1 . I’m in a coffee shop in Manhattan and I’m about to become the most disliked person in the room. First, I’m going to interrupt the man reading quietly near the window and ask for a drink of his latte. Next, I’m going to ask the line of people waiting to pay if I can cut to the front of the queue. This is how I chose to spend my last vacation. Here’s why.
Growing up, all I ever heard about was “EQ.” It was the mid-1990s, and psychologist Daniel Goleman had just popularized the concept of emotional intelligence. Unlike IQ, which tracked conventional measures of intelligence like reasoning and recall, EQ measured the ability to understand other people — to listen, to empathize (共情), and to appreciate.
My mother, an elementary school principal, prized brains and hard work, but she placed a special emphasis on Goleman’s new idea. To her, EQ was the elixir (万能药) that separated the good students from the great after they left school. She was determined to send me into the adult world with as much of this elixir as possible.
But when I finally began my first job, I noticed a second elixir in the pockets of some of my colleagues. It gave their opinions extra weight and their decisions added impact. Strangest of all, it seemed like the anti-EQ: Instead of knowing how to make others feel good, this elixir gave people the courage to do the opposite — to say things others didn’t want to hear.
This was assertiveness (魄力). It boiled down to the command of a single skill: the ability to have uncomfortable conversations. Assertive people — those with high “AQ”— ask for things they want, decline things they don’t, provide constructive feedback, and engage in direct confrontation (对峙) and debate.
A lifetime improving my EQ helped me empathize with others, but it also left me overly sensitive to situations where I had to say or do things that might make others unhappy. While I didn’t avoid conflict, I was always frustrated by my powerlessness when I had to say or do something that could upset someone. This is my problem and I’m working on it.
1. Why did the author act that way in the coffee shop?A.To improve a skill. | B.To test a concept. |
C.To advocate a new idea. | D.To have a unique vacation. |
A.She thought little of IQ. |
B.She popularized Goleman’s idea. |
C.She was a strict mother and principal. |
D.She valued EQ as the key to greatness. |
A.EQ. | B.AQ. | C.Empathy. | D.Courage. |
A.successful leaders | B.people pleasers |
C.terrible complainers | D.pleasure seekers |
2 . My father, Paul Andrew Figura, was a die-hard fisherman. In my
Whenever we
The greatest life lesson that Dad taught me involved dealing with those times when the fish weren’t
I learned early the importance of
A.dream | B.career | C.childhood | D.adulthood |
A.got up | B.reached out | C.stepped back | D.set off |
A.camps | B.lines | C.tracks | D.cottages |
A.forgot | B.rejected | C.recalled | D.meant |
A.make | B.pack | C.heat | D.freeze |
A.cultural | B.random | C.major | D.external |
A.cast | B.step | C.strike | D.risk |
A.swimming | B.dancing | C.gathering | D.biting |
A.wander | B.play | C.quit | D.sleep |
A.response | B.intention | C.evaluation | D.situation |
A.abandon | B.monitor | C.fetch | D.wet |
A.kindness | B.insistence | C.confidence | D.business |
A.cooperate | B.progress | C.resist | D.integrate |
A.In surprise | B.As a result | C.Ahead of time | D.In particular |
A.intentionally | B.casually | C.hesitantly | D.temporarily |
Most people think that procrastination (拖延症) is a negative habit. But people like me who routinely put off doing assignments, are likely to defend our “slower” approach to getting tasks done.
I'm the only procrastination in my family. My parents and sister were all born with the “do it right now” gift. They are always in a rush, as if closely rushed by an invisible deadline. Personally, I prefer a more relaxed pace. When my parents voiced their concern about my tendencies, saying “Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today,” “No way!” I responded, confidently presenting my research as a defense. It said people procrastinated when they need to solve a problem or commit to a topic or project. In these cases, delaying a decision can be beneficial. This was because our minds continue to reflect on problems even when we were not actively thinking about them, which could lead to more creative solutions. My findings filled me with satisfaction and pride. My method of getting things done was just as good as my sister’s…or so I thought.
At school we’d been talking about architecture and design. As part of the final assessment my teacher Mr. Smith announced an exciting project that each student would have a month to complete. We were expected to choose our materials, construct a small building and make use of things we had learned in class. Not only would the winners receive extra credit, but the winning constructions would be proudly displayed in the cafeteria. “I have no clue how I could get it done,” my friend Nate sighed in despair. I didn’t say anything. Not because I shared his anxiety-but because I was not nervous at all. I loved hands-on projects! Picturing my brilliant work exhibited in the cafeteria, I was fully convinced that I would definitely produce something that could impress everyone. So relaxed was I that I didn’t give it a second thought for weeks.
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。
Before I knew it, I had only one day left for the project.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________That taught me a great lesson.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________4 . I found a brown bag outside after our move. “Grass Seed,” it said in big letters. My husband and I
Near our new house sat a charming cottage, which was
While we waited for our grass to grow — or not — we
But after a monsoon (季风) swept through, I woke up to a beautiful morning and looked out the window. There was no grass growing in the sunlight.
A.sought | B.spread | C.collected | D.removed |
A.remain | B.last | C.dry | D.root |
A.need | B.intention | C.decision | D.agreement |
A.rented | B.given | C.sold | D.introduced |
A.green | B.advertise | C.fill up | D.look after |
A.help | B.chance | C.service | D.accommodation |
A.pretended | B.decided | C.understood | D.prayed |
A.naturally | B.hardly | C.gradually | D.temporarily |
A.uncertainty | B.potential | C.danger | D.untidiness |
A.locals | B.employers | C.regulars | D.gardeners |
A.proud | B.grateful | C.curious | D.stressed |
A.house renting | B.yard cleaning | C.keeping house | D.growing grass |
A.Otherwise | B.Instead | C.Besides | D.Therefore |
A.imagined | B.designed | C.remembered | D.appreciated |
A.test | B.memory | C.reminder | D.choice |
5 . I’m always cautious of the tired saying, “If it doesn’t kill you, it’ll make you stronger.” I mean, what about polio (小儿麻痹症)? Or loads of other horrible things that if you survive, you’re left scarred in one way or another.
For many years I worked in a specialist NHS clinic for people with eating disorders, which are greatly misunderstood and connected with vanity (虚荣) when instead it’s usually about control or even profound trauma (精神创伤). Eating disorders have the highest mortality of any mental illness, with one in five of those with an eating disorder dying from it. Treatment for it is long, tough and tiring. So, it’s fair to say it’s not something to be taken lightly.
Yet I was often surprised by how many patients-patients with all sorts of other conditions too, from depression to cancer -would tell me how the experience had changed them for the better after receiving treatment. It’s not so much that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger; more, it might make you more understanding of yourself and more sensitive to the battles and struggles of others. It can also give people a sense of determination and perseverance they never had before.
I had one patient who was an addict and alcoholic besides suffering eating disorder. She was frequently rushed into hospital and was sometimes at a real risk of dying. However, after years of hard work, she stopped drinking, stopped using drugs and her eating disorder improved. She got back into work and started doing several courses to get promoted. Actually, she had gone through numerous intense and exhausting interviews before landing a job, but she said whenever she felt she couldn’t handle it or doubted her capabilities, she reminded herself that nothing would ever be worse or harder than what she had already gone through. She managed to make the most of her life and turn her life around.
1. What does the author think of the old mantra?A.Always applicable. | B.Totally absurd. |
C.Partially right. | D.Quite misleading. |
A.The number of deaths. |
B.The possibility of being cured. |
C.The rate of getting mentally hurt. |
D.The chance of having mental illness. |
A.It leads to a changeable attitude. |
B.It makes no noticeable difference. |
C.It builds up their physical strength. |
D.It fosters self-awareness and sympathy. |
A.She continued harmful habits. | B.She relied only on medication. |
C.She always believed in herself. | D.She became stronger and tougher. |
6 . Have you ever felt the need to grab a pen and start writing your thoughts on paper? Words—beautiful and fascinating. But you know what is better than putting your imagination somewhere? In my case, to win the competition for the best novelist.
That was a small tournament organized by my school annually to
I finished a long story and e-mailed it. As I
I was not accepted. I
Thankfully, a film that night—Forrest Gump lifted my
A.advertise | B.demonstrate | C.defend | D.distinguish |
A.speaking | B.acting | C.dancing | D.writing |
A.beat | B.touch | C.contradict | D.dominate |
A.answered | B.sent | C.checked | D.shared |
A.notice | B.smell | C.taste | D.feel |
A.Moreover | B.Otherwise | C.However | D.Hence |
A.abused | B.overestimated | C.enhanced | D.proved |
A.moody | B.normal | C.natural | D.invisible |
A.encountered | B.shadowed | C.greeted | D.congratulated |
A.sponsor | B.organizer | C.reporter | D.winner |
A.clean | B.dark | C.soft | D.light |
A.spirits | B.eyes | C.boundary | D.restriction |
A.promote | B.decide | C.sustain | D.safeguard |
A.lower | B.position | C.straighten | D.shake |
A.never-ending | B.abstract | C.contradictory | D.hopeless |
7 . My son had just got his driving license. On the way home, I pulled the car over and
I
It was time to step into the waiting area. My body was
Soon they showed up. No one looked very thrilled about what they had just experienced. I began to feel
“Don’t ever apologize for knowing your limits. Don’t ever let anyone
Instantly, I understood how my son felt. Knowing the limits isn’t a(n)
A.shared | B.found | C.switched | D.reserved |
A.informed | B.echoed | C.reminded | D.grasped |
A.errors | B.weaknesses | C.highlights | D.limits |
A.recalled | B.anticipated | C.imagined | D.caught |
A.budget | B.heights | C.failure | D.conflicts |
A.repeated | B.yelled | C.turned | D.waved |
A.set | B.lose | C.affect | D.calm |
A.blank | B.solid | C.rigid | D.flexible |
A.face up to | B.give in to | C.come up with | D.reach out for |
A.relaxed | B.delighted | C.surprised | D.embarrassed |
A.somehow | B.enough | C.little | D.somewhat |
A.met | B.locked | C.avoided | D.resisted |
A.witness | B.make | C.suggest | D.observe |
A.opposite | B.remark | C.explanation | D.objection |
A.outcome | B.display | C.indication | D.admission |
8 . I’ve always loved horses, but for years my riding took a back seat to my four kids’ soccer games, dance recitals and so on. As my children became more
I have a work-to-ride rent at a nearby stable (马厩). As soon as I arrive at the stable, I always
One day, as I wiped off my bridle (马笼头), my friend Mary asked with sad eyes, “Did you hear about Heather? She
“No, how awful! Heather’s son is around my age.” I murmured.
“Yes, it’s tragic,” she said. “I
“Yesterday? She was out here?”
“She and her grandsons went for a trail
I nodded
Relief from real life. We all need it, somewhere, somehow, because life is
A.ambitious | B.enthusiastic | C.independent | D.responsible |
A.on | B.in | C.off | D.behind |
A.forget | B.hesitate | C.regret | D.stop |
A.persuaded | B.joined | C.refused | D.forced |
A.replacement | B.recovery | C.recharge | D.repair |
A.lost | B.beat | C.abandoned | D.raised |
A.wrote | B.talked | C.explained | D.whispered |
A.adventure | B.walk | C.visit | D.ride |
A.get through | B.get over | C.get away from | D.get across |
A.silently | B.hurriedly | C.gratefully | D.eagerly |
A.spread | B.developed | C.controlled | D.prevented |
A.result from | B.recover from | C.depart from | D.suffer from |
A.concern | B.affection | C.escape | D.value |
A.tough | B.precious | C.simple | D.unclear |
A.neater | B.smoother | C.softer | D.higher |
9 . Seeing the Good in Others
Many interactions these days have a kind of bumper-car (碰碰车) quality to them. At work, at home, on the telephone, or via email, we bounce off each other while we exchange information, smile or frown, and move on.
Unfortunately, if you feel surrounded by lots of bad qualities in others, you naturally feel less supported, less safe, and less likely to be generous or pursue your dreams. Plus, it functions oppositely.
Slow down. Step out of the bumper car and spend a few moments being curious about the good qualities in the other person.
See positive intentions. Recently, I was at the dentist’s, and her assistant told me a long story about her electric company. My mouth was full of cotton wads, and I didn’t feel interested. But then I started noticing her underlying aims: to put me at ease, fill the time until she could pull the cotton out, and connect with each other as people.
See positive character traits. Unless you’re surrounded by deadbeats and sociopaths, everyone you know must have many virtues, such as determination, generosity, kindness, patience, energy, grit, honesty, fairness, or compassion. Take a moment to observe virtues in others.
A.See abilities. |
B.Cooperate with others. |
C.You are not looking through smog-colored glasses. |
D.You, too, have positive intentions, real abilities, and virtues of mind and heart. |
E.How often do we actually take the extra few seconds to see others’ good qualities? |
F.You could also make a list of virtues in key people in your life — even in people who are challenging for you. |
G.When another person feels that you don’t really see much that’s good in him or her, that person is less likely to take the time to see much that’s good in you. |
Special#2,Please
My flight arrived in San Diego around midnight, and by the time I drove home and got into bed it was nearly 2:00 a. m. I was tired and jet-lagged when I dragged myself out of the bed. Nevertheless,I had to be up bright and early that morning: I was the opening keynoter(主旨发言人) at a national conference.
In short, I needed to recover quickly. A hearty breakfast in the early morning sun was what I needed. I headed for Carlos & Annie’s, a popular restaurant located in the heart of the seaside town.
“I’d like steak and eggs, please,” I said to the waitress after I had finally found a table in the restaurant. “Oh, I'm sorry,” she apologized. “We're out of Special#2. We've served the last of our steaks. How about Special#14?” “Oh, no steak and eggs?” I couldn't seem to accept it.
I'm not sure if it was my heartfelt sigh that caught Carlos, the owner's attention. His warm, caring brown eyes seemed determined to pinpoint the best solution. He then said, “You know, I think I did see one final steak back
there.”Pressing my luck,I quickly declared, “Wow,that would be great. But you know, I’m not sure if I want a breakfast stenk at all. What I really want is a steak—one that’s two inches thick, tender and juicy, served medium rare.” “Not to worry,” Carlos assured meand left. The young waitress gave me a wink(眨眼) and said with a knowing smile, “Carlosis being Carlos again!” I did not give her words much thought.
Then, I noticed Carlos as he left the restaurant through the side door and walked into a neighborhood grocery store across the street. Carlos exchanged morning greetings with everyone he knew and even helped the owner of the bookstore next door by holding the items that filled her arms. Then he reentered the restaurant with a bag in his hand.
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。
Paragraph 1: Within minutes,an exact Special#2 was in front of me.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Paragraph 2: I was about to leave when I learned Carlos had already sold the restaurant.
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