【推荐1】A recent study by a group of researchers found that there is a link between happiness and a term that the researchers coined called “relational diversity.”

Using public data from sources like the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the World Health Organization, the researchers were able to analyze data sets and survey responses from people who had shared their daily habits, schedules and interactions. They noticed a clear relationship between relational diversity and overall levels of satisfaction.

Hanne Collins, a Harvard Business School doctoral student who co-authored the study, says that relational diversity is composed of two elements: richness and evenness.

Richness measures relationship categories, or how many kinds of people you interact with in a day. That could be your romantic partner, a family member, a neighbor or a stranger. “The more relationship categories they talk to in a day and the more even their conversations are across those categories, the happier they are. And we find this in a large sample across many countries,” Collins said.

Evenness relates to the distribution of conversations among those different relationship categories. Some people may find themselves interacting with colleagues at work more than, say, their family members. “If you have a few conversations with colleagues, a few with friends, a few with a romantic partner or a couple chats with strangers, thats going to be more even across these categories,” Collins explained.

Ultimately, Collins says, the study gives insight to the idea that humans are social creatures at heart. Having a support system is important, but it goes beyond your inner circle. “Its about this mix. Its about connecting with people who are close to you, who are maybe less close to you, who connect you with other people, who provide different kinds of support,” she said. “Essentially, the idea is that the more diverse your social portfolio (社交档案), the happier you are and the higher your well-being.”

Next time you consider striking up a conversation with a stranger in line at the grocery store or while waiting at the coffee shop, keep in mind that it might be beneficial to your well-being.

1. How does the author explain the term “relational diversity”?

A．By listing statistics.	B．By making comparison.
C．By giving definitions and examples.	D．By describing the process.

2. Who is the happiest according to the study?

A．A person who interacts most with his family members.

B．A person who communicates frequently with his friends.

C．A person who seldom strikes up conversations with strangers.

D．A person who has ever conversations with many different people.

3. Which of the statements about the study is true?

A．Researchers came up with a new concept.

B．It shows that a support system is not necessary.

C．Researchers collected data by conducting experiments.

D．It was led by a doctoral student from Harvard Business School.

4. What is the writers attitude towards the result of the study?

A．Neutral.	B．Skeptical.
C．Opposed.	D．Approving.

【推荐2】To have a good conversation is a pleasure for most people.     1     Sometimes there are awkward silences while people try to think of something to say. Some conversations are one-sided. One person asks all the question, and the other just gives one-word answers. Actually, a good conversation needs two or more people to keep it going. They need to say things that others can answer and expand on.

    2     “What do you do?” is a good place to start. You can also simply say, “Tell me about yourself.” Most people love an opportunity to talk about themselves.

As the other person begins to respond to your question, look for common ground.     3     When the person finishes their story, you can comment and mention something that you did. Then you can talk about those activities and your plans for the coming weekend.

When the other person is talking, listen to them. Do not interrupt. When they finish, ask some more questions, and listen to the answers. Similarly, if you are answering a question, don’t go on and on.     4     A good verbal exchange is a little like a tennis game, in which the ball goes back and forth. Also, avoid yes/no questions. They can stop a conversation. Instead, ask open-ended questions using what or why.　　

A conversation should end well, too. After you’ve conversed for a bit, you can say, “I need to run now.” You may also give a reason.     5    

Now go out and enjoy a good conversation.

A．Give an answer and stop.

B．But not every conversation is good.

C．Talking with others can be fun for everyone.

D．Positive comments and conversations produce a chemical reaction too.

E．To get the ball rolling in a conversation, ask something about the other person.

F．If you ask someone about their weekend, the person could talk about what they did.

G．Say something like, “I really need to get going. My exercise class starts in 10 minutes.”

【推荐3】How do people respond when you have a talk with them? Maybe they brush your emotions aside or never listen to you.     1     Some tips will help you gain respect by communicating more effectively.

Use confident body language. This type of body language can increase your self-respect and help you earn people’s respect. Confident body language can include good eye contact and appropriate postures (姿势). Keep your eyes forward instead of down.     2    

Improve your listening skills. Good listeners often come across as sympathetic and caring, which are admirable qualities. A skilled listener can make others feel valued and appreciated.     3     To improve your listening skills, start by paying more attention to people during conversations. Put your phone away and focus on what they are saying rather than what you want to say in response. Give them plenty of time to speak.

Avoid oversharing. It’s common to talk too much and start rambling (瞎扯) when you get nervous or want to make a good impression. But to gain others’ respect, you can’t ramble or talk too much about yourself.     4     Get everyone involved and talk about shared interests or hobbies. That way, people will start valuing your input and what you say.

    5     Sometimes you may have a difficult conversation or come into conflict with others. If you get cross, people won’t take you seriously because they’ll think you’re too emotional and unreasonable. In that case, you should have the conversation in private instead of making a scene in public. You can also do it sometime after you’ve cooled down.

A．Keep calm and your anger in check.

B．There’s no need to fill every silence.

C．Therefore, he may be respected in return.

D．Try to make your message as clear as possible.

E．You might feel that you just don’t matter to others.

F．Don’t leave your arms crossed or hands in your pockets.

G．Instead, you need to slow down and find some common ground.