1 . Pets should not be left alone for too long during the day. But our busy lifestyles will sometimes tear us away.     1     Here are some tips to keep your pets content.

Cats don’t simply curl up and sleep when you leave.     2     If they have a friend or sibling they will create games and comfort one another but if they are alone they will need more stimuli (刺激物). Leaving the TV or radio on can help, and while you work out their favorite channel, you can’t go far wrong with classical music.

    3     They will keep your cat physically and mentally busy, which will lessen the separation anxiety. Some of the toys are also practical for your home, such as scratching posts to prevent the furniture from being scratched.

It’s not just cats that suffer from separation anxiety. Dogs also dislike being left alone and unfortunately they can’t tell whether it’s been ten minutes or ten hours: the displeasure felt is very similar.

    4     Background noise from the TV or radio can help them to feel less alone. There is even a dog TV channel designed to create happy and calm thoughts in dogs, showing idyllic scenes of fields, beaches and other dogs.

You can also gradually lengthen the distance and time of your separation until your dogs can be left alone for 20 minutes without showing their usual symptoms of sadness and stress.     5    

A．A number of cat toys are also helpful.

B．Schedule daily play sessions with your cats.

C．But you can help ease the negative feeling at least.

D．That creates a lot of guilt and worry for their well-being.

E．In this way, they can disassociate your absence with negativity.

F．They need stimulation for the period when they will be left alone.

G．Over time, they will look forward to their separation to get a reward.

2 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下问题。
1. What are the speakers talking about?

A．Managing the reading workload.

B．Deciding which books to read.

C．Choosing the right pen for marking.

2. What does the man use to mark new vocabulary?

A．Orange color.

B．Blue color.

C．Yellow color.

3. What is the man's system for marking?

A．He prefers to mark as little as possible.

B．He marks after reading the entire paragraph.

C．He uses smiley faces to identify amusing areas.

3 . Want a relaxing but fun challenge at home?     1     Puzzles have been around for more than 250 years and the challenge of working out where each piece goes and carefully recreating the scene on the box lid can keep you busy for hours, days or even weeks.

Puzzles come in a huge range of sizes and difficulty levels. For beginners, a 100-piece puzzle is usually a good starting point.    2     Try grouping pieces with the same colours or design because they will probably go in the same area once the puzzle takes shape.

    3     Those pieces are easier to find because they have a straight side. Stay patient as you search through and try to make it fit together. You may not find any connecting pieces for ages but then several may suddenly appear.

For a real test, puzzles that have 1,000 pieces or more are a tough task and it’s best to complete them with friends or family if you can. Choosing a scene that interests you, such as a favourite film, sport or location, can help keep you interested and determined to work to the final piece. You can get fun educational puzzles, too.     4    

Some of the best places to pick up puzzles are charity shops. They’re often on sale for less     than €5. Once you have completed a puzzle it’s nice to exchange it with a friend.     5     You just upload an image, such as a family scene, and they will make a puzzle from it and post it to you. It makes lovely and unusual present.

A．So others can have a go.

B．You can’t beat a good puzzle.

C．Some companies make personalised puzzles.

D．However, a good start doesn’t always lead to a good result.

E．Most people like to start by getting the four edges of a puzzle laid out.

F．It can get you used to sorting out how the shapes, patterns and colours go together.

G．For example, you may try a map of the world, historical timelines or the periodic table.

5 . Autonomy-supportive parenting is an approach that focuses on building a child’s sense of agency in the world as well as a strong sense of self.     1     We should recognize that children have a different perspective or experience than adults. Therefore, instead of pushing adults’ way of thinking on children, adults should let kids do their own critical thinking and solve problems themselves, which will help them trust their abilities.

Guide kids to find their own solution

As any parent with more than one child can tell you, kids develop differently.     2     While one child may find it easy to start their homework independently, the other might not be a self-starter. So we push our kids to the next level by knowing their skill level and meeting them there.

Let kids find their own fun

    3     It really is harm to them. It also sets us up to be their cruise (航行) directors at all times. That’s a huge burden on us! Letting children find their own thing to do when boredom strikes allows them to become self-sufficient and use their imagination to find fun on their own.

Being sympathetic doesn’t mean giving in

Another characteristic of autonomy-supportive parenting is being open, curious, and flexible. Trusting children to be accountable to themselves (or acting like it) is the only way you will know if your child will be a responsible, independent adult. For example, if you ask your child when they think is the best time to do their homework, and they tell you it’s in the morning before school begins, support them and let them try it, no matter how strange it sounds.     4    

Don’t forget to support yourself

Once you grasp autonomy-supportive parenting, you’ll see opportunities to put it into practice. No matter how old your kid is, adopting this style will not be easy.     5     If you get hard on yourself because you’re not measuring up, you’re more likely to return to the controlling practices.

A．It may work.

B．Our kids don’t know how to manage boredom.

C．That can mean we have to support them in different ways.

D．So forgive yourself if things don’t go right on a particular day.

E．And they may not know yet, but it’s good for them to think about it.

F．Some days are just going to be more autonomy-supportive than others.

G．It’s trying to understand children’s experience of what’s going on right now.

8 . When you’re meeting someone new, concentrate your full attention on him.     1     Instead, look the person in the eye, shake hands, and listen carefully to his whole name as it’s said.

Ask 

Speak the name back to the person in the form of a question. “Hi, I’m Katherine. I’m sorry, did you say Don or Dom?” Or “Robert, is it? Nice to meet you. I’m Katherine.”     2     Thus, by repeating the name this way, you’re increasing your chances of remembering it. To up the odds even more, try working in another question if possible: “Are you Stephen with a ‘ph’ or a ‘v’?” “Ty...Is that short for Tyler?”

Associate

    3     If your new acquaintance goes by Bill, make quick mental associations with famous people named Bill, relatives named Bill, or any other kind of bill. Creating mental connections and supporting them with a statement said aloud further cements the name in your memory. 

Employ 

After repeating the name and then commenting on it, use it once or twice more in conversation. Do this either by addressing the person directly or referring to him while speaking to someone else (“Hey, Jim! Bill and I were just talking about that new Brad Pitt movie!”)     4     Be careful not to overuse the name, though, since that can come off as awkward or insincere. 

Using a person’s name is a key to opening doors for you and to maintaining an initial rapport(和谐的关系) that could make this person a new friend for life or a lifelong business partner.     5    

A．You can write down the name when it is necessary.

B．When the conversation ends, use the person’s name again.

C．The brain responds more actively when a question is answered.

D．Whenever you are introduced to someone, keep your mind on it.

E．Don’t race ahead in your mind to come up with something to say.

F．Next, tell yourself something about the name to ensure that it sticks.

G．Make the decision to start remembering people’s names from today!

9 . Have you ever wondered why you want to do something, or what causes people to go through extraordinary pain or personal investment just to achieve a particular outcome?     1     Motivation.

Motivation is the reason for people’s actions, goals, and willingness to pursue the goals. Sometimes it seems difficult to find, but we all have that spark at our core. Here are some ways you can turn that spark back into a flame.

    2     If your motivation is fading, notice when this starts to happen and what events could have driven it. You’ll find that you’re more likely to feel bored when you’re in certain environments. As you become more aware of this, you can put yourself in situations where you’re more likely to thrive.

Keep a thankfulness journal.     3     When they’re aware of what they’re thankful for, it drives them in specific areas of their lives. Considering this, you may find value in keeping a thankfulness journal where you regularly list blessings.

Design an accomplishment book. Creative people may do well to design an accomplishment book with images of past work and accomplishments as a form of encouragement. It can be as informal or formal as you’d like. It might be a simple scrapbook you keep at your desk, or a professionally printed booklet that you keep by your bed.     4    

Get out of the house. If your life consists of going to work, coming home, watching Netflix, and going to sleep, you shouldn’t be surprised that you’re unmotivated.     5     Stretching yourself will expose you to new ideas, activities, and people, which will either strike up new motivation or rekindle things you have forgotten about.

A．What’s the possible solution?

B．Identify when motivation slips.

C．What’s at the heart of this issue?

D．Decide what works best for you and give it a try.

E．A thankfulness journal is a perfect way to show your gratitude to others.

F．Some people find that thankfulness and motivation are directly connected.

G．Make it a point to go outdoors and try new things even when you don’t want to.

10 . How to Travel with Your Friends Without Hating Them

The only thing better than a vacation with friends is a well-planned vacation with friends.     1     Choose your friends, destination and activities wisely and your group will enjoy a fun and memorable holiday-and start getting ready to plan the next one.

Not sure how to plan a trip with friends?

Choose friends you get along well with. You’ll be spending a lot of time with your travel companions, so think of people who have similar general travel habits and are flexible and relaxed.     2     Also consider how much you’ll be willing to compromise.

Decide on a date. Ask your friends when they can take time off from school or work.     3     The larger your group is, the harder it will be to find a time that works for all of you. Be patient and flexible and make a deal when you can.

Discuss a budget early on. Ask your friends to be open about how much you’re each willing to pay for the trip between travel, accommodation, food and entertainment costs.     4     For example, you could say, “I know it’s awkward, bat we should talk about a budget before we start planning everything.”

Pick a destination wisely. A key step in planning a fun trip with friends is picking the perfect destination. Big cities are an excellent pick, as there will likely be activities to suit everyone’s interests.     5     Consider the activities you want to do, sites you want to see and the amount of time you have to travel, as these factors will decide your destination.

A．Make your reservations for flights and accommodations.

B．All trips are meant for adventure, relaxation, and enjoyment.

C．Who you choose to travel with can, make or break your holiday.

D．Decide in advance how you will share expenses with your travel mate.

E．With careful preparation, your group will stay energized through the whole trip.

F．Narrow down preferences to a date and duration that works for the most people.

G．However, if you’re hoping to see nature, you may need to travel to more remote locations.