“I’m sorry, but visiting hours are over,” the nurse said apologetically. “You can come back in the morning.”
My husband Eric had just got out of the operating room and was still struggling with being sick from the anesthesia (麻醉). I really wanted to stay with him until he was more comfortable, but I knew that the hospital’s visiting policies must be followed.
“I’ll take care of him before you get back, I promise.” The nurse handed me a piece of paper. “That’s my cell number. You can call or text me anytime tonight if you’re worried or just want an update.”
I thanked her and then turned to Eric. “Can I do anything for you before I leave?” He shook his head slightly without opening his eyes, and I could tell he was uncomfortable. “I can’t believe I have to leave while you’re like this,” I said, tears filling my eyes. “I’m so sorry.”
He patted my hand and signaled to me to leave. “I’ll be right here in the morning.” I said and headed to my car, still fighting tears. In my head, I knew that Eric wasn’t in danger, and he would be physically okay when I returned in the morning, but it still broke my heart that I couldn’t be with him when he needed me.
The hospital was a few hours from our house, so I was spending the night in a hotel. When I got to my room, I texted Eric’s nurse. She texted back, saying he was still sick to his stomach.
I sighed, feeling the worry rush in. What if getting sick caused his stitches (缝线) to break open? How much of the pain medicine was still in his system? What if he was in pain from his incision (切口)?
注意:1.续写词数应为 150个左右;
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
I turned on the TV to shift my focus, but it didn’t work.
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Around midnight, I heard my phone receive a message.
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2 . Self-criticism (自我批评) is a mental habit of negatively analyzing and judging ourselves and our actions. If we don’t find a way to overcome self-criticism, we won’t be able to live a happy and satisfying life.
Stop Negative Thoughts
Thought stopping is one of the best secrets of how to overcome self-criticism. Interrupting your thoughts helps you change how you think about yourself, thus helping you feel better.
Another strategy is to replace negative self-critical thoughts with positive realistic statements. For instance, if you set a goal, be realistic about it by giving yourself enough time to achieve it. In fact, having a constant desire to achieve immediate success can ruin your confidence.
Avoid Perfectionism
Another secret is to let go of the need to be perfect. It’s all right to set high standards for yourself.
Stop Comparing Yourself to Others
A.Be realistic |
B.Focus on strengths |
C.It’s normal to feel like that everyone has a better life than you |
D.Remember it’s from your mistakes that you get to improve yourself |
E.If you’ve been stuck in negative thoughts, here’s what you need to do |
F.It’s important to note that changing your negative thought patterns can take time |
G.However, falling short of your goals and expectations can make you feel worthless |
3 . It is natural for us teenagers to feel upset.
•Move your body.
•Talk about it.
•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.
•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.
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. |
4 . When you begin to face your fears, you unlock limitless opportunities to live your best life. By conquering your fears, you can finally break free. At first, you may find it difficult to face them. The following steps will help you face them effectively.
● Identify your fears. To face your fears, you must first identify them. Identifying the related factors will help you overcome them. Take a moment to identify the specific sources of your fears. Ask yourself: What are you actually afraid of?
● Understand the root cause clearly. After identifying what your fears are, it’s time to explore what causes them. Spend some time exploring the nature of your fears.
●
● Take action.
A.Accept it as a universal emotion. |
B.Establish clear and achievable goals. |
C.And thus you can have a brighter future. |
D.Handle the least fearful aspect of your fear. |
E.Analyze the experiences that lead to these fears. |
F.Spend a few moments thinking about your answers. |
G.Fighting fear bravely can speed up your personal growth. |
5 . Do you think you need to shout at yourself to force yourself to finish your homework? If so, think again.
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.
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.
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. |
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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7 . How to Handle an Argument with Your Family Members
We’ve all been there. A relaxed evening with our family members. A lot of laughing. And then, as if someone had sat on the TV remote and changed the channel, the mood shifts. No more warmth. Suddenly there’s shouting, a ping-pong of accusations(指责), deadly stares, and hostility(敌意) streaming from eyes like red laser pointers. Having a conflict with your family members is frustrating, and you may feel sad and depressed.
Do remember that as much as it might feel this way, you’re not in a court of law with your family members.
Do try to be an advocate of others’ feelings.
Don’t try to explain yourself. You often want to explain yourself when having conflicts with your family members, but you don’t have time. You’re being cut off and attacked again.
A.If you are looking for a new relationship |
B.Don’t attempt to prove yourself in the face of your loved ones |
C.The point of an argument isn’t to prove the others guilty or to win |
D.Rather than going in circles about what you think and how you feel |
E.Each accusation strikes deeper and deeper into your sense of justice |
F.Don’t talk about what happened as though you’re simply stating the facts |
G.Here are the do’s and don’ts when you are arguing with your family members |
My Father, My Hero
I consider my father to be the most important person in my life. This is not because he is famous or wealthy. We do not have a big car, and there are no old, expensive vases or paintings in our house. Rather, what I value about my father is the care and love he shows for me and my family. What blesses my father most is being able to put food on the table and a roof over our heads.
My father might work hard, but he is always there for us. Whenever I trip or hurt myself playing sports, he's there to pick me up. My brother and I grew up with his constant care and the funny nursery rhymes and stories he told us.
My father also helps our local community. My father has been successful as he never shrinks from helping others. People also like him because he often has a smile on his face. He is optimistic and finds good in all situations. He is great at problem-solving, and his favorite phrases are “Don't worry! It’s not worth it” and “It will be all right—just you wait and see”. He is always right! And I have learnt from him the need to be patient and honest, and to care for other people.
I can well remember that when my mother and father got married, they did not have much money. The situation got worse when they had children. When we were very young, my father had an extra job as a hotel porter, and he also mopped the floor of a hotel every night so that he could give us a special treat or a vacation. At the start of last year, my father began putting at least fifty cents every day into a jar on a shelf in his bedroom. We all wondered what he was saving the money for, but he refused to tell us.
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。
Then, in December, I noticed that the jar was empty.
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Later the next year, I found that his best friend passed away, leaving the family too poor to send the son to school.
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I still remember how nervous I felt doing some things for the first time. You’d think that after a lot of first times the butterflies-in-stomach feeling would disappear. But here’s what happened a month ago.
“Please come to the chess club tomorrow,” Mareya said to me. “I know you’re going to love it!” “I’ve never even played chess(国际象棋),” I said. “It seems super hard.”
“I went last week, and it was extremely fun!” said Mareya. “Really?” I said, not convinced.
“Really. Also, the club needs more people to keep it going.” Mareya smiled.
“Listen. If you try it, I’ll do my silly rabbit dance in the middle of recess (课间休息).” I laughed. “In front of everyone? It’s a deal!”
When I arrived at home. I searched our game shelves. Finally, at the very bottom of the pile, I found a tattered (破旧的) box with a chessboard and plastic chess pieces. I read the instructions carefully. Knights, rooks, bishops, pawns, a king, and a queen — each piece had a special starting place and its own way of moving. My heart sank. I couldn’t possibly memorize all the rules in time. Everyone in the chess club was going to think I was inexperienced!
That night, I dreamed I was in a chess game, and the queens, kings, and knights were laughing at me. Even the knights’ horses were snickering (窃笑)! The next day, I told Mareya I was having second thoughts.
“Please don’t back out,” she said. “Remember our deal.”
“I would like to see your silly rabbit dance,” I said, smiling.
After school, I found the chess club’s meeting room and went inside. I looked around, but Mareya was nowhere in sight! To make matters worse, I didn’t know a single person in the room. Butterflies filled my stomach as I started to head toward the door.
“Hi!” said a friendly woman. “I’m Ms.Martinez.”
“I’m Arizona,” I said. “ I was supposed to meet a friend, but I don’t see her. I’d better get going.” “Well, as long as you ‘re here, why don’t you sit with Joe and Jess and watch their game?”
注意:
1. 续写短文的词数应为 150 左右;
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Paragraph 1:
I didn’t want to be rude, so I sat down.
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Paragraph 2:
The next day, at recess, Mareya ran up to me.
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10 . The Post-holiday Blues
The holiday season—from Thanksgiving until New Year’s Day—can be a joyful and relaxing time for many people, but once the festivities wind down, sadness and loneliness can creep in.
After an exciting event like the holidays, there is often a feeling of disappointment or let-down. Looking ahead to something like the holidays can feel exciting.
What can cause the Post-Holiday Blues? The reasons for the post-holiday blues can vary from person to person. Some people may have trouble with the holidays themselves—the grand expectations, reminders of lost or estranged loved ones, financial burdens.
If any feelings of post-holiday blues begin impacting your daily functioning, like making it hard to get out of bed, go to work or school, leave the house, spend time with others, or accomplish small tasks. Besides, it may be worth checking in with a healthcare provider.
A.What are the post-holiday blues? |
B.Some people may dislike holidays. |
C.It’s an idea known as the post-holiday blues. |
D.What can we do to deal with the post-holiday blues? |
E.It is important to recognize that this phenomenon is not uncommon. |
F.But when the event has passed, the loss of that excitement can feel bad. |
G.Others may receive a boost of happiness after spending time with friends and family. |