1 . Once you get close enough to someone, it’s easy to assume they’ll be a friend for life — but friendships take work, too, and it’s important that you make time to cultivate these relationships as well.
1. “How do you think we’ve both changed since we became friends?”
There’s a good chance that you’ve been friends with those closest to you for some time, which means you’ve both changed in certain ways over the years. Shari, founder of Imperfectly Perfect Life, says it’s important to reflect on that change. “
2. “
“You don’t have to just focus on your own friendship. People vary greatly in what makes them feel most connected to others — for some it’s sharing something exciting together, while for others, it’s doing daily tasks together,” Julia, a clinical psychologist, notes.
3. “What is the best advice you’ve ever received?”
Another way you can “gain a deeper understanding of your friend’s values, beliefs, and the lessons they’ve learned along their journey” is by asking them about the best advice they’ve ever received. “This provides an opportunity to share wisdom that has had a significant impact on their personal growth,” Natalie shares. “
4.“What are your biggest dreams for your life?”
| A．What life experience has shaped you the most? |
| B．Acknowledging your growth can enhance your friendship |
| C．When do you feel most connected to the people in your life? |
| D．It’s also good to acknowledge that even the closest friendships are not perfect |
| E．You should know what your friend actually envisions for themselves in the future |
| F．Additionally, it opens the door for meaningful conversations about life’s challenges |
| G．We’ve talked to different experts to get their best advice on how to create stronger bonds |
2 . Just how bad of a mother am I, I silently wondered, as I watched my 13-year-old son deep in conversation with Siri. Gus has autism (自闭症), and Siri, Apple's “intelligent personal assistant” on the iPhone, is currently his BFF(Best Friend Forever). Obsessed with weather formations, Gus had spent the past hour exploring the difference between isolated and scaltered thunderstorms—an hour during which, thank God, I didn't have to discuss with him myself. After a while I heard this:
Gus:“You're a really nice computer.”
Siri:“It's nice to be appreciated.”
Gus:“You're always asking if you can help me.Is there anything you want?” Siri: “Thank you, but I have very few wants.”
Gus: “OK. Well, good night!”
Siri: “See you later!”
That is Siri. She does not let my communicatively impaired son get away with anything. When Gus discovered there was someone who would not only find information for him related to his various obsessions but would also be willing to tirelessly discuss these subjects, he was hooked.
She is also wonderful for someone who does not pick up on social cues: Siri's responses are not entirely predictable, but they are predictably kind—even when Gus is rude. I heard him talking to Siri about music, and Siri offered some suggestions. “I don't like that kind of music.” Gus snapped(厉声说). Siri replied, “You're certainly entitled to your opinion.” Siri's politeness reminded Gus what he owed Siri. “Thank you for that music, though.” Gus said.
My son's practice conversations with Siri are starting to translate into increased facility with actual humans. Yesterday I had the longest ever conversation with him. Admittedly, it was about different species of turtles which might not have been my choice of topic, but it was back and forth, and followed a logic. For most of my son's 13 years of existence, this has not been the case.
Indeed, many of us wanted an imaginary friend when we were young, and now we can all have one not entirely imaginary anytime we wish to. In a world where the commonly held wisdom is that technology isolates us, it's worth considering another side of the story.
The developers of intelligent assistants recognize their potential usefulness for those with speech and communication problems, and some are currently pondering new ways in which the assistants can help. “For example, the assistant would be able to track eye movements and help the autistic learn to look you in the eye while talking." said William Mark, vice president of the company from whom Apple purchased the technology behind Siri. “See, that's the wonderful thing about technology. Getting results requires a lot of repetition. Machines are very, very patient."
1. What did the author feel when she watched her son having a deep conversation with Siri about thunderstorms?| A．Concerned but helpless. | B．Excited and overjoyed. |
| C．Guilty but relieved | D．Hopeless and surprised. |
| A．He had always dreamed of having an imaginary friend. |
| B．He shows no interest in anything that is not related to weather. |
| C．He has trouble communicating with others because of his illness. |
| D．He has been friends with Siri since he was diagnosed with autism. |
| A．setting a fixed bedtime routine |
| B．exploring his special interests |
| C．shaping his logic while talking |
| D．improving his interaction with people |
| A．Siri makes people feel much lonely in modern society. |
| B．Siri sometimes provides better assistance than people. |
| C．Siri has a better academic performance than the author. |
| D．Siri is likely to be an effective cure for her son's autism. |
| A．Intelligent assistants will be more widely employed in the future. |
| B．The use of intelligent assistants will likely be limited to autistic people. |
| C．Machines are more skilled and patient at communication than humans. |
| D．William Mark was critical of the future development of intelligent assistants. |
3 . Children with strong family connections are associated with a high likelihood of flourishing (成功) in life, according to a new study led by Dr. Robert Whitaker from Columbia University, who surveyed over 37,000 children in 26 countries.
Family connection was determined by a mean score of five categories: care, support, safety, respect and participation. For each subject, the participants were given a statement and asked to assess now much they agreed with it, scoring from zero (do not agree) to four (strongly agree). For example, to measure care, they were asked how much they agreed with the statement, “I feel safe at home.”
The core of family connection is children feeling that they’re accepted and nurtured at home, which allows them to learn what their strengths and weaknesses are in a safe environment as they are building their identity, Whitaker said.
Children with the greatest level of family connection were over 49% more likely to flourish compared with those with the lowest level of family connection, according to the study. The highest scores in both family connection and flourishing came from children who lived with parents or never had their family worrying about finances.
Researchers then controlled the data for families’ poverty levels, including financial circumstances and food insecurity, to remove the effect they may have had on the numbers. After controlling for these factors, the strength of family connections still impacted how much children flourished.
So it is important to create a space where children feel seen and heard. While they are talking, grown-ups should show that they have a genuine interest in what their children are saying and try to suspend judgment. Adults do not need to make grand gestures to bond with their children. Having meaningful conversations is more important for your connection than taking them on expensive trips. Silence is also another powerful form of communication. Children and parents spending time together in silence or even running an errand or doing chores can create a connection.
1. What were the participants required to do in the research?| A．Add up the scores they’ve got. | B．Assess some statements. |
| C．Recall their childhood life. | D．Categorize some statements. |
| A．It allows them to build their identity. | B．It enables them to accept others. |
| C．It provides safe living conditions. | D．It makes them better know themselves. |
| A．To listen to them attentively. | B．To judge them immediately. |
| C．To organize trips frequently. | D．To assign housework regularly. |
| A．Close family bond brings successful children. | B．Children showing care will flourish. |
| C．Communication helps family connection. | D．Family connection ensures healthy children. |
4 . A friend and I were having lunch and I asked about her son who was getting professional help for some behavioral problems he was having. Our conversation went like this: “There’s a good change in his attitude. He’s staying out of trouble, but I’m just waiting for the other shoe to drop.” she said. “It’s hard to trust him yet. He is doing things that he’s never done before, which is great. But I still need to supervise him just in case.”
I asked a couple of questions: “Have you told him how proud you are of how far he’s come? Have you thanked him for the things he’s now doing but never did in the past?” She said no. And because she’s a very bright woman she followed it up with: “I really need to say those things because I am proud of him and I am grateful for what he’s doing now. All I keep doing is looking at what he’s still doing wrong and getting on him about that. How’s he ever going to feel good about himself and continue to improve if I don’t acknowledge him for all his improvements and growth?”
“If I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop, it will!” I just smiled and told her I loved her and that she’s a great mom. The conversation moved on to a new topic. It’s worth taking a look at your close relationships, especially with your kids and asking yourself: Do I spend too much time letting them know what they’re doing wrong? Do I ignore their efforts toward positive change? Do I still find ways to be unsatisfied with their behavior?
If you answer yes to any of those questions, you’re now the one who needs to do some changing. Never forget that people love to be acknowledged — not just for the big things but the little things, too. Appreciation and love are the driving force that keeps them wanting to do well and do something nice for others.
1. The author’s friend ______.| A．was already satisfied with her son’s behavior |
| B．was particular about her son’s attitude |
| C．was still worried about her son’s behavior |
| D．already fully believed in her son |
| A．favorable | B．negative |
| C．unconcerned | D．doubtful |
| A．If I keep waiting for kids to correct mistakes, they will. |
| B．If I keep waiting for kids to change positively, they will. |
| C．If I keep waiting for kids to wear the other shoe, they will. |
| D．If I keep waiting for kids to make mistakes, they will. |
| A．direct rejection and scolding |
| B．proper affection and admiration |
| C．blind love and appreciation |
| D．strict requirements and standards |
| A．A Dialogue Between Two Women |
| B．Are You Proud of Your Child? |
| C．Be Patient When You Are a Parent |
| D．One Major Thing Most Parents Forget to Do |
5 . Karla Torres, a recent graduate of Francisco Bravo Medical Magnet High School in Boyle Heights, designed and created an 18th-century-inspired dress with the support of her mom to enter the yearly “Stuck at Prom” scholarship contest, sponsored by a trademarked brand of duct tape (强力胶带). The Los Angeles teen was named a finalist last week with the grand prize: a $ 10,000 scholarship.
In the beginning, Karla often spent hours online looking for clothing ideas or different styles. But it wasn't until a recent visit to the J. Paul Getty Museum — the only field trip she took in high school — that she found her inspiration from the 18th-century French paintings, featuring impressive, grand dresses.
“We’ve never made a dress, much less out of duct tape,” Karla said. “We didn’t know how much duct tape we needed. We were just doing it by trial and error.” In the end, the college-bound teen and her mom spent at least 120 hours, over many days, working on the dress, and used l4 rolls of tape.
“Tape is so tough and you can’t move it easily,” Karla said. “It was really challenging to make it all come together.” But the fashion-forward teenager overcame that challenge. Of more than 200 entries to the contest, Karla’s work was selected among the top five, judged for color, quality, originality, and the use of the brand tape.
While it’s Karla’s name officially in the contest, this whole process was more of a collective effort by her family. “It means a lot to me. The $ 10,000 prize would go a long way as I plan to attend a California State University school in August. I wouldn’t want my parents to struggle trying to find a way to pay for it,” Karla said. “It would really help my parents.”
1. What inspired Karla to create the dress?| A．Social media. |
| B．The encouragement of her mom. |
| C．Her visit to a museum. |
| D．The impact of other competitors. |
| A．It showed great skills and originality. |
| B．It copied the style of modern paintings. |
| C．It reflected a variety of fashionable ideas. |
| D．It used expensive and high-quality materials. |
| A．It’s a recognition of her mom’s efforts. |
| B．It allows her to find a job in the fashion industry. |
| C．It ensures her admission into the California college. |
| D．It saves her parents from struggling to pay for her college. |
| A．Creative and considerate. |
| B．Humorous and hardworking. |
| C．Responsible and brave. |
| D．Kind and generous. |
6 . We all have friends that need a little advice, but one of the problems with those types of conversations is that it’s really easy to come off as a know-it-all when you’re offering help. When you do that, nobody’s going to listen.
Obviously not everyone is looking for your advice. Before you go offering up your point of view, make sure they’re interested in hearing it. As Roger Gil points out, often friends aren’t looking for you to solve a problem. They just want you to listen and maybe ask some questions. So, ask if they’d like to hear your input or insights on a problem, but also ask questions about why thee feel a certain way. If they say “no”, let them finish their story and listen politely.
Speaking of listening. It’s also a good idea to figure out right away what your friends want from you. Gil describes this as differentiating between opinions, expert advice, and being a “sounding board”. Essentially, don’t pretend like you know something you don’t.
Now that you know whether or not your friends or family actually want your advice, it’s time to learn how to advise without sounding like a know-it-all. This is a lot harder than you might think. As Gil points out, one way to offer advice without sounding pretentious (自以为是的) is to avoid “You should” statements.
| A．Definitely don’t act like you’ve been in a situation you haven’t been in. |
| B．Different situations require different approaches so we need to know what we should contribute. |
| C．Gil also adds that even when you know the answer to something, you might want to keep your mouth shut. |
| D．Gil’s advice, seems obvious, but it’s incredibly easy to get on your high-horse and use “You should” if you’re not careful. |
| E．When you have a friend who’s stuck in trouble, it’s normal to want to provide some type of insight to get them out of it. |
| F．However, the key is to make sure you stay in “listening mode” for as long as possible, and you don’t push your advice when it isn’t wanted. |
7 . My mother was born on a farm in Wisconsin in 1897. She attended college in Milwaukee.
One of my earliest memories, when I was about 3, was on a bitter cold day in 1932, the middle of the Great Depression. A man knocked on our back door and asked my mother for something to eat, as he hadn’t eaten for three days. Mom gave him a plate of stew (炖菜) plus two slices of bread. When he took the plate and fork, tears streamed down his cheeks.At age 21, in 1918, my mother began employment with a local charity in northern Georgia. She was assigned alone to create valuable programs for a small community. She often told us the stories about those old days after she retired. In her later years, my mother established Georgia’s Garden Club, the Professional Women’s Club, the town’s first lending library and other “firsts”.
There were quite a lot of people at her funeral in 1990, when she passed away at 93. My sister and I moved among her many friends, exchanging memories about her. At one point, we saw a stranger with tears on his face. We approached him and my sister asked, “Did you know my mother well?” He replied, “I owe my life to her!” He told us that when he was a young child, in 1918, his family of seven all came down with the flu. The “new lady from the charity” heard about their illness and came to help. He said, “We’d never have made it without her loving care.”
Amazingly, the night before I had read a brief account of that very incident in one of my mother’s diaries. I’m certain I have a responsibility to inform the world of what my mother’s life in northern Georgia was like.
1. Why does the author mention the story that happened in 1932?| A．To complain about the Great Depression. |
| B．To explain there were many poor people. |
| C．To prove his family was so wealthy then. |
| D．To show his mother was very sympathetic. |
| A．Ambitious and active. | B．Traditional but brave. |
| C．Determined and humorous. | D．Demanding but straightforward. |
| A．Puzzled. | B．Grateful. | C．Proud. | D．Sad. |
| A．Her education experiences. | B．Her childhood memories. |
| C．The challenges in her career. | D．The stories in her programs. |
8 . Due to the fact that the average life expectancy in Ghana is 64 years old, and the most common causes of death are largely treatable conditions, such as malaria, stroke, and respiratory infections. Boateng, growing up in a small village in southern Ghana/struggling to access basic health care, felt an urgent call to help and decided he would make it his life’s mission to bring health care to remote communities in Ghana.
Boateng worked hard in school, getting a scholarship to study biology at Cornell University in the US, and ultimately earned his master’s in Healthcare Administration. Later he started his nonprofit, OKB Hope Foundation, and converted a van into a mobile doctor’s office called the Hope Health Van to bring health care directly to those in need in 2021.
A few times a week, the mobile clinic and medical team travel long distances to remote communities in Ghana and provide free routine medical care. On each trip, Boateng’s team consists of a nurse, a physician’s assistant, a doctor, and an operation assistant. In the van, they can run basic labs like bloodwork and urinalysis as well as prescribe and provide medications. “It’s like a one-stop shop for people,” said Boateng, adding that most of the people they see have one health issue or another.
Since its launch, Boateng says the Hope Health Van has served more than 4, 000 Ghanaians across more than 45 rural communities who otherwise don’t have easily accessible medical care. To supplement the mobile clinic, Boateng’s organization has also trained 20 volunteers to serve as local health advocates. They check people’s vitals and provide the medical team with timely data for assessing how to move forward with care and treatment, especially for those whose health is at risk.
In the future, Boateng hopes to expand to provide more consistent and high-quality medical care not only to those living in remote areas of Ghana but in other countries as well. “I believe that our model can be replicated in sub-Saharan Africa,” he said.
1. What inspired Boateng to set his life goal?| A．He wanted to get a scholarship. |
| B．Many locals died of deadly diseases. |
| C．The birthplace of him was small and poor. |
| D．Basic health care was inaccessible for locals. |
| A．How Boateng’s team functions. | B．Why Boateng’s team was founded. |
| C．What Boateng’s team has achieved. | D．Where Boateng’s team has travelled. |
| A．Ambiguous. | B．Ambitious. | C．Indifferent. | D．Doubtful. |
| A．A van bringing medical care to thousands |
| B．A country lacking basic health care |
| C．Efforts to provide people with medications |
| D．Mobile vans travelling through Ghana |
9 . I felt anxious when going into my room from school. Every day, my room was something different. The hours away at school were long enough to cause a terrible change to my peaceful harbor. Today was no exception.
As I entered the house, Mom greeted me with a smile. It seemed like nothing was wrong. But I was still doubtful about it. Yesterday, around the mouth of my favorite figurine (小雕像) was a chocolate cookie. Obviously, Callie had enjoyed the cookie so much that she wanted to share it with my angel.
I looked around for Callie, who had just turned three. I didn’t see her, but I heard the TV blaring (发出声音) in the other room. As I examined the family room, I noticed it was pretty messy. There were toys all over the floor, but none of them seemed to be mine. Maybe she hadn't entered today. I was so hopeful that I breathed a sigh of relief.
I pushed my room door open and saw damage! There were a few headless dolls, some broken blocks, and a few juice-stained stuffed animals. “She did it again!” I screamed in anger. My mother ran up to me, embarrassed. She promised to put a Callie-proof lock on my door tonight. I felt better, because I knew that soon my room would truly belong to me. However, I was still angry with my little sister so I went into the family room to tell her how she had made life unpleasant for me. “Callie... ” I started. “Hooray!” she shouted.
She leaped off the sofa and hugged my knees with such happiness that I could only look down at her and smile. After all, she was only three and learning about the world in her own way. And she always chose to explore and destroy my room because she loved me, her big sister.
1. The purpose of the first paragraph is to introduce ______.| A．the unique family tradition | B．the background of the story |
| C．the challenges of school life | D．the troubles in high school |
| A．Naughty and lovely. | B．Smart and potential. |
| C．Horrible and awkward. | D．Shallow and energetic. |
| A．She was friendly to her sister. | B．She was angry with her sister. |
| C．She refused to accept her sister’s apology. | D．She thought her sister had done nothing wrong. |
| A．Her sister’s honesty. | B．The promise to her sister. |
| C．The love between sisters. | D．Her sister’s younger age. |
10 . Ask any parents of young children whether they’ve ever felt overwhelmed (不堪重负的), and the answer will probably be—yes. Even in the most relaxed households there can be days when things seem to be out of control, leaving parents exhausted and annoyed. Kids often don’t have an off button or a quiet voice.
Common as this feeling is, there’s a personality trait (特点) that can make everyday family life more overwhelming for some parents. Roughly 20%-30% of the population are classed as being a highly sensitive person, according to a 2018 research. People who have it may find it hard to cope with bright lights and loud noise, and feel very stressful. It can also involve a stronger understanding of other people’s feelings—empathy (同情).
According to the psychologists, being highly sensitive is not a disorder but a personality trait—a way of responding to one’s environment. “Generally, highly sensitive people tend to react particularly strongly to sensory stimulation. They have stronger consciousness. They come to realize more details,” says Michael Pluess, a psychologist specializing in the study. “They will pick up on the moods of other people, have higher empathy, process things more deeply and pick up more about the environment. Deeply affected by what they see and feel, highly sensitive people are also easily overstimulated.”
The challenges highly sensitive parents face—including stress and overstimulation in a messy environment—can affect “high quality parenting”. In the early stages of parenthood, such parents report greater stress and find parenting more difficult than other parents do.
Fortunately, though, the trait also comes with certain advantages. Recent evidence suggests that while highly sensitive parents initially experienced high levels of stress, they showed improved parenting styles by the time their babies were nine months old. In the short term, sensitive people are more easily overwhelmed with change, but when it comes to parenting, highly sensitive parents have the potential to be exceptional. They can understand their children and respond to their needs quickly and appropriately.
Since parental overwhelm can affect anyone, whether highly sensitive or not, some of the coping strategies for highly sensitive people could benefit all parents.
1. What does the author imply in the first paragraph?| A．The life of young parents is colorful. |
| B．The kids are unhappy for lack of love. |
| C．Young kids are often tough to deal with. |
| D．It is easy to get everything under control. |
| A．They possess no good insight. |
| B．It is hard to overstimulate them. |
| C．They better understand the environment. |
| D．It is common for them to overlook details. |
| A．Deeply rooted. | B．Extremely harmful. |
| C．Greatly unstable. | D．Potentially beneficial. |
| A．Outcomes of coping strategies. |
| B．Tips for highly sensitive parents. |
| C．Responses to the concern about parenting. |
| D．Evaluation of overwhelmed parents’ impact. |
