1 . 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.

2 . You have an exam tomorrow and you’re not feeling prepared. With only a few waking hours to go, how is it best for you to spend your time?     1    . They will improve your exam success and relieve your exam anxiety.

Get organized

Time-poor students should use a planner to identify the times available for study and block out those times in the planner.     2    . You can also get a study folder and keep it organized, using it regularly to review your study notes and materials. Being organized with your study materials helps you to be organized in your thinking, too, as you can easily access the materials you need.

Take, make, interact with and reflect on notes

Taking notes is important. An active note-taking process is important to help you transfer new information from short-term memory and then recall it more easily after it is stored in the long-term memory.

    3    

Research has found the rate you forget information is minimized if you interact with (reread/discuss/write) new information within 24 hours of first receiving it. A second, shorter repetition within 24 hours brings recall back up to 100%. A third repetition within a week for an even shorter time brings recall back to 100%.

Research shows learning is more effective if the type of material being studied is mixed and study periods are spaced out over time.     4    .

Self-testing

So once you have a good set of notes, what is the best way to interact with them? Self-testing is a powerful way to study and learn.     5    . Good organization of where you store your flash cards and effective use of them are essential to maximize their study potential. It’s good to mix up sets of flash cards and study them in short bursts.

A．You may try four strategies here

B．Keep interacting with the content

C．It will be over in a few hours anyway

D．Focus on one thing for an extended time

E．Flash cards are also tools to help you to self-test

F．Then actually be disciplined and use that time to study

G．So, you’d better mix up study sessions with various practices

3 . How to have an attractive personality

Demonstrating an attractive personality is key to making friends and having lasting relationships. These traits (特性) give you the ability to inspire and fascinate others, making others more drawn to you as a result.

Listen to others.     1     Instead of responding to a text, opening an email, or thinking about your next meal, pay attention to what the other person is saying. Show them you’re listening and interested by commenting on the story or asking questions.

Speak sincerely. No one likes to be cheated.     2     If you can’t commit to something, it’s better to be honest about it than to have to tell them at the last minute that you can’t make it. When people ask for your opinion, you should be honest.

    3     You should always say what you believe in, be willing to take risks, and have the ability to admit your mistake without being worried about what other people will think. Doing this shows that you have self-confidence. This helps create an attractive personality.

Know “how” vs “what”. How you say things is arguably more important than what you say. If you try to give someone a genuine compliment, but he or she thinks you say it with a sarcastic undertone, your compliment won’t mean a thing.     4     If you notice that people often take things you say the wrong way, there’s a good chance you can change how you speak. Ask your friends to make you aware of the way you’re coming across.

Show enthusiasm for everything. Even if something makes you slightly uncomfortable, handle it with a smile on your face, an open mind, and a sense of humor. Not every day is going to be perfect, but being enthusiastic can help you accomplish anything.     5    

A．Tell people the truth.

B．You may make things bad.

C．Be aware of the way you speak.

D．Have confidence in how you speak and act.

E．When you act this way, people will love being around you.

F．Asking questions is important when it comes to confidence.

G．Listening is a trait that is often forgotten in today’s society.

4 . Finding your next awesome read

When you read as much as we do, it can be hard to find a good new book. There are so many read out there that it’s easy to be overwhelmed by all of the possibilities, often leading to a disappointing choice or wasted money and time. We’re here to make the process just a little bit easier. Here are five tips to find your next awesome read:

World’s famous works

If you’re looking for a popular current read, then bestseller lists are a great place to start. Usually there’s a reason that a book ends up on one of these lists, guaranteeing a high quality read. There are always the classic lists to consult, like the New York Times or USA Today, which are both reliable and constant.

Book clubs

Maybe you’re already part of a local book club, so you know how great they can be in terms of introducing you to new books you might not discover on your own. But there are also tons of online book clubs you can join, giving you an even wider access to some awesome reads. Some of these clubs are celebrity-run, like Oprah’s Book Club 2.0 or Emma Watson’s feminist book club: Our Shared Shelf.

To 100 Lists

Another way of finding a good book is to consult a top 100 lists. There are tons of them out there, from the traditional to the unusual. If you’re looking for a lot of solid classics, then try Time’s All-Time 100 Novels, which included books like On the Road and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. If you want something a little more global, then head over to thegreathooks.org for their Top 100 works in World Literature.

Goodreads

Considering the fact that part of Goodreads’ mission is to “help people find and share the books they love,” then there’s no surprise that it’s an awesome way to discover new reads. Fans, readers and authors all connect on the site, sharing review s and shelving books they’re interested in.

1. What can we infer from the first paragraph?

A．Reading wastes a lot of time.	B．There are various wonderful books out there.
C．Electric books are more popular now.	D．Readers prefer to buy books online.

2. Which one would you join if you’re a fan of Emma Watson?

A．A local book club.	B．Book club 2.0.
C．Feminist book club.	D．A celebrity club.

3. Where can we probably find the text?

A．An online column.	B．A travel journal.
C．A text book.	D．A newspaper.

5 . Cooking skills are abilities that allow you to cook safely and effectively.     1    , there are also professional skills for cooks that allow you to perform in ways that appeal to customers and impress employers. Here are some ways to improve your cooking skills for your career.

Attend classes or pursue a degree

    2    , consider attending cooking classes or pursuing a degree in cooking. Attending classes or completing coursework with others can help you practice many skills like cleanliness and teamwork, and you can learn cooking techniques that may appeal to employers.

    3    

Learning from others is a great way to understand how cooks work with different types of cuisine and what employers might expect from you in the food service industry. While learning from a colleague who is as skilled as you is a useful method for improving your skills, it’s also valuable to find an experienced mentor (导师) to teach you how to behave in a kitchen and develop your strengths.

Gain experience

To improve your cooking skills, you can work in a professional environment. Performing work gives you the opportunity to gain experience and see in what areas you can improve to be more successful in your role.     4    .

Ask for feedback (反馈)

Asking for feedback can give you valuable information about what you do well and which abilities you can improve.     5    . That’s because they know more about your typical behavior in a professional kitchen. However, mentors who help you train or teach you in class can also be a good source of feedback.

A．Learn from others

B．Understand how great cooks work

C．It’s usually best to ask those who work with you frequently

D．You should ask for feedback from your employees or mentors

E．It’s better if you can choose a job in an area of food service you’re interested in

F．If you want to learn a specific cooking skill or develop your expertise in this field

G．Although some skills are specific techniques that help you make particular food at home

6 . Simple Yet Amazing Ways to Be Wiser

Wisdom is a wonderful fruit of experience, knowledge and good judgement, which actually allows us to conquer the demands of today’s difficult and challenging world.     1    . Here are some strategies that you can follow to get wiser.

● Never back away from learning

    2    , so you must develop a thirst for knowledge. Take new classes, read books, listen toeducational podcasts, and the list goes on and on. If something confuses you, surf the Internet and clear out your problems. All of these activities will strengthen your critical-thinking skills, finally helping you tackle a problem smoothly.

●     3    

Why not have wise people, such as your teachers and colleagues as your mentors(导师) to make yourself better? Engage in useful dialog with them. The more time you spend with them, the more transfer of knowledge there will be. Be immersed in their knowledge as much as you can, and you won’t regret it!

● Open yourself to diverse angles

Be willing to accept different views and observe the world from different angles. Never base your perspective on the most popular opinion or what is the most familiar to you.     4    .

● Always trust your gut(直觉)

People who tend to listen to their hearts are good at making decisions than people who only listen to their minds.     5    , but gut also counts and people mostly ignore that. Whenever a certain situation occurs, check how you react and then go with your gut.

A．Call upon the wisdom of others

B．Share your knowledge with others

C．It also calms us down in terrible situations

D．We often think that wisdom is associated with the heart

E．Inspire humanity and see your life change for the better

F．Train your mind to be a judgment-free space for various ideas

G．Always being in your comfort zone will never help you gain wisdom

7 . You might worry that you won’t fit in or make many friends when you come to middle school. It’s totally normal to feel some anxiety about new social situations and friendships. The fact is, you’re not alone.     1    . Here are some tips that help.

Give yourself an introduction tour to meet new friends

While it’s always comfortable to hang out with people you already know, being open and friendly to students you haven’t met before is how you make new friends.     2    . If you seem approachable, other kids will be more open to meeting you.

Lean into kindness

Not everyone is going to be their best self all the time. People will annoy you or even be downright mean once in a while. The trick here is to lean into kindness.     3    . You know who you are, and you know how to be kind even when you might not feel like it.

Hobby up

    4    . You may turn to enjoying more grown-up activities. This is your chance to explore new interests. Middle schools usually offer tons of extracurricular activities based on nearly anything you’re into. Joining a club or other after-school activities or sports can help you make new friends.

    5    

Try to keep a positive attitude , including body language and facial expressions. If someone you don’t know introduces themselves, start up a conversation. Invite someone who is sitting alone to join you for lunch or ask someone with a common interest to join a club you like.

A．Let your happy self shine

B．Keep your old friends close

C．You might have more choices in middle school

D．Middle school is a time your interests probably change

E．This means trying not to talk about people behind their backs

F．So don’t be afraid to smile and introduce yourself to new people

G．Every other kid at middle school is also trying to figure out who they are

8 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. How many skills are recommended in this talk?

A．One.

B．Two.

C．Three.

2. Which statement is wrong about “preview”?

A．Read the first two paragraphs and the last two paragraphs carefully.

B．Read only the first sentence of the other paragraphs.

C．Read all the details.

3. What should NOT we do when we read sports news in a daily paper according to the talk?

A．Read the last two paragraphs carefully.

B．Get our eyes to move fast.

C．Sweep our eyes across each line.

4. What is the best title for this talk?

A．How to read faster.

B．What is reading?

C．Why we should read.

9 . 如今随着生活、学习和工作节奏的加快，很多人容易出现疲劳的状态。请你结合自己的实际情况，谈谈你应对疲劳的方法。
注意：1. 词数80左右;
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

How to Deal with Tiredness

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10 . One of the most widely accepted education theories shows that everyone has a unique learning style. According to this popular theory, some people are visual learners, others are auditory (听觉的) learners, while others are tactile-kinaesthetic learners, meaning these student need to touch materials. Supporters say teachers should adapt their lessons for each student learning style: Show lots of pictures to visual students; give verbal explanations to auditory students; provide lots of hands-on activities for tactile-kinaesthetic students.

Even though surveys show that most adults and nearly all teachers believe in the theory, it remains a theory without supporting evidence. The experiment on this theory showed that there was no statistically significant difference between the people who learned something according to their so-called I earning style versus those who did not.

The theory is far from harmless because it preserves a lie about how all students should learn. The theory makes it harder for student to learn things in different ways. For example, someone who believes he is a visual learner now has a, ready-made excuse for why he cannot pay attention during lectures and why he doesn’t do well on tests in lecture courses. Similar y, those who think they are tactile-kinaesthetic learners quickly come to believe they cannot learn new things unless they’re working with their hands.

In addition, trying to plan for each student’s so-called learning style creates a huge burden to teachers. Instead of creating one lesson for the entire class, teachers must come up with at least three lessons. While students do not have individual learning styles, some topics are better suited for certain methods than others. For example, a good each teacher will probably use plenty of pictures and models when teaching young students about shapes and patterns. For other topics, such as learning how to pronounce certain words, the teacher will provide plenty of verbal instruction and practice for students. Simply put, teachers should be free to determine the delivery method for each lesson according to the nature of the content.

It’s tie to recognize that there are no visual learners, auditory learners or tactile-kinaesthetic learners. I here are only learners.

1. What does the author intend to do in paragraph 1?

A．Classify learners into various types.

B．Give an account of different learning styles.

C．Encourage students to learn in different ways.

D．Advise students to adapt to various learning environments.

2. How does the theory of learning styles affect students?

A．They have more difficulty paying attention during lectures.

B．They adapt themselves to various teaching methods.

C．They find a suitable way to promote their learning.

D．They take it as an excuse for their learning problems.

3. How does the author develop his idea in paragraph 4?

A．By giving examples.	B．By listing some data.
C．By making comparisons.	D．By providing research results.

4. What should teachers do according to the author?

A．Have the freedom to provide individual-style lessons.

B．Prepare for lessons to cover all of the learning styles.

C．Choose teaching methods depending on the contents.

D．Focus on how to improve teaching skills.