Even when you’re extremely busy, you aren’t using your time with 100% efficiency. There are gaps in everyone’s schedule where they aren’t doing anything important. Even if your schedule has no gaps, there is probably lots of time where you aren’t working as fast or as effectively as you possibly could.

Why aren’t you completely efficient? It’s because time isn’t the limiting factor. If it were the limiting factor, people could work non-stop without breaks or any unproductive distractions. Instead, people, even those who are highly productive, need to take breaks, occasionally procrastinate(拖延) and slow down on tasks throughout the day.

The real and most important limiting factor for productivity is your energy levels to pay attention. Energy levels limit your productivity because when you’re tired, you can have ample time and still not get everything done. Your attention ability is also limited, because even if there are a million things that need to be done, you can only focus on one or two at a time.

You might not be able to insert another 4-5 hours into your schedule without making some sacrifices. But even extremely busy people can add an hour or two into their schedule without cancelling anything. The reason it’s hard to “find time” isn’t a lack of time. It’s because you don’t have enough energy left to focus on something else that needs to fit into your day.

I first suspected time wasn’t the real problem during an extremely busy period in my life over a year ago. I was insanely busy, but at that time I still exercised regularly. I had daily-to-do lists with over twenty items, and I still found time to exercise. However, after a few weeks off, due to illness, stopped exercising. I was not busy by any standards, in fact, my schedule was incredibly light. Despite this free time, I found it hard to find time to exercise. It seemed to get pushed later and later into my schedule until it was gone. How can I explain this odd experience? I believe you have known it.

1.If someone can’t work with 100% efficiency, the most important limiting factor is ______.

A. a schedule without gaps B. breaks and distractions

C. the limited time D. the limited energy

2.According to paragraph 4, everyone, including the extremely busy people, can ______.

A. work without any rest

B. focus on many things at a time

C. find some more time in a day

D. do some exercise regularly

3.After a few weeks off, what was the change of the writer’s life?

A. He had a longer daily to-do lists with over twenty items.

B. He stopped doing exercise because of the lack of energy.

C. He found it hard to find time to exercise because he was busier.

D. He pushed most of the things later and later in his schedule.

4.The writer gives the example of himself in the last paragraph in order to ___________.

A. prove what the real limiting factor is

B. show us how busily he needs to work

C. explain how important a healthy body is

D. tell us what an odd experience he has

A Dutch artist and designer has come up with a device which he hopes will get rid of pollutants from Beijing's smog skies, creating clean air for the city's mask-wearing people.

An electromagnetic field（電磁場(chǎng)） will pull particles（微粒） in the smog to the ground where they can be easily cleaned.

“It's like when you have a balloon which has static（靜電） and your hair goes toward it. Same with the smog,” says artist Daan Roosegaarde.

His studio has reached an agreement with the Beijing government to test the technology in one of tile capital's parks.

With its skies regularly covered by dirty gray smog, Beijing this week announced a series of emergency measures to handle the problem.

Roosegaarde says an indoor model device has already proven it works and is confident that the results — with the help of a team of scientists and engineers — can be replicated outside.

“Beijing is quite a good place because the smog in Beijing is quite low. It lies in a valley so there's not so much wind. It's a good environment to explore this kind of thing.”

“We'll be able to purify the air and the challenge is to get the top of the smog so you can see the sun again.”

Roosegaarde acknowledges that projects like this are a way of drawing attention to the problem, rather than a practical solution to Beijing's awful air pollution.

“This is not the real answer for smog. The real answer has to do with clean cars, different industry and different lifestyles.”

However, he hopes the project will make a “fundamental statement” by allowing the city's people to realize the difference between breathing clean and smog-filled air.

1.The device works by _______.

A. helping keep the particles out with more masks

B. pulling pollutants to the ground with an electromagnetic field

C. absorbing hair with a balloon with static

D. creating clean air and let it out into the sky

2.According to the passage, ______ .

A. the Beijing government has agreed to use the technology in Beijing

B. they have proven the results of the device both indoors and outdoors

C. the results of the air-cleaning device can be expectable

D. the Beijing government has never done anything to handle the air pollution

3.What does Roosegaarde really mean by saying “Beijing is quite a good place…... ”?

A. The air pollution in Beijing is not quite serious.

B. The weather in Beijing is good for foreigners to live in.

C. Beijing is quite fit for using the air-cleaning device.

D. It is easy to get the top of the smog in Beijing.

4.Roosegaarde appeals to people in Beijing to ________.

A. pay attention to air pollution and solve the problem finally

B. invent more devices to clean the smog in Beijing

C. drive modern cars and try different lifestyles

D. realize how serious the pollution they're facing is

根據(jù)短文內(nèi)容，從短文后的選項(xiàng)中選出能填入空白處的最佳選項(xiàng)，并在答題卡上將該項(xiàng)涂黑。選項(xiàng)中有兩項(xiàng)為多余選項(xiàng)。（請(qǐng)將答案涂在答題卡上E=AB F=AC G=AD）

We’d better develop our interest in English at the beginning of our study. 1. We may feel good when we can say something simple in English.

2. So we must make some plans before study. And we should certainly carry out these plans in our study.

3. Our notes are much thinner than the books so that we can learn them by heart easily and can often review and read them. We may also record our notes on tapes so as to listen to them easily.

Reading a newspaper is the best thing to improve your English. 4. It will help you keep in touch with a lot of subjects in English.

5. Learn by heart the whole sentences and the phrases that contain the new words so that we may know how to use the words.

If time permits, we may read a mini Chinese-English dictionary carefully from cover to cover, which may help us widen our sight and master knowledge in all ways.

A. Read a little from a newspaper every day.

B. Don’t read books without making notes.

C. Carefully write an e-mail in English.

D. It’s easy to develop an interest in English study.

E. The more, the better.

F. Plans are always very necessary.

G. Never just memorize single English words.

完形填空

閱讀下面短文，從短文后各題所給的四個(gè)選項(xiàng)（A、B、C和D）中，選出可以填入空白處的最佳選項(xiàng)，并在答題卡上將該項(xiàng)涂黑。

All of us can give others a hand as long as we are willing to do so. Actually, there are some people doing kind things all the time. Spreading kindness, one good deed at a time, is Karla Gibson’s mission. “I wish everyone could join me. There are so many _______ things going on in the world; I mean every day,” said Karla.

Karla had the ____and sense of duty in December of 2013. The single mother of three said she tended to get down around the holidays, so she ______ to do something to cheer others up. She started a Facebook page and____ her good deeds each day, from feeding the homeless to giving Easter gifts to the incarcerated (囚犯). She hoped to ____ others.

“We have to do something. Our ____ can make a difference in someone’s day. You ________ know when someone might be having their worst day, and then something like buying them a coffee can change their whole attitude,” Karla ______.

Karla’s greatest ____so far had to do with coffee. On September 27th, Karla’s birthday, she went to her local Starbucks and gave the _______ $127 to pay for other people’s drinks. She sat at the end of the drive-thru holding a _______ that read, “Have a great day.” She ended up _______ about 23 customers. “It was really fun. It was _______ one of the best birthdays ever,” she said. Her kindness that day didn’t go _______. One couple was so grateful that they surprised her with flowers and balloons to show their _____.

Karla’s acts of kindness have become a _______ affair. Her two sons are always ______ others. “Sometimes I’ll ask Kyle, ‘So, did you do anything extra nice today?’ and he’s like ‘Somebody ______ something in the hallway and I picked it up’ or ‘I held the door for someone’, that kind of thing,” said Karla.

It’s because of Mom that the boys think it’s _______ to give a hand to others. “I think it’s a great idea of hers. It’s always nice to help someone out ______ they really need it,” said Karla’s 15-year-old son Chad.

1.A. good B. bad C. new D. casual

2.A. commitment B. appointment C. preference D. success

3.A. managed B. agreed C. hesitated D. decided

4.A. did B. mentioned C. shared D. missed

5.A. greet B. inspire C. introduce D. remember

6.A. kindness B. happiness C. stories D. sadness

7.A. still B. often C. never D. even

8.A. whispered B. explained C. reported D. replied

9.A. surprise B. challenge C. concern D. moment

10.A. cashier B. customer C. beggar D. secretary

11.A. mark B. sign C. symbol D. flag

12.A. paying for B. picking up C. paying off D. picking out

13.A. occasionally B. usually C. probably D. hardly

14.A. unoccupied B. unnoticed C. unorganized D. unquestioned

15.A. wisdom B. existence C. generosity D. appreciation

16.A. society B. love C. holiday D. family

17.A. encouraging B. inviting C. helping D. affecting

18.A. dropped B. bought C. found D. fell

19.A. strange B. lucky C. cool D. funny

20.A. after B. though C. unless D. when

閱讀下面材料，在空白處填入適當(dāng)?shù)膬?nèi)容（1個(gè)單詞）或括號(hào)內(nèi)單詞的正確形式。

My family objected violently when my brother and I said__1._ were going to spend the Christmas holidays abroad. But nothing could persuade us _2.__ (stay). Two days__3.__ Christmas, we went to a small town in Southern Germany. We spent __4._ whole of Christmas Eve sightseeing.

There were so many activities in the town that they added to our_5.__ (excite). The streets were crowded with people __6._ the shops were full of wonderful things. In the evening, we went to listen to Christmas songs sung by children around the__7.__(bright) decorated Christmas tree in the main street. We returned to our hotel late that night, greatly__8.__ (look) forward to the next day when we planned to have a meal at the best restaurant in town. But in the morning the streets were empty. To make matters worse, all the shops including the restaurants __9.__ (shut). At last we had to return to our hotel, feeling very miserable. Our Christmas “feast” was a bag of fruits, which my brother had happened to buy the day before. Our thoughts sadly turned to home __10.__, at that moment, the entire family must have been wishing us a “Merry Christmas.”

短文改錯(cuò)

假定英語課上老師要求同桌之間交換修改作文，請(qǐng)你修改你同桌寫的以下作文。文中共有10處錯(cuò)誤，每句中最多有兩處。錯(cuò)誤涉及一個(gè)單詞的增加、刪除或修改。

增加：在缺詞處加一個(gè)漏詞符號(hào)（^），并在其下面寫出該加的詞。

刪除：把多余的詞用斜線（\）劃掉。

修改：在錯(cuò)的詞下畫一橫線，并在該詞下面寫出修改后的詞。

注意：1．每處錯(cuò)誤及其修改均僅限一詞；

2．只允許修改10處，多者（從第11處起）不計(jì)分。

I’m tired and covered in dust. I’ve been digging all day and I’ll be doing the same tomorrow. Sound awful, doesn’t it ? But I’ve never had so many fun in my life. As an archaeology student, I have already knew something about the Qin Tomb and the terracotta warriors. Most Chinese children can tell you Qin Shihuang was the emperor first unified China. He was a brilliant ruler, and he was also a cruel man who killed thousands of people. When he became the king of the state, he immediately ordered workers to construct an underground tomb for him, which is said to contain great treasures. But, the actual entrance to the tomb has ever been found, nor has the tomb been opened. There are ancient descriptions of crossbows hiding at the tomb’s entrance. It’s said that if everyone steps across the entrance, the crossbows will fire.

書面表達(dá)

你們班開展了一次以"Less Stress（壓力）, Better Life"為主題的英語演講比賽,請(qǐng)你準(zhǔn)備發(fā)言稿,談?wù)勀愕囊恍┚徑鈮毫Φ暮棉k法,與同學(xué)分享,內(nèi)容包括:

●同學(xué)們中普遍存在的壓力：學(xué)習(xí)很努力，成績(jī)不理想；作業(yè)太多，沒時(shí)間休息.

●我的壓力：成績(jī)好，但與同學(xué)相處有困難；與父母缺乏溝通(communicate with…)。

●緩解壓力的方法：至少兩項(xiàng)。 注意： 1. 詞數(shù)120左右；

Melbourne, Australia

Melbourne is a hot-spot travel destination, and it’s easy to see why with its beautiful beaches and busy city life.

Why it’s a great choice: Australia as a whole is considered a safe destination for international travel, and because of that, many solo travelers go there. As an English-speaking country, you won’t be faced with any language barriers. Melbourne is easy to get around because you can walk or bike practically anywhere!

Thailand

Thailand is great for solo travelers — perhaps because it is one of the Buddhist mindsets, which promote equality among the sexes.

Why it’s a great choice: Thailand is known for its friendly atmosphere, and as a travel hot-spot, there are plenty of chances to meet other like-minded travelers. Well known for being very cheap, especially in the north. A good choice if you want to get away on a budget. Thailand has a lot to offer, from the party-central Bangkok to beautiful beaches and tropical (熱帶) jungle.

Hong Kong, China

Hong Kong is a great place to relax for solo travelers as it is full of “Zen moments,” such as beautiful gardens and Tai Chi classes.

Why it’s a great choice: Hong Kong is regarded as one of the safest cities in the world. If you’re not well-traveled, or perhaps a bit tired of things like language barriers, Hong Kong is a great place to start, as it mixes both Eastern and Western at the same time.

Bali, Indonesia

Bali is a spiritual place with yoga, spas, healthy food and beaches. The combination of friendly people and splendidly visual culture has made Bali Indonesia number one tourist attraction.

Why it’s so great: You won’t be the only solo traveler in Bali. Everyone is known for being extremely friendly and you’re sure to meet some amazing characters along the way. As a Hindu island, Bali is the perfect place for a relaxing and spiritual retreat (靜修). The Sacred Monkey Forest in Ubud is fantastic — if you like monkeys, anyway.

1.What do the four places have in common according to the text?

A. They’re cheap to travel around.

B. They’re great for solo travelers.

C. They offer good spas and yoga.

D. There’re no language barriers.

2.Where can you enjoy both convenient transport and beautiful beaches?

A. Melbourne, Australia. B. Thailand.

C. Hong Kong, China. D. Bali, Indonesia.

3.What has made Bali Indonesia No.1 tourist attraction?

A. Yoga, spas, healthy food and beaches.

B. Friendly people and splendidly visual culture.

C. Meeting some amazing characters along the way.

D. Fantastic monkeys in the Sacred Monkey Forest.

4.What type of writing is this text?

A. A travel journal. B. A business report.

C. A travel guide. D. A press advertisement.

There are thousands of products of all colors and shapes in a supermarket, making you believe that they are worth a try. How? Packaging (包裝) is the silent but persuading salesman .

There on the shelves, each bottle, can, box, and jar has been carefully designed and measured to speak to the inner self of the consumer (消費(fèi)者), so that is buying not only a product but also his belief in life. Scientists have studied consumer behavior recently and found that the look of the package has a great effect on the “quality” of the product and on how well it sells, because “Consumers generally cannot tell between a product and its package. Many products are packages and many packages are products,” as Louis Cheskin, the first social scientist studying consumers’ feeling for packaging, noticed.

Colors are one of the best tools in packaging. Studies of eye movement have shown that colors draw human attention quickly. Take V8 for example. For many years, the bright red color of tomatoes and carrots on the thin bottle makes you feel that it is very good for your body. And the word “green” today can keep food prices going up.

Shapes are another attraction. Circles often suggest happiness and peacefulness, because these shapes are pleasing to both the eye and the heart. That’s why the round yellow M signs of McDonald’s are inviting to both young and old.

This new consumer response (反應(yīng)) to the colors and shapes of packages reminds producers and sellers that people buy to satisfy both body and soul.

1.According to the passage, ________ seems to be able to persuade a consumer to buy the product.

A. the pleasing color of the package

B. the special taste of the product

C. the strange shape of the package

D. the belief in the product

2.If a package or a product is round in shape, it can ________.

A. bring excitement to the consumers

B. attract the consumers’ attention

C. catch the eye movement of the consumers

D. produce a happy and peaceful feeling

3.“And the word ‘green’ today can keep food prices going up.” This sentence suggests that consumers today are ________.

A. starting to notice the importance of new food

B. enjoying the beauty of nature more than before

C. beginning to like green vegetables

D. paying more attention to their health

4.It can be inferred from the passage that V8 is a kind of ________.

A. vegetable dish B. healthy juice

C. iced drink D. red vegetable