Ghosting — or the “art” of suddenly disappearing and without a trace like a call, an email, or a text from someone’s life — is an old phenomenon and is becoming more common nowadays in social and professional settings. Social media and digital devices give us a zillion (大量的) more ways to reach out to each other, and we also have a zillion more ways to avoid each other. Ghosting may feel like the least messy way to handle a break-up. But is it a good idea for you and the one involved?
Jenny Mollen is a 40-year-old actress and author who once ghosted a friend she no longer wanted to see. She told the New York Times that she didn’t know how else to end it. “If you disappear completely,” she said, “you never have to deal with knowing someone is mad at you and being the bad guy”. However, the person being ghosted still feels anger and sadness, plus confusion and upset at the loss of contact.
Some experts say that people today are actually becoming inept when handling difficult conversations. Social psychologist Sara H. Konrath found that college students had few skills associated with emotional intelligence. For example, it’s difficult for many teens to think from another person’s perspective.
The reason may be simple: less practice. They prefer digital communication to keep contact, and can choose ghosting as a way to break up. However, facial expressions, gestures, and tones of voice convey things that text messages and even calls cannot. People gain a deeper understanding of each other when they talk face to face. And this is especially important and helpful when the topic is a hard one. If you are in situation where you want to escape, calm down and reflect. You definitely have better ways than ghosting.
1. How will the person being ghosted probably feel?| A．messy but pleased | B．annoyed and confused |
| C．upset but understanding | D．disappointed and frustrated |
| A．Indifferent | B．Incapable | C．Impolite | D．Impatient |
| A．Communication in person is advised. |
| B．Telephone calls can get more things across. |
| C．People prefer digital communication to keep contact. |
| D．Calm down and ask for help if you want to escape. |
| A．Public Health | B．Modern Technology |
| C．Culture | D．Social Life |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】As cities around the world try to be smart, some have become stupid instead.
So, what is a “stupid city”? It is a city that gives in to urban sprawl( 扩张), with people moving from central areas to less-crowded communities, said Mr. Nicholas You, a director of the Guangzhou Institute for Urban Innovation in China. Such communities are heavily reliant on cars.
Another problem Mr. You stressed is that public administration bodies in “stupid cities’’ tend to work alone, refusing to share data that could help develop solutions to urban problems. He made the point during a discussion on urban transformation in Asia, saying, “A real smart city is one that looks at everything as a whole—you can’t look at water issues without looking at energy.”
A South Korean member, Mr. Jong Sung Hwang, suggested that some of the biggest barriers to creating a smart city are cultural. South Korean society is less forgiving of mistakes, noted Mr. Jong. For example, some in Seoul tried to push for an intelligent traffic system but were met with resistance from the police. He said, “We have ideas, data and even money, but we could not make it happen.”
India, however, is not adopting a one-size-fits-all approach to create smart cities for its 1.3 billion people, said a member from India.
In Singapore, which launched its Smart Nation initiative( 行 动 ) in 2014, the authorities fear that technology can worsen the divide between the haves and the have-nots, said Dr. Limin Hee, director for research at the Centre for Liveable Cities here. “Thankfully, many cities are considering such issues as how to make better use of data and technology to create smart cities,” she added.
1. What can we learn about a smart city?| A．It encourages urban expansion. |
| B．It has few people in its central areas. |
| C．It solves urban problems by sharing data. |
| D．It treats every issue as a separate unit. |
| A．People are tolerant of mistakes. |
| B．The police are afraid of making mistakes. |
| C．The government is lacking enough money. |
| D．The traffic system in Seoul is very advanced. |
| A．Its population is decreasing. |
| B．It has no examples to follow. |
| C．It fails to adopt a universally right system. |
| D．It lacks advanced technologies. |
| A．The disapproval of the public. |
| B．More money spent than expected. |
| C．The development of cities being limited. |
| D．The increasing gap between the rich and the poor. |
【推荐2】One third of adults over 65 in America have never used the Internet, and half don’t even have Internet access at home. In San Francisco, “the center of technology”, 40% of older adults do not have basic digital literacy skills.
This situation is becoming appalling as over 10,000 Americans turn 65 every single day. By 2050, 22% of Americans will be 65 or older. Meanwhile, technology is developing very fast. This means that a large number of people will be unable to proficiently use emergent technology.
Many people believe that seniors aren’t required to participate in our technological future because they’ll be retired and relaxed soon. But this is the farthest thing from the truth. Baby boomers are currently experiencing a different boom: With more people getting older than ever before, their life expectancies (寿命) are also increasing dramatically. With medical advancements, the number of American people projected to live into their 90’s has doubled since 1965.
However, they don’t have strong financial or educational support. It is not a problem, it’s a crisis. More than half of employees over 50 have been laid off in what’s being called “forced retirement”. And few organizations are actively helping older employees make the transition from full-time jobs to part-time ones. For those fortunate enough to be employed, 3 out of 5 older workers experience prejudice.
The easiest solution is to teach digital literacy. If they want to survive the forthcoming retirement crisis, they should get enough digital knowledge and skills to operate today’s tools and tomorrow’s platforms. With every crisis comes an opportunity. Tutoring, customer service, editing, research, book-keeping, and other virtual assistance-based work open the doors. But again, digital knowledge is first required to live in our high-tech society and growing economy. So try to get more online and navigate the growing number of sites and apps.
1. What does the underlined word “appalling” probably mean in paragraph 2?| A．Confusing. | B．Terrible. | C．Controllable. | D．Inspiring. |
| A．A possible crisis after they retire. | B．A possible decline in aging. |
| C．Failing to receive good healthcare. | D．Tending to double their life span. |
| A．The features of high-tech jobs. | B．The way out for baby boomers. |
| C．Potential industries in the future. | D．The importance of developing technology. |
| A．Have a good sense of crisis. | B．Avoid retiring at an early age. |
| C．Look for many part-time jobs. | D．Improve digital literacy actively. |
Be Aware of the Anti-climax
Many of us work tirelessly towards our goals, We may spend our lives dreaming of the day we are admitted to our dream university, publish our first book or purchase our first home. However, more than often, when we achieve these things, it doesn’t feel quite as expected. In fact, the achievement of these goals feels anti-climactic, or a bit of a letdown.
“An anti-climax can be an unexpected by-product of a milestone achievement. Usually, the more significant the milestone, the greater the anti-climax may be,” says Rachel Vora, psychotherapist and founder of CYP Wellbeing. “The journey to achieving a milestone can be exciting and all-consuming. Therefore, when this disappears overnight, we can often feel lost and confused.”
In psychology, the belief that we’ll be happier when we achieve our goals even has a fancy scientific name. Psychologists call it “arrival fallacy (悖论)” and it plays a big part in those feelings of emptiness that can follow achieving a goal. “The term describes how fulfilling our goals and achieving our ambitions doesn’t lead to a ‘happily ever after’”, states psychologist Lee Chambers.
If you find yourself currently working toward something big that you suspect may feel like a bit of a letdown, there are steps you can take to manage and even prevent the feeling of anti-climax.
Enjoy the journey
You’d better slow down a little and come to realize that joy comes from the doing, not the completing. So instead of rushing for it to be done, take a moment to enjoy the doing.
Foresee the comedown
If you are aware of a potential upcoming anti-climax, schedule an activity to look forward to soon after the event has finished. Consider planning some time with friends and family, or attending a concert or even a cooking class. This can act as a reminder that other aspects of life can be just as fulfilling.
Normalize the experience
The key is to normalize feelings of low mood, confusion, and self-doubt around anti-climaxes, which are something many people experience. Connecting with others may also be beneficial. It can help to engage with friends and influencers online who share similar experiences to feel less isolated (孤立的) with your own emotions.
1. According to the passage, how do people often feel after they make great achievements?2. What does “arrival fallacy” refer to?
3. Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.
To deal with your anti-climax, you’d better stay away from those who share similar experiences with you.
4. Suppose you have just been admitted to your dream university. What will you do to deal with the anti-climax? (In about 40 words)
【推荐1】Artificial intelligence (AI) （人工智能）is the ability of a computer program or a machine to think and learn. It is also a field of study that tries to make computers "smart". John McCarthy, a scientist, came up with the name "artificial intelligence" in 1955. Many things such as learning and problem solving can be done by computers, though not in the same way as we do.
An unusual goal of AI research is to create computer programs that can learn, solve problems, and think logically（逻辑地）. At present we use the term Al for successfully understanding human speech, recognizing（识别）human faces, operating self-driving cars and competing in some game systems like Chess and AlphGo（阿尔法狗）. Some people also consider AI a danger to humans if it develops too quickly. Professor Stephen Hawking, a well-known British scientist, was not for this kind of technology.
Math is the basic language of AI. If we raise the standard in the learning of math, our students will be more likely to become successful AI designers in the future. We not only want bright students, but also need to attract average students and give them the math skills which are needed to change them into AI designers. Besides, a good knowledge of computer science is also necessary for AI designing.
Scientists hope to create creative and emotional AI which can possibly understand human feelings or create art. Many ways and tools have been tried to discover this fascinating field.
1. From Paragraph 1, we know that_________.| A．all problems can be solved by AI | B．machines with AI can think and learn |
| C．AI has been around for only 60 years. | D．AI works in the same way as humans |
| A．Chess | B．AlphaGo | C．the danger | D．AI |
School Report
Subject/Name | Math(100) | Art(100) | Computer(100) |
Mike | 60 | 95 | 95 |
Peter | 95 | 65 | 90 |
Amy | 65 | 90 | 95 |
Cathy | 95 | 95 | 60 |
| A．Mike. | B．Peter. | C．Amy. | D．Cathy. |
| A．wishes | B．worries | C．feelings | D．discoveries |
【推荐2】Strings of letters have recently been flooding the Chinese Internet. Netizens have embraced the MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator) personality test, using its distinctive combinations of letters to define and classify themselves and others, sparking the formation of active online communities. Initially designed as a self-assessment tool to outline personality types and preferences, the MBTI has found enormous popularity in China.
The MBTI categorizes individuals using four pairs of characteristics: introversion (I) (内向) or extroversion (E) (外向), sensing (S) or intuition (N), thinking (T) or feeling (F), and judging (J) or perceiving (P). This leads to distinct four-letter combinations, like “ISTJ” or “INFP.” The values “E” and “I” have especially attracted public interest. Those who exhibit extroversion (E) characteristics are now humorously described as outgoing, talkative, wild, and socially skilled. They are often playfully called “social gangsters” due to their strong social skills. In contrast, those with introversion (I) are shown as quiet, reserved, reflective, and socially anxious.
Among the playful teasing, these eight seemingly simple letters have promoted deeper self-awareness and even developed a sense of friendship on social media platforms. Individuals discover their strengths and humorously acknowledge their odd behavior. This newfound self-awareness not only aids in understanding their fundamental values but also offers a way to deal with the common unease that bothers today’s youth. Many find comfort in thinking, “My ongoing anxiety, over-sensitivity, and self-doubt come from being an INFP. Such characteristics are typical for this personality type; thus, I’m perfectly normal.”
Netizens often humorously note: “In everyday life, during social events, I switch between introversion and extroversion. At work, I initially act extroverted but gradually become more introverted. When I see someone I like, I’m extroverted in my head but in reality, I’m all introverted. Haidilao Hotpot restaurants, known for their fancy birthday celebrations, sometimes make customers feel awkward. Their typical birthday song goes, “Say goodbye to all worries, and embrace all joys.” It’s a show meant for the extra-social. So, if an extrovert is invited to such a celebration, they might humorously exclaim, “I can’t take it! I’ve become introverted in the face of even more extroverted individuals.”
1. What is the original function of the MBTI personality test?| A．To form active online communities. | B．To scientifically classify netizen behaviors. |
| C．To make a definition and classification of people. | D．To evaluate the types of character and preferences. |
| A．A timid person. | B．A shy person. | C．A daring person. | D．A humble person. |
| A．attracted public interest humorously | B．recognize and accept personal characters |
| C．comfort the people with personality shortages | D．know yourself better and correct odd behavior |
| A．To explain why an extrovert is often invited to their celebration. |
| B．To show people’s personalities can change on different occasions. |
| C．To indicate the birthday songs could make customers embarrassed. |
| D．To stress the popularity of birthday parties in Haidilao Hotpot restaurants. |
【推荐3】Some scientists will say it is impossible to read minds. They will also tell you that you can make educated guesses on what a person might be thinking or feeling. Perhaps there really is nothing mysterious about the power to read minds. Perhaps it is simply human sense based on observation and educated guesses after all, but that’s really a useful ability to learn.
Learn body language. How a person moves and holds their hands, and even what their eyes are doing are actually telling about what is going on inside their head. For example, pupils (瞳孔) tend to grow larger when you are interested in or excited about something. If you are talking to someone and making eye contact, finding their pupils are large and round, chances are that they are not feigning interest in the conversation. Someone biting their nails is probably nervous. Someone who folds their arms across their chest when they are not cold is probably trying to put a barrier between you and themselves.
Learn to mentally put yourself in another’s place. Scientists have recently discovered that your brain has neurons (神经元) that become active when you watch someone do something the same as we did the action ourselves. So when you are able to open yourself to understanding how other people are feeling, you can figure out reasons and predict future actions, reactions, even thoughts.
Sometimes you can use Extra Sensory Perception (ESP) (超感觉力) to read someone’s mind. This does not mean you will literally be able to read their mind like a book. Instead, you will receive impressions or feelings, which are difficult to explain.
To improve your ESP abilities, take up meditation (冥想). Because meditation helps enable you to purposely put your brain in a state of relaxed awareness, where you will be more successful in reading people and receiving impressions.
Practice and combine all of these steps. You will soon find yourself able to read people’s minds.
1. What does the underline word “feigning” mean?| A．Expressing. | B．Declaring. | C．Finding. | D．Pretending. |
| A．By making educated guesses on minds. | B．By learning to make eye contact. |
| C．By changing ESP abilities for the better. | D．By strengthening impressions received. |
| A．The steps of learning body language. | B．The ways of reading people’s minds. |
| C．The necessity of learning to read people’s minds. | D．The relationship between mind and body language. |
