C

From now on, never spend your precious time thinking of reasons for your failures and shortcomings. Instead, realize that the seeds of success were planted within you when you were born. Only you have the power to make those seeds grow.

The seeds, and the power to grow them, are contained in the most awesome machine ever created：the human mind. Success is a choice and not a chance. You were born a winner. You were born rich. You can be a success if only you make the right choice.

You cannot be successful without first developing your self­esteem. Your level of self­esteem is always based on the degree of control that you are able to exercise over yourself, and thus over your life. People with low self­esteem are people who do not believe that they have any power, or responsibility for their lives. They are the perennial(长期的) victims and martyrs. They are leaves tossed(摇摆) by the winds of chance blown about with any sudden change in the weather.

You can exercise control over your life only to the degree that you believe that you are responsible for everything that happens in your life. Failures think that everything happens by accident and chance. Successful people realize that they are responsible.

Everything happens as a result of something. If we can identify the cause, we can control the effect. We are responsible for what we choose to think and believe. One generally rises to the level that one expects. We are responsible for setting our expectations. Our success is dependent upon our level of confidence.

If you associate with positive­thinking people, you are definitely going to achieve success. On the contrary, the opposite happens. We are responsible for finding, planting, and nurturing the seeds that contain future victory, born from setbacks.

In short, in all areas of your life, whether they are financial, physical, emotional, or spiritual, you are responsible. Once you recognize this, accept it, and firmly believe it, you are on the road to success.

53.People with low self­esteem are compared to leaves because they ________.

A.are ready to change their minds B.are easily affected by windy weather

C.don't have the power to face their fate D.can't exercise control over themselves

54.Losers would think that ________.

A.success is the result of hard work B.working hard will lead to success

C.their failure is only because of bad luck D.they don't make efforts to succeed

55.It can be inferred from Paragraph 5 that ________.

A.whether we will succeed depends on our attitudes

B.developing confidence is the key to future success

C.thoughts and beliefs are the result of creative mind

D.setting our expectations is essential before taking action

56.Which is the best title for the text?

A.Success is a choice B.The secrets of success

C.Develop our confidence D.How to achieve success

D

I used to look into my closet and see clothes.But_these_days,_whenever_I_cast_my_eyes_on_shoes_and_jackets,_I_see_water.

It takes 569 gallons (加仑) to manufacture (制造) a T­shirt, from its start in the cotton fields to its appearance on store shelves. A pair of shoes? 1，247 gallons.

Until last fall, I'd been oblivious (不在意的) to my “water footprint”， which is defined (定义) as the total volume of freshwater that is used to produce goods and services. It was through the Green Blue Book by Thomas M Kostigen that I was able to see how my own actions contributed.

I've been feeling pretty satisfied with myself for all the drinking water I've saved: I've put in water­recycling systems to reuse the waste water from my washing machine and bathtub. I've set up rain barrels (桶) to collect storm water flooding from my roof.

But now I realize that my daily consumption choices are using an amazing amount of water. Calculating the water footprint of my breakfast, lunch and dinner, I'm using 512 gallons of water each day just to feed myself.

In a word: amazing.

Even more alarming was how much hidden water I was using to get dressed. It takes 7，996 gallons to make a leather jacket. It takes 2，866 gallons of water to make a single pair of blue jeans.

I realized I could make some simple lifestyle changes. My late resolution is to buy some items used. And I have no problem shopping less. I had a hamburger recently, and I enjoyed it alot more since it is now an occasional treat rather than a weekly habit.

57.What does the underlined sentence “But these days, whenever I cast my eyes on shoes and jackets, I see water.” mean in the first paragraph?

A.The author can see water in clothes.

B.The author likes water.

C.The author can know how much water was used to make shoes and jackets.

D.The author likes saving water.

58.What is “water footprint”?

A.It is described as the whole volume of freshwater used to produce goods and services.

B.It is the footprint that people leave.

C.It is the water that people drink.

D.It is the water wasted.

59.Which of the following statements is FALSE according to the passage?

A.The author had cared about his “water footprint” by last fall.

B.The author has been feeling rather content with himself for all the drinking water he's saved.

C.He has put in water­recycling systems to reuse the waste water from his washing machine and bathtub.

D.He didn't like hamburgers.

60.What can we conclude from the last paragraph?

A.Eating hamburgers is the author's favorite.

B.A simple change in lifestyle can help reduce water footprint.

C.The author goes shopping less.

D.The author often buys second­hands.