1 . False Memories or Parallel (平行的) Realities?

Here is a common situation: You’re talking with someone about an event, only to discover that you both remember things quite differently. Usually, you’d put it down to a poor memory, but what if it wasn’t just one person who remembered things differently? What if it was millions?

In fact, this isn’t a “what if” situation. It’s known as the Mandela Effect, and it was first noticed in 2009 by paranormal researcher Fiona Broome. Broome was chatting with people about the South African activist Nelson Mandela, and she commented how sad it was that he had died in prison in the 1980s.     1     Actually, he'd been released in 1990, become president of South Africa, and died in 2013.

Broome was so shocked at this that she started an investigation.     2     People have memories of movies that never existed, and famous words that were never spoken. There is even a group who clearly recall seeing maps showing that New Zealand was northeast of Australia (it’s southeast ). So what in the world is going on?

    3     In each reality, history is shaped by different events, and the Mandela Effect occurs when some of us shift from one reality to another. Therefore, those who remember Nelson Mandela dying in the 1980s aren’t wrong. They’re just remembering events from their original reality.

More likely, however, is that the Mandela Effect has to do with how our brains store information.     4     Many people remember Pikachu’s tail having a black tip on the end of it, when in fact it was always yellow. “Aha!” you cry. “Parallel realities!” Probably not. Consider instead that people often ignore unfamiliar details and transform information to make it more understandable. In the Pikachu example, his tail may not have a black tip, but his ears certainly do. Thus, both his ears and tail are misremembered as having black tips.     5    

All things considered, if you’re stuck arguing with someone about whose version of events is correct, it may indeed be easier to agree that neither of you is wrong. You just come from different realities.

A．Before we explain let’s look at an example.

B．It turns out she wasn’t the only one who’d experienced this.

C．If several people make these memory errors, the false memory gets stronger socially.

D．The story of Nelson Mandela is not the only example of this type of false group memory.

E．Some claim the Mandela Effect happens because we live in one of many parallel realities.

F．Many in her group agreed, while others mentioned that Nelson Mandela had not died in prison.

G．As more incidents of the Mandela effect continue to occur, perhaps more research into the origins will tell us the causes.

2 . You can be hurt by other people in life. That is a fact. And some of those hurts can even leave scars that affect how you think, act and relate to others.    1    Withdraw into a shell, hide in a cave, and isolate(孤立) yourself from others. Definitely not. You can make a different choice to make painful circumstances direct you to a new path.

Remember you can’t please every single person especially a critical one.    2     Some are praying for rain, while others are praying for sunshine. You shouldn’t be replaying hurtful statements made to you. Additionally, it’s foolish to attempt what is impossible.

    3     We live in a society where we don’t get a whole lot of approval. It is not wise of you to do all sorts of crazy things trying to win a smile from some people too cold to ever give it. So refuse to play the game. Don’t waste any energy trying to convince unpleasable, disapproving people that you are a great person.    4    

Refuse to fight back. When we are hurt, the instant reaction is to fight back.     5     Instead, you can pray for the other person. It will help both of you. Be an actor, not a reactor.

It cannot be denied that dealing with other people effectively is one of the most important things you can learn in life. After you’ve mastered that you’re about 95 percent down the road to finding happiness.

A．No one can do that.

B．Choose emotionally healthy friends.

C．Also, the deepest wounds are caused by rejection.

D．Realize that you don’t need others’ approval to be happy.

E．You should firmly believe you are happy as you choose to be.

F．Then how do you handle the people who send you into depression?

G．However, striking back only lowers you to the opponent’s level of immaturity.

3 . On a cold night in January 2020, two police officers were on duty in Norcross, Georgia. They _________ a woman standing in the cold with a small bunch of birthday _________ and asked if she wanted a _________ home. What happened next is now going viral on social media, _________ a supervisor at the Gwinnett County Police Department who found out about the officers’ secret kind _________ in March while going through body camera videos.

Sergeant Nick Boney and Officer Jimmy Wilson are seen _________ “Happy Birthday” with the single mom and her three daughters in their _________ after the officers bought the youngest girl a birthday cake and gave the family a(n) _________ to remember.

On the way to the woman’s apartment, Boney said he was _________ to learn that she had walked almost two miles to the ____________ in the cold to get her daughter some balloons. “She never said she didn’t have the money to buy a cake, but I made the ____________ that was the ____________,” he said.

Although Boney and Wilson have ____________ a lot of praise about their night____________ with the birthday, Boney said he wants all of the ____________ to go to the mother they helped. “She____________ love and ____________ her family that people — most of the time — ____________ or never see,” he said. “She walked that far to give her daughter and family something ____________.” “Officers just do this out of the kindness of their hearts,” he added. “It’s really ____________ many people do; it’s just not seen all the time.”

1.

A．moved

B．placed

C．followed

D．spotted

2.

A．flowers

B．gifts

C．balloons

D．cakes

3.

A．help

B．drive

C．hike

D．ride

4.

A．thanks to

B．as to

C．except for

D．regardless of

5.

A．deed

B．word

C．position

D．heart

6.

A．announcing

B．crying

C．singing

D．shouting

7.

A．department

B．apartment

C．studio

D．stadium

8.

A．entertainment

B．cheer

C．congratulation

D．celebration

9.

A．disturbed

B．embarrassed

C．astonished

D．inspired

10.

A．house

B．police station

C．warehouse

D．store

11.

A．evaluation

B．assumption

C．prediction

D．decision

12.

A．turn

B．hope

C．case

D．event

13.

A．accepted

B．earned

C．assessed

D．demanded

14.

A．helping out

B．preparing

C．taking

D．dealing

15.

A．credit

B．pride

C．fortune

D．hesitation

16.

A．expects

B．experiences

C．exchanges

D．exhibits

17.

A．dreaming of

B．looking for

C．caring for

D．believing in

18.

A．focus on

B．take for granted

C．work on

D．take care

19.

A．special

B．official

C．general

D．practical

20.

A．that

B．what

C．how

D．why

4 . 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（1个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。

Not long ago， I was on a flight when the fellow in front of me moved his seat backward suddenly.

He didn't look and didn't think，either. And he     1    （knock） my wine all over the seat and me. I wasn't on my best behavior when I gave his seat    2     （kick） and shouted，"Pay attention. You're not the only one on this flight." To his credit，he apologized repeatedly. If I    3    （give）a do﹣over， I would have tapped him    4    the shoulder and said nicely，"You    5    （probable） don't realize it， but you knocked over my wineglass when you reclined（往后靠）. Could you move your seat forward？"

Pay attention!     6    you recline， take notice of who's behind you. Is it someone with an     7    （injure） or who is really tall or perhaps overweight？ Is it a parent with    8     lap baby？If so， don't recline. And don't recline during meals. If the extra inch or two you get by reclining is really worth     9     （bother）the person behind you， at least give fair warning that you're about     10    （knock） over his drink.

5 . Tips for Submitting a Good Letter of Recommendation

If you consider applying for any colleges abroad, one of the most important parts is the recommendation letter. Its purpose is to give universities a complete picture of you.

    1    

But a credible (可信的) reference saying you’ve consistently worked hard on a project can be the difference between getting accepted or rejected.

Choose the right references

Universities want to know how well you work under pressure and how you react to criticism, basically your characteristics, abilities and mentality. A good referee (推荐人) should have a solid professional relationship with you and be able to communicate your academic and personal strengths.

    2    

Most universities ask for two recommendation letters. They are regularly split between a school professor and an extracurricular (课外的) source. Undoubtedly, it’s good to show your skills in the subject you want to study.     3    

Time

Professionals can sometimes find it hard to make time for writing recommendations.     4     So give them plenty of time and send them a link of your university’s recommendation letter guidance page, if possible.

Clear goals

Don’t be afraid to ask your referees to include certain qualities or examples you want to highlight. You should inform at least one of your referees about your career goals, grades and recent projects. They may not be referenced. But giving referees additional evidence to back up their points can make the letter more convincing.

    5     It’s where you can find what a university lays stress on, as well as some important information such as deadlines and so on.

A．Make sure to know more about your university.

B．You can write that you’re hard-working yourself.

C．They can be quite occupied during application season.

D．The more information you include, the better it may be.

E．Don’t forget to check each university’s guidelines for reference letters.

F．Examples of how you have demonstrated them are needed to add more credibility.

G．But other abilities that may not be apparent in the classroom can be equally valuable.

6 . Ruby Kate, 11 likes to spend time with residents at the local nursing homes where her mother Amada works as a nurse.

One day last summer, Ruby_______that a resident named Pearl was staring out of the window and looking very_______. Ruby and Amanda learnt that Pearl’s dog had just left. She couldn't _______to have someone take care of her dog and it was basically homeless. After a little more _______, Amanda and her daughter found out that Pearl only gets $40 each month from her Medicaid check. Many of the other residents received just as little — if _______ — spending money at all.

Pearl’s story_________Ruby. She wanted to do something to_________her and the other residents. So she got out a_________and wrote down a simple question: “What are three things you wish you had?”

Amanda was_________of Ruby’s broad question. She didn't think her daughter would ________with anything helpful. “In my adult mind, that question is not going to ________” said Amanda. “They're going to tell you that they want things you can't give them.”

She went door to door at the nursing home, __________residents to list their three wishes. When Amanda saw what her daughter wrote in her notebook, she was__________that the list was filled with just________ requests like new pillows, books, razors and peanut butter.

Ruby and Amanda________all of the items on the first list and that started a chain reaction of ________ and kindness. They launched a GoFundMe page to__________money to fulfill more wishes. Soon after, Ruby's story went viral and she's now collected more than $250,000 and__________ her own nonprofit called Three Wishes for Ruby's Residents.

“I'd like it to go on ________ and ever and ever,” she said. “Because I just want it to go________and I want it to go around the states and even in different countries.”

1.

A．warned

B．noticed

C．screamed

D．worried

2.

A．upset

B．curious

C．exhausted

D．satisfied

3.

A．expect

B．bother

C．afford

D．agree

4.

A．discussing

B．examining

C．sharing

D．digging

5.

A．any

B．so

C．not

D．ever

6.

A．moved

B．struck

C．changed

D．depressed

7.

A．comfort

B．compensate

C．help

D．protect

8.

A．brochure

B．pen

C．diary

D．notebook

9.

A．skeptical

B．aware

C．tired

D．confident

10.

A．put up

B．bring up

C．end up

D．show up

11.

A．matter

B．work

C．inspire

D．arise

12.

A．persuading

B．ordering

C．asking

D．advising

13.

A．delighted

B．confused

C．frightened

D．shocked

14.

A．simple

B．demanding

C．unreasonable

D．strange

15.

A．collected

B．bought

C．made

D．removed

16.

A．curiosity

B．anxiety

C．sympathy

D．generosity

17.

A．raise

B．earn

C．save

D．borrow

18.

A．managed

B．founded

C．advertised

D．invested

19.

A．temporarily

B．cheaply

C．forever

D．efficiently

20.

A．richer

B．higher

C．faster

D．bigger

7 . Criticism from others can be difficult to take, especially if the person delivering the criticism isn’t exactly subtle(含蓄的)about it. So how should we deal with it?     1    

Try to separate the criticism from the environment in which it was given.     2     However, you should also try to calmly look at what’s being said and see if there are clues for your personal growth. Pretend the person isn’t talking about you, and try to read between the lines.

    3     This is where you listen and say“okay, that makes sense, ”or“I can come up with a plan to do that. ”Remember, haters gonna hate, but even they sometimes hate for reasons worth considering. All you need to do is keep what’s applicable and ignore the rest.

Turn those useful opinions into goals.     4     If someone complains that your writing is too long, for example, set a to-do to remove the fat from your work. If your boss complains you always wait until the last minute to complete tasks, set your due-dates a day earlier than they’re really due, so you get to work sooner.

Adjust your attitude. You can do all of this and still get depressed when someone tells you how you can improve. Attitude is the key here.     5     It’s easier said than done, but knowing your strengths and being ready to hear and accept your weaknesses is the most powerful thing you can do.

A．Focus on the meaningful part of the criticism.

B．Look at criticism as a chance to grow and get better.

C．Here are some ways you can get benefits from criticism.

D．Vaw your reaction to criticism depending on its intention.

E．It’s important to never let the opportunity for criticism pass you by.

F．It’s normal to be defensive when criticized and to react accordingly.

G．Once you have specific, practical tips, turn them into measurable to-dos.

8 . 阅读下面短文，根据题目要求回答问题。

Teenagers are learning new communication skills every day. It is important for them to have opportunities to network, or to meet and get to know new people. Online networking, which is very popular with teens today, makes short, superficial connections. But offline networking better encourages meaningful connections that will increase hope, develop skills, and open avenues to career opportunity. Teens need to practice more offline networking. It will prepare them to be confident face-to-face communicators in the real world.

A survey of almost 7,000 teens was conducted in 2019 by three Swiss researchers, and they found that teens were spending too much time on social networking sites. So, they suggested that teens should spend more time with others in real life. It not only contributes to a stronger sense of identity and a happier mood, but also gives us the chance to share happiness with other people. In other words, offline networking seems to actually benefit a teen’s emotional health.

Face-to-face communication also gives teens an opportunity to learn to read people. Everyone communicates in person differently than communicating over the phone, through texting, or in online posts. Being face-to-face requires a person to think and respond more quickly—without the safety net of a delete key.

And much of our communication is nonverbal anyway. Facial expressions, gestures, and vocal tones are just a few examples. Teens need to have face-to-face interactions so they can learn to read these nonverbal cues(暗示), which are sometimes even more important than the words a person is saying. A time will come when the teen will need to enter the job market, and this usually means a face-to-face interaction, including interacting naturally with customers, hearing and understanding their words as well as their nonverbal cues in many different kinds of businesses.

Offline networking is important because it can improve a teenager’s well-being and help prepare him for the future. That’s why every teen should spend time practicing real-world interactions.

1. What is the disadvantage of online networking?
2. What was the researchers’ suggestion to teens?
3. Read the following statement, underline the false part of it and explain the reason.
Hearing and understanding what a person is saying is necessarily involved in communication, so people get less from nonverbal expressions.
4. Please present what you can do to make effective face-to-face communication in your daily life. (about 40 words)

9 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

At a time when we are all experiencing an extraordinary level of stress, science offers a simple and effective way to improve our own emotional （情感的）health.

To help yourself,     1    （ start） by helping others.

As     2     matter of fact, our bodies and minds benefit in a variety of     3    （ way）when we help others. Some research has focused     4     the “ helper's high. " Studies show that volunteering, donating money, or even just thinking about donating money can release （释 放）feel-good brain chemicals.

    5     （feel） responsible for other people also can help us deal with whatever challenges life brings. Emily Greenfield, an associate     6    （ consult） of social work at Rutgers

University, studied a concept called “felt obligation （义务），”   which     7     （measure） by asking people questions such as how obligated they would feel to give money to a friend in need, even     8     it meant putting themselves in trouble.

As it turned out, the people who had higher levels of “felt obligation” - meaning they were the type of people to sacrifice for others - dealt     9    （ well） with their own life challenges than others.

She     10     （note） that caring for others helped us to regulate our own emotions and gain a sense of control.

10 . Acts of kindness are wonderful in so many ways. They_________the recipient and they're also a great reminder of all the_________acts that are taking place in the world. With the media full of CO VID-19-related_________, these selfless acts are increasingly important. This was just the_________when Steve Farmer shared a recent uplifting event on his Facebook page that_________him.

Farmer posted how he'd gone to work after the quarantine(隔离)was lifted and had forgotten his work pass. _________, he had to lock his bike just outside an underground station next to his office. When he returned for his_________in the evening, he found just his lock that had been cut and the bike was_________

The London worker thought he'd never_________his bike again. However, as he went to ask at the station about any potential__________that had filmed the robbery, a rail worker, Abdul Muneeb, rushed over to him and asked him to unlock the__________bike lock to prove he was the__________. Farmer. then explained how Muneeb said "I have your bike" with a__________he would never forget.

With the lock undone, Muneeb told Farmer how he'd__________someone cutting the bike lock earlier on during his shift. He stopped the man from__________the bike and then wheeled it to a__________place. Muneeb__________four hours after his shift had ended so he could see the bike__________to its rightful owner.

As Farmer quite__________posted, “The world needs more Abduls, who is a legend(传奇)of a man and a__________to his employer.”

1.

A．introduce

B．challenge

C．teach

D．benefit

2.

A．selfish

B．honest

C．kind

D．shy

3.

A．books

B．news

C．magazines

D．requirements

4.

A．case

B．advice

C．chance

D．change

5.

A．left out

B．turned down

C．happened to

D．accounted for

6.

A．By accident

B．As a result

C．At last

D．In return

7.

A．bike

B．office

C．lock

D．key

8.

A．dirty

B．ugly

C．complete

D．missing

9.

A．send

B．fix

C．buy

D．see

10.

A．lights

B．computers

C．cameras

D．phones

11.

A．beautiful

B．broken

C．cheap

D．new

12.

A．owner

B．worker

C．policeman

D．thief

13.

A．greeting

B．kiss

C．smile

D．sigh

14.

A．imagined

B．appreciated

C．enjoyed

D．spotted

15.

A．assessing

B．stealing

C．watching

D．polishing

16.

A．safe

B．dangerous

C．remote

D．crowded

17.

A．ran

B．waited

C．apologized

D．escaped

18.

A．sold

B．donated

C．returned

D．thrown

19.

A．curiously

B．unwillingly

C．casually

D．rightly

20.

A．credit

B．risk

C．shame

D．secret