1 . During an interview for one of my books, my interviewer said something I still think about often. Annoyed by the level of distraction (干扰) in his open office, he said, “That’s why I have a membership at the coworking space across the street — so I can focus”. His comment struck me as strange. After all, coworking spaces also typically use an open office layout (布局). But I recently came across a study that shows why his approach works.
The researchers examined various levels of noise on participants as they completed tests of creative thinking. They were randomly divided into four groups and exposed to various noise levels in the background, from total silence to 50 decibels (分贝), 70 decibels, and 85 decibels. The differences between most of the groups were statistically insignificant; however, the participants in the 70 decibels group — those exposed to a level of noise similar to background chatter in a coffee shop — significantly outperformed the other groups. Since the effects were small, this may suggest that our creative thinking does not differ that much in response to total silence and 85 decibels of background noise.
But since the results at 70 decibels were significant, the study also suggests that the right level of background noise — not too loud and not total silence — may actually improve one’s creative thinking ability. The right level of background noise may interrupt our normal patterns of thinking just enough to allow our imaginations to wander, without making it impossible to focus. This kind of “distracted focus” appears to be the best state for working on creative tasks.
So why do so many of us hate our open offices? The problem may be that, in our offices, we can’t stop ourselves from getting drawn into others’ conversations while we’re trying to focus. Indeed, the researchers found that face-to-face interactions and conversations affect the creative process, and yet a coworking space or a coffee shop provides a certain level of noise while also providing freedom from interruptions.
1. Why does the interviewer prefer a coworking space?A.It helps him concentrate. | B.It blocks out background noise. |
C.It has a pleasant atmosphere. | D.It encourages face-to-face interactions. |
A.Total silence. | B.50 decibels | C.70 decibels. | D.85 decibels. |
A.Personal privacy unprotected. | B.Limited working space. |
C.Restrictions on group discussion. | D.Constant interruptions. |
A.He’s a news reporter. |
B.He’s an office manager. |
C.He’s a professional designer. |
D.He’s a published writer. |
2 . Swap, Don’t shop!
You keep hearing about recycling, right? But it doesn’t end with bottles, cans, and paper. Clothing takes a huge amount of natural resources(资源)to make, and buying loads of new clothing(or throwing out old clothing)is not healthy for the environment. So what to do with all those perfectly-good-but-you’re-maybe-a-little-sick-of-them clothes piled on your bedroom floor?
A successful swap depends on the selection of clothes, the organization of the event, and, obviously, how much fun is had. It’s really easy to do! Here are a few pointers.
●Invite 5—10 people so you have a nice selection.
●
●Put different types of clothing on different surfaces in the room.
●Set a starting time. Maybe you say “go,” or turn on a certain song, or whatever.
A.Less people than that |
B.Hold a clothing swap |
C.If two people are competing |
D.Just keep music playing throughout |
E.Donate whatever clothes are left over |
F.Have everyone put their clothes in the right spots |
G.Tell everyone to bring clean clothes in good condition |
1. What are the speakers going to do tonight?
A.Eat out. | B.Go shopping. | C.Do sports. |
A.Boss and secretary. | B.Hostess and guest. | C.Husband and wife. |
4 . When I was 9, we packed up our home in Los Angeles and arrived at Heathrow, London on a gray January morning. Everyone in the family settled quickly into the city except me. Without my beloved beaches and endless blue—sky days, I felt at a loss and out of place. Until I made a discovery.
Southbank, at an eastern bend in the Thames, is the center of British skateboarding, where the continuous crashing of skateboards left your head ringing .I loved it. I soon made friends with the local skaters. We spoke our own language. And my favorite: Safe. Safe meant cool. It meant hello. It meant don’t worry about it. Once, when trying a certain trick on the beam(横杆), I fell onto the stones, damaging a nerve in my hand, and Toby came over, helping me up: Safe, man. Safe. A few minutes later, when I landed the trick, my friends beat their boards loud, shouting: “ Safe! Safe! Safe!” And that’s what mattered—landing tricks, being a good skater.
When I was 15, my family moved to Washington. I tried skateboarding there, but the locals were far less welcoming. Within a couple of years, I’d given it up.
When I returned to London in 2004, I found myself wandering down to Southbank, spending hours there. I’ve traveled back several times since, most recently this past spring. The day was cold but clear: tourists and Londoners stopped to watch the skaters. Weaving(穿梭)among the kids who rushed by on their boards, I found my way to the beam. Then a rail—thin teenager, in a baggy white T—shirt, skidded(滑)up to the beam. He sat next to me. He seemed not to notice the man next to him. But soon I caught a few of his glances. “I was a local here 20 years ago,” I told him. Then, slowly, he began to nod his head. “Safe, man. Safe.”
“Yeah,” I said. “Safe.”
1. What can we learn about the author soon after he moved to London?A.He felt disappointed. | B.He gave up his hobby. |
C.He liked the weather there. | D.He had disagreements with his family. |
A.Be careful! | B.Well done! | C.No way! | D.Don’t worry! |
A.To join the skateboarding. | B.To make new friends. |
C.To learn more tricks. | D.To relive his childhood days |
A.Children should learn a second language. |
B.Sport is necessary for children’s health. |
C.Children need a sense of belonging |
D.Seeing the world is a must for children. |
1. 分析优势与不足;
2. 提出学习建议。
注意:
1. 词数100左右;
2. 题目和首句已为你写好。
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6 . Over the past 38 years, Mr. Wang has pretended to be someone else many times,and has even learned to
The 60-year-old is not an actor, but a
In the 1990s, a group of thieves often sold stolen goods with the help of some beggars. To look into the
“I often
Wang, who is often in
Wang's
A.teach | B.compare | C.assess | D.speak |
A.lawyer | B.doctor | C.policeman | D.businessman |
A.role | B.study | C.family | D.audience |
A.minor | B.case | C.future | D.question |
A.interviewed | B.joined | C.arrested | D.assisted |
A.challenge | B.experience | C.appearance | D.freedom |
A.vote | B.sympathy | C.permission | D.trust |
A.invited | B.forced | C.helped | D.expected |
A.drunk | B.deserted | C.bored | D.lost |
A.guide | B.persuade | C.excuse | D.allow |
A.refer to | B.note down | C.ask about | D.miss out |
A.plan | B.agreement | C.direction | D.information |
A.awkward | B.dangerous | C.unfortunate | D.strange |
A.separate | B.recover | C.escape | D.hear |
A.courage | B.honesty | C.kindness | D.optimism |
I've always loved the ocean. In the
I decided to do something
One day, I saw a commercial for a health-care company. People in the ad were using plastic straws (吸管). I found the contact information of the company
I kept going. Whenever I heard of businesses using plastic, I'd send an email. One of the biggest companies I wrote to
China has become the first country to land a spacecraft on the far side of the moon. The unmanned Chang’e-4 probe (探测器) - the name was inspired by an ancient Chinese moon goddess
9 . When Beverley Burdeyney turned seventy four last year, she started having problems with her
"I was simply
Ms. Burdeyney talked to some friends who had
Eventually, Ms. Burdeyney learned about plans for an eye research,
"I'm trying to get more and more people to
Ms. Burdeyney
A.throat | B.skin | C.lungs | D.eyes |
A.getting over | B.going through | C.holding on | D.passing down |
A.story | B.treatment | C.life | D.relationship |
A.similar | B.various | C.personal | D.special |
A.turn | B.peace | C.vain | D.silence |
A.unbearable | B.abnormal | C.insignificant | D.disturbing |
A.compromised | B.forgotten | C.substituted | D.separated |
A.course | B.program | C.paper | D.conference |
A.informed | B.doubted | C.included | D.dismissed |
A.part-time | B.controversial | C.voluntary | D.ground-breaking |
A.money | B.standards | C.awareness | D.questions |
A.As ever | B.So far | C.In return | D.Once again |
A.wasted | B.donated | C.expected | D.earned |
A.imagine | B.confirm | C.remember | D.understand |
A.retirement | B.childbirth | C.graduation | D.marriage |
A.time | B.rule | C.age | D.tale |
A.straight | B.still | C.firm | D.alone |
A.commented | B.learned | C.reminded | D.added |
A.light | B.joy | C.color | D.beauty |
A.future | B.beginning | C.truth | D.meaning |
10 . When I was in sixth grade, I joined the band program to learn to play the clarinet (单簧管). The beginning of the year had gone
From then on, I hated playing the clarinet and I kept getting
The avoidance of my lessons continued until my mum asked me about it. “I want to quit.” My tears started
The next day I met with my band teacher and told her I was having a problem and couldn’t
A.badly | B.endlessly | C.randomly | D.smoothly |
A.mess up | B.move on | C.set out | D.take off |
A.impression | B.essay | C.story | D.factor |
A.ashamed | B.starved | C.excited | D.relaxed |
A.crashing | B.moving | C.selling | D.bending |
A.stricter | B.worse | C.happier | D.smarter |
A.joy | B.panic | C.doubt | D.sympathy |
A.funny | B.important | C.easy | D.traditional |
A.drying | B.disappearing | C.flowing | D.separating |
A.had a point | B.made a change | C.reached a level | D.took a break |
A.send | B.bring | C.pick | D.climb |
A.request | B.resolution | C.presentation | D.proposal |
A.balance | B.degree | C.position | D.solution |
A.figure out | B.give away | C.think over | D.make up |
A.aim | B.smile | C.wave | D.shout |
A.anger | B.sorrow | C.disappointment | D.surprise |
A.felt | B.shown | C.removed | D.voiced |
A.Carrying on | B.Looking back | C.Stepping aside | D.Turning around |
A.consume | B.examine | C.reflect | D.rescue |
A.unknown | B.unpunished | C.interested | D.trapped |