Why Gratitude Is Significant
As far as I'm concerned, no matter what you’re going through, there is always a reason to be thankful. But not only that — being thankful might just be exactly what you need to do if you’re going through a tough time.
Researchers found that having a grateful attitude helps strengthen one’s immune system, lower blood pressure, improve sleep and motivate people to exercise regularly.
Having gone through a period of depression myself after cancer surgery 10 years ago, I can tell you this illness can be severe.
During that time I sought forms of treatment for depression, including professional counseling and exercise. One thing recommended to me by a counselor was keeping a gratitude journal.
| A．Every day, I would set down three things I was thankful for in life. |
| B．Now I realize depression does not go away by practicing a single exercise. |
| C．It itself carries a host of health benefits. |
| D．Being grateful accounts for your recovery. |
| E．Gratitude is good for your mind, body and soul. |
| F．Depression makes you feel as if you are dead inside. |
| G．For example, I would sincerely convey my gratitude loudly. |
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【推荐1】I’ve recently found myself wondering if I could do without Google Maps. It is, I think, the only app on my phone I’d really miss were I to swap my smartphone for a “dumb” one that handles only calls and text messages.
Why am I thinking about this? It’s because every time I try to read a book, I end up picking up my phone instead. I keep interrupting my own train of thought in order to do something that I don’t consciously want to do.
This is not accidental. Developers have become even more unashamed in their attempts to keep us hooked on our smartphones. Some of them speak in the language of addiction and behavioural psychology, though most prefer the term “persuasive tech”. In itself, persuasive tech is not a new idea — an academic named BJ Fogg has been running classes from a “persuasive tech lab” at Stanford since the late 1990s. But as smartphone ownership has rocketed and social-media sites have been born, persuasive tech has vastly expanded its reach.
One company, Dopamine Labs — named for the chemical released in the reward center of the brain — offers a service to tech businesses wanting to “keep users engaged”. Founder Ramsay Brown tells me he wants people to understand that “their thoughts and feelings are on the table as things that can be controlled and designed”. He thinks there should be more conversation around the persuasive power of the technologies being used. “We believe everyone has a right to cognitive liberty, and to build the kind of mind they want to live in,” he says.
The poster child of the resistance movement against addictive apps is former Google “design ethicist” Tristan Harris. He thinks the power to change the system lies not with app developers but with the hardware providers. In 2014, Harris founded “Time Well Spent”, a group that campaigns for more moral design practices among developers.
Any tech business that relies on advertising profits is motivated to hold its users online for as long as possible, Harris says. This means apps are specifically designed to keep us in them. Apple, on the other hand, wants to sell phones but doesn’t have a profit stream so tightly connected to the amount of time its customers spend online. Harris hopes that companies like Apple could use their influence to encourage more morally designed apps.
While I wait for Apple to sort this out, I find myself longing for something called a “Light Phone”, a credit-card-sized handset that does absolutely nothing but make and receive calls. Price tag? $150. Seems expensive. But the company’s website is very persuasive.
1. According to the author, what makes us so glued to our smartphones？| A．People's inborn behaviours. | B．App developers’ intention. |
| C．User-friendly apps. | D．Hardware providers. |
| A．tech businesses have gone too far in controlling users’ minds |
| B．persuasive technologies are dangerous to users’ cognitive liberty |
| C．the persuasive power of the technologies deserves more attention |
| D．everyone can live the life they desire by using persuasive technologies |
| A．The advertiser. | B．The advocate. |
| C．The opponent. | D．The founder. |
A At a recent visit to the beautiful Keukenhof flower gardens in Holland, I learned about the practice of topping．As flowers grow, sometimes the growers cut off the tops of the flowers, which they believe causes the plants to invest more energy into flower growth and less into seed production．The expected result is flower buds that will produce higher quality flowers．
This is the same with personal growth．Sometimes when we produce first results in a certain area, it can be helpful to cut them off and throw them away．This can free up energy for a stronger attempt elsewhere instead of settling into the comfort zone of satisfaction with the old results．
After running my computer games business for 10 years and getting satisfying results with it, I decided to drop it and leave that field behind．This freed up my energy to focus on my personal development writing and speaking．If I'd kept running the old business, this would have meant less energy to invest in my new path．
It can be difficult to choose the topping approach because you're taking something that's already reasonably satisfying and cutting it out of your life, in the hopes that something even better will grow in its place．
Do you want to settle where you are right now? If so, then topping is unnecessary．But if you'd like to do better and believe you have a good shot at improvement, just like the flower growers at Keukenhof, then topping is a sensible practice．To free up time and energy for future growth in new directions, you have to drop the merely satisfactory．This gives you a shot at the truly beautiful．
Stepping outside of your comfort zone is by definition an uncomfortable experience, but it can result in a lot more growth than staying put．Though dropping satisfaction to go for more growth is not an easy path to follow, I do find it to be the more beautiful path．
1. By using metaphor(比喻), the author means that the tops of flowers are ________．
| A．personal growth |
| B．his writing and speaking |
| C．a stronger attempt elsewhere |
| D．the first results we produce in a certain area |
| A．you are good at improving |
| B．you are fond of improving |
| C．you have a strong ability to improve |
| D．you have a good chance to improve |
| A．settle where they are |
| B．drop the truly beautiful |
| C．step out of their comfort zone |
| D．get rid of the uncomfortable experience |
| A．Flower Gardens in Holland |
| B．Comfort or Growth |
| C．Personal Development |
| D．The Topping Approach |
【推荐3】Poet William Stafford once said that we are defined more by the detours in life than by the narrow road toward goals. I like this image. But it was quite by accident that I discovered the deep meaning of his words.
For years we made the long drive from our home in Seattle to my parents’ home in Boise in nine hours. We traveled the way most people do: the fastest, shortest, easiest road, especially when I was alone with four noisy, restless kids who hate confinement(限制) and have strong opinions about everything.
Road trips felt risky, so I would drive fast, stopping only when I had to. We would stick to the freeways and arrive tired.
But then Banner, our lamb was born. He was rejected by his mama days before our planned trip to Boise. I had two choices: leave Banner with my husband, or take him with me. My husband made the decision for me.
That is how I found myself on the road with four kids, a baby lamb and nothing but my everlasting optimism to see me through. We took the country roads out of necessity. We had to stop every hour, let Banner shake out his legs and feed him. The kids chased him and one another. They’d get back in the car breathless and energized, smelling fresh from the cold air.
We explored side roads, catching grasshoppers in waist-high grass. Even if we simply looked out of the car windows at baby pigs following their mother, or fish leaping out of the water, it was better than the best ride down the freeway. Here was life. And new horizons.
We eventually arrived at my parents' doorstep astonishingly fresh and full of stories.
I grew brave with the trip back home and creative with my disciplining technique. On an empty section of road, everyone started quarreling. I stopped the car, ordered all kids out and told them to meet me up ahead. I parked my car half a mile away and read my book in sweet silence.
Some road trips are by necessity fast and straight. But that trip with Banner opened our eyes to a world available to anyone adventurous enough to wander around and made me realize that a detour may uncover the best part of a journey — and the best part of yourself.
1. Why did the author use to take freeways to her parents' home?| A．It was less tiring. | B．It would be faster and safer. |
| C．Her kids would feel less confined. | D．She felt better with other drivers nearby. |
| A．relax in the fresh air | B．take a deep breath |
| C．let the kids play with Banner | D．take care of the lamb |
| A．Freeways are where beauty hides. |
| B．One should follow side roads to watch wild animals. |
| C．Enjoying the beauty of nature benefits one's health. |
| D．Getting close to nature adds to the joy of life. |
| A．A fast and straight road trip. | B．A route which is long and not direct. |
| C．A pleasant and meaningful tour. | D．An unpleasant road trip. |
【推荐1】The Internet has opened up a whole new online world for us to meet, chat and go where we’ve never been before.
But just as in face to face communication，there are some rules of behavior that should be followed when online. The basic rule is simple: treat others in the same way you would want to be treated.
If someone in the chat room is rude to you, your instinct (本能) is to fire back in the same manner. But try not to do so.
It is not polite to ask others personal questions such as their age, sex and marital status.
| A．It’s natural that there some people who speak rudely or make mistakes online |
| B．Repeat the process till you feel sure that you’d feel comfortable saying the words to the person’s face |
| C．Everyone was new to the network once |
| D．Imagine how you’d feel if you were in the other person’s shoes |
| E．When you send short messages to a person online, you must say something beautiful to hear |
| F．You should either ignore the person, or use your chat software to block their messages |
| G．Unless you know the person very well, and you are both comfortable with sharing personal information |
【推荐2】For those not familiar,"hygge"refers to the Danish lifestyle that's popular across the world and is described as a feeling of comfort and contentment,as well as indulging(沉迷）in all the good things and people in your life.
Hygge has focused largely on the idea of making the ordinary special,or meaningful, through ritualising(使仪式化）everyday activities such as making a cup of coffee or having dinner;that means putting technology to one side,and adopting simple practices such as lighting candles,purchasing flowers,or making real tea in china cups.
Of course,Denmark's use of"hygge"is particularly useful in battling with the country's harsh winters;with up to 17 hours of darkness a day potentially having deeply negative effects on the mental health of its citizens.Susanne Nilsson,a Danish lecturer at London's Morley College,explained to the BBC,"We have long,cold winters in Denmark. That influences things.Hygge doesn't have to be a winter-only thing,but the weather isn't that good for much of the year."
＂Hygge could be families and friends getting together for a meal,with the lighting dimmed(变昏暗），or it could be time spent on your own reading a good book,"she added. ＂It works best when there's not too large an empty space around the person or people."
The word hygge didn't actually originate from the Danish language,but from Norwegian,where the word originally meant something similar to"well-being".However, it spread to Denmark in the 18th century and has since become an essential part of the country's culture and self-identity.
Hygge's international export has seen an explosion of themed cookbooks and lifestyle guides,alongside Scandinavian-themed restaurants,cafes and bars in the UK with quiet and pleasant settings,simple decor,and plenty of comfort food.
1. Which of the following things might a person going for"hygge”do?| A．Doing extreme sports. |
| B．Playing exciting computer games. |
| C．Having a wonderful meal in a fancy restaurant. |
| D．Reading a favourite book over a cup of coffee. |
| A．To show it's pretty cold in the winter of Denmark. |
| B．To explain why"hygge"is especially useful for the Danes. |
| C．To prove"hygge"is popular in Denmark. |
| D．To introduce the origin of"hygge". |
| A．Hygge involves complex customs. |
| B．Hygge has its root in Denmark. |
| C．Hygge can promote people's sense of happiness. |
| D．Hygge will enjoy great popularity around the world. |
| A．It is quiet and cozy. |
| B．Its dining area is well-lit. |
| C．It offers quite tasty food. |
| D．It has a lot of empty space. |
With her eyes shining, Tori brags, “You bet I did. Sean told me two days ago.”
What are Lindsey and Tori talking about? It just happens to be yours truly, Adam Freedman. I can tell you that what they are saying is (a) not nice and (b) not even true. Still, Lindsey and Tori aren’t very different from most students here at Linton High School, including me. Many of our conversations are gossip（闲话）. I have noticed three effects of gossip: it can hurt people, it can give gossipers a strange kind of satisfaction, and it can cause social pressures in a group.
An important negative effect of gossip is that it can hurt the person being talked about. Usually, gossip spreads information about a topic—breakups, troubles at home, even dropping out—that a person would rather keep secret. The more embarrassing or shameful the secret is, the juicer the gossip it makes. Probably the worst type of gossip is the absolute lie. People often think of gossipers as harmless, bur cruel lies can cause pain.
If we know that gossip can be harmful, then why do so many of us do it? The answer lies in another effect of gossip: the satisfaction it gives us. Sharing the latest rumor can make a person feel important because he or she knows something that others don’t. Similarly, hearing the latest rumor can make a person feel like part of the “in group”. In other words, gossip is satisfying because it gives people a sense of belonging or even superiority（优越感）.
Gossip can also have a third effect: it strengthens unwritten, unspoken rules about how people should act. Professor David Wilson explains that gossip is important in policing behaviors in a group. Translated into high school terms, this means that if everybody you hang around with is laughing at what John wore or what Jane said, then you can bet that wearing or saying something similar will get you the same kind of negative attention. The do’s and don’ts conveyed through gossip will never show up in any student handbook.
The effects of gossip vary depending on the situation. The next time you feel the urge to spread the latest news, think about why you want to gossip and what effects your “juicy story” might have.
1. An important negative effect of gossip is that it ________.
| A．breaks up relationships |
| B．embarrasses the listener |
| C．spreads information around |
| D．causes unpleasant experiences |
| A．gives them a feeling of pleasure |
| B．helps them to make more friends |
| C．makes them better at telling stories |
| D．enables them to meet important people |
| A．provide students with written rules |
| B．help people watch their own behaviours |
| C．force schools to improve student handbooks |
| D．attract the police’s attention to group behaviours |
| A．Never become a gossiper. |
| B．Stay away from gossipers. |
| C．Don’t let gossip turn into lies. |
| D．Think twice before you gossip. |
