2 . When I became CEO of a hospital, I feared one thing greatly—public speaking. I’ve always _________ public speaking because I never thought I did it very well. But in this high position, presentations are a big part of my_________. Just recently, I was the_________ for the ribbon-cutting ceremony of our new building. I also spoke to the Rotary Club and was on the_________ for our annual gala where I_________ introductions and awards presentations.

Soon after I took the job, my wife and I went to_________ with a married couple who both held high_________ like me in their companies. As we ate, I started complaining about how I had to do so much_________, and Bob, the husband, said something that really_________ me. He said that, as a CEO, the most____________ aspect of the job was public speaking!The days of having to prove my____________ in other areas were over;I had obviously done that to get where I was. Communication skills were all I ____________ now. And he was ____________. I realized I needed to make the time to properly prepare and practice for each speaking situation.

So I’ve ____________ that. I now schedule time into my workday calendar to write and practice my ____________. I spend a long time perfecting the presentation before I ever stand in front of a group to deliver it. When I take the time first to write a presentation, I’ll end up with a much better, more finished product.

14.

A．done

B．lost

C．spread

D．discussed

3 . Will Covid-19 Kill the Handshake?

The handshake might date back to the 14^th century, when knights (骑士) and soldiers would extend their unclenched(松开的) right hands toward each other in greeting to show that they were carrying no weapons.

    1     Or rather, its tendency for picking up and holding onto germs (细菌) from polluted surfaces, or from   our own eyes or noses when we have certain illnesses. Those germs can then be transferred into the hands of the people we greet, while we can pick up their germs. We then will probably touch our own eyes or noses or mouths, potentially sickening ourselves and restarting the cycle.

Now that a novel coronavirus is spreading fast, our hands are being cast in a new, doubtful light.     2     And lately, the Internet has been full of suggestions for socially acceptable ways to greet each other that don’t involve passing germs along unintentionally from one person to the next.

    3     In fact, the tradition of shaking hands isn’t the only greeting to take a fresh look. A Maori tribe in New Zealand put the brakes on hongi, the traditional nose-to-nose hello.     4     Maybe people will stop making fun of the Hollywood air kiss, though it’s not a huge improvement health-wise.

COVID-19 is a real threat, and we shouldn’t take the warning lightly. We may, indeed, need to keep our hands to ourselves for the time being. But we’re not ready to send handshake into the dustbin of history. Humans long for making a physical connection with friends. For now, perhaps, a regretful smile and nod might work as a shared acknowledgment.     5    

5 . How to Show Maturity

Sometimes it's fun to be a kid, but other times you want to show that you can be mature. Maturity can be a signpost of moving from childhood to adulthood.     1     Maturity is not a set of rules or expectations, but it is a concept. Here are some ways to help you become mature.

●Live by your values. Maturity includes making decisions based on your values and morals, instead of what feels good at the moment.     2     Let your character master your desires. Show people that you are willing to live out your values, even if it presents minor inconveniences to you.

●     3     When you were younger, your schedule was made for you: you went to school or sports or dance. Now, you may have more ability to make your own schedule. When you say you will do something, do it. Even if it isn't your idea of fun, show people that they can count on you and that you are reliable.

●Treat people with respect. Respect builds trust and support in a relationship. Make sure you treat others with the same respect, whether it is your parents, friends or romantic partner.     4    

●Admit your disadvantages.     5     Don't blame other people for the problems in your life. All relationships are interactional, meaning that you both contribute to how you feel and what happens. It's much easier to blame people for how bad you feel, but recognize your role, and take responsibility for your actions.

8 . The joy of giving is real, according to a study. Research presented in the Journal of the Association for Psychological Science shows that those who give gifts are happier — and happier for longer — than those who receive gifts.

Researchers conducted two studies last year. In one，participants were given $5 every day for five days and were required to spend the money on the same thing each day. Some participants were required to spend the money on themselves, while others were required to give to make a donation to charity. In a second experiment that was done online, participants played 10 rounds of a word puzzle game and each won 5 cents per round, which they could keep or donate.

In both experiments, participants reported their overall happiness. Those who donated their money showed that their happiness declined at a much slower rate than those who kept the money or spent it on themselves.

The researchers note that when people focus on an outcome, they can easily compare outcomes, which may diminish their sensitivity to each experience. When people focus on an action, they may focus less on comparison and instead experience each act of giving as a unique happiness-inducing event. Further analyses ruled out some potential alternative explanations, such as the possibility that participants who gave to others had to think longer and harder about what to give, which could promote higher happiness.

The results are especially interesting because according to one of the researchers, Ed O’Brien of the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, they conflict with past research. “If you want to sustain happiness over time, past research tells us that we need to take a break from what were currently consuming and experience something new. Our research reveals that the kind of thing may matter more than assumed: Repeated giving, even in identical ways to identical other，may continue to feel relatively fresh and relatively pleasurable the more we do it,” O’Brien said.

So for all the holiday gifts you give this season, expect to feel happy and know that feeling is going to stick around for a while.

9 . In the workplace, one of the most important skills to possess is good communication.     1    ; it means they are able to listen to others, as well as successfully convey their own ideas and opinions. While listening and speaking are important in effective communication, there are other skills that are vital to good communication in the workplace.

    2     . This means not only listening with your ears but also being able to comprehend what the person is saying. Giving co-workers your full attention when they are conveying an idea can go a long way in building relationships and furthering progress.

Having empathy （同理心）is very useful in communication.     3     Put yourself in the other person's position instead of judging or critizing based on your own beliefs. While this may be difficult for some, empathizing with others can be very helpful to keep in tune with your own emotions and ideas.

Encouraging others will heighten confidence and appreciation in the workplace.     4    , you help others feel they are wanted, welcomed and respected by co-workers. People are much more likely to spare no effort if they know they are valued.

Body language can greatly impact how others treat you in the workplace. Being extroverted（外向的） and friendly lets co-workers know you are open to hearing their opinions about projects or new designs.

    5     . Be sure to maintain eye contact the majority of the time you are speaking with someone, and use hand gestures to help you form clearer thoughts. Smiling offers encouragement and creates a noticeable difference in how you are treated. People who smile more are seen as more approachable and trustworthy.

While many of these good communication skills occur naturally in individuals, some may need to be learned and practiced in order to become second nature.

10 . After exactly a year of staying at home, we have adapted to socializing digitally, in short bursts of time.Remember in Before Times you could head to the gym after work and then get dressed for dinner and a night out? The pandemic(疫情) has changed this. Our social batteries have run out of charge. It's been a long time since we had to perform our social role for an extended period.

For 23-year-old Hafsa, the excitement of her friends and family to restart their social lives has left her astonished. “ At the minute my parents are planning a trip abroad and I keep postponing getting back to them with a date,” she explains. “They don't know it's because of all of this. Just the thought of being in a room full of people is scary, it's like going back to school.”

Heather Garbutt, psychotherapist of the Counselling & Psychotherapy Centre says communication is key to recharging your unused social battery. “Take it slowly and don't immediately organize a large get-together,” she advises. “Go for a walk with somebody for no more than half an hour and gently get used to being with people again. It may actually be a shock to our system which has been shut down to some degree to cope with absence. We may have that longing to be with others, but that doesn't mean we are free from anxiety. It would be good to start off with a conversation about what it's going to be like when you are all together again.”

She says finding some causal topics to discuss also works. Acknowledge that many of you may feel a bit awkward after being physically apart for so long. It's a bit like learning to walk again after you've broken a limb. It may all be off-balance to begin with but you will find a new steadiness with practice. Whatever happens post-pandemic, your loved ones can't judge if you want to take it easy and not engage in the festivities immediately. We are recovering from a post-pandemic stress disorder, after all.