1 . In Favour of Simple Writing

Do you edit text messages carefully before sending them? If so, you may be the kind of person who takes pride in _______ even the simplest message. If you do not, you may see yourself as a go-getter, one who values excitement and speed over _______: get it done decently now rather than perfectly later.

People are constantly receiving messages, from the mailbox to the inbox to the text-message alert. What to read, what to skim (略读) and what to ignore are decisions that nearly everyone has to make dozens of times a day. A new book titled All Readers are Busy Nowadays makes the argument for being the careful kind of _______, even in informal lines. The authors also present well-established _______ that have long been prized in guides to writing.

Take “less is more”. Most books on writing well advocate the advice to _______ needless words. The authors, however, have _______ the idea. In an email to thousands of school-board members asking them to take a survey, cutting the count from127 to 49 words almost _______ the response rate.

Keeping messages to a _______ idea—or as few as absolutely needed—helps ensure that they will be read, remembered and acted on. _______ the number of the available options has the same effect, too. A link in an email, ________, attracted 50% more clicks when presented alone than when it was sent alongside a second additional link.

Syntax (句法) and ________ matter, too. It is more ________ to adopt short and active sentences, with common words familiar to everyone. From Facebook posts to online-travel reviews, even brief, informal pieces of writing that follow these rules get more likes and shares.

If everyone is a busy reader, everyone is a busy writer, too. That may make it tempting to sent as many messages as ________ as possible and hope for the best. But from essays to text messages organizing dinner plans, devoting time to the needs of readers has provable ________. If you are so busy that you write an undisciplined message which readers scan, ignore and delete, then you might as well have not ________ it at all.

1.

A．conveying

B．understanding

C．crafting

D．sending

2.

A．care

B．quantity

C．simplicity

D．technology

3.

A．reader

B．poster

C．learner

D．writer

4.

A．structures

B．principles

C．aims

D．alternatives

5.

A．remove

B．ignore

C．reconsider

D．interpret

6.

A．conveyed

B．translated

C．tested

D．shaped

7.

A．lowered

B．affected

C．doubled

D．maintained

8.

A．basic

B．positive

C．definite

D．single

9.

A．Recording

B．Reducing

C．Counting

D．Estimating

10.

A．in comparison

B．after all

C．for instance

D．in particular

11.

A．word-choice

B．pattern-design

C．target-setting

D．platform-selection

12.

A．difficult

B．suitable

C．challenging

D．common

13.

A．carefully

B．often

C．politely

D．quickly

14.

A．outcomes

B．points

C．figures

D．benefits

15.

A．received

B．written

C．read

D．answered

2 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。1.

A．Those who wish to be a leader.

B．Those who are warm and inviting.

C．Those who have trouble socializing.

D．Those who judge people by first impressions.

2.

A．Because it means time is important.

B．Because it reflects that you value them.

C．Because it allows you to get ready early.

D．Because it applies to various business situations.

3.

A．By communicating with people in public.

B．By talking with anyone around you in life.

C．By trying to stop talking every time you use them.

D．By practicing with these words at home one at a time.

4 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. What does the passage mainly tell us?

A．Working from home has its benefits.	B．Workplace friendships are easy to develop.
C．Young people favour remote employment.	D．Working remotely limits workplace friendships.

2. What can employees get from workplace friends at critical moments?

A．Financial support.	B．Emotional comfort.
C．Frontline services.	D．Educational resources.

3. How can workplace friendships benefit employers?

A．Workplace friendships help to avoid disagreements at work.

B．Workplace friendships motivate employees to work longer hours.

C．Workplace friendships contribute to efficiency and security at work.

D．Workplace friendships encourage employers to interact with customers.

5 . From birth, every person needs other human beings. Babies need to be cared for to survive. Their first _________ usually come from parents and brothers or sisters. As children grow up, _________, they spend more time with others. And they may or may not feel connected to the people they see every day. Some people feel different from or rejected by their neighbors, people they work with or even their families. People who don’t feel like they belong often feel _________, even when others are around.

People find different ways to meet their natural desire to _________ a group. Some rely on their families _________ others find communities based on other interests. These can include religious beliefs, shared goals, life experiences or popular culture.

You need others for many _________. Community members can offer advice or practical help when you go through difficult times. You can also grow as a person from helping others. And belonging helps give a sense of meaning as you become part of something bigger than yourself.

So what can you do if you _________ a sense of belonging? The first step will usually be to make a mindful effort to _________ others. You could join groups based on interests you share. Or you could contact an individual with whom you have something in common and decide when to meet up. This may be uncomfortable _________, but as with most things, it becomes easier with practice. Focusing on others more than on yourself may help. Ask questions that show you __________ others’ lives. This will help them feel valued. If you are shy, it will spare you from having to talk about yourself too much.

Finding community requires a(n) __________ to accept others. But it is also important to remain __________ to yourself. If you hide your thoughts and feelings to fit in, you won’t feel like you belong.

Finding a place where you belong may not be easy, but it will help you live a happier life.

1.

A．feelings

B．needs

C．connections

D．belongings

2.

A．indeed

B．meanwhile

C．furthermore

D．however

3.

A．interested

B．different

C．lonely

D．involved

4.

A．build up

B．believe in

C．benefit from

D．belong to

5.

A．while

B．although

C．as

D．when

6.

A．reasons

B．occasions

C．difficulties

D．senses

7.

A．lose

B．lack

C．show

D．maintain

8.

A．catch up with

B．reach out to

C．count on

D．object to

9.

A．at first

B．in other words

C．to some extent

D．on average

10.

A．concentrate on

B．care about

C．give way to

D．make comments on

11.

A．anxiety

B．arrangement

C．willingness

D．hesitation

12.

A．polite

B．kind

C．patient

D．true

6 . Social Masking

Amanda is always an expert at working the room. She would adopt the manner of the people around her to fit in while hiding her true personality. This is social masking, the process of hiding your natural way of interacting with others so you can feel accepted.     1    Instead, they are hoping to fit in with everybody else. Social masking is a set of learned pattern-matching behaviors, movements and actions where you try to be normal to fit in rather than stand out.

    2    People all wear certain social masks in order to get through some tricky life situations with confidence, according to Dr. Tara Quinn-Cirillo. And some experts even think social masking is built in all human beings at a physical level, adding that something in our brain gives indications of how to essentially stay safe and not stick out.

In a world that often tells us to just be ourselves, you might wonder why we are still dependent on these social masking behaviors. “Social masking happens because we as a species want to be included,” says Tara. “It has been a tribal thing of being together rather than being on our own, from a historical perspective.     3    ”

There is a huge difference between naturally identifying with someone and consciously social masking.    4    Social masking, on the other hand, involves a conscious effort to change your personality to suit your surroundings. It typically involves depressing your natural urges and changing your personal interests to fit the crowd.

A．Social maskers do not try hard to match other people in pace and tone.

B．Social masking is something we all engage in to some extent.

C．Social maskers are not trying to fox anyone.

D．When we are in natural identification with someone, it happens naturally, and there is very little effort involved.

E．It’s adopted by people unable to naturally act in a way considered socially acceptable.

F．That is, it’s an ancient part of our evolution to socialize, rather than be anti-social or a misfit.

7 . For busy people, the idea of speed dating has really caught on in popularity. In a speed dating event, usually 8-10 _________ go around from table to table, each spending 6-8 minutes at each one. From that, you may not know for sure if you want to _________ something more with an individual, but, you will _________ know if you don’t want to.

The first thing that you will realize about speed dating is that it makes you _________. Unlike a bar, where you might get a whole evening to _________ check a potential partner out and to see what they’ve got, when it comes to _________, you know that you only have a certain amount of time to put your best foot forward(全力以赴)there. You’ll find the other participants are _________ of this and will put their best foot forward.

An 8-minute speed dating will also give you a chance to see how someone _________ under pressure. You may already know a little more about their _________ if you find someone who can’t seem to make eye-contact. The best advice is to make eye contact, be open and direct. You’ll find that the __________ time can make for some excellent opportunities to really shine, and there’s nothing like a deadline to make you more __________! An important detail to keep in mind is that you will be __________ to a dozen or more singles in a short time. Those who feel that there is an advantage in larger numbers will surely find this __________.

When you are looking for __________, you may not want to do the long search, so think about speed dating and see what you can do to make sure that it works for you. __________, give this exciting opportunity a try!

1.

A．lovers

B．couples

C．youths

D．singles

2.

A．learn

B．have

C．explore

D．develop

3.

A．equally

B．hardly

C．definitely

D．eventually

4.

A．chase

B．hurry

C．focus

D．cheer

5.

A．constantly

B．frequently

C．occasionally

D．unexpectedly

6.

A．making friends

B．speed dating

C．family planning

D．home improving

7.

A．sick

B．fond

C．aware

D．confident

8.

A．acts

B．talks

C．lives

D．loves

9.

A．interest

B．background

C．intention

D．personality

10.

A．spare

B．limited

C．appointed

D．luxurious

11.

A．creative

B．passive

C．negative

D．objective

12.

A．introduced

B．devoted

C．mentioned

D．used

13.

A．demanding

B．surprising

C．convincing

D．appealing

14.

A．fun

B．love

C．friendship

D．adventure

15.

A．In a word

B．As a result

C．On the way

D．Believe it or not

8 . Directions: After reading the passage below, fill in the blanks to make the passages coherent and grammatically correct. For the blanks with a given word, fill in each blank with the proper form of the given word; for the other blanks, use one word that best fits each blank.

Most underrated pleasures of one’s life

One of the biggest drivers of good relationships in our lives is a developed level of understanding in those relationships. The relationships     1     this understanding end up creating too much maintenance work. So it becomes more like luggage or at least something that needs attention or care rather than fun.

I realized it with a couple of friends of mine. Recently my “friend ecosystem” had a sudden change. A couple of them     2     (leave) although I still have a couple around. I am also adding a couple of new ones.

The whole change made me thoughtful. I started to think about the cause of being better friends with some. It turns out that among the large number of other factors, one of the key ones is     3     (understand). It can then be extended to personal and even business relationships.

While     4     (hire) a key employee, one can be sure that it will work well if the other person enjoys and understands you well. It will be far     5     (productive) as the relationship related maintenance is low and you can focus on actual output. It     6     help you even when you are looking for funding partners, seed capital or business joint ventures (企业).

Finally, how do you ensure you are understood? To start with, make sure that the people who     7     (matter) to you in any capacity like business, managerial, personal or family have an open relationship with you. Creating an open environment     8     others can discuss constructive aspects or difficult discussion is important.

Being caring and respectful to     9     and being truthful are two different things. Truthfulness is as important as being respectful and caring. In the long term, truthfulness will result in a caring relationship.     10     you are understood well and have an open relationship, you can’t be truthful.

When you get to that level with the person where you are completely understood, it will be an awesome feeling!

9 . Part of me has always wanted to be the kind of person who breaks the ice with a stranger. When I witness that kind gregariousness (合群) in others, I feel_________; I assume their lack of reserve means they lead more exciting lives. How many tales of adventure began because someone had the_________to say hello? Talking to someone I don’t know_________low-level fear, and I avoid it entirely.

I’m not alone. In a 2022 study, Gillian Sandstrom, a psychologist, noted that people are “remarkably_________” about talking to strangers, despite research linking frequent social interactions with happiness. We tend to_________the potential for negative consequences in such encounters, and actively avoid them. As a countermeasure, she gave participants “missions” that involved initiating conversations with strangers who met certain_________(e.g., “Find someone who’s wearing a hat”). The results were_________Sandstrom s assumption: these interactions were far more pleasant than people expected them to be.

Eager to test her theory, I gave myself a week to reproduce Sandstrom’s assignment, which meant speaking to around 30 people. I had no_________not 10 try: I live in New York City and encounter hundreds of strangers.

One of my missions was to speak to someone who was eating. “Is that cream cheese?” I asked a guy on a park bench who was eating stuff. It_________a little more disrespectful than I intended, but once he realized that I wasn’t crazy, we had a(n)__________conversation. When I spoke to an attractive woman on crutches (拐杖) for my task of engaging someone who “looks sad,” I was worried she’d think of me as a pickup artist.__________, she humored me when I told her about my knee issues.

Here’s a tip: asking strangers about the bonuses of talking to strangers can be an effective strategy. I used this__________with people required to interact with the public as part of their job. Among the waiters I spoke with, a common response was that chatting with customers was one of the most enjoyable aspects of their day, providing a little burst of__________. A cafe worker told me that he was an expert at guessing a customer’s order based on their appearance—yoga clothes? black coffee—but felt a distinct joy whenever he got it wrong.

My__________didn’t transform me into a fearless extrovert (外向者). But it was a useful reminder that when it comes to keeping life interesting, it__________to make room for the occasional surprise.

1.

A．sacred

B．distressed

C．disapproving

D．envious

2.

A．nerve

B．willpower

C．sympathy

D．vision

3.

A．masks

B．eases

C．inspires

D．taps

4.

A．informed

B．pessimistic

C．expectant

D．confused

5.

A．overstate

B．demonstrate

C．exploit

D．suffer

6.

A．identification

B．resistance

C．profile

D．scale

7.

A．at the mercy of

B．in contrast to

C．for the sake of

D．in line with

8.

A．excuse

B．means

C．authority

D．regrets

9.

A．set about

B．came out

C．stood by

D．ended up

10.

A．delightful

B．awkward

C．one-sided

D．initial

11.

A．Likewise

B．Therefore

C．Plus

D．Instead

12.

A．bonus

B．receipt

C．approach

D．patent

13.

A．unpredictability

B．resolution

C．discrimination

D．inaccessibility

14.

A．persistence

B．ritual

C．experiment

D．convention

15.

A．turns out

B．pays off

C．goes on

D．falls short

10 . Directions: Complete the following passage by using the words in the box. Each word can only be used once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A. alert                    B. connected             C. correspond             D. dismiss             E. embarrassed F. invaluable             G. judgement             H. piloted                    L. respectful             J. urge                    K. wellbeing

Are you listening? But are you really listening?

You’d think we’d be very good at listening, but do we deeply listen? Sometimes we quickly    1    another’s opinion if it doesn’t fit neatly with our own. The British Council has launched a project Crossing Divides aimed to train young people to listen and understand other people with very different perspectives.

Practicing deep listening means tuning into empathy(同理心), resisting the    2    to judge people who are distinct from oneself. It develops important skills that will make anyone a better listener: empathy, silence and becoming aware of our    3    .

The project was    4    in Lebanon, where it helped local people find common ground with each other, in a society divided by bitter years of conflict. People taking part in the project said they felt that they were being heard, helping them to feel recognized and understood, which opened communication between communities. All the participants greatly improved their listening skills, which proved    5    in their working and personal lives.

They have also had a chance to be listened to and heard, which research shows can improve    6    . This is because we all feel accepted, valued and more    7    to others when we sense that we are being truly listened to, and the person listening to us doesn’t have to agree with us for those benefits to be enjoyed.

The project is also an opportunity for participants to feel the benefit of stepping outside their own “echo chamber (回声室)”. Echo chambers are created by our natural tendency to seek out people and opinions, in person and online, that we agree with, so we mainly see and hear information and opinions that    8    to our own. Not surprisingly this leads us to think our views are definitively correct, so we become    9    or even angry when we encounter perspectives that our worldview suggests arc wrong, because they don’t agree with our own echo chamber.

So, training young people with deep listening skills can encourage many more people to take part in challenging and    10    conversations. Scott McDonald, the organization’s CEO said: “The deep listening training gets to the heart of what we do by providing opportunities for people to step out of their echo chambers, to cross divides, and build trust and understanding.”