Text:
Years ago, a cigarette commercial asked if you were
smoking more, but enjoying it less. That describes the way many of us live
today. We are doing more, but enjoying it less. And when that doesn’t work, we
compound the problem. In our frantic search for satisfaction, we try stuffing
still more into our days, never realizing that we are taking the wrong
approach. The truth is simple; so simple it is hard to believe. Satisfaction
lies with less, not with more. Yet, we pursue the myth that this thing, or that
activity, will somehow provide the satisfaction we so desperately seek.
Arthur Lindman, in his devastating book, “The Harried
Leisure Class,” described the futility of pursuing more. His research focused
on what people did with their leisure time. He found that as income rose,
people bought more things to occupy their leisure time. But, ironically, the
more things they bought, the less they valued any of them. Carried to an
extreme, he predicted massive boredom in the midst of tremendous variety. That
was more than twenty years ago, and his prediction seems more accurate every
year.
Lindman of course, is not the first to discover this.
The writer of Ecclesiastes expressed the same tought thousands of years ago. It
is better, he wrote, to have less and enjoy it more. If you would like to enjoy
life more, I challenge you to experiment with me. How could you simply your
life? What could you drop? What could you do without? What could you stop
pursing? What few things could you concentrate on? The more I learn, the more I
realize that fullness of life does not depend on things. The more I give up,
the more I seem to gain. But words will never convince you. You must try it for
yourself.
Dr Merril Douglass
A.
Reading comprehension
I.
Choose the best meaning:
1. We compound the problem means:
a. we avoid the problem.
b. we try to find a solution to the problem.
c. we make the problem worse.
d. we ignore the problem.
2. In our frantic search for satisfaction implies
that:
a. we are calm in our search for satisfaction.
b. we are confident in our search for satisfaction.
c. we are very worried and rushed in our search for
satisfaction.
d. we are blind in our search for satisfaction.
II.
Choose a title for the text:
a. Leisure time.
b. frantic search for satisfaction.
c. Simplify your life.
d. You must try it.
III.
True, False or ING? Justify:
1. The less you have, the more you are satisfied.
2. When you have a lot of things, you fail to see
their values.
IV.
Complete the following sentence using information from the text:
If we want to gain the most of life, we should try to -----.
V.
What do you think the best way to have full satisfaction in life?
B.
Language test
GRAMMAR
IN USE
Fill in the blanks with the appropriate grammatical
items:
There was a serious automobile accident on Highway 13
between Windfield and Branille. The driver of (1) Demgo crashed (2) a lamppost.
He (3) driving 90 km per hour. The driver and passenger were returning (4).
Both of (5) were drunk. The driver is (6) serious condition in a hospital with
severe chest (7) head injuries. The passenger escaped (8) minor injuries.
Remember our daily warning: DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE.
INDIRECT
TEST OF SPEAKING
I.
Match the sentences in column A with those in column B:
A
|
B
|
1. How’s everything, Sally?
2. Shall I fix the gate for you?
3. I think the best way to get satisfaction is to
try to be happy with what you have.
4. We’re going to the pool this afternoon. Can you
join us?
|
a. I disagree with you. The way I see it, you have
to have a lot of things to be happy.
b. Yes, please. If you don’t mind.
c. Sure. I’d love to.
d. Pretty good. How are your kids?
e. I’m planning to return after tomorrow
|
II.
Complete the following conversation:
Ken: What’s the matter with you, Steve?
Steve: Well, I don’t understand my parents. They
always tell me to do this and to do that. I’ve had enough of it all. ---- (1)
----
Ken: If I were you, I’d talk to a relative, and
explain the problem to him or her. Relatives can often help with problems like
that one.
Steve: ---- (2) ----. I’ll do that.
Ken: By the way, are you free this evening?
Steve: ---- (3) ----.
Ken: So, how about of going to a restaurant for
dinner? I don’t want to eat at home.
Steve: ---- (4) ---- I haven’t eaten in a restaurant
for a long time.
Ken: ---- (5) ----?
Steve: How about 6 p.m.? Is that OK with you?
Ken: ---- (6) ----.
Steve: OK. See you at six, then. I’ll pick you up at
your house.
C.
Writing
Teachers play an
important role in education. Write about “ your good and your bad” teachers.
(About 120 words).