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When someone reads the right book at the right time in his life, it can have a profound effect. Such is the case for the people on this list, who come from all walks of life. These people have singled out a book that they read which had a life-changing effect on them. They, in turn, affected the worlds of science, technology and politics.
1. That Printer Of Udell’s—Ronald Reagan
One book that had a big effect on former President Ronald Reagan as a child was the Christian-book That Printer of Udell’s, by Harold Bell Wright. The main character of the book, Dick Falkner, was born into a broken home with an alcoholic father. After losing both of his parents, Falkner moves to a bigger city, called Boyd City to make a living. However, everyone turns Dick down for a job, except for a printer. At the end of the book, Dick heads to Washington, D. C, to become a politician. It's said that the book showed him that good could defeat evil and that the good guys followed a code of morality, which can be seen as a driving factor in his presidency.
2. A Treatise Of Human Nature—Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein was one of the greatest minds of all time. His name is synonymous with brilliance. So, what book had the biggest effect on such an important mind? It was A Treatise of Human Nature, by David Hume, which was published in 1738. Hume was a Scottish philosopher known for his contributions to philosophical skepticism(怀疑论). Einstein mentioned a few times that A Treatise of Human Nature had a large influence on him. He read the book just before coming up with his famous special relativity theory. In a letter, Einstein said that Treatise helped him formulate the ideas. It was like he already had the ideas in his brain, and Hume helped him to express them clearly.
3. The Aeneid—Mark Zuckerberg
When Mark Zuckerberg first added his likes to his Facebook profile, he put the book Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card, as a favorite book. Later, in an interview with The New Yorker, Zuckerberg clarified that the sci-fi classic was one he enjoyed, but it wasn't his favorite. He said that his favorite book is The Aeneid, by Virgil, a Latin epic poem that was written somewhere between 29 - 19 BC about a group of Trojan survivors. Zuckerberg said he first read the book when he was in high school while he was studying Latin and that one thing that stuck with him was Aeneas's drive to follow his fate to build a city that “knows no boundaries in time and greatness".
1.How did the book That Printer of Udell's influence Ronald Reagan?
A. He believed in goodness and morality.
B. He found a role model in the hero of the book.
C. Ronald Reagan had similar experience with Dick Falkner.
D. Reagan was also a politician.
2.Why is the book A Treatise of Human Nature so important to Einstein?
A. Because it was written by a great philosopher David Hume.
B. Because it was a great philosophy book.
C. Because it helped Einstein form the ideas of special relativity theory.
D. Because it helped Einstein express his ideas of special relativity clearly.
3.What is Zuckerberg's favourite book?
A. Ender’s Game B. The New Yorker
C. The Aeneid D. A Latin epic poem
4.What can we infer about the books mentioned above?
A. They all affected different areas of the world.
B. They all have a profound effect on all people.
C. They are all the right books for their readers.
D. They are all written in English.
难度: 困难查看答案及解析
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If you've not heard that the decade-old princess-culture is causing problems—especially if you're a parent—you must be actively working to avoid it.
The latest study adding fuel to the fire comes out of Brigham Young University and finds that the Disney princess obsession can be harmful to girls.
“I think parents think that the Disney princess culture is safe. That’s the word I hear time and time again—it’s safe.” Lead study author Sarah M. Coyne of the Mormon institution in Utah noted in a press release. “But if we’re fully jumping in here and really embracing (accepting) it, parents should really consider the long-term impact of the princess culture."
So, what’s the problem this time around? Same as always, confirmed the study, published in the journal Child Development, which involved the assessment of 198 preschoolers: Lots of engagement with princess culture (whether through moves or toys) can lead to gender-stereotypical(性别定性) behavior as well as self-critical body image.
The strict gender stereotypes can hold girls back. “They feel like they can’t do some things,” Coyne said, “They’re not as confident that they can do well in math and science. They don’t like getting dirty, so they’re less likely to try and experiment with things.”
On the other hand, “Disney princesses represent some of the first examples of exposure to the thin ideal,” Coyne said. “As women, we get it our whole lives, and it really does start at the Disney princess level, at age 3 and 4.”
So, what should a parent do? Try his or her best to avoid all princesses for the entire of a girl's childhood? I'd say, have moderation in all things, have your kids involved in all sorts of activities, and just have princesses be one of many, many things that they like to do and engage with." Coyne suggested. “This study has changed the way I talk to my daughter, the things I focus on, and it's been really good for me as a parent to learn from this study,” Coyne said. “I usually can't say that my research findings have such a personal impact on my life."
1.What do we know about the study?
A. It proved that the Disney princess obsession is harmful.
B. Sarah M. Coyne is the first one to do the research.
C. It started a heated discussion among people.
D. It suggested watching TV programmes of I lie Disney is safe.
2.How many problems can the Disney princess culture cause according to the study?
A. One. B. Two. C. Three. D. Four.
3.What does the underlined word "it" in Paragraph 6 refer to?
A. The Disney princess culture.
B. The idea that girls can't do some things.
C. The idea that girls should be thin.
D. The problem the Disney culture causes.
4.What advice does Coyne give to parents?
A. Actively work on the old princess culture.
B. Change their way they talk to their daughter.
C. Avoid girls to watch any princesses.
D. Have girls involved in all kinds of activities.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
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Too Good To Go, an app operating in the UK, allows users to order leftover food at a discount from restaurants, according to the website. The goal is to help cut food waste.
Users simply log in, pick a restaurant, pay through the app and then pick up their food at a set time—usually around closing or after peak meal times. Orders through the app cost between 2 British pounds ($2.60) to 3.80 British pounds (about $5). Users aren’t able to pick the food items, but they get an idea of the type of food that will be available, according to Business Green.
Users also have the option to give meals to people in need by donating 1 British pound or more through the app. More than l, l00 meals have been donated so far.
To ensure the entire experience is super eco-friendly. Too Good To Go provides recyclable takeout packaging to participating restaurants.
Restaurants using the app make extra money by selling food what would otherwise have been throw away. And Too Good To Go itself makes money by taking a fee from participating restaurants on each sale.
Founded in Denmark last year. Too Good To Go launched this year in the UK and is expanding to other countries. The app is available in Brighton, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds, and will be in London later this month.
“Food waste just seems like one of the dumbest(愚蠢) problems we have in this world,” co-founder James Crummie told Business Green. “The restaurant industry is wasting about 600,000 tonnes of food each year, and in the UK alone there are one million people on emergency food parcels from food banks. Why do we have these two massive social issues that are completely connected, yet there is not much going on to address them?”
Too Good To Go has already helped cut a significant amount of waste. So far, the app has saved 600 meals from landfills in the UK, reports Business Green.
1.Why is the app introduced into UK according to the passage?
A. To help users find proper restaurants.
B. To reduce food waste in UK.
C. To help people in need of food.
D. To make orders of food much cheaper.
2.Which of the following statements are TRUE according to the passage?
A. The app has made some progress in saving food.
B. The app has been used throughout UK by now.
C. You can make money if you are a customer.
D. The restaurants provide recyclable takeout packaging.
3.From what James Crummie said we know that ________.
A. it’s stupid for the restaurant industry to waste so much food
B. food bank should provide more food to people in need
C. people don't pay much attention to food problems
D. it’s stupid trying to solve food problems by using the app
4.What’s the main idea of the passage?
A. How to use the app.
B. Who benefit from the app.
C. Food waste is the biggest problem.
D. Using an app can reduce food waste.
难度: 困难查看答案及解析
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I used to believe courtesy(礼貌) was a thing of the past. Very seldom have I encountered a courteous human being in this modem era of the so called Generation X.
Recently, I had to change my thinking, when I came face to face with just such a human being. I had gone to a happening coffee place, with two of my grown up daughters. The place was crowded with the usual loud crowd and we had to climb a sleep flight of stairs in order to find an empty table. After enjoying coffee and snacks, we were at the steep descent down the stairs, where the narrow space made climbing down only possible in a single file, with hardly any space for another person to either climb up or come down.
Just as I was in the middle of my descent, a gentleman entered the main entrance of the restaurant which right in front of the staircase. I was sure I would be pushed roughly by this man who will want to go up in a hurry. I kept coming down as fast as I could, holding on to the banister (栏杆), instead of my advanced years. My agile daughters were already down, looking up at me worriedly, hoping I would reach them before the stranger strange started up the stairs, knowing I was a nervous sort.
Nearly reaching them, I noticed the man still standing near the door. I reached my daughters and passed the stranger at the entrance door which he kept holding open. I looked back thinking he was still at the door, deciding whether to go in or find another less crowded place. I saw him going up the stairs, two at a time. I told my daughters about it and all three of us felt had that we did not even thank the courteous gentleman who was actually holding the door open for us ladies to pass through before going up.
1.What happened after the writer saw the young man?
A. The young man pushed the writer roughly and went upstairs.
B. The writer’s daughters helped her down the stairs as fast possible.
C. The young man stood at the door deciding whether to go in or not.
D. The writer caught hold of the bannister to walk as fast as she can.
2.What do you think caused the writer’s nervousness?
A. The stairs were too narrow and sleep.
B. Her two daughters had been down already.
C. She was afraid of being pushed roughly.
D. She could not walk fast because of old age.
3.What can be the best title?
A. A polite young man B. Generation X
C. The coffee place D. A family get-together
难度: 困难查看答案及解析