One man tells of driving on a long and lonely road, the last 65 miles of it unpaved, in order to watch Indian dances in the state of Arizona. After the dances, he returned to his car only to find that it had a flat tire. He put on the spare and drove to the only service station in that town.
“Do you fix flats?” he inquired of the attendant.
“Yes,” came the answer.
“How much do you charge?” he asked.
With a twinkle in his eye, the man replied, “What difference does it make?”
This is what has been called a “Hobson’s choice”. A Hobson’s choice is a situation that forces a person to accept whatever is offered or go without.
According to Barbara Berliner, the phrase was inspired by sixteenth-century entrepreneur (企业家) Thomas Hobson. There was no choice by the customer — it was strictly Hobson’s choice.
But often we really have a choice, and the choice does make a difference. We may not always believe it. We may feel as if we have no choice, but almost always there is a choice in the matter. And when we realize that we do most things by choice, then we are taking control of our own lives.
Someone challenged me to try an experiment that completely changed my perspective. “For the next seven days,” he said, “eliminate the words ‘I have to’ from your vocabulary and say ‘I choose to’. Don’t say, ‘I have to work late tonight’. Instead, say, ‘I choose to work late’. When you choose to do it, you take control of your life. Instead of saying, ‘I have to stay home’, try ‘I choose to stay home’. The way you spend your time is your choice. You are responsible. You have control.”
In just seven days I was no longer saying “I have to” and I felt better about my decisions. I learned that there is very little in my life I actually have to do. You and I decide to do certain things because we believe that it will be for the best. When we eliminate “I have to” from our vocabularies, we take control.
Try it for a week and you see what happens. I think you’ll see it’s a change for the better.
1. What did the attendant mean by saying “What difference does it make”?
A.The man didn’t need to pay for the work. |
B.It was unnecessary for the man to ask about the price. |
C.There was no need for the man to have the tire fixed. |
D.The man should keep silent. |
2.The author learnt from the experiment that he .
A.could become more challenging |
B.could spend more time relaxing himself |
C.should take pleasure in helping others |
D.actually changed his attitudes towards life |
3.What does the underlined word “eliminate” mean?
A.Remember. | B.Repeat. | C.Remove. | D.Recite. |
4.What is the situation where we have a “Hobson’s choice”?
A.We have no choice but to follow. |
B.We should often change our choice. |
C.We should make preparations before a journey. |
D.We should think twice before taking action. |
5. The purpose of writing this text is to .
A.advise us to become active in life |
B.explain what Hobson’s choice is |
C.tell an interesting story about the author |
D.accept others’ advice modestly |
高三英语阅读理解简单题
One man tells of driving on a long and lonely road, the last 65 miles of it unpaved, in order to watch Indian dances in the state of Arizona. After the dances, he returned to his car only to find that it had a flat tire. He put on the spare and drove to the only service station in that town.
“Do you fix flats?” he inquired of the attendant.
“Yes,” came the answer.
“How much do you charge?” he asked.
With a twinkle in his eye, the man replied, “What difference does it make?”
This is what has been called a “Hobson’s choice”. A Hobson’s choice is a situation that forces a person to accept whatever is offered or go without.
According to Barbara Berliner, the phrase was inspired by sixteenth-century entrepreneur (企业家) Thomas Hobson. There was no choice by the customer — it was strictly Hobson’s choice.
But often we really have a choice, and the choice does make a difference. We may not always believe it. We may feel as if we have no choice, but almost always there is a choice in the matter. And when we realize that we do most things by choice, then we are taking control of our own lives.
Someone challenged me to try an experiment that completely changed my perspective. “For the next seven days,” he said, “eliminate the words ‘I have to’ from your vocabulary and say ‘I choose to’. Don’t say, ‘I have to work late tonight’. Instead, say, ‘I choose to work late’. When you choose to do it, you take control of your life. Instead of saying, ‘I have to stay home’, try ‘I choose to stay home’. The way you spend your time is your choice. You are responsible. You have control.”
In just seven days I was no longer saying “I have to” and I felt better about my decisions. I learned that there is very little in my life I actually have to do. You and I decide to do certain things because we believe that it will be for the best. When we eliminate “I have to” from our vocabularies, we take control.
Try it for a week and you see what happens. I think you’ll see it’s a change for the better.
1. What did the attendant mean by saying “What difference does it make”?
A.The man didn’t need to pay for the work. |
B.It was unnecessary for the man to ask about the price. |
C.There was no need for the man to have the tire fixed. |
D.The man should keep silent. |
2.The author learnt from the experiment that he .
A.could become more challenging |
B.could spend more time relaxing himself |
C.should take pleasure in helping others |
D.actually changed his attitudes towards life |
3.What does the underlined word “eliminate” mean?
A.Remember. | B.Repeat. | C.Remove. | D.Recite. |
4.What is the situation where we have a “Hobson’s choice”?
A.We have no choice but to follow. |
B.We should often change our choice. |
C.We should make preparations before a journey. |
D.We should think twice before taking action. |
5. The purpose of writing this text is to .
A.advise us to become active in life |
B.explain what Hobson’s choice is |
C.tell an interesting story about the author |
D.accept others’ advice modestly |
高三英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析
I’d been travelling for long hours on a lonely country road when I had a flat tyre. So I had to and get the tools to fix the problem. It certainly wasn’t doing this with a white shirt and suit on.
Nightfall was approaching. Suddenly a car pulled up beside me. A man got out and offered to me. Seeing tattoos (纹身) on his arm, I became as thoughts of robberies flashed through my mind. But I could say anything, he had already begun to take the tools to change the . While watching him, I happened to look back at his car and noticed someone sitting in the passenger seat. This me.
Then, without warning, it began to rain. He suggested that I wait in his car because my car was unsafe. As the rain increased, I unwillingly agreed. When I settled into the back seat, a woman’s voice came from the front seat. I replied with much when seeing an old woman there. It must be his mother, I thought. To my surprise, the old woman was a neighbor of the man who was helping me. “Jeff insisted on stopping when he saw you the tyre.” “I am grateful for his help,” I said. “Me too!” she said with a smile. He helped drive her to see her husband twice a week in a nursing home. She also said that he at the church and taught disadvantaged students for free.
Finally, Jeff helped me change the tyre. I tried to offer him money and of course he refused it. As we shook hands to say goodbye I apologized for my stupid at the first sight of him, and this incident warned us that we shouldn’t judge people by the way they .
1.A. stop B. move C. see D. look
2.A. difficult B. easy C. bad D. polite
3.A. lift B. carry C. drive D. help
4.A. discouraged B. disappointed C. frightened D. astonished
5.A. as B. before C. until D. when
6.A. tyre B. suit C. shirt D. tools
7.A. puzzled B. embarrassed C. calmed D. concerned
8.A. fear B. relief C. satisfaction D. delight
9.A. taking on B. fighting for C. picking out D. struggling with
10.A. volunteered B. studied C. grew D. performed
11.A. ignorance B. words C. reaction D. comment
12.A. drove B. walked C. behaved D. looked
高三英语完型填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
72. The road has long been out of order and last month it was______for repairs.
A.shut | B.stopped | C.closed | D.Opened |
高三英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析
On the one side of the road grass should be planted, and ______.
A. on the other are flowers B. on another flowers
C. on the other flowers D. on another are flowers
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
It was just getting dark. There was a touch of fog and I was on a lonely stretch of road. 36
I was going along cheerfully, thinking about the dinner I would eat when I got to Salistury.
I was going along37 at about thirty-five miles an hour when suddenly I heard a scream, a38 scream--- “ Help! ” I looked round, but the only39 of life was a large, black, rather suspicious-looking car just40 a bend in the road about a hundred yards away. That was where the cry had come from. I41 speed and went after it. I think the driver saw what I was doing, for he did the same and began to draw42 me. As I drew near, the girl’s voice came again, a lovely voice but trembling with43 .
“Let me go, you coward; you’re hurting me. Oh ! Oh ! ”
I felt my44 boil. The fog was coming down45 now, and the countryside was lonelier. I had no46 that the murderous guy in the car noticed this. Again came a cry.
“Drop that knife, you fool. Oh ! ” Then a cry and a groan(呻吟).
If I was to save her, it was now or47 . Perhaps even now I was too late. But if I couldn’t save the girl, I would at least try to bring the murderer to48 . The car was only a couple of yards away now. I drove the bike right across its49 , and its brakes screamed as the driver tried to pull it over and50 into the ditch(沟)at the side of the road. The door of the car was pushed open angrily and a dark, evil-looking fellow stepped out .
“You fool!” he shouted as he came towards me with his fist raised to hit me. But I was51 than he. I put all I could into52 that would have knocked out Joe Louis. It53 him right on the point of the chin; his54 slowly bent under him, and he dropped to the ground without a sound. I rushed to the car, 55 open the door and looked inside. There was no girl there. Suddenly from the back of the car came a voice.
“You have been listening to a radio play, Murder in Hollywood, with Mae Garbo and Clark Taylor. The news will follow immediately . ”
1.A. And B. Though C. Therefore D. But
2.A. quietly B. quickly C. carefully D. nervously
3.A. boy’s B. man’s C. woman’s D. driver’s
4.A. person B. sign C. sound D. form
5.A. turning B. crossing C. going D. driving
6.A. slowed down B. put on C. added to D. took up
7.A. right behind B. close to C. away from D. near by
8.A. joy B. sorrow C. fear D. anger
9.A. tears B. heart C. face D. blood
10.A. slighter B. thicker C. lower D. harder
11.A. need B. effort C. trouble D. doubt
12.A. never B. late C. ever D. then
13.A. justice B. court C. lawyer D. sentence
14.A. direction B. path C. front D. nose
15.A. drove B. ran C. crashed D. sped
16.A. slower B. quicker C. taller D. heavier
17.A. an anger B. a fist C. a beat D. a blow
18.A. caught B. struck C. knocked D. beat
19.A. chin B. fists C. knees D. body
20.A. hit B. brought C. pushed D. pulled
高三英语完型填空困难题查看答案及解析
Be sure to take a trip to the Wadesell. it's a long drive on a dirt road,it's well worth the trouble.
A.Only if B.Now that C.Even though D.In case
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
At long last the child was found on top of ______ we call the museum of science and technology.
A. which B. that C. what D. where
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
At long last the child was found on top of ______ we call the museum of science and technology.
A. which B. that
C. what D. where
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
He was driving home one cold evening on a country road when he saw an old lady, stranded on the side of the road. He stopped to give her a ____. “Why don't you wait in the car where it is warm, Madam? It won't take me long.” He said, “____,my name is Joe.”
She had a flat tire. Joe crawled under the car and changed the tire. But he got dirty and his hands hurt. She couldn't thank him ____ and asked him how much she ____ him. He told her that if she really wanted to ____ him back, the next time she saw someone in ____ of help, she could give that person the ____ he needed, and Joe added, “And think of me.”
She drove off with gratefulness. A few miles ____ the road the lady saw a small ____. She went in. The waitress who was nearly eight months pregnant, ____ her with a sweet smile. The old lady ____ how someone like her who seemed so poor could be so genuinely happy and how she could ____ her enthusiasm in her work in such inconvenient conditions. Then Joe's words ____ her. After the lady finished her meal, the waitress went to get her ____ from a hundreddollar bill. ____, the lady stepped right out of the door.
When the waitress came back, she noticed a note on the table, ____ “I'm helping you because someone once helped me. If you really want to pay me back, here is ____ you can do—Do not let the chain of love ____ with you.”
The waitress went home that night with the ____ tip and what the lady had written. With the baby ____ next month, she and her husband needed money. She knew how worried her husband was and as he lay sleeping next to her, she whispered, “Everything's going to be all right. I love you, Joe.”
1.A. surprise B.hand C.sympathy D.glance
2.A. Just in case B.As you wish C.For one thing D.By the way
3.A. enough B.right C.straight D.extra
4.A. charged B.provided C.owed D.offered
5.A. pay B.bring C.put D.hold
6.A. honor B.favor C.need D.possession
7.A. guidance B.assistance C.acquaintance D.consequence
8.A. down B.off C.beside D.beyond
9.A. bank B.grocery C.gas station D.restaurant
10.A. introduced B.greeted C.identified D.spotted
11.A. thought B.suspected C.wondered D.questioned
12.A. taste B.measure C.remain D.maintain
13.A. struck B.moved C.obtained D.reminded
14.A. tip B.change C.order D.service
15.A. Moreover B.Otherwise C.However D.Eventually
16.A. writing B.showing C.going D.saying
17.A. how B.which C.what D.whether
18.A. combine B.end C.disagree D.deal
19.A. honest B.generous C.modest D.graceful
20.A. due B.ready C.born D.likely
高三英语完型填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
He was driving home one cold evening on a country road when he saw an old lady, stranded on the side of the road. He stopped to give her a . “I’m here to help you, madam. Why don't you wait in the car where it is warm, Madam? It won’t take me long.” He said, “ , my name is Joe.”
She had a flat tire. Joe crawled under the car and changed the tire. But he got dirty and his hands hurt. She couldn’t thank him and asked him how much she him. He told her that if she really wanted to him back, next time she saw someone in of help, she could give that person the he needed, and Joe added, “And think of me”.
She drove off with gratefulness. A few miles the road the lady saw a small . She went in. The waitress who was nearly eight months pregnant her with a sweet smile. The old lady how someone like her who seemed so poor could be so genuinely happy and how she could her enthusiasm in her work in such inconvenient conditions. Then Joe’s words her. After the lady finished her meal, the waitress went to get her from a hundred-dollar bill. , the lady stepped right out the door.
When the waitress came back, she noticed a note on the table, “I’m helping you because someone once helped me. If you really want to pay me back, here is you can do--Do not let the chain of love with you.”
The waitress went home that night with the tip and what the lady had written. With the baby next month, she and her husband needed money. She knew how worried her husband was and as he lay sleeping next to her, she whispered, “Everything’s going to be all right. I love you, Joe.”
1.A.surprise B.hand C.sympathy D.glance
2.A.Just in case B.As you wish C.For one thing D.By the way
3.A.enough B.right C.straight D.extra
4.A.charged B.provided C.owed D.offered
5.A.pay B.bring C.put D.hold
6.A.honor B.favor C.need D.possession
7.A.guidance B.assistance C.acquaintance D.consequence
8.A.down B.off C.beside D.beyond
9.A.bank B.grocery C.gas station D.restaurant
10.A.introduced B.greeted C.identified D.spotted
11.A.thought B.suspected C.wondered D.questioned
12.A.taste B.measure C.remain D.maintain
13.A.struck B.moved C.obtained D.reminded
14.A.tip B.change C.order D.service
15.A.Moreover B.Otherwise C.However D.Eventually
16.A.writing B.showing C.going D.saying
17.A.how B.which C.what D.whether
18.A.combine B.end C.disagree D.deal
19.A.honest B.generous C.modest D.graceful
20.A.due B.ready C.born D.likely
高三英语完形填空中等难度题查看答案及解析