1 . Passive-aggressive (消极抗拒) behaviour can feel “normal”—especially if it’s how we’ve grown up seeing others around us deal with relationship issues. Whether done verbally (言语上) or nonverbally, passive aggression is meant to avoid hurting someone else’s feelings, escape conflict, or show disagreement without being outspoken in it.

It’s a more common way of dealing with things than you might think. But why are we passive-aggressive? What are the signs we can look out for to recognize being passive-aggressive? And how does it affect us?

There are many reasons why someone might display passive-aggressive behaviour, including insecurity or fear of losing control, as well as using it as a way to handle feelings of stress, anxiety, or depression. It can also be a way to try to deal with rejection or conflict, because of feelings of under-appreciation, or due to worry that any natural feelings of anger aren’t the right response, and so it becomes an attempt to sugarcoat things.

We almost all exhibit signs of passive aggression from time to time, but when it becomes a habit within our relationships, it can become upsetting for the other person involved, causing a divide. And for the person exhibiting this behaviour, their inability to say what is wrong clearly can often worsen the issue as it isn’t being dealt with directly. Ultimately, passive aggression prevents change and growth, leading to more negative behaviour, the breakdown of trust, and further relationship problems.

Admitting that you have a problem and need to change is not just good for your relationship, but also a huge help in your life. If you’re struggling and aren’t sure where to begin, ask yourself “Could I unintentionally (or intentionally) be hurting my relationship? Is it worth saving my relationship, or do I want to risk things getting worse? Would I be happy if my partner acted the way I’ve been acting?”

Change doesn’t happen overnight, but, with time and effort, you can find new, healthier ways of communicating how you are feeling, and start to strengthen the bonds within your relationship.

1. What is the possible passive-aggressive response to displeasure?

A．Turning to rude languages.	B．Displaying violent behavior.
C．Hiding his true inner feelings.	D．Coming into conflict with others.

2. What can we learn about passive-aggressive people?

A．They are sometimes overconfident in themselves.

B．They believe conflicts should be resolved directly.

C．Their passive-aggressive behavior doesn’t last long.

D．Their behaviour likely leads to more negative results.

3. What do the underlined words “the issue” in paragraph 4 refer to?

A．The behavior.

B．The divide.

C．The inability.

D．The habit.

4. What should you do to make a change?

A．Start with a self-reflection.	B．Apologize to the other side.
C．Copy how the partner acts.	D．Let time cure everything.

2 . Lying is something that most of us are expert at. We lie at ease, in ways big and small, to strangers, co-workers, friends, and loved ones. Our capacity for dishonesty is as fundamental to us as our need to trust others, which ironically makes us terrible at detecting lies. Being deceitful is woven into our very fabric, so much so that it would be truthful to say that to lie is human.

The universality of lying was first documented systematically by Bella DePaulo, a social psychologist at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Two decades ago DePaulo and her colleagues asked 147 adults to write down for a week every instance they tried to mislead someone. The researchers found that the subjects lied on average one or two times a day. Most of these untruths were not offensive, intended to hide one’s inadequacies or to protect the feelings of others. Some lies were excuses—one subject blamed the failure to take out the garbage on not knowing where it needed to go. Yet other lies—such as a claim of being a diplomat’s son—were aimed at presenting a false image. While these were minor crimes, a later study by DePaulo and other colleagues involving a similar sample indicated that most people have, at some point, told one or more “serious lies”—making false claims on a college application, for example.

That human beings should universally possess a talent for deceiving one another shouldn’t surprise us. Researchers speculate that lying as a behavior arose not long after the emergence of language. The ability to control others without using physical force likely gave an advantage in the competition for resources and mates, similar to the evolution of deceptive strategies in the animal kingdom, such as camouflage (伪装).“Lying is so easy compared to other ways of gaining power,” notes Sissela Bok, an ethicist at Harvard University who’s one of the most prominent thinkers on the subject. “It’s much easier to lie in order to get somebody’s money or wealth than to hit them over the head or rob a bank.”

As lying has come to be recognized as a deeply-rooted human trait, social science researchers and neuro-scientists have sought to explain the nature and roots of the behavior. Researchers are learning that we tend to believe some lies even when they’re obviously contradicted by clear evidence. These insights suggest that our tendency to deceive others and our weakness to be deceived, are especially consequential in the age of social media. Our ability to separate truth from lies is under unprecedented threat.

1. What can we learn about the study by Bella DePaulo and her colleagues?

A．They made adults write the instances where they misled someone one or two times a day.

B．The subjects tended to lie to hide their own feelings and present a different image.

C．Lying was first documented systematically by Bella DePaulo and her colleagues.

D．Bella DePaulo and her colleagues made more than one study to show most people lied.

2. In paragraph 2, the researchers thought that most lies the subjects told in the test were        .

A．meaningless

B．useless

C．harmless

D．endless

3. It can be concluded from the passage that____.               .

A．most human beings possess a talent for deceiving because of the emergence of language

B．animals also use deceptive strategies in order to gain an advantage in the competition

C．human beings universally have both talents for deceiving others and detecting lies

D．social media will be able to help human beings to tell truth from lies in the future

4. What is the best possible title for the passage?

A．A Surprising Discovery of Lies

B．Lying: A Deeply-rooted Human Trait

C．The Nature and Root of Deception

D．On Human Weakness in Spotting Lies

3 . How many times have you found yourself in conversations with friends, family members or loved ones and discovered that you had completely tuned out to what they were saying? How much of our attention are we truly giving to the people who are supposed to be important to us?

According to research cited by Wright State University, while most people believe they are good listeners who don’t need to improve their listening skills, the average person only listens at about 25 percent efficiency.

So why aren’t we better listeners? As a society, we may be growing more narcissistic (自我陶醉的). A 2007 study found a rise in self-centeredness and narcissism among college students. If we, as a culture, are becoming more self-centered, how can we, as individuals, work to become more caring and compassionate communicators?

We can begin by changing our attitudes toward conversations. As Stephen R. Covey wrote in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change, “Most people do not listen with the intent to understand but to reply.” A dialogue is an opportunity to learn, to see things from a new perspective, to open your eyes to new information and possibilities. Yet, too often we engage in conversation as if it’s a debate. We speak to hear our own voices — our own pre-existing opinions. In doing so, we tend to space out when spoken to. We wait, perhaps even patiently or politely, for the other person to finish, so we can say something we feel is of value.

Playwright Wilson Mizner said, “A good listener is not only popular everywhere, but after a while, he knows something.” Listening doesn’t just expand our knowledge on an intellectual level; it enables us to have a more personal, in-depth understanding of our closest friends. Relationships are truly enriched by an equal back-and-forth exchange in communication. When these dynamics become more one-sided, we tend to lose interest and create distance in our friendships, with less trust established, less honesty exchanged.

Thankfully, we can all improve our listening skills. Maybe we aren’t as good a listener as we believe. Do we tend to focus too much on ourselves — both in positive and negative ways? Do we get distracted by an inner coach, rather than living in the moment and really engaging in what’s being said? As we learn to quiet that inner voice in our minds, we can start to open ourselves up to others, becoming better listeners, thinkers, lovers and friends.

1. What is the author’s purpose in showing the social phenomena in Paragraph 1?

A．To show most people are confident about their listening skills.

B．To express his concerns about people’s lack of attention when talking.

C．To introduce the fact that people have low efficiency of listening in life.

D．To provide some information about how people behave in conversation.

2. Why does the author cite the research data from the year 2007?

A．To prove college students have become more self-cenfered and narcissistic over time.

B．To show the belief in people’s listening skills is outdated and needs to be updated.

C．To provide an example of how society’s narcissism affects personal relationships.

D．To support the argument that society is becoming more self-centered and narcissistic.

3. Based on the views of Stephen R. Covey and Wilson Mizner, which of the following statements is true?

A．People should listen to learn and see things from a new perspective.

B．A good listener is popular but does not necessarily know everything.

C．Most people listen with the intention to understand, not to reply.

D．We should speak to hear our own voices and pre-existing opinions.

4. What does the underline phrase “space out” in Paragraph 4mean?

A．Become focused.	B．Feel confused.
C．Be absent-minded.	D．Remain anxious.

5. Which of the following titles best captures the main idea?

A．The Decline of Listening in Modern Society

B．Improving Listening Skills for Better Relationships

C．The Impact of Narcissism on Social Communication

D．Why We Should Listen More and Speak Less

4 . Most people can think of a time when they were in a bad mood after a long day at work and a shop assistant gave them a warm smile. Or maybe they overheard their bus-mate speaking German and ended up filling the morning commute（通勤）with a stimulating conversation about an upcoming trip.

Nicholas Epley, a psychologist at the University of Chicago conducted a study. Participants speaking to strangers on public transportation during their morning commutes reported having a more enjoyable commute.

Epley shared why speaking to strangers may have such a mood boosting impact. Loneliness, Epley explained, is one of the most dangerous social stressors and is even more physically harmful than obesity（肥胖）. “It’s larger than air pollution, which we spend an awful lot of time worrying about.” Making connections with those around us can reduce loneliness and its harmful impacts.

Despite all the benefits of conversing with strangers, there are some factors that hold people back from new social connections.

Psychologist Gillian Sandstrom thinks that people don’t talk with strangers, simply because most people don’t have the skills or confidence to do so. To address this, she ran London-based events to help people gain confidence in initiating conversations with strangers. Sandstrom said, “By the end, those participants don’t want to stop talking.”

Sandstrom wanted to take this success a step further and she started hosting events where people were forced to talk with strangers. For example, using the app GooseChase, Sandstrom made a campaign that required participants to talk to people with a variety of characteristics. This event was also successful with four fifths of participants sharing that they learned something new, and nearly half hoping to keep in touch with a new-found friend.

People spend so much of our day around strangers, such as in line at the store, on public transportation, and in the office. Why not take advantage of being around people you don’t know? Flash a smile or start up a conversation, and you will make two people’s day nicer.

1. Why does Nicholas Epley mention air pollution?

A．To show the strong impact of loneliness on mood.

B．To highlight the significance of making connections.

C．To introduce the benefits of conversing with strangers.

D．To prove the necessity of creating a good environment.

2. What can we learn about Gillian Sandstrom’s London-based events?

A．They provide new job opportunities.

B．They are highly enjoyed by the participants.

C．They boost people’s confidence in society.

D．They explore why people don’t talk to strangers.

3. How does the author show the success of the app-based campaign?

A．By referring to quotes.	B．By listing examples.
C．By making comparisons.	D．By showing statistics.

4. What is the author’s purpose in writing the text?

A．To urge people to interact with strangers.

B．To relieve commuters from awkwardness.

C．To help people improve communication skills.

D．To remind people to pay attention to their surroundings.

5 . The community is the basic unit where we share space and resources with others. A harmonious and orderly community not only enhances the quality of life for its residents but also promotes stability and development in society. Therefore, community residents should understand and fulfill their responsibilities and duties to ensure a harmonious and beautiful community environment.

    1    

The cleanliness of the community environment directly affects the health and quality of life of its residents. Residents should avoid littering, actively participate in community cleaning activities, and regularly clean their own doorsteps and surroundings. Additionally, properly sorting waste and participating in recycling are essential duties for every resident.

Observing public order

    2    . Every resident should observe public order and not disturb the peace of the community. This includes controlling noise from household activities, avoiding loud noises at night or on rest days, and following traffic rules by not parking illegally or speeding within the community. Moreover, residents should treasure public facilities and not damage plants or trees, collectively maintaining the community’s beauty and functionality.

Participating in community management

Actively participating in community management is;an important responsibility for residents. This includes voting for community leaders, participating in community meetings, and offering suggestions and feedback on the management and activities of the community. Residents can also join volunteer organizations, take part in community safety patrols, and organize cultural events.     3    .

Promoting neighborly harmony

Good neighborly relations are the foundation of a harmonious community.     4    . Each should be willing to help, and provide extra care and assistance to the elderly, children, and disabled individuals. When facing neighborhood disputes (纠纷), residents should approach the situation with understanding and tolerance and resolve issues through communication and negotiation.

Enhancing safety awareness

Community safety affects everyone’s interests. Residents should increase their safety awareness and report suspicious behavior and safety hazards (安全隐患) promptly.     5    . Using them, residents can protect themselves and assist others in emergencies.

A．Protecting ourselves and others

B．Residents should respect each other

C．Maintaining environmental cleanliness

D．The community is a space for public life

E．Those all contribute to the community’s development

F．Every resident has the opportunity to clean the community park

G．Besides, residents should learn basic safety knowledge and first aid skills

6 . There’s no doubt that loneliness hurts. Functional MRIs show that the area of the brain triggered by social rejection is the same area that’s triggered by physical pain. To understand why loneliness hurts, let’s take a closer look at friendship through the eyes of two heavyweight philosophers.

In one corner we have Aristotle, who wrote that without friends, there’s no reason to live. The Greek great believed that friendships are based on the virtues of the friend.     1     But the problem with Aristotle’s theory is that if you lose some virtues, you should also expect to lose some friends. And that’s not how friendships work — at least not the good ones.     2    

So as a sharp counterpunch to Aristotle, let’s turn to the renowned Enlightenment philosopher Immanuel Kant, who said that all people have value regardless of their virtues. Since we view our true friends with this kind of unconditional love and respect, we can assume they view us the same way.     3     Being away from our friends takes away these life-affirming interactions. Worse, having no friends means our value, or dignity, isn’t being appreciated.

    4     This may seem obvious, but there’s a catch. Your connection has to be oriented (以……为方向) toward the other person — not in what they can do for you and your loneliness. So say hi to a neighbor, hold the door for someone, or volunteer at the soup kitchen.     5     However, they’ll help you feel more connected to the world. And the more of these small steps you take toward connection, the farther away from loneliness you’ll get.

A．This may sound fine at first.

B．They last through thick and thin.

C．This tells us why loneliness hurts.

D．These acts may not make you a lifelong friend.

E．The more friends you have, the happier you’ll be.

F．We feel like we’re not accepted by the people around us.

G．Thus, the cure for loneliness can be found in other people.

7 . 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

8 . Feeling like what you do is worthwhile is arguably a significant key to a happy life. But what this means is different for each person. These strategies can help you find your purpose so you can begin living a more meaningful life.

Donate time, money, or talent

    1    . Altruistic (利他) behaviors include volunteering for a nonprofit organization, donating money to causes you care about, or simply helping out the people around you on a day-to-day basis.

Listen to feedback (反馈)

It can be hard to recognize the things you feel passionate about sometimes. After all, the things you love to do may have become so ingrained (固化) in your life that you don’t realize how important they are.     2    . This is a good chance of displaying your passion and purpose.

Start conversations with new people

It’s easy to surf social media while you’re alone on the subway. Resist that urge.     3    . Ask them if they are working on any projects or what they like to do for fun. Talk to them about organizations with which they are involved. You might discover new activities to explore. And those activities might be key to helping you find your purpose.

    4    

Are you regularly sharing articles about climate change? Are there pictures of you engaging in a particular activity over and over, such as gardening or performing? Consider the conversations you enjoy holding with people the most when you’re meeting face to face. Do you like talking about history? Or do you prefer sharing the latest money-saving tips you discovered?     5    .

A．Explore your interests

B．Otherwise, it may drag you down

C．Spread sunshine to people through your smile

D．Instead, take the time to talk to the people around you

E．You can develop helpful habits in your search for purpose

F．The things you enjoy sharing may reveal your purpose in life

G．Fortunately, other people might be able to give you some insights

9 . Many people changed residences and are eager to get familiar with their new neighbors. Here’s a quick refresher on making the most of neighborhood relationships.

Begin at the beginning. Building good neighborly relationships starts when you or someone else moves into the area. If a new neighbor moves in, be proactive (主动的) and welcome them to the neighborhood.     1    . Consider taking a plate of cookies or a small housewarming gift. Share your contact information and offer to answer any questions they may have about the community, including your favorite restaurants or the best local service providers.

    2    . Don’t create things that are unpleasant to look at or allow your property’s condition to affect the value of neighboring homes adversely (不利地). Being kind to those around you includes keeping your yard tidy, removing snow from your sidewalks, and collecting trash and recycling bins after the truck has passed.

Be inclusive. If you are hosting a large party, consider extending invitations to your neighbors. During the holiday season, remember the people next door with a card, a homemade goodie, or an offer of assistance. Give without expectations.     3    .

Allow people to be human.     4    , and it’s impossible to know what others are going through. Don’t be too quick to assume a sligh (轻蔑) is personal or intended.

Accept it. If you have tried your best to resolve a conflict without success, let it go. Sadly, some people won’t like you whatever you do. And you aren’t going to enjoy some people.     5    . Be pleasant anyway, and be thankful that you get to live your life and they get to live theirs.

A．Maintain your space

B．Be the first to stop by and say hello

C．It’s easier to accept it and move on

D．Everyone has a bad day now and then

E．Take steps to ensure it won’t happen again

F．Let others know you are thinking of them

G．Some neighbors are more easygoing than others

10 .

A．She avoids most of her neighbours.

B．She likes to make friends with everyone.

C．Most of the neighbours are unfriendly.

D．Some neighbours are hard to deal with.