2 . 语法填空

Living in the urban areas, when you feel stressed, how will you cope with it? Whenever I feel down, I usually go to the suburb as a hiker to get rid     1     my pressure.

    2     (expose) to the blue sky and fresh air without garbage, I take a     3     (greed) breath. During the monthly hike, I appreciate whatever I can see, wipes     4    my stress. In the meantime, my mental condition     5     (react) to the surroundings actively. I get back my optimistic attitude to life and work and can bring everything     6     control, which fuels me to go ahead.

3 . 根据汉语提示完成下面短文。

While receiving     1     (拒绝和批评), Tom     2     (感到烦恼和尴尬). Nevertheless, he didn’t give up but persevered.     3     (正是他的耐力和毅力保证了他的成功) in his writing. He considered success a blessing. He became     4     (感激无数次的拒绝)and he thought his writing was worthwhile. He     5     (变得热情和自信) and didn’t dread failure any longer.

7 . Ways to Manage Everyday Stress

Life can be stressful at times. You can’t avoid stress. But you can make it a goal to keep everyday stress at low levels. If you want to get better at managing everyday stress, here are things that can help you:

Balance work and play. 

    1     But be sure to make time for things you enjoy, too. Even if it’s only a few minutes, daily time to relax and recharge lowers your stress.

Plan your day. 

Use a calendar or planning app to keep track of your daily schedule. Fill in your class times, tests, and when assignments are due. Add your activities.     2    

Stick to your plan. 

Of course, planning is no good if you don’t do what you plan.     3     Check off what you’ve done. Get ready for what’s coming up. This lowers daily schoolwork stress.

Ask for help when you need it. 

    4     Keeping on top of it all isn’t always easy. If you need help preparing for tests, planning projects, or getting things done, ask a teacher, parent, tutor, or mentor to coach you.

Deal with problems as they come up. 

Don’t ignore everyday problems — but don’t stress out about them either.     5     If you’re not sure what to do, ask for help and advice from others.

A．It can motivate you toward your goals.

B．Instead, figure out how to handle them.

C．Make time to work on your tasks and goals.

D．Having a plan and a daily routine lowers stress.

E．Make it a routine to look at your planner every day.

F．At times, a small surge of stress can be a positive thing.

G．Schoolwork, grades, and tests are a big source of stress for many people.

8 . How to Deal with the Holiday Stress: 5 Timeless Tips

The holiday season, while joyful, can also bring stress. Here are five effective and timeless tips to help navigate this period with more peace and joy:

Slow Down: Pace yourself during the holidays. Take your time in everything from walking to eating. Slowing down contributes to the relaxation of both the physical and mental aspects. Concentrate on breathing slowly and deeply, and try focusing on one task at a time. This practice not only aids in relaxation but also prevents overeating during festive feasts.

Appreciate Small Joys: Happiness often lies in appreciating the little things. If you wait for perfect moments or achievements to be happy, you’re missing out on daily joys. During the holidays, cherish the small pleasures like delicious meals, good health, the company of family and friends, and the comfort of a warm home.

Value What Matters Most: Focus on what is truly important and valuable to you. When it comes to gift-giving, consider meaningful items or experiences over numerous expensive gifts. These can create cherished memories and are often more appreciated.

Give Joy to Others: Making others happy can increase your own happiness. Simple acts of kindness, support, and positivity create a mutually beneficial cycle of joy. This practice, based on the Law of Reciprocity (互惠), encourages a positive environment where happiness is shared and reciprocated.

Accept Your Feelings: If negative emotions persist, try accepting them. Recognizing and accepting your feelings as they can help reduce their impact. This acceptance allows you to conserve emotional energy and promotes a more balanced and constructive mindset, paving the way for clearer thinking and problem-solving.

Follow these steps and you will transform the holiday stress into a more enjoyable and memorable season.

1. What is the main purpose of “slowing down” during the holidays?

A．To avoid social interactions.	B．To relax the body and mind.
C．To save time and energy.	D．To prepare for the new year.

2. What does the article suggest about gift-giving?

A．Focus on expensive gifts.	B．Give as many gifts as possible.
C．Prioritize meaningful items.	D．Avoid giving gifts altogether.

3. What should you do if negative emotions keep troubling you during the holidays?

A．Turn your back on them.	B．Share them with others.
C．Acknowledge them.	D．Seek help immediately.

9 . A growing number of Chinese young generations are looking for new methods to relieve (缓解) stress, which include raising unusual “pets”, hugging (拥抱) trees, watching stress relief videos and playing other stress-relieving toys.

A new toy called “mango dog” recently is becoming popular among young people.     1    . The process of making “mango dogs” allows them to free themselves from the anxieties of work and study. This is not the first time that young people have raised unusual “pets”. For example, college students have shared online their experiences of raising stones and paper box “dogs”. These “pets” share similar characteristics—they don’t cry, make noise or get sick.

    2    . “You may think you are hugging the tree, but in fact, the tree is hugging you,” says a young man. The same feeling is shared by those who have experienced tree hugging. They say that their anxiety has been relieved.     3    . In some big cities, some people have even organized tree hugging interest groups and regularly plan tree hugging activities.

At the same time, a young media worker finds the joy in watching fun videos before sleeping. “I especially enjoy watching stress relief videos, like washing blankets and cutting soap.     4    . It helps me fall asleep more easily.”

The popularity of these stress relief methods reflects young people’s need to relieve emotional pressure. According to public data, there are more than 800 companies in China with names, businesses, products, or services with the term “stress relief”.     5    .

A．Tree hugging is another choice

B．Other toys have also become popular

C．Playing with Chinese puzzles is comfortable

D．For the youth, the “mango dog” has special meaning

E．They also feel a connection with nature by hugging trees

F．After watching them, I feel the stress of the day is relieved

G．And the number is expected to grow even higher in the future

10 . My Father, the Family Man

This year, my seasonal depression took me deeperssion the past, and a new portrait of my father came into my mind. He was a sometimes difficult, always determined man.

In my early memories, I was sitting at the kitchen table listening to my father yelling (叫嚷) about his challenges as an Italian immigrant. Back then, I couldn’t have known his pain as he struggled to find his footing in this new land.

“We left Italy to give you three girls more opportunities for a better life,” he said. “But we’d had a shaky start. The apartment your aunt had secured for us fell through at the last minute. It went to someone without children. So the five of us moved into your aunt’s living room.”

Bills mounted up. “And then I saw your mother’s face was as white as a sheet.” He said bitterly but soon stared down at the table to compose himself. “And the baby was crying. I worried that the houseowner would come knocking on the door.”

Dad jumped to the end of his story, “What more can I say? I went looking for a job. I found one.”

Armed with a few English phrases and determination, he’d walked for miles in a city he didn’t know, stopping at every hair salon, asking for a chance to show his skills as a hair stylist, his profession and passion. That’s what he’d been doing all day, supporting for his family.

Forty years later in Toronto, he sat at the table, asking if I thought he’d provided well for his family. I answered. His eyes watered. Mine did, too.

1. What did the author think of her father in the early years?

A．The father left Italy for a better job.

B．He was moved by his father’s story.

C．The father’s early struggle was in vain.

D．He didn’t realize his father’s difficulties.

2. What does the underlined word “compose” probably mean in paragraph.4?

A．Show off.

B．Cheer up.

C．Calm down.

D．Make up.

3. What can we learn from the passage?

A．The father had a big family to support.

B．The author’s eyes watered for her childhood.

C．The father and daughter misunderstood each other.

D．The father learned to be a hair stylist in Toronto.