1 . When going shopping with a friend, Gail Heyman found herself quite awkward (令人尴尬的) when her friend asked her which dress she liked best. Her friend had a clear favorite — a dress that Heyman happened to dislike. “In that case, I lied and said that I like the same one,” said Heyman.
As Heyman’s experience shows, it might not matter all that much if you tell a white lie to make a friend feel good at times. But when it comes to the most meaningful relationships in your life, protecting a friend’s feelings at all costs can sometimes make them fail. For example, if a person is practicing for a job interview and it’s a few days before his interview, and he gives an answer that you think is not good at all and you don’t tell him because you don’t want to hurt his feelings, that’s really not very nice to him, right? Because he has an opportunity to fix that thing.
If you know that lies can have results, why do you still lie often? A study carried out by Tali Sharot, a professor at University College London, found that it’s because people just get used to it. One little lie can turn into bigger and bigger lies over time. “If you habituate emotionally, it will change your behavior,” says Sharot.
Sharot notes that if you’re worried about lying a bit too much, try and notice when you want to bend the truth (歪曲事实). She thinks it’s best to do so when you’re not actually responding to those triggers (诱因). Moving your attention away from shame and focusing more on your values can be a healthy way to start looking at this more actively.
1. How does the author start the text?| A．By raising a question. | B．By giving an example. |
| C．By expressing an opinion. | D．By comparing different views. |
| A．Be careful about lying. | B．It’s OK to tell a white lie. |
| C．Never should a person tell lies. | D．A meaningful relationship matters. |
| A．They are used to lying. |
| B．They don’t behave well. |
| C．They lose track of others. |
| D．They don’t want to hurt others’ feelings. |
| A．Try to bend the truth. |
| B．Change our behavior. |
| C．Say sorry to the one we lied to. |
| D．Concentrate more on our values. |
Friends play a very important part in everyone’s life. Friendship
Some people call you their friends for the wrong reasons. These people are not really friends. They are superficial (表面的) only “friends” on the outside, not the inside where it counts. Superficial friends only want to be your friends if is to their advantage. True friends are there if you are rich or poor.
True fiends are most special. They are also difficult
3 . One of the most important ways to help your child with their friendships is to have open communication with them.
Meeting possibilities
Practicing forgiveness
Friends sometimes hurt each other, but they can always apologize and forgive each other.
Who your teen chooses to be their friend is important. They might choose friends who share similar interests and histories with them. The most important things to look for are whether or not the person will be a good friend and if your teen enjoys spending time with them.
Putting in the work
It takes many learned skills to make and keep a friendship. It also takes many skills to end a friendship. The reality is that most friendships will experience conflict, and friends will have to work through it to keep the relationship or part ways.
| A．Building closeness |
| B．Choosing friends wisely |
| C．Moreover, aim to listen to what they have to say |
| D．A good friend will make you feel good about yourself |
| E．Everyone is allowed to have many friends and many types of friends |
| F．If a friendship is becoming hurtful, ending the friendship is a clever choice |
| G．Good relationships are worth the work to repair the damage caused by any miscommunications |
4 . Friendships can have a major impact on your health and happiness, but it’s not always easy to develop or maintain friendships. It’s necessary to understand the importance of social connection in your life and how to meet new friends.
Good friends are good for your health. Friends can help you celebrate good times and provide support during bad times. Friends prevent isolation and loneliness and give you a chance to offer needed companionship, too. Friends also play a significant role in promoting your overall health. Adults with strong social connections have a reduced risk of many significant health problems, including depression, high blood pressure and an unhealthy body mass index (BMI). In fact, studies have found that older adults who have meaningful relationships and social support are likely to live longer than their peers with fewer connections.
Many adults find it hard to develop new friendships or keep up existing friendships. Friendships may take a back seat to other priorities, such as work or caring for children or aging parents. You and your friends may have grown apart due to changes in your lives or interests. Or maybe you’ve moved to a new community and haven’t yet found a way to meet people. Developing and maintaining good friendships takes effort. The enjoyment and comfort friendship can provide, however, makes the investment worthwhile.
So, what are some ways to meet new friends? It’s possible to develop friendships with people who are already in your social network. Think through people you’ve interacted with— even very casually— who made a positive impression. If anyone stands out in your memory as someone you’d like to know better, reach out. Ask mutual friends or acquaintances to share the person’s contact information, or— even better— to reintroduce the two of you with a text, email or in-person visit. Extend an invitation to coffee or lunch.
To meet new people who might become your friends, you have to go to places where others are gathered. Don’t limit yourself to one strategy for meeting people. The broader your efforts, the greater your likelihood of success. Persistence also matters. Take the initiative rather than waiting for invitations to come your way and keep trying. You may need to suggest plans a few times before you can tell if your interest in a new friend is mutual.
1. What does the underlined word “isolation” in the second paragraph probably mean?| A．Challenge. | B．Relaxation. | C．Separation. | D．Determination. |
| A．Friendship can help people live longer. |
| B．Support from friends during tough times. |
| C．Some suggestions on how to make friends. |
| D．Friendship’s positive impacts on people’s health. |
| A．2. | B．3. | C．4 | D．5. |
| A．Make one strategy for meeting people. |
| B．Wait for invitations to come your way. |
| C．Contact those who ever impressed you a lot. |
| D．Share your personal contact information online. |
For years, my wife Teresa taught physical education at the elementary school level. Travelling on a regular schedule to the six schools in her district, she had a chance to get to know most of the kids in the area and see them at their best and their worst.
One day, in her class, Teresa noticed a third-grade girl, Meagan, who was short and grossly overweight, with a closed and hopeless look on her face. Meagan always sat alone in class, played alone at break, and ate alone from a recycled paper sack at lunch. The teachers and staff were kind to Meagan, but the students were not.
The stories made your shoulders drop. Teresa heard that when the playground supervisors (管理员) turned their backs, kids would run up to Meagan, calling her “Meagan the Fat Pig.” They did far worse than isolate (孤立) her; they filled her school days and walks home with physical and emotional torment (折磨). Also, Meagan’s single mother, a hard-working woman, was trying her best to make ends meet but she had never made it before.
Meagan’s situation disturbed my wife deeply. After talking with the principle and other teachers, Teresa came up with an idea. She knew from talking to Meagan that the child had never had a pet. Teresa was sure a pet would be the perfect way to inject some high-powered love and acceptance into Meagan’s life.
So one Saturday afternoon, Meagan was invited to Teresa’s office. When the door buzzer sounded, a dog engaged in a predictable and vigorous welcome. Getting down on one knee, Teresa introduced herself to Meagan. She told Meagan her thought that she could take away a puppy if she liked. Like any creature that has been cared about, Meagan gleamed in her eyes and playfully lifted the puppy almost off the ground. That day Meagan left the office with the puppy.
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: Now she had a living, breathing friend who wanted to play with her.
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Paragraph 2: Ten years later, Teresa received an invitation to the high school graduation ceremony from Meagan, where Meagan made a speech.
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1. What kind of quality does the woman think is important?
| A．Friendliness． | B．Honesty． | C．Bravery． |
| A．He likes friendly people． |
| B．He lives a peaceful life． |
| C．He takes something seriously． |
| A．By relying on our friends． |
| B．By going out and making moves． |
| C．By getting to know him． |
| A．Different kinds of people the speakers like． |
| B．How to make true friends in life． |
| C．Ways of telling friends’ honesty． |
I was lacking in everything needed to start a new friendship.
My parents moved to the town when they decided to look for new jobs but they didn’t realize I was really hurt when I said goodbye to my old friends. It felt awful to be a new student in the school and when my classmates were chatting, what I could do was to be caught up in my thoughts watching the clouds outside the window. I was not good at math or history; nor was I good at drawing or dancing. I was shy and timid (胆小的). I had a few friends back at my hometown and it seemed that they were the only ones who I could be friends with for my whole life. I felt I had achieved a point of saturation (饱和) with regard to having friends and I could make no further addition to my friends list. I was ashamed of myself, so I believed I deserved (应受) no notice from others until Emily came to my world.
Emily was fearless, outspoken and easy to go. She was everything I was not and I was too shy to come out of my shell. I met Emily in school almost every day and ye I never talked to her. We were in the same class but we were like poles apart. How I wished I could be like her or at least be a friend of hers!
It was another ordinary day. I was on the school bus back home, when I got up to get down the bus, my schoolbag was stuck in the armrest (扶手). I didn’t notice it and stood up with all my strength. Unfortunately, my schoolbag was torn apart and all the contents fell on the ground. I knelt down to pick them up. Suddenly, I saw a hand passing me some of the books.
注意：1.续写词数应为100左右；
2.请按如下格式作答。
I looked up and found it was Emily who was helping me.
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8 . Studies continue to show how important strong friendships are to our overall health. Here’re the rules you are supposed to know to keep strong and healthy friendships.
Be all ears to your friends. Too often, we only “half hear” what others are telling us, and have a hard time making space for caring about others’ conditions.
Throw away the judgment.
Forgive (原谅) where you can — and seek forgiveness when you make a mess of something. No one promises to bring perfection to a relationship, so being willing to accept and forgive the weaknesses of others makes you more likely to build a lasting friendship.
Respect your friends and their boundaries. Everyone has a right to set up personal boundaries to feel safe and respected. Some friends may have a difficult time letting people get close to them for fear of being hurt.
| A．Don’t crowd your friends. |
| B．Offer them what they need. |
| C．Support, trust, and honesty are givens. |
| D．But friendships don’t need to be perfect. |
| E．True friends don’t judge each other’s choices. |
| F．However, friendships require attention and care. |
| G．It’s also important that we’re able to recognize when we make mistakes. |
9 . When I first met George, I was in my early 30s. My children were just entering school life, enabling me to escape from endless housework. At 65, George had recently retired and was seeking a rewarding hobby for his golden years. We met at a local painting class. Thus began a friendship that was to last for 25 years — until the day he died.
George was an energetic man who lived life to the full. He loved his family and his friends. As the only male in a painting class full of women, George looked after every woman with the same attention. George took to painting with an inspiring level of passion, even changing the spare bedroom of his home into a studio. George housed many of painting items in a tool box — a red metal tool box. For about six years George and I studied together until the completion of the course.
One day, he rang me and I went to visit him. He was very ill. “Betty!” he said, “I’ve always been hoping to leave my box to you. I’m afraid I can’t paint anymore, and you have the best talent and are most likely to use it.” With tears in my eyes, I accepted the gift with the proviso (附带条件) that he could take it back at any time. He never did. He died two days later.
I still use much of his equipment today. As I paint, I often remember George, his big personality, generosity and unfailing encouragement. The most treasured item is the red tool box, still in good shape. The original shop sticker is still firmly in place although the price has worn off. But that’s all right because to my mind some things, like friendship, are beyond price.
1. Why did George go to the painting class?| A．He wanted to please his children. | B．He wanted to enjoy school life again. |
| C．He wanted to make new friends there. | D．He wanted to develop a worthwhile hobby. |
| A．Humorous. | B．Brave. |
| C．Caring. | D．Anxious. |
| A．To admit his own failure. | B．To present his painting tools. |
| C．To ask the author a favor. | D．To make an explanation. |
| A．A Lesson from My Old Friend |
| B．Inspiration for Art from My Partner |
| C．Nice George: An Artist with Great Passion |
| D．A Red Tool Box: A Bond Between Two Friends |
To most of us, friendships are considered
