1 . As a professional life and relationship coach, Allison Cowan has over 21 years of experience in teaching and supporting others to achieve their goals. She has dedicated her career to helping her clients gain power and awareness in their lives.
As a coach, Allison inspires her clients to overcome obstacles and achieve goals. However, her practice has come with its own share of challenges. Expanding her knowledge to meet diverse client needs has involved lots of trial-and-error searching.
Initially, Allison spent a hard time building strong and trustworthy relationships with her clients. She knew trust was critical to finding and retaining clients but was frustrated at how long the trust-building process takes.
Allison soon learned that there was no single right way to coach. To meet her clients’ different needs, she needed to become more efficient at supporting their diverse learning styles. To overcome her challenges as a coach and offer better service, she began looking for ways to customize her coaching solutions.
During her search, Allison realized Positive Psychology is a field with many different goals. “It covers so many areas, including whatever a client may go through,” she recalled. Later, she began using self-reflection tools to help her clients develop self-acceptance and self-forgiveness. She even discovered a way to help clients without a coaching goal find their purposes. She said, “There’s a lot of blame. The more they stay in blame mode, the more angry they are, and they are not able to move forward with acceptance and forgiveness. But we can find solutions in Positive Psychology.”
Whether Allison was helping clients build self-confidence, understand their attachment styles, or reframe their challenges, she quickly found that she was also learning all the time. By completing the homework Allison assigned to them, her clients were also changing. They were more engaged with their coaching and making more significant progress between their sessions. That made Allison proud. She said, “They grow and move forward at a quicker pace. That’s what coaching is about.”
1. Why is Allison’s initial trouble mentioned in the text?A.To show her special efforts. | B.To stress her defeated career. |
C.To prove the difficulty in coaching. | D.To give the reason for setting goals. |
A.She used the same coaching ways to teach them. |
B.She coached them according to their own needs. |
C.She tried her best to change their learning styles. |
D.She helped them overcome their challenges in life. |
A.Doubtful. | B.Unclear. |
C.Supportive. | D.Dismissive. |
A.Allison’s clients misunderstood what coaching is about. |
B.Allison learned to build self-confidence all the time. |
C.Allison’s clients helped her complete homework. |
D.Allison and her clients benefited each other. |
2 . Young children are always watching-including when people swap spit through actions like food sharing. Such behavior helps babies infer who is in close relationships with one another, a study suggests.
Typically, people are more likely to engage in activities that can lead to an exchange of saliva (唾液), such as kissing or sharing an ice cream, with family members or close friends than with an acquaintance. So saliva sharing can be a marker of “thick relationships, “ or people with strong attachments, says MIT developmental psychologist Ashley Thomas.
To see if young children might use saliva sharing as a social cue for close bonds, Thomas and colleagues ran experiments of people engaging with puppets(木偶). When shown a puppet seemingly crying, kids of 8 months old were more likely to look at an adult who had previously shared saliva with the puppet than an adult who hadn’t, the team reports.
Scientists, of course, can’t know exactly babies’ thought. But tracking where they look offers hints. The team used where the kids looked first when a puppet showed distress as an indicator of their understanding of the relationship.
In some experiments, the team showed 8- to 10-month-olds or 16- to 18-month-olds videos of a woman sharing an orange slice with a puppet. A second video depicted another woman and the puppet playing with a ball. During a final video, which showed the puppet crying while seated between the two women, the kids’ eyes were more often drawn to the woman who had shared the orange.
The team saw similar results in another experiment. One woman stuck her finger in her mouth and then in one puppet’s mouth to share saliva. For the other, she touched only her forehead and then the puppet’s forehead. After the woman showed distress, kids spent more time looking at the puppet that had seemingly swapped saliva.
It’s unclear how the findings relate to children’s daily lives. Future studies could switch out actresses for family members to better understand the role saliva may play in distinguishing relationships. Other cues, such as hugging, may also play a role, Thomas says.
1. What is the main finding of the study?A.Saliva-sharing behavior is a cultural phenomenon. |
B.Saliva-sharing is an indicator of trust between individuals. |
C.Saliva-sharing can help children distinguish close relationship. |
D.Children can understand relationships through saliva-sharing behavior. |
A.It is a natural behavior for young children. |
B.It can be an indicator of strong attachments between people. |
C.It is a cultural behavior young children learn from their parents. |
D.It is a result of the development of young children’s social skills. |
A.Comparison. | B.Reference. | C.Inference. | D.Description. |
A.The limitations of the current study. |
B.The importance of saliva in social relationships. |
C.The role of other cues in distinguishing relationships. |
D.Saliva sharing can affect children’s social development. |
3 . We’ve all had things to apologize for. Whether on the playground or at the office, intentionally or not, we’ve hurt people. Research shows that apologies benefit us in many ways, which can reduce stress and ease heart rates, as well as boosting relationship well being and cooperation.
Like so many other habits that are good for us, apologies must overcome our own mental barriers. When people know they’ve made a mistake and hurt somebody, they may still remain silent in the face of their wrong doings.
First, the offender (冒犯者) may not be concerned with the relationship, especially if they have little empathy for the other person. The second barrier is the perceived threat to one’s self-image. Some people fear that apologizing will be both humbling and prove that they aren’t a good, moral person.
While this too is a possibility, in most cases the opposite is true, because people have a tendency to overestimate the negative consequences of apologizing and underestimate the benefits of apologizing. But once we’ve actually apologized, we both feel better, and it can really have a positive impact.
A.Have you ever said sorry to somebody? |
B.But then why are apologies so difficult? |
C.A true apology is a gift to another person. |
D.In some cases, it may take time for the person to forgive and forget. |
E.Finally, people may simply underestimate the effectiveness of their apology. |
F.But even if you make the apology, don’t think the conflict is over automatically. |
G.According to the researchers, there are three mental barriers to explain this silence. |
4 . How to Deal with Nosy People
They can come in the form of friends, relatives or strangers. The thing about nosy people is that they don’t understand personal space. Things can get confusing when your family members or friends become nosy. You don’t want to hurt them, but you may not want to share everything, either.
Respond. Do not react.
When someone starts asking personal questions one after the other, you might get confused as to why he or she is asking all those questions and what you should do. This confusion can then turn into discomfort. When you are in this situation, remind yourself to slow down.
Answer them reasonably without revealing too much.
One great strategy is to give a satisfactory answer without giving away too many details. You will satisfy their curiosity and maintain your personal boundaries at the same time.
Sometimes, you just don’t feel like answering the other person’s questions. It could be because they have no business knowing the details or because the question annoys you. So, if someone asks you a personal question, you could politely decline to answer.
Show a lack of enthusiasm.
A.Give detailed answers. |
B.Politely decline to answer. |
C.There is no need to feel rushed at all! |
D.Your body language tells a lot about you. |
E.Here are tips on how you can deal with nosy people. |
F.Use this strategy when the other person is a loved one. |
G.It shows them you are not interested in the conversation. |
5 . When you are communicating, you spend nearly 60% of your time listening to other people, but most people only remember 25% of what they hear.
Do you find yourself looking at your phone or following a TV show during a conversation with a family member or a friend? These little distractions can have much bigger consequences than you might think and you should try to limit them completely. When you are listening to someone, put everything else aside and give your full attention to the person.
Empathize with the person
When you are listening to another person, try to think what they might be feeling or going through at that very moment. Empathy towards other people can be improved by imagining yourself in different situations, as well as by learning more about people and different cultures.
Ask more questions
Being a good listener doesn’t just mean that you sit quietly and let the other person speak, you also need to ask meaningful questions. Try to find an answer to questions “why” and “what”.
Train your emotional intelligence
The way you are able to manage your own emotions influences your ability to listen to other people.
A.Be more open |
B.Be more present |
C.The good news is that you can practice it. |
D.Don’t hurry or pressure the person into saying anything. |
E.So how can you listen more and become the person people want to talk to? |
F.Don’t start listening to someone with a predicted idea of what the person should do or say. |
G.Don’t be afraid to ask for a clarification because misunderstandings can harm the conversation. |
6 . All relationships require work, though it may not always feel like work.
Listen to others. The most important skill in communication is the ability to listen to others. Rather than doing all the talking, take time to stop and hear what others have to say.
Be polite and positive. When you are the one speaking, do it in a way that considers others’ feelings and leaves a positive impact. Think about what you want to say before you say it.
Be honest and sincere. Another communication skill is to make sure you speak with honesty and sincerity.
A.Keep an open mind. |
B.Look for common ground. |
C.Avoid interrupting other people. |
D.Ask questions that help you understand them more deeply. |
E.Don’t be afraid to apologize if you say something unintended. |
F.You will build relationships with others when you tell them the truth. |
G.That could mean calling a friend, or getting together with your family for the holidays. |
Most of us haven’t been taught how to apologize. That’s
When you’re apologizing for something, it’s critical to show true sorrow and regret. It feels
Your attention when apologizing should be on the impact of your words or deeds, not on your
An apology isn’t the only chance you ever get to address the underlying issue. The apology is the chance you get to establish the ground for future communication. When
8 . It’s natural for people to compare themselves with their peers. Peer pressure is a force that nearly everyone has faced at some point. If it’s not well handled, there might be some destructive consequences.
Find positive influence
At any age, it’s beneficial to stay involved with extracurricular activities like sports, music, art, or other hobbies. Team building activities can help increase self-confidence and create a support system that allows an individual to succeed. Additionally, enjoying hobbies and other harmless pastimes like exercising can release feel-good hormones.
Plan ahead
Experiencing peer pressure, especially when in an unfriendly environment, can cause a person to panic and make impulsive decisions.
Positive influences, usually parents or siblings, can teach you how to deal with peer pressure directly. Having a trusted friend, family member, or another resource to call on can relieve some of the everyday life stresses. They can be there to give advice or just support the decisions you’ve made that you feel are right for you.
Convey feelings and emotions
Honesty goes a long way in reducing the harmful effects of peer pressure. Speak to the person or group of people who may be causing feelings of unease or uncertainty and kindly ask them to stop.
A.Talk to a trusted resource. |
B.Don’t be afraid to find new groups. |
C.Unfortunately, peer pressure is difficult to avoid. |
D.Therefore, it’s essential to know how to deal with it. |
E.So, it’s best to have a plan that can help map out a response. |
F.They can help reduce anxiety, depression, and other mental health problems. |
G.It’s ok to distance yourself from those who are not serving you in a positive aspect. |
9 . There are some people who are always surrounded by friends, and there are others who are always standing on the outside, looking at the crowd of friends.
1. Be yourself.
Nobody likes a liar.
2. Start with people you know.
Even if you don’t think that you have a lot of friends, you are likely to know a lot of people. Reach out to get in touch with acquaintances and reconnect with old friends you haven’t seen for a long time. Don’t forget about friends of friends.
3. Be open-minded.
4. Be there.
In order to have a good relationship with your friends, you need to be a friend. This means that you need to be there when your friends need you. For example, if one of your friends calls you in the middle of the night crying, don’t hang up.
A.You may see some really cool people just by hanging out with your friends and their friends. |
B.When you meet new people, ask them questions about themselves. |
C.In fact, if you aren’t yourself, it isn’t you that others are becoming friends with. |
D.If you don’t know where to start, join a community group or a club. |
E.He calls you because he considers you to be a friend. |
F.If you are one of the outsiders, it is time to come out of your shell and start making new friends. |
G.Don’t go into a situation with a judgmental attitude which will make you less popular. |
10 . When Eugenie George first heard that her friend passed an exam, her heart sank. She’d failed that test weeks earlier, and needed more work to advance her own career. But instead of anxiety, she called her friend. “I congratulated her and told her she inspired me,” she says. She was surprised when it changed her attitude, so she could share her friend’s happiness and experience her own, in turn.
Finding pleasure in another person’s good fortune is what social scientists call freudenfreude, a term that describes the joy we feel when someone else succeeds, even if it isn’t directly connected with us. Freudenfreude is like social glue, says Catherine Chambliss, a professor of psychology at Ursinus College in Pennsylvania. It makes relationships “closer and more enjoyable”. Sharing in someone else’s joy can also improve life satisfaction and resilience(适应力) and help people cooperate during a disagreement.
While the benefits of freudenfreude are plentiful, it doesn’t always come easily. Sometimes, your loss might last, making freudenfreude feel out of reach. If you were raised in a family that paired winning with self-worth, Chambliss says, you might misread someone else’s victory as your own personal shortcoming. And factors such as mental health and overall wellbeing(幸福) can also affect your ability to participate in someone else’s joy. Still, freudenfreude is worthwhile and there are ways to encourage the feeling.
Instead of an automatic response, freudenfreude is often an active process. To help people strengthen joy-sharing muscles, Chambliss and her colleagues developed a programme called FreudenfreudeEnhancement Training (FET). They found that depressed people who used the practices for two weeks had an easier time expressing freudenfreude, which built up their relationships and improved their mood.
Jean Grae, an artist, supports friends in this mindset. When someone gets a new opportunity or reaches a milestone, she makes sure to celebrate. Grae says she’s especially moved when anyone considered ‘other’ succeeds. “It’s truly inspirational,” she says, “because it lifts us all up and makes us shine.”
1. What do we know about Eugenie George?A.She took pride in passing her exam. | B.She shared her success with her friend. |
C.She was pleased with her friend’s success. | D.She was annoyed at her failure in an exam. |
A.Its great benefits. | B.Its disadvantages. |
C.Reasons for its absence. | D.Ways of improving it. |
A.To test the effect of freudenfreude. | B.To help people apply freudenfreude. |
C.To get people to know freudenfreude. | D.To show the advantages of freudenfreude. |
A.How to experience freudenfreude? |
B.Let’s share what leads to freudenfreude. |
C.Freudenfreude: View others’ success as our own. |
D.A win-win: Freudenfreude brings our own pleasure. |