1 . So many things can keep you from seeing your loved ones in person, from busy schedules to long distances. Fortunately, thanks to modern technology, the people you miss are often only a phone call or a text message away. According to science, if you want to feel more connected to the people you’re talking to, you should call them instead of texting.
In a study, researchers did various experiments. In one, they asked 200 people to imagine what it would be like to reconnect with an old friend by email or by phone, and they asked people to do one or the other at random. Although people thought that a phone call would be more mortifying, it actually made the experience better. “People reported they did form a stronger bond with their old friends on the phone versus email, and they did not feel uncomfortable,” co-author Amit Kumar said.
In another experiment, researchers had strangers connect by texting, talking over video chat, or talking using only audio (音频). They found that both forms of voice communication — whether video or audio only — made the strangers feel more connected than when they communicated via text.
Sabrina Romanoff, a psychologist, says people tend to text instead of calling because of convenience, as they can organize information exactly in the way they intend without unexpected additions by the other person.
Romanoff says that in reality, texting can make it hard to determine the true meaning behind a conversation. “A phone call is actually more convenient considering the effects of the message,” she explains. “Each part is more present, and therefore, it is able to figure out the meaning behind the conversation quickly without thinking on the endless possible meanings behind words.”
1. What does the underlined word “mortifying” in Paragraph 2 mean?| A．Puzzling. | B．Exciting. | C．Embarrassing. | D．Satisfying. |
| A．It takes more patience. | B．It brings people closer. |
| C．It proves more relaxing. | D．It makes people more friendly. |
| A．They can make themselves clear without being disturbed. |
| B．They would easily keep the messages for future use. |
| C．They can freely express their good or bad feelings. |
| D．They would avoid some unpleasant topics. |
| A．It is easy to express one’s meaning through texting. |
| B．It is necessary to guess the meaning behind words. |
| C．People can understand each other more easily by phone calls. |
| D．People should use simple words to express themselves in emails. |
2 . Tips for Closing the Gaps in Relationships
Be curious, not angry
Ask in a spirit of real curiosity and openness. After you ask the question, be concerned only with understanding the other person’s story. Be ready to listen to the other person’s views and experiences.
Put body language together with intentions
Listen for understanding
Our good intentions for asking questions are not enough.
Of course, how the other person reacts will determine the conversation that follows, which may require a good deal of openness, presence, and skill. Our reaction to whatever the person says will require continued openness, trust, kindness, clarity, and honesty. As you speak, clarify the gap between your experience of the relationship and your opinion or expectations of a healthy relationship. Noticing the gaps is helpful since it defines the problem.
| A．Mind the gaps |
| B．Ask when we care |
| C．And be willing to be interested |
| D．This is a step towards settling the problem |
| E．How we ask this question makes a big difference |
| F．We express our purposes not only with our words |
| G．At the moment, our most important job is to listen carefully |
3 . Initial conversations can have a huge impact on how relationships develop over time. People are often stuck in the impressions they think they might have made the minute they finish speaking with someone for the first time: “Did they like me or were they just being polite?” “Were they deep in thought or deeply bored?”
To find out whether these worries are necessary, we have conducted nearly 10 years of research. In our studies, participants in the UK talked with someone they had never met before. Afterward, they were asked how much they liked their conversation partner and how much they believed that their conversation partner liked them. This allowed us to compare how much people believed they were liked to how much they were actually liked.
Time and time again, we found that people left their conversations with negative feelings about the impression they made. That is, people systematically underestimate how much their conversation partners like them and enjoy their company — a false belief we call the “liking gap”.
This bias (偏见) may seem like something that would occur only in initial interactions, but its effects extend far beyond a first impression. Surprisingly, the liking gap can constantly affect a variety of relationships, including interactions with coworkers, long after the initial conversations have taken place. Having a larger liking gap is associated with being less willing to ask workmates for help, less willing to provide workmates with open and honest feedback, and less willing to work on another project together.
There are numerous strategies to minimize your biased feelings. One place to start is shifting your focus of attention. Try to direct your attention to your conversation partner, be genuinely curious about them, ask them more questions, and really listen to their answers. The more you’re zeroed in on the other person, and the less you’re focused on yourself, the better your conversation will be and the less your mind will turn to all the things you think you didn’t do well.
1. Why did the author carry out 10 years of research?| A．To dismiss national concerns. | B．To check out a potential bias. |
| C．To enhance human communication. | D．To develop harmonious relationships. |
| A．Fewer chances of new projects. | B．Underestimation of their ability. |
| C．Bad relationships with people around. | D．Low willingness to interact with others. |
| A．Restate opinions. | B．Deliver warnings. | C．Give suggestions. | D．Make a summary. |
| A．Liking Gap May Influence Work Performances |
| B．First Impressions Rely On Initial Conversations |
| C．People Probably Like You More Than You Think |
| D．How People Like You Matters Less Than You Assume |
4 . We often think about relationships on a scale from positive to negative. We are drawn to loving family members, caring classmates and supportive mentors. We do our best to avoid the cruel uncle, the playground bully and the jerk boss.
But the most harmful relationships aren’t the purely negative ones. They’re the ones that are a mix of positive and negative. We often call them frenemies, supposed friends who sometimes help you and sometimes hurt you. But it’s not just friends. It’s the in-laws who volunteer to watch your kids but devalue your parenting. The manager who praises your work but denies you a promotion.
Groundbreaking research led by the psychologists Bert Uchino and Julianne Holt-Lunstad shows that ambivalent (矛盾情绪的) relationships can be damaging to your health — even more than purely negative relationships.
Even a single ambivalent interaction can cause harm. In one experiment, people talked about controversial (具有争议性的) topics in front of a friend who offered feedback. The researchers had randomly assigned the friend to give ambivalent or negative comments. Receiving mixed feedback caused higher blood pressure than pure criticism. “I would have gone about the topic differently, but you’re doing fine” proved to be more distressing than “I totally disagree with everything you’ve said.”
The evidence that ambivalent relationships can be bad for us is obvious, but the reasons can be harder to read — just like the relationships themselves.
One reason is that ambivalent relationships are unpredictable. With a clear enemy, you put up a shield when you cross paths. With a frenemy, you never know whether Dr. Jekyll or Mr. Hyde is going to show up. Feeling unsure can break the body’s calming system and activate a fight-or-flight response. It’s unsettling to hope for a hug while also preparing for a likely quarrel.
Another factor is that unpleasant interactions are more painful in an ambivalent relationship. It’s more distressing to be let down by people you like sometimes than by people you dislike all the time. When someone stabs you in the back, it stings more if he’s been friendly to your face.
1. Which of the following can be considered as a frenemy?| A．Your neighbor’s kid who advises you to study hard but kill his own time. |
| B．Your classmate who admires your hard work at first, but doubts your intelligence later. |
| C．Your mother’s friend who encourages you to spend more time on homework but less on smart phones. |
| D．Your father’s colleague who proposes you to do a reasonable amount of homework while ensuring enough sleep. |
| A．Upsetting. | B．Satisfying. | C．Inspiring. | D．Confusing. |
| A．The negative impact of ambivalent interactions is strong. |
| B．Ambivalent relationships have a long-lasting effect on your well-being. |
| C．The common cause of high blood pressure is ambivalent relationship. |
| D．Interactions in ambivalent relationships are more painful than those in negative ones. |
| A．Negative relationships are bad for health. | B．Ambivalent relationships are unpredictable. |
| C．Ambivalent Relationships are the most harmful. | D．Positive relationships are better than negative ones. |
5 . While scientists have many ideas, they are not certain why humans yawn(打哈欠). Still, there is one thing experts know—yawns seem to be contagious(传染)!
Have you ever caught a yawn from someone else? Most people have. In fact, a person is six times more likely to yawn after seeing someone else do so. Experts have done many studies into why yawns seem to pass from person to person. As a result, they have a few theories(理论) for the reason behind it.
One possible explanation has something to do with social mirroring, which is caused by mirror neurons(镜像神经元) in the brain. These mirror neurons help the brain notice useful behavior of others and then copy it. When one person sees another yawn, his mirror neurons observe the action and consider it to be beneficial. That may cause him to yawn, too.
Another popular theory is that yawns are contagious because of social relationships. Being social creatures, humans form friendships, families and live together in groups. That’s why many people mirror others, such as smiling when another person smiles. Yawning may be just another example of this. In fact, research has shown that one is most likely to catch yawns from another person if the two share a social relationship.
The answer could even be that yawns aren’t truly contagious at all. Instead, people yawn together simply because they’re in the same environment. Experts say many things may cause yawning, including temperature and time of day. Whatever the explanation is, experts do know that contagious yawns aren’t limited to humans. One study found that lions in South Africa also caught each other’s yawns.
1. What kind of behavior may be copied by mirror neurons?| A．Important and attractive. | B．Useful and beneficial. |
| C．Hard to understand. | D．Easy to copy. |
| A．Those who yawn a lot. | B．Those who like smiling. |
| C．Those closely connected with them. | D．Those sharing the same interest with them. |
| A．Tips on how to avoid yawning in public. |
| B．A real explanation for contagious yawning. |
| C．Other examples of animals yawning together. |
| D．Things that may cause yawning among humans. |
| A．Why yawns are contagious | B．What causes people to yawn |
| C．Who yawns more than others | D．Why humans yawn now and then |
6 . Someone with strong communication skills can build positive relationships and resolve conflicts(冲突). This guide can teach you the basics.
When you’re having a serious conversation, the last thing you want is to be interrupted(打扰)by a phone call. So turn your phone on Do Not Disturb. If you have a radio or television in your office, turn it off.
Be clear when speaking.
Be clear about your goal so your message can be understood in a way that every listener can understand.
Change your tone of voice to draw attention.
Dull and unchanged voices may not always be pleasing to the ear. So good communicators use vocal color to stress their message. Yale University recommend you some tips. Raise the volume of your voice when you transition from one topic or point to another.
Keep eye contact.
| A．Reduce interruption. |
| B．Keep your audience in mind. |
| C．Increase your volume whenever you are summing up. |
| D．Eye contact helps make others believe you’re trustworthy. |
| E．Ignoring any single person can easily be regarded as impolite. |
| F．This requires using simple words rather than more complex ones. |
| G．Before you attempt to communicate ideas, organize your thoughts using key points. |
7 . How to Deal with Nosy (好管闲的) People
Nosy people are everywhere. They are just too much for us to tolerate. However, no matter what type of nosy people you meet, there are ways you can use to get out of the situation.
Respond. Do not react.
When someone starts asking personal questions one after another, you might get confused as to why. When you find yourself in this situation, remind yourself to slow down.
Answer them reasonably without showing too much.
One great way is to give a satisfactory answer without saying too many details. This way, you will satisfy their curiosity and keep your personal boundaries (界线) .
Sometimes, you just don’t feel like answering the other person’s questions. It could be because they have no business knowing the details. It could also be that they are rude. So, if someone asks you a personal question, you could politely decline to answer by saying, “Sorry, but I am not comfortable discussing my private matters like this.”
Show a lack of enthusiasm.
Your body language tells a lot about you. It tells other people whether you are interested in talking to them, whether you are having a good time and so on. So, if you want to communicate that you don’t appreciate them being nosy, you can do so with your body language. How do you do this? Easy! Just show a lack of enthusiasm.
| A．Avoid talking with them. |
| B．Politely decline to answer. |
| C．So, give yourself time to react. |
| D．There is no need to feel rushed at all! |
| E．Use this way when the other person is a loved one. |
| F．Give brief answers and don’t look them in the eye too much. |
| G．Follow the ones below and you will find it easy to deal with them. |
8 . It’s never easy to say “no”, especially when we’re asked by someone close to us, Maybe a friend is asking you for a favor, or a co-worker is asking you to cover their shift for the afternoon
Be kind but forthright. Though you can always just say “no” on your own terms, you might find more success by padding your refusal with positivity.
Offer a brief explanation. Providing a concise explanation as to why you’re refusing a request is one polite way to say “no”. For instance, if you already have other work this week that would prevent you from hitting a pew deadline, let the person know that. You’d better avoid adding too much fluff (无价值的东西) to your explanation.
Know yourself. Knowing yourself and your needs will help you decide if you should say“no”. Have a brainstorming session about areas where you have too much on your plate.
| A．Set healthy boundaries. |
| B．Be honest about your own needs. |
| C．When should you say “no” to them? |
| D．Set boundaries between work and your personal life. |
| E．That can very likely give the other person false hope. |
| F．You can try keeping your voice calm, welcoming and kind. |
| G．How can you stand your ground politely without feeling guilty? |
9 . Living in a modern society has its advantages and disadvantages. One disadvantage is that you often have to live closer to other people than you would like to. Sometimes, your neighbours make noise that you are not comfortable with.
The best way to solve this problem is to talk with your neighbour first. You should be very polite and ask your neighbour if he knows how thin the walls of your homes are. This way doesn’t criticise (批评) his behaviour; it simply points out that he may not realise how far his sound travels. Tell him that you know that sometimes you make noise as well, but that you do your best to keep it down. Often this will solve the problem right away, but sometimes the neighbour may become angry.
If your neighbour becomes angry with you, there are some more steps you can take. You might write a letter to the neighbourhood committee. Make sure you write down the source of the noise and the time in the letter. They will review the situation and decide whether your neighbour is out of line. Some noise is considered to be reasonable, even if it bothers you. So you may prepare a good pair of earplugs (耳塞).
Even if your neighbour makes too much noise, you don’t have to live your life in discomfort. It’s always a good idea to be friendly with your neighbours. You may clean the rubbish in front of his door. He’s sure to appreciate behaviour like this and be more open to your suggestions about the noise level.
1. What is the first step to deal with the noisy neighbour?| A．To buy a good pair of earplugs. |
| B．To offer suggestions to the neighbour. |
| C．To ask the neighbourhood committee for help. |
| D．To tell the neighbour how bad his behaviour is. |
| A．terrible | B．loud |
| C．proper | D．useful |
| A．You should control your noise as well. |
| B．You can live comfortably even if there is noise. |
| C．Your neighbour may be more friendly than you think. |
| D．You should offer some suggestions to your neighbour. |
| A．why we should get on well with neighbours |
| B．how to relax ourselves in modern society |
| C．how to become known among neighbours |
| D．what we should do with our noisy neighbours |
10 . Calling someone your partner sounds wonderful, but it becomes even more enjoyable when that person is also your best friend. Here are five things that happen when your partner is your best friend.
Make each other laugh.
Cheer for each other. We all need our own personal cheer leader. Having someone who believes the best in us helps us to know the best in ourselves. Real friends realize our advantages even when we don’t.
Bring out the best in each other. Some people show best parts of themselves while others can bring out the best in you.
Lend a helping hand. Good friends come together to lend a helping hand. They see the need and help to meet the need.
| A．Share your hidden side. |
| B．Never be afraid of weaknesses. |
| C．Great friends know how to get laughs out of one another. |
| D．When they join you, you can come up with creative ideasl |
| E．When you spend time alone, you feel better about yourselves. |
| F．For example, they often help to take out the litter or clean the floor. |
| G．They support us and encourage us when we are upset or disappointed. |
