1 . While distant friendships can be a challenge to maintain, there are many ways to make them work.
Write lots of letters. Seeing a note or card from someone your friends care about in their letterbox is a sure way to make them smile.
Share a show. Is there a TV series or the latest movies that you both love to watch? While you may not be able to view one side by side, you could arrange to watch it at the same time and then talk about it on the phone afterwards, sharing your reactions and opinions.
A.Make the effort to reconnect. |
B.It shows that you always think of them. |
C.This works well as it becomes a regular activity. |
D.It shows that you will spare some time to make friends. |
Their original plan was to see a film that afternoon. But Jenny posted a message on social media saying she had a cold.
Cindy thinks
Living Well with Others
A good life is one that is good for living well with others, while living comfortably and honestly. However, not everyone can deal with the relationship well with others. They are looking for new ways to make their life better. This article will cover some ideas you may want to consider.
Value your friendships with others. The quality of a person’s friendship has a direct effect on their well-being. Friends can increase your sense of belonging and purpose. They will also help prevent you from developing bad habits.
A. Help others.B. Treat others how you wish to be treated.
C. Smile at others around you.
D. Communicate with others.
Today I thought I’d blog about a question
First
Have you had any bad
Boy 579: Last year, we were having
Amy: A girl at my school had a very bad experience online. A photo of her had been posted online and she was being made fun
5 . Despite being connected online, no matter what state you’re from, each city still retains its own language and slang. At my public high school in Los Angeles, we had our own secret language. A party was a “yart”. A beer was a “brewsky”. If I tried to use these words in front of anyone that didn’t live in Los Angeles, they would have no idea what was going on. When I came to college and used these words around my roommate from the East Coast, she would look at me with a blank stare.
Teenagers are often blamed for pulling apart standard linguistic patterns. The way my parents used to talk isn’t the same way that teenagers talk now. But it reflects the dynamic nature of language, which evolves over time due to various influences, including generational shifts and technological advancements. Teenagers, at an age when they are actively exploring their identity and seeking to differentiate themselves from previous generations, often play a significant role in this evolution.
It’s interesting to note that people around the world all have different terms for everyday things. Last year, I came across a British show called Love Island, which is a reality show that mixes people from different parts of the U. K. in a “villa”(another word Americans don’t typically say) for about eight weeks. As a bystander, the way they talked felt so elegant and fun, but to them, it was just normal.
Whether the way we talk is regional or from online, the soul of communication lies in its power to connect people, foster understanding, and facilitate interactions that shape our personal and social lives. I have often found it’s the way we connect with the people we live around.
What is mainly talked about in the last paragraph?A.The means of communication. | B.The nature of communication. |
C.The elements of communication. | D.The process of communication. |
6 . Despite being connected online, no matter what state you’re from, each city still retains its own language and slang. At my public high school in Los Angeles, we had our own secret language. A party was a “yart”. A beer was a “brewsky”. If I tried to use these words in front of anyone that didn’t live in Los Angeles, they would have no idea what was going on. When I came to college and used these words around my roommate from the East Coast, she would look at me with a blank stare.
......
Whether the way we talk is regional or from online, the soul of communication lies in its power to connect people, foster understanding, and facilitate interactions that shape our personal and social lives. I have often found it’s the way we connect with the people we live around.
What is mainly talked about in the last paragraph?A.The means of communication. | B.The nature of communication. |
C.The elements of communication. | D.The process of communication. |
7 . We’ve all been there: in a lift, in line at the bank or on an airplane, surrounded by people who are, like us, deeply focused on their smartphones or, worse, struggling with the uncomfortable silence.
What’s the problem? It’s possible that we all have compromised conversational intelligence. It’s more likely that none of us start a conversation because it’s awkward and challenging, or we think it’s annoying and unnecessary. But the next time you find yourself among strangers, consider that small talk is worth the trouble. Experts say it’s an invaluable social practice that results in big benefits.
Dismissing small talk as unimportant is easy, but we can’t forget that deep relationships wouldn’t even exist if it weren’t for casual conversation. Small talk is the grease (润滑剂) for social communication, says Bernardo Carducci, director of the Shyness Research Institute at Indiana University Southeast. “Almost every great love story and each big business deal begins with small talk, ” he explains. “The key to successful small talk is learning how to connect with others, not just communicate with them. ”
In a 2014 study, Elizabeth Dunn, associate professor of psychology at UBC, invited people on their way into a coffee shop. One group was asked to seek out an interaction (互动) with its waiter; the other, to speak only when necessary. The results showed that those who chatted with their server reported significantly higher positive feelings and a better coffee shop experience. “It’s not that talking to the waiter is better than talking to your husband,” says Dunn. “But interactions with peripheral (边缘的) members of our social network matter for our well-being also.”
Dunn believes that people who reach out to strangers feel a significantly greater sense of belonging, a bond with others. Carducci believes developing such a sense of belonging starts with small talk. “Small talk is the basis of good manners,” he says.
What phenomenon is described in the first paragraph?A.Addiction to smartphones. |
B.Inappropriate behaviours in public places. |
C.Absence of communication between strangers. |
D.Impatience with slow service. |
8 . We’ve all been there: in a lift, in line at the bank or on an airplane, surrounded by people who are, like us, deeply focused on their smartphones or, worse, struggling with the uncomfortable silence.
What’s the problem? It’s possible that we all have compromised conversational intelligence. It’s more likely that none of us start a conversation because it’s awkward and challenging, or we think it’s annoying and unnecessary. But the next time you find yourself among strangers, consider that small talk is worth the trouble. Experts say it’s an invaluable social practice that results in big benefits.
Dismissing small talk as unimportant is easy, but we can’t forget that deep relationships wouldn’t even exist if it weren’t for casual conversation. Small talk is the grease (润滑剂) for social communication, says Bernardo Carducci, director of the Shyness Research Institute at Indiana University Southeast. “Almost every great love story and each big business deal begins with small talk,” he explains. “The key to successful small talk is learning how to connect with others, not just communicate with them.”
In a 2014 study, Elizabeth Dunn, associate professor of psychology at UBC, invited people on their way into a coffee shop. One group was asked to seek out an interaction (互动) with its waiter; the other, to speak only when necessary. The results showed that those who chatted with their server reported significantly higher positive feelings and a better coffee shop experience. “It’s not that talking to the waiter is better than talking to your husband,” says Dunn. “But interactions with peripheral (边缘的) members of our social network matter for our well-being also.”
Dunn believes that people who reach out to strangers feel a significantly greater sense of belonging, a bond with others. Carducci believes developing such a sense of belonging starts with small talk. “Small talk is the basis of good manners,” he says.
1. What is important for successful small talk according to Carducci?A.Showing good manners. | B.Relating to other people. |
C.Focusing on a topic. | D.Making business deals. |
A.It improves family relationships. | B.It raises people’s confidence. |
C.It matters as much as a formal talk. | D.It makes people feel good. |
9 . When I started secondary school, aged 11, I found myself in a class with only two children I’d met before.
Spot similarities.
A.Pay attention |
B.But I soon got to know everyone |
C.But I soon failed to remember their names |
D.It’s always good to connect new information with things you already know |
10 . Following the silk road
Covering vast distances and an astonishing variety of landscapes, the Silk Road was a network of ancient trade routes that extended from East Asia all the way to the Mediterranean. A key section of the extensive Silk Road network is the Chang’an Tianshan Corridor, which stretches over a distance of around 5,000 kilometres through China, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, covering a total of 8,700 kilometres of trade routes. The three countries jointly pursued an application for UNESCO World Heritage status. They submitted the proposal which contained detailed research on the 33 sites along the corridor. This made history in its own way as the first successful multinational World Heritage application-and it seems to be only the beginning of the road for the Silk Road, as other countries are also planning World Heritage applications for other sections of the network.
The starting point of the corridor and the entire Silk Road network is Chang’an (present-day Xi’an), in Shaanxi Province of north-west China. It was famous as the capital of the Han and Tang Dynasties. Further west on the Silk Road, the geography gradually changes from wild deserts to high, snow-capped mountains to vast grasslands as the routes pass through the splendid Tianshan Mountains and emerge in the rolling valleys of Central Asia. Although the Chang’an-Tianshan Corridor ends here, the network continues westwards until it reaches the mediterranean.
The Silk Road began to develop in the 2nd century BCE. Assigned by the emperor, the ambassador Zhang Qian journeyed from Chang’an to Central Asia, seeking to build bridges between the Han Dynasty and the Western Regions. Following Zhang’s efforts, trade routes took shape and relationships were strengthened between the major powers of the time, with the routes network reaching as far as the Roman Empire. The network expanded gradually, playing an important role in world history between the 6th and 14th centuries, and remained in use until the 16th century.
At the initial stage of the Silk Road development, silk was the main item in the trade list thanks to its light weight and high value. At its peak, many other items were contributed to the marketplace of goods. The routes were alive with strings of camels carrying loads of goods and traders selling everything imaginable. China’s exports included silk, china and tea, while horses, wool, cotton and grapes were all imported over vast distances along the network.
In addition to trade exchange, the network served as a bridge for cultural exchange which shaped the evolution of science, art, technology and many other areas in societies along the network. Astronomy and mathematics were introduced to China from India and Arabia; in Gansu Province, the Mogao Caves, home to some of the finest examples of Buddhist art, reflected the eastward spread of Buddhism from India; important Chinese inventions such as paper-making and printing were first brought to the West through the network.
All of these activities contributed to a great age of expansion as trade and cultural exchanges gave people access to new goods, knowledge and ideas. These amazingly long routes connected Eastern and Western civilizations, which achieved a shared development. In the modern age, through the Belt and Road Initiative, the Silk Road is once again connecting the countries along the ancient trade routes and promoting the exchanges of different civilizations. The addition of the Chang’an Tianshan Corridor to the UNESCO World Heritage List is a milestone in recognition of the Silk Road as a crucial part of humanity’s common heritage.
1. 根据文章内容,完成下面思维导图:2. 根据文章内容,完成细节填空:
Read paragraphs 1 and 2, and fill in the blanks.
Geography
Covering
Further west on the Silk Road, the geography gradually changes from
The trade list | At the initial stage | ||
At its peak | Export | ||
Import | |||
Cultural exchanges | From India to Arabia to China | ||
From China to the West |