My mother looked at the sitting room, its furniture disordered for a thorough sweeping. Again she cast a look toward the window. "Come on, girls! Let's take string to the boys and watch them fly the kites a minute."
On the way we met Mrs. Patrick, laughing guiltily as if she were doing something wrong, together with her girls.
There never was such a day for flying kites! We played all our fresh string into the boys' kites and they went up higher and higher. We could hardly distinguish the orange-colored spots of the kites. Now and then we slowly pulled one kite back, watching it dancing up and down in the wind, and finally bringing it down to earth, just for the joy of sending it up again.
Even our fathers dropped their tools and joined us. Our mothers took their turn, laughing like schoolgirls. I think we were all beside ourselves. Parents forgot their duty and their dignity; children forgot their everyday fights and little jealousies. "Perhaps it's like this in the kingdom of heaven," I thought confusedly.
It was growing dark before we all walked sleepily back to the house. I suppose we had some sort of supper. I suppose there must have been surface tidying-up, for the house on Sunday looked clean and orderly enough. The strange thing was, we didn't mention that day afterward. I felt a little embarrassed. Surely none of the others had been as excited as I. I locked the memory up in that deepest part of me where we keep "the things that cannot be and yet they are."
The years went on, then one day I was hurrying about my kitchen in a city apartment, trying to get some work out of the way while my three-year-old insistently cried her desire to "go park, see duck."
"I can't go!" I said. "I have this and this to do, and when I'm through I'll be too tired to walk that far."
My mother, who was visiting us, looked up from the peas she was shelling（去皮）. "It's a wonderful day," she offered, "really warm, yet there's a fine breeze. Do you remember that day we flew kites?"
I stopped in my dash between stove and sink. The locked door flew open and with it a rush of memories. "Come on," I told my little girl. "You're right, it's too good a day to miss."
Another decade passed. We were in the aftermath (余波) of a great war. All evening we had been asking our returned soldier, the youngest Patrick Boy, about his experiences as a prisoner of war. He had talked freely, but now for a long time he had been silent. What was he thinking of — what dark and horrible things?
"Say!" A smile sipped out from his lips. "Do you remember — no, of course you wouldn't. It probably didn't make the impression on you as it did on me."
I hardly dared speak. "Remember what?"
"I used to think of that day a lot in POW camp (战俘营), when things weren't too good. Do you remember the day we flew the kites?"
【小题1】Mrs. Patrick was laughing guiltily because she thought_________.
| A．she was too old to fly kites |
| B．she should have been doing her housework then |
| C．her husband would make fun of her |
| D．her girls weren’t supposed to play the boy’s game |
| A．felt confused | B．looked on |
| C．went wild with joy | D．forgot their fights |
| A．The boys must have had more fun than the girls. |
| B．All the others must have forgotten that day. |
| C．Her parents should spend more time with them. |
| D．They should have finished their work before playing. |
| A．She suddenly remembered her duty as a mother. |
| B．She thought it was a great day to play outside. |
| C．She had finished her work in the kitchen. |
| D．She was reminded of the day they flew kites. |
| A．the writer was not alone in treasuring her fond memories |
| B．his experience in POW camp threw a shadow over his life |
| C．childhood friendship means so much to the writer |
| D．people like him really changed a lot after the war |
Smartwatches and fitness trackers (健身追踪器) have gained popularity recently. These tools can record your daily steps, heart rates, etc.
It’s a struggle to overcome the addiction to fitness trackers.
Of course, failing to meet your daily goal can be discouraging. You might focus on your shortcoming rather than your progress. Another problem is that you might find yourself paying too much attention to the step number rather than how your body feels.
Therefore, if you’re spending too much time looking at your smartwatch, limit your daily step count to a comfortable level.
| A．How can you tell whether you’re addicted to your fitness tracker? |
| B．Actually this addiction to step count can be risky, mentally and physically. |
| C．Don’t overuse your smartwatch. |
| D．However, do you find yourself checking your steps and heart rates too often? |
| E．After all, reaching a daily step count can be so appealing. |
| F．Besides, you can find other things to do that don’t involve checking your fitness tracker. |
| G．It doesn’t covey what you’re really feeling. |
When young, I loved going on trail (小路)runs. It was my favorite way to escape stress. So, When I was back in my hometown after a tough first year of my Ph.D. program, I thought a trail run was just what I needed. But instead of helping me relax, the run did just the opposite.
After I moved to the city for college, where my runs were on flat concrete paths instead of winding dirt trails, I used a GPS watch.When I went on trail runs again in the country, it constantly reminded me of the fact that I wasn’t keeping up with my usual pace. I turned my watch off, thinking that would allow me to enjoy my surroundings and find the peace I expected, but I worried I was underperforming. Why cant I let go and just enjoy myself? I wondered. But after some introspection(反省), I realized why I was struggling ——both on trail runs and in graduate school.
Going into my Ph.D., I had thought that my solid undergraduate track record would set me up for instant success. To my surprise, I was wrong. I lacked confidence in my research abilities which I thought stopped me performing well and I constantly felt my progress was too slow. Other students’ self -confidence and their excellent results made me feel insecure. Finally, one day I broke down in tears in my adviser’s office.
Then came my visit home: I was having trouble because I hadn’t properly adjusted my expectations to the differences between an urban run and a trail run.
A Ph. D. is like a trail run: Sometimes you can run fast. Sometimes you might find yourself climbing up a steep, winding trail at a snail’s pace. And that’s OK. Barriers are unavoidable and success looks and feels different on a challenging trail than it does on a smooth, flat path. Sometimes it’s best to take a deep breath and do your best to meet the challenge.
【小题1】How did the author feel when he was on trail runs again?| A．Relaxed | B．Tired | C．Anxious | D．Happy |
| A．His lack of confidence | B．His lack of hard work |
| C．His poor research abilities | D．His poor track record |
| A．Failure is the mother of success | B．Working out regularly is beneficial |
| C．It's important to make necessary adjustments | D．It's vital to turn to others for help |
Best Advice To Embrace Conscious Living
Conscious living is a healthy choice that enables you to be happy. It is about being intentional with everything you do — your words, actions, beliefs, habits, and choices.
Be conscious about your time
Time is the most precious because there is no way to live a moment again. The way you spend your time determines the course of your life, so the first step for living consciously is to be wise about your time. Focus on quality, whether you spend time at work, with family or friends, or even with yourself.
Know yourself better
Knowing yourself better is the key to unlocking personal growth and happiness. You cannot achieve them unless you understand your needs and intentions. It is easier said than done because most people fail to make an effort to know themselves.
Gratitude takes you a long way towards conscious living. It opens you up to a happier and a fulfilled mindset as you learn to be thankful for things you have. Most people are unhappy because they see only the negatives in life. However, everyone has something to be grateful for. Writing a gratitude journal is a good start for counting your blessings. Pick it as a daily habit, and you will notice the difference.
Believe in yourself
A conscious lifestyle requires you to believe in yourself and your decisions. It is the key to making the right choices, yet not regretting the wrong ones.
| A．Learn to be grateful |
| B．Accept the person you are |
| C．It might be a tough and slow process |
| D．Whatever you do, cherish every single minute in your life |
| E．The best way to make it is by reflecting on your own thoughts |
| F．Embracing conscious living takes some effort, but it is worthwhile |
| G．You can find guidance to help you stay away from distractions or interruptions |
组卷网是一个信息分享及获取的平台，不能确保所有知识产权权属清晰，如您发现相关试题侵犯您的合法权益，请联系组卷网
