For years I grappled and fought with the bird's nest that sat on top of my head - my Medusa mane, a composition offrizz（捲髮） and giantringlets（小圈）that in no way could be tamed.
Growing up in a Russian-Jewish home with parents who thought North American styling products were akin to illegal substances such as heroin, I was never allowed to put them in my hair.
"Why buy gel? Your hair is so beautiful naturally," my mother would say.
The tweens at school did not agree. From boys not wanting to kiss me when we played spin the bottle in Grade 7 to being called "the mop," I suffered for my unruly hair.
People always say that you want the hair you don't have, but having unmanageable curly hair goes deeper than that. It's like being in a war with more than your scalp - it's your self-esteem. You feel messy and disorderly, with your curls reflecting that attitude.
When I got to university, I believed my frizzy hair was a wedge that stood between me and everything - finding aninternship（實習期）, getting a boyfriend.
If only I could find a way to police the frizz and put it behind bars, I told myself, I would feel secure and sexy. I tried everything: rollers, hairspray, gels and, at one point, an iron.
Then, in my second year, a miracle happened. I was asked to be a hair model for Japanese hair straightening, a process by which the molecules of my curls would be shattered and reset in a bone-straight position.
I was the perfect "before" and "after" candidate, the hairdresser told me.
Although there are rumours about how hair relaxing can damage the scalp, for the next five years I didn't find them to be true. All of the hairdresser's promises were fulfilled: With my strands straight and smooth in a stylish bob, I was no longer Medusa but a distant cousin of Jennifer Aniston.
However, there was extreme damage done to my wallet. To keep up the straightening cost $700 every six months, and that was considered cheap. While some people thought I was crazy, I was willing to do anything to never again feel like that frazzled（疲憊的）, frizzy-headed girl in Grade 7.
But when I moved out of my parents' house at age 26 and rented an apartment, the upkeep of my sleek image became too costly.
I couldn't hide from my inner Medusa any longer. It was time to embrace her and let her fly.
Seeking an alternative to my high-end habit, I turned to the oracle that always has answers: Google.
After hours of searching, I stumbled upon a "curly haired" salon, a place designed for girls like me who were at their wits' end.
I doubted these so-called "Curl Ambassadors" could do anything without using a contraption of some sort, and though I bought the service called the "Curly-Doo," I suspected I'd have the same unruly mop at the end of the appointment.
I dragged my feet so hard getting there that I arrived 45 minutes late. I secretly hoped they would turn me away and give me the excuse I needed to justify the expense of relaxing again.
Instead, my stylist simply said: "You are very late. Flip your head over."
At that moment, my world and beliefs about myself were turned upside down along with my hair.
As my head was dunked in a tub full of freezing-cold water, then generously slathered with a jelly-like substance, I wondered what I had got myself into.
"Do you really think this will work?" I asked the stylist, Jacquai. "My curls are a lost cause ."
"No curly hair is hopeless," she replied. "They just haven't found a way to work with it, that's all."
After the hour was over, Jacquai had completed her mission. She had styled my hair using only her hands, water and a mixture of organic potions.
I couldn't believe what I was seeing in the mirror: a naturally curly, Medusa-free me. You could argue that hair is just hair. Yet, it is just such physical features that have such a large sway on how we view ourselves.
According to Jacquai, 75 percent of the population have a wave or curl in their hair and don't know what to do with it. Men cut theirs short. Women flat-iron theirs to death.
When I browse through a beauty magazine or take the subway to work, it makes me sad to see so many people repressing their natural beauty.
Since I tamed my locks, my world has changed. I have always been outgoing, but these days I seem to be more outspoken and self-assured than ever. On top of that, the compliments haven't stopped coming.
Friends and co-workers tell me I am looking better than ever, but they can't pinpoint the source of the change.
I don't need to tell them. My Medusa mane sways and speaks for herself.
謂語動詞與非謂語動詞
根據其是否能用作謂語，動詞可分為謂語動詞和非謂語動詞。謂語動詞在句中可用作謂語，而非謂語動詞則不用作謂語(但可用作主語、賓語、補語、狀語、定語等)。非謂語動詞包括不定式、動名詞、分詞三種：
He lives in Shanghai. 他住在上海。(live 為謂語動詞)
I want to go home. 我想回家。(want 為謂語動詞，to go 為非謂語動詞)
He enjoyed watching TV. 他喜歡看電視。(enjoy為謂語動詞，watching為非謂語動詞)
He had his hair cut. 他理髮了。(had 為謂語動詞，cut 為非謂語動詞)
hang on有哪些用法
1. 用作電話用語(其後可接 a minute, a moment, a while 之類的詞)，意為：等一下; 別放下話筒;別掛斷。如：
Hang on! I’ll call him. 等一下，我去叫他。
I’m afraid the (telephone) line is engaged. Wouldyou like to hang on? 恐怕電話佔線，請等一下好嗎?
You say you want to speak to Mrs Smith? If youhang on for a while, I’ll go and see if I canfind her. 你説你要找史密斯太太嗎?請等一下，我去看看能否找到她。
2. 用作電話用語以外的其它情況，叫對方等一下(其後可接 a minute, a moment, a while之類的詞)，意為：等一下。如：
A：Got a match，Bob? 鮑勃，有火柴嗎?
B：Hang on. 等一下。
A：We’re going, Mary. 瑪麗，我們走了。
B：Hang on a minute. I’m not quite ready. 等一下，我還沒準備好呢!
3. 表示抓緊，可譯為：抓緊。如：
Don’t let go. Hang on tightly. 不要放，抓緊。
Just hang on till I get help. 抓緊，等我找人來幫忙。
Hang on (to the strap);the bus is about to start. 抓緊(安全帶)，公共汽車就要開了。
給高一新生的英語學習方法除了課堂上的學習外，平時的積累與練習也是學生提高成績的重要途徑，本文為大家提供了給高一新生的英語學習方法，祝大家閲讀愉快。
1.英語學習的目的絕不只是考試!
英語不僅對大學聯考而且對以後而言都是非常重要的工具。不論你以前的英語基礎如何，請相信一點：可以通過努力提高成績的。所以現在暫時英語學習不順利的同學千萬不要中途放棄。同時，你也要相信：提高成績不是結果，而是一個過程，最後的結果是你能夠掌握一門語言和文化。
所以，現在就克服對英語的羞怯心理，擺脱英語給你帶來的困窘。把書面表達和口頭表達並行發展提高。多和人嘗試用英語交流，看到任何有趣的英文單詞都記下來，生活中充滿了這種樂趣。比如，萬柳新城的英文在廣告牌上寫的.是"willow"，原意是柳樹，而諧音就成了萬柳，讓人不得不佩服設計師的精彩思維。接下來，我們就可以發散思維了，把所有帶"illow"的單詞都查出來玩。有billow(巨浪)，pillow(枕頭)。這樣不就在生活中逐步學習了嗎。這才是學習英語的目的："Toexploretheunknown"(探索未知)
2.語法不能總記成"固定搭配"
語法很重要。誰也不能繞開它而培養出很高的英語素質和能力。但是，很多時候我們都會説"xxx是固定搭配，記下來!"其實不然，在語法上要多歸納，多總結，多比較，體會語法的系統性和規律性。於此同時，學與練相結合，在練習中提高在分析情景的基礎上運用語法的能力。
我們研究後，深深地認識到：新課標首要糾正傳統語法中心式的英語教學這一錯誤。英語教學是要培養英語的熟練使用者，而不是英語的語言運行研究專家。大學聯考命題向這個方向轉變，應用性變得非常的重要。
3.單詞不是死背的!
背單詞很重要，因為單詞可以彌補語法不紮實和理解的不足，更可以用在作文得分中。但是，背單詞不能死記硬背，要背硬記死!單詞要採用聯想、對比、歸類、尤其是構詞法記憶，結合字音、字形、字意和句子來記憶，在腦海中創建一種單詞的場景來記憶，場景一定要誇張，這樣才能記得牢靠，才能死記活用且事半功倍。
4.閲讀時培養語感很重要。
在考試時碰到一些自己從未見過的句型和短語，如果單靠語法分析無法解決時，就可以憑藉語感來判斷。訓練方法在此提供兩種：第一：大聲唱讀法。跟磁帶朗讀課文或其他閲讀材料，一定要模仿語音語調，就像在KTV唱歌一樣，這樣不知不覺中就能把課文熟記於心了。
第二：兩遍閲讀法。第1遍，囫圇吞棗，掌握大意，不用字典。第二遍，查出生詞，劃出詞彙，整理詞句。
專家提醒大學生學英語勿急功近利
學生不愛看英語教材，不願讀英語名著，卻對速成英語、應試英語等市面上的“速成教材”情有獨衷，在舉行的“2005年全國英語專業本科教學改革研討會”上，英語教學專家們紛紛對大學生學英語“急功近利”的心態進行了批評。記者同時獲悉，我國英語專業學科的建設和更新、教材內容的改革和提升已迫在眉睫。
上海外國語大學博士生導師虞建華教授認為，要想“速成”掌握一種語言技能是不可能的，英語專業的大學生尤其要重點加強聽説讀寫譯的基本功訓練。現在大學生的就業壓力大，很多學生為了考證，花了大量時間在做託福、GRE、四八級等習題上，出現了大批的“啞巴英語”。此外，大學生花在課本、閲讀英語文學名著上的時間大大減少了。這對掌握語言技能是十分不利的。
由於近年來我國英語專業招生規模逐年擴大，導致學生數量與教學質量之間的矛盾也使英語專業教學改革成為熱點問題。據統計，今年參加英語八級考試的院校451所，人數約104165人，與2004年相比，院校和人數分別增加了10.8％和32.7％；今年報考四級考試的院校575所，報考考生201187人，院校和人數比2004年分別增加了11.9％和23.5％。
上海外國語大學校長、博導戴煒棟教授指出，這些數據反映了我國高校英語專業教學規模的快速發展，但也隨之帶來了師資匱乏、教材陳舊、教學手段落後、教學質量堪憂等一系列問題。有些英語專業本科四年級學生的語言基本功底甚至連高中生都不如。如何在擴大規模的同時，建設英語專業教材、深化英語專業教學改革、確保英語專業教學質量已經成為當前迫切需要解決的問題。
據悉，目前總數為150餘種的我國首套原創“高等院校英語專業本科生系列教材”已在全國高校陸續推廣使用，將逐步促進高校英語專業的教改。
大學聯考英語閲讀理解備考 英語閲讀理解解題技巧距離2011年大學聯考還有不到2個月的時間了，這個時候文科的同學要有一個清楚的頭腦，總結各科的知識重點並記住。下邊小編就為大家總結了英語知識點，希望對大家有所幫助。
1.細節題型
【提問方式】Wh-特殊問句; From the text...,According to...,True/not true,劃線詞語、句子，簡單計算、排列事件順序、識圖等。
【解題方法】抓住提問中的關鍵字眼，仔細閲讀相關細節的材料內容，一般可以在短文中直接找到或稍加歸納就可以找到正確答案。
注意排除下列干擾項：
(1)擴縮範圍
文章為了表達得準確嚴密，很注意對範圍的限定。有的是通過加上相應的詞語限制，如涉及到數量時常用many,almost all,nearly,more than,over,only a few,normally等限制.有些干擾項是通過改變或去掉限定詞語，甚至是擴大或縮小了語言範圍。
(2)偷換概念
命題者設計試題時往往把原文的概念偷換成另一個不同的概念。望文生義是造成錯誤的主要原因。
(3)正誤並存
在一干擾項中，某個句子或詞語是正確的，其他分句或詞語是錯誤的或表達不全面，正誤並存，命題者藉此以假亂真。要排除這類干擾項，只要一個選項局部有誤或選項不全面，都屬排除的干擾項。
2.主旨大意題型
【提問方式】What' s the topic/subject of the text/the second paragraph?
What is stated in...? The text is cheifly concerned with_______。
【解題方法】
(1)最常用的方法是仔細研讀短文的1、2兩句-----即短文的主題句，或輔以閲讀各段的第1、2句----即段落中心句。此方法多適用於、議。
(2)記敍文等需要通讀全文，抓住關鍵事或論題來歸納意思(常説明一個道理)。
(3)全文末尾(段)找答案。此類文章的特點是以列舉事實開頭，通過論證，最後闡述核心觀點。
在處理文章標題的選擇時，要避免下列三種錯誤：①概括不夠(多表現為部分代整體，從而導致範圍太小);②過度概括(多表現為人為擴大範圍);③以事實或細節代替抽象具體的大意。
3.推理判斷題型
【提問方式】
The story suggests that___________. It can be inferred that_____________。
The story implies that _____________. It can be concluded that __________。
We can learn that _______________。
【解題方法】推斷題是考查學生透過文章表面的文字信息進行分析、綜合、歸納等邏輯推理的能力。學生不僅要弄懂文章的字面意思，更重要的是要知道文章的潛在涵義。
【注意點】
(1)那些文章中直接陳述的內容不能選，要選擇根據文章推理出來的選項。
(2)推理不是憑空猜測，而是立足已知推斷未知;作出正確答案時一定要在文中找到依據或理由。
(3)不能以自己的觀點代替作者的想法;不要脱離原文主觀臆斷。
4.詞義猜測題
①利用構詞法猜詞;②利用語境及邏輯關係猜詞。有時完全可以利用上下文語境和前後句之間的並列、因果、轉折、對比、解釋定義和舉例等關係來猜測詞義。同時特別留心某些詞語，例如：or, that is, in other words, including, although, but, or, even if, on the other hand, on the contrary, other than, rather than, more than, instead of等詞語之後的內容。
學識谷
