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（实习期）, 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（疲惫的）, 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.
谓语动词与非谓语动词
根据其是否能用作谓语，动词可分为谓语动词和非谓语动词。谓语动词在句中可用作谓语，而非谓语动词则不用作谓语(但可用作主语、宾语、补语、状语、定语等)。非谓语动词包括不定式、动名词、分词三种：
He lives in Shanghai. 他住在上海。(live 为谓语动词)
I want to go home. 我想回家。(want 为谓语动词，to go 为非谓语动词)
He enjoyed watching TV. 他喜欢看电视。(enjoy为谓语动词，watching为非谓语动词)
He had his hair cut. 他理发了。(had 为谓语动词，cut 为非谓语动词)
hang on有哪些用法
1. 用作电话用语(其后可接 a minute, a moment, a while 之类的词)，意为：等一下; 别放下话筒;别挂断。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? 恐怕电话占线，请等一下好吗?
You say you want to speak to Mrs Smith? If youhang on for a while, I’ll go and see if I canfind her. 你说你要找史密斯太太吗?请等一下，我去看看能否找到她。
2. 用作电话用语以外的其它情况，叫对方等一下(其后可接 a minute, a moment, a while之类的词)，意为：等一下。如：
A：Got a match，Bob? 鲍勃，有火柴吗?
B：Hang on. 等一下。
A：We’re going, Mary. 玛丽，我们走了。
B：Hang on a minute. I’m not quite ready. 等一下，我还没准备好呢!
3. 表示抓紧，可译为：抓紧。如：
Don’t let go. Hang on tightly. 不要放，抓紧。
Just hang on till I get help. 抓紧，等我找人来帮忙。
Hang on (to the strap);the bus is about to start. 抓紧(安全带)，公共汽车就要开了。
给高一新生的英语学习方法
除了课堂上的学习外，平时的积累与练习也是学生提高成绩的重要途径，本文为大家提供了给高一新生的英语学习方法，祝大家阅读愉快。
1.英语学习的目的绝不只是考试!
英语不仅对高考而且对以后而言都是非常重要的工具。不论你以前的英语基础如何，请相信一点：可以通过努力提高成绩的。所以现在暂时英语学习不顺利的同学千万不要中途放弃。同时，你也要相信：提高成绩不是结果，而是一个过程，最后的结果是你能够掌握一门语言和文化。
所以，现在就克服对英语的羞怯心理，摆脱英语给你带来的困窘。把书面表达和口头表达并行发展提高。多和人尝试用英语交流，看到任何有趣的英文单词都记下来，生活中充满了这种乐趣。比如，万柳新城的英文在广告牌上写的是"willow"，原意是柳树，而谐音就成了万柳，让人不得不佩服设计师的精彩思维。接下来，我们就可以发散思维了，把所有带"illow"的单词都查出来玩。有billow(巨浪)，pillow(枕头)。这样不就在生活中逐步学习了吗。这才是学习英语的目的："Toexploretheunknown"(探索未知)
2.语法不能总记成"固定搭配"
语法很重要。谁也不能绕开它而培养出很高的英语素质和能力。但是，很多时候我们都会说"xxx是固定搭配，记下来!"其实不然，在语法上要多归纳，多总结，多比较，体会语法的系统性和规律性。于此同时，学与练相结合，在练习中提高在分析情景的基础上运用语法的能力。
我们研究后，深深地认识到：新课标首要纠正传统语法中心式的英语教学这一错误。英语教学是要培养英语的熟练使用者，而不是英语的语言运行研究专家。高考命题向这个方向转变，应用性变得非常的重要。
3.单词不是死背的`!
背单词很重要，因为单词可以弥补语法不扎实和理解的不足，更可以用在作文得分中。但是，背单词不能死记硬背，要背硬记死!单词要采用联想、对比、归类、尤其是构词法记忆，结合字音、字形、字意和句子来记忆，在脑海中创建一种单词的场景来记忆，场景一定要夸张，这样才能记得牢靠，才能死记活用且事半功倍。
4.阅读时培养语感很重要。
在考试时碰到一些自己从未见过的句型和短语，如果单靠语法分析无法解决时，就可以凭借语感来判断。训练方法在此提供两种：第一：大声唱读法。跟磁带朗读课文或其他阅读材料，一定要模仿语音语调，就像在KTV唱歌一样，这样不知不觉中就能把课文熟记于心了。
第二：两遍阅读法。第1遍，囫囵吞枣，掌握大意，不用字典。第二遍，查出生词，划出词汇，整理词句。
专家提醒大学生学英语勿急功近利
学生不爱看英语教材，不愿读英语名著，却对速成英语、应试英语等市面上的“速成教材”情有独衷，在举行的“2005年全国英语专业本科教学改革研讨会”上，英语教学专家们纷纷对大学生学英语“急功近利”的心态进行了批评。记者同时获悉，我国英语专业学科的建设和更新、教材内容的改革和提升已迫在眉睫。
上海外国语大学博士生导师虞建华教授认为，要想“速成”掌握一种语言技能是不可能的，英语专业的大学生尤其要重点加强听说读写译的基本功训练。现在大学生的就业压力大，很多学生为了考证，花了大量时间在做托福、GRE、四八级等习题上，出现了大批的“哑巴英语”。此外，大学生花在课本、阅读英语文学名著上的时间大大减少了。这对掌握语言技能是十分不利的。
由于近年来我国英语专业招生规模逐年扩大，导致学生数量与教学质量之间的矛盾也使英语专业教学改革成为热点问题。据统计，今年参加英语八级考试的院校451所，人数约104165人，与2004年相比，院校和人数分别增加了10.8％和32.7％；今年报考四级考试的院校575所，报考考生201187人，院校和人数比2004年分别增加了11.9％和23.5％。
上海外国语大学校长、博导戴炜栋教授指出，这些数据反映了我国高校英语专业教学规模的快速发展，但也随之带来了师资匮乏、教材陈旧、教学手段落后、教学质量堪忧等一系列问题。有些英语专业本科四年级学生的语言基本功底甚至连高中生都不如。如何在扩大规模的同时，建设英语专业教材、深化英语专业教学改革、确保英语专业教学质量已经成为当前迫切需要解决的问题。
据悉，目前总数为150余种的我国首套原创“高等院校英语专业本科生系列教材”已在全国高校陆续推广使用，将逐步促进高校英语专业的教改。
高考英语阅读理解备考 英语阅读理解解题技巧
距离2011年高考还有不到2个月的时间了，这个时候文科的同学要有一个清楚的头脑，总结各科的知识重点并记住。下边小编就为大家总结了英语知识点，希望对大家有所帮助。
1.细节题型
【提问方式】Wh-特殊问句; From the text...,According to...,True/not true,划线词语、句子，简单计算、排列事件顺序、识图等。
【解题方法】抓住提问中的关键字眼，仔细阅读相关细节的材料内容，一般可以在短文中直接找到或稍加归纳就可以找到正确答案。
注意排除下列干扰项：
(1)扩缩范围
文章为了表达得准确严密，很注意对范围的限定。有的是通过加上相应的词语限制，如涉及到数量时常用many,almost all,nearly,more than,over,only a few,normally等限制.有些干扰项是通过改变或去掉限定词语，甚至是扩大或缩小了语言范围。
(2)偷换概念
命题者设计试题时往往把原文的概念偷换成另一个不同的概念。望文生义是造成错误的主要原因。
(3)正误并存
在一干扰项中，某个句子或词语是正确的，其他分句或词语是错误的或表达不全面，正误并存，命题者借此以假乱真。要排除这类干扰项，只要一个选项局部有误或选项不全面，都属排除的干扰项。
2.主旨大意题型
【提问方式】What' s the topic/subject of the text/the second paragraph?
What is stated in...? The text is cheifly concerned with_______。
【解题方法】
(1)最常用的方法是仔细研读短文的1、2两句-----即短文的主题句，或辅以阅读各段的第1、2句----即段落中心句。此方法多适用于、议。
(2)记叙文等需要通读全文，抓住关键事或论题来归纳意思(常说明一个道理)。
(3)全文末尾(段)找答案。此类文章的特点是以列举事实开头，通过论证，最后阐述核心观点。
在处理文章标题的选择时，要避免下列三种错误：①概括不够(多表现为部分代整体，从而导致范围太小);②过度概括(多表现为人为扩大范围);③以事实或细节代替抽象具体的大意。
3.推理判断题型
【提问方式】
The story suggests that___________. It can be inferred that_____________。
The story implies that _____________. It can be concluded that __________。
We can learn that _______________。
【解题方法】推断题是考查学生透过文章表面的文字信息进行分析、综合、归纳等逻辑推理的能力。学生不仅要弄懂文章的字面意思，更重要的是要知道文章的潜在涵义。
【注意点】
(1)那些文章中直接陈述的内容不能选，要选择根据文章推理出来的选项。
(2)推理不是凭空猜测，而是立足已知推断未知;作出正确答案时一定要在文中找到依据或理由。
(3)不能以自己的观点代替作者的想法;不要脱离原文主观臆断。
4.词义猜测题
①利用构词法猜词;②利用语境及逻辑关系猜词。有时完全可以利用上下文语境和前后句之间的并列、因果、转折、对比、解释定义和举例等关系来猜测词义。同时特别留心某些词语，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等词语之后的内容。