Unit 12 A Break from Life
A FAMOUS QUOTE
Time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted.
——John Lennon
浪费时间而能乐在其中就无所谓浪费。
——约翰·列侬
Text A Feeling Free
New Words
cranky adj. bad-tempered 脾气坏的
laundry n. clothes, sheets, etc. that need washing, that are being washed, or that have been washed recently 要（或正在）洗的衣物；刚洗好的衣物
resemble v. to look like or be similar to another person or thing 看起来像；显得像；像
throb n. a strong regular beat; a feeling of pain that you experience as a series of strong beats （强烈有规律的）跳动；阵阵的疼痛
subside v. to become calmer or quieter 趋于平静；平息；减弱；消退
ache v. to feel a continuous dull pain 疼痛；隐痛
joint n. a place where two bones are joined together in the body in a way that enables them to bend and move 关节
shuffle v. to walk slowly without lifting your feet completely off the ground 拖着脚走
wiggle v. to move from side to side or up and down in short quick movements; to make something move in this way （使）扭动，摆动，摇动
sniffle n. an act or the sound of sniffling, especially because you are crying or have a cold 抽鼻子（声）
tissue n. a piece of soft paper that absorbs liquids, used especially as a handkerchief （尤指用作手帕的）纸巾，手巾纸
pillow n. a square or rectangular piece of cloth filled with soft material, used to rest your head on in bed 枕头
crack v. to find the solution to a problem, etc. 找到解决（难题等的）方法
contagious adj. if a person is contagious, they have a disease that can be spread to other people by touch 患接触性传染病的
germ n. a very small living thing that can cause infection and disease 微生物；细菌；病菌
resourceful adj. good at finding ways of doing things and solving problems, etc. 机敏的；足智多谋的；随机应变的
scrounge v. to get or find something by looking in different places, asking different people, etc. 觅取；搜寻
nurture v. to care for and protect somebody/something while they are growing and developing 养育；养护；培养
chore n. an unpleasant or boring task 令人厌烦的任务；乏味无聊的工作
respite n. a short break or escape from something difficult or unpleasant 暂停；暂缓
manufacture v. to invent a story, an excuse, etc. 编造；捏造
symptom n. a change in your body or mind that shows that you are not healthy 症状
pamper v. to take care of somebody very well and make them feel as comfortable as possible 细心照顾；精心护理；娇惯；纵容
hermit n. a person who, usually for religious reasons, lives a very simple life alone and does not meet or talk to other people 隐士；隐修者；遁世者
gel n. a thick substance like jelly, especially one used in products for the hair or skin 凝胶，冻胶（尤指用于头发或护肤的产品）
hearty adj. large；making you feel full 大的；丰盛的
chamomile n. a plant with a sweet smell and small white and yellow flowers 苹果菊；春黄菊；甘菊
vanilla-scented adj. flavoured with vanilla 香草味的
gingerly adv. in a careful way, because you are afraid of being hurt, of making a noise, etc. 谨慎地；小心翼翼地；轻手轻脚地
grateful adj. feeling or showing thanks because somebody has done something kind for you or has done as you asked 感激的；表示感谢的
spa n. a good bath for relaxation or invigoration水疗
tub n. a large, long container that you put water in and then get into to wash your whole body 浴缸；浴盆
drain n. a pipe that carries away dirty water or other liquid waste 下水道；排水管
refresh v. to make somebody feel less tired or less hot 使恢复精力；使凉爽
emotionally adv. in the way connected with people's feelings 感情上地；情感上地
empower v. to give somebody more control over their own life or the situation they are in 增加（某人的）自主权；使控制局势
permission n. the act of allowing somebody to do something, especially when this is done by somebody in a position of authority 准许；许可；批准
justify v. to give an explanation or excuse for something or for doing something 对…作出解释；为…辩解（或辩护）
awareness n. knowing something；knowing that something exists and is important 知道；认识；意识
Phrases and Expressions
pile up to become larger in quantity or amount 堆积；积压
come down with to get an illness that is not very serious 患，得，染上（小病）
slip away to stop existing; to disappear or die 消失；消亡；死去
respond to to do something as a reaction to something that somebody has said or done 作出反馈；响应
care for to look after somebody who is sick, very old, very young, etc. 照顾，照料（病、老、幼者等）
tend to to care for somebody or something 照料；照管；护理
重点词汇
laundry n. clothes, sheets, etc. that need washing, that are being washed, or that have been washed recently 要（或正在）洗的衣物；刚洗好的衣物
eg: She did the laundry （= washed the clothes etc.） and hung it out to dry. 她洗完衣服，挂在外面晒干。
Ben was folding laundry. 本正在把洗好的衣服叠整齐。
其他词义
business where clothes, sheets, etc are laundered 洗衣店
eg: sent to the laundry 送往洗衣店
resemble v. to look like or be similar to another person or thing 看起来像；显得像；像
eg: She resembles her brother in looks. 她和她弟弟长得很像。
衍生
resemblance n. likeness or similarity 相似；相像
eg: There is a degree of resemblance between the two boys. 这两个男孩有某些相似之处。
subside v. to become calmer or quieter趋于平静；平息；减弱；消退
eg: The storm began to subside. 风暴渐渐平息了。
其他词义
sink to a lower or to the normal level 下降至较低或正常水平
eg: The flood waters gradually subsided. 洪水逐渐退去。
crack v. to find the solution to a problem, etc. 找到解决（难题等的）方法
eg: The calculation was difficult, but we finally cracked it. 计算起来很费劲, 然而我们终于解决了。
Can you crack the code? 你能破解代码吗？
其他词义
（cause to） develop a crack or cracks （使）开裂, 破裂, 爆裂
eg: The ice cracked as I stepped onto it. 我一踩冰就裂了。
n. line along which sth. has broken, but not into separate parts 裂缝；裂纹
resourceful adj. good at finding ways of doing things and solving problems, etc. 机敏的；足智多谋的；随机应变的
eg: Her mother was a resourceful and energetic woman. 她母亲是一个足智多谋、精力充沛的女人。
衍生
resource n.
1）ingenuity or quick wit; initiative 才智；机敏；创造精神
eg: a man of great resource 足智多谋的男子
2）supply of raw materials, etc. which bring a country, person, etc wealth 资源
eg: rich in natural, mineral, agricultural, etc. resources 自然的﹑矿产的﹑农业的...资源丰富等
nurture v. to care for and protect somebody/ something while they are growing and developing 养育；养护；培养
eg: Parents want to know the best way to nurture and raise their child to adulthood. 父母希望知道养育孩子长大成人的最佳方法。
manufacture v. to invent a story, an excuse, etc. 编造；捏造
eg: She manufactured a false story to hide the facts. 她编造瞎话以掩盖事实。
其他词义
make （goods） on a large scale using machinery 用机器大量制造（货物）
eg: manufacture shoes, cement, cookers 制造鞋﹑水泥﹑炉具
衍生
manufacturer n. person or firm that manufactures things 制造商；工厂主；制造厂
eg: Send these faulty goods back to the manufacturer. 把这些次货退还给厂家。
grateful adj. feeling or showing thanks because somebody has done something kind for you or has done as you asked 感激的；表示感谢的
eg: I shall be grateful to you all my life. 我将一辈子感激你。
I am grateful for your sympathy. 我对你的同情表示感激。
衍生
gratitude n. being grateful; thankfulness 感激；感谢
~ （to sb.） （for sth.）
eg: She felt eternal gratitude to him for saving her life. 她终生感激他的救命之恩。
refresh v. to make somebody feel less tired or less hot 使恢复精力；使凉爽
eg: She felt refreshed after her sleep. 她睡了一觉就精神了。
衍生
refreshing adj. giving new strength or vigour; restoring or reviving 给人以新的力量或活力的；提神的；使人重新振作的
eg: a refreshing bath, sleep, cup of tea 使人恢复精力的一个澡﹑一觉﹑一杯茶
awareness n. knowing something；knowing that something exists and is important 知道；认识；意识
environmental/political/social awareness
eg: Health officials have tried to raise awareness （=improve people's knowledge） about AIDS. 健康官员已经努力在提高对艾滋病的认识。
衍生
aware adj. having knowledge or realization of sb./sth. 对某人/某事物知道﹑明白﹑觉察到﹑意识到
eg: Are you aware of the time? 你知道是什么时候了吗?
I'm （well） aware that very few jobs are available. 我（很）清楚工作职位非常少。
Feeling Free
P1
I woke up feeling cranky. I didn't want to do housework, though the laundry was piling up. I didn't want to read the work I brought home from the office. I didn't want to do anything that resembled responsible behavior. It was that kind of day.
P2
As I drank my morning tea, I thought I felt a headache coming on. Yes, there it was, a dull throb just behind my eyes. Maybe I should go back to bed until it subsided. As I put the dishes in the sink, it seemed that my muscles were beginning to ache. Or was the ache in my joints? That could mean I was coming down with the flu. Everyone I knew had the flu this year. Why should I be the one to escape it? I absolutely should be in bed.
P3
I shuffled back to bed, wiggled under the covers and shut my eyes. Another couple of hours of sleep would be so nice, but I was already completely awake. I ought to get up. But no, there was that headache and the beginning of a sniffle. Better get the tissues.
P4
On my way back from the bathroom with a family-sized tissue box, I stopped to grab that big new novel I had bought but had no time to read. I opened the book and settled against the pillows.
P5
The morning was moving along and so was my reading. Another twenty pages and I was stretching. I should try to crack the report I was working on. I should at least get up and do the wash. What if I was contagious? I certainly didn't want to spread any germs. The wash could wait. My family was resourceful enough to scrounge clothing for the next day.
P6
Maybe I wasn't actually getting the flu. I didn't really want to be sick. To be truthful, all I wanted was a little time off. I needed to nurture myself away from people, chores, career and the outside world. Did I have to wait to be sick to do that? As a child, the only respite from school or family chores was illness. But I wasn't a child any more. Did I have to manufacture symptoms to provide myself with an excuse? No, I decided, I didn't.
P7
I talked to myself. Okay, I said, you need a day off. Admit it. Accept it. Toss out the guilt and enjoy a mini-vacation. What would you like to do? Read? You're already doing that. Pamper yourself? Take a bubble bath. Be a hermit? Let the machine answer the phone.
P8
I poured half the bottle of bath gel into the streaming water and added a hearty handful of chamomile bath salts. Then I lit a vanilla-scented candle and gingerly stepped into the bathtub. With a grateful sigh, I immersed myself in my homemade spa. I heard the phone ring somewhere off in the distance and smiled.
P9
It is funny how the aches subsided in the heat of the tub. They just slipped away with the last of the bubbles down the drain. My head felt just fine, the throb replaced by a sense of well-being.
P10
By late afternoon, I was back at it, refreshed physically, mentally and emotionally. And rather than feeling helpless, I felt empowered. I had given myself permission to listen and respond to my needs, to care for myself the way I tended to my family. I didn't need the crutch of illness to justify a rest. It was such a simple awareness, but then isn't it the simple things that set us free?
Exercises
Ⅰ Checking Your Comprehension
Directions: Choose the best answer to each question from the information given in the passage.
1. What does the author intend to tell the readers in this story?
A） People should feel free to respond to their own needs.
B） People need to find an excuse to justify a rest.
C） A homemade spa can relieve people's aches.
D） Simple things can set people free.
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2. The author felt ________ when she woke up on that day.
A） free
B） refreshed
C） empowered
D） unpleasant
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3. The author went back to bed because ________.
A） she was still sleepy
B） she felt she was coming down with the flu
C） she had no work to do
D） she had no strength
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4. What the author really wanted was ________.
A） a little time off
B） to be sick
C） to avoid doing housework
D） to avoid responsible tasks
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5. After ________, the author felt empowered rather than helpless.
A） a whole day of sleep
B） a homemade spa
C） reading a novel
D） a day off
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Ⅱ Building Your Vocabulary
Section A
Directions: Complete each of the following sentences with the correct choice of the words given in the brackets.
1. It is important that students develop an ________ of how the Internet can be used. （aware, awareness）
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2. The movie bears little ________ to the original novel, especially the plot development. （resemble, resemblance）
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3. The publisher is responsible for obtaining necessary ________ to reproduce illustrations. （permit, permission）
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4. Mothers are often the ones who provide ________ support for the whole family. （emotion, emotional）
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5. The management and unions have reached a ________ over new working conditions. （settle, settlement）
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6. I can see no possible ________ for any further tax increases. （justify, justification）
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Section B
Directions: Fill in the blanks with the words given below. Change the form where necessary.
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refresh empower symptom justify |
1. The throbbing in my head ________ a little after I took a warm shower.
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2. Most of those cars were ________ in China for China's domestic market.
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3. He stayed down there longer than usual, enjoying the ________ water.
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4. I was so inspired and ________ by your article and follow-up readings on Barbara's biog.
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5. You don't cure an illness by ignoring it or just fighting the ________.
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6. Her teacher recognized and ________ her musical talent from an early age.
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Section C
Directions: Complete each of the following sentences with a suitable word.
1. He piled ________ fallen leaves in a corner of the yard.
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2. It sounds like you're coming down ________ the flu. Let me take your temperature.
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3. More than fifty people responded ________ the advertisement.
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4. After several trials and failures, their support for this ambitious project gradually slipped ________.
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5. That millionaire has even been tossed ________ of the house for he had no money to pay for the rent.
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6. The nation was reunited and the slaves were ________ free.
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Ⅳ Translation
Section A
Directions: Translate the following sentences into English, using the words or phrases in the brackets.
1. Instead of ________（等问题成了堆）, we should try to solve each as it arises.（pile up）
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2. They were prompt to _______（对我们的求助作出回应）. （respond to）
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3. The boy _______（染上了流行性感冒，不得不卧床休息）. （come down with）
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4. _______（他会被释放）as soon as the fine is paid. （set free）
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5. Nothing can _______（成为你考试作弊的理由）. （justify）
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考试第七种题型：短文写作（第51题，30分）
请根据所提供材料中的要求撰写一篇150词左右的英语短文。
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Congratulations! |
I'm very glad to have won the first place in the English Speech Test. Today I would like to share some tips on how to learn English with you.
To begin with, it is important to form the habit of listening to English. I listen to English radio, like VOA and BBC, in the garden in the morning, listen to English songs on the road in the day, and listen to English stories in bed at night.
One year later, I have made a big progress in listening. What's more, you should be brave to speak up. Before, I was so shy that I was afraid to speak any word in public. But my teacher often encourages me with "You can learn more",I began to try to express everything in English if I had a chance. And now I am no longer afraid to speak even in such a big auditorium. Last but not least, self-confidence plays a key role in my English study. An English proverb goes, "Where there is a will, there is a way".
I hope the above advice will be useful for your English study. And I hope everyone here can speak fluent English with efforts. Thank you.
Text B Self-Esteem and Body Image
New Words
skinny adj. very thin, especially in a way that you find unpleasant or ugly 极瘦的；干瘦的；皮包骨头的
curly adj. having a lot of curls or a curved shape 有鬈发（或毛）的；卷曲状的
adjust v. to get used to a new situation by changing the way you behave and/or think 适应；习惯
worthwhile adj. important, enjoyable, interesting, etc.；worth spending time, money or effort on 重要的；令人愉快的；有趣的；值得花时间（或花钱、努力等）的
puberty n. the period of a person's life during which their sexual organs develop and they become capable of having children 青春期
tempting adj. something that is tempting is attractive, and makes people want to have it, do it, etc. 吸引人的；诱人的；有吸引力的
celeb n. a famous person 名人
bloomer n. a mature grown-up 完全成熟的人
temporary adj. lasting or intended to last or be used only for a short time; not permanent 短暂的；暂时的；临时的
spurt v. a sudden increase in speed, effort, activity or emotion for a short period of time（速度、干劲、活动或感情的）短时激增，迸发
permanently adv. lasting for a long time or for all time in the future; existing all the time 永久地；永恒地；长久地
gene n. a unit inside a cell which controls a particular quality in a living thing that has been passed on from its parents 基因
embarrassed adj. （of a person or their behaviour） shy, awkward or ashamed, especially in a social situation （人或行为）（尤指在社交场合）窘迫的，尴尬的，害羞的
mature v. to become fully grown or developed 成熟；长成
bulked-up adj. being bigger, thicker and heavier 胀大的；发起来的
influence v. to have an effect on the way that somebody behaves or thinks, especially by giving them an example to follow 影响；对…起作用
criticize v. to say that you disapprove of somebody/ something; to say what you do not like or think is wrong about somebody/something 批评；批判；挑剔；指责
hurtful adj. （of comments）making you feel upset and offended 伤感情的；伤害自尊的
peer n. a person who is the same age or who has the same social status as you 身份（或地位）相同的人；同龄人；同辈
racial adj. happening or existing between people of different races 种族的；种族间的
ethnic adj. connected with or belonging to a nation, race or people that shares a cultural tradition 种族的；民族的
prejudice n. an unreasonable dislike of or preference for a person, group, custom, etc., especially when it is based on their race, religion, sex, etc. 偏见；成见
ignorance n. a lack of knowledge or information about something 无知
independent adj. having or earning enough money so that you do not have to rely on somebody else for help 自立的；自食其力的
boost v. to make something increase, or become better or more successful 使增长；使兴旺
optimistic adj. expecting good things to happen or something to be successful; showing this feeling 乐观的；抱乐观看法的
capable adj. having the ability or qualities necessary for doing something 有能力的；有才能的
lifestyle n. the way in which a person or a group of people lives and works 生活方式；工作方式
combination n. two or more things joined or mixed together to form a single unit 结合体；联合体；混合体
verify v. to check that something is true or accurate 核实：查对；核准
ultimately adv. in the end; finally 最终：最后；终归
nutritious adj. （of food）very good for you; containing many of the substances which help the body to grow 有营养的；营养丰富的
Phrases and Expressions
put...down to make somebody look or feel stupid, especially in front of other people 使（当众）出丑；使出洋相；让某人现眼
go through to experience or suffer something 经历；遭受
be linked to to be connected in some way 与…有联系
fill out to become larger, rounder or faker 膨胀；扩张；长胖；长肥
feel good to feel happy, confident, etc. 感到愉快（或有信心等）
keep track of to have information about what is happening or where somebody/something is 了解…的情况（或动态）
重点词汇
adjust v. to get used to a new situation by changing the way you behave and/or think 适应；习惯
eg: It has been hard to adjust, but now I'm getting satisfaction from my work. 适应虽然艰难，但是现在我已逐渐从工作中获得了满足。
We have been preparing our fighters to adjust themselves to civil society. 我们一直在培训我们的战士，以使他们适应普通的社会生活。
其他词义
1）put （sth.） into the correct order or position; arrange 整理；整顿；安排
eg: She carefully adjusted her clothes and her hair before going out. 她出门之前仔细地整了整衣服和头发。
2）alter （sth.） by a small amount so that it will fit or be right for use; regulate 校准；调准；校正
eg: adjust the rear mirror, the focus of a camera 调准后视镜﹑照相机的焦距
衍生
adjustable adj. that can be adjusted 可调节的；可调整的
eg: adjustable seat-belts 可调节的座位安全带
adjustment n. （act of） adjusting 调节；调整
eg: Some adjustment of the lens may be necessary. 可能有必要调节一下镜头。
worthwhile adj. important, enjoyable, interesting, etc；worth spending time, money or effort on 重要的；令人愉快的；有趣的；值得花时间（或花钱、努力等）的
eg: He wanted to do a worthwhile job. 他想找一个值得做的工作。
I thought it was worthwhile to clarify the matter. 我认为很值得澄清这件事情。
衍生
worth adj. having a certain value 有某种价值
eg: Our house is worth about 60000 pounds. 我们的房子约值60000英镑。
worthy adj. deserving sth. or to do sth. 应得某事物；值得做某事
~ of sth./to do sth.
eg: Their efforts are worthy of your support.他们这样努力应得到你的支持。
She said she was not worthy to accept the honour they had offered her. 她说她不配接受他们给予的荣誉。
tempting adj. something that is tempting is attractive, and makes people want to have it, do it, etc. 吸引人的；诱人的；有吸引力的
eg: That pie looks tempting. 这张饼看起来很诱人。
be tempting to do sth.
It's tempting to believe her story. 她的话有诱惑力，能让人相信。
衍生
tempt v. arouse a desire in sb; attract sb. 引起某人的欲望；吸引某人
eg: The warm weather tempted us into going for a swim. 暖和的天气诱使我们去游泳。
temptation n. tempting or tempted 劝诱；诱惑
eg: He could not resist the temptation to steal. 他无法抗拒想要偷窃的诱惑。
embarrassed adj. （of a person or their behaviour） shy, awkward or ashamed, especially in a social situation （人或行为）（尤指在社交场合）窘迫的，尴尬的，害羞的
eg: I was embarrassed by his unexpected question.他突然的发问使我不知所措。
衍生
embarrass v. cause （sb） to feel self-conscious, awkward or ashamed 使（某人）觉得不自然﹑ 忸怩﹑ 尴尬或害羞
eg: I was embarrassed by his comments about my clothes. 他评论我的衣服使我很尴尬.
Are you trying to embarrass me? 你是想让我难堪吗?
embarrassing adj. making you feel ashamed, nervous, or uncomfortable
eg: She asked a lot of embarrassing questions. 她问了很多让人尴尬的问题。
embarrassment n. embarrassing or being embarrassed 窘；局促不安；焦急；忧患
eg: To her embarrassment, she couldn't remember his name. 令她尴尬的是，她不记得他的名字了。
ignorance n. a lack of knowledge or information about something 无知
eg: We are in complete ignorance of your plans. 我们对你的计划一无所知。
衍生
ignore v. take no notice of （sb./sth.） 忽视（某人[某事物]）
eg: You've been ignoring me. 你一直不把我放在眼里。
ignorant adj. knowing little or nothing; lacking education or information; unaware 无知的；愚昧的；没有学识的；不知道的
eg: They seem to be ignorant of what happened here. 他们似乎不知道这里发生的事。
independent adj. having or earning enough money so that you do not have to rely on somebody else for help 自立的；自食其力的
eg: He has been old enough to be independent of one's parents. 他已经足够大了，不必依赖父母了。
She would like to be financially independent. 她希望在经济上能够独立。
反义词 dependent 依赖的
衍生
independence n. state of being independent 独立；自主；自立
~ （from sb/sth.）
eg: young people who want independence from their parents 不想依赖父母的年轻人
Independence Day 4 July, celebrated in the US as the anniversary of the day in 1776 on which the American colonies declared themselves independent of Britain 美国独立纪念日（7月4日, 美国国庆日, 纪念1776年脱离英国而独立之日）。
optimistic adj. expecting good things to happen or something to be successful；showing this feeling 乐观的；抱乐观看法的
eg: He is ~ about the future. 他对未来很乐观。
反义词 pessimistic 悲观的
衍生
optimism n. tendency to expect the best in all things; confidence in success; belief that good will triumph over evil in the end 乐观；乐观主义
eg: He was still full of optimism for the future despite his many problems. 他尽管有许多问题, 但对未来仍十分乐观。
optimist n. person who is always hopeful and expects the best in all things 乐观的人；乐观主义者
eg: He's such an optimist that he's sure he'll soon find a job. 他很乐观，认为自己一定很快就能找到工作。
Self-Esteem and Body Image
P1
I'm fat. I'm too skinny. I'd be happy if I were taller, shorter, had curly hair, straight hair, a smaller nose, bigger muscles, longer legs.
P2
Do any of these statements sound familiar? Are you used to putting yourself down? If so, you're not alone. As a teen, you're going through a ton of changes in your body. And as your body changes, so does your image of yourself. Lots of people have trouble adjusting, and this can affect their self-esteem.
P3-4
Why Are Self-Esteem and Body Image Important?
Self-esteem is all about how much people value themselves, the pride they feel in themselves, and how worthwhile they feel. Self-esteem is important because feeling good about yourself can affect how you act. A person who has high self-esteem will make friends easily, is more in control of his or her behavior, and will enjoy life more.
P5
Body image is how someone feels about his or her own physical appearance. For many people, especially those in their early teens, body image can be closely linked to self-esteem. That's because as kids develop into teens, they care more about how others see them.
P6-7
What Influences a Person's Self-Esteem?
Puberty
Some teens struggle with their self-esteem when they begin puberty because the body goes through many changes. These changes, combined with a natural desire to feel accepted, mean it can be tempting for people to compare themselves with others. They may compare themselves with the people around them or with actors and celebs they see on TV, in movies, or in magazines.
P8
But it's impossible to measure ourselves against others because the changes that come with puberty are different for everyone. Some people start developing early; others are late bloomers. Some get a temporary layer of fat to prepare for a growth spurt; others fill out permanently, and still others feel like they stay skinny no matter how much they eat. It all depends on how our genes have programmed our bodies to act.
P9
The changes that come with puberty can affect how both girls and guys feel about themselves. Some girls may feel uncomfortable or embarrassed about their maturing bodies. Others may wish that they were developing faster. Girls may feel pressure to be thin but guys may feel like they don't look big or muscular enough.
P10
Outside Influences
It's not just development that affects self-esteem, though. Many other factors （like media images of skinny girls and bulked-up guys） can affect a person's body image too.
P11
Family life can sometimes influence self-esteem. Some parents spend more time criticizing their kids and the way they look than praising them, which can reduce kids' ability to develop good self-esteem.
P12
People also may experience negative comments and hurtful teasing about the way they look from classmates and peers. Sometimes racial and ethnic prejudice is the source of such comments. Although these often come from ignorance, sometimes they can affect someone's body image and self-esteem.
P13
Healthy Self-Esteem
If you have a positive body image, you probably like and accept yourself the way you are. This healthy attitude allows you to explore other aspects of growing up, such as developing good friendships, growing more independent from your parents, and challenging yourself physically and mentally. Developing these parts of yourself can help boost your self-esteem.
P14
A positive, optimistic attitude can help people develop strong self-esteem. For example, saying, "Hey, I'm human" instead of "Wow, I'm such a loser" when you've made a mistake, or not blaming others when things don't go as expected.
P15
Knowing what makes you happy and how to meet your goals can help you feel capable, strong, and in control of your life. A positive attitude and a healthy lifestyle （such as exercising and eating right） are a great combination for building good self-esteem.
P16
Tips for Improving Your Body Image
Some people think they need to change how they look or act to feel good about themselves. But actually all you need to do is change the way you see your body and how you think about yourself.
P17
The first thing to do is recognize that your body is your own, no matter what shape, size, or color it comes in. If you're very worried about your weight or size, check with your doctor to verify that things are OK. But it's no one's business but your own what your body is like. Ultimately, you have to be happy with yourself.
P18
Next, identify which aspects of your appearance you can realistically change and which you can't. Everyone （even the most perfect-seeming celeb） has things about themselves that they can't change and need to accept, like their height, for example, or their shoe size.
P19
If there are things about yourself that you want to change and can （such as how fit you are）, do this by making goals for yourself. For example, if you want to get fit, make a plan to exercise every day and eat nutritious foods. Then keep track of your progress until you reach your goal. Meeting a challenge you set for yourself is a great way to boost self-esteem!
Exercises
Ⅰ Checking Your Comprehension
Section A
Directions: Read the following statements and mark Y （for Yes） if the statement agrees with the information given in the text; N （for No） if the statement contradicts the information given in the text; NG （for Not Given） if the information is not given in the text.
（ ） 1. One's body changes may change one's self-image.
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（ ） 2. Self-esteem is how someone feels about his or her own physical appearance.
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（ ） 3. It's possible to measure ourselves against others because the changes that come with puberty are not different for everyone.
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（ ） 4. Self-esteem is affected by both inside and outside influences.
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（ ） 5. A positive body image allows you to explore other aspects of growing up.
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（ ） 6. There are several tips for improving self-esteem.
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Ⅱ Building Your Vocabulary
Section A
Directions: Complete each of the following sentences with the correct choice of the words given in the brackets.
1. Animals in the zoo have lost the ________ to catch food for themselves. （capable, capability）
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2. It is the ________ of wit and political analysis that makes his articles so readable. （combine, combination）
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3. She went through a period of emotional ________ after her marriage broke up. （adjust, adjustment）
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4. His ________ behaviour at the dinner table caused much embarrassment. （ignorance, ignorant）
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5. The bad reviews of her new book were very ________ to her. （hurt, hurtful）
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6. She had decided to settle ________ in France. （permanent, permanently）
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Section B
Directions: Fill in the blanks with the words given below. Change the form where necessary.
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tempt embarrass prejudice push |
1. His claims were suspect, but we had no way of ________ whether these claims were true.
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2. It's just that I have got no way of defending or ________ the things that I wasn't involved in.
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3. In college, my friends were too ________ to head out with me, even for a coffee.
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4. The government was ________ for not taking the problem seriously.
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5. He wore no jewelry or indication of rank so as not to ________ robbers during his travels.
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6. They must face their own self-image and also try to cope with the ________ of others.
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Section C
Directions: Complete each of the following sentences with a suitable word.
1. He was put ________ for the way he worked, especially when others were doing everything so effectively.
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2. Pay increases will now be linked ________ performance in almost all walks of life.
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3. She cares deeply ________ environmental issues and practices what she believes to be green in her everyday life.
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4. I compared the copy ________ the original, but there was not much difference.
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5. He is amazingly cheerful at the idea of what he is going to go ________ in the upcoming program.
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6. Please don't hesitate to ask if you cannot keep track ________ what I'm telling you.
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Ⅲ Translation
Section A
Directions: Translate the following sentences into English, using the words or phrases in the brackets.
1. I was ________（因为回来晚而被责备）. （put down）
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2. I ________（不计较你采取什么措施）, so long as you can finish this task before the deadline.（care about）
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3. Bank statements help you ________（记录你资金的去向）. （keep track of）
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4. I've had some difficulties, but ________（和你遇到的困难相比不算什么）. （compare with）
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5. The ultimate success _______（使我们对自己10年来所做的努力感觉良好）. （feel good about）
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考试第七部分：短文写作（第51题，30分）
作文一：
请根据所提供材料中的要求撰写一篇150词左右的英语短文。（教材P278）
News 1
WASHINGTON, Oct. 26—Tuition and fees at US public universities and colleges have increased more than 8 percent in the 2011-2012 academic year. According to the report released by the non-profit College Board, out-of-state residents pay an average of 20,770 dollars, up 5.7 percent from last academic year.
News 2
The number of Chinese students studying abroad has rapidly increased in recent years. According to statistics released by the Ministry of Education in the academic year of 2011, about 285,000 people were educated abroad, up 24 percent from the previous year. And the number of younger students has been growing dramatically.
情景作文；社会现象；原因型
According to the report, there was an increase of 8 percent in tuition and fees at American public colleges and universities in the 2011-2012 academic year. Nevertheless, there has been a rapid increase in the number of Chinese students studying abroad in recent years.
In my opinion, there are three main reasons for this phenomenon. To begin with, no other countries have more advanced educational resources than America. There are about 3,000 colleges and universities across the country, and about half of top 10 universities lie in America.
Besides, to improve English skills is the second consideration for many Chinese students. On American Campus, you have to understand the lectures given in English, you have to discuss with your classmates in English, and you have to finish all your papers in English. Finally, the ability to be independent can be cultivated. In a foreign country, you have to deal with all the chores by yourself, including washing dishes, cleaning rooms and cooking meals.
Taking the above factors into consideration, many Chinese students choose to study abroad. Though education in America is becoming more and more expensive, they would like to receive better education, improve their English, and foster their independence. Therefore, studying abroad has become the choice for many Chinese students in recent years.
作文二：
因特网在为人们带来极大便利的同时，也带来了一系列问题。请结合下图，以“Is Internet a Blessing or a Curse?” 为题写一篇150词左右的英语短文，谈谈你的看法。（教材P369）
情景作文；社会现象；对比选择（平衡型或一边倒）
平衡型
In recent years, the Internet has been widely used in various ways, including online study, online shopping, online contacting, and etc. Some people think that the birth of the Internet brings us greater convenience to our daily life.
Above all, the Internet has become a powerful tool for students, in the primary school or university. They can find answers to their questions by themselves on the Internet. They can listen to lectures given by the teachers even from other countries on the other hand, and they can share their learning experience with the people around the world. Also, the Internet plays a key role in the modern communication. For example, hundreds of millions of people talk on social chat software, like QQ and WeChat, and share stories and exchange opinions on social sites, like Renren and Kaixin.
On the other hand, others argue that the Internet creates more social problems than it solves. In the first place, the relationship between people in real life is challenged by online communication. You will find that many people buried themselves in chatting on the Internet with a cellphone, in the sitting room without speaking to their families, in the train without noticing their neighbours even though they spend 6 hours together all the way, and in the restaurant without listening to their friends. In the second place, network crime is becoming more serious. According to a report, about two thirds of net users become the victims of network crime, in different fields including finance, business, and social contact.
Weighing up the two arguments, in my opinion, it would be unfair to say that a tool is a blessing or curse, as it is the ways people use it that make the real difference. The Internet brings us not only a number of conveniences but also many incontinences. Therefore, we should keep a balance when we use the Internet.
（314 words）
一边倒型
In recent years, the Internet has been widely used in different fields, like education, banking, business transaction, and even dating. Some people think that it is a blessing, bringing us a lot of conveniences, while others see it a curse, creating more social problems, like money-washing online and love-cheating online. In my opinion, the Internet brings more advantages than disadvantages to our daily life.
To begin with, the Internet has become a powerful tool for students, in the primary school or university. They can find answers to their questions by themselves on the Internet, they can listen to lectures given by the teachers even from other countries on the Internet, and they can share their learning experience with the people around the world.
Also, the Internet plays a key role in the modern communication. For example, hundreds of millions of people share their feelings, anytime and anywhere, on social chat software, like QQ and WeChat, and share stories and exchange opinions on social sites, like Renren and Kaixin. What’s more, online shopping is a blessing for both shops and customers. Business people can operate a shop online even at home, which saves a lot of money to rent a house. On the other hand, customers can do shopping online at home, which saves a lot of time on the road.
In sum, the Internet is too essential to our life. While we enjoy the benefits, we should pay attention to the problems that it brings. By doing so, we can make a good use of the Internet. （258 words）