Most of us are already aware of the direct effect we have on our friends and family. But we rarely consider that everything we think, feel, do, or say can spread far beyond the people we know. Conversely(相反地), our friends and family serve as conduits(渠道) for us to be influenced by hundreds or even thousands of other people. In a kind of social chain reaction, we can be deeply affected by events we do not witness that happen to people we do not know. As part of a social network, we go beyond ourselves, for good or ill, and become a part of something much larger.
Our connectedness carries with it fundamental implications(影响) for the way we understand the human condition. Social networks have value precisely because they can help us to achieve what we could not achieve on our own. Yet, socialnetwork effects are not always positive. Depression, obesity, financial panic, and violence also spread. Social networks, it turns out, tend to magnify(放大) whatever they are seeded with.
Partly for this reason, social networks are creative. And what these networks create does not belong to any one individual—it is shared by all those in the network. In this way, a social network is like a commonly owned forest: We all stand to benefit from it, but we also must work together to ensure it remains healthy and productive. While social networks are fundamentally and distinctively human, and can be seen everywhere, they should not be taken for granted.
If you are happier or richer or healthier than others, it may have a lot to do with where you happen to be in the network, even if you cannot recognise your own location. And it may have a lot to do with the overall structure of the network, even if you cannot control that structure at all. And in some cases, the process feeds back to the network itself. A person with many friends may become rich and then attract even more friends. This richgetricher dynamic means social networks can dramatically reinforce two different kinds of inequality in our society: situational inequality and positional inequality.
Lawmakers have not yet considered the consequences of positional inequality. Still, understanding the way we are connected is an essential step in creating a more just society and in carrying out public policies affecting everything from public health to the economy. We might be better off vaccinating(接种疫苗) centrally located individuals rather than weak individuals. We might be better off helping interconnected groups of people to avoid criminal behaviour rather than preventing or punishing crimes one at a time.
If we want to understand how society works, we need to fill in the missing links between individuals. We need to understand how interconnections and interactions between people give rise to wholly new aspects of human experience that are not present in the individuals themselves. If we do not understand social networks, we cannot hope to fully understand either ourselves or the world we inhabit.
1. What can be inferred from the first paragraph?| A．We can't be easily affected by strangers. |
| B．We are connected and form a social network. |
| C．We have negative effects on other social members. |
| D．We will not make a difference in a specific group. |
| A．It remains healthy and productive. |
| B．It tends to magnify negative things. |
| C．It is creative and shared by people in the whole society. |
| D．What it creates can be enjoyed by everyone in the network. |
| A．whether we are richer depends on the number of friends we make |
| B．the wealth we possess has nothing to do with individual continuous efforts |
| C．sometimes our success may be largely due to our position in social networks |
| D．we won't succeed unless we fully control the overall structure of the network |
| A．To introduce the characteristics of social networks. |
| B．To urge people to understand how our society works. |
| C．To show the significance of understanding social networks. |
| D．To explain the possible consequences of ignoring social networks. |
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【推荐1】I go out of my way to say “thank you” to my partner frequently, and he’s the same way. We were both raised by parents who valued politeness, and more than that, I want to do all those little things that psychologists say help couples stay together. Expressing gratitude is one of those things, so a quick “thanks” seems like an easy one.
But according to a recent study, we’re not at all typical. The study looked at over 1,000 recordings of casual conversations among families and close friends. In only about one out of 20 times were expressions of thanks observed. Phrases that meant “thanks” but weren’t a direct translation of the word were counted, including physical gestures of thanks.
The researchers looked at a wide variety of people from different places, representing eight languages: Polish, Russian, Italy, English, Murrinh-patha (an Aboriginal language), Cha’ palaa, Lao and Siwu.
The Brits thanked people close to them the most, about 14.5 percent of the time, and close behind them were the Italians at 13.5 percent. The Murrinh-patha came next at 4.0 percent and following them were the Russians, the Polish, the Laotians and the Siwu speakers. The lowest? Well, the Cha’ palaa speakers of Ecuador don’t have a word for “thank you” at all.
As the linguists explained, “Expressing thanks, in some cultures, is more of a linguistic tradition than a true expression of feelings. In cultures where thanks are less often said, it’s because social cooperation is taken for granted, and ‘thank you’ isn’t really needed or necessary. ”
The idea that you don’t need to thank others because it’s assumed that you’re appreciative is beautiful. But it is a bit hard for me to accept. So I’ll keep saying “thanks” as frequently as I do. But as a frequent traveler, I’ll keep in mind to watch the local custom and follow suit.
1. What might be psychologists’ opinion about expressing thanks?| A．It can show a person’s values. |
| B．It is passed down from parents. |
| C．It can contribute to close relationship. |
| D．It is a little and unnecessary thing. |
| A．They seldom express thanks. |
| B．They say thanks at any time. |
| C．They often show thanks using gestures. |
| D．They often use indirect translation of thanks. |
| A．The Polish. | B．The Italians. |
| C．The Russians. | D．The Cha’ palaa. |
| A．Family members don’t need to thank each other. |
| B．People thank close friends and family less. |
| C．Close friends have different ways to express thanks. |
| D．Different cultures have different ways to express thanks. |
【推荐2】You may not pay much attention to your daily elevator ride. Many of us use a lift several times during the day without really thinking about it. But Lee Gray, PhD, of the University of North Carolina, US, has made it his business to examine this overlooked form of public transport. He is known as the “Elevator Guy”.
“The lift becomes this interesting social space where etiquette (礼仪) is sort of odd (奇怪的),” Gray told the BBC. “They [elevators] are socially very interesting but often very awkward places.”
We walk in and usually turn around to face the door. If someone else comes in, we may have to move. And here, according to Gray, liftusers unthinkingly go through a set pattern of movements. He told the BBC what he had observed.
He explained that when you are the only one inside a lift, you can do whatever you want – it’s your own little box.
If there are two of you, you go into different corners, standing diagonally (对角线地) across from each other to create distance.
When a third person enters, you will unconsciously form a triangle. And when there is a fourth person it becomes a square, with someone in every corner. A fifth person is probably going to have to stand in the middle.
New entrants to the lift will need tosize upthe situation when the doors slide open and then act decisively. Once in, for most people the rule is simple – look down, or look at your phone.
Why are we so awkward ( adj. 尴尬的) in lifts?
“You don’t have enough space,” Professor Babette Renneberg, a clinical psychologist at the Free University of Berlin, told the BBC. “Usually when we meet other people we have about an arm’s length of distance between us. And that’s not possible in most elevators.”
In such a small, enclosed space it becomes very important to act in a way that cannot be construed (理解) as threatening or odd. “The easiest way to do this is to avoid eye contact,” she said.
1. The main purpose of the article is to _____.| A．remind us to enjoy ourselves in the elevator |
| B．tell us some unwritten rules of elevator etiquette |
| C．share an interesting but awkward elevator ride |
| D．analyze what makes people feel awkward in an elevator |
| A．turn around and greet one another |
| B．look around or examine their phone |
| C．make eye contact with those in the elevator |
| D．try to keep a distance from other people elevator? |
| A．A | B．B | C．C | D．D |
| A．judge | B．ignore | C．put up with | D．make the best of |
| A．someone’s odd behaviors |
| B．the lack of space |
| C．their unfamiliarity with one another |
| D．their eye contact with one another |
【推荐3】“Don’t tell anyone”.We hear these words when someone tells a secret to us.
An earlier study, led by Anita E.Kelly, a scientist at the University of Notre Dame, US, suggested that keeping a secret could cause stress.
He added that talkative people could let secrets slip out.
Shah said that to judge whether to tell someone a secret, you’d better put yourself in their position.Think about how you would feel to be told that you mustn’t give the information away.Shah also recommended that if you accidentally give up someone’s secret you should come clean about it.
| A．But it can be hard to keep a secret. |
| B．Everyone intends to keep his own secret. |
| C．Now you may ask, what secret is that? |
| D．Let the person know that their secret isn’t so secret anymore. |
| E．People with secrets can suffer from depression, anxiety, and body aches. |
| F．But with secrets so often getting out, why do people share them at all? |
| G．However, this doesn’t mean that it is a good idea only to share secrets with quiet people. |
【推荐1】It happened to me recently. I was telling someone how much I had enjoyed reading Barack Obama's Dreams From My Father and how it had changed my views of our President. A friend I was talking to agreed with me that it was, in his words, “a brilliantly written book”. However, he then went on to talk about Mr. Obama in a way which suggested he had no idea of his background at all. I sensed that I was talking to a book liar.
And it seems that my friend is not the only one. Approximately two thirds of people have lied about reading a book which they haven't. In the World Book Day's “Report on Guilty Secrets”, Dreams From My Father is at number 9. The report lists ten books, and various authors, which people have lied about reading, and as I'm not one to lie too often (I'd hate to be caught out), I'll admit here and now that I haven't read the entire top ten. But I am pleased to say that, unlike 42 percent of people, I have read the book at number one, George Orwell's 1984. I think it's really brilliant.
The World Book Day report also has some other interesting information in it. It says that many people lie about having read Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Fyodor Dostoevsky (I haven't read him, but haven't lied about it either) and Herman Melville.
Asked why they lied, the most common reason was to “impress" someone they were speaking to. This could be tricky if the conversation became more in-depth!
But when asked which authors they actually enjoy, people named J. K. Rowling, John Grisham, Sophie Kinsella (ah, the big sellers, in other words). Forty-two percent of people asked admitted they turned to the back of the book to read the end before finishing the story (I'll come clean： I do this and am astonished that 58 percent said they had never done so).
1. How did the author find his friend a book liar?| A．By mentioning a famous name. | B．By discussing the book itself. |
| C．By judging his manner of speaking. | D．By looking into his background. |
| A．Dreams From My Father is hardly read. |
| B．Charles Dickens is very low on the top-ten list. |
| C．The author admitted having read 9 books. |
| D．42% of people pretended to have read 1984. |
| A．learn about the book |
| B．appear knowledgeable |
| C．control the conversation |
| D．make more friends |
| A．Are You a Book Liar? | B．Readers Are All Liars |
| C．World Book Day | D．Dreams From My Father |
【推荐2】As a result of trade, travel and migration, different cuisines have spread across the world. Many recipes, chefs and restaurants try to announce that their food of a country or region is the most authentic (正宗的). But is this a good thing?
People care about authenticity because food traditions are closely linked to identity, particularly for migrant communities. Sociologist and professor of food studies, Krishnendu Ray, explains that home cooking is often the last way that communities can show their identity. British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver was accused of trying to take advantage of positive feelings about Jamaica. His ready meal product had a Jamaican name, but was unlike real Jamaican cooking.
However, food consultant Sara Kay asks whether there are problems with the idea of authenticity. She stresses that these ideas often come from the expectations that majority cultures have about minority cultures and their food. These can be restricting—restauranteurs have complained that people expect Asian food to be cheaper than that from European cultures. Expectations can also give people a false idea of what is authentic. While large cities are full of eateries representing different countries—China, India, Italy, Mexico and more—these labels can oversimplify the reality of food from these countries. Stephanie Elizondo Greist is surprised by the recognition that foods in Mexico are more authentic than what she ate growing up as a Mexican-American in Texas, because she feels that both are authentic examples of Mexican food.
A more controversial view of authenticity was stated by American Chef Andrew Zimmern, who claimed that he could bring in Chinese dishes in a more authentic way than existing restaurants—many of which are owned by Chinese-Americans. Writer and food podcaster Ruth Tam points out that while these restaurants altered their menus to suit local tastes, so does Zimmern. So, while food and identity are closely linked, and failure to respect authenticity can cause offence, could there be problems with the whole idea of authenticity?
1. Which of the following factors causes people to care about authenticity?| A．Position. | B．Decoration. | C．Taste. | D．Price. |
| A．Eateries in different countries contribute to the authentic problem. |
| B．Expectation about authenticity may cause problems. |
| C．Asian food is cheaper than European food. |
| D．You can enjoy the traditional taste of Mexican food both in Mexico and America. |
| A．There can be only one authentic taste in a country. |
| B．What she eats in Texas means nothing to her. |
| C．The regional specialities should be the same in a country. |
| D．Every person can have his or her own recognition of authenticity. |
| A．Food & Culture | B．Science & Technology |
| C．Sports & Health | D．Literature & Art |
【推荐3】You may feel like a master multitask er as you drink your morning coffee, catch up on email and tune into a conference call. But did you know for most people, in most situations, multitasking makes us less efficient and more likely to make a mistake.
This might not be as apparent when we’re doing simple and routine tasks, like listening to music while walking, or folding laundry while watching TV. But when the stakes are higher and the tasks are more complex, trying to multitask can negatively impact our lives — or even be dangerous.
So-called multitasking divides our attention. It makes it harder for us to give our full attention to one thing. For example, attempting to complete additional tasks during a driving simulation led to poorer driving performance. It can also affect our ability to learn, because in order to learn, we need to be able to focus. Dr. Kubu, a neuropsychologist, says, “If we’re constantly attempting to multitask, we don’t practice tuning out the rest of the word to engage in deeper processing and learning.” Another pitfall (缺陷) is that trying to do too much at once makes it harder to be mindful and truly present in the moment — and mindfulness comes with a plethora (过量) of benefits for our minds and our bodies. In fact, many therapies based on mindfulness can even help patients suffering from depression, anxiety and other conditions.
Choosing to focus on one task at a time can benefit many aspects of our life. Take surgeons for example. “People assume a surgeon’s skill is primarily in the precision and steadiness of their hands. While there’s some truth to that, the true gift of a surgeon is the ability to single-mindedly focus on one person and complete a series of task over the course of many hours.” Dr. Kubu explains. But surgeons aren’t necessarily born with this ability to monotask. Rather, they develop and perfect it through hours of practice. It is true that we perform best one thing at a time. Why not give it a try?
1. Multitasking will make negative influences when tasks are ________.| A．clear and apparent | B．routine and regular |
| C．simple and relaxing | D．risky and complicated |
| A．By listing data. | B．By stating reasons. |
| C．By giving definitions. | D．By making comparisons. |
| A．Single-task. | B．Multitask. | C．Efficiency. | D．Task-switching. |
| A．Why multitasking doesn’t work. | B．How to improve daily performance. |
| C．Which career less needs multitasking. | D．What positive effects multitasking has. |
