1 . Most of us spend a lot of time inside our own mind—worrying about the future and focusing on the parts of life that leave us dissatisfied. Although they are common, negative or unwanted thoughts can prevent you from enjoying experiences, distract you from focusing on what’s important, and drain your energy.     1     The good news is that with practice, you can replace negative thinking patterns with helpful thoughts. Try these four ways to manage your negative thoughts:

    2     Our minds may convince us of something that isn’t really true. These misleading thoughts intensify negative thinking. If you can recognize them, you can learn to challenge them.

Take a break from negative thoughts. It is possible to learn how to separate from negative thoughts.     3     Then take a break from focusing on them and move on with your day.

Release judgment. We all judge ourselves and others, usually unconsciously. Constantly doing those leads to dissatisfaction. Be able to let go of judgment, and you will feel more relieved. Some ways to decrease judgmental thoughts include recognizing your own reaction, observing it, and then letting it go. Another helpful technique is to “positive judge.”     4    

Focus on your strengths.     5     If you find yourself trapped with negativity, take a moment to smile and think about something you like about yourself.

A．They can also make you feel anxious and depressed.

B．The more you can focus on your strengths, the easier it will be to feel positive about yourself.

C．Recognize inaccurate thoughts.

D．Always give others positive comments.

E．When noticing you are negatively judging a person or yourself, observe positive qualities, too.

F．One way to do this is to allow yourself a certain amount of time with the thoughts.

G．Taking a break from negative thoughts is a little difficult.

2 . 阅读下面短文，根据题目要求用英文回答问题。请在答题卡指定区域作答。

Last year, I baked biscuits for complete strangers to say “thank you”. I’d had to call 999 because I found my husband unconscious on the floor. Within minutes, a police car arrived and soon my husband received medical care in hospital.

A week later, when I dropped off still-warm biscuits and presented a thank-you note at the police station, the policemen thanked me for delivering gifts.

I drove away feeling light and happy. Later, I realized that my natural high might have been more than it seemed.Research has shown that sharing gratitude has positive effects on health. People who express gratitude will increase their happiness levels, lower their blood pressure and get better sleep.

What about people who receive gratitude?Research has confirmed that when people receive thanks, they experience positive emotions.“Those are happy surprises,”says Jo-Ann Tsang, a professor of psychology. When someone is thanked,he’s more likely to return the favor or pass kindness on, and his chances of being helpful again doubles, probably because he enjoys feeling socially valued.

The give-and-take of gratitude also deepens relationships. Studies show that when your loved ones regularly express gratitude,making you feel appreciated,you’re more likely to return appreciative feelings, which leads to more satisfactory in your relationships.

Nowadays,however,many people don’t express gratitude. Our modern lifestyle may be to blame. With commercial and social media, everything is speeding the younger generation to feel they’re the center of the world. If it’s all about them, why thank others?

Why not thank others? Just take a look at how many positive effects can saying “thank you”have on personal health—and the well-being of others.

If you aren’t particularly grateful, I strongly suggest you learn to be.People who are instructed to keep gratitude journals,in which they write down positive things that happen to them,cultivate gratitude over time.

1. What health benefits can people gain from expressing gratitude?
_______________________________________________________
2. How do people probably respond when they receive gratitude and feel socially valued?
_______________________________________________________
3. Please decide which part of the following statement is false, then underline it and explain why.
▷ Saying “thank-you”improves relationships,but nowadays some young people don’t want to do it because everything is making them feel blamed by the whole society.
_______________________________________________________
4. If possible, who would you like to express gratitude to most? Why? (In about 40 words)
_______________________________________________________

3 . Learning how to care for a sad person will help you be there for your loved ones and friends when they are down. However, knowing how to care for a sad person is not something an individual is born with.     1     Here are a few tips that will eventually help you lift the spirit of a sad person.

Give a hug. Hugging someone shows your affection and care.     2     This can make them feel relaxed and open to you. This can also help them recognize that you are there to help them go through this moment. With no kind and loving words, your actions have already said a lot.

    3     Now, go on and say some kind words. Words like “I’m here”, “we are in this together”, “you’ll get over this”, “lean on me” and so on, can help a sad person feel better and know that you’re there to take him/her through the sad moment.

Use the right tone of voice.     4     They go along with tone to convey a meaning to the listener. To convey your words with faith that would create a positive effect on the sad person, you would need to say it with the right tone of voice.

Listen patiently. People ask lots of questions but they end up paying little attention to getting the feedback (反馈) that they wanted. Don’t be that person. After asking the questions, listen patiently to know what the sad person would appreciate at that time.     5    

A．Say kind loving words.

B．Make use of polite expressions.

C．Then choose to appreciate others too.

D．Remember that words do not stand alone.

E．It will help you know how to offer the best fitting help.

F．This knowledge is gained through research and practice.

G．When you do this to someone, they can feel your warmth.

4 . I worked in a saw mill (锯木厂) for just above the lowest wage. As I got ready to go to work I _________ band-aids (创可贴) around my _________ and put more in my pockets, because I would cut and pack wood for 8 hours a day, which _________ my fingers to split (开裂) and bleed at their tips in the cold, dry, winter air. That day at work was _________ than normal. The machines kept _________. On top of it all the heaters in the building weren’t working.

When the work day finally _________, I took off my work gloves and inspected (检查) my _________ fingers. The splits were worse than ever. I don’t think I had ever felt so _________ and hurting before. I wondered how long I could keep doing this, if things would ever get any _________.

I tried to put a __________ on my face as I __________ my front door but instead someone __________ naturally. My daughter ran up to me happily, and wrapped her little arms around my neck. I held her tight and my heart explode with love. I didn’t __________ so tired anymore. My aches and pains disappeared into her hug. In that second, I remembered again that I was here for love.

I think we all have bleeding fingers and band-aid days in our lives here. But with __________ we can make it through them all.__________, work may give us a living, but it is love that gives us a life.

1.

A．built

B．removed

C．wrapped

D．uncovered

2.

A．legs

B．fingers

C．arms

D．feet

3.

A．shone

B．caused

C．allowed

D．cut

4.

A．more interesting

B．easier

C．more important

D．harder

5.

A．breaking down

B．showing up

C．getting through

D．taking out

6.

A．began

B．proved

C．ended

D．changed

7.

A．aching

B．shining

C．delicate

D．beautiful

8.

A．delighted

B．surprised

C．scared

D．tired

9.

A．stranger

B．better

C．worse

D．duller

10.

A．picture

B．scar

C．smile

D．tear

11.

A．moved

B．spotted

C．placed

D．opened

12.

A．fell

B．moved

C．appeared

D．beat

13.

A．look

B．feel

C．get

D．keep

14.

A．love

B．determination

C．work

D．band-aid

15.

A．After all

B．By the way

C．On the contrary

D．In contrast

5 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. What does the speaker’s mother want her to be?

A．A confident person.

B．A warm-hearted person.

C．A humorous person.

2. Why did the speaker feel lonely in her childhood?

A．She often traveled by herself.

B．Her family moved frequently.

C．Her mother was busy working.

3. What does the speaker mainly talk about?

A．Importance of home schooling.

B．Mother-daughter relationship.

C．A role model in her family.

6 . Often when we have an uncomfortable feeling,such as sadness,fear or shame,our first reaction is to reject that feeling. We may tell ourselves that it is a bad feeling we don’t want to have.     1     For example,some people try to push it away or use alcohol to feel better.

Certainly no one wants to feel emotional pain all the time,but when we reject our emotions,we may actually make things worse. Often emotions arise as they give us useful information about the,world.     2    

An alternative to pushing away our emotions is to accept them. Accepting means that we must practice allowing our emotions to be what they are without judging them.     3     When we’re happy,we have to accept not only that happiness is a short-term condition,but also that we won’t always be happy. This goes for every type of emotions.

Emotions help us decide what we should stay away from and what we should approach.     4     Therefore,accepting emotions is helpful,because when we listen to our emotions,we can actually learn important information.

    5     After all, it’s our instincts (本能) to avoid them. With practice, though, we can learn to accept our emotions. Meditation (冥想) and mindful breathing exercises can be helpful.

A．We have emotions for a reason.

B．Actually,it is vital to handle our emotions.

C．It isn’t easy to learn how to accept emotions.

D．It also means accepting that emotions will change.

E．Then we may do something to get rid of that feeling.

F．Therefore,pushing away emotions isn’t the best idea.

G．Without emotions,we would make terrible decisions all the time.

7 . Have you had a meltdown lately? An emotional meltdown isn’t exactly a medical disease.     1     It’s a popular term used to describe a situation where we are overcome emotionally of hit a breaking point.

How do you feel after you’ve had a meltdown? Do you feel embarrassed about your behavior?     2     An occasional meltdown doesn’t mean something is “wrong” with you. It may just be an indicator of a challenging time for you.

While most people would rather forget a meltdown as quickly as possible, it can be a learning experience.

If you feel embarrassed about revealing your emotions in public, you might examine how you feel about your feelings. Why isn’t it okay for you to be angry, or to be sad, or to need something from someone else?     3     So, be kind to yourself.

If your meltdown involved raising your voice at other people or behavior like throwing an object in the presence of others, apologize and come up with a plan to manage your emotions differently the next time you’re upset or stressed. If you find this type of behavior is common for you and you’re having difficulty managing it on your own, consider reaching to a psychologist.     4     It damages another person’s attitude and eats into their health.

    5     Your experience serves a basis for reflection. Be kind to yourself and find some helpful ways to deal with meltdowns:

A．It can happen to anyone.

B．Are you a happy person?

C．Learn from every meltdown.

D．There are some negative effects about meltdown,

E．Shaming yourself about your emotion is not helpful.

F．Are you anxious about possible consequences for your outburst?

G．Having an emotional meltdown is never an excuse for abusive behavior.

8 . Tips to fit gratitude in your life

Ready to begin? Here are some ways to become a more thankful person.

Every day, say aloud three good things that happened. This can be a fun activity to do around the dinner table together with the whole family, but it’s also extremely powerful to express gratitude aloud when you’re alone.

Keep a gratitude journal. Write down the small things from your day that mattered to you, like the few minutes of quiet time you had on your drive to work, or the fact that this afternoon’s rain storm didn’t flood your basement.     1    

Thank yourself.       2     Make sure you give yourself a thank-you for the healthy habits you’ve cultivated in your own life, such as eating plenty of vegetables or giving yourself enough time for rest each night.

Enjoy the good moments. If you notice you’re feeling happy, stop what you’re doing and pay attention for a few minutes.     3     Later, when you’re trying to inspire gratitude, you can remember this moment and experience the benefits all over again.

Check for silver linings. Even the most difficult life challenges come with some benefit- you just have to look to find them. Being sick draws the compassion of friends.     4     When things feel hard, ask yourself: What’s good here?

Look outward, not inward. Robert Emmons says people are more likely to feel grateful when they put their focus on others, rather than getting caught up in their own inner narratives about how things should have gone. Empathy (同理心) for others can arouse a sense of gratitude.     5    

Change your perspective. If you struggle to come up with something to feel grateful for, put yourself in the shoes of someone experiencing misfortunes greater than your own. Recalling a colleague who is in poor health, e. g, will inspire gratitude for your own healthy body, which you may have taken for granted otherwise.

A．Making a mistake teaches you a lesson.

B．Make it a habit to show empathy for others.

C．And it is wise for people to have an outward focus.

D．When you feel unwell, ask yourself: What makes you being so?

E．Gratitude doesn’t always need to be focused on what other people have done for you!

F．If you’re having a hard day, you can look back through these blessings in your life.

G．Notice exactly how you feel, including the sensations in your body and your thoughts.

9 . How adversity(逆境) makes you stronger

When faced with a crisis, we find it difficult to imagine the experience will eventually lead to some type of growth.     1     Research shows that past adversities can help you become more powerful in three ways.

    2     Post-unpleasant growth is the experience of positive change after going through a significantly stressful event. Researchers have discovered two common themes that people tend to report after experiencing a stressful event: spiritual growth and enhanced personal strength.

They build self-efficacy. Self-efficacy is the confidence in your ability to overcome challenges and succeed. I once took part in a program with soldiers, where I should dance in front of hundreds of audience. When I danced, I had a panic attack and had to hang onto my colleague’s arm to make it through. What was odd was my brain’s reaction to the exercise. While it was a truly unpleasant experience, I survived.     3    

They help you treat stress as a challenge.     4     Some people view stress as a threat, while others are able to view it as a challenge. With a challenge response? you get additional energy and feel focused instead of being fearful.

    5     Your past struggles, even small ones during an adversity can help you step out of the trouble you’re faced with.

A．They help you find the good.

B．They can bring growth after sufferings.

C．People have a healthier physical response to stress.

D．If your world feels out of control right now, just stay relaxed.

E．The fact is that we can become stronger after a difficult situation.

F．How you think about stress matters extremely in terms of how you process it.

G．That made my brain think about what other tough challenges I could conquer.

10 . I never imagined that someone telling me I looked skinny would anger me. And yet, I was enraged when a colleague pinched (捏) my waist and squealed (尖声说), “You’ve lost weight. You look great!” The truth is, I was run-down (疲惫不堪) and not taking care of myself. I decided to embark on a proper weight-loss program — one that would tackle the quality of the weight, not the quantity.

The first to go would be a solid chunk of road rage (路怒). I am in far less control of this poundage (重量) than any other. Every time something gets in my path, I fly off the handle. I need to lose the road rage, and fast! No, no more speed. Instead, I now repeat the words: “I am not in a hurry.” Because really, I’m not. This year, I will drive safely, allowing “stupid” to happen all around me. From that, I hope to gain patience.

Next is the heaviness of guilt. When guilt drives my conscience ( 良 知 ) to do better, it’s functional. But when it presents itself as an internal dialogue that goes nowhere —it’s useless. This year, I want to stop feeling guilty for not keeping a cleaner house, for spending time away from my children to be with friends, for not baking something from scratch, for not attending every party because I would rather be at home, or for watching TV when I should be reading. My image and performance is not at the front of anyone else’s mind but my own. From this, I hope to gain freedom to be myself. Freedom, I expect, will feel weightless.

The last pound is fear. Fear has held me back. Fear of failure has prevented me from being a writer. Fear of embarrassment has prevented me from giving an opinion. Fear of rejection (拒绝) has stopped me from aiming higher in all aspects of my life. Fear of regret has led me into situations that made me uncomfortable. If I can lose anyone of these fears, I stand to gain experience.

So, if I can lose the rage, shed some guilt, and take a chunk of fear off my plate, I stand to gain patience, freedom, and experience. Pound for pound I have not lost a thing but I will be much lighter. Next time, I hope my colleague looks me in the eye to see my glow instead of pinching a part of me that has nothing to do with how great I really look.

1. What is the author’s weight-loss program mainly about?

A．Controlling her daily intake of fat	B．Getting rid of negative emotions.
C．Disposing of useless stuff in her house	D．Developing a bodybuilding routine.

2. What is the author going to do to overcome her road rage?

A．Drive on roads with fewer cars.	B．Listen to soothing music while driving.
C．Ignore things that would anger her.	D．Keep reminding herself of traffic rules.

3. How has fear affected the author?

A．It has prevented her from achieving her goals.

B．It has caused her to suffer from depression.

C．It has stopped her from pursuing further education.

D．It has made it difficult for her to make friends.

4. What does the author expect to gain from losing ”weight“?

A．Respect.	B．Independence.
C．Friendship.	D．Positivity.