1 . Developing friendship with other people is essential in our lives due to our own very nature.     1     Therefore, we need to love and to be loved to become fully human beings, as love is the highest form we can relate with others and one of the most distinct features of our species.

Here are 4 key points to develop and sustain a true friendship.

Take responsibility of your own emotions.

    2     Sometimes we can’t realize that we are presenting the bad power to him /her. Being aware of that, we would be better if we take responsibility and embrace the emotions that come up in our inner world instead of stopping the relationship or blaming the other for what we are feeling.

    3    

The primary goal of friendship is to love, because this is our most inherent need. But love has no other object than love. Therefore, the value of our friendship with others is not because of the usefulness of the relationship. Our love for a person should not depend on their capacity to improve the conditions of our life. On the contrary, feeling the joy of having a true friendship is what we need.

Seek the good of the other person.

When we love another person, we seek the good of the other because we rejoice in their own happiness. Therefore, our seeking for the other person’s good is totally disinterested.     4    

Acts of love are made for its own sake.

Embrace the differences.

Friendship doesn’t mean having the same interests, opinions and mindset as the other person.

Friendship is therefore a practice of unconditional love, an opportunity to grow together towards fulfillment, and a journey to unfold the most precious capacities of a human being.     5    

A．Human beings are relational beings.

B．Why not cherish it with your own heart?

C．Look at the other as an end not as a means.

D．Recognize the necessity of the close relationship.

E．We usually blame the other person for what we feel.

F．The mode of friendship differs from person to person.

G．We serve the other without expecting anything in return.

2 . At times, talking to kids can feel like learning a foreign language. Unfortunately, there’s no handy phrasebook or translation app that can make you sound friendly, encouraging, and firm all at the same time. Don’t worry.     1     . Following these, you can have an open and honest chat with any kids in your life.

Sit or kneel at their level

Lowering yourself makes you a lot more approachable. Even if you’re keeping things light and friendly, a child might feel threatened if you’re towering over them. Instead, grab a seat or take a knee near the child, so they don’t have to look up at you.     2    .

    3    

Kids love talking about their interests and preferences. As far as conversations go, asking about favorites is a pretty safe go-to topic. You might ask about their favorite singer, or what TV shows they like to watch.     4    . You could ask if they have a dog or cat at home, and what its name is.

Ask for help or advice

    5    . Share a light-hearted, not-too-serious problem you’ve run into during your daily routine. Maybe you have trouble heading to bed at a good time, or you can never find your car keys before heading to work. The child will love a chance to figure out a solution to your problem, whether it’s big or small.

A．Develop common interests.

B．Chat about relatable topics.

C．Children love to solve “adult” problems.

D．This can help take the edge off your conversation.

E．We’ve put together plenty of conversational tips and tricks.

F．Additionally, favorite colors are another safe and comfortable topic.

G．You could even ask about their favorite animals, or compare favorite pets.

3 . “The silence is killing me,” I thought as I locked my phone, hoping a new message would light up the screen. After 27 messages, two phone calls and a voicemail, I’d just sent my final text to the person who _________ to be my best friend at college.

The two of us met freshman year and, since we _________ almost all the same core classes, rapidly became inseparable throughout college. We _________ stayed up together for studying, and were each other’s partner for late-night pizza runs. Then one day after graduation, she suddenly _________ responding, apart from claiming she “didn’t have enough time for herself”. That breakup was the most _________ I’d experienced. After four years of building such a _________ relationship, I thought I’d at least receive a(an) _________ for why she wanted to end things. _________, I received only a brief, indirect message about self-care and-what hurt me most-a(an) _________.

Over the past few years, the concept of “drawing boundaries” has __________ in the pop psychology. Discussions of cutting people off and protecting your energy__________ dominate social media. And after nearly three years in __________, the ways the Covid-19 pandemic has __________ many of us to reevaluate our relationships with others show up everywhere in pop culture.

The __________ of self-care are fairly obvious: by prioritizing our own well-being, we’re able to engage in emotional healing, build confidence, __________ anxiety and simply rest. However, an extreme focus on self-care can lead to a(an) __________ perspective of the world in which we always put ourselves first, even when we’re in the wrong. This doesn’t just __________ us-it can have real, painful consequences for the people around us.

Sometimes it can feel __________ for us to remove ourselves from conflict or discomfort under the mask of __________. However, walking away from these relationships without a real conversation actually__________ us and our loved ones of an opportunity for growth.

1.

A．tried

B．used

C．happened

D．promised

2.

A．signed up for

B．looked forward to

C．took advantage of

D．kept up with

3.

A．occasionally

B．barely

C．routinely

D．finally

4.

A．suggested

B．regretted

C．delayed

D．stopped

5.

A．unforgettable

B．special

C．boring

D．painful

6.

A．fragile

B．romantic

C．close

D．formal

7.

A．comment

B．explanation

C．apology

D．complaint

8.

A．Otherwise

B．Instead

C．Meanwhile

D．Therefore

9.

A．letter

B．excuse

C．experience

D．silence

10.

A．exploded

B．disappeared

C．survived

D．changed

11.

A．hardly

B．permanently

C．accidentally

D．consistently

12.

A．harmony

B．charge

C．separation

D．competition

13.

A．caused

B．required

C．persuaded

D．expected

14.

A．effects

B．benefits

C．origins

D．characteristics

15.

A．reduce

B．express

C．create

D．share

16.

A．open-minded

B．objective

C．conservative

D．twisted

17.

A．disturb

B．impress

C．hurt

D．support

18.

A．easier

B．cooler

C．calmer

D．warmer

19.

A．co-operation

B．guidance

C．self-care

D．friendship

20.

A．reminds

B．robs

C．convinces

D．warns

5 . On a Friday evening in December, two weeks before Christmas, I lost my job. I hadn’t seen it coming. I was excited for the weekend, when my daughter, Kristil, and I planned to get our Christmas _________. Then I listened to my voicemail: “We’re sorry but your _________ has ended as of today.” My heart _________.

I was the only parent. My paycheck(薪水) was survival, without which we couldn’t _________. The next day we searched for our tree and I struggled to be _________ as I eyed each price tag.

Monday morning, I set off on my _________ way. I headed to the pawnshop(典当铺) and _________ the day with $ 220 richer.

Over the next week, I _________ applied for jobs as my bank account grew smaller.

One afternoon, my old professor, Sister Esther _________. Just her appearance gave me __________ that things would be all right. I __________ her a cup of tea, and we talked. As she got up to __________, she handed me a Christmas card. When I opened her card, I breathed __________. Hundred-dollar bills __________ onto the table. Grateful tears welled(涌入) into my eyes as I __________. Sister Esther had given me $1,000.

On Christmas morning, Kristil and I __________ around our tree, and I joyfully watched as she opened her gifts. I silently __________ Sister Esther in my heart.

It has been 14 years __________ that Christmas. Sister Esther has passed away, but the love she gave during her life __________ in the hearts of many. I am __________ to be one of them.

1.

A．tree

B．card

C．dinner

D．party

2.

A．trip

B．work

C．visit

D．vacation

3.

A．beat

B．paused

C．softened

D．sank

4.

A．trade

B．entertain

C．manage

D．bear

5.

A．curious

B．cheerful

C．generous

D．cautious

6.

A．money-making

B．job-hunting

C．family-building

D．gift-shopping

7.

A．wasted

B．ended

C．played

D．possessed

8.

A．nervously

B．impatiently

C．crazily

D．unwillingly

9.

A．started out

B．rang up

C．answered back

D．came by

10.

A．hope

B．respect

C．pressure

D．information

11.

A．ordered

B．promised

C．found

D．made

12.

A．leave

B．greet

C．drink

D．communicate

13.

A．with difficulty

B．with effort

C．in shock

D．in panic

14.

A．shone

B．fell

C．lay

D．stuck

15.

A．prayed

B．cooked

C．nodded

D．counted

16.

A．gathered

B．hid

C．raced

D．wandered

17.

A．reminded

B．thanked

C．mentioned

D．missed

18.

A．after

B．until

C．since

D．before

19.

A．spreads out

B．dies away

C．cools down

D．lives on

20.

A．determined

B．expected

C．lucky

D．eager

6 . Maria stared thoughtfully at the tree fort. It was the first thing her grandpa had built for her. She had been little — it was_________ her younger brothers had been born. Of all her brothers, Maria felt that she was most like her grandpa. Grandpa had been a carpenter. Maria had always loved visiting him in his workshop. Only she had been_________ because she was the oldest. He could do anything with his own two hands, she thought_________.

Recently, Maria had decided that she was going to build a tree swing. Now she was standing_________ the tree, with her rope, seat, and tools, thinking about the best way to_________ the swing. She could throw the ropes_________ the branch. But then how could she tie the knot? She would probably need to_________ a ladder.

“Hey, what’re you doing?” called a voice from a little distance away. Maria_________ and saw her little brother Ricardo ran up to her. “None of your business,” she_________. Then, thinking better of it, she said, “__________ a swing.” “Really? Can I help?” Ricardo asked. Maria thought it over — it would be__________ to have some help. But she was the__________ in the family now, so she would have to solve her own problems.

“No,” Maria said. “I don’t need any help.” Suddenly, her other brother, Emil, came running towards them. “Hey, what’re you guys doing?” “We’re building a swing,” Ricardo said. “No, we’re not,” Maria said. “I am!” “Can I help? “Emil asked. “No!” Maria was turning red. “This is my__________. Not yours. You__________ even knew Grandpa.” She ran into the house, leaving Ricardo, Emil, and her__________ beneath the tree.

“What’s wrong, Maria?” Grandma asked. “Ricardo and Emil are bothering me,” Maria explained the__________. “They’re just trying to help. And how are you going to do it all by yourself?” “Grandpa didn’t need anyone’s help,” Maria said. “Who do you think helped him cut the boards for your tree fort?”

Grandma asked. Maria was__________. “But I don’t remember...” “Maria, Grandpa was a great carpenter, but even great carpenters need help sometimes. __________ he needed a second pair of hands, he’d ask me to help.” Grandma glanced out the window. “And it looked like you need help, too.” Maria hurried outside.

Ricardo and Emil were__________ the ladder in the yard, waving at Maria. Smiling, she began to wonder if she might not be the only one to__________ Grandpa.

1.

A．when

B．until

C．before

D．after

2.

A．forced

B．inspired

C．persuaded

D．allowed

3.

A．slowly

B．proudly

C．clearly

D．anxiously

4.

A．in

B．on

C．around

D．under

5.

A．use

B．hang

C．provide

D．hold

6.

A．over

B．by

C．into

D．down

7.

A．take

B．fetch

C．buy

D．create

8.

A．turned

B．fell

C．nodded

D．waved

9.

A．cheered

B．replied

C．warned

D．complained

10.

A．Repairing

B．Moving

C．Checking

D．Making

11.

A．annoying

B．surprising

C．nice

D．hard

12.

A．explorer

B．supporter

C．owner

D．builder

13.

A．career

B．research

C．project

D．discovery

14.

A．barely

B．surely

C．precisely

D．possibly

15.

A．collections

B．machines

C．experiments

D．materials

16.

A．action

B．procedure

C．situation

D．schedule

17.

A．confused

B．ashamed

C．disappointed

D．nervous

18.

A．Wherever

B．Whenever

C．Unless

D．While

19.

A．carrying

B．catching

C．rolling

D．climbing

20.

A．take on

B．take in

C．take after

D．take to

8 . A study by a team of Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) psychologists has found a link between extraverts (外向的人) and their word choices. The finding highlights the need for stronger linguistic indicators to be developed for use in online personality prediction tools, which are being rapidly adopted by companies to improve digital marketing strategies.

Today, marketing companies use predictive algorithms (算法) to help them forecast what consumers want based on their online behaviors. For example, an extravert consumer might be attracted to marketing messages that match their personality, and retail brands could then choose to target such consumers by using more extraverted and creative language to advertise their products. However, personality prediction tools available today that are used by marketing firms are not entirely accurate due to a lack of theoretically sound designs. This may lead to a weakness affecting the performance of the machine learning algorithms. This begs the question—how should we create robust and accurate personality predictions?

The study found a correlation between extraverts and their tendency to use certain categories of words. The results showed a small strength of relationship between extraversion and the use of “positive emotion words” and “social process words.”

Positive emotion words are defined as words that describe a pleasant emotional state, such as “love”, ”happy”, or “blessed”, or that indicate positivity or optimism, such as “beautiful” or “nice”. Social process words include words containing personal pronouns except “I”, and words showing social intentions, such as “meet”, “share” and “talk”.

Moving forward, the NTU research team will investigate the relationship between extraversion and other word categories. They hope their work will provide clarity on the types of words that can help guide the development of more accurate machine learning tools for personality prediction.

1. We learn from the passage the findings of the study can be used to help ______.

A．observe consumers’ behavior

B．forecast the need of companies

C．create practical personality predictions

D．find correlation between extraverts and ads

2. What does the underlined word “robust” mean in Paragraph 2?

A．Renewable.

B．Forceful.

C．Doubtful.

D．Variable.

3. Which of the following words may belong to extraverts’ commonly used vocabulary?

A．Dispute.

B．Interaction.

C．Disaster.

D．Loneliness.

4. What does the last paragraph focus on?

A．The direction of future research.

B．The theoretical basis of the study.

C．The strength of business strategies.

D．The development of machine learning tools.