Many of us assume that with such a last name, Peter Buffett, 52, must enjoy a life of endless privilege. But the son of billionaire investor (投資人) Warren Buffett definitely doesn’t think so.
“People who are born with a silver spoon in their mouth can fall victim (受害者) to what my father has called a silver dagger (匕首) in your back,” Buffett told Reuters in an interview. “It leads to a sense of entitlement (特權(quán)) and a lack of personal achievement.”
Entitlement, he believes, is the worst thing ever. “Anybody who acts like they deserve (應(yīng)得) something ‘just because’ is a disaster,” he said.
In his new book, Life Is What You Make It: Finding Your Own Path to Fulfillment, Buffett says that the only real inheritance (遺產(chǎn)) handed down from his parents was a philosophy (價值觀): Forge your own path in life. It is a belief that has allowed him to follow his own passions, establish his own identity, and reap (收獲) his own successes.
Did his father ever want him to go into finance? “It was encouraged for a moment when I was open to the idea,” he told Reuters. But as he grew older, it became clear the financial world “was not speaking to my heart.”
His father accepted his choice to become a musician. He began his musical career by writing music for TV commercials (廣告). He then released his own albums.
“I am my own person and I know what I have accomplished in my life,” he told Reuters. “This isn’t about wealth or fame or money or any of that stuff, it is actually about values and what you enjoy and finding something you love doing.”
Along with the book, Buffett has begun a “Concert & Conversation” tour in which he plays the piano, talks about his life and warns against consumerist (消費(fèi)主義) culture and damaging the environment.
“Economic prosperity (繁榮) may come and go; that’s just how it is,” he writes in the book. “But values are the steady currency (硬通貨) that earn us the all-important rewards.”
小題1: What does “It” in the second paragraph refer to?
A.A life of a top investor. B.A silver spoon in the mouth.
C.Being born to a wealthy family.D.The victim of a silver dagger in the back.
小題2: What does the article tell us?
A.Peter Buffett is a born musician.
B.Peter Buffett enjoys a hugely privileged life.
C.A wealthy family can benefit a child but also spoil him or her.
D.Peter Buffett was forced by his parents to take over their business.
小題3:The article claims that Peter Buffett owes his achievements largely to ______.
A.his passion for music B.the good education he received
C.his great determinationD.the values he learned from his parents
小題4: Which of the following statements would Peter Buffett probably agree to?
A.Wealth is there to enjoy to the fullest.
B.A person’s value lies within.
C.Many people are fooled by economic prosperity.
D.Young people should choose their own philosophy, whatever their parents believe in.
小題1:C小題1:C小題1:D小題1:B
練習(xí)冊系列答案
相關(guān)習(xí)題

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

Many people could not forget the beautiful dance during the CCTV Spring Festival Gala. The dance was performed by 20 disabled girls. They can’t hear or speak. But their performance is remembered by many people. The leading dancer of the dance is Tai Lihua. She is 28 years old. She is very beautiful.
Tai Lihua was born healthy. When she was two years old, she lost her hearing because of a fever. Not long after that, she became mute(啞巴), too. From then on, her world was silent. But she didn’t know this at first. At five years old, when she played a game about sounds with her schoolmates she discovered that she was different from the others. She was very sad about it. Her father went to many places to look for best treatments for her illness. But nothing worked. When she was seven years old, she went to a school for deaf and mute children. In that school, she did well in her studies. Her teacher said she used her mind more than the others and was good at expressing her feeling through dance. She also began to love dance. She thought she could use dance to express what she thought about life.
When she was 15 years old, she began to learn to dance. At first, she couldn’t dance well. But she didn’t stop. She worked harder than the others. She also spent more time learning. Her efforts made her a very good dancer. She has been to many countries to perform and many foreigners like her style. She now lives a happy life with her family.
小題1:.From the passage we know      .
A.Tai Lihua was found deaf and mute by her father when she played a game with her classmates
B.Tai Lihua danced very well at the beginning of learning to dance
C.Tai Lihua never gave up when she was in trouble
D.Tai Lihua’s parents didn’t take good care of her
小題2:.Which is the right order of the events to Tai Lihua?
a.She danced during the CCTV Spring Festival Gala.
b.She was a healthy girl.
c.She began to learn to dance.
d.She lost her hearing.
e.She went to a school for deaf and mute children.
f.She couldn’t speak.
g.She found she was different from the others.
A.a(chǎn)bdfgceB.badfegcC.bdfegcaD.bdfgeca
小題3:.People could not forget Tai Lihua because       .
A.she was born mute and deaf and good at dancing
B.she used her mind more than the others and could use dance to express what she thought about life
C.she has been to many countries and now lives a happy life
D.though mute and deaf, she is beautiful and hard working and good at dancing
小題4:.The best title of the story is       .
A.A poor girl
B.A dancer in the silent world
C.A beautiful dancer
D.The dance during the CCTV Spring Festival Gala

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

London has become a cycle friendly zone after the launch of a new bike hire scheme.It has been designed to encourage more people to cycle in and around central London.
So how does it  work?First you have to sign up to the scheme to be sent a key.The key will unlock one of the bikes,which are kept at docking stations in  and around central London.You have to pay an access fee for the key and then you pay as you go,for he length of time you use the bike.
Transport for London, which runs the scheme,are hoping to have 6,000 bikes and 400 docking stations in place by the end of the year.The new hire system is hoping to ease congestion in London and is expected to generate up to 40,000 extra cycle trips a day into the city centre.London Mayor Boris Johnston launched the scheme and said London had been “filled with thousands of gleaming machines that will transform the look and feel of our streets and become as commonplace on our roads as black cabs and red buses”.
However,there  have been a few problems since the scheme was launched last Friday.On the first day some people found they couldn’t dock their bike  properly and their usage of the bike had not registered.Transport for London did admit they had been expecting a few “teething problems”and have said they wouldn’t charge for the first day as a“gesture of goodwill”.Some other people have criticized the lack of docking stations and locks for the bikes as well as the price it costs to hire the bicycles.
Despite the comments,the green-thinking London Mayor still seems very positive about things,saying,“My campaign for the capital to become the greatest big cycling city in the world has taken a gigantic pedal-powered push forwards.”
小題1:A new bike scheme has started in London to.
A.earn more money for the government
B.encourage the citizens to take exercises
C.deal with the city’s traffic problems
D.increase employment opportunities
小題2:Which  is the correct order of a bike hire?
a.pay a usage charge according to the time   b.pay for the key
c.cycle in and around central London         d.sign up as a member to get a key
A.b-d-c-aB.b-c-a-dC.d-c-b-aD.d-b-c-a
小題3:According to he passage,the scheme         .
A.is started by volunteers in London
B.has prepared cnough cycles available
C.is expected to improve the environment
D.has become as popular as cabs and buses
小題4:Which of the following is NOT the“teething problems” of the scheme?
A.People were unable to lock properly.
B.People could not dock the bikes properly.
C.People had no enthusiasm about the scheme.
D.It’s too expensive for some people to hire a bike.
小題5:From the passage we know         .
A.the‘cycling revolution’failed once started
B.the scheme will be put off due to the problems
C.a(chǎn)ll the citizens in London are in favor of the scheme
D.the London Mayor has great confidence in the scheme

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

Valentine’s Day is named for Saint Valentine, an early Christmas churchman who helped young lovers. Valentine was killed for his Christian beliefs on February 14 more than 1700 years ago, but the day which is named after him is even earlier than that.
More than 2,000 years ago, the ancient Romans celebrated a holiday for lovers. As part of the celebration, girls wrote their names on pieces of paper and put them in a large container. Boys reached into the container and pulled one out. The girl whose name was written on the paper became his lover or sweet heart for a year.
Now, lovers still put their names on pieces of paper and they sent each other Valentine’s Day cards that tell of their love. Sometimes they also send gifts, like flowers or chocolate candies. Americans usually send these gifts and cards through the mail system. But some use another way to send this message. They have it printed in a newspaper. The cost is usually a few dollars. Some of the messages are simple and short, “Jane, I love you very much”. Others say more. This one, for example, “Dan, Roses are red. Violets are blue. I hope you love me as much as I love you. Forever, May.”
Most of the newspapers that print such messages are local, but USA Today is sold throughout the United States and 90 other countries. This means someone can send a Valentine message to the lover in a far-away place almost anywhere in the world. These messages cost 80 dollars and more. An employee of USA Today says readers can have a small heart or rose printed along with their messages this year. Will this kind of Valentine’s Day message reach the one you love? Well, just make sure he or she reads the newspaper.
小題1:When was the day named after Valentine?
A.More than 1700 years ago before Valentine’s death.B.More than 2, 000 years ago.
C.On February 14.D.It is not mentioned in the passage.
小題2: Which of the following is Wrong about the ancient Romans holiday in the text?
A.Girls put paper with their names into a container.
B.Boys and girls became sweet hearts by chance.
C.Girls and boys chose life lovers in the holiday.
D.It was celebrated as a holiday for lovers.
小題3:Now lovers celebrate Valentine’s Day _________.
A.like what the ancient Romans didB.by sending gifts to each other
C.by printing newspapersD.by spending lots of money
小題4: What can we learn from the text?
A.The ancient Roman girls were more easy-going.
B.Valentine was killed for not helping the government.
C.USA Today helps readers to send roses with printed messages.
D.Valentine was honored for his Christian belief and warm heart.
小題5:The text is written to _________.
A.tell us something about Valentine’s Day B.a(chǎn)dvertise for USA Today
C.tell us that Americans are open to express loveD.sell roses on Valentine’s Day

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

Memphis is the largest city in the southern State of Tennessee, USA. The Mississippi River flows along the west side of the city. Memphis is the chief center of business, industry and transportation in Tennessee.
650,000 people live in the city. More than one million people live in the area. Like many other American cities, Memphis has had racial problems. About forty-eight percent of the city’s population is African American. In 1968, city workers who collected waste went on strike. Most of the workers were black. The famous civil rights leader Martin Luther King Junior went to Memphis to support the workers. On April 4th, King was murdered in Memphis by James Earl Ray. After Mr. King’s death, the city worked to improve living conditions for black people. In 1991, voters elected W.E.Herenton the city’s first black mayor. The same year, Memphis opened the National Civil Rights Museum. It was built next to the place where Martin Luther King was killed. Many people visit the museum to learn about the history of the American civil rights movement. Today, people from across the United States and around the world visit Memphis,where tourism has become a major industry.
小題1:.
There are about     African Americans living in Memphis.
A.312,000B.480,000C.650,000D.1,000,000
小題2:.
Which of the following statement is NOT true according to the passage?
A.Martin Luther King was killed in the city of Memphis by James Earl Ray in 1968.
B.W.E.Herenton was elected the first black mayor of Memphis in 1991.
C.Memphis opened the National Civil Rights Museum in 1991.
D.Martin Luther King was elected mayor of Memphis.
小題3:.
The title for the passage should be      .
A.How to fight against slaveryB.National Civil Rights Museum
C.MemphisD.A black mayor

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

The world’s biggest Internet search engine, Google, has proven once again to be king of the Web. Users can download “Google Wi-Fi” software and then enjoy free Wi-Fi service available in some US cities since last Tuesday.
Wi-Fi is short for “Wireless Fidelity”(無線上網(wǎng)). It allows laptop computers and personal digital assistants to connect to the Internet at high speed by radio sigal.
A person with a Wi-Fi enabled computer can connect to the Internet when near one of the network’s access points. The place covered by one or several access points is called a hotspot. Google had already set up two “hotspots” in the US city of San Francisco which provide a free Wi-Fe service.
The Wi- Fi technology even allows users to enjoy a free Internet phone service. Some scientists argue that Wi-Fi may replace mobile phone networks.
Wi-Fi is stioo limited to a few cities, where there are “ hotspots”. But its capability(容量) of sending information has already done better than that of the mobile phone network, even that of 3G (Third Generation telecommunication technology). Some scientists have started to call Wi-Fi 4G.
In addition to a high speed Internet connection, Fi-Fi has other advantages compared to mobile phones. We-Fi is global. The same Wi-Fi system works in different countries around the world. Different from using cell phones, you don’t need to change computers to use Internet phones when you go to other places and most importantly, many Internet phones cost you nothing at all.
小題1: Wi-Fi is not available in cities without_____.
A.a(chǎn) computerB.a(chǎn) radioC.a(chǎn) hotspotD.a(chǎn) cell phone
小題2: Which of the following is NOT the advantage of Wi-Fi?
A. The high speed Internet connection.   B. Many free Internet phones.
B. Using the same computers for Internet phones when you go to other places. C. Used in all the US cities.
小題3: Some scientists started to call Wi-Fi 4G, because_____.
A.it is the product of the Google”s 4th generation.
B.it is more capable of sending information than the mobile phone network.
C.it has been used by more than four generations.
D.Wi-Fi will surely take the place of the mobile phone network.
小題4:. Which of the following is the best title?
A.Third Generation Telecommunication Technology
B. Free Call Service
C.Google Launches Free Wi-Fi Service
D.Free Wi-Fi Service across the U.S.A.

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

Our quarrel with efficiency is not that it gets things done, but that it is a thief of time when it leaves us no leisure to enjoy ourselves, and that it strains our nerves when we try to get things done perfectly. In building bridges, American engineers calculate so finely and exactly as to make the two ends come together within one-tenth of an inch. But when two Chinese begin to dig a tunnel from both sides of a mountain both come out on the other side. --The Chinese’s firm belief is that it doesn’t matter so long as a tunnel is dug through, and if we have two instead of one, why, we have a double track to boot.
  The pace of modern industrial life forbids this kind of glorious and magnificent idling. But, worse than that, it imposes upon us a different conception of time as measured by the clock and eventually turns the human being into a clock himself. (This sort of thing is bound to come to China, as is evident, for instance, in the case of a factory of twenty thousand workers. The luxurious prospect of twenty thousand workers coming in at their own sweet pleasure at all hours is, of course, somewhat terrifying.)Nevertheless, such efficiency is what makes life so hard and full of excitement. A man who has to be punctually at a certain place at five o’clock has the whole afternoon from one to five ruined for him already. Every American adult is arranging his time on the pattern of the schoolboy - three o’clock for this, five o’clock for that, six-thirty for change of dress, six-fifty for entering the taxi, and seven o’clock for arriving at the destination. It just makes life not worth living.
小題1:The writer objects to efficiency mainly on the grounds that it ____.
A.gives us rights to have too much leisure time
B.urges us to get things done punctually
C.robs us of leisure time
D.imposes on us a perfect concept of time
小題2: In the eyes of the author, the introduction of industrial life gives rise to ____.
A.the excitement of life
B.magnificent idling of time
C.more emphasis on efficiency
D.terrifying schoolboy
小題3:The passage tells us ____.
A.Chinese workers come to work when it is convenient
B.a(chǎn)ll Americans are forced to be efficient against their will
C.Chinese engineers are on better terms with the management
D.Americans ought not to work so hard for efficiency
小題4: The author believes that relaxing the rule of punctuality in factories would lead to ____.
A.great troubleB.increased production
C.a(chǎn) hard and exciting lifeD.successful completion of a tunnel

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

Some scientists say that animals in the oceans are increasingly threatened by noise pollution caused by human beings.
The noise that affects sea creatures comes from a number of human activities. It is caused mainly by industrial underwater explosions, ocean drilling, and ship engines. Such noises are added to natural sounds. These sounds include the breaking of ice fields, underwater earthquakes, and sounds made by animals themselves.
Decibels(分貝)measured in water are different from those measured on land. A noise of one hundred and twenty decibels on land causes pain to human ears. In water, a decibel level of one hundred and ninety-five would have the same effect.
Some scientists have proposed setting a noise limit of one hundred and twenty decibels in oceans. They have observed that noises at that level can frighten and confuse whales.
A team of American and Canadian scientists discovered that louder noises can seriously injure some animals. The research team found that powerful underwater explosions were causing whales in the area to lose their hearing. This seriously affected the whales' ability to exchange information and find their way. Some of the whales even died. The explosions had caused their ears to bleed and become infected.
Many researchers whose work depends on ocean sounds object to a limit of one hundred and twenty decibels. They say such a limit would mean an end to important industrial and scientific research.
Scientists do not know how much and what kinds of noises are harmful to ocean animals. However, many scientists suspect that noise is a greater danger than they believed. They want to prevent noises from harming creatures in the ocean.
小題1: According to the passage, which of the following is increasingly dangerous to sea creatures?
A.The man-made noises.B.The noises made by themselves.
C.The sound of earthquakes.D. The sound of the ice-breaking.
小題2: Which of the following is discussed in the third paragraph?
A.Different places with different types of noises.
B.The very human ears sensitive to all types of noises.
C.The ocean animals' reaction to noises.
D.The same noise measured differently on land and in the ocean.
小題3:We can know from the passage that many researchers think that the noise limit of one hundred twenty decibels would _____.
A.prevent them from doing their research work
B.benefit them a lot in their research work
C.do good to their health
D.increase the industrial output
小題4: According to the passage, what will scientists most probably do in the future?
A.They will try their best to decrease noise.
B.They will work hard to cut down noise pollution.
C.They will study the effect of different noises.
D.They will protect animals from harmful noises.

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

Some places in the world have strange laws. It’s important for you to know about them before going there.
Whoever likes to chew gum(口香糖) may have to leave Singapore. The government really wants to keep the city clean and will fine you for chewing gum.
Before you leave for the United Arab Emirates you’d better make sure you aren’t visiting during Ramadan(齋月). During that time you aren’t allowed to eat or drink in public. Tourists have been fined up to $275 for drinking in public.
Lovers spend so much time kissing each other goodbye at train stations that trains often start late. This law — no kissing your lover goodbye at train stations – is rather old, and isn’t in use today in France.
In Thailand it’s against the law to drive a car or motorcycle without a shirt on, no matter how hot it is. Punishments are different in different areas and can include warnings and tickets costing about $10. No joke -- the local police will stop you.
Studies in Denmark have shown that cars with their headlights on are more noticeable by other drivers than those with their headlights off. Drivers there are required to leave their headlights on even during the day, or they may face a fine up to $100.
Do you often buy things using coins? Don’t do it in Canada. The Currency Law of 1985 doesn’t allow using only coins to buy things. Even the use of the dollar-coin is limited (受限制的). The shop owner has the right to choose whether to take your coins or not.
Make sure you know about these laws before your next trip. Better safe than sorry.
小題1:What is mainly talked about in the text?
A.How to make your trip around the world safe.
B.Why there are strange laws in the world.
C.Interesting places you can go to around the world.
D.Some strange laws you should know about for your trip.
小題2:If you are driving a car in Thailand, _____.
A.the police will play a joke on you
B.you should wear your shirt even though it’s hot
C.the police will give you tickets costing about $10
D.you should always keep your headlights on
小題3:What can we learn from the text?
A.Kissing goodbye at train stations isn’t allowed in France today.
B.The Singaporean government cares a lot about its environment.
C.Tourists in the United Arab Emirates shouldn’t eat in public.
D.You can turn your headlights off in daytime in Denmark.
小題4:What do we know about the strange law in Canada?
A.It is a newly invented law
B.You aren’t allowed to use dollar-coins.
C.You will be fined if you use coins
D.Shop owners can decide if you can use coins.

查看答案和解析>>

同步練習(xí)冊答案