1 . How to Deal with Academic Failure

Experiencing failure in academic settings is inevitable in your journey to study. However, once you get through it, you can bounce back from almost any academic failure.

Adopt the proper mindset

The proper mentality plays a big part in dealing with academic failure.     1    , focus on how you will feel when you have mastered the areas that give you trouble. Stop thinking of yourself as a failure, and regard yourself as a person with a fixable problem. The problem is an opportunity, because how a person responds to a problem is what creates success or failure.

    2    

Consider the troubles of chaotic personal relationships and stress. They are the most common external factor making students' academic performance suffer.    3    . Activities including sports, partying, or arts are social distractions that are also a common source of academic struggle. Disorganization is a huge factor. Making an inventory of upcoming assignments work as well.

Bounce back

    4    . Were your grades good and then suddenly fall, slowly decline, or are they changeable? If they slowly declined, this probably indicates a lack of proficiency in a foundational skill set. If your grades suddenly fall, then that can be indicative of the sudden presence of a troublesome external factor, like moving to a new school.

Once you have determined that, you need to develop a plan of action. Try to study at the same times and same places each day, so it becomes a routine. Enlist someone to help you stay accountable to your plan of action.    5    .

A．Identify the trouble spots

B．Analyze extracurricular commitments

C．Achieving academic goals is vitally important

D．Instead of judging yourself for past shortcomings

E．Only by recognizing your problems weren't created overnight

F．Look at the history of your grades and determine the overall trend

G．Talk to a friend, family member or teacher about helping you stay on track

2 . Have you ever felt numb, overwhelmed, or excessively anxious after seeing the flooding of suffering shown on the news, Internet, and social media? I know I have — and I recently learned that this feeling has a name: compassion fatigue (疲劳).

For decades, researchers have studied compassion fatigue among health care workers, therapists, social workers, vets, and other people who are frequently exposed to other people’s trauma at work. Over time, they can develop emotional exhaustion or even PTSD-like (类创伤后应激障碍) symptoms—including difficulty sleeping, anxiety, and feeling triggered by troubling stories or memories—as a result of immersing themselves in the problems of others, studies show.

While compassion fatigue hasn’t been widely studied among the general population, experts agreed that it can affect anyone, even those who are witnessing trauma from afar. That means almost everyone is at risk these days, because of ongoing conflicts even wars between countries, frequent gun violence, and other difficult world events that are all over the news and social media. Triggers (诱因) vary from person to person, experts say, so there’s no way to know for sure what will cause compassion fatigue. If you are reacting more strongly than usual to difficult situations—perhaps by yelling at others or growing angry when you’re usually level, you may be experiencing compassion fatigue.

To protect yourself from compassion fatigue, the experts recommended taking purposeful breaks from the news to focus on personal wellnes — such as by spending time outdoors and with loved ones — and finding ways to give back to your community and remember the good in humanity.

1. What does the underlined word "trauma" mean?

A．Dilemma.

B．Fear.

C．Embarrassment.

D．Injury.

2. Which of the following is NOT a symptom of compassion fatigue?

A．Being lost in the possible failures.

B．Having difficulty in sleeping well.

C．Involving themselves in others’ pain.

D．Feeling much worried about something.

3. What does the author want to tell us in paragraph 3?

A．Everyone is possibly affected by compassion fatigue.

B．Compassion fatigue has been researched worldwide.

C．Social media is the main cause of compassion fatigue.

D．Bad-tempered people are easier to experience compassion fatigue.

4. What do the experts advise readers with compassion fatigue to do?

A．Pay more attention to good news.

B．Read plenty of books on humanity.

C．Stay with the ones like parents and friends.

D．Make every effort to build a better community.

3 . Women interpret emojis differently to men, research suggests. Scientists say this is because these small digital emojis, used to express an idea or emotion, can be ambiguous and be understood differently by different people.

The researchers recruited 523 adults (49% men and 51% women) to review 24 different emojis. Each emoji — taken from Apple, Windows, Android, and WeChat platforms — represented one of the six emotional states labelled by the team: happy, disgusted, fearful, sad, surprised, and angry.

They found women were able to more accurately interpret happy, fearful, sad and angry emoji labels compared to men. No gender differences were observed for surprised or disgusted emoji, the team said. Dr Ruth Filik, associate professor in the School of Psychology at The University of Nottingham, said: “What I found most interesting and surprising is that there are so many individual differences in how people interpret these emojis.

“It is important to note that the results reflect how often participants labelled the emoji in the same way as the researchers. So, we should think of the results in terms of there being differences across people in how they interpret emojis, rather than some people being better at it than others. We should keep these differences in mind when using emojis in our messages.”

The researchers said that those emojis can add both slight differences as well as potential ambiguity to messages sent via texts, emails or even social media. To understand more about how emojis are interpreted, the team recruited 270 people from the UK and 253 from China, who were aged between 18 to 84 years old.

Each emoji was assigned an emotion label by the researchers, which they say may not correspond exactly with the emoji as used in real life. In addition to gender, the team also found age to play a role in how emoji are interpreted, with younger adults faring better than the older ones in matching the emoji with their assigned labels. Those in the UK were also better at labelling the emoji in the same way as the researchers compared to their Chinese counterparts.

The researchers say ambiguity of emojis is worth further research, “especially when communicating across gender, age, or cultures.”

1. Which aspect of the team’s research is NOT mentioned in paragraph 2 and 3?

A．Its participants.

B．Its samples.

C．Its conclusion.

D．Its significance.

2. What lesson did researchers learn from their findings?

A．Researchers are not better at labelling emojis than participants.

B．Females are better at perceiving the meanings of emojis than males.

C．Proper caution is necessary when sending emojis to different people.

D．Males and females have different understandings of disgusted emojis.

3. What is the value of the research involving 523 people from UK and China?

A．To make ambiguous emojis have concrete and clear meanings.

B．To explore how emojis are interpreted by extending research angles.

C．To figure out how young adults do well in matching emojis with labels.

D．To prove that Britons are better at labelling emojis than Chinese people.

4. What is the suitable title of the passage?

A．Ambiguity of emojis deserves further research.

B．Age and culture play a role in how emojis are perceived.

C．Secrets behind different understandings towards emojis.

D．Pay attention to differences of emojis when sending messages.

4 . Slowing Down Racing Thoughts

Everyone has moments when their brain suddenly goes messy. When racing thoughts take over your mind, you can’t stay focused, and you feel trapped. How can you keep racing thoughts from controlling you? Here are five tips to try.

Give yourself permission. Racing thoughts are often made worse by the anxiety over having racing thoughts.     1     This gives you a sense of control so you don’t feel helpless. When you put racing thoughts in their proper context, they feel less threatening and easier to manage.

Distract (分心) yourself. As soon as you notice yourself worrying again or thinking about things over and over, make an inside comment on yourself, like “here I go again, with my list of thoughts that never ends”.     2    

Get mindful. Practicing mindfulness can help change your thought patterns.     3     Close your eyes and count to yourself as you take slow, steady breaths. When you reach 10, start over and repeat the process until you calm down.

Get moving.     4     For instance, when racing thoughts strike, do a set of push-ups, do 10 jumping jacks, take a five-minute walk, or do household chores. Also, try to build regular exercise into your life as well as these short bursts of activity. That can help relieve anxiety and stress.

    5     Sometimes it’s best to let racing thoughts run their course; otherwise, they may wander indefinitely. When anxious racing thoughts occur, recognize them, but tell yourself that now is not worry time and you will deal with them later. Then at a fixed time of your choosing, do nothing but explore those thoughts and work through them.

A．Fight for them.

B．Schedule worry time.

C．For instance, try counting your breaths.

D．Exercise is helpful for reducing anxiety.

E．To escape this, allow yourself to experience them.

F．Then do something else, like reading or listening to music.

G．People who struggle with racing thoughts are constantly worried.

5 . Air travel might feel like no big deal for some people.     1     So, what should you do if you find yourself experiencing anxiety during a flight?

·Investigate the root cause of your fear.

    2     In fact, the fear of flying is often caused by fear of other things, like being in an enclosed space or something bad happening in the air. Once you figure out what causes your anxiety about flying, you can focus on overcoming that specific fear.

·Focus on a breathing exercise.

Clinical psychologist Kevin Chapman recommended taking slow breaths in through your nose and then breathing out through your mouth. Place your hand on your stomach to feel the breath going in and out.     3     This will help relieve your stress and anxiety by calming your nervous system.

·     4    

Before you travel, try thinking about what might bring you comfort if you start to feel a sense of panic during the flight. Finding an engaging activity will take your attention away from the anxiety. Try a crossword puzzle, read a novel, watch a movie or get through a pile of paperwork.

If you find yourself getting anxious before a scheduled flight or experiencing panic once on board, you may be dealing with a fear of flying.     5     They can guide you in adopting effective strategies to manage this fear. Don't feel embarrassed to talk about these feelings, as they're actually quite common.

A．Create a list of calming statements.

B．Rely on a relaxing outlet or distraction.

C．However, for others, it can cause a lot of anxiety.

D．Try to count it out and repeat the cycle multiple times.

E．More often than not, it's not the flying itself you're actually afraid of.

F．You can talk to your doctor or a mental health professional for advice.

G．When this happens, overcome your fear of flying with the exciting prospect of going somewhere fun.

6 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. Why did the brothers grow apart?

A．They had different hobbies.

B．They stopped living in the same house.

C．They no longer spent much time together.

2. How does the man feel now?

A．Regretful.

B．Hurt.

C．Angry.

3. What does the woman suggest the man do about the problem?

A．Leave his brother alone.

B．Try talking to his brother.

C．Invite his brother to hang out.

7 . Most of us look forward to the weekend as a time to relax, connect with friends and family, and tackle items from a to do list that gets neglected during the work week. But as the weekend comes to an end, many of us are missing out on Sunday Funday and instead experiencing a sense of anxiety and even worry about the upcoming week.     1     Here is how experts say you can ease your end of week anxiety.

Identify your anxiety source

Anxiety is a normal human experience and one of the main ways to manage it is to identify your personal causes.     2     Create multiple to do lists. One list for tasks that need to be completed immediately, another for tasks that are less urgent, and a final list for tasks that you’d like to complete at some point.

Don’t forget to relax

When structuring your Sunday, try not to put in too many routine tasks.     3     Maybe a body scan meditation(冥想), maybe a mid-afternoon shower or bath, maybe an engaging movie or show, whatever feels like a helpful distraction(分心的事)to recover from the scaries.

Create some excitement for the week ahead

Having something to look forward to gives you something to think about what is pleasing rather than only focusing on the fright you feel. Instead of focusing on awful things you expect from the week, build excitement over a coffee or lunch date with a friend you have been meaning to catch up with.     4    

Structure your day

    5     Maybe that means planning some favourite foo ds to enjoy while watching football. Or maybe you go all in for some self-care. Do you best to honor this time and make Sunday night all about you leave the work emails for Monday morning.

A．End your Sunday with the right energy.

B．Even though the Sunday scaries are common, they are manageable.

C．Try to find out what is really causing you to feel frightened this week.

D．Make Sunday nights about doing something for yourself to reduce the anxiety.

E．When you’re engaging in what makes you feel good, that feeling is hard to hold on to.

F．If you’re feeling more stress in general, it’s important to make space for relaxing activities.

G．This gives you the opportunity to shift your thought s to something fun and will help improve your mood.

8 . It is natural for us teenagers to feel upset.     1     Here I am offering some useful suggestions.

•Move your body.

    2     Have you ever noticed that you feel happier and have a sense of achievement after a good workout? That’s because working out creates endorphins — body chemicals that make us feel happy. No matter how low you are feeling, your mood will get a well-deserved boost (改善) after a workout. Exercise also helps you keep your heart in shape, makes you stronger and helps you stay at a healthy weight. And exercise is totally fun — and it’s great for your self-esteem, too.

•Talk about it.

    3     Friends’ ears can be a great source of support since you’re all in the same boat. And don’t forget your mom — she was once a teenager as well and may understand more than you realize. Even talking to your pet can help — just saying things out loud can help you see things differently and calm you down.

•Laugh a lot.

Humour can rescue you from an upset moment or make you feel better when you’re in an unpleasant mood. No matter what’s going on, the ability to laugh at yourself and your situation is really important.     4     It’s true! Using your smile muscles tells your brain to make more endorphins and that boosts your mood.

•Cry — it’s okay!

Sometimes the only way to get out of your feelings is to cry — so go ahead! Shut yourself in your room and cry your eyes out! No one says you have to be happy all the time.     5    

A．Why not pack up your suitcase and take a trip?

B．We can’t say enough good things about exercise.

C．But still we should find ways to manage our feelings.

D．So smile at whatever is happening and choose to be happy.

E．And do you know just smiling can help better your mood?

F．When you are done, you’ll be ready to face the world again.

G．Don’t hold in all those feelings until you are ready to explode.

9 . JOMO refers to the “joy of missing out” — in short, unplugging from all media, practicing self-care, reconnecting to the present moment, and learning to appreciate the inner peace of being alone. JOMO is especially important for digital natives.     1       They have grown up in a world where social media is an essential part of their lives. Unplugging (拔掉电源插头) from the devices can help by giving us a break from the cruel social comparison that may be at the root of a lot of the anxiety. The following strategies can help you find joy in missing out.

Make a list of activities you really enjoy doing.

Post it in an accessible place so that at a moment’s notice, you’ve got a reminder of activities that bring you joy.     2    

Take regular tech breaks.

A lot of FOMO (fear of missing out) is generated by scrolling through social media and the resulting social comparisons that inevitably happen.     3     Ground yourself in the present moment.

Invest in offline connections with others.

This can include family, partners, friends, and neighbors.     4     A brief on-site activity is a better way to build meaningful relationships than investing untold nights in connecting with relative strangers online.

    5    

This is often the most difficult thing to do for those with demanding fast-paced lives, but it’s essential to stay well and to take care of ourselves. It might be a solo nature walk, a warm bath, meditation, or soothing music — whatever makes you feel more comfortable in your own skin.

A．Include them in your day.

B．Make time for personal care.

C．Unplug for a set time each day.

D．It doesn’t have to be a huge amount of time.

E．Comparison can also become inner motivation.

F．They have never known life without social media.

G．They can overwhelm our minds and leave us feeling exhausted.

10 . More than half of the world’s population are city residents, and, by 2050, the United Nations predicts that seven in ten people will be. Architects are having to consider how architecture influences our emotional well-being in urban settings.

According to Colin Ellard, a research psychologist at Waterloo University, Canada, there is a lot of evidence which shows “the profound impact that the design of buildings has on how we feel, how we treat one another, and our overall psychological well-being”. A study from the University of Heidelberg concluded that people raised in the countryside are less likely to have mental disorders than those raised in the city. The city of Vancouver in Canada, which is surrounded by mountains and ocean, recognises the need to connect with nature. It has included protecting ocean and mountain views in its urban planning guidelines. For example, tall buildings are set up in strategic locations that don’t block scenic views for downtown residents.

The British designer Thomas Heatherwick wants to make architecture less soulless and boring. He told The Guardian, “We need to fearlessly demand interestingness and make buildings that enrich our senses.” He has listed seven characteristics of a boring building. These include being too flat and straight. He says lack of depth means light and shadow cannot play on surfaces, while straight lines are at odds with nature and make buildings dull.

However, making buildings interesting is not always easy, as architect Rafael Vinoly found out in 2013 when he created the 37-store y skyscraper in London. The building was admired for its curved exterior walls covered in reflective glass. However, it acted like a magnifying glass and reflected light which melted nearby cars and almost set fire to a carpet. A screen had to be added to prevent the building causing further damage.

So, for your own well-being, surround yourself with buildings that bring you joy, and ideally a view of nature.

1. Why are tall buildings located in certain places in Vancouver?

A．To protect people’s mental health.	B．To follow the tradition of the city.
C．To caution people against disorder.	D．To reveal the prosperity of the area.

2. Which kind of building is Thomas’ preference?

A．One with straight lines.	B．One having flat surfaces.
C．One having a security system.	D．One with innovative patterns.

3. What did Rafael Vinoly fail to consider in his design?

A．Boldness.

B．Creativity.

C．Practicality.

D．Flexibility.

4. What is the purpose of the passage?

A．To call on people to live in big cities.

B．To compare buildings in different cities.

C．To stress the importance of healthy emotion.

D．To convince people of emotional impact by buildings.