In life, we're often torn between the person ...

In life, we're often torn between the person we want to be and the person we ought to be. Yet, while many hesitate to take the risks of becoming their "ideal self', a new study shows that people regret not running after their passion.

Inspired by research published in the 1990s, psychologist Thomas Gilovich along with his colleague built upon his original study, which proved that regrets came from what people hadn't done, by looking into the content of people's most enduring regrets grown from not living up to our "ideal self", as opposed to not living according to our "ought self".

Researchers began by explaining the difference between regrets concerning the "ideal self" and the "ought self", before asking participants to list their regrets. Across the six different studies conducted as part of this project, participants said they experienced regrets concerning their ideal self more often. They also mentioned more ideal-self regrets than ought-self regrets when asked to list their regrets in life so far.

"Our work is the first to show that people's biggest life regrets more often involve failures to live up to their ideal self than their ought self," the researchers said. They advise that people go on with caution, as the best way to live depends on how much weight you place on your ought self and your ideal self. If you care more about your ought self, you'll be wise to minimize your regrets by thinking twice before going ahead and seizing the moment.

Despite this research, however, knowing what you want and pursuing that passion are two different things. Maybe you'll be encouraged by a quote from Mark Twain:" Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor, and catch the trade winds in your sails."

1.What did Thomas's original study prove?

A. People didn't take a risk in life.

B. People regretted what they hadn't done.

C. People lived up to their ideal self.

D. People regretted pursuing their passion.

2.How was the researchers' new study carried out?

A. By analyzing six different studies.

B. By analyzing people's various responses.

C. By explaining the difference among regrets.

D. By comparing ideal-self and ought-self regrets.

3.What did the researchers advise people to do?

A. Look back now and then.

B. Think twice before feeling regretful.

C. Live according to their choice.

D. Care more about their own life.

4.What is implied in Mark Twain's quote in the last paragraph?

A. Everyone should be forced to pursue their goals.

B. Everyone should make full use of their surroundings.

C. Everyone should have the courage to pursue their goals.

D. Everyone should stop themselves from getting disappointed.

高二英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析

“We started as a group of friends with the same problem: difficulty in our personal life to manage our time, being always in a hurry.” This thought was recently offered by Bruno to explain the origin of The Art of Living Slowly, an organization that he founded two years ago, with his wife, Ella.

Bruno and Ella said they decided to draw more people’s attention to the overlooked idea that “time is wealth.” On February 19th last year, they created a new holiday, the first Global Day of Slow Living. Despite its ambitious name, the event was limited almost entirely to Italy, where the couple arranged a number of events: a reverse bicycle race in which the last rider was declared the winner; an afternoon of grandfathers reading poetry to children etc.

One Monday in late February, 2008, the couple staged a New York version (版本) of the Day of Slow Living. “It has to be a Monday, the worst day to try to slow down.” Bruno explained. Bruno was wearing a police cap, mirrored sunglasses, and a sandwich board stating, “Watch out! Speed-walking camera is in action!” He flagged down passers-by and handed them postcards printed with fourteen “slowmandments.” For example, No. 4: Write your text message on your cell phone with no symbols and get in the habit of starting with “Dear …” No 7: Avoid being so busy that you don’t have time for yourself. Bruno told the passers-by to read them once a day and keep the doctor away.

Many said, “I can’t do this. New York is too fast.” Bruno admitted. But many stopped, they read and said. “This one is good for me, because trying to slow down is like trying to stop smoking.”

When asked about their plans for the future. Bruno and Ella looked at each other and chanted the name of the city they have chosen for next year’s Global Day of Slow Living, “Tokyo!”

1.The Art of Living Slowly was founded to help people ________.

A．understand the truth of life.      B．know the difficulty in managing time

C．avoid being in a hurry all the time                D．make friends with the same problem

2.What did Bruno do in New York?

A．He advertised his idea on a sandwich board.

B．He stopped passers-by and delivered postcards.

C．He served as a policeman to prevent accidents.

D．He took photos for the people who walked fast.

3.Which statement may be included in the fourteen “slowmandments” in paragraph 3?

A．Wake up five minutes earlier.      B．Do two things at the same time.

C．Make a habit of writing letters.   D．Don’t work on weekends and relax.

4.What can be inferred from the passage?

A．The new holiday is usually celebrated on a fixed day.

B．Italian grandfathers enjoy reading poetry to children.

C．The couple tend to choose busy cities to promote the idea.

D．New Yorkers have a negative attitude towards slow living.

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

In front of the temple _______ which came here to be in search of the wanted person.

A. several police cars were                     B. were several police cars

C. was several police cars                      D. several police cars was

高二英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

In front of the temple _______ which came here to be in search of the wanted person.

高二英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析

.

Star Wars Millennium Falcon

This is a gift that, if we’re being honest, many dads wants to own for themselves. This huge ship is the greatest Star Wars toy. It lights up and makes some noises. Every boy from 3 to 53 will absolutely like it, if they can find room for it. I dare say even a few grandfathers might go for it.

Biscuit----the Loving Pup

You may clearly know that a pet can be a great thing to a child’s development but you probably don’t think that you can take care of a dog properly. The robot dog Biscuit is less likely to exacerbate the disorder of your house and except for a few dead batteries, won’t leave any surprises on the floor. It will be a good playmate for your kids.

JVC KD—10 Headphones

It’s increasing common for kids to enjoy themselves on long journeys with a potable(便携式) DVD player or an iPod MPs, but the headphones that come with expensive electronics are seldom suitable for young ears. Kids should use JVC headphones that have a sound limiter that can be set by the concerned parent.

Sparrow-kids Routemaster Kit

Sparrow-kids Kit makes a huge range of craft(工艺) tools. There are lots of pretty but achievable projects for young girls to take up their (safe plastic) needles and sew.

Holz Wooden Airport

It might be said that Britain doesn’t need another airport but when it’s a traditional wooden toy like this all of you would agree that it’s a good thing. Treated with a little care, this play-set could easily entertain your young air traffic controllers.

68. The underlined word “ exacerbate” in the second paragraph can be replaced by _____.

A. worsen       B. improve      C. protect      D. cure

69. Which was the gifts is designed mainly for girls?

A.Holz Wooden Airport          B. Sparrow-kids Routmaster Kit

C. Star Wars Millennium, Falcon    D. Biscuit---the Loving Pup

70. The five things listed in the passage are ______.

A. presents for the whole family     B. gifts mainly for children

C. craft tools for children          D. the latest high-tech products

高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析

In some of the war-torn countries temporary homes had to be put up quickly to ___________ the

homeless.

A. take up      B. take in          C. keep up          D. keep out

高二英语单项填空困难题查看答案及解析

We don’t know how different our life will be in the future. We can only try to imagine it.

At first we think about human relationship. In the year 2050, we will use computers almost every day. We will make new friends through the Internet—even our husbands or wives will be met in this way. It will be much faster and easier for us. On the other hand, our relationships with people won’t be as important as they are today-we will feel a little lonely.

Computers will also help us in many other activities in 2050. For example, they will be used by the children at school to make their learning easier. In addition, there will be much more other machines which will play a similar role as computers, like robots which will do the housework for us.

Spending holidays will also be completely different. Traveling to other planets or to the moon will be available for everyone. Means of transport will, of course, change, too. We will use solar-powered cars, which will be much more environmentally friendly.

We could expect that the faster technological progress would lead to a more polluted environment. But it isn’t true. We will pay more attention to protecting the environment. And, scientists will probably find cures for many dangerous diseases, like cancer or AIDS. Therefore, our surroundings as well as health will be in better condition.

Although we can’t predict the exact changes which will be made in the world, we often think about them. We worry about our and our children’s future; we have expectations, hopes as well as fears. But I think we should be rather sanguine about our future. We should be happy and believe good things will happen.

1.Why will people probably feel a little lonely in 2050?

A. Because the number of people will become much smaller.

B. Because there will be less face-to-face communication.

C. Because people won’t like making friends with each other.

D. Because people won’t communicate with each other much often.

2.The third paragraph mainly tells us ________.

A. computers will do all the things for human beings

B. how people will use computers to communicate with each other

C. machines like computers and robots will help people a lot

D. how people will use robots to do the housework

3.According to the passage, which of the following will happen in 2050?

A. The relationship between people will be more important than that of today.

B. The way of spending holidays will be the same as that of today.

C. It won’t be difficult for people to travel to other planets.

D. Our environment will be much more polluted with a growing number of cars.

4.What does the passage mainly talk about?

A. How people will communicate in the year 2050.

B. What our life will be like in the year 2050.

C. How people will travel and spend their holidays in the year 2050.

D. What high technology will appear in the year 2050.

高二英语简单题查看答案及解析

We are given many chances in _____ life to choose to be ______ victim or creator.

A. the; a　　　　　　 B. 不填; a　　　　　 C. 不填; the　　　　　　 D. a; a

高二英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

The medical reform in that country proved to be _____ failure, but as we know, success often comes after _____ failure．

A． a; the         B． a; /          C． a; a                D． /; /

高二英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

The medical reform in that country turns out to be ______ failure, but as we know, success often comes after ______ failure.

A. a; the            B. a; 不填         C. a; a           D. 不填; 不填

高二英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析