What I wish I had known at 18
As this year’s new intake of students begin university life, we asked speakers at the FT’s Weekend Festival — authors, comedians, academics and FT columnists — to tell us what they wish they had known when they were 18, and for their tips on getting the most out of university.
Martin Wolf, FT chief economics commentator
The answer to that question ‘what do you wish you had known at 18?’ is nothing. I already knew that university was going to be very exciting, intellectually rewarding as it turned out to be for me — I was at Oxford for six years. It changed me very profoundly intellectually. I’m sure I didn’t know what was going to happen to me and if I look back on my life now — this is more than 50 years ago — all pleasure and excitement comes out of the things you never expected.
Jamie Susskind, barrister and author of ‘Future Politics’
The first people you meet are not necessarily going to be your best friends - don’t worry about it. Don’t get caught up in trying to go to the parties everyone’s expected to go to, rather, try to find people with whom you can forge close connections and who will be with you decades afterwards. You may identify them by doing more listening than speaking. When a lot of people get to university, understandably, they want to tell their new friends who they are and where they are from — but it’s as important to listen, and drink in all these incredibly different people from backgrounds that are completely unlike your own.
Phil Wang, comedian
Break up with your girlfriend or boyfriend, don’t stay together. Leave everyone behind. Your love is not special, there’s a wider world out there and you should take advantage of it. Also, join some societies. I didn’t do that, and I wish I had. It’s possible to feel that you don’t deserve to be there. You should be aware that everybody feels that way. Either have a balanced experience or excel at something, but don’t be mediocre at one thing. If you’re going to be average, at least be average at a bunch of things so you have a full experience.
1. We can learn from the second paragraph that Martin thinks his university life was _____.| A．Nothing special. | B．Totally unexpected. |
| C．Interesting and rewarding. | D．Confusing. |
| A．Develop close relationship with the first people we meet. |
| B．Go to parties as more as possible. |
| C．Tell others our personal stories. |
| D．Listen to others and be friends with people different from us. |
| A．common | B．normal | C．content | D．bored |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】Reading is essential but how can one choose the right books to read and where can one find them? A few famous people may give you some helpful tips.
● Read books from past eras.
●
Reading too wide a variety in too short a time would keep the teachings from leaving a lasting impression on you. Seneca the Younger, a first-century Roman philosopher, suggested that “you must linger (流连) among a limited number of master thinkers, and digest their works, if you would obtain ideas which shall win firm hold in your mind.”
● Shop at secondhand bookstores.
Virginia Woolf believed the works in secondhand bookstores have an attraction which the usual volumes of the library lack. Browsing through these books gives you the chance to run into something that wouldn’t have risen to the attention of librarians and booksellers.
● Check out authors’ reading lists.
In his 1940 guide How to Read a Book, American philosopher Mortimer J. Adler talked about how to choose books. He attached importance to those that other authors consider worth reading.
● Make the final decision by yourself.
| A．Interest is the best teacher. |
| B．Great authors are great readers. |
| C．Leave some room for older works. |
| D．Learn more about those great authors. |
| E．Don’t jump too quickly from book to book. |
| F．There’s no “best books” list that everyone should follow. |
| G．Usually they are much more selective in organizing their collections. |
【推荐2】Motivation is the desire to act in service of a goal. It’s the crucial element in setting and attaining our objectives. Some of the most common goals people make—and the most common goals they struggle to meet—are to eat healthier, work out more, and save more money. Many traps can prevent people from achieving those goals, but predicting those challenges can help achieve real change.
Many people struggle to stick to a diet. Research suggests that extrinsic (外在的) motivators—to avoid hurtful comments or fit into an outfit—can jumpstart the process but that intrinsic motivation—interest, enjoyment, and challenge in the journey—is key to sustained, lasting weight loss.
There are a few creative ideas to consider if motivation is a barrier to exercise. One is to widen the options you have: If you don’t have time to go to the gym, exercise by going for a walk, doing a bodyweight circuit, or watching a yoga video.
Most people, unfortunately, fail to follow through on their New Year’s resolutions. This might be because people tend to set overwhelming goals, engage in all-or-nothing thinking, don’t predict barriers, and beat themselves up when they get off track. By addressing those traps, people are more likely to truly achieve their goals.
Motivation is one of the driving forces behind human behavior. It fuels competition and sparks social connection. Its absence can lead to mental illnesses such as depression.
| A．It is helpful to find a community of supporters. |
| B．People can break large goals into smaller pieces. |
| C．Eventually, consistently spend less than you make. |
| D．The following steps can help cultivate the habit of saving money. |
| E．Intrinsic motivation includes competence, autonomy, and relatedness. |
| F．Motivation includes the desire toward meaning, purpose, and a life worth living. |
| G．Another is to make exercise more enjoyable, such as by listening to a book on tape. |
【推荐3】Camaraderie over Competence
The importance of liking people is the subject of an article in the Harvard Business Review, which has carried out an experiment to find out who we’d rather work with. Hardly surprisingly, the people we want most as our workmates are both: brilliant at their jobs and delightful human beings. And the people we want least are both unpleasant and useless. More interestingly, the authors found that, given the choice between working with lovable fools and competent jerks (性情古怪的人), we irresistibly choose the former. Anyway, who likes those stupid men who annoy or hurt other people? We might insist that competence matters more, but our behavior shows we stay close to the people we like and sharing information with them.
What companies should therefore do is get people to like each other more. The trick here is apparently to make sure staffs come across each other as often as possible during the day. They also should be sent on bonding courses and so on to encourage friendliness and break down displeasure. However, more outdoor-activity weekends and shared coffee machines inspire no confidence at all.
The reality is that people either like each other or they don’t. You can’t force it. Possibly you can make offices friendlier by tolerating a lot of chat, but there is a productivity cost to that. In my experience, the question of lovable fool against competent jerk may not be the right one. The two are interrelated: we tend not to like our workmates when they are completely hopeless. I was once quite friendly with a woman whom I later worked with. I found her to be so outstandingly bad at her job that I lost respect for her and ended up not really liking her at all. Then is there anything that companies should be doing about it?
By far the most effective strategy would be to hire people who are all pretty much the same, given that similarity is one of the main determinants of whether we like each other. I think this is a pretty good idea, but no one dares recommend this anymore without offending the diversity lobby group. There is only one acceptable view on this subject: teams of similar people are bad because they stop creativity. This may be true, though I have never seen any conclusive proof of it.
Not only do we like similar people, we like people who like us. So if companies want to promote more liking, they should encourage a culture where we are all nice to each other. The trouble is that this needs to be done with some skill.
1. According to the research, which kind of colleagues would most people tend to choose?| A．Nice but unintelligent. |
| B．Creative but unattractive. |
| C．Competent but unfriendly. |
| D．Humorous but unambitious. |
| A．people respect outstanding leaders |
| B．people tend to like optimistic workmates |
| C．a workmate’s working ability is important |
| D．talkative workmates makes offices friendlier |
| A．offend each other |
| B．create fewer new ideas |
| C．talk more and work less |
| D．be likely to stick together |
| A．set more coffee machines in the work place |
| B．organize team-building activities outside the office |
| C．encourage a diversity of opinions in workplace |
| D．employ staff who have a lot in common |
【推荐1】“Did you hear what happened to Adam last Friday?” Lindsey whispers to Tori. With her eyes shining, Tori brags, “You bet I did，Sean told me two days ago. ”
Who are Lindsey and Tori talking about? It just happened to be yours truly, Adam Freedman. I can tell you that what they are saying is(a)not nice and(b)not even true. Still, Lindsey and Tori aren’t very different from most students here at Linton High School, including me. Many of our conversations are gossip(闲话). I have noticed three effects of gossip: it can hurt people, it can give gossipers a strange kind of satisfaction, and it can cause social pressures in a group.
An important negative effect of gossip is that it can hurt the person being talked about. Usually, gossip spreads information about a topic—breakups, trouble at home, even dropping out–that a person would rather keep secret. The more embarrassing or shameful the secret is，the juicier the gossip it makes. Probably the worst type of gossip is the absolute lie. People often think of gossipers as harmless, but cruel lies can cause pain.
If we know that gossip can be harmful, then why do so many of us do it? The answer lies in another effect of gossip: the satisfaction it gives us. Sharing the latest rumor(传言)can make a person feel important because he or she knows something that others don’t. Similarly, hearing the latest rumor can make a person feel like part of the “in group”. In other words, gossip is satisfying because it gives people a sense of belonging or even superiority(优越感).
The effects of gossip vary depending on the situation. The next time you feel the urge to spread the latest news, think about why you want to gossip and what effects your “juicy story” might have.
1. Why is a conversation given at the beginning of the passage?| A．To introduce a topic. |
| B．To present an argument. |
| C．To tell a story. |
| D．To clarify the writing purpose. |
| A．Breaking up relationships. |
| B．Embarrassing the listener. |
| C．Causing unpleasant experiences. |
| D．Spreading information around. |
| A．It gives them a feeling of pleasure. |
| B．It helps them make more friends. |
| C．It makes them better at telling stories. |
| D．It enables them to meet important people. |
Windmills(风车)dot the landscape, producing a renewable energy source. Our pioneer ancestors established windmills as a means of bringing water to the surface. To tell the truth, the history of wind energy is very long. Since early recorded history, people have been harnessing the energy of the wind. Wind energy drove boats along the Nile River as early as 5000 BC. By 200 BC, simple windmills in China were pumping water, while well-designed windmills were grinding (磨) grain in Persia and the Middle East.
New innovations and curiosity helped spread interest in windmills and wind power. Middle Eastern citizens used them for food production by the 11th century. Merchants along trade routes returned to Europe and shared the idea. Windmills caught on, especially in Holland, and the Dutch improved their use. Here, windmills drained lakes and other bodies of water. In France, the windmill pumped irrigation water. Elsewhere in Europe, windmills were used to grind grain.
By the 19th century, settlers in the United States realized the importance of the simple windmill. Pioneers pumped water for livestock (牲畜) and farming. As estimated six million windmills dotted America’s landscape by the end of the 1880s. Charles Brush, the US inventor, invented a windmill capable of producing electricity in 1888. And now the machines are called wind turbines. As late as the 1920s, Americans used small windmills to provide electricity in rural areas without electric service. When power lines began to transport electricity to rural areas in the 1930s, local windmills were used less and less, though they can still be seen on some Western farms.
In the 1970s, oil shortages pushed the development of alternative energy sources, paving the way for the re-entry of the windmill to produce electricity. In the early 1980s, wind energy really took off in California, partly because of State policies that encouraged renewable energy sources. In the 1990s, the push came from a renewed concern for the environment in response to scientific studies indicating potential changes to the global climate if the use of fossil fuels continues to increase. Wind energy is an economical power resource in many areas of the country.
Wind energy isn’t a new phenomenon,but using wind turbines to create and use electricity is a trend that continues to sweep across the globe.
1. The underlined word “harnessing” in Paragraph 1 is the closest in meaning to “_____________”.
| A．having influence on |
| B．controlling and using |
| C．talking about and studying |
| D．showing interest in |
| A．became well-known all over the world first |
| B．first began food production |
| C．increased trade activities with other places |
| D．followed the example of the Middle East |
| A．created the first electricity-producing machine in the world |
| B．first used windmills in the US |
| C．was a pioneer in producing electricity from wind |
| D．improved the economic strength in rural areas of the US |
| A．The importance of wind power |
| B．How does wind energy work? |
| C．The history of wind energy |
| D．When was wind power first used? |
【推荐3】The concept of learned helplessness was first coined by psychologists Martin Seligman and Steven Maier in the late 1960s during a series of experiments with dogs.
The researchers placed dogs in a situation where they were subjected to unavoidable electric shocks. After these initial experiences, the dogs were later placed in a different situation where they could easily escape the shocks by moving to another part of the chamber. Surprisingly, many of the dogs did not attempt to escape, even when the means to do so were readily available. They had learned to feel helpless.
As adults, we often encounter a version of learned helplessness in our daily lives. We face challenges not in the form of electric shocks but in situations where we might feel overwhelmed or powerless, such as long-standing stress at work or repeated personal failures. These experiences can make us believe that we cannot change our circumstances, leading to a passive acceptance of our difficulties.
A similar process operates in our approach to problem-solving and goal-setting. In our formative experiences, we may have encountered situations where our efforts to succeed were consistently met with failure, leading to a sense of powerlessness. But the modern world, with its constant demands and high expectations, has greatly changed our environment. We are now constantly faced with new challenges and opportunities.
Our modern lifestyle — with its various sources of stress and anxiety — can do to our mental state what unavoidable shocks did to the dogs in Seligman’s experiments. We are tending to submit to hopelessness because our past experiences may have conditioned us to expect failure. But, as we have reshaped the world around us, increasing opportunities for success and personal growth, we still have the same psychological responses we developed in earlier, more challenging environments.
Therefore, just as we need to be more thoughtful about our mindset towards effort and success, we also need to be more conscious of our beliefs about personal competence, resisting the temptation to yield to learned helplessness. By fostering resilience and adopting a growth mindset, we can effectively manage our responses to life’s challenges and seize opportunities for improvement and success.
1. What do we know about learned helplessness according to the text?| A．It is a natural response to unavoidable shocks. |
| B．It is primarily caused by modern lifestyle. |
| C．It is a psychological state that can be overcome. |
| D．It is unavoidable in today’s fast-paced world. |
| A．Advanced technology. |
| B．High physical demands. |
| C．Lasting stress at work. |
| D．Unbalanced career life. |
| A．Indifferent and neutral. |
| B．Dismissive and critical. |
| C．Sympathetic and reserved. |
| D．Understanding and encouraging. |
| A．Cause and effect. |
| B．Problem and solution. |
| C．Comparison and contrast. |
| D．Classification and summary. |
【推荐1】The expression “a thirst for knowledge” may soon have a new meaning for millions of people who have no way to get clean water. Researchers have developed a book with specially treated pages that can turn dirty water into clean and drinkable water. They say their invention could improve the lives of many in the developing world.
About 700 million people around the world are at risk of disease or even death because their drinking water is not clean. The water is polluted by harmful bacteria.
The book contains 25 pages. Each page is about one millimeter thick. The pages contain very small particles of silver. The pages can be used as filters to remove harmful microorganisms that can pollute drinking water. The filter kills the organisms that pass through it.
Pictures on the pages show the dangers of dirty water and how to use the book for those unable to read. The pages are made of filter paper. They are designed to be torn from the book. Water can be poured through the paper to be cleaned.
Ms. Dankovich, the inventor, says each page can treat up to 100 liters of water. She recently presented her invention at the meeting of the American Chemical Society in Boston, Massachusetts. She was asked whether she had considered adding classic literature on the book’s pages.
“The idea of classic texts — that’s of interest maybe later. We have discussed a little bit more exciting text. But we really haven’t had the time to go through that part,” she says.
Teri Dankovich and another researcher tested the drinkable book in Bangladesh, Ghana and South Africa. The tests proved to be successful.
Water for Life, a non-governmental organization, has provided financial support for the project.
1. What do we learn about the book from the text?| A．It sells well around the world. | B．It is about environment protection. |
| C．It has pages with several functions. | D．It can treat about 100 liters of water. |
| A．Classic texts. | B．Invention presentation. |
| C．Exciting discussion. | D．Financial support. |
| A．Researchers have found a way to save those being ill. |
| B．Millions of people are in great need of drinkable water. |
| C．Knowledge is as important as drinkable water. |
| D．Book pages could provide safe drinking water. |
【推荐2】Winter can be discouraging. It’s dark and cold outside but there are still plenty of indoor events to heat up the evenings. Here are several ways to put some fun into February.
LAUGH IT UP
Seek out hidden club-the Loading Dock, located backstage at the Patchogue Theatre, which will feature the stand-up comedy stylings of Francisco Aldorando on Saturdays at 8 p.m.
INFO $20; 71 E. Main St, Patchogue; 631-207-1313, loadingdockpatchogue.com
HEAR BLUES OUT EAST
Grab a cocktail and take a seat at Treme, a New Orleans themed blues club in Islip open seven days a week (until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays).
INFO $10; 553 Main St., Islip; 631-277-2008, tremeislip.com, 21 and over
RACE YOUR FRIENDS
Get behind the wheel of a mini sports car and do some laps around the track at RPM Raceway in Farmingdale. Open Wednesday to Sunday 5 p.m. to midnight. Food and games round out the evening. Enjoy a music-like life!
INFO $20 per race; 40 Daniel St., Farmingdale; 631-752-7223, rpmraceway.com
COUNTRY TUESDAYS
Put on your boots and head to the Nutty Irishman in Farmingdale for Country Night every Tuesday. Line dancing lessons start at 7 p.m. with DJ Cowboy Ben E. Live country bands begin at 8:30 p.m., like Whiskey Road on Feb. 18.
INFO $8; 323 Main St., Farmingdale; 516-293-9700, thenuttyirishman.com
BEATLES BRUNCH
Enjoy a late Sunday brunch at My Father’s Place in the Roslyn Hotel while Beatles tribute band, The Liverpool Shuffle performs the music of the Fab Four on Feb. 16(Sunday) at 3 p.m.
INFO $35 plus $25 food/drinks minimum per person; 1221 Old Northern Blvd., Roslyn; 516-413-3535, myfathersplace.com
1. Where can you get information for an event on Feb. 17?| A．loadingdockpatchogue.com | B．tremeislip.com. |
| C．rpmraceway.com | D．thenuttyirishman.com |
| A．HEAR BLUES OUT EAST | B．RACE YOUR FRIENDS |
| C．COUNTRY TUESDAYS | D．BEATLES BRUNCH |
| A．$120 | B．$95 | C．$60 | D．$85 |
【推荐3】You’ve probably heard that brick-and-mortar retail (实体零售) is in trouble. Even industry giants are closing hundreds of stores. Given retail’s gradual change to mobile and e-commerce (电子商务), you may be wondering, “What will retail look like in the future?” Nobody knows. But here are a few things you can expect to see based on current technology.
Ultrafast delivery is coming. Today, the normal practice is two-day delivery. But if you’ve been paying attention, you know that’s changing. In fact, a surprisingly high 25% of consumers said that they would abandon their orders if one-day delivery wasn’t available. Of course, that’s just the beginning. Two-hour delivery is coming in the foreseeable future, and Amazon has already been trying 30-minute delivery.
Your kitchen will resupply itself. You won’t have to worry about running out of essentials like coffee, pet food or snacks because your containers will sense stock (库存) levels and replace those items without you having to lift a finger. No more waking up to find your coffee store is empty or last-minute trips to the grocery store because you forgot to buy pet food.
Know exactly what’s in stock and where. Have you ever gone to a store hoping to buy something, only to learn that they were out of stock? A new feature from Google Home allows people to ask Google Assistants to find in-stock products at the closest store. For example: “Google, where can I find the Nintendo Switch console?” An assistant will tell you how many stores have it right then and how close they are. Of course, it isn’t currently available for all stores in all locations, but you can already see a future when it has become standard.
Convenience, experience, and options—retail will take on a new look.
1. How does the author develop the passage?| A．By asking and answering. |
| B．By clarifying and describing. |
| C．By analyzing and commenting. |
| D．By comparing and concluding. |
| A．Consumers can’t get their orders in one day now. |
| B．It is possible to deliver goods within two hours in the future. |
| C．The delivery will be in two days in the future. |
| D．Superfast delivery has widely been used now. |
| A．Retail will disappear gradually. |
| B．Industrial giants will rule the whole retail trade. |
| C．Shopping will be more convenient and effective. |
| D．People will ask Google Assistants to purchase goods. |
| A．What will retail be like in the future? |
| B．How will new technology change the world? |
| C．How will we run the retail trade in the future? |
| D．What benefits will high-tech bring in the future? |
【推荐1】Electric cars are dirty. In fact, not only are they dirty, they might even be dirtier than their gasoline-powered cousins.
People in California love to talk about “zero-emissions vehicles”, but people inCalifornia seem to be clueless about where electricity comes from. Power plants mostly use fireto make it. Aside from the new folks who have their roofs covered with solar cells, we get ourelectricity from generators (发电机). Generators are fueled by something—usually coal, oil,but also by heat generated in nuclear power plants. There are a few wind farms andgeothermal (地热)plants as well, but by far we get electricity mainly by burning something.
In other words, those “zero-emissions” cars are likely coal-burning cars. It’s justbecause the coal is burned somewhere else, it looks clean. It is not. It’s as if the CaliforniaGreens are covering their eyes—“ If I can’t see it, it’s not happening.” Gasoline is anincredibly efficient way to power a vehicle; a gallon of gas has a lot of energy in it. But whenyou take that gas (or another fuel) and first use it to make electricity, you waste a nice partof that energy, mostly in the form of wasted heat—at the generator, through the transmissionlines, etc.
A gallon of gas may propel your car 25 miles. But the electricity you get from that gallonof gas won’t get you as far — so electric cars burn more fuel than gasoline-poweredones. If our electricity came mostly from nukes or geothermal, or hydro or wind or solar, thenan electric car truly would be clean. But for political, technical, and economic reasons, wedon’t use much of those energy sources.
In addition, electric cars’ batteries which are poisonous for a long time will eventuallyend up in a landfill. And finally, when cars are the polluters, the pollution is spread acrossall the roads. When it’s a power plant, though, all the junk is in one place. Nature is verygood at cleaning up when things are too concentrated, but it takes a lot longer when all thegarbage is in one spot.
1. What is the main idea of the text?| A．Electric cars are far from being clean. |
| B．Electric cars are better than gasoline-powered ones. |
| C．People cast doubts on electric cars’ batteries. |
| D．Gasoline is an efficient way to power a vehicle. |
| A．no less than 25 miles | B．as far as 50 miles |
| C．less than 25 miles | D．as far as 25 miles |
| A．are more environmentally friendly |
| B．burn more fuel than gas-powered ones |
| C．are very good at cleaning up when things are not too concentrated |
| D．are poisonous for a long time and will eventually end up in a landfill |
| A．being green is good and should be encouraged in communication |
| B．electric cars are the dominant vehicles compared with their gas-poweredcousins |
| C．zero-emissions vehicles should be chosen to protect our environment |
| D．electric cars are not clean because we get electricity mainly by burning something |
【推荐2】American Watersports Tuesday-Saturday
Located on the beach of the Sea Gardens Beach Resort, there are fun things to rent for the whole family. They offer rentals for kayaks, jet skis, and even parasail! Enjoy the water up-close or from a bird’s eye view! No matter what activity you’re enjoying, be sure to protect yourself and your family from the sun’s powerful rays and apply plenty of sun block!
15th Street Boat Company Monday-Saturday
15th Street Boat Company offers rental boats of all kinds. They’re sure to have what you are looking for, whether it’s a small boat for a quick and simple outing or an extravagant boat with comfortable seats with a stereo and high tech navigation. You can rent a boat for half a day or a couple of days, or even weeks at a time. If you want it, they’ve got it. It’s fun for everyone!
Coconut’s Watersports 9am-5pm Monday through Sunday
Coconut’s Watersports is open 7 days a week for your convenience and offers tons of water fun for the whole family. Jet Ski activities last 30 minutes or 1 hour and can make stops along the way. You must be at least 14 years of age to ride alone and can be as young as 3 to ride along with an adult. Everybody is required to wear a life jacket and a license is required to operate the Jet Ski. Bathing suits and shorts are recommended.
Jet Ski Tours of Miami Thursday-Sunday 10am-7pm
Jet Ski Tours of Miami includes onsite parking, indoor restrooms, lockers, and life jackets for participants. You may choose a one or two tour and each Jet Ski can hold up to 3 people. You must be at least 18 years old in order to ride. As long as you are accompanied by an adult, there is no age limitation for any passenger. There is a restaurant nearby to eat at. The tour visits 6 different islands and passes by Bayside and Hard Rock. You may even catch a glimpse of dolphins or a manatee resting in these fabulous Florida waters.
1. Which of the following can help you enjoy sailing a boat?| A．Choose Jet Ski Tours of Miami. | B．Go to the Sea Gardens Beach Resort. |
| C．Visit 15th Street Boat Company. | D．Visit Coconut’s Watersports. |
| A．One must stay with parents. | B．One must be at least 14 years old. |
| C．One apply plenty of sun block. | D．One must wear bathing suits and shorts. |
| A．You prefer the tour to Bayside and Hard Rock. |
| B．You prefer a luxury boat with comfortable seats with a stereo. |
| C．You’d like to choose American Watersports. |
| D．You would like to rent a boat to ride with him. |
【推荐3】With the internet and smart phones, people have immediate access to news from all over the world. It sounds like a good thing, but can there ever be too much of it?
While access to news is important, the news itself is usually bad. This makes some sense. Not many people would buy a newspaper with headlines like,“Everything is great!” or, “The sky is more blue today than yesterday.”
Yet there is a problem that comes from the amount of news we’re taking in. People feel increased anxiety because they get so much negative information.
Why is this happening? As social animals, humans are empathetic (感同身受的) toward each other. This is great for our communities, but when we read about people suffering in a faraway place, we feel heartbroken. This wonderful thing about humans instead becomes part of the problem.
“There’s actually, for many people, physical pain in wanting to help –-- our heart goes out to them,” US Professor Charles Figley, a mental health specialist, told National Public Radio. He calls it “bad-news burnout (倦怠).” Others call it “the hope gap”, which refers to the phenomenon that we feel surrounded by problems.
Before this news stresses you out, take a deep breath, because you can take control of the situation right now. The first step is to take Figley’s advice and turn off the news. “We can’t obviously run away and hide forever, but yes, we do need to take breaks,” he said.
Next, change the scenery. Leave the room where you get news and negative information. Better yet, go for a walk. Don’t let news into the parts of your life that are meant for socializing or relaxing. “Lighten up, just enjoy life, smile more, laugh more, and don’t get so worked up about things,” Irish actor Kenneth Charles Branagh told US-based Interview Magazine.
Life is short and your time is valuable. Make more time for friends, family and hobbies. You don’t need to spend it worrying about things you can’t control. Instead, direct your energy toward the things you can change.
1. What does the word “problem” in Paragraph 3 refer to?| A．People are faced with too much information. |
| B．There is too little good news in newspapers. |
| C．Fake news is having an impact on people’s lives. |
| D．People get anxious with so much negative news. |
| A．explain the benefits of human compassion |
| B．show that it’s impossible to solve all problems |
| C．explain how people are affected by bad news |
| D．prove that bad news can cause illnesses |
| A．Avoid reading any bad news. |
| B．Talk to a close friend. |
| C．Find a relaxing environment. |
| D．Find some good news to read. |
| A．confused | B．upset |
| C．optimistic | D．surprised |
