When you are a kid, gaining a best friend forever can happen in a single play date. But when you grow up to be an adult, making and maintaining friendships gets harder. So how much quality time (优质时光) do you need before that stranger becomes your friend? A new study recently found that, on average, it takes about 50 hours with someone before you consider them a casual (感情不深的) friend, about 90 hours before you become real friends, and about 200 hours to become close friends.
The study’s author Jeffrey Hall, a communications professor, invited adults who are eager to make friends to take part in two experiments — people who had just moved to a new city in the past six months and college freshmen. He asked them to rate and track the degree of closeness and time spent together with a new person. “Results suggest that the chance of changing from casual friend to real friend is greater than 50% after around 80-100 hours together,” said Hall.
The study found that the amount of time spent talking together, or the fact that you spent time at school or work with them, was unrelated to friendship closeness. “It is really easy to spend a lot of time with people as they are routinely in the same place at the same time as you,” Hall said. “However, my study shows you can have workmates you spend hundreds and hundreds of hours with and still not develop a friendship.”
You do not need to become best friends with your workmates to develop meaningful relationships with them. But for those of us hoping to change from “girl who I eat lunch at work with” to “friend I can depend on,” Hall suggests that you need to take the relationship out of the workplace for it to become a friendship. The participants who did activities outside of work with someone, such as being invited to have lunch in their home, were more likely to develop deeper relationships with them.
1. What is the new study mainly about?| A．Ways of making friends in a new environment. |
| B．Why people need to make different friends. |
| C．Different levels of friendship. |
| D．How long it takes to develop a friendship. |
| A．They knew each other before. |
| B．They had difficulty in making new friends. |
| C．They were in great need of friends. |
| D．They started their new life in the same city. |
| A．It is easy to get along well with classmates. |
| B．Friendship closeness is related to communication. |
| C．It is unnecessary to become best friends with workmates. |
| D．Just spending enough time together doesn’t result in friendship. |
| A．Usually. | B．Impressive. |
| C．Seldom. | D．Confidently. |
| A．Joining the same work team. |
| B．Having lunch at work with them. |
| C．Inviting them to your home after work. |
| D．Sharing work experience with each other. |
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【推荐1】When you set a foot outside of your door to drop trash, go to a social event or go for a walk, thoughts like “I hope I don’t see anyone I know” or “please don’t talk to me” may run through your mind. I’ve also said such things to myself. Sometimes the last thing you want to do is to talk with someone, especially someone new.
Why do we go out of our ways to avoid people? Do we think meeting new people is a waste of time? Or are we just lazy, thinking that meeting someone new really is a trouble?
Communication is the key to life. We have been told that many times. Take the past generations, like our parents, for example. They seem to take full advantage of that whole “communication” idea because they grew up talking face to face while Generation-Y grew up staring at screens. We spend hours of our days sitting on Facebook. We send messages to our friends and think about all of the things we want to say to certain people that we don’t have the courage to do in reality.
Nowadays, we are so caught up in our little circle of friends—our comfort zone. We love it that they laugh at our jokes, understand our feelings and can read our minds. Most importantly, they know when we want to be alone. They just get us.
Holding a conversation with someone new means agreeing with things that you don’t really believe and being someone you think they want you to be—it is, as I said before, a trouble. It takes up so much energy, and at some point or another, it is too tiring.
But meeting new people is important. Life is too short, so meet all the people you can meet, make the effort to go out and laugh. Remember, every “hello” leads to a smile—and a smile is worth a lot.
1. What do we learn about the author?| A．He likes to meet someone new. | B．He feels stressed out lately. |
| C．He’s active in attending social events. | D．He used to be afraid of talking to others. |
| A．They rely on the Internet to socialize. | B．They are less confident in themselves. |
| C．They have difficulty in communicating. | D．They are unwilling to make new friends. |
| A．They think it troublesome. | B．They are busy with their study. |
| C．They fear to disappoint their friends. | D．They want to do meaningful work. |
| A．To stress the importance of friends. |
| B．To give tips on how to meet new people. |
| C．To encourage people to meet new people. |
| D．To display the disadvantages of Generation-Y. |
All through school, I had only one close friend. We spent years together, essentially joined at the hip. But then Greg moved away, and it would take more than 50 years to bring us together again.
As children, Greg and I dove into everything with passion. We raced our bikes and illustrated our own comic books. We even became attracted to the same blonde girl from around the corner, a sixth-grader named Joanne who barely knew we existed.
The last time I saw Greg was sometime in 1966. I can’t recall saying goodbye before he moved. But then, a few summers ago, I saw a familiar woman. “Excuse me. Would your name happen to be Joanne?” “Uh, yes...” She didn’t recognize me until I explained who I was. We hadn’t exchanged more than a few dozen words in our entire lifetime. “Have you stayed in touch with Greg?” she asked. I was surprised she even knew of our friendship. “No. I haven’t,” I admitted. “I wish I had.”
Back at the cabin I checked my messages. I glanced at one email, then read it from start to finish. The email was from Greg. Greg had tracked me down through social media. He was now married, had two children and had become a musician and entrepreneur. We exchanged several emails before connecting by phone. A month later, my wife and I drove to meet Greg and his family.
Standing at his front door, I felt unsure of what to say or do. So much time had passed. But after hugs and introductions, the years dissolved as we exchanged stories about our lives. I had brought along the only picture I could find containing the two of us from my sixth birthday. As he gazed at the photo, Greg handed me a small, old card：Greg’s invitation to my sixth birthday party, signed “From Donnie” in faded blue crayon.
There were a few other keepsakes shared that evening, but none as meaningful as the invitation and the snapshot, companion pieces stored apart and saved for the reunion of two old friends.
1. What is the meaning of the underlined part in Paragraph 1?(no more than 5 words)2. What does Paragraph 2 mainly talk about?(no more than 10 words)
3. How did the author get in touch with Greg again? (no more than 10 words)
4. Why did the author consider the invitation and snapshot meaningful?(no more than 15 words)
5. Suppose you have a long-lost friend, how do you plan to get back in touch with him? Please explain.(no more than 20 words)
【推荐3】There are some people who seem to always be surrounded by friends, and there are others who always seem to be standing on the outside, looking in at the crowds of friends. If you are one of the outsiders, it is time to break out of your shell and start making new friends. Here are some tips that will help.
Use technology. There are all kinds of online groups you can get involved with.
Start with people you know. Reach out and contact acquaintances, and reconnect with old friends you haven’t seen in a long time. Don’t forget about friends of friends. You may connect with some really cool people just by hanging out with your friends and their friends.
Keep in touch.
| A．Be yourself |
| B．If you are invited to go out, go |
| C．Keep in touch with each other |
| D．Let people get to know the real you |
| E．Knowing others well is very important |
| F．Many are local groups that plan activities |
| G．All too often, people lose touch with one another |
【推荐1】Young trees don’t just grow; they develop a personality and learn more about their environment and how they should best behave in it. They also help each other out whenever there’s trouble.
Personality, just as among people, varies among trees. Some are anxious, some bold. On the author’s land, there are three oak trees growing close together. One of the oak trees always starts to shed its leaves two weeks earlier than the others. Since they all experience the same temperature, the same soil and the same length of day, such variables can’t be the explanation. So what’s happening?Well, this tree is simply more careful than the others. Whoever holds on to their leaves longer can do more photosynthesis(光合作用) and store more nutrients.However, the longer a tree keeps its leaves, the higher the risk of injury.
Not only do trees make their own decisions, they also learn from their mistakes. A tree, for example, keeping its leaves too long during one year will never make this mistake again. This leads to several other conclusions: trees must notice the temperature and the length of the day and be able to save their experiences somewhere. Obviously, trees don’t have brains,but it is thought that in the sensitive tips of their roots they keep track of information and experiences.
But trees aren’t only clever when it comes to caring for themselves. They also support each other whenever there’s trouble by giving warnings and even taking care of sick and weak conspecifics with nutrients. For example, one time the author found a very old tree stump. Its insides had rotted a long time ago to topsoil. But the wood on the outside of the stump was still living. How was this possible?Well, the stump was nourished by its neighbors with nutrients from the root system, and had been for at least 400 years!
Why do trees do such a thing? It’s simple: it’s better together. Trees need the forest; it protects them from storms, provides the right microclimate and warns them of attacks.
1. According to the text, which of the following best describes general features of trees?| A．Anxious and bold. |
| B．Smart and adventurous. |
| C．Helpful and well-behaved. |
| D．Adaptable and supportive. |
| A．Give warnings. |
| B．Offer assistance. |
| C．Depend on others. |
| D．Provide nutrients. |
| A．A public lecture. |
| B．A science book. |
| C．An experiment report. |
| D．A travel journal. |
【推荐2】We prefer to describe emotional intelligence as a specific set of skills that can be used for either good or bad purposes. The ability to accurately understand how others are feeling may be used by a doctor to find how best to help her patients, while a cheater might use it to control potential victims. Being emotionally intelligent does not necessarily make one a moral person.
Although popular beliefs regarding emotional intelligence run far ahead of what research can reasonably support, the overall effects of the publicity have been more beneficial than harmful. The most positive aspect of this popularization is a new and much needed emphasis (重视) on emotion by employers, educators and others interested in promoting social well-being. The popularization of emotional intelligence has helped both the public and researchers re-evaluate the functionality of emotions and how they serve people adaptively in everyday life.
Although the continuing popular appeal of emotional intelligence is desirable, we hope that such attention will excite a greater interest in the scientific and scholarly study of emotion. It is our hope that in coming decades, advances in science will offer new perspectives (视角) from which to study how people manage their lives. Emotional intelligence, with its focus on both head and heart, may serve to point us in the right direction.
1. Why does the author mention “doctor” and “cheater” in paragraph 2?| A．To explain a rule. | B．To clarify a concept. |
| C．To present a fact. | D．To make a prediction. |
| A．Favorable. | B．Intolerant. |
| C．Doubtful. | D．Unclear. |
| A．Its appeal to the public. | B．Expectations for future studies. |
| C．Its practical application. | D．Scientists with new perspectives. |
【推荐3】Is there a strange something high up in the world’s tallest mountains? If so, is it a big bear? Is it a monkey? Or is it a kind of man? No one knows. This mystery has puzzled the world for years.
In 1887, a mountain climber found large footsteps in the snow. They looked like the footsteps of a very large man. But men don’t walk without shoes in the snow!
In 1906, another climber saw more footsteps. He saw a very large animal standing on two legs. As he watched, it ran away very quickly. Fifteen years later, a newspaper had new stories about the “something”. A mountain climber said he had seen the “snowman” walk slowly in the snow. He said it looked like a very large man.
From then on, more and more people had stories to tell. But not until 1951 did a mountain climber bring back the pictures of large footsteps. The pictures showed clearly that the snowman walked on two legs. So it was not a bear or a monkey. Could it be an apeman (猿人)? And the mystery keeps growing. Some day, we may find out just what it is that makes the largest footsteps.
1. The passage is about ________.| A．some mountain climbers |
| B．some strange animals |
| C．the snow |
| D．the mystery of the large footsteps |
| A．Because they were the footsteps of a large bear. |
| B．Because they looked like the footsteps of a large man. |
| C．Because they were found in the snow. |
| D．Because they were found in the mountains. |
| A．In 1887. | B．In 1906. |
| C．In 1951. | D．In 1921. |
| A．They were the footsteps of an apeman. |
| B．They were the footsteps of a snowman. |
| C．The pictures showed clearly how the snowman walked. |
| D．People still don’t know who made the footsteps. |
| A．Snow | B．The large footsteps |
| C．A big bear | D．Monkey |
【推荐1】The New Year is a time for celebrations for almost everyone around the world. In Britain, people go to pubs and nightclubs to dance the old year away, and to welcome in the new one at midnight. Everyone wants to kiss someone special (boyfriend, girlfriend or even a complete stranger! ) as the bells ring out at midnight.
In recent years, street parties have become more popular. Hundreds or even thousands of people gather in squares, main streets or on the river banks to listen to bands playing and to see fabulous fireworks displays.
For people who stay at home, most watch special, live New Year shows on TV and countdown, along with the presenters, from 10 to 1 as the last seconds of the old year tick away and the bells of the New Year are rung.
In Scotland, on New Year’s Eve, people visit their neighbours and drink, dance and generally have a good time. If you’re invited to a Scottish home, it’s important to know what to bring with you: a lump of coal, some shortbread and some whisky.
The coal shows warmth so you’re wishing that the people you visit will have enough heat in the coming year. The shortbread represents food, so you’re hoping that the people will have enough to eat in the New Year. Some Scots call whisky “the water of life”, so when you hand over your bottle to your hosts, it means you want them to have enough to drink over the next 12 months.
There’s one more key task you still have to perform if you can. The first person to knock on a neighbour’s door is supposed to be a tall, dark, handsome man. If you are, you’ll bring good luck to the household. But what if that’s not you? Well, don’t ring the bell just yet. Wait a while and the right person will turn up soon!
1. What is the best title for this passage?| A．Seeing the old year off in Britain. |
| B．Celebrations of a Scottish New Year. |
| C．Visiting Scottish homes on New Year. |
| D．Sending good luck in the New Year. |
| A．British people hate to think of the old year and wish to dance it away quickly |
| B．street concerts have become more popular on New Year’s Eve |
| C．British people let off fireworks in public places to celebrate the New Year |
| D．people stay at home doing nothing but wait for the bell of the New Year to ring |
| A．To share good food and warmth. |
| B．To help those poor families. |
| C．To send best wishes to the families. |
| D．To show respect and richness. |
| A．the host of a special TV show |
| B．a tall, dark, handsome man |
| C．a man with coal, shortbread and whisky |
| D．a neighbor |
【推荐2】Besides soil, all plants need water. This makes it hard to grow plants where it’s dry. But this problem may soon be solved by researchers. Their invention is a super-moisture-absorbent gel (凝胶), or SMAG.
“The gel-based material can be used as a soil enhancer, as well as alternative soil in greenhouses,” said Guihua Yu, an engineer at the University of Texas-Austin. He led the team that developed the gel. He also said this material could be “directly mixed with soil or fertilizer at certain amounts”.
The gel works similarly to how dew forms. Dew is those water droplets attached to leaves of grass in the morning. It forms because of differences in air temperature between day and night. Air contains different gases, including water vapor (蒸气). Warmer air holds more water vapor. As the air cools after dark, it loses its ability to hold some of it. When it reaches a certain temperature — known as the dew point — some water vapor will turn into tiny drops of water. When temperature rises the next day, that water evaporates, again turning into vapor.
The research team decided to use this process to aid plants. The gel mixed with soil absorbs the water vapor and holds it. The next day, the gel instead slowly releases (释放) that water into the soil.
Jeff Hattey, a soil scientist, says the gel sounds pretty helpful in farming, but you probably won’t see the gel at the hardware store anytime soon. He notes that based on the quantities of the new material used in Yu’s experiments, outdoor fields might require a whole lot of it. According to his research, farmers might have to add about 13 trucks of gel to the soil top per acre (英亩).
Yu believes future studies will help his team understand if the gel could be used for larger, outdoor fields. “Fortunately, the gel is not poisonous,” Yu says. So it shouldn’t hurt the bacteria or worms that are needed to keep soil healthy for growing things.
1. What is the second paragraph mainly about?| A．The application of the gel. |
| B．The raw material of the gel. |
| C．The characteristics of the gel. |
| D．The research process of the gel. |
| A．To introduce its formation. |
| B．To explain the principle of the gel. |
| C．To stress the importance of water vapor. |
| D．To clarify the definition of the dew point. |
| A．It is of little help in real farming. |
| B．It will be too expensive to buy. |
| C．It requires too much calculation to apply it to outdoor fields. |
| D．It must reach a huge amount to be effective in outdoor fields. |
| A．It works only at night. |
| B．It can replace soil in dry areas. |
| C．It is friendly to the creatures in the soil. |
| D．It makes use of dew to offer plants water. |
【推荐3】Although the United States covers so much land and the land produces far more food than the present population needs，its people are by now almost entirely an urban society Less than a tenth of the people are engaged in agriculture and forestry(林业)，and most of the rest live in or around towns，small and large．Here the traditional picture is changing：every small town may still be very like other small towns，and the typical small town may represent a widely accepted view of the country，but most Americans do not live in small towns any more．Half the population now lives in some thirty metropolitan areas(1arge cities with their suburbs、of more than a million people each—a larger proportion than in Germany or England，let alone France．The statistics(统计)of urban and rural population should be treated with caution because so many people who live in areas classified as rural travel by car to work in a nearby town each day．As the rush to live out of town continues．rural areas within reach of towns are gradually filled with houses，so that it is hard to say at what moment a piece of country becomes a suburb But more and more the typical American lives in a metropolitan rather than a small town environment．
1. If now America has 250 million people．how many of them are engaged in agriculture and forestry?| A．About 25 million. |
| B．More than 25 million. |
| C．Less than 25 million. |
| D．Less than 225 million |
| A．United States. |
| B．Germany. |
| C．France. |
| D．England. |
| A．Of a large city with its suburbs. |
| B．Of small and large towns. |
| C．Of urban areas. |
| D．Of rural areas. |
| A．Most small towns become gradually crowded. |
| B．Small towns are still similar to each other. |
| C．As the traditional picture is changing，towns are different. |
| D．Small towns are turning into large cities. |
