1 . Finland was known as a rather quiet country. Since 2008, the Country Brand Delegation (国家品牌代表团) has been looking for a national brand that would make some noise to market the country as a world-famous tourist destination. In 2010, the Delegation issued a “Country Brand Report,” which highlighted a host of marketable themes, including Finland’s famous educational system. One key theme was brand new: silence. As the report explained, modern society often seems intolerably loud and busy. “Silence is a resource,” it said.
Silence first appeared in scientific research as a control or baseline, against which scientists compare the effects of noise or music. Researchers have mainly studied it by accident, as physician Luciano Bernardi did in his study of the physiological (生理学) effects of music. “We didn’t think about the effect of silence,” he said. Bernardi observed two dozen test subjects while they listened to six musical tracks. He found that the impacts of music could be read directly in the bloodstream, via changes in blood pressure, carbon dioxide, and circulation in the brain. “During almost all sorts of music, there was a physiological change with a condition of arousal (兴奋),” he explained.
This effect made sense, given that active listening requires attention. But the more striking finding appeared between musical tracks. Bernardi and his colleagues discovered that randomly added stretches of silence also had a great effect, but in the opposite direction. In fact, two-minute silent pauses proved far more relaxing than either “relaxing” music or a longer silence played before the experiment started. The blank pauses that Bernardi had considered irrelevant, in other words, became the most interesting object of study. Silence seemed to be heightened by contrasts, maybe because it gave test subjects a release from careful attention. “Perhaps the arousal is something that concentrates the mind in one direction, so that when there is nothing more arousing, then you have deeper relaxation,” he said.
This finding is reinforced by neurological (神经系统的) research. Relevant research shows when our brains rest quietly, they integrate external and internal information into “a conscious (意识的) workspace.” Freedom from noise and goal-directed tasks, it appears, unites the quiet without and within, allowing our conscious workspace to do its thing to discover where we fit in.
Noora Vikman, a consultant on silence for Finland’s marketers, knows silence well. Living in a remote and quiet place in Finland, she discovers thoughts and feelings that aren’t detectable in her busy daily life. “If you want to know yourself, you have to be with yourself, and discuss with yourself, and be able to talk with yourself.”
1. Why does the author mention the Country Brand Report in Paragraph 1?| A．To present how Finland viewed silence. |
| B．To highlight the need of noise in Finland. |
| C．To explain why Finland issued the brands. |
| D．To indicate the authority of the Delegation. |
| A．It challenged the calming effect of music. |
| B．It emphasized the role of silence between sounds. |
| C．It illustrated the loss of attentiveness after silence. |
| D．It stated brains’ information processing in the quiet. |
| A．doubtful | B．supportive | C．disapproving | D．unconcerned |
| A．Silence: A Limited Resource | B．Silence: A Misunderstood Tool |
| C．Silence: The Unexpected Power | D．Silence: The Value by Contrasts |
注意：
1. 续写词数应为150左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
I was backpacking in Panama over Christmas in 2018, and planned to climb Volcán Barú. It is one of the only places on earth from where you can see the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans at the same time.
I set off before sunrise. It was a bit cold, so I had pulled on leggings under my trousers. I’ve always felt safe travelling as a solo (单独) woman. I love the freedom. When I got to the base at 7 am, the ranger (护林员) was unwilling to let me go alone, but relented (缓和) because an American couple were behind me.
The first part of the climb was beautiful. I walked for an hour and had reached a fair height. The views were impressive, so I stopped to take a photograph. Suddenly I heard violent barking behind me.
I turned and saw two dogs running aggressively towards me. I could see their teeth looked sharp, and they looked angry. There was nowhere for me to run. I tried to keep calm, but my heart was racing. They stopped a dozen feet from where I stood and kept barking. I knew they could move fast, so I didn’t want to try to outrun them.
I kept walking, saying, “Good dog, calm down,” as evenly as possible. But I was terrified. Then one dashed up and sunk his teeth into my leg below the knee. I was shocked. He held on for a few seconds. The pain took my breath away as I felt his fangs (犬牙) in my flesh. I considered bending down to get a rock to fight him off, but was nervous in case he went for my neck or the other one launched at me.
I tried to keep walking, and he finally let go. Then he was behind me, growling (嗥叫). I kept going, my body shaking, until after about 15 minutes I was out of their sight.
When I thought it was safe, I stopped.
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A pickup truck appeared, driven by the ranger.
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3 . In the film Inside Out, 11-year-old Riley’s emotions are personified as brightly colored internal figures that drive her behaviors. The same five emotions—anger, fear, disgust (憎恶), sadness, and joy—appear in every other character’s head as well, functioning in much the same way in each individual. In Western cultures, this is the case, argues psychologist Batja Mesquita in Between Us. Emotions in such contexts, she writes, are considered “MINE,” or “Mental, INside the person, and Essentialist,” the latter defined in the book as always having the same properties.
This conception of emotion is not universal, however. Emotions elsewhere, she argues, are thought of as “OURS”—“OUtside the person, Relational, and Situated.” Using this distinction, Mesquita sets about contrasting emotions in “the West,” where the individual is the top concern, with “the Rest,” where community is prioritized.
Mesquita describes amae as a central emotion in Japanese culture, where it builds interdependence by encouraging tolerance in parenting process. She describes hasham—which includes shame, embarrassment, and social respectability—as a fundamental emotion for Egyptian Bedouins (游牧人). Such observations provide a background for her to explore a range of issues, including childhood socialization, the nature of friendship, the role of language in shaping emotions, and cross-cultural communication in a globalized world.
Despite Mesquita’s emphasis on cross-cultural emotions, there is little discussion of whether the MINE-OURS dichotomy (二分法) accurately explains global cultural variation. Other scholars have noted, for example, that hunter-gatherer societies at the same time emphasize both individual self-government and social cooperation. And in an apparent contradiction to her earlier arguments, Mesquita herself ultimately concludes that Westerners have OURS emotions.
Taken as a whole, however, the book contributes much to the discussion of the origins of emotions, presenting a remarkable collection of cross-cultural studies intermixed with personal stories about foreign residents’ struggles to reunite diverse emotional and social worlds. In chapter 8, for example, Mesquita describes an incident where she—a Dutch native living in the United States—bumped into the famous American psychologist Hazel Markus at a conference Markus helped organize. Wishing to express understanding of Markus’s workload, Mesquita declared “You look a little tired.” The remark appeared to make Markus nervous and confused but was intended as an expression of sympathy—to sympathize in Dutch is to acknowledge suffering, not offer comfort as in the US.
The book’s take-home message is fundamental: There are no natural emotions, no inborn emotions, no universal emotions. Mesquita argues that emotions are “meaning making” and “a preparation for action” and that the idea of “emotions as inner states” is a Western construct. Instead, she suggests that emotions are a “dance” cocreated between people who live in a specific cultural context at a particular historical moment.
1. In Between Us, Mesquita indicates that ______.| A．the Japanese build kids’ emotion of shame in parenting |
| B．MINE-OURS dichotomy is the very cause of cross-cultural emotions |
| C．emotions outside “the West” are considered community-centred |
| D．hunter-gatherers have both emotions of “OURS” and “MINE” |
| A．the emotion of sympathy is to offer help in Dutch culture |
| B．foreign residents from different cultures usually unite as one |
| C．as Dutch Mesquita shows her personality of warmth and caring |
| D．cross-cultural emotional exchanges probably cause misunderstanding |
| A．Family education hardly influences one’s emotions. |
| B．Sociocultural contexts largely contribute to emotions. |
| C．Western people’s emotions have no properties of OURS. |
| D．Internal factors play a vital role in shaping how we feel. |
| A．The cultural landscape of emotions | B．The cultural origin of emotions |
| C．The cultural convention of emotions | D．The cultural shock of emotions |
Hi, everyone.
Traditionally,
Of course, the events of 2020 haven’t shown a lot of respect for our traditions. In a year of so much tragedy, it can be tough to give thanks when you’re doing your best to get by. And far too many of us will have to gather around a table with an empty chair, if we were able to gather together at all.
One thing, though, we can say about 2020 is that it forced us all to cherish what is most important, what’s most meaningful in our lives. To stop taking things for granted,
Throughout this challenging year, I’ve been moved, again and again, by the sacrifices so many were willing to make on behalf of others. The healthcare professionals who risked their lives to save ours. The workers who have kept our lights on and our shelves stocked, always essential to our economy, but finally
These are exactly the leaders Michelle and I started our Foundation to support. We always thought they
What we learned in 2020 is that these emerging leaders aren’t just building a brighter future, they’re safeguarding our present. In hard times, they are the ones who’ve given me solace. It’s
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, everybody.
—Quoted from Barack Obama’s Christmas speech in 2020
Compassion involves feeling another person’s pain and wanting to take steps to help relieve their suffering. The word compassion itself derives from Latin and means “to suffer together.” It is related to other emotions such as sympathy and empathy, although the concepts have some key differences. Empathy refers more to the general ability to feel the emotions of others. Compassion, on the other hand, is what happens when those feelings of empathy are accompanied by the desire to help. The difference between sympathy and compassion is that the former responds to suffering with sorrow and concern while the latter responds with warmth and care.
Compassion often comes in one of two forms, which vary depending on where these feelings are directed. Your experience of compassion may be either directed toward other people, or it may be directed inwardly toward yourself. On one hand, compassion is a process of connecting by identifying with another person. When you experience compassion for other people, you feel their pain and want to find a way to relieve their suffering. These feelings motivate you to take action to make the situation better. Self-compassion involves treating yourself with the same kindness that you would show to others. You will treat failures without defensiveness, and no longer beat yourself up you’re your mistakes. You will feel understanding, mindful, and accepting of yourself and your imperfections.
While some people are compassionate by nature, experts also suggest that there are steps you can take to cultivate a greater sense of compassion for both yourself and others.
Bring your attention to the situation. The first component of compassion is to become more aware of what other people are experiencing. Imagine yourself in their shoes. Being able to see things from another person’s perspective can help you gain a sense of compassion for their situation.
Let go of judgment. Focus on accepting people for who they are without criticizing or blaming the victim. Compassionate people tend to accept people as they are and avoid judgement.
Practice mindfulness. Mindfulness is a practice of focusing on the present, becoming more aware of your own thoughts, and observing these thoughts. Research suggests that mindfulness-based interventions can be effective for improving self-compassion.
1. According to the passage, what is the difference between compassion and empathy?2. Generally, how many forms does compassion have and what are they?
3. Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.
➢ Compassionate people like making judgement of other people, and some of them are compassionate by nature.
4. Do you think the sense of compassion is important in your life? Why or why not?(In about 40 words)
6 . About 50 years ago, the famous British band The Beatles sang that “money can’t buy me love”. Today, British economists are saying that it perhaps can’t buy you happiness cither. This is showed by the Happy Planet Index (HPI 快乐指数) published recently by the New Economics Foundation (NEF) in London.
The index is about how well countries are using their resources. It shows how well they provide people with better health and longer and happier lives, and at what cost to their environment.
It would seem to be common sense that people in richer countries live happier lives, while those in developing countries are having a harder time. But the results are surprising, even shocking. The numbers show that some of the so-called developed countries are performing very badly. The United States, for example, ranks number 150th. On the other hand, some little-known developing countries are doing a much better job. A tiny island in the Pacific, Vanuatu, comes in first. There are 178 countries and areas in the index. China ranks number 31.
Countries are graded on the basis of information supplied in response to the following questions. How do people feel about their lives? How long does an average person live? How greatly does a country need to use its natural resources to maintain its living standards? This is what the index calls the “ecological footprint”.
The NEF found that the people of island nations enjoy the highest HPI rankings. Their populations live happier and longer lives, and use fewer resources.
The results also seem to show that it is possible to live longer, happier lives with a much smaller environment impact. The index points out that people in the US and Germany enjoy similar lives.
“However, Germany’s ecological footprint is only about half that of the US. This means that Germany is around twice as efficient as the US at producing happy lives,” says Nic Marks, head of NEF’s Center for well-being.
So the Happy Planet Index (HPI) tells us a brand-new concept of understanding “being happy”. HPI figures out different countries or individuals’ HPI through their “Ecological Footprint” and “Life Satisfaction Level” or “Life Expectancy”. Clearly, people’s HPI is related to their consumption of the resources on the earth.
You can find out your own HPI by visiting http: //www, happyplanetindex.org.
1. The passage is mainly about __________.| A．in which country people feel the happiest |
| B．why money can’t buy you happiness |
| C．what index can influence people’s happiness |
| D．what Happy Planet Index is |
| A．the richness of natural resources |
| B．the efficiency of energy consumption |
| C．the development of economy |
| D．the life expectancy of the people |
| A．The happiest countries listed in the index are quite different from those expected. |
| B．Developing countries are having & hard time reaching the top of the index. |
| C．Countries that have high HPI rankings have a greater impact on the environment. |
| D．The less happy countries depend on the developed countries’ resources. |
| A．some developed countries are performing badly ecologically |
| B．it is possible to live a happy life with fewer resources |
| C．not all the people in developed countries enjoy happy lives |
| D．history and culture play an important role in people’s lives |
Act of Memory
I was a young girl of eleven then, living in Brooklyn. My father had died unexpectedly that summer. Times was suddenly very hard for my mother, my brother, and me.
Papa had always made a big deal out of Christmas. Every Christmas, when we were about to decorate the tree, he would make a little ceremony out of taking a special little Kewpie-doll out of its box, holding it up in front of me, saying, “Maria, this doll is as old as you are.” Then he would hang it on the Christmas tree. Papa bought that little doll when I was born, and it had become a small tradition. But this Christmas we were to have no tree. My mother was a practical woman, saying it was a luxury. I thought, with quiet but strong bitterness and anger, that it had never meant as much to her as it had to Papa anyway.
We had been to church that evening and were walking back home in silence. All I could see were the tree-lit windows we passed. Their cheerful glow made my bitterness even more intense because I pictured happy families in those houses, sharing laughter, exchanging presents, talking, joking. I knew while arriving home, we would be greeted by darkened windows and endless emptiness.
As we passed my friend’s house, I asked my mother to please let me drop in for a while. She nodded. I waited until my mother and brother disappeared around the corner. Then I turned and headed for my friend’s house. Suddenly, a pile of abandoned Christmas trees from the store next to her house came into my sight. Surprised and excited, I dashed to the trees, picked out the best one and began half-dragging my treasure home. It seemed as if Papa was mixed up in this somehow. It seemed as if he was in the stars above me, in every lighted-house, in the very tree I was carrying.
注意：
1. 续写词数应为150左右;
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
When I got home, I rang the doorbell and couldn’t wait to show them the tree.
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Before going to bed, I slipped to see my tree one last time but saw my mother standing in front of it.
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8 . Noah reached for his guitar, remembering his father as he did so, thinking how much he missed him. He strummed once, adjusted the tension on two strings, then strummed again. This time it sounded about right, and he began to play.
Soft music, quiet music. He hummed for a little while at first, then began to sing as night came down around him. He played and sang until the sun was gone and the sky black. It was a little after seven when he quit, and he settled back into his chair and began to rock. By habit, he looked upward and saw Orion and the Big Dipper, Gemini and the Pole Star, twinkling in the autumn sky. He started to run the numbers in his head, then stopped. He knew he’d spent almost his entire savings on the house and would have to find a job again soon, but he pushed the thought away and decided to enjoy the remaining months of restoration without worrying about it. Besides, thinking about money usually bored him. Early on, he’d learned to enjoy simple things, things that couldn’t be bought, and he had a hard time understanding people who felt otherwise. It was another trait he got from his father.
Clem, his hound dog, came up to him then and nuzzled his hand before lying down at his feet. “Hey, girl, how’re you doing?” he asked as he patted her head, and she whined softly, her soft round eyes peering upward. A car accident had taken her leg, but she still moved well enough and kept him company on quiet nights like these. He was thirty-one now, not too old, but old enough to be lonely. He hadn’t dated since he’d been back here, hadn’t met anyone who remotely interested him. It was his own fault, he knew. There was something that kept a distance between him and any woman who started to get close, something he wasn’t sure he could change even if he tried. And sometimes in the moments right before sleep came, he wondered if he was destined to be alone forever.
The evening passed, staying warm, nice. Noah listened to the crickets and the rustling leaves, thinking that the sound of nature was more real and aroused more emotion than things like cars and planes. Natural things gave back more than they took, and their sounds always brought him back to the way man was supposed to be. “It’ll keep you from going crazy,” his father had told him the day he’d shipped out. “It’s God’s music and it’ll take you home.” He finished his tea, went inside, found a book, then turned on the porch light on his way back out. After sitting down again, he looked at the book. It was old, the cover was torn, and the pages were stained with mud and water.
It was Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman, and he had carried it with him throughout the war. It had even taken a bullet for him once. He rubbed the cover, dusting it off just a little. Then he let the book open randomly and read the words in front of him: This is thy hour O Soul, thy free flight into the wordless. Away from books, away from art, the day erased, the lesson done. Thee fully forth emerging, silent, gazing, pondering the themes thou lovest best. Night, sleep, death and the stars. For some reason Whitman always reminded him of New Bern, and he was glad he’d come back. Though he’d been away from fourteen years, this was home and he knew a lot of people here, most of them from his youth. Like so many southern towns, the people who lived here never changed, they just grew a bit older.
1. The underlined sentence in paragraph two is the equivalent of “_________”.| A．he hated those who were unable to appreciate simple things in life |
| B．he didn’t see eye to eye with people who liked to save money |
| C．he had difficulty in figuring out how he got this trait from his father |
| D．he didn’t understand why people were so materialistic |
| A．Noah often played the guitar and observed the stars. |
| B．Clem the dog showed great affection for her master. |
| C．Noah was destined to be alone since no woman seemed interested in him. |
| D．Noah planned to restore his house before landing himself a job. |
| A．Patients suffering from mental disorder can be cured by nature. |
| B．The closer you are to nature, the closer you are to your true self. |
| C．Where there is God’s music, there is home. |
| D．A good book is a man’s best company. |
| A．had been a treasure but was now too damaged to read |
| B．recorded the lives of New Bern’s people who never changed over the years |
| C．was beyond Noah’s understanding so he randomly picked up some words to read |
| D．stirred a feeling of nostalgia in Noah |
9 . Procrastination is the act of putting off tasks until the last minute, or past their deadline.
For many students, getting a task that is due in two months is a great thing. They have two months to slowly work on the task, making necessary improvements all along the way.
What is at the root of all of this procrastination? Some might say that it is laziness, but it is really just a problem with mindset (心态).
It is difficult to stop this terrible habit.
| A．That is how it is supposed to be done. |
| B．For many people, it has become a habit. |
| C．It takes a long time to truly change your ways. |
| D．Procrastination is a problem that usually affects students. |
| E．Procrastination can be found in the working world as well. |
| F．If it does, you probably have a problem with procrastination. |
| G．Many people don’t even consider hypnosis as a treatment option. |
| A．To treat eating disorder during high school. |
| B．To increase confidence in herself. |
| C．To achieve external perfection. |
| D．To try to lose some weight. |
| A．She felt pleased to find a good husband. |
| B．She was upset about her unsatisfactory image. |
| C．She was anxious to read about the story of ancient Italians. |
| D．She was stressed about the tight wedding schedule. |
| A．Getting well along with friends. |
| B．Improving self-image through various ways. |
| C．Being devoted to meaningful activities. |
| D．Relying on people around her. |
