Procrastination (拖延) is a phenomenon we are familiar with. When we procrastinate, we waste our free time and put off important tasks we should do till it's too late. __1__ Here, I will share some personal steps taken to overcome procrastination with great success.

Break your work down into little parts. Part of the reason why we procrastinate is that we find the work too overwhelming (巨大的)for us. Break it down into little parts, and then focus on one part at a time. If you still procrastinate after doing so, break it down even further. __2__ Change your environment. Look at your work desk and your room. Do they make you want to work or do they make you sleepy? __3__ Create a detailed timeline with specific deadlines. Having just one deadline for your work is like an invitation to procrastinate. That's because we would get the impression that we have time and keep pushing everything back until it's too late. __4__ In this way, you know you have to finish each task by a certain date.

__5__ I'm pretty sure if you spend just 10 minutes talking to people like Steve Jobs or Bill Gates, you'll be more inspired to act than if you spend the 10 minutes doing nothing. The people we are with influence our behavior.

A．Seek out someone who has already achieved the similar outcome to your goals. B．Hang out with people who inspire you to take action. C．Having a companion makes the whole process much more fun. D．If it's the latter, you should begin to change your workspace.

E．It's a bad habit eating us away and stopping us achieving greater success in life.

F．Break down your project, and then create an overall timeline with specific deadlines for each small task.

G．Soon, your task will be so simple that you will be thinking you can do it now. 文章大意：怎样改掉拖延的毛病，本文给出了很好的建议。 答案：

1．E 拖延是我们非常熟悉的现象。它的危害很多。E项是其中之一。 2．G 把任务分解就会使大任务变得简单。所以G项符合语境。 3．D 前面有两个问题，所以D项的“latter”与之照应。

4．F 该段讲的是时间，且该段开始的“Create a detailed timeline with specific deadlines.”与F项照应。所以F项符合语境。

5．B 空后的“people like Steve Jobs or Bill Gates”与B项“who inspire you to take action.”照应；空后的“you'll be more inspired to act”与B项“inspire you to take action.”照应。

十五

(2014·河南省长葛市三模)

Although different universities in the US have different admissions policies, most determine

admission based on several standards, including a student's high school course of study, high school Grade Point Average (GPA), participation in activities, SAT or ACT exam scores, a written essay, and possibly a personal interview.

The university admissions office considers whether a student has taken courses in high school that have prepared him or her for more difficult coursework. A student's high school GPA is also considered. __1__ Each letter grade is assigned a number of points: A＝4 points, B＝3, C＝2, D＝1 and F＝0 point. A GPA is calculated by adding all of the points earned for each course grade and dividing the total points by the total number of courses taken. __2__ Universities prefer to see applications from high school students who have engaged in activities in their spare time, such as clubs, athletic teams and student government. __3__ Most students in the US take the SAT Reasoning Test or the ACT during their final year of high school. Each university sets a minimum SAT or ACT score that a student must achieve in order to be admitted. These are standardized quantitative examinations. The SAT tests critical reading, math and writing skills. __4__ Students are often required to write an essay as part of the application process. __5__ The applicants may also be required to have a personal interview with a representative from the admissions office.

A．A student who fails a required course must repeat the course. B．A GPA is a figure representing a student's accumulated grades. C．Each admissions office determines the length and content of the essay. D．For example, a GPA of 3.0 is a “B” average for all of the courses taken.

E．A student graduates after he or she has successfully passed all the required courses. F．The ACT tests English, math, reading, science reasoning and optional writing.

G．Voluntary participation in these activities shows students have learned valuable life lessons.

文章大意：虽然美国大学的招生政策不同，但是大多数都要求高中学业、GPA、社会活动、SAT或ACT考试分数、书面论文或者个人面试。

1．B 前面提到了GPA，所以应该选择B项或者D项；D项与数字相连应该是第二空的内容。所以选B项。

2．D 见上题解析。

3．G 前面讲到高中生在业余时间从事的活动。所以G项“these activities”与之照应。 4．F 前面讲的是SAT以及ACT，所以F项符合语境。 5．C 前面的“essay”与C项照应。

十六

(2014·大庆市二模)

Ways to save time

We all wish we had just a bit more time. Just think what you could do with an extra hour or two each day: you could finally stick to an exercise routine, or spring-clean the house, or write your novel, or learn the guitar, or get a new qualification. __1__ But I can help you find more hours in your day for the things that really matter.

·__2__ If you normally get up at 7：30 am try getting up at 7：00 am. That half-hour might not sound like much, but it could be time that you use to exercise, to read that book you've been meaning to finish, or simply to get your day off to a calm and organized start.

·Do the important tasks first.

Once you get to work, get the important ones done first (not the easy ones, or even the urgent ones). You can afford to spend at least an hour working on big, important tasks rather than on all those little urgent ones.

__3__ The urgent tasks will still get done, and you won't miss the important ones. ·Reduce interruptions.

If colleagues have a habit of hanging around your desk to chat, or if the phone is constantly ringing, you might find that it takes you half the day to finish a simple task like writing a letter. Constant interruptions don't just eat up time, they also break your concentration.

When you've got a big task to focus on, let your calls go to voicemail. __4__ Wearing headphones makes it less likely that people will try to start a conversation.

·Stay focused on your work.

A few minutes chatting, browsing the web, and so on, can easily turn into hours of wasted time over the course of a day.__5__ If your concentration is slipping, take a proper break. And if you're facing a difficult task, try breaking it into small steps or stages so that it's easier to deal with.

A．When you're working, work. B．Take breaks when necessary. C．If you have an office door, close it. D．Get out of bed earlier.

E．If you work like this, you'll usually save time. F．Would you want me to make your day longer? G．I can't magically make all your days 25 hours long. 文章大意：本文介绍了节省时间的方法。 答案：

1．G 由后文“但是我能帮你找到更多的时间”可知，此空应该是G项“虽然我不能魔幻地让你一天有25小时”符合语境。

2．D 该题是本段的主题句，所以早起床符合语境。 3．E 先做重要的事会节省你的时间。

4．C 该空所在段讲的是避免被打扰的方式，所以C项“关上办公室的门”符合语境。 5．A 与该段主题句“Stay focused on your work”照应的是A项。

十七

(2014·长春市第三次调测)

Trust has been considered as the basis of any relationship, including friendship. No relationship can last long with a lack of trust. Not many of your friends will have real faith in you as you would like to believe.__1__ Sometimes, it takes years, even a complete lifetime, to trust someone. However, how do we know if our friends have faith in us?

__2__ With whom will you share things that you don't want everyone to know? It would be with a close friend, whom you trust as much as you trust yourself. While a few of your friends may be fiercely protective of their privacy and may not tell their secrets to anyone, those who do, surely find you trustworthy and reliable.

Whom do you look up to for advice when you need it the most? It has to be either your parents or your friends. __3__ This is a shining example of trust. You only seek advice from people you hold in high regard and find dependable. The friends who trust you will never forget to include you in the important decisions of their life.

Arguments and heated discussions are a part of every relationship, and this is also true for friendship. __4__ While some people find it difficult to forgive and forget, your friends will never have problems moving on. It is because they trust you and believe that you will never cause any pain to them on purpose.

There are times in life when you find yourself a lonely soldier. __5__ Your friends will never let you down and will strongly stand for you when you need encouragement. You can determine that they trust you and believe in your beliefs, if they side with you when you need them the most.

A．People can be extraordinarily jealous sometimes. B．You know they will never pass on a wrong suggestion.

C．In fact, winning trust is, by far, the most challenging aspect of relationships.

D．Two people cannot have identical reactions to a situation and different opinions do exist. E．No matter how close you are to your friends, you cannot take that comfort level for granted.

F．If your friends share their secrets, there's a good possibility that they have much faith in you.

G．However, people who are fortunate to have been blessed with true friends are never alone in any battle.

文章大意：本文是一篇说明文，告诉读者信任是联系的纽带和基础，以及在生活中如何才能知道我们的朋友是否信任我们。

1．C 考查考生对上下文顺承关系的理解能力。由第一段最后两句 “Not many of your friends will have real faith in you as you would like to believe. __1__ Sometimes, it takes years, even a complete lifetime, to trust someone.” 可知。答案中的信息与画线部分信息吻合。

2．F 考查考生对段落大意的概括能力。本句是主题句，概括下文。“With whom will you share things that you don't want everyone to know? It would be with a close friend, whom you trust as much as you trust yourself.”

3．B 考查考生对上下文因果关系的理解能力。上文说你想征求他人意见时最想找的是你的父母或朋友，下文答案接着给出找他们的原因是你知道他们不会害你，故选B。

4．D 考查考生对上下文顺承关系的理解能力。根据本段第一句 “Arguments and heated discussions are a part of every relationship, and this is also true for friendship” 可知。答案中的信息与画线部分信息吻合。

5．G 考查考生对上下文转折关系的理解能力。本答案的上文说人生中有时候你会感到孤独，下文则说真正的朋友绝不会让你失望或沮丧，故为转折关系，并且答案句的开头又有提示词However，因此选G。

十八

(2014·石家庄市二模)

Surprising Benefits of Having a Dog

Dogs offer more than just companionship. If you're considering getting a pooch, check out these surprising benefits of having a dog.

1．You'll exercise more.

Owning a dog can motivate you to exercise every day. On those days when it might be easy to skip a workout, looking at your dog standing by the door waiting to go for a walk can give you the push you need to get out there. __1__ 2.Your social life may improve.

Not only does walking your dog help you to get exercise, it might also help you get a date. __2__ Going to the dog park or taking your dogs to run errands can also lead to strangers striking up conversations with you about your dog.

3.Your heart will be healthier.

Studies show that petting a dog lowers a person's heart rate. __3__ In fact, some researches show that dog owners are much more likely to survive a heart attack compared to non-dog owners. Male pet owners in particular tend to experience a reduced rate of heart disease.

4.You're less likely to feel depressed.

__4__ Dog owners are less likely to depressed. Dog owners who have been diagnosed with clinical depression aren't likely to be as depressed as other people. Caring for a dog helps