1 . Like the rest of us, scientists have long suspected the healing capacity (修复能力) of a good hug. Unlike the rest of us, they’ve gone about trying to prove it.
“Laboratory studies suggest that things like hugs help us feel safer. They can also make us less sensitive to physical pain and less reactive when we’re faced with threatening experiences,” says Michael Murphy. He is a research professor in the department of psychological sciences at Texas Tech University. “This lab work has shown that hugs and other touch behavior are related to stress. The more stress we have, the more our heart rates and blood pressure go up. At this time, hugs and other forms of personal touch may give off all sorts of feel-good chemicals, so that stress can be reduced.”
“There’s a lot that we still need to learn, and there’s a lot we don’t know,” Murphy says. “However, what seems to be rising up is that hugs, as well as other forms of loving and gentle touch, are really powerful. They remind people that they’ re cared about and that they have someone in their corner.”
We expect touch. When we were born, we were placed in our mothers’ arms almost immediately. In that first year of our life, we spend a lot of time being held by other people. And as we grow up, we seek out hugs and touch as a way of connection. I think what we have lost in the past few years are these really easy opportunities to be reminded of connection.”
While he was at Carnegie Mellon, Murphy was the lead author of a hug-centered 2018 article in the scientific journal PLOS One. In a series of interviews with 404 adults over a two-week period, the researchers found that receiving a hug is associated with the attenuation of negative emotions that occur on days with interpersonal conflicts. That is to say, generally, hugs help to reduce the negative impacts that personal conflicts may cause in our daily lives.
1. What can we infer about hugs from the laboratory studies?| A．They show people’s good social relationships. |
| B．They can cure us of our mental disease. |
| C．They can put much pressure on people. |
| D．They make us feel calm and at ease. |
| A．To recall childhood memories. |
| B．To keep connected with others. |
| C．To solve relationship problems. |
| D．To express their social politeness. |
| A．Expression. | B．Influence. |
| C．Suffering. | D．Reduction. |
| A．The Power of Hugs |
| B．How to Reduce Stress |
| C．How to Care for Others |
| D．The Importance of Interpersonal Relations |
2 . Living together with other students may be a wonderful experience for you. If you can deal with it well, you and your roommates will probably enjoy a happy life and even build a lifelong friendship.
Choose your roommates carefully if you are given permission. Combining the living spaces of several students into one location can be an exciting and beneficial experience for the outgoing students.
Divide the bills equally. Some students are far less responsible than their roommates.
Carry your part of the load. Everyone has to clean the bathroom and the kitchen sometimes. Don't avoid your part of responsibility. Student accommodation can get messy and it involves everyone to keep tidy and healthy.
Be open and honest. Hostility between roommates may cause problems that can't be fixed. Everyone brings different standards and expectations to group living.
| A．They tend to let their part of the finance slide. |
| B．Here are a few tips for student accommodation. |
| C．It is quite easy to get along with outgoing students. |
| D．Think about someone else before you think about yourself. |
| E．It's in everyone's best interest to put them into the open. |
| F．If you are on the shy side, or prefer a quiet group, pick quieter roommates. |
| G．Telling a lie or saying rude words to your roommates may hurt their feelings. |
3 . E-pals are different from daily friends. It is
It all started last July, when I met Vera in an online summer school
One time, I felt extremely
We also talked about cultures, including festivals, which are an interesting topic. Last December, I
Thanks to my pen pal, my life was not
| A．shocking | B．pleasant | C．strange | D．mysterious |
| A．requirement | B．lack | C．standard | D．sense |
| A．course | B．building | C．report | D．camp |
| A．explored | B．shared | C．created | D．ruined |
| A．stressed | B．disappointed | C．ambitious | D．hesitant |
| A．annoying | B．telling | C．frightening | D．cheating |
| A．set up | B．turned up | C．put up | D．lit up |
| A．left | B．figured | C．poured | D．picked |
| A．encouragement | B．concern | C．emotion | D．interest |
| A．seriously | B．rapidly | C．proudly | D．alertly |
| A．uplifted | B．involved | C．protected | D．violated |
| A．posted | B．awarded | C．wished | D．prepared |
| A．showed | B．adopted | C．ignored | D．appreciated |
| A．friendships | B．developments | C．festivals | D．dishes |
| A．inspired | B．curious | C．particular | D．casual |
| A．prolong | B．celebrate | C．accommodate | D．perform |
| A．reserved | B．cooked | C．introduced | D．had |
| A．bright | B．exhausted | C．infectious | D．boring |
| A．beliefs | B．burdens | C．embarrassments | D．jokes |
| A．contact | B．quarrel | C．agreement | D．fight |
4 . The joy of giving is real, according to a study. Research presented in the Journal of the Association for Psychological Science shows that those who give gifts are happier — and happier for longer — than those who receive gifts.
Researchers conducted two studies last year. In one，participants were given $5 every day for five days and were required to spend the money on the same thing each day. Some participants were required to spend the money on themselves, while others were required to give to make a donation to charity. In a second experiment that was done online, participants played 10 rounds of a word puzzle game and each won 5 cents per round, which they could keep or donate.
In both experiments, participants reported their overall happiness. Those who donated their money showed that their happiness declined at a much slower rate than those who kept the money or spent it on themselves.
The researchers note that when people focus on an outcome, they can easily compare outcomes, which may diminish their sensitivity to each experience. When people focus on an action, they may focus less on comparison and instead experience each act of giving as a unique happiness-inducing event. Further analyses ruled out some potential alternative explanations, such as the possibility that participants who gave to others had to think longer and harder about what to give, which could promote higher happiness.
The results are especially interesting because according to one of the researchers, Ed O’Brien of the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, they conflict with past research. “If you want to sustain happiness over time, past research tells us that we need to take a break from what were currently consuming and experience something new. Our research reveals that the kind of thing may matter more than assumed: Repeated giving, even in identical ways to identical other，may continue to feel relatively fresh and relatively pleasurable the more we do it,” O’Brien said.
So for all the holiday gifts you give this season, expect to feel happy and know that feeling is going to stick around for a while.
1. What’s the function of the first paragraph?| A．To lead to the topic. |
| B．To highlight the importance of the study. |
| C．To recommend a journal. |
| D．To persuade people to give gifts regularly. |
| A．To challenge the past research. |
| B．To rule out different experimental data. |
| C．To show the benefits of donation. |
| D．To make the conclusion more convincing. |
| A．Develop. | B．Show. | C．Reduce. | D．Lack. |
| A．Gift giving will result in longer happiness than receiving. |
| B．Thinking longer and harder on giving will promote higher happiness. |
| C．The feeling of happiness will disappear soon if people just give holiday gifts. |
| D．Taking a break from what were currently consuming will sustain happiness. |
How are you getting along with your high school? It may be hard for you as this is the first time that you
First, you should attach great
There’s no need
6 . Friday was "Chatty Bus day", an experiment aimed at getting people to talk to each other on public transport. This is not an idea that would appeal to those who commute in the rush hour, because there is a smaller distance within which it's just as uncomfortable to talk. Elbow(肘) room is a precondition for sociability. It is no coincidence that the first truly personal music player, the Sony Walkman, was invented in Japan where the commuter trains are literally crowded with people.
We will also not talk to strangers who are physically too far away, of course. No one wants to shout their small talk. Only on country buses or similar unhurried and uncrowded forms of public transport can people reach out to their neighbors, confident that they are doing so from a position of strength and autonomy.
For all these drawbacks, the idea of talking to strangers is still a good one, and the promotion of sociability is good for society. Although it does seem to be a general rule that people are friendlier the fewer there are of them and more hostile and indifferent as cities get more crowded, there are still considerable cultural variations. And there is evidence that friendlier places are also healthier, and their inhabitants happier.
It is true that the apparent loneliness of many people on public transport is a false impression.
Many will be caught up with conversations with distant friends on their phones; some will be talking to the people in books. Some may be in willed solitude with their headphones. But there are always people who would be interested in an unexpected conversation with a stranger. This need not go on for too long.
It is not large and possibly life-changing conversations that are what most people in loneliness miss most. What they really need is not deep thought but superficiality. The kind of conversation that you could have with anyone reminds you that you yourself might be anyone. It is a release from the prison of the self, which is where lonely people serve their sentences, uncertain whether they ever can be paroled(假释). Friendship may be too rare a gift to hope for, but sometimes the kindest thing to say is also the simplest: "Don't be a stranger"-and sometimes that's also enough.
1. According to Paragraph 1, why the first Walkman appeared in Japan partly?| A．its corporate culture |
| B．its overcrowded public transport |
| C．its people's creativity |
| D．its people's desire for personal space |
| A．"Chatty Bus day" has not been introduced to other areas. |
| B．Walkman prevents passengers from talking to each other. |
| C．Passengers are unwilling to make small talk with strangers. |
| D．Improper physical distance discourages casual communication. |
| A．Small talk to strangers will help ease loneliness on the road. |
| B．Lonely people are in desperate need of deep conversation. |
| C．People in less populated cities tend to be cold and distant. |
| D．It's inadvisable to talk to strangers who are physically too close. |
| A．To cast new light on human loneliness. |
| B．To introduce an experiment and its effects. |
| C．To advocate striking up conversations with strangers. |
| D．To explore the relationship between physical distance and willingness to reach out. |
7 . Being independent is an important skill for people who want to take control of their lives. Here are some tips on how to be independent.
Believe in yourself. If you don’t believe in yourself, then who else will?
Stop caring about what other people think. This is the most important thing about being independent. Stop worrying about other people’s opinions about your life, whether they are thinking about your clothes, your choice of career, or your choice of significant other.
If you always have the worrying thought, “But what will other people think if…” in the back of your head, then you will always be holding yourself back from doing your own thing.
| A．Be your own hero. |
| B．Accept that life is not fair. |
| C．These are your decisions, and not anyone else’s. |
| D．As long as you have made a decision — just do it! |
| E．We are all different and have something unique to say. |
| F．So please remember: you have to be happy in spite of that. |
| G．Believing in yourself will make you trust your own decisions. |
8 . Imagine meeting someone for the first time who comes from a distant country but is fluent in your language. Would you adapt the tone of your voice, or the spacing of pauses in your speech? How about adjusting your body language and facial expressions, depending on the background of the person in front of you?
These are just a handful of the shifts in behaviour that can contribute to what is known as your "cultural intelligence", or CQ.
"The number one predictor of your success in today's borderless world is not your IQ, or not even your expertise(专长)," writes social, scientist David Livermore in his book The Cultural Intelligence Difference. "It's your CQ."
Typically CQ is measured through a series of questions that assess four distinct components. The first is "CQ Drive"-the motivation to learn about other cultures. Then there is "CO Knowledge", which is an understanding of some of the general cultural differences you may face. "CQ Strategy" examines how you make sense of those difficult conflicts and learn from them, while "CQ Action" involves your behavioural flexibility-whether you are able to adapt your conduct like a cultural chameleon.
"While understanding a specific culture can be useful, it may not predict at all your ability to engage effectively in a new place," says Livermore. "In fact, our research finds that individuals who have lived in multiple locations for extended time are more likely to have higher CQ Knowledge than those who have lived multiple decades in one overseas setting."
Someone with low CO might have a tendency to judge everyone else's behaviour by his own cultural standards. If he comes from a more sociable environment, for instance, and notices that his Japanese colleagues are very quiet in a meeting, he may assume that they are being unfriendly or bored. A person at the top of the scale(级别), meanwhile, might realise that silence is a sign of respect and that feedback(反馈)won't be given unless it is explicitly required. As a result, he'll make sure to offer suitable opportunities within the meeting for others to provide their opinions.
1. Which of the following best describes "a cultural chameleon"?| A．Learning from other cultures to have a high CQ. |
| B．Taking action to overcome the communication barrier. |
| C．Getting along well with others despite cultural differences. |
| D．Changing behaviour according to the cultural background. |
| A．Experiencing a variety of different cultures. | B．Spending a long time in a specific culture. |
| C．Meeting people from a distant country. | D．Having personal experience in another culture. |
| A．People with low CO. | B．People with high CQ. |
| C．People from a different culture. | D．People from a sociable environment. |
| A．Those who are going to be a social scientist. |
| B．Those who want to learn about CQ Knowledge. |
| C．Those who conduct some research on CQ and IQ. |
| D．Those who interact with people from different cultures. |
9 . When you first meet someone, it makes sense to be cautious
Hug people．
When Zak meets people, he makes a point of giving them a hug．The trick here takes advantage of some deep-seated but simple assumptions about human relationships．Typically, you only hug people you like, says Zak．
Create closeness．
With an increasing number of interactions(互动)taking place online, physical contact is often not an option． You will probably never have the feeling you get when you meet somebody face to face, says Zak．
You might think you'll appear more trustworthy if you seem confident．But admitting you have a problem and asking for help may be more effective．In his new book, Zak recommends that instead of always pretending they have everything covered, managers should be more willing to admit defeat and ask their employees for possible ways．Honest communication beats trying not to look weak, says Zak．
In the end, trust invites trust．Experiments have shown that when people are trusted, they will feel delighted．
| A．Show your weakness． |
| B．Hugging someone is embarrassing． |
| C．Communicate in the close distance． |
| D．But there are other ways to get close to others． |
| E．This in turn makes them more likely to trust others back． |
| F．The truth is that most people are actually trustworthy and trusting． |
| G．So hugging someone can make both parties feel more positively towards each other． |
10 . It began one night in October. Asma, an immigrant (移民), had
Blood is thicker than water.
Dawn's appearance gave Asma a
She even didn't know she was smiling in a
To Asma's
| A．breakfast | B．brunch | C．supper | D．feast |
| A．waiter | B．customer | C．manager | D．owner |
| A．refused | B．considered | C．obeyed | D．received |
| A．slightly | B．seriously | C．partly | D．hardly |
| A．However | B．Therefore | C．Additionally | D．Besides |
| A．laughing at | B．objecting to | C．standing by | D．looking down on |
| A．polite | B．wonderful | C．peaceful | D．rude |
| A．wrong | B．innocent | C．brave | D．reasonable |
| A．account | B．apply | C．care | D．apologize |
| A．suffer from | B．recover from | C．escape from | D．defend against |
| A．remote | B．delicate | C．passive | D．positive |
| A．frustration | B．burden | C．strength | D．privilege |
| A．referred | B．talked | C．appealed | D．reacted |
| A．awkward | B．thrilled | C．complex | D．relaxed |
| A．ridiculous | B．pleasant | C．painful | D．significant |
| A．delight | B．surprise | C．regret | D．sorrow |
| A．supported | B．challenged | C．attracted | D．confused |
| A．sensitive | B．tough | C．enthusiastic | D．flexible |
| A．dig | B．move | C．confirm | D．lose |
| A．anger | B．disappointment | C．pressure | D．respect |
