【推荐1】Have you taken inventory(调查) of the stress in your life? Stress can come from work. It can come from family. It can come from the places we live and the lifestyles we choose.

In a recent survey, 60 percent of respondents(被调查者) said the city in which they live is noisier now than five years ago. The other 40 percent? They didn’t hear the question.

How much stress do you feel? Though not all stress should be avoided, too much pressure can cause lasting harm in practically every area of your life. The solution is to take control.

Robert Reich did just that. As Secretary of Labor in the Clinton cabinet(内阁), Robert B. Reich, told of his decision to resign from the stressful job. He said, “I have the best job I’ve ever had and probably ever will. No topping it.” It was true. He seemed to love his job. But he added, “I also have the best family I’ll ever have, and I can’t get enough of them.” And there was the problem—too much of a good thing. He could not give himself to his family and to this particular career at the same time.

So Reich said, “I had to choose, I told the boss I’ll be leaving, and explained why.” His boss, of course, was the president of the United States. And the country took notice. Some people were surprised. Here was a high government official who made a decision to step out of an important and powerful position in order to spend more time at home. He took control.

That is the first step to free ourselves from unnecessary stress: take control. Make the hard decision. It may be a decision for less money, a smaller home, a new location, a different job, less prestige(声望), or a simpler lifestyle. But I believe: it will be a decision you will never regret.

1. According to the passage, where might the stress come from?

A．The place we live and the lifestyles we choose.	B．Family.
C．Work.	D．All of the above.

2. According to the passage, which of the following statements is TRUE?

A．No stress should be avoided.

B．The only solution to stress is to take control.

C．Now the city is as noisy as what it was five years ago.

D．Too much pressure is bad for our health.

3. The best title for the passage should be ________.

A．Stress can do harm to our life.	B．Taking control of stress.
C．Robert Reich’s decision to resign.	D．Giving more time to our family.

4. The author’s attitude to Robert Reich’s resignation is ________.

A．worried

B．supportive

C．doubtful

D．surprised

【推荐2】Classic literature includes older works that have survived the test of time.     1     Some well-known examples of classic literature include The Odyssey by Homer, Inferno by Dante, and Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. Whether you’re a student or just an eager reader hoping to dig into classic literature, you may be wondering where to begin.

    2     You can find descriptions or summaries of classic works of literature online, or read the back cover of the book to gain a basic idea of what the story is about. Knowing a bit about the plot, characters, and setting may make it easier for you to follow and understand the writing when you begin reading.

Learn about a book’s historical period.    3     It can help you to read that book. By researching the historical events that are described in the book or otherwise influenced its writing, you can come away with a better understanding of that novel.

Try reading and learning with a group. Some readers learn better while working within a group. Joining a book club or enrolling in a literature class at your local community college can give you the opportunity to discuss a novel with other readers and gain valuable insight from a teacher.    4    

Make comments in the margins of the text. If you’re trying to gain a better understanding of a difficult text, underlining passages may not be enough. Instead, try making comments in the margins to fully engage with the text.

    5     Telling something about something you have learned is a good way to help you understand better yourself. If you have a friend who also has an interest in classic literature, then you might consider telling him or her about the text.

A．Tell someone about what you have read.

B．They are still widely read today.

C．They are carefully stored in the library.

D．Read summaries of what the work is about.

E．You can find book clubs in your area by searching online.

F．Organize your own reading club to meet your need.

G．Understand the time period in which a book was written.

【推荐3】It can be really frustrating when you want to stand up for yourself but always feel the tears coming—especially when you know that what you have to say is valid and important.    1     or that you're stuck in the same situation every time. We hope that with the help of these strategies, you'll be able to stand up for yourself, and gain the respect that you deserve.

Taking deep breaths activates a natural relaxation response. If you feel like you're about to cry, you're likely feeling stressed and overwhelmed. By taking deep breaths, you're sending a message to your brain to calm down—your heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing will all decrease.    2    

Another way to prevent yourself from crying is to deliberately pause a little. Rather than going on and on, say what you want to and then stop and wait for the other person to respond.    3    

But if you let yourself get caught up in your frustration and sadness all at once, you may be more likely to begin crying.

    4     You may find yourself crying because you lack confidence in yourself, but research has found that your body posture can actually make you think more positive about yourself Try to stand straight, plant your feet wide, and keep your head up—you may feel better about your worth and what you have to say.

It's okay if you aren't successful on your first couple of tries. It's important to recognize that not only is crying a common and understandable reaction to emotional distress, but that you can still make a stand and get your point across even if you are crying.    5    , so be easy on yourself during the journey!

A．You'll get better with time and practice

B．Crying is usually regarded as a sign of weakness

C．This may help you feel more relaxed and grounded

D．Having better body posture can boost your confidence

E．Yet you shouldn't feel like there's no way to deal with it

F．You'll meet different difficulties and challenges in the process

G．Even if you have a lot to say, you'll be able to get to it in time

【推荐1】Mindfulness meditation(冥想) is a practice used to achieve mental quiet and a sense of calm. It is a series of steps used to encourage reflection and deep breathing and to increase self-awareness.

A mindfulness meditation course may be as effective at reducing anxiety as a common medication(药物), according to a new study. The research, published on November 9 in JAMA Psychiatry, involved a group of 276 adults with untreated anxiety disorders. Half of the patients were randomly selected to take 10 to 20mg of escitalopram, the generic form of Lexapro, a common medication used to treat anxiety and depression. The other half were assigned to an eight-week course in mindfulness-based stress reduction. The results were stunning: Both groups experienced about a 20% reduction in their anxiety symptoms over the eight-week period.

The patients assigned to the meditation group were asked to attend a mindfulness meditation group class in-person once a week. Each class was around two-and-a-half hours long and held at a local clinic. They were also asked to meditate on their own for around 40 minutes per day. Hoge, the lead author on the study, compared the time commitment to “taking an exercise class or an art class”.

But according to Joseph Arpaia, an Oregon-based psychiatrist specializing in mindfulness and meditation, the daily time commitment is likely too much for many patients dealing with anxiety.

Arpaia says that he has worked to find less time-intensive mindfulness methods to help patients manage their anxiety. One technique he teaches is called a “one-breath reset” that helps patients calm themselves over the course of a single breath.

But despite his reservations, “It’s always interesting to see meditation work, and it works as well as medication,” he said. “My hope would be that people realize that there are things other than medication that can work.”

“My other hope would be that they realize that if sitting and following your breath makes you feel relaxed, great, but it doesn’t make everyone feel relaxed. Find something that does. Read a book, go for a walk, spend time gardening,” he said.

1. What’s the main feature of mindfulness meditation?

A．It works in removing anxiety.	B．It makes people’s mind empty.
C．It drives people to keep calm.	D．It focuses on thoughts and awareness.

2. What can we know about the new study?

A．Its result is hard to understand.

B．Its participants should attend courses face to face.

C．Its function is like an exercise class or an art class.

D．Its participants are divided into two equal groups freely.

3. Which word can best describe the author’s attitude to the new study’s result?

A．Objective.

B．Skeptical.

C．Conservative.

D．Approving.

4. How does Joseph Arpaia expect people to reduce anxiety?

A．They learn more about meditation.

B．They can bring a “one-breath reset” into focus.

C．They choose a proper way to relax besides meditation.

D．They can read books to develop mind instead of medication.