2 . Resolving (解决) Conflict in Friendships

Conflict is surely a common problem in life and friendships.     1     That’s because there isn’t enough depth to guarantee all the trouble it takes to smooth over the disagreement. Unfortunately, even when the friendship reaches a deeper level, conflict continues to happen and can break apart a relationship. Here are some resolutions.

Resolve it the day it happens. One rule my parents follow in their marriage is that they don’t go to bed angry with each other. They always attempt to resolve things the day it happens so that in the morning, it’s a fresh start with no past grudge (怨恨). I’ve found I need a short cool down period so that I don’t act in anger. For some, counting to one hundred before saying anything may be an option.     2    

    3     Sometimes if you sit down and talk things over, you begin to see where the other person is coming from. Realize that everyone has been created differently with various talents, abilities, and personality traits. For example, you might be a leader while your friend is more of a follower. You may be frustrated with him or her for not being very decisive. Yet it is important to understand that each person is unique and needs to be appreciated.

Initiate resolution.     4     Even when you think the other person is wrong, it’s not a bad thing to say “I’m sorry if I offended you in that way.” If you’re honest and genuine in delivering your words, there’s a good chance your friend will respond positively.

Most importantly, be loving in what you do. Try to focus on peacefully resolving the disagreement. It is not a most pleasant task to resolve conflict in any friendship.     5    

A．Focus on the bigger picture.

B．Try to see the other person’s perspective.

C．Whatever you do, don’t let things ride for too long.

D．Be the first person in a fight to say sorry for your part.

E．Offering a listening ear shows you value the friendship.

F．Many shallow friendships end up being ruined after an argument.

G．However, it is worth the efforts because it results in a deeper friendship.

3 . 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文

For courage, I seized the rope on Cho’s broad back as we passed my neighbor’s fence.

Walking by Mr. Groll’s yard is the best part of our morning walk… and also the worst. It is the best part because the roses talk to us. “Good morning, Cho,” whisper the rose smells to my guide dog’s nose. Now comes the worst part — the unfriendly shape nearby. that shades us: Mr. Groll. As usual, friendly Cho thumped (拍打) her tail. But Cho is just a dog; how can she know that this neighbor does not like me at all?

“Hello, Mr. Groll.” I greeted him as I did every morning. And like every other morning, he did not answer me. But I knew he was there, watching, behind his fence.

Maybe he’s afraid of me because I’m blind. Disabilities scare grown-ups sometimes. Then I remember: Yesterday I heard him playing checkers with my friend Jimmy, who’s in a wheelchair.

Cho and: I marched on, and my thoughts kept step. “Why does Mr. Groll ignore me? He likes roses. I like roses. Why can’t two people who like roses like each other? It’s a mystery to me.” I thought “Maybe he doesn’t like me because I’m a girl.” A skateboard passed by. “Hello, Mai and Cho!” my friend Jana cried. “Hi, Mr. Groll.”

I waited. If Mr. Groll ignored Jana, then the mystery was solved. But his voice called out, “Hello, Jana!”

The sound of it broke my heart. And I knew something I didn’t know before: Some people who can see can be blind. Sometimes, their hearts don’t see any better than my eyes do. And I also knew that unfriendly Mr. Groll likes Jimmy. And Jana. But not me and Cho.

Me and Cho! An idea brightened my mystery.

Maybe I did know why Mr. Groll didn’t talk to me!

I attached Cho’s rope to a post, and I felt my way along the fence.

The gate squeaked (嘎吱) open. “Mai! Be careful!”

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。

Mr. Groll’s sudden voice steadied my courage while his hand steadied my arm.

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“Your fear of Cho may be big, but friendship is bigger.” I said firmly, “I can help. Come with me.”

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7 . Talking to solve friendship problems

Sometimes our friends’ behaviour can offend us; sometimes we can see changes they need to make — but how do we tell them?     1    

It’s important to have solid evidence that there is indeed a problem. Evidence that can be agreed upon makes it easier for other people to recognise issues.     2     Psychologist Andrea Bonior suggests framing problems with “I”. Saying “I feel hurt that you spend less time with me” is less accusatory (责难的) than “You never spend time with me!” and is focused more clearly on the impact.

Staying calm is vital.     3     Bonior recommends that you should acknowledge the conversation could make you anxious. If you think about this yourself, it can help you focus on positive results. If you admit your anxiety to your friend, you will show a more human side. Another psychologist, Laura Brennan, points out how it’s important that we let go of our ego and don’t focus on the need to be proved right. This can help reduce tension.

    4     We can lower the potential for conflict by listening to the other person and asking questions. Many experts recommend planning your words before having a conversation, so that you can say things in a way that avoids conflict. However, Bonior cautions against overplanning as this can stop you being flexible enough to genuinely follow and participate in the discussion.

Be realistic. Complicated problems are unlikely to be solved with one conversation. Consider what is possible in one discussion, and that it may be harder than you initially thought.     5    

A．Plan ahead properly to make a better conversation.

B．Are there any ways to make difficult conversations easier?

C．Learn to listen to carefully instead of merely blaming others.

D．This will help you to set realistic goals for what you can achieve.

E．Becoming tense might lead you to react badly and cause an argument.

F．Once you have proof, it’s important to highlight how it impacts us and others.

G．Talking about the problems realistically is the best approach to resolving the conflict.

8 . Thirteen-year-old Kaylee has a lot of friends — 532, actually, if you count up her online friends. And she spends a lot of time with them.

But is it possible that Kaylee’s online friendships could be making her lonely? That’s what some experts believe. Connecting online is a great way to stay in touch, they say. However, some experts worry that many kids are so busy connecting online that they might be missing out on true friendships.

Could this be true? During your parents’ childhoods, connecting with friends usually meant spending time with them in the flesh. Kids played Scrabble around a table, not Words With Friends on their phones. When friends missed each other, they picked up the telephone. Friends might even write letters to each other.

Today, most communication takes place online. A typical teen sends 2,000 texts a month and spends more than 44 hours per week in front of a screen. Much of this time is spent on social media platforms (平台).

In fact, in many ways, online communication can make friendships stronger, “There’s definitely a positive influence. Kids can stay in constant contact, which means they can share more of their feelings with each other,” says Katie Davis, co-author of The App Generation.

Other experts, however, warn that too much online communication can get in the way of forming deep friendships. “If we are constantly checking in with our virtual words, we will have little time for our real-world friendships.” says Larry Rosen, a professor at California State University. Rosen also worries that today’s kids might mistake the “friends” on the social media for true friends in life. However, in tough times, you don’t need someone to like your picture or share your blogs. You need someone who will keep your secrets and hold your hand. You would like to talk face to face.

1. What is the purpose of the first paragraph?

A．To summarize the text.	B．To tell about true friends.
C．To bring up a discussion.	D．To encourage online friendship.

2. What does the underlined part “in the flesh” mean in Paragraph 3?

A．In person.

B．In advance.

C．In any case.

D．In full measure.

3. What is Katie’s attitude towards online communication?

A．Worried.

B．Positive.

C．Confused.

D．Unconcerned.

4. What view does Rosen hold?

A．It’s wise to turn to friends online.

B．It’s easier to develop friendships in reality.

C．Social media help people stay closely connected.

D．Teenagers need focus on real-world friendships.

9 . It’s normal for friends to experience conflict, disagreements, and even fight. You can’t always agree on everything. Most times conflict with a friend is easily solved. But in some cases, the disagreement and the conflict grow leading to anger, sadness and even the end of a friendship. Learning to handle the conflict with friends in a healthy way is beneficial for both sides.     1    .

Calm down.

The first thing is to calm down.     2    . Prevent further damage to the relationship by taking a moment to calm down. Get some alone time. Tell your friend that you need a moment to clear your head. You can either go for a walk or just take a warm bath.

    3    .

It may feel as if it helps you explain your concerns more thoroughly if you bring in related examples from past events. Avoid this at all costs. Past issues for discussion only make things worse. Remember it’s important to focus on the issue at hand, not past events.

Work towards a compromise.

Unfortunately, some people believe that a compromise means a “lose/lose situation” because each person has to give up something. While this is true, every healthy relationship usually involves compromise and adjusting to others’ needs or wants.     4    . Just “give a little” to allow your friend to “get a little”.

Be careful of unhealthy friendships.

It’s generally a good idea to work through conflicts with friends. But it isn’t in your best interest if the friendship causes more harm than good.     5    , you need to re-evaluate if this friendship is worth keeping and consider when to walk away.

A．It takes two to make it work

B．In a heated situation, it’s easy to say or do things we later regret

C．Avoid explaining your concerns repeatedly

D．Remain on the current matter

E．Here are some tips

F．It’s important to surround yourself with people who positively influence your life

G．If you are in a friendship that is based more on conflict or you are the one always apologizing