be reduced and you'll be better able to take action.
Smiling lowers your blood pressure.
When you smile, there is a measurable reduction in your blood pressure. Give it a try if you have a blood pressure monitor (血压计) at home. Sit for a few minutes and take a reading. Then smile for a minute and read it again while still smiling.
Smiling lifts the face and makes you look younger.
The muscles we use to smile lift the face, making a person appear younger. Don't go for a face lift, just try smiling your way through the day --- you'll look younger and feel better.
Try this test: Smile. Now try to think of something negative without losing the smile. It's hard. When we smile, our body is sending the rest of us a message that “Life is good!"
| A．Smiling helps you stay positive. |
| B．Smiling makes us attractive. |
| C．Do you notice the difference? |
| D．Smiling can bring you luck and sorrow. |
E. When you are stressed, take time to put on a smile.
F. There's a good chance that your mood will change for the better.
G. As long as you try smiling daily, it can make you look younger.
Decision Making
Making decision in life can be a difficult task.________In fact, the decisions you make today will not only influence your future ,but also other people and the world in which you live .
Decision making involves thinking ,talking , and searching for information related to a problem ._____________You do this by talking with others who know about the subject, going to the library , and thinking about two or more solutions.
_______An example is your ten-year-old car breaks down and needs much money to repair. You need transportation to get to work, do shopping, and deal with other tasks. You must decide the best way to spend the family’s money.
In deciding -----or making a decision ------there is a six- step process:
*Define (明确) the problem .Understand the problem clearly .
*Gather and list all the information you can get on the problem.
*________It is important to have many possible solutions to the situation. It will take time to research the variety of solutions.
*_____Look at the good and bad sides to each solution. What are the results of each? Answer the questions : Will this solution be good for me ……the family…coworkers? Stay with your values and those of your family.
* Choose the best solution to solve your problem.
* Evaluate the decision you made. Decide if you need to revise your action plan.
| A．Set clearly defined goals or action plans. |
| B．Examine two or more solutions to the situation. |
| C．Analyze(分析)the possible results of each solution . |
| D．You probably won’t be happy with every decision you make . |
E. You gather data that can help you with the decisions that you need to make.
F. Throughout your life you will make some decisions that will affect your future.
G. Decision making usually occurs when events, habits, and patterns of living change.
You probably don’t know as much as you think you do. When put to the test, most people find they can’t explain the workings of everyday things they think they understand. Don’t believe me? Find an object you use daily (an ear phone, a toilet, a stereo speaker) and try to describe how it works. We call this phenomenon the illusion of explanatory depth(解释性深度错觉). It means you think you fully understand something that you actually don’t.
We see this every day in buzzwords (流行语). Though we often use them, their meanings are usually unclear.
Several years ago, I attended a meeting where the president spoke about global business practice in the coming year. During the talk, people around the room nodded in agreement. Afterwards, though, many of them discussed how to manage global business practice, none of the people who had nodded in agreement could exactly describe what it actually meant.
No matter what job you do, discovering your gaps in knowledge is necessary. An unknown gap means you might not fully understand a problem.
To discover the things you can’t explain, take a lesson from teachers. When you guide someone else, you have to fill the gaps in your own knowledge. But you don’t need to teach someone else. Explain concepts to yourself as you learn them. Get in the habit of self-teaching. Involve others in learning together. Ask them to explain difficult concepts, even if you think everyone understands them. Not only will this help you to work through new ideas, but it will occasionally uncover places where your friends don’t understand the explanations.
They can help you have a better understanding of problems.
| A．An active learner usually puts it into reality. |
| B．That can prevent you from solving the problem properly. |
| C．Your explanations can’t show your own knowledge gaps. |
| D．Help recognize the knowledge gaps of the people around you. |
E. You’re likely to discover unexpected gaps in your knowledge.
F. They cover gaps in our knowledge, serving concepts we don’t fully understand.
G. When you do uncover these gaps, treat them as learning opportunities, not signs of weakness.
根据短文内容，从对话后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。
We are all called upon to make a speech at some point in life, but most of us don’t do a very good job.
So, you have to give a speech and you are terrified. You get nervous, you forget what you want to say, you stumble over words, you talk too long, and you bore your audience. Later you think, “Thank Goodness, it’s over. I’m just not good at public speaking. I hope I never have to do that again.”
Cheer up! Here are some simple steps to take the pain out of speech making. Ask yourself the purpose of your speech. What is the occasion? Why are you speaking? Then, gather as many facts as you can on your subject. Spend plenty of your time doing your research. Then spend plenty of your time organizing your material so that your speech is clear and easy to follow. Use as many examples as possible, and use pictures, charts, and graphs if they help you make your points more clearly.
Don’t talk over their heads, and don’t talk down to them. Treat your audience with respect. They will appreciate your thoughtfulness.
Just remember: Be prepared. Know your subject, your audience, and the occasion. Be brief. And be yourself. Let your personality come through so that you make person-to-person contact with your audience. If you follow these simple steps, you will see that you don’t have to be afraid of public speaking. In fact, you may find the experience so enjoyable that you volunteer to make more speeches ! You’re not convinced yet?
| A．It doesn’t have to be that bad. |
| B．Take several deep breaths before your speech. |
| C．This article gives some advice on how to give good speech. |
| D．Say what you have to say and then stop. |
E. Don’t say what you aren’t familiar with.
F. Never forget your audience.
G. Give it a try and see what happens.
根据短文内容，从下框的A~F选项中选出能概括每一段主题的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该选项涂黑。选项中有一项为多余项。
A. The mistaken belief
B. The need for tolerance
C. Unpunctuality at dinners
D. Punctuality and confidence
E. Self-discipline and punctuality
F. Avoid anxiety by being punctual
There is the belief that, if you arrive at an appointment late, you will be considered important. This is a mistaken view. Being unpunctual, we are not respectful of others ; we are interfering (扰乱)with another man's time. We must realise that keeping appointments or being punctual is a contract that is silently agreed and we are expected to respect this contract. It is only natural that we lose faith, trust and confidence in a person who is tardy(延迟的).
To be punctual one has to have self-discipline(自律), and the lack of it affects others. A school boy or girl is unpunctual because he or she does not have the necessary human virtue of self-discipline. It is also a mark of disrespect for a system or an institution. Unpunctual people seldom realise that their habit cause problems to others. A salesman who is not punctual may not make a sale if he arrives late for an appointment. If one is late for a job interview, it is not likely that he will get the job.
Being punctual, we can avoid anxiety. Imagine the anxiety if you do not want to be considered unpunctual. You will be anxious if you set out for a dinner late. The person who sets out late might be careless in driving. He will ignore traffic rules. A traffic jam, flat tyres, etc. can delay him further. Happy and calm is the man who takes all these possibilities into consideration and arrives at the appointment either early or on time.
Many of those who attend dinners are notorious (声名狼藉的)for unpunctuality. They ignore the appointed time and leave their homes only after the fixed time. They are indifferent to the inconvenience caused to others. If the self-centred guest arrives late, the nine others at the table set for ten will have to wait. The host is put in an unpleasant situation and this man seldom thinks of the inconvenience caused to all -the waiters, the management staff, etc. It is necessary for us to think of others and be considerate to them.
However, we cannot always be intolerant (无法容忍的) of tardiness, for ordinary living requires some tolerance. There can be a busy executive who fights to keep to his schedule. Such a person may be forgiven if he is late, but not those who are deliberately late to create impression.
In modern society, punctuality is a necessary virtue. It is a recognition of the importance of other people.
阅读下面短文，从短文后的选项中选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。
Personal Forgiveness
ㅤTaking responsibility for mistakes is a positive step，but don't beat yourself up about them. To err （犯错）is human.（1）＿＿＿＿You can use the following writing exercise to help you do this.
ㅤIn a journal or on a piece of paper，put the heading "Personal strengths."（2）＿＿＿＿ Are you caring？Creative？Generous？A good listener？Fun to be around？They don't have to be world ﹣changing，just aspects of your personality that you're proud of.
ㅤAt the top of a second page，put the heading"Acts of kindness." On this one，list all the positive things you've done for others. It might be the time when you helped a friend with their homework，when you did the ironing without being asked，or when you baked cookies after the family had had a tiring day.（3）＿＿＿＿
ㅤYou could ask a friend or family member to help add to your list.（4）＿＿＿＿That way，you could exchange thoughts on what makes each of you special and the aspects of your personality that shine through. In fact，don't wait until you've made a mistake to try this—it's a great way to boost self﹣confidence at any time.
ㅤIt's something of a cliché（陈词滥调） that most people learn not from their successes but their mistakes.
The thing is，it's true.（5）＿＿＿＿We' re all changing and learning all the time and mistakes are a positive way to develop and grow.
| A． |
A little self﹣forgiveness also goes a long way. |
| B． |
Now list all the characteristics you like about yourself. |
| C． |
They might even like to have a go at doing the exercise. |
| D． |
It's just as important to show yourself some forgiveness. |
| E． |
It doesn't mean you have to ignore what's happened or forget it. |
| F． |
Whatever it is，no matter how small it might seem，write it down. |
| G． |
Whatever the mistake，remember it isn't a fixed aspect of your personality. |
Tricks To Becoming A Patient Person
ㅤHere's a riddle：What do traffic jams，long lines and waiting for a vacation to start all have in common？There's one answer（1） .
ㅤIn the Digital Age，we're used to having what we need immediately and right at our fingertips.However，research suggests that if we practiced patience，we'd be a whole lot better off.Here are several tricks.
ㅤ●Practice gratitude（感激）
ㅤThankfulness has a lot of benefits：Research shows it makes us happier，less stressed and even more optimistic.（2） . " Showing thankfulness can foster self control，" said Ye Li，researcher at the University of California.
ㅤ●Make yourself wait
ㅤInstant gratification（ 满足） may seem like the most " feel good" option at the time，but psychology research suggests waiting for things actually makes us happier in the long run.And the only way for us to get into the habit of waiting is to practice. （3） .Put off watching your favorite show until the weekend or wait 10 extra minutes before going for that cake.You'll soon find that the more patience you practice，the more you start to apply it to other，more annoying situations.
ㅤ●（4）
ㅤSo many of us have the belief that being comfortable is the only state we will tolerate，and when we experience something outside of our comfort zone，we get impatient about the circumstances.You should learn to say to yourself， "（5） . " You'll then gradually become more patient.
| A． |
Find your causes |
| B． |
Start with small tasks |
| C． |
Accept the uncomfortable |
| D． |
All this adds up to a state of hurry |
| E． |
It can also help us practice more patience |
| F． |
This is merely uncomfortable，not intolerable |
| G． |
They're all situations where we could use a little extra patience |
| A． The format of magazines enables children to be exposed to a wide variety of subjects． B． Magazines and newspapers provide adults with critical news． C． Being exposed to magazines and newspapers benefits you a lot． D． Keep interesting magazine pictures to give children story ideas． E． Magazines are valuable assets for many people， but in particular to children． F． Magazines and newspapers are expensive now but out of style． |
Magazine Articles： More Valuable Than You May Think
Parents are often surprised when teachers suggest their children read magazines． Read on to learn about the benefits that reading magazines offers to young readers and how to introduce your children to the medium．
Magazine Benefits
Magazine articles can provide reluctant readers with a lively， breezy writing style that can inspire them to read more．
The articles in magazines are generally short， which allows a child to finish reading a feature article without losing interest due to a short attention span． The writing in magazines also tends to be easy to read， especially if it is a children's publication．
By allowing your child to read magazines at an early age， you are encouraging development of a useful skill．（1） Getting into the habit of reading periodicals as a child will foster the habit of reading news articles that may continue into adulthood．
（2） Magazine articles challenge students to think about issues they may have never considered or cause them to rethink their world view． Information is available in a wide variety of reading levels because magazines are written for every audience imaginable． Many publications cover the same material in different writing styles that might make it easier for your child to comprehend．
Magazine Activities
Reading magazines as a family can be used to introduce each other to the various interests that each family member possesses． When your children are finished with their magazines， encourage them to pass their issue on to a sibling or other family member．
Once each family member has finished reading each magazine， you can use them for art and writing projects． These projects are for family members of all ages：
1． Cut out pictures to help your preschool and kindergarten children learn their alphabet， numbers， and colors．
2． （3） Paste the picture at the top of a page and have them write a story about what is happening or what the picture represents．
3． Clip pictures to create a collage． Many teenagers love using their artistic talents to collage．
（4） The skills that students utilize and strengthen when reading magazines can be applied to higher level reading and other academic subjects． Encouraging your child to read by giving them a magazine subscription could cause them to take the leap from being a reluctant reader to a voracious page﹣turner．
根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项，选项中有两项为多余选项。
Color is fundamental in home design-something you'll always have in every room. A grasp of how to manage color in your spaces is one of the first steps to creating rooms you'll love to live in. Do you want a room that's full of life? Or are you just looking for a place to relax after a long day?___36_____, color is the key to making a room feel the way you want it to feel.
Over the years, there have been a number of different techniques to help designers approach this important point.___37_____, they can get a little complex. But good news is that there're really only three kinds of decisions you need to make about color in your home: the small ones, the medium ones, and the large ones.
____38____.They're the little spots of color like throw pillows, mirrors and baskets that most of us use to add visual interest to our rooms. Less tiring than painting your walls and less expensive than buying a colorful sofa, small color choices bring with them the significant benefit of being easily changeable.
Medium color choices are generally furniture pieces such as sofas, dinner tables or bookshelves.___39_____.They require a bigger commitment than smaller ones, and they have a more powerful effect on the feeling of a space.
The large color decision in your rooms concern the walls, ceilings, and floors. Whether you're looking at wallpaper or paint, the time, effort and relative expense put into it are significant.___40_____.
| A． | While all of them are useful |
| B． | Whatever you're looking for |
| C． | If you're experimenting with a color |
| D． | Small color choices are the ones we're most familiar with |
| E． | It's not really a good idea to use too many small color pieces |
| F． | So it pays to be sure, because you want to get it right the first time |
| G． | Color choices in this range are a step up from the small ones in two major ways |
A Few Tips for Self﹣Acceptance
We all want it …to accept and love ourselves．But at times it seems too difficult and too far out of reach．（1） Here's a handful of ways that will set you in the right direction．
●（2） Do not follow the people who make you feel not﹣good﹣enough．Why do you follow them？Are you hoping that eventually you will feel empowered because your life is better than theirs？Know that your life is your own；you are the only you in this world．
●Forgive yourself for mistakes that you have made．We are often ashamed of our shortcomings，our mistakes and our failures．（3） You will make mistakes，time and time again．Rather than getting caught up in how you could have done better，why not offer yourself a compassionate （有同情心） response？"That didn't go as planned．But，I tried my best．"
●Recognize all of your strengths．Write them down in a journal．Begin to train your brain to look at strength before weakness．List all of your accomplishments and achievements．You have a job，earned your degree，and you got out of bed today．（4）
●Now that you've listed your strengths，list your imperfections．Turn the page in your journal．Put into words why you feel unworthy，why you don't feel good enough．Now，read these words back to yourself．（5） Turn to a page in your journal to your list of strengths and achievements．See how awesome you are？
| A． |
Feeling upset again？ |
| B． |
Where do you start？ |
| C． |
Nothing is too small to celebrate． |
| D． |
Remember， you are only human． |
| E． |
Set an intention for self﹣acceptance． |
| F． |
Stop comparing yourself with others． |
| G． |
When does the comparison game start？ |
根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。注意{ E选项填涂AB, F选项填涂AC,G选项填涂AD}。
Taking good notes is a time-saving skill that will help you to become a better student in several ways . Second, your notes are excellent materials to refer to when you are studying for a test. Third, note-taking offers variety to your study time and helps you to hold your interest.
You will want to take notes during classroom discussions and while reading a textbook or doing research for a report. .Whenever or however you take notes, keep in mind that note-taking is a selective process.
.
The following methods may work best for you.
●Read the text quickly to find the main facts and ideas in it.
●Carefully read the text and watch for words that can show main points and supporting facts.
● Write your notes in your own words.
● .
● Note any questions or ideas you may have about what was said or written.
As you take notes, you may want to use your own shorthand(速记). When you do, be sure that you understand your symbols and that you use them all the time. .
| A．Use words, not complete sentences. |
| B．There are three practical note-taking methods. |
| C．You must write your notes on separate paper. |
| D．Otherwise, you may not be able to read your notes later. |
E. you will also want to develop your own method for taking notes.
F. That means you must first decide what is important enough to include in your notes.
G. First, the simple act of writing something down makes it easier for you to understand and remember it.
Getting your children to study can be a little like getting them to eat their vegetables. Make a study time and have it at the same time every day. This will help your kids to learn to schedule their day and will give them a sense of control over how they spend their time.
Allow them to study in blocks of time, such as for half an hour with a five-minute break in the middle. Ideal (理想的)study times are after dinner or right after school before dinner.
Never allow your children to study in front of the television, as that will encourage passive activity. You’ll also need to help your kids find the right place to study. After you’ve set up a good study time for little learners, set up a good place where they can get those creative juices flowing.
Make sure there is a table or a desk and a comfortable chair.
This includes helping them out with their homework sometimes and being there for them with the answers to any questions. The input you give your children during study periods will help form a bond and help make studying enjoyable.
| A．Hold them to the schedule they create for themselves. |
| B．Pick a place where your children can study properly. |
| C．Keep the atmosphere light and offer lots of encouragement, too. |
| D．One of the best ways to form good study habits for your kids is to design a schedule that they keep to. |
E. Try to stop this bad habit by offering some sort of reward.
F. Instead, use TV as a treat or a reward when the homework is completed.
G. Finally, spend time with your kids when they’re studying.
Article writing has been a way of conveying information through the web. If you’ re a writer, being able to let them stay on your article for more than two seconds is already a success. Your writing style can create more readers for your content if you know how to catch the attention of readers.
Be Direct-to-the-Point
Website writing differs from print writing. People do not want to spend much time on a website because they want to get the information they need.
Be Informative
Articles for web content are briefly written. They flesh out the information without decorations. Be sure that your articles are not confusingly worded. Make sure you organize your facts logically so that your reader can effectively process them.
Be ConversationalBe conversational so that readers can grasp what you mean in your article. With quality content, engage your readers so that your article will have that personal and human touch.
Be Connected
Most article writers just place sentences that state a certain fact to form a paragraph. However, in readers’ hopes, these writers fail to establish a human connection. So it is important to make the connection smooth and not abrupt.
| A．Stay away from decorations when writing online content. |
| B．Most readers like to read articles that“speak”to them. |
| C．Connection will allow the readers’ minds to effectively process what is written. |
| D．Get to your point directly so that your readers can process the information. |
E. Here are some important points to consider before writing online.
F. Article writing is a fun way of establishing a connection with a reader and a writer.
G. Complex sentences tend to wrongly lead your reader and make them confused.
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