1 . I am a cognitive behavioral hypnotherapist (认知行为治疗师). I started my practice from sleep disorders, and soon came to realize how strongly loneliness was linked with poor sleep. I’ve focused on my skills and understanding of loneliness in order to know how I could best serve my patients.

Loneliness is an emotion. We probably all experience it at some point, but loneliness is very complicated and unique to each of us. There’s a big difference between loneliness and solitude (独处). Being alone is a choice, while feeling lonely isn’t something we force ourselves. You want to be around people, but something is making you feel unwanted or empty, so you’re not having the meaningful connection you seek.

When you’re feeling lonely over a long period of time, it becomes a chronic (慢性的) problem. It can finally turn into a mental and physical health problem, and can be a symptom or cause of depression. It can affect self-respect. You might turn to food and not feel like exercising, as chronic loneliness is linked to increased risk of high blood pressure, obesity and even dementia (痴呆).

To manage loneliness, you need to accept it. Loneliness is one of the most common feelings people have. Don’t brush it under the carpet, as that doesn’t help solve the problem. Seek joy in little things, like smelling a flower or a walk in nature. Celebrate each small achievement. When you decide to change things and seek a connection in with others, consider ale-minded group. A patient of mine joined a sewing group and it was very successful.

The best way to help somebody who is lonely is to sensitively ask how they are and what they’re doing, and listen to the answer in a non-judgmental way. If you want to invite them to do something with you, do it. If they say no, don’t be discouraged from asking again. They might need time before feeling ready to say yes.

1. Why does the author focus on loneliness?

A．To do research on patients’ sleep disorders.

B．To find out the true reason for loneliness.

C．To provide better service for patients.

D．To help poor sleepers gain a better sleep.

2. What can be inferred from Paragraph 4?

A．Accepting loneliness is the only cure.

B．Hiding loneliness turns out to be unwise.

C．Joining a sewing group proves successful.

D．Meeting people with common interests won’t help.

3. If you want to help your friend Tom who is lonely, what will you do?

A．Invite him later again though he has refused.

B．Leave him alone for fear of disturbing him.

C．Tell him right from wrong after listening to him carefully.

D．Ask about his conditions publicly when noticing him in a bad mood.

4. What do we know about loneliness according to the text?

A．Loneliness is a choice that people can choose by themselves.

B．Loneliness is a factor that can influence your self-reflection.

C．Loneliness is a serious problem that can cause dementia directly.

D．Loneliness is a complicated emotion that people may all experience.

2 . 阅读下面的材料, 根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段, 使之构成一篇完整的短文。

After 22 years of marriage, I have discovered the secret to keep love alive in my relationship with my wife, Peggy. I started dating with another woman.

It was Peggy’s idea. One day she said to me, “Life is too short, you need to spend time with the people you love. You probably won’t believe me, but I know you love her and I think that if the two of you spend more time together, it will make us closer.”

The “other” woman my wife was encouraging me to date is my mother, a 72-year-old widow who has lived alone since my father died 20 years ago. Right after his death, I moved 2, 500 miles away to California and started my own life and career. When I moved back near my hometown six years ago, I promised myself that I would spend more time with Mom. But with the demands of my job and three kids, I never got around to seeing her much beyond family get-togethers and holidays.

Mom was surprised when I called and suggested the two of us go out to dinner.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“I thought it would be nice to spend some time with you,” I said. “Just the two of us.”

“I would like that a lot,” she said.

When I pulled into her driveway, she was waiting by the door with her coat on. Her hair was curled, and she was smiling. “I told my friends I was going out with my son, and they were all impressed. They can’t wait to hear about our evening,” Mom said.

注意：
1. 所续写短文的词数应为150左右;
2. 续写部分分为两段, 每段的开头语已为你写好：

Para 1: Minutes later, we arrived at a restaurant in the neighborhood.

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Para 2:“How was your date?” Peggy asked when I got home.

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3 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填人1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。
Dear Dad,

Growing up being the farmer’s daughter has been very interesting. It has made life challenging, fun and     1    (occasional) lonely. It has helped me grow as a person     2     have a whole new respect for all the farmers who most people just don’t pay attention to. It takes a special person to be a farmer, and even     3     (much) special people to be the farmer’s family.

I have always had a love for animals. Thank you     4     bringing me to the turkey and pig berms to see the cute little animals. Every time I see anything about pigs or turkeys I think about you,   just like when I     5     (buy) those plastic pig noses for you.

Every time I pass a field of corn, I think about how I grew up     6     (visit) you at fields just like that. I can even tell apart some of the     7     ( difference) crops. My farming vocabulary is pretty good    8    (compare) to a lot of other people. I also realize how important every little aspect of it is. The weather, bugs,a new type of seed or variety of plant - all of those play    9     part of a much bigger operation. I have a much bigger understanding of the world .

I’m proud to have a farmer dad. Although there were some     10     (struggle), I would never trade the way I grew up. You have worked so hard, and I appreciate everything you have done for me.

I Love you,Dad!

4 . The journey towards self-improvement and personal success is often paved with challenges and obstacles.     1     The power of mindset extends beyond mere positive thinking. It shapes your attitudes and actions, thereby shaping your destiny.

Mindset rests on a fundamental principle: your inner beliefs and thoughts can form your reality.     2     It is also about how an optimistic mindset fosters (培养) improved decision-making, heightened problem-solving abilities, and stronger resilience against challenges.

Factors like talent and hard work are often highlighted in professional success.     3     Consider a physical therapist, who may encounter limitations in their effectiveness due to a negative or fixed mindset despite possessing the necessary skills and knowledge. This situation underlines how a growth mindset is essential.

    4     It is a game-changer in personal and professional development. It is centered around the belief that abilities and intelligence are not fixed traits but can be cultivated through effort, learning, and perseverance.

To make full use of the potential of your mindset, it is crucial to confront and overcome limiting beliefs. You may never realize it.     5    

A．This isn’t merely hopeful thinking.

B．Effort and ability can equal a positive mindset.

C．The growth mindset means continuous improvement.

D．In fact, mindset emerges as an equally critical element.

E．Such beliefs can act as invisible barriers to your success.

F．Mindset plays an important role in building good relationship.

G．However, a crucial element that influences this journey is the mindset.

5 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Putting down the mobile phone, talking about negative feelings with friends or seeking professional advice are some of the methods to help tackle depression and     1     (anxious) during the COVID-19 outbreak, experts said.

    2     the virus continues to circulate and lockdowns trigger mental stress, experts have also called for greater investment in mental health services nationwide.

The World Health Organization said in March that the prevalence of depression around the world     3     (increase) by 25 percent in the first year of the pandemic.

Lu Lin, an academician with the Chinese Academy of Sciences and president of the Peking University Sixth Hospital, said at     4     conference this month that China is no exception to the     5     (globe) trend.

From March 2020 to March 2021, the prevalence of depression and insomnia(失眠)in China had risen and repeated COVID outbreaks, quarantine requirements and the high risk of exposure     6     the virus could all contribute to     7     (worsen) people’s mental condition, according to data shared by Lu during the event.

In an interview with People’s Daily, Lu said that some misinformation circulated online during the epidemic     8     (magnify) people’s sense of panic.

The public should pay closer attention to information released by authoritative outlets, he suggested. People should also reduce the amount of time     9    they spend in front of screens and instead chat with friends or family, listen to music or exercise to relax     10     (they).

6 . One in four children who are feeling sad or anxious hide mental health difficulties from their parents, research shows.

BBC Children in Ned surveyed 2,502 young people aged 11 to 18, whose replies suggested that one in three regularly felt anxious or worried about their future. One in four said that they regularly felt the need to hide negative feelings, while one in three said they did not feel comfortable asking for help about feelings and emotions. One in four said they had not talked to someone they trusted about their mental health in the past six months.

Researchers also surveyed 2,500 parents, with half saying that there was insufficient support available for children struggling with’ mental health. One in six said they were not confident in recognizing signs of poor mental health in their child. Simon Antrobus, president of BBC Children in Need, said, “Some feelings of anxiety can be hidden, so empathizing (共情) with them and letting them know that you understand why they feel the way they do can make a real difference to a child’s health and can help prevent mental health problems from becoming serious.”

Meanwhile a survey of 3,014 adults by the mental health charity, Mind, suggested that the rising expenses of living is making people stressed. Half of participants said that their mental health was being negatively affected by the financial impact of the expenses of living- Sarah Hughes, Mind chief executive, said, “The uncertainty of watching as our costs rise can be difficult to bear and having so much to deal with can affect our mental health. Despite this, looking after our mental health is often last on our list.”

1. What can be learned from the survey on young people in paragraph 2?

A．Most of them have anxiety about their future.

B．One in four found it difficult to trust their parents.

C．One third felt the need to ask for help with their problems.

D．A quarter of them regularly felt it necessary to hide negative feelings.

2. What does Antrobus suggest parents do?

A．Place children’s needs first.	B．Recognize their own struggles.
C．Show understanding to children.	D．Study the reasons for children’s problems.

3. What can be inferred from the last paragraph?

A．We are supposed to cut down our living expenses.

B．Mental health has been attached much attention to.

C．Almost every adult has experienced financial difficulties.

D．There is a link between high living costs and mental health.

4. What’s the author’s purpose in writing the passage?

A．To introduce a mental health charity.

B．To discuss the causes of negative feelings.

C．To encourage studies on children’s mental health.

D．To present research findings of mental health issues.

7 . 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.

8 . The Power of Insensitivity

Highly sensitive(敏感的)person, or HSP, is a term invented by psychologist Elaine Aron. HSPs can come with many challenges. They may find it hard to adapt to new surroundings, and easily become uncomfortable in response to certain feelings or others’ opinions.     1    

The power of insensitivity can be explained as “slow power”. Usually, people connect “insensitivity” with something bad, but indeed, it stresses the ability to keep doing something difficult without complaining.     2     It is not a weakness but an approach to winning a better life.

    3     Knowing yourself is difficult, and knowing yourself correctly is undoubtedly an excellent ability. The successful people clearly know where their strengths are, what they can do and what direction to go.

There are some ways to practice “insensitivity”: Don’t pay too much attention to the ups and downs of life at the moment.     4     Don’t get involved in other people’s lives and don’t let others affect yours. Regarding relationships, learn to view problems as two parts: One part is what you need to face and solve. The other part is the responsibility of others, which is not your business.

Everyone can gain the ability to be insensitive.     5     And the world will also be a better one if we focus on major goals and stay insensitive to something else.

A．Insensitivity plays a significant role.

B．Rather, you should be looking forward.

C．That’s where the need to be insensitive comes from.

D．Once you slow down the pace, you will feel more comfortable.

E．Those not easily affected are the people who care less about others.

F．That is, calmly facing the downtime in life and moving towards one’s own direction.

G．One reason why insensitivity allows people to better survive is the strong self-awareness.

9 . 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.

10 . 假定你是李华。你的英国好友 Ben 的父母不同意他暑假独自来成都观看第 31 届世界大学生运动会 (The 31st FISU World University Games)，Ben 发邮件给你倾诉他的烦恼。请你用英文给他回复一封邮件，内容包括：
1. 表示理解；
2. 提出建议；
3. 邀请他到你家做客。
注意：1. 词数 100 左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
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