1 . The benefits of gratitude have long been championed in religious and philosophical thinking. In recent years, the science has been catching up: it shows that people who feel most grateful generally get a psychological boost as a result. They also have greater life satisfaction, fewer visits to the doctor and better sleep. This has led to gratitude becoming part of our daily routine, starting a trend of gratitude journals, in which you record things you are thankful for, and meditation practices in which you focus thoughts on them. However, the benefits of actually expressing this gratitude have received less attention. Now evidence is stacking up that shows turning our inner gratitude into action can make our lives even better.

For instance, a simple thank you can build relationships, even with strangers. Take people who have received a note of thanks for something they have done from a peer they don’t know. They are more likely to share their contact details with that person in an attempt to continue the relationship than people who receive a note that doesn’t contain thanks. A simple thank you seems to signal interpersonal warmth.

Expressing gratitude to a friend also changes your view of that relationship, making it feel stronger. In 2010, Nathaniel Lambert, at Florida State University, and his colleagues found that people who simply thought grateful thoughts about a friend, or even took part in positive interactions with them, didn’t experience the same effects.

But the benefits go further than just strengthening social bonds, they can have an impact on health, too. A study of more than 200 nurses working in two Italian hospitals found that gratitude expressed by patients could protect nurses from burnout. That was especially so in the emergency room, where personal interactions with patients are typically shorter and less rewarding. This positive feedback from patients reduced feelings of exhaustion among nurses, says Mara Martini at the University of Turin, who carried out the work.

1. What do the underline words “stacking up” in paragraph 1 mean?

A．disappearing

B．approaching.

C．ringing.

D．increasing.

2. Which of the following is a benefit of expressing gratitude?

A．Building stronger relationships

B．Sleeping well during the night.

C．Getting a psychological boost.

D．Having attractive body shapes.

3. What does the study by Mara Martini indicate?

A．Nurses should require positive feedback from patients.

B．Patients should speak out their appreciation to nurses.

C．Doctors should improve their interpersonal skills

D．Hospitals should protect nurses from burnout.

4. What message does the text want to convey?

A．Friendship is worth sparing every effort.

B．Gratitude journals work for people who act.

C．Positive feedback helps improve health service

D．Thankfulness in action has unexpected benefits.

2 . One form of social prejudice (偏见) against older people is the belief that they cannot understand or use modern technology. Activities like playing computer games, going on the Net and downloading MP3s are only for the youngsters. Isn’t it unfair that older people enjoying a computer game should be frowned upon (反对) by their children and grandchildren?

Nowadays older people have more control over their lives and they play a full part in society. Moreover, better health care has let more people in their sixties and seventies feeling fit and active after retirement. Mental activity, as well as physical exercise, can contribute to better health. Playing computer games is a very effective way of exercising the brain. So that’s why grey gamers are often seen now.

When personal computers were first introduced, most older people didn’t believe they would ever get familiar with them. Now computers have been around for a few generations and retired people have gradually become more relaxed about using them for fun. Gamers over 65 prefer playing puzzle games and card games. Kate Stevens, aged 72, says, “I find it very relaxing. It’s not very demanding, but you still need to concentrate.”

Another development that has favored “grey games” is a change in the type of video games available on the market. There’s a greater variety of games to choose from, including more intellectual and complex strategy and simulation (模拟) games. For example, Internet Chess and Train Simulator are among the most popular of these. Train Simulator is based on real — world rail activities. Players can choose from a variety of challengers, such as keeping to a strict timetable and using helper engines during a winter storm.

Some people argue that “grey gamers” simply don’t have the skills required for computer games, and that teenagers are better. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Most computer games require the kind of analytical thinking that improves with practice, which means that the “grey gamers” may well be far better than the young. In games where speed is the main consideration, older people would be at a disadvantage because they may have slower reaction. time. On the other hand, “grey gamers” have a preference for slower — paced, mind challenging games.

1. The second paragraph is intended to___________.

A．show the best way to exercise the brain	B．stress the importance of good health
C．explain why grey gamers exist	D．teach how to play video games

2. What was older people’s attitude towards personal computers at first?

A．Doubtful.

B．Concerned.

C．Enthusiastic.

D．Supportive.

3. The method the author uses to develop Paragraph 4 is___________.

A．offering numbers

B．giving examples

C．making comparisons

D．providing details

4. The underlined part in Paragraph 5 probably means___________.

A．mind challenging games are not suitable for older people

B．teenagers should improve their skills with practice

C．playing computer games requires analytical thinking

D．older people may perform well in computer games

3 . Love your parents

Even if you think that your parents are mean-spirited at times, loving your parents is a normal and fulfilling （满意的）part of life. You love them for the fact that they created you, raised you, and are in part a source of who you are. Here are some ways to love your parents.

    1     A gentle "good morning" and "I love you" will warm a coldest heart. Remember that they brought you into this world. Without your parents, you might sill wander at an unknown corner in an unknown world.

Respect them more and cherish（珍惜）these moments. You can use these moments to learn from them when you're off on your own. It's OK to get angry but angry actions don't help you or your parents. Act calmly, cool off, journal about your feelings, or talk to a friend.     2    

Obey their requests. It will make your attitude better and earn you more respect from them. It may seem like you are going through hell when you don't get what you want or you have to clean. However, you had better remember they keep a roof over your head when it's cold, raining, snowing, or too hot. Understand that parents are human beings and make mistakes.     3     Since you can forgive your friends, why not forgive your parents?

Keep company with them. Do things with your parents like watching TV, or go somewhere with them.       4     Listen to their old stories and learn from them. You will find they are your teachers in this way or another.

Some people simply may not be able to love their parents. .    5     Look for help if you are being abused violently. Parents do not have a right to harm you.

A．There can be realistic reasons for this, family violence for example.

B．Anyway, spend as much time with them as you can.

C．Tell them you love them every morning.

D．Forgiveness is the key.

E．Parents will turn express their love to you.

F．After this, share your feelings with your parents.

G．Please remember parents are as important as friends.

5 . When I was in primary school, I got into an argument with a boy in my class. I have forgotten what the argument was about, but I have never forgotten the lesson learned that day.

I was convinced that “I” was right and “he” was wrong — and he was just as convinced that “I” was wrong and “he” was right. The teacher decided to teach us a very important lesson. She brought us up to the front of the class and placed him on one side of her desk and me on the other.

In the middle of her desk was a large, round object. I could clearly see that it was black. She asked the boy what color the object was. “White,” he answered.

I couldn’t believe he said the object was white, when it was obviously black! Another argument started between my classmate and me, this time about the color of the object.

The teacher told me to go to stand where the boy was standing and told him to come to stand where I had been. We changed places, and then she asked me what the color of the object was. I had to answer, “White.” It was an object with two differently colored sides, and from his viewpoint it was white. Only from my side was it black.

My teacher taught me a very important lesson that day: You must stand in the other person’s shoes and look at the situation through their eyes in order to truly understand their perspective (看法).

1. When brought up to the front of the class, the two students were sitting       .

A．side by side	B．face to face
C．back to back	D．facing the blackboard

2. From the author’s classmate’s side, the first time he couldn’t know        .

A．his side of the object was black	B．his side of the object was white
C．the other side of the object was black	D．the other side of the object was white

3. What can we conclude from the text?

A．We should imagine that we’re in the other person’s situation.

B．A teacher should give students a lesson before the class.

C．A large, round object has two differently colored sides.

D．A lesson learned in the past should never be forgotten.

4. Which of the following can best describe the teacher?

A．Patient.

B．Wise.

C．Rude.

D．Kind.

6 . Nao, the first robot able to show feelings, has been created by a European research team. When Nao is sad, he lowers his head and looks down. When he’s happy, he raises his arms for a hug. Nothing is out of the ordinary, except that Nao is a robot.

“We’re modeling the first years of life,” says Lola Canamero, a computer scientist at the University of Hertforshire. “The feelings are shown through physical gestures and body movements rather than facial or verbal(言语的) expressions.”

In the future, says the scientist, robots are likely to act as companions, provide support for old people, and help people shop online. In such uses, the display of feeling will be important in making the interactions(交往) more natural and comfortable.

Nao has been programmed to copy the emotional skills of a one-year-old child. It can memorize faces, and knows the basic rules of good and bad. Based on these it can decide how to react to what is going on. The actions going with each feeling are pre-programmed, but Nao decides for itself when to display them.

Nao is also programmed to have different personalities. A more independent robot is less likely to call for help when exploring a room, while a more fearful robot will show distress if it finds something in the room that may be harmful.

Canamero’s team will take its emotional programming forward into medical applications. Part of the project will look at ways to use robots in hospitals to support the roles of doctors, nurses and parents. Children might find that a small, friendly-looking robot that can understand their emotional states makes them less anxious. “We want to explore different roles—the robots will help the children to understand their treatment and explain what they have to do. We want to help the children to control their anxiety.” she says.

1. According to the text, Nao_______.

A．displays different feelings in different situations

B．is able to imitate adult emotional displays

C．can remember people’s feelings

D．learns emotions from facial expressions

2. What can we learn from the text?

A．Scientists worked on facial and spoken expressions to create Nao’s emotions.

B．The time when Nao displays feelings has been pre-programmed.

C．Emotional programming is used in medicine production.

D．Robots with emotional skills can help children feel more comfortable.

3. What does the underlined word “distress” in Paragraph 5 probably mean?

A．Courage.	B．Anxiety.
C．Anger.	D．Satisfaction.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．The relationship between humans and robots.

B．The roles that robots play in different fields.

C．The first robot able to show feelings.

D．The long history of robots.