1 . As to psychological well-being, the comfort zone is frequently perceived as a haven, a familiar location where individuals feel calm and peaceful. Pushing beyond this psychological state might have benefits.
The comfort zone can be understood as a behavioral metaphor. Within a comfort zone, an individual takes on a state of minimal anxiety without a perception of risk, responding predictably to deliver a consistent level of performance. These include behaviors that people do commonly, find relaxing, or that take them away from high-stress situations. Engaging in the same manner over time leads to a predictable and familiar zone of comfort. As creatures of habit, we become dependent on these routines that we know we can complete well to feel secure. However, by stepping outside of our comfort zone, we learn about our ability to handle new situations and control risks, leading to greater self-confidence, and lower levels of anxiety.
One study found that individuals who are more secure in stepping out of their comfort zone are more likely to be excited by and look forward to new experiences, feeling greater confidence in their ability to take them on.
One behavior that demonstrates the benefits of stepping out of a comfort zone is learning to play a musical instrument. When we consider actions outside of our comfort zone, we must assess our desire to engage in that activity. By weighing the pros and cons, we evaluate how uncomfortable a situation may seem, and whether the danger of entering such an unknown situation will be worth the risk.
Music offers a safe way to step out of your initial comfort zone because you can begin by practicing in an isolated setting, which offers a casual, safe way to build a new skill set. By picking up and practicing a new instrument, you have proven to yourself that you are capable of meeting an unfamiliar objective, thus decreasing anxiety.
1. What does the underlined word “haven” in Paragraph 1 most probably mean?| A．Habitat. | B．Shelter. | C．Community. | D．Destination. |
| A．We recall the old experience. |
| B．We think whether it is worth the risk. |
| C．We evaluate our thirsty for the activity. |
| D．We weigh the strengths and weaknesses. |
| A．The definition of the comfort zone. |
| B．The importance of psychological well-being. |
| C．The process of learning a new musical instrument. |
| D．The benefits of stepping out of one’s comfort zone. |
| A．How to Identify Comfort Zone |
| B．Staying Inside Comfort Zone is Important |
| C．Stepping Outside Comfort Zone Promotes Learning |
| D．How to Take Yourself Away from High-stress Situations |
2 . After over a decade of faithful service my old desktop computer finally died. It simply wouldn’t start. With no computer repair places open my daughter talked me into purchasing a new laptop to replace it. What followed was two days of pure frustration. It was like going from driving an old Model T Ford to flying the Space Shuttle.
After my daughter set it up, I looked for the old e-mail program I used to use, only to find that it wasn’t on this model. When I tried to download the older version again it wouldn’t work. I also had a terrible time downloading my old word processing program again. Then there were some difficulties of transferring all of my old stories that I had saved on a jump drive. The laptop computer’s fancy new programs were an icon minefield that I had to navigate. Each time I accidentally touched one of them it changed everything on my screen and I had to work hard to figure out how to change them back. In the end I had screwed up the settings so badly that I asked my daughter to do a reset so we could start over. Finally after two days I think we have set up the new computer to do the few simple things I need it to do so I can ignore the thousand other functions that I have no use for. I only hope it will work as long and faithfully as my old desktop did.
One thing I did learn from all of this is that when it comes to computers and life I want to keep things simple, simple, simple. Life is simple. Love is simple. It is we who make things complicated. Take some time today then to turn off your electronics and turn on your heart. Be a person, not a program. Be yourself, not your “Selfie”. Fill your days with purpose, your years with happiness, and your life with love.
1. What was the author’s old computer’s problem?| A．It was slow to function. | B．It crashed completely. |
| C．It was out of date. | D．It kept restarting. |
| A．She couldn’t forget her old computer. |
| B．She regretted not repairing her old computer. |
| C．She didn’t buy a more advanced computer. |
| D．She had difficulty using the new computer. |
| A．Useful. | B．Unnecessary. |
| C．Disappointing. | D．Challenging. |
| A．To explain her requirements for computers. |
| B．To stress the importance of technology. |
| C．To show the development of electronics. |
| D．To express her attitude to life. |
3 . Traditional measures of success often prioritize academic achievements and job-specific knowledge, but recent research has shown that emotional intelligence may be a better predictor of success and well-being than IQ alone.
Picture this: you’re a leader with high EQ. Your team looks up to you because you inspire them, drive productivity and make decisions that take everyone’s emotions into account. You find win-win solutions that keep the team united if conflicts arise.
Consider how EQ can supercharge your career. First up: self-awareness. It’s like having a spotlight on your emotions, strengths, and weaknesses. When you truly understand yourself, you can make better decisions and set meaningful goals.
It’s time to shift our perspective and embrace emotional intelligence as a critical component of success.
| A．Emotional intelligence helps cope with stress. |
| B．Social awareness is another crucial aspect of EQ. |
| C．Emotional intelligence goes beyond the office walls. |
| D．By understanding others’ emotions, you can build strong bonds. |
| E．It is now recognized as a vital factor in personal and professional growth. |
| F．You create a positive work environment where ideas flow freely if changes take place. |
| G．By recognizing its importance, we can make wiser decisions and lead more satisfying lives. |
4 . These days, many young people wonder if they would be better served by striking out on their own than pursuing a college education. In this rapidly evolving digital era, narratives of overnight success and entrepreneurial glory have flooded our social media feeds, fascinating the digital natives of Gen Z into questioning the worth of an expensive traditional college degree.
Contrary to popular belief, successful entrepreneurship is rarely seen among the young. Recent research suggests that the average age in the U. S. of founders when they launched their companies is 42, rising to 45 for those within the top 0.1% of earnings based on growth in their first five years. That’s even the case for high-tech startups. Indeed, successful entrepreneurship is frequently the result of years of learning, experimenting and risk-taking—traits cultivated over time.
Campuses create environments rich in intellectual diversity and foster cooperation among their inhabitants, promoting an entrepreneurial mindset. They encourage students to challenge established norms and develop their unique thinking patterns to create value — practices that are also key to entrepreneurial success. Thus, higher education is not just about attaining a degree; it’s more importantly about acquiring the skills and experiences that inspire and enable the entrepreneurs of tomorrow.
But some may doubt since formal entrepreneurship itself isn’t typically a course of study, are all college majors capable of instilling entrepreneurial skills? Let’s examine the arts majors, which are often subjected to the most suspicion concerning their career paths. Consider a theater major. That curriculum often includes entrepreneurship-focused capabilities beyond stage direction, lighting, sound systems and performance. Students learn to mobilize resources, lead creative teams and navigate the uncertainties of a theatrical production — skills that are readily transferable to launching any entrepreneurial business.
Like a compass for the future, entrepreneurship guides us toward a society that prizes critical thinking, nurtures intellectual curiosity and champions innovation. Let’s not get swept away by short-lived trends or misleading narratives. Instead, we should appreciate the enduring value of college education.
1. What do the figures in paragraph 2 indicate?| A．The chance of success multiplies with age. | B．Young people dominate high-tech startups. |
| C．Quite a number of enterprises are in the red. | D．Successful entrepreneurship isn’t built in a day. |
| A．Sticking to one’s own principles. | B．Acquiring knowledge from textbooks. |
| C．Developing a startup mentality. | D．Following established norms and traditions. |
| A．To illustrate it is complex and demanding. |
| B．To prove people’s suspicion is reasonable. |
| C．To show entrepreneurial skills can be integrated into all majors. |
| D．To stress it is the launchpad for successful entrepreneurship. |
| A．Arts. | B．Insights. | C．Entertainment. | D．News. |
5 . “Are you all right?” the student asked as she passed me in the hallway. I was in the final stretch of last work before writing my essay. The student, who was 4 years behind me in the same Ph.D. program, went on to say, “I see people from your group working so much, putting in extra hours, even at night.” It set me thinking a lot.
As a first-year Ph.D. student, I was lucky to have kind and understanding advisers. But I felt overwhelming pressure to become a perfect student. I kept finding a million reasons why I was coming into graduate school at a disadvantage compared with my peers. As a student from Colombia, I had been educated at institutions my professors and colleagues had never heard of, I spoke with an accent that was hard to understand, and I was older than most of the people in my cohort.
I noticed that most of the people around me seemed to be working all the time. I began to spend many weekday nights and weekends in the lab. But my strategy didn’t work. I crashed from burnout. The tiredness took a toll on my productivity and motivation. During one of many mindless Sundays in the office, I realized I’d fallen into the trap of assuming my colleagues’ work habits were the standard for belonging and being worthy of respect — and it wasn’t sustainable.
From then on, I stopped counting the number of work hours I was putting in, leaving space every day for exercising and doing activities that I enjoyed. Eventually, I realized nobody was keeping track of the amount of time I spent in the lab anyway and it wasn’t something I needed to worry about.
I noticed that having more time for myself made me more rested and motivated when I went back to work. I continued quietly along this path for years, until that conversation in the hallway. So, when I ran into her again, weeks later, I told her that even though I was feeling a lot of pressure in the final year of my Ph.D., I was putting my mental and physical health first and wasn’t working overtime. I also began to talk with other students about how quality sleep, physical activity, healthy eating, and reasonable work hours were a daily part of my routine.
1. What can we learn about the student?| A．He spent much time in lab work. | B．He had finished the Ph.D. program. |
| C．He was concerned about the author. | D．He was putting in extra hours at night. |
| A．Anxious. | B．Ambitious. | C．Dissatisfied. | D．Enthusiastic. |
| A．Added fuel to. | B．Had a negative impact on. |
| C．Cast new light on. | D．Depended too much on. |
| A．A healthy work-life balance counts. |
| B．A fall into the pit, a gain in your wit. |
| C．Fitting in doesn’t mean working overtime. |
| D．Nothing is difficult to the man who will try. |
6 . Once a year, around the time when Christians celebrate Easter, Muslims celebrate Ramadan and Jews celebrate Passover, I often invite my 24-person team to a joyful and special dinner at my place. To
I think this
I’m also really
As the person in charge of the lab, I see preserving a variety of cultural backgrounds as an important part of my job. Such an accessible, varied and supportive
| A．satisfy | B．dismiss | C．change | D．control |
| A．enjoy | B．throw | C．prepare | D．fetch |
| A．urge | B．tradition | C．promise | D．debate |
| A．strange | B．random | C．poor | D．diverse |
| A．refers to | B．turns down | C．consists of | D．leaves out |
| A．breakthroughs | B．backgrounds | C．ambitions | D．majors |
| A．differences | B．symbols | C．requirements | D．standards |
| A．occupy | B．assess | C．join | D．aid |
| A．regret | B．charge | C．sympathy | D．love |
| A．surprised at | B．proud of | C．interested in | D．guilty about |
| A．curious | B．casual | C．careful | D．embarrassed |
| A．thank | B．inquire | C．compare | D．choose |
| A．scientifically | B．physically | C．mentally | D．financially |
| A．respect | B．protect | C．witness | D．doubt |
| A．chance | B．position | C．appointment | D．environment |
7 . Many scholars agree that a meaningful existence comes down to three factors: the coherence of one’s life, the possession of clear long-term goals and the belief that one’s life matters. But we believe there is another element to consider.
Imagine the first butterfly you stop to admire after a long winter or the scenery atop a hill after a fresh hike. Sometimes existence delivers us small moments of beauty. When people are open to appreciating such experiences, these moments may enhance how they view their life. We call this element experiential appreciation, an ability to detect and admire life’s inner beauty as events happen.
To better understand this appreciation, we conducted a series of studies involving over 3,000 participants. Initially, we had participants rate their coping strategies to relieve their stress. Those managing stress by focusing on their appreciation for life’s beauty reported experiencing life as highly meaningful. In the follow-ups, we asked them to rate the extent to which they agreed with various statements, such as “I have a great appreciation for the beauty of life” and other statements related to coherence, purpose, existential mattering. Our results showed that the more people indicated that they were “appreciating life”, the more they felt their existence valuable. In the subsequent experiment, we further explored the phenomenon by asking participants to watch an awe-inspiring video, they also reported having a greater sense of experiential appreciation and meaning in life in these moments, compared with those watching more neutral videos.
The final results confirmed our original theory: appreciating small things can make life feel more meaningful. But applying that insight can be difficult. Our modern, fast-paced, project-oriented lifestyles fill the day with targets. We are on the go, attempting to maximize our output. This makes it easy to miss what is happening right now. Yet life happens in the present moment. We should slow down, let life surprise us and embrace the significance every day.
1. What is the author’s belief in meaningful life?| A．Owning the coherence of life. |
| B．Setting a long-term career goal. |
| C．Valuing what matters just to us. |
| D．Enjoying present beauty of life. |
| A．The approach to conducting the studies. |
| B．The analysis of the specific objectives. |
| C．The necessity of a long-term goal in life. |
| D．The logic behind experiential appreciation. |
| A．Our fast-paced modern lifestyle. |
| B．The lack of employment chances. |
| C．Our focus on individual feelings. |
| D．The ignorance of future outcomes. |
| A．Appreciating the past. |
| B．Living in the moment. |
| C．Finding yourself back. |
| D．Embracing the future. |
8 . Every year I’d read over 2,000 college applications from students all over the world. It is quite
The most surprising
The security guard wrote that he supported this student’s admission because of his
It gave us a
Next year there might be a flood of security guard recommendations
| A．definite | B．difficult | C．delicate | D．desperate |
| A．However | B．Otherwise | C．Besides | D．Therefore |
| A．ability | B．quality | C．limitation | D．assumption |
| A．signal | B．detector | C．appearance | D．indication |
| A．come out | B．picked up | C．come across | D．brought up |
| A．stood up | B．stood out | C．given up | D．given out |
| A．guard | B．teacher | C．principal | D．counselor |
| A．wisdom | B．bravery | C．encouragement | D．consideration |
| A．bothered | B．answered | C．visited | D．thanked |
| A．as if | B．now that | C．even if | D．so that |
| A．weird | B．accurate | C．equal | D．initial |
| A．passion | B．trouble | C．method | D．window |
| A．due to | B．in need of | C．except for | D．along with |
| A．money | B．notice | C．attention | D．curiosity |
| A．policy | B．trend | C．arrangement | D．career |
9 . One Second Every Day
I’ve been in advertising for eight years and used to work a lot of late nights and weekends for numerous projects.
The first project ends up being something I call “One Second Every Day”. Basically I record one second of every day for the rest of my life, combining these moments into one single continuous video until I can’t record them anymore.
I don’t use any filters (滤镜), just trying to catch the moment as much as possible as it is. I started a rule of the first person view. Early on, I thought I should have a couple of videos where people would see me, but I realized that wasn’t the way to go.
The project has many possibilities. I encourage you all to record just a small piece of your life every day, so you can never forget that day and treasure every moment.
| A．It instantly inspired me. |
| B．The purpose is to remember what I’ve done. |
| C．I’m always energetic when doing things I love. |
| D．People might have different interpretations of it. |
| E．It’s difficult, sometimes, to pick that one second. |
| F．But I never had time for one I wanted to work on on my own. |
| G．The essence of my project should be recording the thing as I actually see it. |
10 . As usual, Lily bought expensive gifts for her children Alice and Peter before Christmas. Her job kept her busy, and she
Lily
On Christmas Eve, Lily
All the guests present were moved by the scene. Lily
| A．usually | B．rarely | C．always | D．never |
| A．around | B．beyond | C．without | D．for |
| A．family | B．heart | C．body | D．job |
| A．watched | B．laid | C．hid | D．made |
| A．Fortunately | B．Eventually | C．Suddenly | D．Amusingly |
| A．shocked | B．touched | C．happy | D．free |
| A．attend | B．throw | C．delay | D．rule |
| A．blesses | B．regards | C．letters | D．invitations |
| A．confident | B．warm | C．relaxed | D．cool |
| A．shy | B．worried | C．easy | D．eager |
| A．welcomed | B．led | C．signaled | D．waved |
| A．uncomfortable | B．refreshed | C．surprised | D．calm |
| A．respect | B．pity | C．enthusiasm | D．love |
| A．noticed | B．realized | C．learned | D．witnessed |
| A．money | B．passion | C．knowledge | D．attention |
