1 . Do you think you need to shout at yourself to force yourself to finish your homework? If so, think again.    1     Research shows that practicing self-compassion (自我关怀) improves our mental and physical well-being and supports long-term success.

Self-compassion is the practice of being kind and supportive to ourselves. The opposite is being self-critical and mean to ourselves when we make a mistake.     2     These negative responses are related to depression, stress and reduced quality of life.

A 2017 study found people who practice self-compassion tend to handle stress better. Their bodies have less of a stress response when, for example, they meet with difficulties at work or school.     3     Let’s say they do poorly on a geometry test. Self-compassion helps them use the experience to make changes going forward, like seeking out a math tutor.

    4     We can start with mindfulness. First of all, practice observing our thoughts — are they understanding or critical? Don’t judge ourselves too severely then. Rather than getting caught up in how we could have done better, forgive ourselves and think about what to change while remaining respectful, and loving to ourselves.     5     We can read a novel, play a musical instrument or kick around a soccer ball with friends.

With practice, we can learn to treat ourselves with kindness and unconditional love — not tough love.

A．So how do we develop self-compassion?

B．It may be more effective to be kind to yourself.

C．It includes letting go of your strict self-criticism.

D．Mindfulness is the key to practicing self-compassion.

E．But this approach does not make us feel or perform better.

F．They have more confidence to look for areas where they can improve.

G．Also, show ourselves kindness in ways that nourish (滋养) our spirit and body.

2 . We have all heard that if you talk to yourself, you’re crazy,     1     According to research, talking to yourself in a positive way is actually very healthy for your mind

My first exposure to positive self-talk was reading The Little Engine That Could. Do you remember that book from your childhood? While trying to make it up a big hill, the little engine keeps saying to himself, “I think I can, I think I can.” And of course, he makes it.     2    

Positive self-talk is one of the most valuable tools you can use to keep yourself physically and mentally balanced. Many Olympic and professional athletes use it every time they practice or compete.

    3     My own personal favorite is “I’m okay”. Back when I was in the movie business. I used to work with the stunt (特技) team. I was told that one of their simple but effective secrets was to stay loose and talk to their body. I had the chance to try it out one day. My apartment was on the second floor of a duplex (复式公寓), and one rainy day I slipped on the top step and started falling over. Then I just kept telling myself, “I’m okay.”     4     There were only a few scratches (擦伤) on my legs. I believe to this day that it was the simple positive self-talk that helped keep me from being seriously injured.

Positive self-talk can also help you calm down from anxiety and feel less sad. There was a period of time when I felt upset. Every morning, I woke up and said to myself, “Hi, Barton. You’re going to have a good day today.”     5     When I did it throughout the day, fewer things would bother me, and I became friendlier to myself.

A．In fact, that’s not always the case.

B．Much to my surprise, I was just fine

C．It’s a valuable lesson for us to learn and remember.

D．Instead, there are several different types of self-talk.

E．You know, I was programming my brain to feel good.

F．When it comes to positive self-talk, the simpler, the better.

G．That was an opportunity for me to try something challenging.

3 . Nowadays,with the development of the Internet,emojis are more and more popular among netizens.Some people even feel difficult to talk online without using emojis.Emojis help netizens to communicate with each other easily and vividly.Yet,not all emojis are properly used on social media.So we are going to introduce some common but confusing emojis to help you have a better understanding of these small signs.

1.A recent survey shows,over 53% people use the emoji when they are chatting online.Some people think it means “I’m shy,” but others only use it when they are surprised or shocked.But what does it really mean?It is still an unsolved question.

2.What do you think of this sign?Believe it or not,80% of netizens use it under the meaning of “It is not funny at all,but I have to smile.” Is it right?Of course not!It actually means that “I saw what you did (usually bad things) and I want to give you a sinister (奸诈的) smile.”

3.People have very different opinions on this emoji.The Apple company has told that this emoji means “high-five”.But most people still use the incorrect meaning—pray.Some netizens even think,“If you see this emoji as two people give each other a high five,you must be a bad guy.”

4.According to the official guidelines,it is used as “smile through tears”.However,most young netizens consider this emoji as “laugh to tears” or simply “LOL”,which means “laugh out loud”.

1. Why does the writer introduce these four emojis?

A．Because they are more important.

B．Because they are not so common.

C．To help netizens use them easily.

D．To help netizens use them properly.

2. After reading the passage,we still can’t understand the emoji ________well.

A．

B．

C．

D．

3. You are playing with your mobile phone while you are doing your homework,your brother sends you this sign ,what does he mean?

A．Stop doing your homework.

B．Send this emoji back to your father.

C．Go on playing with your mobile phone.

D．Put away your mobile phone and do your homework.

4. When your friend tells you online that he won first prize in the writing competition,which emoji will you send him?

A．

B．

C．

D．

4 . Speaking of self-improvement, perhaps you want to become more productive, read more books, take regular exercise or learn something new.     1     Here we’ve put together this guide to help you.

Observe your emotional reactions.

Our emotions can often overwhelm (击败) us and make us behave in ways we’d rather not. The first step in dealing with your emotions is to recognize your current feelings.     2     You can sit for a few minutes each day and just observe how you feel.     3     However, learning to be with yourself without distractions is an essential part of meaningful self-development. You could be surprised by what you discover.

Develop a way to express your emotions.

Chris Martin, the singer-songwriter and frontman of the band Coldplay, once said, “You've got to express yourself in life, and it's better out than in. What you reveal, you heal.”

    4     You can try art, music and sports. Or you can get a piece of paper and a pen and start a healthy outlet. A talk with your close friend, relative, or partner can also help you get peace of mind.

    5    

Sometimes emotions can be overwhelming even if you undertake all other steps to manage them. In this case, the only left option is to find a therapist (治疗师). Many successful, respected people like J. K. Rowling, Emma Stone, and Michael Phelps all promote therapy’s benefits. Turning to these professionals is one of the best ways to improve yourself. These trained professionals can provide guidance and support when it comes to coping with your emotions.

A．Work with a licensed therapist.

B．Receive professional training as therapists.

C．This can feel incredibly uncomfortable at first.

D．There are so many ways to let out your emotions.

E．Remember you can’t manage what you don't know.

F．It will help you improve your concentration.

G．Have you thought of learning to control your emotions?

5 . Back in the 1960s, a Harvard graduate student made a great discovery about human anger. At age 34, Jean Briggs was allowed to live in an Inuit community where many Inuit families lived a traditional life.

Briggs quickly realized something unusual was going on in these families.“They never got angry with me, and even showing a bit of anger was considered weak and childlike,” Briggs said. For example, once when someone knocked a hot pot of tea across the igloo (冰屋), damaging the ice floor, no one changed their look. “Too bad,” the person just said calmly and went to refill the teapot.

Briggs wrote up her observations (观察记录) in her book, Never in Anger. But she was left with questions: How do Inuit parents teach their children this ability? How do the Inuit turn irritable (易怒的) babies into cool-headed adults?

After reading Briggs' book, in early December I came to the Arctic town of Iqaluit, Canada, which is an Inuit town, in search of parenting wisdom, especially when it comes to teaching children to control their feelings. Right off the plane, I started collecting data (数据).

I sat with the elders in their 80s and 90s. I talked with moms. And I attended a local parenting class. All the moms mentioned one golden rule: Don't shout or yell at small children, for it is a tradition among the Inuit to see yelling at a small child as shameful.

The elders I spoke with said colonization (殖民) over the past century is harming the tradition, so the community is working hard to keep their parenting methods. Goota Jaw, who teaches the parenting class at Nunavut Arctic College, is in the front line of this effort. “Shouting is not how we teach our children,” Jaw said. “It is just teaching them to run away.”

“When we shout at a child, we' re training the child to shout,” said author Laura Markham. “Parents who control their own anger are helping their children learn to do the same.”

1. What did Briggs find about the Inuit?

A．They often behaved like children.

B．They began to lead a modern lifestyle.

C．They developed a habit of drinking tea.

D．They were quite able to control their anger.

2. Why did the author go to Iqaluit?

A．To study how Briggs wrote Never in Anger.

B．To attend a class about the history of the Inuit.

C．To find out how the Inuit raise cool-headed kids.

D．To collect data on education in Inuit communities.

3. What are old Inuit people worrying about?

A．Their parenting style is being harmed.

B．Colonization will make the Inuit disappear.

C．Inuit parents become too kind to their kids.

D．Parenting classes are attracting fewer parents.

4. Which would Markham most probably agree with?

A．Kids follow the example of parents.

B．Teaching kids to be angry is necessary.

C．Parents often learn parenting from their kids.

D．It is sometimes OK to speak to kids seriously.

6 . Sometimes your parents might ask you to write thank-you notes to people but you might not want to do it. However, writing thank-you notes can not only make you feel good but also make the person getting the note feel good.

Amit Kumar is a professor at the University of Texas. He worked with Nicholas Epley to do experiments to see why people hesitate to send thank-you notes. They also studied the reactions of people who received the notes.

Kumar and Epley asked students in business classes to write a letter of thanks to another person. And then they asked both the writers and the receivers how the letter made them feel.

As a result, they found that writing the letter was a good experience for the writers. It improved their mood right afterward though the writers only thought the letter would be embarrassing for someone who got a letter of thanks. However, that was not the case.

The writer worried about what to say and how to say it. However, Kumar says, the receivers did not care much about whether writers got the words right. Those who got letters felt really good.And they didn’t really feel embarrassed at all.

“When you are a receiver, you focus on the warmth,” Kumar says. The receivers considered the feelings on the letters while the writers only tried their best to make sure their writing was correct.

In general, most people don’t always realize that thank-you notes make others feel good. If they knew, things might change. “They would do it more often,” Kumar says.

Kumar thinks that this study is a good reminder. It shows that small things can have an effect. Writing a thank-you note is a simple thing. Still, it can make a big difference. We feel good when we do nice things for others.

1. What’s the purpose of Kumar and Epley’s experiment?

A．To advise us to thank our parents.

B．To see thank-you notes’ influence.

C．To get children close to their parents.

D．To prove letters are the best to show our thanks.

2. What do writers care about when writing thank-you notes?

A．Their writing skills.	B．Receivers’ feelings.
C．Receivers’ warmth.	D．Their proper words.

3. What do we know about receivers of thank-you notes?

A．They enjoyed being thanked	B．They feel shame and sad.
C．They didn’t care about the notes.	D．They hate writers’ mistaken ideas.

4. What does Kumar advise us to do in the last paragraph?

A．Be generous to others.	B．Be willing to do nice things.
C．Pay attention to small things.	D．Write thank-you notes frequently.