1 . We’ve all been there: in a lift, in line at the bank or on an airplane, surrounded by people who are, like us, deeply focused on their smartphones or, worse, struggling with the uncomfortable silence.
What’s the problem? It’s possible that we all have compromised conversational intelligence. It’s more likely that none of us start a conversation because it’s awkward and challenging, or we think it’s annoying and unnecessary. But the next time you find yourself among strangers, consider that small talk is worth the trouble. Experts say it’s an invaluable social practice that results in big benefits.
Dismissing small talk as unimportant is easy, but we can’t forget that deep relationships wouldn’t
even exist if it weren’t for casual conversation. Small talk is the grease(润滑剂) for social communication, says Bernardo Carducci, director of the Shyness Research Institute at Indiana University Southeast. ＂Almost every great love story and each big business deal begins with small talk,＂ he explains. ＂The key to successful small talk is learning how to connect with others, not just communicate with them.＂
In a 2014 study, Elizabeth Dunn, associate professor of psychology at UBC, invited people on their way into a coffee shop. One group was asked to seek out an interaction(互动) with its waiter; the other, to speak only when necessary. The results showed that those who chatted with their server reported significantly higher positive feelings and a better coffee shop experience. ＂It’s not that talking to the waiter is better than talking to your husband,＂ says Dunn. ＂But interactions with peripheral(边缘的) members of our social network matter for our well-being also.＂
Dunn believes that people who reach out to strangers feel a significantly greater sense of belonging, a bond with others. Carducci believes developing such a sense of belonging starts with small talk. ＂Small talk is the basis of good manners,＂ he says.
1. What phenomenon is described in the first paragraph?| A．Addiction to smartphones. |
| B．Inappropriate behaviours in public places. |
| C．Absence of communication between strangers. |
| D．Impatience with slow service. |
| A．Showing good manners. | B．Relating to other people. |
| C．Focusing on a topic. | D．Making business deals. |
| A．It improves family relationships. | B．It raises people’s confidence. |
| C．It matters as much as a formal talk. | D．It makes people feel good. |
| A．Conversation Counts | B．Ways of Making Small Talk |
| C．Benefits of Small Talk | D．Uncomfortable Silence |
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（＼）划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词。
2.只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
Last Sunday, Li Yue and Zhang Hua went to Sunshine Nursing home, where they visited for the first time. On their arrive, they were warm welcomed by the elderly. Respectfully, they presented the elderly fruits and flowers. Then they started working at once, cleaning the windows and sweeping the floor. Before everything was done, they sat in the yard, chat with the elderly. When it was time for all of them to leave, the elderly thanked for them, Li Yue and Zhang Hua were very happy. They said it was a meaning day which they would remember it forever. What they do has brought other people joy and enriched their own lives.
3 . Two heads are better than one. It means that two people working together have a better chance of solving a problem than one person alone. But not everyone likes working in a group.
There can be a number of reasons why people dislike group work. Some may feel nervous or uneasy in group situations. Others might have had a bad experience with individuals who did not work well as a team. Another comment is that teachers or instructors fail to provide roles for group members. This may create a situation where everyone or no one wants to lead. Whatever the issue, the result is the same: the group does not realize its goal.
Cooperative (合作的) learning is an educational method that can help to solve this problem. There are many methods of cooperative learning. Today we will talk about one: giving each person in a small group a specific duty to reach a shared goal. For example, if learners are divided into groups of four people each, their roles might be: leader, writer, checker and speaker. This structure helps ensure that everyone takes part equally in group work and allows each member to play a meaningful part in completing the shared goal.
Before dividing learners into groups, it is a good idea for the teacher or club’s instructor to first have knowledge about the language skill levels of participants. The goal is to make each group a mixture of higher- and lower-level language learners. Putting too many people with similar skill levels together could make the work too difficult or easy. Role cards can be a helpful tool in this method of cooperative learning. Their purpose is to remind learners of each person’s role.
Before the cooperative activity, the role of the teacher or activity instructor is to explain two things to the group: the main job for the activity and how the cooperative roles work. The person in charge may appoint these roles or let the English learners choose them. Then, during the activity, the instructor’s job is to watch the groups and provide more guidance when needed. After the activity, the instructor may wish to provide feedback to groups on their work and their use of cooperation.
With this cooperative learning method, you can say that four heads are better than just one.
1. What’s the outcome if people do not enjoy group work?| A．The aim of the group can not be achieved. |
| B．Specific roles will be given to group members. |
| C．Group members will feel at ease in groups. |
| D．Group members will fail to work individually. |
| A．To find out language learners with similar levels. |
| B．To clarify higher- and lower-level language learners. |
| C．To combine learners with different language levels. |
| D．To increase the difficulty in finishing the work. |
| A．To offer group members timely help at each step. |
| B．To listen to the response from group members. |
| C．To help the English learners choose their favourite roles. |
| D．To make clear about the task and working principles of the roles. |
| A．Two Heads Are Better than One. |
| B．Cooperation Is a Must in Learning. |
| C．Group Work Makes a Great Difference to Learners’ Achievement. |
| D．Cooperative Learning Contributes to the Success of Group Work. |
4 . I Was the Doughnut Lady
In university I had a part-time job at a shop that sold doughnuts and coffee. Situated on a block where several buses stopped, it served the people who had a few minutes to wait for their bus.
Every afternoon around four o’clock, a group of schoolchildren would burst into the shop, and business would come to a stop. Adults would glance in, see the crowd and pass on. But I didn’t mind if the children waited for their bus inside. Sometimes I would hand out a bus fare when a ticket went missing—always repaid the next day. On snowy days I would give away some doughnuts. I would lock the door at closing time, and we waited in the warm shop until their bus finally arrived.
I enjoyed my young friends, but it never occurred to me that I played an important role in their lives—until one afternoon when a man came and asked if I was the girl working on weekdays around four o’clock. He identified himself as the father of two of my favorites.
“I want you to know I appreciate what you do for my children. I worry about them taking two buses to get home. It means a lot that they can wait here and you keep an eye on them. When they are with the doughnut lady, I know they are safe.” I told him it wasn’t a big deal, and that I enjoyed the kids.
So I was the Doughnut Lady. I not only received a title, but became a landmark.
Now I think about all the people who keep an eye on my own children. They become, well, Doughnut Ladies. Like the men at the skating rink (滑冰场), who let my boys ring home; Or the bus driver who drove my daughter to her stop at the end of the route at night but wouldn’t leave until I arrived to pick her up; Or that nice police officer who took pity on my boys walking home in the rain when I was at work—even though the phone rang all the next day with calls from curious neighbors. “Was that a police car I saw at your house last night?”
That wasn’t a police car. That was a Doughnut Lady.
1. According to the passage, the author sometimes ______.| A．sold bus tickets to the children |
| B．gave the children free doughnuts |
| C．did business with the children’s help |
| D．called the children’s parents to pick them up |
| A．she hadn’t done anything significant |
| B．she hadn’t spent much time with the children |
| C．she hadn’t made a lot of money from the children |
| D．she hadn’t found it hard to get along with the children |
| A．He took the boys to the police station. |
| B．He helped the boys look for their mother. |
| C．He drove the boys back home in a police car. |
| D．He managed to make sure of the boys’ identity. |
| A．running a business requires skill | B．taking responsibility is a moral virtue |
| C．devotion should be everything in life | D．there are always no small acts of kindness |
5 . Helen Monson has always been interested in helping her community. Her first volunteer experience was for the American Red Cross when she was in high school. When she was a school teacher, she also found time to volunteer.
After she retired, she started volunteering to help the old. When her father was older, he was not able to see as well as he used to, which made her sad because he had always enjoyed reading.
She decided it would be fun to read to elderly people in her community. She also helped one woman write her stories. Ann was almost 100 years old, and Helen wrote down information about her life when she visited Ann. She put the information in a book and got it published. Ann was very excited to share her life story with her children and grandchildren.
One day Helen read an article in the newspaper about refugees (难民) who needed to learn English. Now, she meets once a week with Sahra, a 38-year-old woman from Somalia. Sahra is learning reading and writing skills. Helen gave Sahra a camera and asked her to take pictures of her daily life. She developed the pictures, and then asked Sahra questions about them. In the end they wrote a book together and used the photos in the book. This helped Sahra learn many new words about her everyday life.
Helen says, “The most rewarding part of volunteer work is becoming friends with the people I help. They enrich my life as well as I enrich theirs.”
1. When did Helen first take up volunteering?| A．After retirement. | B．In high school. |
| C．After work. | D．In childhood. |
| A．By building her self-confidence. | B．By expanding her vocabulary. |
| C．By giving her financial support. | D．By finding her a new home. |
| A．Brilliant. | B．Optimistic. |
| C．Thankful. | D．Devoted. |
| A．worthwhile | B．convenient |
| C．extraordinary | D．practical |
6 . “Community” is not a concept that is easy to define (定义) . In this essay I will examine what turns individuals into a community, and discuss some different types. I will also look at what all communities have in common, the benefits they offer and draw conclusions about their increasing importance.
The word “community” may make you think of traditional communities in the developing world, where large families live together. We may also imagine the neighbours as people who are happy to help out whenever it is needed. The stereotpical(老套的) view is that of a village, where people have little but can feel very rich because everyone takes responsibility for the welfare of the others.
On the other hand, there are other types of communities: ultramodern(超现代的) ones, where the community members are unlikely to have actually met each other. These are online communities, where people blog or chat about particular issues that are important to them. They come across others on websites and may develop a relationship there with like-minded people, discussing the same topics. The view is often that these are artificial connections between people who are, in effect, still isolated(孤立的) strangers.
In reality, the connections are real. Moreover, there are many types of communities in between these extremes: people who join clubs, who sign up with voluntary, political or other organizations, or who take part in group discussions in their local area. They may be campaigning about issues or simply getting together for companionship and support.
Human beings are social by nature, so it should not be a surprise that we organize ourselves in groups. However, there is more going on: these groups provide something that we cannot achieve on our own. The main benefit of being part of a larger group is strength in numbers. For example, we can access and share more information, we can take part in team sports, we can complain and campaign more effectively and even if we are just having a chat, online or in person, we can feel supported in whatever we do.
Whatever forms communities take, what defines them is the sense of identity and safety that they provide for their members: the knowledge that there are people who we have something in common with and who can be relied on when we need each other.
1. In traditional communities, people_________.| A．live in a large family |
| B．are wealthy but unhappy |
| C．help and care about each other |
| D．are isolated and don't have connections |
| A．develop a close working relationship |
| B．share opinions about issues on websites |
| C．communicate with each other in person |
| D．share the same interest but have no relations |
| A．the types of community |
| B．the culture of community |
| C．the benefits of community |
| D．the definition of community |
| A．a sense of identity and safety |
| B．a sense of social responsibility |
| C．chances of meeting new people |
| D．chances of developing their interests |
7 . Traditionally, it has been the worker's role to work and management's role to manage.
Managers have planned and directed the finds operations with little thought of consulting the labor force. Managers have rarely felt forced to obtain the worker's opinions or to explain their decisions to their employees. At most, companies have provided "suggestion boxes" in which workers could place ideas for improving procedures. In recent years, however, many management specialists have been arguing that workers are more than sellers of labor—they have a vital stake (利害关系) in the company and may be able to make significant contributions to its management. Furthermore, major company decisions affect workers and their dependants. This is particularly true of plant closings, which may put thousands on the unemployment lines. Should workers, then, play a stronger role in management?
Workers should have a role in management. At the very least, the labor force should be informed of major policy decisions. A common complaint among ordinary workers is the lack of information about company policies and actions. Between 1980 and 1985 about five million workers were the victims of plant closings and permanent layoffs (失业) , often with no warning. At least 90 days' notice ought to he given in such circumstances so that workers have time to adjust. Management should consult workers before closing a plant, because the workers might be able to suggest ways of improving productivity and reducing costs and might be willing to make concessions (妥协) that will help keep the plant operating.
It should become a general practice to include workers in some managerial decision making. There ought to be representatives of the workers on the firm's board of directors or other major policy-making groups. If ordinary workers are given a voice in the planning and management of the work flow, they will help to make improvements, their spirits will rise, and their productivity will increase. As a further incentive (激励), they must be given a share in the company's profits. This can be done through employee stock ownership plans (员工持股计划), bonuses, or rewards for efficiency and productivity. Finally, when a plant can no longer operate at a profit, the workers should be given the opportunity to purchase the plant and run it themselves.
1. What can we learn about managers from Paragraph l?| A．They were not quite qualified. |
| B．They disliked "suggestion boxes". |
| C．They never consulted the labor force. |
| D．They seldom obtained workers' opinions. |
| A．are not sellers of the products any longer |
| B．should have a say in management of the company |
| C．are less affected by company decisions than before |
| D．are able to make the final decisions for the company |
| A．Workers did not make necessary concessions. |
| B．Many companies were closed because of strikes. |
| C．Managers consulted workers before closing a plant. |
| D．About 5 million workers were laid off without advance notice. |
| A．cannot get a share in the company's profits |
| B．will not have the opportunity to purchase the plant |
| C．may lack the incentive to increase their productivity |
| D．can still get bonuses for efficiency and productivity |
8 . Ever since the invention of the printing press over 500 years ago, mass communication has been growing and affecting the way communities and people behave. Where once the written word was used by those with power to keep control of populations, now everyone believes that they have power over governments because of the huge amount of knowledge available to them thanks to electronic communication. At every stage of the development of communication, from the telegraph through to the Internet, societies have had to adapt to its effects. But have the effects been more positive or negative?
The saying “knowledge is power” has been an excellent motivator for people to improve their lives, but today the massive amount of information available through the Internet doesn’t always seem to be helping people in the way we’d hoped. Rather than improving people’s lives and bringing us closer together, the information age is making us more divided and irresponsible.
Nevertheless, many people find comfort in their virtual (虚拟的) worlds and are happy to connect with real-life friends and online friends from the familiar surroundings of their living rooms. However, being able to reinvent themselves online and be whoever they want to be leads to the question of whether they are losing their identities by living in a virtual world.
It’s not all bad news, however. Mass communication has helped change some attitudes for the better. Take our views on the environment for example. Internet campaigns by governments and other organizations have helped popularize the ideas of recycling, protecting wildlife and reducing pollution.
Modern electronic communication now influences every aspect of our lives — it is a powerful tool that has raised some concerns for society. However, it has also brought countless benefits to society. At the end of the day, it can be used both for good or evil and ultimately relies on the morals and sense of responsibility of the individual or community involved. In short, it needs to be used with care.
1. What does the writer imply about life before the printing press?| A．Population levels were lower. |
| B．The general public had little power. |
| C．People wanted to have more control over their lives. |
| D．Countries were governed by poorly educated people. |
| A．encouraged people to get an education |
| B．sometimes failed to have the expected results |
| C．motivated people to access as much information as possible |
| D．been the driving force behind the development of mass media |
| A．It can be comforting for some people. |
| B．Virtual lives can stop people enjoying a real life. |
| C．People have too many friends online to be of any value. |
| D．Crime is a problem for people on social networking sites. |
| A．It should be used wisely. |
| B．It changes attitudes much too quickly. |
| C．It is more powerful than many people believe. |
| D．It should be better controlled by the government. |
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在此符号下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（＼）划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2.只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
Today is my mum’s birthday. This afternoon, I went to the biggest shopping center downtown, and buy a present for her. Then I took the subway home. Sitting on the train, I thought my mum would very happy when she saw the presents. At the next station, an old man, that carried two heavy bags, got on the train but stood in front of me. He looked tired. I hesitated for the moment, and then offered my seat to her. The old man thanked me a lot of and sat down. Seeing his smile，I felt happily.
From this experience, I will be ready to helping others in the future.
10 . A drunken burglar（盗贼） in the Orrel Park area of Live
rpool, ended up leaping out of a window after a 10-year-old girl asked him to prove he was a superhero.
The drunken thief who pretended he was Superman to stop a child raising the alarm has been caught after he leapt from the apartment building in his pants to make the girl convinced.
Thief Ethan Adamson, 25, told police that he had broken into a fifth-floor flat after a drinking session(酒会), believing it was empty.
But he was horrified when the owner’s 10-year-old daughter woke up while he was there.
From his hospital bed, the thief told reporters, “To keep her quiet, I told her I was really Superman and I’d soon be flying off back to my secret headquarters.”
“She called my bluff (虚张声势) and told me, “If you’re Superman, show me you can fly or I’ll scream”.
“I had no choice so I stripped to my pants to look more like a superhero and went to the window. I saw another roof below and I thought I could make it but it turned out to be a lot further down than thought. I know it doesn’t make sense but it did to me when I was drunk.”
Police later found him on the roof in just his yellow pants, covered in cuts and bruises after a baffled neighbor heard his cries of pain.
He now faces seven years behind bars for burglary.
Police spokesman Frank Amado said, “He was in quite a serious state and couldn’t move until we got up there using ladders. He was treated for his injuries and we got him some fresh clothes, before taking him to hospital where he is being kept under guard until he is well enough to be arrested.”
1. What’s the right order of the event?a. Ethan Adamson told reporters of the burglary.
b. The 10-year-old girl called Ethan Adamson’s bluff.
c. Ethan Adamson attended a drinking session.
d. Ethan Adamson leapt out of a window.
| A．cabd | B．dbca | C．cbda | D．dcab |
| A．Adamson was set free a few days after staying in hospital. |
| B．Adamson was badly treated before he was rushed to hospital. |
| C．Adamson was being watched while he was in hospital. |
| D．Adamson was sent to the police station before he’s taken to hospital. |
| A．To report on a joking burglary. | B．To call our attention to the burglary. |
| C．To explain how the burglar was caught. | D．To look back on an adventure story. |
