1 . Shyness is normal and it is not considered as a mental problem. All people have been shy at one time or another. Even the most confident people experienced being shy.     1    .

You probably are wondering why you are shy. It may be because of the environment you were used to or the way you were brought up. Certain events or incidents in the past may also lead to the reason why you are shy now.     2     Most shy people have shy parents and relatives and it is not surprising to find out that they too have become shy persons.

One of the negative sides of being shy is having the tendency to be passive. Most of the time shy people can’t stand up for themselves and what they believe is right.     3    This apparently influences their social life as well as work, family and other aspects of their life.

While shyness has negative aspects, it has positive sides. Shy people are usually good observers and do not get themselves into too much trouble because they try to observe their environment or any situation before they act.     4     They can also make great friends. Since they have difficulties in social scenes, making friends seems to be a must. Therefore, they value their friends wholeheartedly and have proven to be loyal and thoughtful friends.

    5     Some of them born with shy parents have successfully battled against being shy. This contributes to their constant self-improvement, developing self-esteem and trying to be exposed to new environments.

A．But in most cases, shyness proves to be genetic.

B．They are sensitive and accustomed to getting suspicious.

C．Because some people are born to be shy, they let it go hang.

D．So if you’re feeling shy, don’t worry because you are not alone.

E．They are not hot-headed and think twice before making any decisions.

F．Although shyness is something from birth, it can be improved over time.

G．They avoid crowds by nature and stay away from groups and social interactions.

2 . Life can be wonderful, but realistically, it isn’t always so, no matter how hard you try.     1    . However, it mostly depends on the amount of effort you put in. And what about bad things? The mere fact of living means you’ll go through hard times, that you won’t always get what you want, and you’ll need resilience to get through it.

Resilience is the ability to adapt to adversity (逆境) in a positive way. Resilient people are those who can become strengthened by difficult situations.     2    . Resilience involves, among other things, being able to effectively regulate your emotions. This will allow you to face difficult situations and overcome obstacles.

Another great thing about resilience is that it is not determined by genetics or personality.     3    . Instead, it develops throughout your life as you interact with your environment.

To maximize your resilience, you need to know which factors influence it, both personal and environmental. That way, you can work on each factor and learn how to adapt to adversity in a positive way.

    4    . Obviously, this doesn’t just occur immediately after an unfortunate event. It’s a gradual process that comes with time and often, the help of a qualified psychologist.

Next, it’s important to be able to see the good side of the situation. In other words, be optimistic — just don’t forget to be realistic. You shouldn’t focus on the negative things and forget about the positive,     5    .

Lastly, having a sense of humor can help to improve your resilience greatly. Being able to laugh at yourself or the situation is a worthwhile tool that helps you adapt to different obstacles.

A．but nobody is born knowing how to adapt

B．Some good things will happen purely by chance

C．First of all, you have to accept what has happened

D．Firstly, you should keep all external factors in mind

E．But it’s more than just “seeing the good side of things”

F．That is, you’re not born with a limited capacity for resilience

G．but you also shouldn’t elevate the positive to an impossible level

3 . When life is stressful, it’s very easy to give in to feelings of anger or depression.     1     Here are some ways that can help you better deal with a wide range of negative emotions.

·Acknowledge your feelings.

Dealing with negative emotions can be difficult. But it’s important to allow yourself to experience those emotions. Suppressing(抑制)them can cause stress.     2     For example, if you are feeling nervous, ask yourself, “What am I afraid of?” Acknowledging the issue can help you figure out how to handle it.

·Change your environment.

    3     Try changing your space to make it a more calming place. For example, if your negative emotions arise from feeling out of control, try organizing your space. Clearing up the mess can make you feel on top of things.

    4    

When you know that something is causing a negative emotion, try to shift your focus away from that situation. For example, if you are stuck in a traffic jam and running late, listen to your favorite CD. Focusing on something positive can help to calm you down.

·Talk about your feelings.

Talking about your negative emotions is very productive. It is a good idea to let your loved ones know your feelings. Try saying, “I’ve been really stressed out lately. Do you have time to talk things through with me?”     5     It’s fine to express anger or frustration, but do so without shouting.

A．It’s time to figure out what causes them.

B．Shift your focus away from the bad thing.

C．Be calm and reasonable while you are talking.

D．You don’t have to put too much effort into them.

E．When you experience a negative emotion, acknowledge it.

F．However, you will be more productive if you can handle them.

G．Small changes can have a big impact on your emotional health.

4 . How to Learn from Your Regrets

Regret’s benefits don’t come to us by chance.     1     . Here are three steps you can take the next time you find yourself thinking carefully about your past missteps.

Kill the ghost (鬼魂).

People often say their regrets keep coming to their mind. This suggests that regret is like a ghost. Bring your ghost out of the shadows by making a list of your regrets. Write down why each one still bothers you and its bad effects.     2    .

Forgive yourself.

    3    , but sometimes you just can’t stop blaming yourself. Perhaps you dropped out of school decades ago and are constantly calculating today how much money you would be making if you had pressed on to graduation. Now is the time to declare: “I will not waste my life reliving a decision that cannot be changed.”

Collect your diploma.

Regret is like a school run by human nature. If you never experienced regret, you would keep repeating the same behaviors that led you to miss opportunities.     4    . Next. list all the ways that you can invest in your own skills and improvement right now — and get started.

Regrets may hurt.     5    , while trying to live without them is a lost opportunity to grow. Life is a journey full of pleasures and pains. To live it well and fully means learning from every bit of it, including the mistakes, and moving forward.

A．After you make a mistake, life moves on

B．Filling your mind with them is destructive

C．The ghost certainly doesn’t rule a person’s life

D．We have to seek them out on purpose to improve ourselves

E．You will find that a list is a lot less frightening than a ghost

F．You choose a life sentence for a poor decision you made in the past

G．If you let regret teach, you can note how you want to change your behavior

5 . Finding the words to explain how you feel isn’t always easy. This is why young people’s mental health charity has made “My Voice Matters” the theme of this year’s Children’s Mental Health Week.

    1    

Do you have trouble sharing your thoughts or worry no one will listen if you do? Making your voice heard means understanding that your words matter and your opinions count. Dr Julia Clements, a psychologist, says that it means expressing your views, thoughts and feelings, not bottling them all up, and being open to hearing the thoughts, feelings and views of others too.     2     In fact you don’t have to use your voice at all. “You can express what you like and don’t like or what you want for the future by writing or drawing instead,” says Clements. “It’s about finding ways to share what matters to you,” she explains.

Why is it important?

    3     Scientists have discovered that sharing your feelings produces a feel-good chemical in your brain that makes you feel relaxed and calm. Your voice can make a big difference to other people too, including friends and families. Clements says, “You can spread kindness and happiness simply by speaking. With a few kind words, you could help someone feel good about themselves or let them know they are supported.”     4    

How can you find your voice?

Clements suggests practising conversations with friends, parents or carers on the way home from school and seeing if you have different opinions about something. If you’re struggling to explain your feelings, find a way that feels right for you, whether it’s talking face-to-face or writing it down.     5     When you’re ready, “Take a deep breath and believe in yourself,” says Clements. “Know that your opinion matters.”

A．What does speaking up mean?

B．What are the benefits of speaking up?

C．Making yourself heard isn’t about shouting the loudest.

D．Don’t be afraid to ask questions if you are confused about something.

E．Everyone has their own unique way of processing and sharing their feelings.

F．Sharing your feelings with a person you trust will help you make sense of them.

G．Words have the power to uplift someone’s spirits and make a positive impact on their day.

6 . A video of a tearful young man bursting with joy, pride and gratitude during his high school graduation recently went popular. Dontrail Spencer was _______ holding his diploma and screaming out the names of his teachers and family members who had _______ him along the way. They had been encouraging him to keep his eyes on the _______ and to push through the _______days.

None of us can _______ life without encouragement — _______ from a parent, best friend, school teacher or spiritual leader. Their _______ keeps us going and believing in ourselves. When someone gives you encouragement, you are given the _______ to do something important. You are made _______.

Even volunteers like myself ________words of encouragement. Back in February, I was in my fifth week as a community volunteer during the pandemics (大流行病). I don’t ________ meeting Grace, a lady who had been very ________ and in the hospital. But one morning I ________ an email from her: Thank you and all involved for keeping our community and life moving forward. It makes me sad that our ________ a relationship has been so limited. I enjoy your Wednesday chorus and ________ find you inspirational. I’m ________ to be part of it Love, Grace.

A few days later I received a call that she had ________. Grace was nearing the end of her life, but she took time to encourage me. Every time I read her email, I’m ________ by her words. When we encourage one another — everybody ________. Be generous in your ________. We all need in it. Some now more than ever.

1.

A．noticed

B．monitored

C．filmed

D．heard

2.

A．helped

B．trained

C．warned

D．informed

3.

A．grades

B．goals

C．achievement

D．interests

4.

A．strange

B．old

C．tough

D．regular

5.

A．make use of

B．pay attention to

C．give up

D．get through

6.

A．simply

B．especially

C．completely

D．originally

7.

A．patience

B．attention

C．service

D．support

8.

A．courage

B．task

C．money

D．advice

9.

A．healthier

B．warmer

C．smarter

D．stronger

10.

A．prepare

B．need

C．convey

D．choose

11.

A．remember

B．succeed

C．practice

D．appreciate

12.

A．hopeless

B．ordinary

C．sick

D．sensitive

13.

A．recorded

B．expected

C．evaluated

D．received

14.

A．ending

B．building

C．controlling

D．accepting

15.

A．directly

B．occasionally

C．truly

D．causally

16.

A．qualified

B．suitable

C．eager

D．grateful

17.

A．moved out

B．woken up

C．passed away

D．fallen over

18.

A．inspired

B．bothered

C．cheated

D．changed

19.

A．agrees

B．wins

C．cheers

D．hesitates

20.

A．encouragement

B．wealth

C．sympathy

D．time

7 . Self-esteem (自尊) is the ruling view you have of yourself. This includes your beliefs about your inner qualities and how you think others see you. Self-esteem is not always rooted in reality, though.     1    .

Having a healthy self-esteem means seeing yourself in a positive way.     2    . Self-esteem does not equal arrogance. Arrogance, on the other hand, refers to being overly confident about your qualities (regardless of their actual quality). It is actually more commonly associated with someone having low self-esteem. They will tell you how much everyone loves them, what a great job they do at work, and how amazing they are at pretty everything under the sun even though they really wonder if it’s true.

    3    . Surround yourself with people who love themselves. Set small, attainable goals to accomplish. Write a list of your talents, skills, and achievements. Remember that people are not perfect and what’s most important is that you’re trying. Keep houseplants or a small garden so you can see success and how valuable you are overtime (as they grow, so does your confidence). With practice and perseverance, you will win this internal struggle to see yourself-worth.

In serious cases of low self-esteem, you may call in a professional who can help people understand their thought patterns and how those patterns are contributing to problems.     4    . This process, overtime, can help you develop a deeper sense of your own capabilities (outside previously limited beliefs).

Your past doesn’t seal your future. While it’s true that your painful past can change the way you see yourself, it’s just as much the case that your mind can be changed again. You have the power to shape a new self-perception. It will take some work but your entire life will be touched with the power that only comes from someone believing in themselves.     5    , you can improve yourself-esteem and see how everything else changes as a result.

A．With some lifestyle changes and support

B．The real test is whether they can learn from their mistakes

C．Some ideas to build yourself-esteem may include as follows

D．You see your faults first when thinking about things you've done

E．It’s about having a stable sense of your capabilities and a deep trust in yourself

F．He helps to treatment al problems and relieve symptoms of low self-esteem

G．Understanding self-esteem better might be the key to unlocking your own self-worth.

8 . My sister and I couldn’t be more different. I’m louder and taller. She’s quieter and shorter. When we were young, I sped through Michigan forests on my bike while she read Nancy Drew books. My sister, who is 14 months older than me, and I have always gotten along, but for years we weren’t especially friendly and spoke only when necessary.

Twelve years ago, our father had a stroke (中风). Soon our mother was seriously ill. I managed all the day-to-day caretaking; from afar, my sister offered suggestions which made me feel she was unsatisfied with me. Our mother died in 2015.

Last year I suddenly wanted to watch Chinese TV dramas (电视剧). That felt natural. When I was young, my mother and her friends would share videos of TV dramas sent from China. Perhaps these dramas were her only connection to her early years in China.

I started with one of the most popular dramas—“The Story of Yanxi Palace.” I was amazed at the beautiful clothes, detailed settings and excellent performances (表演). One afternoon, I decided to text my sister what I might have told my mother about the drama. At that point, my sister and I only texted once every few months, usually to discuss our father’s caretaking. Surprisingly, she began to watch along with me. Soon we were live texting as we watched.

Our interest grew until we were watching other dramas, like the hit “GO Ahead.” The more dramas we watched, the more conversations we had. Over the past year, my sister and I have watched so many Chinese dramas together that I’ve lost count.

2020 has been a long year of repeated losses for us all, but amid these losses, I’ve found a lost sister. I never could have imagined how Chinese dramas could help me get back to my Chinese roots (根), or how dramas would help me build a new relationship with my sister.

1. What was the young author’s relationship with her sister like?

A．Rather cold.

B．Very difficult.

C．Very close.

D．Quite changeable.

2. What made the author start to watch Chinese TV dramas?

A．The influence of her sister.	B．Her mother’s love for them.
C．Her dream of learning Chinese.	D．The popularity of Chinese TV shows.

3. What did the author text her sister that afternoon?

A．Her sadness at losing their mother.	B．Her interest in watching a TV drama.
C．Her plan to better look after their father.	D．Her views on a Chinese live show.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．How different my sister and I could be

B．Why TV dramas from China are popular

C．Why I have come to believe in family love again

D．How Chinese dramas helped me connect with my sister