【推荐1】When we think about lives filled with meaning, we often focus on people whose grand contributions benefited humanity. Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Nelson Mandela surely felt they had a worthwhile life. But how about us ordinary people, toiling away in a typical existence?

Many scholars agree that a subjectively meaningful existence often boils down to three factors: the feeling that one’s life is coherent and “makes sense,” the possession of clear and satisfying long-term goals and the belief that one’s life matters in the grand scheme of things. Psychologists call these three things coherence, purpose and existential mattering.

But we believe there is another element to consider. Think about the first butterfly you stop to admire after a long winter or imagine the scenery atop a hill after a fresh hike. Sometimes existence delivers us small moments of beauty. When people are open to appreciating such experiences, these moments may enhance how they view their life. We call this element experiential appreciation. The phenomenon reflects the feeling of a deep connection to events as they happen and the ability to extract value from that link. It represents the detection of and admiration for life’s inherent beauty.

We recently set out to better understand this form of appreciation in a series of studies, published in Nature Human Behaviour, that involved more than 3,000 participants. Across these studies, we were interested in whether experiential appreciation was related to a person’s sense of meaning even when we accounted for the effects of the classic trio of coherence, purpose and existential mattering. If so, experiential appreciation could be a unique contributor to meaningfulness and not simply a product of these other variables.

As an initial test of our idea, during the early stages of the COVID pandemic, we had participants rate their endorsement of different coping strategies to relieve their stress. We found that people who managed stress by focusing on their appreciation for life’s beauty also reported experiencing life as highly meaningful. In the next study, we asked participants to rate the extent to which they agreed with various statements, such as “I have a great appreciation for the beauty of life” as well as other statement related to coherence, purpose, existential mattering and a general sense of meaning in life. Our results showed that the more people indicated that they were “appreciating life” and its many experiences, the more they felt their existence was valuable. In fact, these two elements related strongly to each other even when we controlled for other aspects of a meaningful life.

Finally, we conducted a series of experiments in which we gave people specific tasks and, once more, asked them to report how strongly they identified with statements linked to purpose, mattering, etc.. The results confirmed our original theory: appreciating small things can make life feel more meaningful. But applying that insight can be difficult. Our modern, fast-paced, project-oriented lifestyles fill the day with targets and goals. We are on the go, and we attempt to maximize output both at work and at leisure. This focus on future outcomes makes it all too easy to miss what is happening right now. Yet life happens in the present moment. We should slow down, let life surprise us and embrace the significance in the everyday.

1. What factor accounts for the life meaning of ordinary people besides coherence, purpose and existential mattering?

A．Contribution.	B．Possession.
C．Experiential appreciation.	D．Inherent beauty.

2. We can infer from the passage that _________.

A．Experiential appreciation is a product of existential mattering.

B．Focusing on future outcome can help maximize output.

C．The following experiments in the study are opposed to the result of the initial test.

D．We’d better appreciate small things in daily life despite the fast-paced lifestyles.

3. The underlined word “endorsement”(PSL2) is closest in meaning to _________.

A．enjoyment

B．approval

C．rejection

D．comment

4. Which of the following is the author most likely to agree with?

A．During the COVID pandemic, it’s difficult to find coping strategies to relieve stress.

B．Maximizing output motivates people to catch what is happening right now.

C．Appreciating life and its experiences can enhance the feeling of valuable existence.

D．In modern society, it’s common practice to appreciate small things to make life more meaningful.

【推荐2】What makes a gift special? Is it the price you see on the gift receipt? Or is it the look on the recipient's face when they receive it that determines the true value? What gift is worth the most?
This Christmas I was debating what to give my father. My dad is a hard person to buy for because he never wants anything. I pulled out my phone to read a text message from my mom saying that we were leaving for Christmas shopping for him when I came across a message on my phone that I had locked. The message was from my father. My eyes fell on a photo of a flower taken in Wyoming. and underneath a poem by William Blake. The flower, a lone dandelion standing against the bright blue sky, inspired me. My dad had been reciting those words to me since I was a kid. That may even be the reason why I love writing. I decided that those words would be my gift to my father.
I called back. I told my mom to go without me and that I already created my gift. I sent the photo of the cream-colored flower to my computer and typed the poem on top of it. As I was arranging the details another poem came to mind. The poem was written by Edgar Allan Poe; my dad recited it as much as he did the other. I typed that out as well and searched online for a background to the words of it. The poem was focused around dreaming, and after searching I found the perfect picture. The image was painted with blues and greens and purples, twisting together to create the theme and wonder of a dream. As I watched both poems passing through the printer, the white paper coloring with words that shaped my childhood. I felt that this was a gift that my father would truly appreciate.
Christmas soon arrived. The minute I saw the look on my dad's face as he unwrapped those swirling black letters carefully placed in a cheap frame, I knew I had given the perfect gift.
1. The idea for a special gift began to form when the author was______.

A．doing shopping	B．having a debate
C．reading a message	D．leaving for Wyoming

2. The author's inspiration for the gift came from_____.

A．a photo of a flower	B．a story about a kid
C．a call from the mother	D．a text about Christmas

3. The underlined word "it" in Paragraph 3 refers to a poem by_____.

A．the father	B．the author
C．William Blake	D．Edgar Allan Poe

4. The author made the gift by_____.

A．searching for the poems online

B．drawing the background by hand

C．painting the letters in three colors

D．matching the words with pictures

5. What is the main purpose of the passage?

A．To show how to design images for gifts.

B．To suggest making gifts from one's heart.

C．To explain how computers help create gifts.

D．To describe the gifts the author has received

【推荐3】The letter arrives from a school that your son told you is his dream school. You dare not open it，instead，you hand it to him when he arrives home from school. You watch as his eyes light up and you know this is the beginning of something. You are just not sure what. Your son insists that the coach must really want him since he took the time to write him a letter. Is this in fact true？Did he write other kids and if so how many？How would you know？

The simple fact of the matter is that you can read very little into that first letter. Coaches cast a wide net in the first few stages of the recruiting(录取)cycle. That letter may in fact，be the first and last time your son ever hears from that particular coach. Think about it：if he has not seen your sons transcripts or his standardized test scores，if you have not visited the school，if he has no knowledge of your financial needs，can it be anything significant？

So how do you treat these letters or emails？Is there some format you can apply？Say tor instance，three letters mean real interest…or three letters and a call means a greater degree of interest？

My experience in deal with cases of various applications is that answers will not come automatically. Call the coach and find out how real the interest in fact is. "Is my son a top recruit in your mind？" "How many players at his position will you be recruiting this year?" By asking these simple and direct questions，you as a parent，will have established a dialogue and hopefully figured out how much interest，if any really exists. However，here comes the challenge. Applicants and parents are vague with coaches about their intention and level of interest all the time. In fact，the coach's situation is no less confusing than yours. He is fighting a similar battle on multiple choices. There is little clarity on either end.

Enjoy that first letter. Let's hope it is one of many and let's hope you apply a bit of realism with a bit of wishful thinking about how happy your son should be when this is all over.

1. How did the parent feel about the letter that his son got from his dreamed school？ ______

A．expectant	B．hesitant
C．doubtful	D．hopeful

2. According to the passage，by calling the coach，parents can______ .

A．determine the level of interest from coach

B．build up a communication with the coach

C．identify the real intention of the coach

D．understand more about the situation of the coach

3. The author of the passage is most likely to be ______ .

A．a consultant to help students with their application

B．a parent with similar experiences

C．a school authority that supervises the application

D．a coach in charge of the application

4. The purpose of the passage is to ______ .

A．remind parents of the importance of the first letter from coaches

B．tell parents how to react to the first letter from coaches

C．advise parents to ignore the first letter from coaches

D．warn parents to be realistic towards the first letter from coaches

【推荐1】ABC News: Parents who want to pick up their kids at school in one New Jersey district now can submit to iris(虹膜)scans, as the technology that helps keep our nation’s airports and hotels safe begins to make its way further into American lives.

The Freehold Borough School District launched this high-techsecurity system on Monday with funding from the Department of Justice as part of a study on the system’s effectiveness.

As many as four adults can be authorized to pick up each child in the district, order to be authorized to come into school, they will be asked to register with the district’s iris recognition security and visitor management system. At this point, the New Jersey program is not a must.

If someone tries to slip in behind an authorized person, the system causes an alarm and red flashing lights in the front office. The entire process takes just seconds.

This kind of technology is already at work in airports around the country like Orlando International Airport, where the program has been in operation since July. It has 12,000 subscribers who pay $79.95 for the convenience of submitting to iris scans rather than going through lengthy security checks.

An iris scan is said to be more accurate than a fingerprint because it records 240 unique details- far more than the seven to twenty-four details that are analyzed in fingerprints. The chances of being misidentified by an iris scan are about one in 1.2 million and just one in 1. 44 trillion if you scan both eyes.

Phil Meara, the Freehold District official, said that although it was expensive, the program would help schools across the country move into a new frontier in child protection. “This is all part of a larger emphasis, here in New Jersey, on school, he said, We chose this school because we were looking for a typical slightly urban school to launch the system.”

Meara applied for a $369,000 grant on behalf of the school district and had the eye scanners installed in two grammar schools and one middle school. So far, 300 of the nearly 1, 500 individuals available to pick up a student from school have registered for the eye scan system.

1. Why does the Freehold Borough School District adopt the iris security system?

A．To ensure the school safety and efficiency of picking up children.

B．To encourage more students to register in New Jersey urban schools.

C．To test the effectiveness of school security and management system.

D．To collect the information of the children and their beloved parents.

2. What's the advantage of the eye scan system over fingerprints?

A．Having many more subscribers throughout the country.

B．Authorizing the adults to pick up children more flexibly.

C．Attracting parents in a larger proportion to register for it.

D．Making almost no mistakes in identifying the authorized.

3. How does Phil Meara help to ensure the safety of children?

A．By persuading people to register with the security system.

B．By applying for grant to install eye scanners in schools.

C．By asking the department of justice to fund the program.

D．By turning to Orlando International Airport for help.

4. What is the best title of this passage?

A．Parents Favor the Eye Scan System.

B．Security Management Needs Improving.

C．High Technology Comes to School.

D．Iris Scanners Are Invented in the Country.

【推荐2】How to Enjoy Life As a Teen

The "best years of your life"? Maybe not, but you can learn to make the most of your high school days.

1. Learn to appreciate small things. Whether it's having a computer, having friends, having a good supply of food, a bed to sleep on, family that loves you, having a decent education or simply being born in this world.     1    . Be happy, and life will reward you. Remember that these are the last few years you will be able to enjoy yourself without having to worry about the responsibility of an adult, but make sure you prepare yourself for when you do become one.

2. Go for it! If you have a special girl/guy you want to ask out, dance with, etc. just ask! You probably won't be rejected but if you are, remember that there will always be someone else that likes you for who you are.    2    . About 90% of the girls or guys you talk to will like you back, only about 10% probably will reject or badmouth you.

3.    3    . There is nothing more satisfying than seeing your hard work pay off in the form of A's and B's (but mainly A's). This also sets you up to get into a college you want to go to, which in turn prepares you for a career you will enjoy, improving your quality of life in the future. You'll get cheap car insurance as well if you have at least a B or A average.

4. You can pursue interests you enjoy. Video games, for example, are good if you're the type who can get into that kind of thing.     4    . Use your "hobby time" to either A) Volunteer (to gain practical skills for college apps, job resumes, and scholarships) B. Learn an instrument, or get into something else in the creative field like painting or dance, because this is the time to start developing and uncovering passions that might otherwise lie dormant.

5. Work at a job you can enjoy. Working is a great way to gain experience and to meet other people. When you do get out of college, interviewing companies will look at your prior work experience. This will look great on your resume. If you can't find work, especially in this hard economic time, volunteer or make your own job.

6.    5    You'll still be going to games for free like the jocks if you are in pep band, and you have as many opportunities to meet new people as the jocks. Band and choir sometimes involves going on trips, and are great memories to have for high school and college. If you are not good at either music or sports, you can join other activities, start other hobbies, or get a job.

A. You should also find a hobby that is meaningful or practical.
B. Participating in clubs, activities, and sports increases your chances of meeting new friends.
C. Choose your friends wisely.
D. Don't go to sleep that night wishing you would have asked them.
E. Remember that the point of life is for you to enjoy it.
F. Keep your grades up
G. If you are not good at sports, join a band or choir

【推荐3】Community Service

Nowadays high schools are faced with a very controversial issue whether or not community service hours are needed to graduate. High schools are arguing that 40 hours of community service are needed to graduate, but many upset students are voicing protests(反对) to this demand.

Supporters of the community service project argue that while high school students are participating in community service, they will become better aware of what the real world is like. Students will learn valuable life lesson by doing community service.     1     They feel that if high school students are forced to do community service they will begin to see it as a punishment and as something that they have to do because it is required instead of something that they want to do. Students will in the future look back at the community service projects that they were forced to do throughout high school.     2    

Another idea that the protestors give about this community service issue is time restriction. When a student goes to school full time, he is involved in after-class activities and also works.     3     Supporters argue back that high school students only need to fulfill 40 hours of community service throughout 4 years. If students well manage their time and start the community service in their first year in high school, all they need to do is an hour every other week.

    4     The protestors argue that high school students do not have their driver’s license, so how are they expected to get to their community service site when their parents or friends are at work or just too busy to give them a ride.     5     The supporters argue that students can find community service projects close to home or if they live in the country find another student to car pool with.

In my opinion, community service is a wonderful thing that everyone should be required to do at some point in their life, but are high school students mature and responsible enough to take on community service projects at this stage in their life?

A．Protestors have struck back with a very solid argument.

B．A final controversial issue that appears is transportation.

C．Students will feel good about themselves for helping others in need.

D．They will continue to carry a negative attitude towards community service for their lifetime.

E．Both sides have solid arguments about why community service should or should not be forced upon students.

F．Unless the school offers a means of transportation for the students there really is no solution to this problem.

G．The time that is needed to participate in a community service project may place quite a burden on the student.

【推荐1】On the outside, 12-year-old Luna seems like your average kid. It’s not until you get to know her that you learn that Luna is anything but average.

Born with a heart defect (缺陷) called dextrocardia, Luna has had three open-heart operations and continues to go for her interests in art and fashion. But when Luna was approached by athletic shoe company Saucony to design a shoe for sale across the country, it came as quite a surprise.

“This is so incredible. I got to use my art and creativity for something new that I’d never thought I’d be able to design,” Luna said. She is one of six patients from Boston Children’s Hospital (BCH) who have partnered with Saucony to design their own shoes to launch the Shoes with Soul Movement.

“Rather than just a donation, we wanted to create an experience and a moment that would not only raise money, but also awareness to highlight all the amazing work that’s being done at BCH,” says Chris, Saucony’s vice president. “Specifically, we wanted to give some of the BCH kids an opportunity to share their story and their talents with the world.”

Luna’s design is fashion. “On the tongue, they digitalized one of my drawings, and then on bottom it’s a really bright pink color, and on the inside, the sole (鞋底) of the shoe is actually another drawing I did of a sunset,” she said. “Thinking about kids everywhere around the world wearing my shoes is amazing. It blows my mind.”

The income from the shoe sales will benefit the Boston Children’s Hospital Cardiac Fitness Program, which encourages kids to “find your possible” through personalized exercise programs designed for each individual patient’s heart condition.

“It feels really good to help people and it’s really something I can relate to,” says Luna. “The advice I would give a kid or someone like me is never to give up. There are a lot of kids out there with your condition and you’re not alone.”

1. Which of the following words can best describe Luna?

A．Passive and horrible.	B．Gifted and determined.
C．Creative and serious.	D．Independent and sensitive.

2. Why was the Shoes with Soul Movement launched?

A．To seek a fortune.

B．To support the disabled in need.

C．To emphasize the significance of creating impressive original works.

D．To make the world know BCH’s excellent work and BCH kids’ abilities.

3. What does Luna mean by “It blows my mind” in Paragraph 5?

A．I feel like I’m going crazy.

B．I feel a sense of relief.

C．I am surprised and overjoyed.

D．I feel as if my brain couldn’t function effectively as usual.

4. What is the author’s attitude to the Shoes with Soul Movement?

A．Positive.

B．Doubtful.

C．Indifferent.

D．Objective.

【推荐3】I used to think education was the most important thing in my life. Recently my attitude has begun to change, although I still hold that it is essential for everyone in the world today. As a top junior student in my college, I was asked to make a speech on how to learn English well. Standing in front of the audience and facing so many freshmen, I was trembling. I didn't remember any word that I had prepared. I ran out of the conference room without finishing my speech, leaving everyone puzzled. I cried that night in my room, feeling that I was a loser. Studying takes up so much of my time that I feel unable to really develop myself. I am just storing knowledge, yet I fail to communicate with others. I have received many awards in school, but they don't necessarily reflect anything about me. I don't know how to socialize. When I leave school I fear I will be of no use to society.

I realize that everyone has his own way of living. I want to change my lifestyle. Of course I will keep studying. Yet I plan to look for a part-time job, which might turn out to be a good chance to get to know society. I still believe that working my hardest makes me happy. I will still stay on in college. But I will not allow it to shelter me from the real world.

1. The underlined word “essential” in Paragraph 1 probably means ________.

A．impossible	B．unnecessary
C．most important	D．most useful

2. From the passage we can learn that the author ________.

A．comes to know how important it is to make some money

B．realizes that it is more important to develop oneself than just to learn knowledge

C．does not think education is a most important thing in her life any more

D．thinks that communication with others is more important than education

3. The author feels fearful that she will be of no use to society mainly because ________.

A．she is unable to develop herself

B．studying takes too much of her time

C．she does not know how to communicate with others

D．she feels that she is a failure