Do you know what a resolution is? It’s a kind of promise. Most of the time, we make promises to other people. For example, “Mom, I promise I’m going to tidy my room when I get back from school.” However, promises you make to yourself are resolutions, and the most common kind is New Year’s resolutions. The start of the year is often a time for making resolutions. When we make resolutions at the beginning of the year, we hope that we are going to improve our lives. Some people write down their resolutions and plans for the coming year. This helps to remember their resolutions. Others tell their family and friends about their wishes and plans.

There are different kinds of resolutions. Some are about physical health. For example, some people promise themselves they are going to start an exercise program or eat less fast food. Many resolutions have to do with self-improvement. These are about making yourself a better person.

Some people might say they are going to take up a hobby like painting or taking photos, or learn to play the guitar. Some resolutions have to do with better planning, like making a weekly plan for schoolwork. For example, a student may have to find more time to study.

Although there are differences, most resolutions have one thing in common. People hardly ever keep them! There are good reasons for this. Sometimes the resolutions may be too difficult to keep. Sometimes people just forget about them. For this reason, some people say the best resolution is to have no resolutions! How about you — will you make any next year?

小题1:Is a resolution a promise you make to other people?

小题2:When do people often make resolutions?

小题3:Who do some people tell their resolutions to?

小题4:How many kinds of resolutions are mentioned in the second paragraph?

小题5:Why do people hardly keep their resolutions?

答案：

小题1:No, it isn’t.

小题2:At the start/beginning of the year.

小题3:Their family and friends.

小题4:Three.

小题5:Because sometimes the resolutions may be too difficult to keep, and sometimes people just forget about them.

解析：

你知道一项决定是什么吗?这是一种承诺。大多数时候, 我们对别人做出承诺。然而，对你自己做出的承诺是决心。接下来作者对各种各样的决心，进行了小小的总结，最后得出结论是没有决心是最好的决心。

小题1:细节理解题。 问题：一个决定就是你向别人许下的承诺吗?分析原文： Most of the time, we make promises to other people. However, promises you make to yourself are resolutions .句意：大多数时候, 我们对别人做出承诺。但是，你对自己做的承诺就是决心。因此问题的答语为否定回答。故填：No, it isn’t.

小题2:细节理解题。问题：人们经常在什么时候许下承诺?分析原文： the most common kind is New Year’s resolutions. The start of the year is often a time for making resolutions. 句意：最常见的是新年决心。一年的开始是做出决心的开始。明确了时间为一年的开始。故填：At the start/beginning of the year.

小题3:细节理解题。问题：有些人会将他们的决定告诉给谁?联系原文：Some people write down their resolutions and plans for the coming year. This helps to remember their resolutions. Others tell their family and friends about their wishes and plans.句意：一些人将决定写下来，这能帮助他们记住他们的决心。有的人是将这些告诉他们的家人和朋友。明确答案是告诉他们的家人和朋友。故填：Their family and friends.

小题4:细节理解题。问题：在第二段中提到了多少种决心?通过对第二段的理解与分析，总共提到三种，分别是身体健康，提高能力和成为更好的人。故填：Three.

小题5:细节理解题。问题：为什么人们很难坚持他们的决心?分析原文的最后一段，明确指出：有时人们很难坚持它，有时人们会忘记它。因此对于这种现象，人们说最好的决心是没有决心。故填：Because sometimes the resolutions may be too difficult to keep, and sometimes people just forget about them.