You might not have heard of the "fresh start effect”, but if you've ever made a New Year's resolution, you're familiar with it. It refers to the human tendency to take action towards achieving a goal after a special occasion or key date has passed.
The fresh start effect is simple. Most people want to improve themselves in some way. When we hit important milestones, we're often likely to reflect: are we where we thought we'd be by a certain age? Was this year a successful year, or did we waste it? Annual landmarks like birthdays, or the start of a new year, signify a new time period and an opportunity to leave slip-ups behind and to set new goals for better behavior.
Research shows that anticipation of a new beginning is a key motivator for the fresh start effect. For example, people aged 29, 39, 49 etc. were 48% more likely to run a marathon for the first time. When they were approaching a new decade, they were more likely to search for meaning in their lives and try to improve themselves. The reason is simple. When we see our past self as separate from our current self, we feel it easier to introduce new goals and take action.
What's interesting about the fresh start effect is that we don't need to wait for big milestones to take advantage of this sudden dose of motivation. Studies show that the first day of each month and even each week can also inspire us. These days, known as temporal landmarks”, encourage us to step back and evaluate our current situation. And when we do this, we gain the motivation to be better: we become more driven and more productive. That is why people are more likely to stall diets or exercise plans on Monday, rather than the next day.
Fresh starts are exciting opportunities to learn from your mistakes and move forward. So if you're currently experiencing loss of motivation, questioning the meaning of your work, or just feel like you're stuck in a rut, why don't you use the fresh start effect in your own life?
1. According to the passage, what is "fresh start effect"?2. Why is it that anticipation of a new beginning is a key motivator for the fresh start effect?
3. Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.
> A fresh start like the first day of each week is a time when we forget about our mistakes and move forward.
4. Besides the fresh start effect, in what other ways do you motivate yourself in your life? (In about 40 words）
The word “spiritual” comes from the Latin spiritus, which means “breath.” Originally, that which was spiritual was simply that which was breathtaking. From this perspective, a spiritual experience is anything that is awe-inspiring. People of all religions—or none at all—can equally experience such awe-inspiring events. Spirituality doesn’t rely on a set system of teachings or beliefs; it is merely the joy of being present in the moment and experiencing the awe (敬畏) and wonder of living.
Definitions of ecospirituality include “an expression of the spiritual connection between human beings and the environment” and “understanding the interrelationships between all living beings on earth and recognizing their interdependency while appreciating their value for maintaining ecobalance.” Others feel ecospirituality is the connectedness between the science of ecology and spirituality. Put simply, it is the personal experience of spirituality in nature. Although definitions may vary, all point to a sense of oneness with nature, and address our basic need for reconnecting with the environment.
Although there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to ecospirituality, there are a few common concepts throughout the practice. Things like feeling connected with the universe, knowing the risks involved in creating an imbalance in the ecosystem, protecting nature—and most importantly—sensing a feeling of “awe” in learning about our environment and ecosystem are all included in ecospirituality. Embracing a way of life that honors all living beings on our planet is what ecospirituality involves.
At this point, you’re probably wondering what you can do to integrate ecospirituality into your life. And the answer is simple! Start with a daily gratitude practice, focusing on what you are grateful for in nature every day. This simple exercise will not only positively benefit your outlook on life, but it will also motivate you to take actionable steps in preserving Earth’s many gifts.
Once you have a solid gratitude practice in place, consider spending more time in nature. Studies show that something as simple as taking a mindful walk outdoors can reduce stress and overthinking. And remember to be mindful while participating in nature! The key to ecospirituality is to let our beautiful planet take your breath away. And how can you do that if you don’t stop to smell the roses?
1. What is spirituality?2. How does a daily gratitude practice affect people?
3. Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.
▷Ecospirituality involves various aspects such as experiencing a sense of connection with the universe and ignoring the risks of creating an imbalance in the ecosystem.
4. What else can you do in daily life to better connect with nature? (In about 40 words)
What makes some people incapable of apologizing even when they’re clearly in the wrong?
People who cannot apologize often have deep feelings of low self-worth. When their delicate ego(自我) cannot absorb the blow of admitting they were wrong, their defense mechanisms kick in—they may place blame and even argue about basic facts to prevent the threat of having to lower themselves by offering an apology.
Unfortunately, many of us mistakenly interpret these people’s defensiveness as a sign of psychological strength. That’s because outwardly they appear to be tough individuals who refuse to back down. But this doesn’t show that they’re strong—it shows that they’re weak.
Admitting that we’re wrong is emotionally uncomfortable and painful to our sense of self. In order to take responsibility and apologize, our self-worth needs to be strong enough to absorb that discomfort. Indeed, if our self-worth is higher and more stable, we can tolerate the temporary discomfort that such an admission involves—without the walls around our ego falling down.
But if our self-worth is seemingly high but actually breakable, that discomfort can go through our defensive walls and score a direct hit to our ego. Indeed, the more fixed one’s defense mechanisms are, the more delicate the ego they’re protecting.
The mistake we often make when faced with someone who’s habitually incapable of apologizing is to become angry and try to win our argument with them. But the sad reality is that we can never win. In these situations, the best we can do is make our points as calmly and as convincingly as we can and then disengage from the argument when it becomes unproductive—like when they disagree with the facts, come up with silly excuses or turn to mean remarks.
1. Why can’t some people apologize?2. What do many people mistakenly think of a non-apologizer’s defensiveness?
3. Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.
►When you are trying to win an argument with a non-apologizer, the best way is to express your anger and make your point as calmly and convincingly as possible.
4. In addition to what is mentioned in the passage, what else can you do if your friend refuses to apologize to you? (In about 40 words)
4 . Ryuichi Sakamoto, the Japanese composer who died on March 28, 2023, was a talented musician. For many, his combination of noisy notes and joyous ones made him timeless and avant-garde (前卫的). But for me, Sakamoto was first and foremost a creator of complex emotions.
Before I learned to love Sakamoto, my mother loved him. After her days studying textiles (纺织) at a women’s college in our hometown of Nagoya, Japan, she would come home and play the Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence theme over and over. When she sat at her piano bench, she was trying to mold herself into the most attracting woman that she could be. Still, her childhood desire for a bigger life never died. Years later, when she played it again on that same piano, now transported to our Chicago home, her hands would crash down on Sakamoto’s drumming and upset bridge. It seemed that she buried herself in her younger dream and at the same time got lost in the reality of living away from her home and family. Both the joy of a fulfilled dream and the sorrow of its harsh realities mixed in Sakamoto’s score, pervading (弥漫) our living room.
Following in my mother’s footsteps, I too learned to play Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence. I played it in an open music room at college, where I was quite depressed under the gaze of strangers as well as excited about becoming my own adult. I played Sakamoto again in my then-boyfriend’s grandparents’ sitting room, the piece now reflecting my struggle to see how my Japanese and American self could fit into this white family, even though I was in love.
Sakamoto’s genius for telling the contradictions (矛盾) of existence arises again and again. I’m still playing Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence, now at the electric piano in my living room, as I puzzle through becoming a new mother, frightened and thrilled at the same time. Maybe someday my daughter will play Sakamoto’s music, and it will help her understand her life too.
1. The author loves Sakamoto for_________.| A．his Japanese identity |
| B．his talent as a composer |
| C．his way to combine notes |
| D．his creation of mixed emotions |
| A．Contented with her current life. |
| B．Joyful and sorry at the same time |
| C．Annoyed with the difficult bridge |
| D．Lonely and upset away from home. |
| A．The life and accomplishments of Ryuichi Sakamoto. |
| B．The challenges of being a Japanese-American woman. |
| C．Contradicting emotions aroused by Sakamoto’s music. |
| D．A mother and daughter’s shared love for playing the piano. |
Revenge Sleep Procrastination
According to the sleep expert Dorothy Chambers, “revenge sleep procrastination” refers to a phenomenon in which we delay going to sleep to do other unimportant things that we haven’t had time to do in the day, and reflects a very poor work and life balance.
The researchers surveyed 2,012 adults and found that over three quarters admit doing a form of revenge sleep procrastination, using their phones right up until falling asleep. Then the researchers selected some social media apps to test how seriously they affect sleep quality. Each participant was asked to wear a smartwatch to record how long it took to fall asleep, and provide feedback on how tired they felt the next morning. The result revealed that the average time taken to fall asleep was over 45 minutes and an increasing tiredness was reported by over half of the participants. It showed that revenge sleep procrastination impacted sleep quality a lot, which can lead to adverse implications on physical and mental health.
So why does it happen? According to the researchers, it’s largely down to the blue light emitted from phone screens. It stimulates the brain and reduces natural melatonin(褪黑素) production, increasing tiredness, and in turn increasing the amount of time spent falling asleep.
The researchers pointed that social media apps encourage the release of “pleasure chemicals”, giving us energy and a “happy” feeling. This could be why many of us choose them as our means of revenge sleep procrastination, even though we know they do have negative effects on our health.
To solve this problem, Dorothy recommended that we shouldn’t use any electronics for at least two hours before sleeping to avoid sleep deprivation. Instead, we should try reading a book or taking deep breaths.
1. What is revenge sleep procrastination?2. What is the effect of revenge sleep procrastination?
3. Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.
For some procrastinators, their sleep trouble results from the blue light, pleasure chemicals and their unawareness of the bad effects of using social media apps before bed.
4. If you preferred using social media apps before bed, what would you do to fight such a type of sleep revenge procrastination besides the practice mentioned in the passage?(In about 40 words)
6 . Upgrade your problems
In 2017, I spent all my money buying my first flat — which meant I had no money to fix my first homeowner’s problem. I was sleeping on an air mattress because I couldn’t afford furniture. Then I noticed a leaky pipe under the bath, which created a wet puddle (水坑). I couldn’t afford a plumber (水管工) but I didn’t want to introduce myself to the neighbour by crashing through their wet ceiling.
The only option left for me was that I had to solve the problem on my own. I took the bus to a nearby store and talked with the nice guy behind the counter. He explained how to fix it and sold me a pipe cutter and a bit of pipework. I went back home, pushed my head under the bath, and got the job done.
It taught me a lesson that has since become a bit of motto for me: Upgrade your problems.
Having a wet bathroom floor is a problem — and the day before I bought the place, I would have had a landlord to call. But once the place was mine, this became my problem. I saw this as progress: You must own your own property to take care of this sort of situation.
Years later, when I founded my professional services company with my business partner, Adam, this motto became core to how we approach the business. There have been many problems, and there will continue to be new ones. However, we remember the reason we have these problems — it’s because we run our own business! A late-paying customer is a problem, but it’s one we encounter only if we have paying customers.
That is why I still keep the pipe cutter on my desk today. It reminds me that, no matter my level of frustration (挫败), I am fortunate to face the problems I do. The more I solve them, the more I upgrade to even better ones.
1. What did the author notice in his first flat?2. How did the author solve his problem with the bath?
3. Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.
The author still keeps the pipe cutter on his desk today because it reminds him of his success in business.
4. What else would you do when you encounter problems in life? (In about 40 words)
7 . A new study featuring researchers at Binghamton University found that viewing wealth and material possessions as a sign of success produces significantly better results to life satisfaction than viewing wealth and possessions as a sign of happiness.
“People simply say ‘money can’t buy you happiness’ and just assume that materialism has a negative influence on overall well-being,” said Jenny Jiao, assistant professor of marketing at Binghamton University School of Management. “But it’s not that simple. There is a real difference between success materialism and happiness materialism.”
Jiao and her fellow researchers surveyed over 7,500 German adults to get their findings. They first determined if participants had either a happiness materialistic or success materialistic mindset, and then asked questions regarding current satisfaction of life, expected satisfaction of life in the future and economic motivations.
What they found:
Happiness materialism (wealth and material consumption is the sign of a happy life) can negatively influence life satisfaction in two different ways:
It can lead a person to be dissatisfied with their current standard of living, which in turn
negatively influences overall life satisfaction.
It can lead a person to not find satisfaction from other important areas of life (family life, social life, health, etc.), which negatively influences overall life satisfaction.
Success materialism (wealth and material possessions are a sign of success in life) positively influences life satisfaction by boosting (助推) a person’s economic motivation. This can lead to a rise in their future satisfaction with their standard of living, which positively influences overall life satisfaction.
The researchers cross-checked their results with survey answers from other parts of the world, including the United States, to verify (证实) the universality of the findings. “Your happiness should never rely on money alone, but money can be a tool to motivate you to achieve major milestones in your life, which can make you feel happier in the long run,” said Jiao, adding that focusing on future goals is important in order to stay driven and motivated.
She also cautioned to forget about the other aspects of life that bring satisfaction. “Never lose sight of the other things that provide happiness that don’t necessarily have monetary (货币的) value. These include family, friends, your health, continual learning and new experiences,” she said.
1. What did researchers at Binghamton University find in their new study?| A．Materialism has a negative influence on people’s overall well-being. |
| B．Success materialism and happiness materialism are the same to some extent. |
| C．Regarding material possessions as a mark of success contributes to better life satisfaction. |
| D．Viewing wealth and possessions as a sign of happiness positively leads to overall well-being. |
| A．The survey result only applies to participants from Germany and the United States. |
| B．One’s current standard of living has nothing to do with his overall life satisfaction. |
| C．Family life and social life are two more important factors than wealth and success. |
| D．Boosting one’s economic motivation may positively influence his life satisfaction. |
| A．If you want to keep motivated, you should concentrate on money alone. |
| B．Money can help you achieve major milestones, and thus make you happier. |
| C．Forget about the other aspects of life that bring satisfaction if you want to be happy. |
| D．Things that don’t have monetary value should be the focus of your pursuit of happiness. |
| A．Wealth can lead to more satisfying life if viewed as a sign of success not happiness. |
| B．Material possessions viewed as a sign of happiness are vital but always overlooked. |
| C．Family, friends, health, continual learning and new experiences can lead to success. |
| D．Satisfaction of life and economic motivations hardly contribute to our happiness. |
8 . When I was ten, we moved to a new house across town. Mark, one of the
“Can he do anything else?” I asked.
Mark was
I looked at the details. I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to say.
Mark was disappointed by my response. “Show me your toys.”
I didn’t have any toys
“Xiao laohu,” I said, and stopped. I switched to English.“This is Tiger.” Cautiously, Laohu strode up and purred at Mark, sniffing his hands.
Mark
I had never thought of Laohu as
Mark pushed Obi-Wan's head again. The lightsaber flashed; he moved his arms up and down. “Use the Force!”
Laohu turned and pounced, knocking the plastic figure
“Rawwww,” Laohu laughed. I
Mark punched me, hard. “This was very expensive! You can’t even find it in the stores now. It probably cost more than what your Dad paid for your Mom!”
I stumbled and fell to the floor. Laohu growled and leapt at Mark’s face.
Mark screamed, more out of fear and surprise than
After Mark left, I spent a long time trying, without
| A．classmate | B．neighborhood | C．school | D．camp |
| A．annoyed | B．excited | C．interested | D．troubled |
| A．besides | B．except | C．until | D．before |
| A．self-excited | B．power-driven | C．strong-willed | D．sure-footed |
| A．examined | B．played | C．held | D．looked |
| A．toy | B．handicraft | C．trash | D．gift |
| A．away | B．down | C．beyond | D．off |
| A．blamed | B．applauded | C．laughed | D．joined |
| A．pain | B．sadness | C．anger | D．envy |
| A．effort | B．failure | C．difficulty | D．success |
Personally, I
My favourite thing to do during the summer is to go to Grandpa’s lake cabin(小屋). In the evening after a full day of fishing, Grandpa and I sit on the bank enjoying the scenery. The sun setting behind the mountains
