1 . Gifts are more than just an economic exchange of goods. They signal things about the giver, receiver and their relationship. It’s a sort of language that lets us communicate without words. Use the following little tricks to make gift-giving perfect.

Aesthetics (美学) of a gift shouldn’t be ignored and neither should presentation be. All the time and energy you spend picking the perfect thing for your receiver will fall short if you do. A gift should delight. It should be unique and easy on the eyes. So receivers often prefer appearance over function. This is why gift stores are filled with such gifts. These items are often low in their usefulness yet they make most gifts.

The price isn’t necessarily a priority. Even costly items can be considered as cheap sometimes. It’s better to pick an item from the top of an inexpensive sort than one at the bottom of an expensive sort. Even if you’re paying the same for both choices, the former will be received well.

A gift that feels heavier tends to be considered as of higher quality. Giving someone a hardcover book is better than giving them a paperback as a gift. You may also package it in a relatively heavy box. Anyway, pick items that aren’t too light.

Don’t present your gift without the wrapping (包装). It shows effort and devotion. Presentation expresses special thought on behalf of the giver. When they receive a gift, receivers process the exchange and analyze the giver in terms of thoughtfulness, which is communicated through gift presentation. If you want your receiver to think of you as thoughtful, make sure you wrap it in a good wrapping paper. Bad presentation can ruin a great gift. So it matters making a present more attractive to your receiver.

1. What kind of gifts are mostly sold in shops?

A．Strange objects.	B．Eye-catching items.
C．Useful things.	D．High-cost pieces.

2. What can be learnt from Paragraph 3?

A．Never choose any expensive gif.

B．The more expensive a gift is, the better.

C．Two gifts at a time are always better than one.

D．The best gift in the cheap kind is a better choice.

3. Which book will make a good gift?

A．A hardcover book.	B．A paperback.
C．One in a light box.	D．One without wrapping.

4. What does a gift with good wrapping reflect?

A．The giver is generous.	B．The receiver is special.
C．The giver is thoughtful.	D．The receiver is attractive.

2 . WHY A DOSE OF FEAR IS GOOD FOR YOU

Eleanor Roosevelt once said: “Do one thing every day that scares you.” She was onto something. Science has shown that feeling fear — in the right doses (量) — has several benefits.

·Feeling fear is fun and exciting. Many people scare themselves on purpose.     1    

When you step outside your comfort zone, it is fear that makes you feel alive, which is fun and exciting. The excitement generated can also help reduce depression by increasing adrenaline (肾上腺素), which in turn increases excitement and glucose (changed into energy).     2     A dose of fear is an “eraser” for the mind.

·    3     Being afraid of something can remind you of an area of your life that is limiting you. For instance, if you’re afraid of flying but face the fear and gather up the courage to step on an airplane, you can travel the world. Adding to your experiences means that you’ll create a varied life. You’ll also have fewer regrets.

·Fear makes you aware of what’s really important in life. How often have you said to yourself: “When I have more time, I’ll spend it with my family, pursue my passion, eat healthier or exercise more”? Fear makes you realize that “now” is the only time you have to achieve and follow through what is most important.    4    

Some say where fear meets courage is the sweet spot in which mountains get scaled and rivers are run.       5     We should all embrace our fear. Not the big fears that are life-threatening but the helpful fears that come in small doses.

A．Fear helps you succeed.

B．“Later” is never ensured.

C．Fear allows you to live life to the fullest.

D．They watch scary movies, ride roller coasters or go skydiving.

E．And every time you come through a challenge, you feel empowered.

F．Most of all, fear can be the birth place of change, creativity and innovation.

G．Actually, it’s nearly impossible to be thinking of your worries when you are experiencing fear.

3 . For some people, practicing gratitude is part of their spiritual practice or religion, while for others, it’s about cultivating a more positive outlook on life.     1    , there is no doubt about the benefits to be gained.

Improved mood

When you practice gratitude, you shift your focus from negative thoughts and feelings to positive ones. Instead of thinking about everything that makes you unhappy, gratitude makes you think about all the things that are good — no matter how big or small. Practicing gratitude will make you feel more optimistic.     2    .

Better relationship

When you think about all the things you are grateful for, you will think of the people in your life that you care for — your family and friends.     3    , chances are that you’ll want to show them how much they mean to you and how much you appreciate them. And that can strengthen your connection with them.

Reduced stress

    4    . So they often feel stressed. Maybe they’re having trouble at work, maybe they’re in financial difficulty, or maybe they feel like they’re just not good enough at something. But by practicing gratitude, they’re able to view things properly.

    5    

Instead of focusing on all the things that you’re bad at or things you’ve failed at, practicing gratitude will shift your focus on all the amazing things you’ve accomplished. And once you realize that, you’ll boost your feelings of achievement. Just focus on what you are grateful for in yourself. It will help you to appreciate your own strengths and talents.

A．Increased focus

B．Improved self-worth

C．People are facing a certain problem

D．You have plenty of reasons to be happy

E．That helps you realize life isn’t as bad as you thought

F．Whatever someone’s reason for practicing gratitude is

G．Once you realize how grateful you are to have them in your life

4 . Anger may feel uncomfortable, but it’s also normal and healthy. It is an emotion built into us to signal that something needs to be dealt with. When we take notice of that signal and actually correct the problem instead of ignoring it, we’re usually much better for it.

Start by looking beyond the superficial (表面上的) trigger to your anger. Anger is often precipitated (仓促发生) by underlying feelings of fear, anxiety, disappointment and guilt. Maybe you’re extremely angry that your partner is late, but it’s really because you were afraid that he or she had a car accident in the bad weather.

It helps to take a cool-down period before explaining to someone you’re angry with how he or she rocked your boat. That will allow for the effects of the adrenaline (肾上腺素) to wear off, which in turn allows you to reflect on what’s bothering you. Do some controlled breathing or find some physical activity to take the edge off. “There’s clear evidence that exercise helps with feelings of anger,” says McIntosh.

When you’re ready to approach the other person, focus on the behaviour and why it upsets you, not the person’s characters. Avoid calling the other person names. Don’t say something bad, and don’t make generalizations (泛化), such as “You always do this!” “The idea”, says Keelan, “is to bring up your reasonable points to the other person in a manner that is most likely to get a helpful and non-defensive response. ”

If you’re on the receiving end, remember that there are benefits to acknowledging and trying to under-stand the other person’s anger. Try offering to make a change, if that seems fair to you. If you’re willing to be a partner in working through heated situations, the other person will be much more likely to bring matters up constructively in the future. In the end, you’ll both be healthier for it.

1. What does the underlined word “trigger” in paragraph 2 mean?

A．Cause.

B．Solution.

C．Course.

D．Strategy.

2. Which might the author agree to deal with anger?

A．Breathe deeply while angry.	B．Keep off a person you dislike.
C．Accept the lateness out of politeness.	D．Point out the weaknesses in other’s character.

3. What shall we do with an angry partner?

A．Make a change at once.	B．Stand in the other’s shoes.
C．Advise the partner to be calm.	D．Help the partner overcome difficulties.

4. What’s the best title of the text?

A．Get Benefits out of Anger	B．A New Research about Anger
C．Get Angry the Right Way	D．How to Keep emotions Hidden

5 . Worry is a natural emotion. Whether it’s health, a job, or a relationship, everyone has something that stresses them out and keeps them awake at night.    1    Here are some tips that can help you worry less and live more.

Keep your mind busy with activities you enjoy.

Maybe it’s playing an instrument, cooking, writing, or going for a walk in nature.    2     They connect you with something deeper than yourself so that your minds tend not to wander toward worry or anxiety.

    3    

Worrying is often a result of taking something out of context and blowing it up in your mind to be more than it actually is. So take a moment to objectively analyze the situation, look at the facts and weigh them against how things could turn out. Your worries and anxieties are only as powerful as you give them permission to be.

Learn how to manage your time more effectively.

One of the best ways to get rid of worries is to learn how to manage your time better.     4     Start by saying no. It’s necessary when you have too many commitments. You also need to prioritize what matters most.

    5    The good news is that worry is just a mental habit that can be overcome. You have the power within to create a happier life for yourself and live in a state of peace, joy, and gratitude.

A．Focus on the Present Moment.

B．Judge things in a reasonable way,

C．These activities are meaningful and fulfilling.

D．It can take over your life and hold you back from truly living.

E．This will help you make more time for yourself and reduce stress.

F．You can challenge your worries and anxieties by taking them apart.

G．Worrying does not rid tomorrow of its troubles but rids today of its strengths.

6 . Nostalgia (怀旧) has become increasingly common in our current climate of accelerated, unexpected change. More and more Americans are turning back with longing to what feels like simpler, sweeter times. They collect cassette tapes, manual typewriters even decades-old video games.

Is it a mistake to get too obsessed with the past? Some psychologists warn that too much devotion to the so-called good old days is an escape from reality; it can indicate loneliness or that a person is having a difficult time coping in the present. Psychologist Stephanie Coontz argues that nostalgia distracts us from addressing the problems of modern life and contribute to anxiety, depression , insomnia etc.

But new studies suggest that a modest dose of nostalgia is not only harmless, but actually beneficial. They suggest it helps strengthen our sense of identity and makes us feel more optimistic and inspired. It is also a tool for self — discovery and memories are a psychological immune response that is triggered when you want to take a break from negativity. Interestingly, those happy memories can be particularly beneficial both to kids in their teens and to society's elders. Recalling our childhood reminds us of “the times when we were accepted and loved unconditionally," says Krystine Batcho, a psychologist. "That is such a powerfully comforting phenomenon, knowing that there was a time in life when we didn't have to earn our love." Nostalgia can transform even the most ordinary past into legends which warms the heart and the body. Let's not forget that nostalgia has been a source of inspiration to innumerable American writers. Mark Twain recalled his boyhood, writing, "after all these years, I can picture that old time to myself now, just as it was then： The white town drowsing in the sunshine of a summer's morning."

So go ahead, daydream a little about your best childhood friend, your first car, a long - gone family pct. As Dr. Sedikides says， "Nostalgia is absolutely central to human experience. "But at the same time, keep these words of wisdom from the great inventor Charles Kettering in mind as well： "You can't have a better tomorrow if you are thinking about yesterday all the time. "

1. What did some psychologists in paragraph 2 probably agree?

A．Nostalgia will cause some mental problems.

B．Nostalgia makes us devoted to the good old days.

C．Nostalgia shows you are trying to get rid of loneliness.

D．Nostalgia helps us cope with the difficult time we are going through.

2. There are many benefits of nostalgia except   ________

A．It can enable us to know ourselves better.

B．It can bring us some comfort when we recall.

C．We are likely to gain attention if we recall the happy childhood.

D．We can sometimes break away from negativity with happy memories.

3. What will be talked about in the following paragraph?

A．The bad influence of too much devotion to nostalgia.

B．The reasons why we should avoid nostalgia.

C．The bad memories that always stick around you.

D．The great changes nostalgia will bring to you.

4. What's the best title of the passage?

A．We all have a soft spot for nostalgia.

B．Nostalgia is actually good for you.

C．Don't be carried away by nostalgia.

D．There are many times when we like to recall.