【推荐1】Develop Note-Taking Skills

While attending a lecture, students are often surprised that their teacher can pick out a speaker’s main points, evidence, and techniques. Of course, the teacher knows what to listen for and has had plenty of practice. But the next time you get an opportunity, watch your teacher during a speech. Chances are she or he will be listening with pen and paper.     1    

Unfortunately, many people don’t take notes effectively. Some try to write down everything a speaker says. They view note taking as a race, pitting their handwriting agility(敏捷) against the speaker’s rate of speech.     2    But soon the speaker is winning the race. The speaker pulls so far ahead that the note taker can never catch up. Finally, the note taker admits defeat and spends the rest of the speech grumbling in frustration.

    3    They arrive armed with pen, notebook, and the best of intentions. They know they can’t write down everything, so they settle comfortably in their seats and wait for the speaker to say something that grabs their attention. Every once in a while the speaker rewards them with a joke, a dramatic story, or a startling fact. Then the note taker seizes pen, jots down a few words, and leans back dreamily to await the next fascinating tidbit(趣闻). By the end of the lecture the note taker has a set of tidbits—and little or no record of the speaker’s important ideas.

As these examples illustrate, they don’t know what to listen for, and they don’t know how to record what they do listen for. The solution to the first problem is to focus on a speaker’s main points and evidence.     4    

Although there are a number of systems, most students find the key-word outline best for listening to speeches. As its name suggests, this method briefly notes a speaker’s main points and supporting evidence in rough outline form. By separating main points from sub-points and evidence, the outline format shows the relationships among the speaker’s ideas.     5    But with a little effort you will become a better note taker.

A．As the speaker starts to talk, the note taker starts to write

B．Most inefficient note takers suffer from one or both of two problems.

C．Perfecting this taking requires practice.

D．Taking effective notes usually helps you receive higher grades.

E．Some people go to the opposite extreme.

F．But once you know what to listen for, you still need a sound method of note taking.

G．When note taking is done properly, it is sure to keep track of a speaker’s ideas.

【推荐2】Choosing the right college can be challenging, but knowing where to start can be even more challenging.     1     Here are the tips I wish someone would have told me before I chose which college to attend.

First things first, you need to decide what you want to major in. This will be the most important part of the process, because it will determine what career you will choose after college. This decision is not the end, you can definitely change majors once you’re in college.     2    

Next, it’s time to decide if you want to stay close to your hometown or go away for college. Both options have their own pros and cons. These pros and cons can vary from money and how much financial aid the college will provide you, job success after graduation, opportunities the college offers such as study abroad or internships, to how many people attend the college.     3    

    4     Would you mind living in the area surrounding the campus? Do they have a good program for your major? Does the college have big or small classes, which would you prefer? How is the college ranked? Does ranking matter to you? Is the campus big or small? Which would you prefer? Does the school feel like a good personal fit?

Make sure to also do research on alumni (校友), current students and professors who are present on the different campuses of the colleges you are inquiring about. It’s always good to do great research than none at all and pick a college you know nothing about and regret your decision in the end. And if this happens, you’ll end up transferring (转学) to another college, where you’ll definitely do your research to not have the same thing happen again.     5    

Now that you have all this newfound knowledge on how to choose a college, I hope you are ready to start the process! Good luck!

A．No worries, I am here to help you through the process.

B．There’s no excuse for not visiting the colleges in your local area.

C．Other things to consider when choosing a college are as follows.

D．You can register for its online college fair at campuslife.com.

E．These are all things to take into consideration when choosing a college.

F．But note that changing majors can affect how long it will take you to graduate.

G．So you might as well get all the research done now, and save yourself both time and money.

【推荐3】Psychological science is full of interesting topics, many of which tell a coherent picture of human nature, but some of which create seemingly contradictory stories. A case in point is the tricky and misunderstood overlap between strength-based science and the research on narcissism (自恋).

There is now convincing evidence to show that narcissism is on the rise, especially in our youth. Some researchers say that about 25% of young people showing symptoms of narcissism. The inflated ego of Generation Me is reflected in reality TV, celebrity worship, and out-of-control consumerism.

We are correct to be concerned about this phenomenon, but our fear that all kids are potential narcissists has caused an unhelpful counter-reaction to approaches that seek to make our children and teens feel good about themselves.

In my own research on strength-based parenting, it is common for people to wrongly think this approach to be the cause of narcissism. Their argument seems to be that a child who knows their strengths will automatically view themselves as better than everyone else. It is argued that the self-assurance that comes with identifying and using their positive qualities will make a child selfish and uncaring. Genuine confidence about one’s strengths is categorized as over-confidence; desirable self-knowledge is branded as excessive self-admiration.

Why does this occur? It’s partly because more is known about narcissism than strengths. While strengths psychology has largely stayed within the limit of academic journals, research on narcissism has made its way into the mass media and our daily life. The New York Times noted that narcissism is a favored topic and that people everywhere are diagnosing others with it.

The fear that a strength-based approach will cause narcissism also occurs because of our binary (非此即彼) thinking. We mistakenly believe that one cannot be both confident and humble. We focus on Donald Trump and Kim Kardashian rather than Mahatma Gandhi and Mother Teresa. Without confidence in their strengths, Gandhi and Mother Teresa couldn’t have achieved so much, and yet modesty and selflessness are their qualities.

When we assume that strength-focus is the same as a self-focus, we fail to make the idea clear that people who know their strengths are, actually, more likely to be pro-social and ready to help others.

It’s easy to conclude that every young person is at risk of becoming a narcissist but I’d like to stand up for the thousands of young kids I have worked with who are caring, thoughtful and humble — even when they use their strengths.

1. Which of the following opinions may the writer agree with?

A．Strength-based parenting leads to narcissism.

B．It’s unhelpful for us to make our children feel good about themselves.

C．To say all kids are potential narcissists is overstating the case.

D．Children who know their strengths tend to be more selfish and uncaring.

2. Why are teenagers’ strengths often considered as narcissism?

A．There is a lack of narcissism in our common sense.

B．Academic journals report more on narcissism.

C．Many people are diagnosed with narcissism by doctors.

D．The general public has less access to strengths psychology.

3. What’s the author’s attitude towards young kids’ strength-based approaches?

A．Skeptical.

B．Favorable.

C．Neutral.

D．Doubtful.

4. Which of the following can be the best title for the text?

A．Teens’ Confidence Misunderstood	B．Teens’ Narcissism Diagnosis
C．Teens’ Strength-based Approach	D．Teens’ Psychology Research

【推荐1】As my fortieth birthday approaches, inevitable as a new hair-do, I realize how many women friends I’ve had over the years: Most have come and gone with the changes of life, just like the latest shoe fashions waltz in and out of my closet.

Some of my friends, like some of my shoes, were silly mistakes. They never did fit properly, and they always felt slightly “off”, no matter how hard I tried to fit my feet into them. Others were my absolute favorite for a while, but they wore out or wore off. All style and no substance; the quality just wasn’t there.

Then there are my true friends—the ones who, like a pair of fine shoes, never go out of style or out of favor, whose appeal and value just increase with wear and time. These are friends who stay in touch and stand by me—as if they and I have never gone off to a new state, or a new job. Physical distance does not separate us; time does not change the fundamental fact of our friendship; the wear and tear of life does not stop us. The sole still support us; the colors and lines still please us; the uppers, still strong but gown son, gently bent around feet. Our connection is securely fastened, unaffected by the whirlwind of changes we’ve each been through, even when life carries us in different directions.

If the comparison fits...

Deborah is the evening shoe, elegant and lovely. She appreciates the finer things, choose only the best, and still looks polished long after the rest of us have drooped. She is a study in elegance and knows the difference between bone, and winter white. From this splendid treasure, I’ve come recognize my own appreciation for the finer things in life—and to the realization that I deserved them.

Jane is pair essential, timeless pumps that I wear often and would be lost without. With this classic, my basic needs and comfort level are assured—leaving me time and energy for fun. I can move gracefully from day to night, from work to play, from jokes to discussion. My step is light; laughter comes easily and I am ready for adventure.

Georgiana is my pair of standard white Keds—familiar, comfortable and good for all seasons. I’ve had them since long before. They are part of my childhood. They take me home, and I am a kid again diving into the ocean on a hot summer day. They have been up the hill and through the mud with me. They keep me moving forward, even when putting one foot in front of the other feels like the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I know I can slip them tomorrow and after. I am indebted to these lovely worn sneakers.

In the shoe rack of life, these are the friends I cherish. They are the base upon which I stand. They accompany me on my chosen path, regardless of where it leads or how bumpy or how humpy or winding it gcts.

1. Paragraph 2 is mainly about        .

A．why I don’t like some of my friends

B．where I can find good friends

C．when I should say good-bye to my friends

D．how I deal with those good friends

2. Which of the following friends is a “Jane”?

A．He / She has been together with you in difficulties and sufferings

B．He / She always lives up to your expectation and keeps his/her words

C．He / She has been honest enough to point out your mistakes in time

D．He / She keeps a balance between life and work and lives an energetic life

3. The underlined word “indebted” in Paragraph 7 is closet in meaning to        .

A．interested	B．embarrassed
C．grateful	D．guilty

4. The purpose of the passage is to        .

A．share with you the writer’s opinions on how to make friends

B．express the writer’s gratitude to her true friends

C．pour out the writer’s concerns about some friends

D．convey some common embarrassing conflicts with friends

【推荐2】I used to believe courtesy(礼貌) was a thing of the past. Very seldom have I encountered a courteous human being in this modern era of the so called Generation X.

Recently, I had to change my thinking, when I came face to face with just such a human being. I had gone to a happening coffee place, with two of my grown up daughters. The place was crowded with the usual loud crowd and we had to climb a sleep flight of stairs in order to find an empty table. After enjoying coffee and snacks, we were at the steep descent down the stairs, where the narrow space made climbing down only possible in a single file, with hardly any space for another person to either climb up or come down.

Just as I was in the middle of my descent, a gentleman entered the main entrance of the restaurant which right in front of the staircase. I was sure I would be pushed roughly by this man who will want to go up in a hurry. I kept coming down as fast as I could, holding on to the banister (栏杆), instead of my advanced years. My agile daughters were already down, looking up at me worriedly, hoping I would reach them before the stranger strange started up the stairs, knowing I was a nervous sort.

Nearly reaching them, I noticed the man still standing near the door. I reached my daughters and passed the stranger at the entrance door which he kept holding open. I looked back thinking he was still at the door, deciding whether to go in or find another less crowded place. I saw him going up the stairs, two at a time. I told my daughters about it and all three of us felt had that we did not even thank the courteous gentleman who was actually holding the door open for us ladies to pass through before going up.

1. What happened after the writer saw the young man?

A．The young man pushed the writer roughly and went upstairs.

B．The writer’s daughters helped her down the stairs as fast possible.

C．The young man stood at the door deciding whether to go in or not.

D．The writer caught hold of the bannister to walk as fast as she can.

2. What do you think caused the writer’s nervousness?

A．The stairs were too narrow and sleep.

B．Her two daughters had been down already.

C．She was afraid of being pushed roughly.

D．She could not walk fast because of old age.

3. What can be the best title?

A．A polite young man	B．Generation X
C．The coffee place	D．A family get-together

【推荐3】“The pursuit of perfection is the tenet (信条) of my. life.” Magee rushed home crying after seeing that she’d received an A-minus on her grade report. Growing up she had learned that the way to receive confirmation and love from family members and teachers was to be a high achiever. So to Magee, that A-minus felt like a failure. “I was shattered,” she said. “In that moment, I felt like my self-worth as a human had fallen far below what it would have been if I’d gotten an A or an A-plus.”

Magee’s turning a good grade into a cause of her inferiority (自卑) is a textbook example in recent years. Perfectionism is a universal cultural phenomenon. High levels of perfectionism were linked with depression, anxiety, and deliberate self-harm. The constant stress of competitiveness and comparison can also leave people stressed and suffering from headaches and insomnia.

If a person is only rewarded for high achievement, over time they learn that their value as a person depends on being perfect. Instagram, Facebook and other social media platforms also fuel unhealthy comparisons. “It’s a real problem — those social media images end up serving as yardsticks that people can compare themselves to and a perfectionist is always trying to keep up with the Joneses,” Sherry, a clinical psychologist, said. And it’s never been harder to keep up with the Joneses, because today we are constantly bombed with seemingly perfect images of other peoples’ lives.

Eventually Magee learned that she had to let go a little and allow herself to show up with all her imperfections. She eventually learned to trust that she could show up, not being perfect, and still feel valued. “I can be imperfect and everything can be fine!”

1. Which of the following best explains “shattered” underlined in paragraph 1?

A．Delighted.

B．Frightened.

C．Frustrated.

D．Amused.

2. Which of the following is NOT the cause of Magee’s inferiority?

A．The unhealthy comparisons.	B．The A-plus confirmation.
C．The perfectionism phenomenon.	D．The sense of competitiveness.

3. What may Magee agree with finally?

A．It’s cool to be perfect.	B．It’s fine to be imperfect.
C．It’s important to get an A-plus.	D．It’s easy to keep up with the Joneses.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．Perfectionism is killing our health.

B．Perfectionism is a growing cultural phenomenon.

C．Accepting one’s imperfection is becoming a trend.

D．Imperfection is temporary and perfection is forever.