Have you heard of mental toughness? Often talked about in relation to sports, mental toughness is characterized by the ability to always perform well under stress. Research has shown that it is also a useful quality (品质) for students, with benefits for school achievement, classroom behavior, and relationships with others.
However, mental toughness is often misunderstood. It is sometimes related to hiding your feelings. or not acknowledging (承认) your weaknesses, which can harm student well-being, as well as school performance and socializing.
So, what actually is mental toughness, and how can it be developed in schools?
Students who show mental toughness are aware of (意识到) and able to control their emotions. This helps them to think clearly under stress, on the day of exams for example. One way to help with this is to encourage students to talk to themselves in a positive and helpful way. Students may be upset if they don’t do as well on a task as they hoped. By asking themselves questions, such as “What would I do differently next time?”, they can stop focusing on the negatives and direct their attention towards improving in the future.
Mental toughness means asking for help. Many students are too ashamed to do it, for fear they would show weakness by acknowledging they don’t understand something. However, others actually consider it a positive quality. Recognizing when they are experiencing difficulties takes courage for students, but it also shows a willingness to learn and get better.
Mental toughness is also about being open to learning, not being a know-it-all. Over time, the students who grow the most are those who like to explore (探索) things, looking for answers in books, online, or by paying attention to what’s happening around them. They also work together, helping each other with challenges.
What’s more, mental toughness involves having a strong sense of self-belief and confidence in one’s abilities. Mentally tough students have a clear idea of their goals, and their wills to achieve them are unwavering. They are not easily influenced by others’ opinions and are willing to step outside of their comfort zone to reach their goals.
To create mentally tough students and classrooms, it is important for teachers themselves to be role models. Teachers can develop their mental toughness in much the same way as students. In order to develop mental toughness, both students and teachers should recognize that it is about having positive behaviors and attitudes that help them learn and improve.
30. You were most probably being mentally tough when ________.
A.you kept your sadness inside without telling others |
B.you acted as if you were doing well with everything |
C.you received praise for answering a difficult question |
D.you managed your nervousness to make a great speech |
31. The word “unwavering” in Paragraph 7 is closest in meaning to ________.
A.unshakeable | B.unacceptable | C.unclear | D.uncommon |
32. What can we learn from the passage?
A.Experiencing difficulties makes students less willing to learn. |
B.Mentally tough students doubt their abilities when facing failure. |
C.Mentally tough students have curiosity about the world around them. |
D.High-performing students are more likely to have a good attitude to learning. |
33. Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?
A.Why Is Mental Toughness a Key to Success? |
B.What Does Mental Toughness Look like in Schools? |
C.How Does Mental Toughness Influence School Achievement? |
D.Who Should Be Responsible for Developing Mental Toughness? |