3 . When someone has a sharply different viewpoint from our own, we naturally choose two common ways, either avoiding a conversation with that person or trying to convince (说服) them they are wrong. Research shows there is another way: using receptive (接纳性的) language, showing that we are truly interested in a new point of view.

Many of us try to avoid disputed (有争议的) discussions. We prefer to talk with someone with similar opinions. This happens because we usually think that talking to someone who has disagreements will be more unpleasant than it actually is. When we do have to talk with people holding different views, we typically try to convince them to give up their belief because we think we are right and try to “win” the argument. And the other side is likely to think the same way, which leads to even more difficult problems to walk through.

A more effective method is being conversationally receptive. Research shows that when we appear receptive to others’ different views, our arguments sound more convincing. Receptive language can also make those with whom we disagree more receptive in return. It makes us more likable, and others more interested in partnering with us.

Researchers suggested three tips that can help us improve conversational receptiveness in even the most heated disagreements.

Recognize the other person’s point of view. Say “I understand that…or”, “I believe what you’re saying is…” to show that you take an active part in the conversation and find value and even trust in their points.

Hedge your statements. When we talk, we usually hold the opinion that we should be strong and confident and express our views in a direct, forceful way. But if we show that we are not so sure about our belief, our views will be better received.

Express your arguments in an acceptable way. You might say, “Let’s consider the possible benefits of having fewer people working on the project “rather than”, “We should not add more people to the project.” The second sentence sounds unpleasant, showing that the speaker is not open to the possibility of further discussion.

By following these tips in our communication, we’ll be more likely to have an effective conversation and bridge the differences.

4 . ①It’s known that green tea is a symbol of Chinese culture. Also, it helps to improve health in so many ways that some people think of it as a kind of medicine. Perhaps that is why the Chinese have been using it for more than 4,000 years to treat all kinds of medical problems. Today, scientists know that there are catechin, caffeine, vitamin C and theanine in green tea that are good for health.

②Catechin is helpful for lowering (降低) cancer (癌症) risk. It protects the body from cancer-causing substances (物质) and slows the growth of cancer. Besides fighting cancer, catechin prevents serious health problems like heart disease.

③Caffeine causes the heart to beat faster. That’s why it was once thought that caffeine was not very healthy, but studies suggest that there are also good reasons for drinking caffeine. Specifically, caffeine has to do with a lower risk for Parkinson’s disease and liver (肝脏) disease. Yet, caffeine also has some weaknesses. It can influence sleep and make people nervous, so experts advise teenagers not to have more than 100 ml of caffeine a day. This is about the caffeine of a small cup of coffee.

④Vitamin C is something that the human body cannot make enough by itself. So we have to get it through food and drink. The vitamin may play a role in improving physical conditions to colds and the flu. Also, it helps people to get well more quickly from those illnesses.

⑤Theanine is another healthy substance found in tea. It has been shown to lower stress, both mental and physical, and increase mind abilities. It is also used for preventing some brain diseases.

⑥As you can see, green tea has many good values. Drinking it may help you stay healthy. Of course, as with any healthy substance, it is important to check if there are any bad influence as well.

A．

B．

C．

D．

5 . 阅读下面材料，从A-D中选出与1-4图片相对应的广告技巧，并回答第5题。

Every day we see ads on TV, in magazines, on websites, on the street, and on our computer screens. Are you an ad detective? Can you understand the messages advertisers send you? To be an ad detective, it is useful to know how ads work. Let’s look at some typical advertising techniques.

A. Group pressure: An ad shows lots of people, each with their own cell phone.

Message: Everyone has a cell phone. You need one, too!

B. Testimonials: A famous pianist says he uses a certain brand of pianos.

Message: You’ll be good at playing the piano too if you buy this brand of pianos. Or because a famous pianist uses this piano, and you can trust the product.

C. Repetition: These ads mention the product many times and say wonderful things about it.

Message: You need to remember the product.

D. Time pressure: These ads use expressions like “Buy now! Half price this week.”

Message: You should buy the product quickly before you miss a great opportunity.

Ads are interesting, but you can make better decisions about what to buy when you know these techniques!

_____________________________________________________________________________

6 . The British are known for their sense of humour, but it is often difficult for foreigners to understand their jokes. The main point to remember is that the British often use understatement.

Understatement means saying less than you think or feel. For example, if someone is very impolite and shouts at another person, someone else might say, “She isn’t exactly friendly.” Or if someone is sunburnt outside, he might say, “________.” Understatement is often used in an annoying situation or to make another person look silly. Understatement plays an important part in British humour.

Another key to understanding British humour is that the British like to make fun of themselves as well as others. They often laugh about the silly things that happen in our everyday life when someone falls over in the street. They also like to make jokes of people from different classes of society. They like to make jokes about the way they speak, the way they dress and the way they behave. What’s more, the British love to watch comedies about people who do not know how to behave in society. The famous Mr. Bean is a good example of this kind of humour.

Mr. Bean is the role played by British actor Rowan Atkinson in 1990. Mr. Bean doesn’t talk often. Instead, he uses his body movements and facial expressions to make people laugh. Perhaps what makes Mr. Bean so funny is that he does things that adults in the real world wouldn’t do. Mr. Bean is popular in many countries around the world because you don’t need to understand his humour with the help of English. As a result, British sense of humour has become well-known to many people.

Many scientists believe our love of sugar may actually be an addiction (上瘾). When we eat or drink sugary foods, the sugar goes into our blood and influences the parts of our brain that make us feel good. Then the good feeling goes away, leaving us wanting more. All tasty foods do this, but sugar has an especially strong influence. In this way, it is an addictive drug (药) that doctors suggest we should all cut down on.

“It seems like every time I study an illness and follow a way to the cause, I find my way back to sugar,” says scientist Richard Johnson, One-third of adults worldwide have high blood pressure, and up to 347 million have diabetes (糖尿病). Why? “Sugar, we believe, is one of the causes, if not the major (主要) cause,” says Johnson.

Our bodies are designed to live on very little sugar. Early humans often had very little food, so our bodies learned to be very experienced in storing sugar as fat. In this way, we had energy stored for when there was no food. But today, most people have more than enough. So the very thing that once saved us may now be killing us.

So what is the solution? It’s clear that we need to eat less sugar. The trouble is, in today’s work, it’s not easy to avoid. From breakfast cereals (谷物) to after-dinner desserts (甜点), our foods are increasingly filled with it. Some producer even use sugar to replace taste in foods that are advertised as low in fat. So while the foods appear to be healthier, plenty of sugar are often added.

“Do you know Macao was never my real name. I have been away for too long, mother ...”

Song of Seven Sons — Macao, was written by Wen Yiduo in 1925, is still in the hearts of Macao’s teenagers today. The Basic Law of Macao Special Administrative Region came out in 1993 and to work on Dec, 20, 1999, as Macao returned to China. From then on, it has become much easier to build a closer relationship with their motherland.

Chan U, an 18-year-old, is studying at the University of Macao. She said, “travelling to the Chinese mainland has become easier. Visits to Zhuhai have become a part of the daily life of some people.” Kun Lot U, 25, studies at the South China University of Technology. She said, “Many local people go to Zhuhai to buy vegetables as they are fresher and cheaper than those in local markets. Young people often go to Zhuhai to play jubensha, a role-playing game.”

The number of trips out of Macao in January was 2.23 million, and most of them went to the Chinese mainland. Cities like Chongqing, Changsha and Hangzhou are popular places for young people, according to Chan. Guangdong is also a good choice since the language and food are similar.

“Young people in Macao care a lot about what’s happening on the mainland,” said Kun, “Like the young people on the mainland, they also use apps from the mainland to know the hot issues (话题). They have learned many mainland Internet catchphrases (流行语). I know about the most popular ones such as ‘yyds’, and they make us understand more about people and life on the mainland.”

More than half of the people in Macao use online shopping apps from the mainland. Kun said that it’s because they can find almost everything they need at good prices on the apps. The products are first shipped to a collection station in Macao. It usually takes about three to seven days for local people to get the product. “The connection between Macao and the motherland is getting stronger and stronger,” said Chan.