1 . Will your happiness differ if you are doing a kind action without any expectation of rewards or with an expectation of rewards? A study by University of Sussex, headed by Dr. Daniel CampbellMeikeljohn, tried to answer that question. He and his partners analyzed over 1, 000 brain scans from other studies related to reactions to making a decision based on kindness. They split the studies based on who was making a decision for altruistic (无私的) reasons and who was making a decision due to the expectation of an obvious reward. The results were interesting.
In both instances, the reward center of the brain lit up on the MRI scans (磁共振成像扫描). Yet, for those who made their decision without any rewards, other areas of the brain lit up as well. Specifically, it lit up the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (前扣带皮层区域), which scientists believe plays a role in emotional regulation. Also, it might aid in maintaining excitement related to an event that creates a positive emotional state.
In one study about the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex, it is believed that this brain region could be related to depression if it isn’t developed properly or is dysfunctional. The fact that this part of the brain lights up during acts of generosity and caring without expectation of rewards shows that the altruistic individuals are getting more sustainable pleasure than those motivated by rewards. It also could aid in explaining how it helps depressive individuals feel happier after doing a kind deed.
We live in a society, and no man is a lonely island. We all need each other. For those who genuinely desire to help others regardless of repayment, maintaining a balance of helping others and yourself is very important. It is healthy and necessary to be kind to yourself, as well as to others.
1. Why did the author think the results interesting?A.There are no differences as to the litup area of the brain. |
B.The reward center of the brain lit up in one case alone. |
C.The subgenual anterior cingulate cortex makes no difference. |
D.The reward center of the brain lit up in both cases. |
A.It might help keep calm. | B.It may make a difference to controlling emotion. |
C.It can create positive emotion. | D.It has nothing to do with depression. |
A.Help others regardless of yourself. | B.Treat others and yourself with kindness. |
C.For the sake of yourself, lend a hand. | D.Practise kindness at all costs. |
2 . 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 |
We all know that honesty is
There are three main reasons
We may find even white lies have
1.做好自己;
2.尊重他人;
3.学会沟通。
注意:
1.词数80左右;
2.请在相应位置作答。
Recently, we held a heated discussion about how to live harmoniously in the school. Here are the opinions of our group.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
We hope all of us can enjoy our school life.
5 . How To Stop Bein g A People Pleaser
As a recovering people pleaser, I spent much of my life keeping others happy. Breaking this habit meant stepping on a few toes. However, I’ve become a happier person as a result. Here are some tips I used to stop being a people pleaser.
Identify your priorities. Take a moment to think about why you are trying to learn how to stop being a people pleaser.
Just say “no”. One reason why people pleasers say “yes” to everything is that they fear disappointing others.
Accept yourself. Many people pleasers are insecure about who they are.
Remember that you cannot please everyone. No matter what you do there will always be someone who is unhappy with your choices.
A.Learn to set healthy boundaries. |
B.Don’t mix up your boundaries with others’. |
C.Who are the people that you feel the need to please? |
D.Spend some time learning to love yourself for who you are. |
E.So why bother trying to please everyone if it isn’t possible? |
F.But saying “no” is the best way to take care of your own needs. |
G.That is why the more you seek security, the less of it you have. |
6 . Being a social butterfly just might change your brain: In people with a large network of friends and excellent social skills, certain brain regions are bigger and
The research suggests a
To investigate these brain
The researchers also tested whether the size of a person’s social network was connected with
The researchers couldn’t say whether social interaction
A.better | B.more directly | C.less closely | D.worse |
A.conflict | B.similarity | C.link | D.contrast |
A.tell | B.show | C.ask | D.find |
A.intentions | B.preferences | C.behaviors | D.habits |
A.structures | B.highlights | C.differences | D.origins |
A.academic difficulties | B.social interactions | C.personal problems | D.career advances |
A.removed | B.adapted | C.replaced | D.enlarged |
A.joyful | B.familiar | C.inspirational | D.distinct |
A.Networked | B.Remote | C.Respective | D.Functional |
A.positions | B.changes | C.roles | D.compositions |
A.However | B.Again | C.Therefore | D.Rather |
A.urban | B.smooth | C.twisty | D.country |
A.minimized | B.drove | C.eliminated | D.demonstrated |
A.assumed | B.rejected | C.concluded | D.announced |
A.causality | B.feasibility | C.productivity | D.effectiveness |
7 . There is a time when many Americans question whether a college degree is worth its cost. However, a recent study found Americans who completed college or university are more likely to have friends and are less lonely than those who only finished high school.
Daniel Cox, director of the Survey Center on American Life, said that in general Americans are experiencing a “friend recession”, meaning a decline in their number of friends. Cox noted, “Americans have fewer close friends today than we did in the early 1990s. But men and those without a college degree are particularly affected because they seem to have experienced a much more dramatic decline over that period.”
The Center questioned 5, 054 people this past summer. It found Americans with a college degree feel more socially connected and are more active in their communities than people who didn’t go to college. As a result, those who completed college report feeling less lonely.
Previous research showed that Americans who didn’t go to college are less likely to marry. A 2012 study found that college-educated women are much more likely to get married than women who dropped out of high school. A 2013 study of people born between 1957 and 1964 found that both men and women who didn’t finish high school are less likely to marry than those with more education.
Today, 65 percent of college-educated Americans over age 25 are married. About 50 percent of people with a high school diploma, or who dropped out of high school, are married. Those numbers were different in 1990, when marriage rates among the college graduates were at 69 percent, compared with 63 percent for those who did not go to college, says a Pew research report.
The American Community Life Survey found around 1 in 10 college graduates say they have no close social connections. That number rises among Americans without a degree, where almost 1 in 4 say they have no close friends.
1. When was the study carried out according to the passage?A.When psychological problems arose sharply. |
B.When the number of college graduates declined. |
C.When Americans experienced a friend recession. |
D.When concerns about college costs appeared. |
A.To provide evidence for the research. | B.To analyze the reasons for loneliness. |
C.To show the importance of marriage. | D.To compare differences in generations. |
A.Entertainment. | B.Education. | C.Technology. | D.Health. |
A.Social problems in the American society. |
B.Reasons for Americans’ low marriage rates. |
C.Links between education and social interaction. |
D.Discussions about whether to get a college degree. |
8 . How would you feel if a colleague suggested you take a comedy class to improve your sense of humor. I felt stressed.
I turned to Aaker and Bagdonas and they agreed to teach me how to find my funny bones. In our first call, we discuss the common misunderstandings that stop many of us in our comedy tracks. The first, Aaker says, is the belief that humor has no place in certain situations, especially at work.
They believe the power of humor that they also improve the ability to help people avoid difficult situations.
A.Rather, it can be developed gradually. |
B.We worry that humor is not welcomed in the office. |
C.Humor has been proved to increase creativity. |
D.Some people just aren’t funny and I’m one of them. |
E.Therefore, people eagerly sign up for the humor course. |
F.Every joke follows the fundamental structure of setup and punch line. |
G.If you feel uncomfortable making the jokes, leave them to someone else. |
9 . Four Top Skills I’ve Learned From My Kids
In my journey as an entrepreneur (企业家), one of the best sources of leadership development is parenthood. There’s one thing that being a parent and being a business leader have in common.
Give up control
As a parent, I’ve learned that there’s only so much control you can really have over your kids. They need to make their own decisions — and mistakes — and learn from them. You can try to control your kids when they are young.
Become more flexible (灵活)
We all make mistakes, and it can be tempting to hide those mistakes, especially from people you want to look up to you. But since we teach our kids to admit when they’ve made a mistake and apologize if they hurt someone, it’s important that we do the same when we make a mistake that hurts them.
Become more understanding and empathetic (共情的)
Emotional intelligence is one of the most important skills for effective leadership. And there’s nothing like being a parent to help you better understand people’s emotions and motivations.
A.Admit your mistakes |
B.Kids come with unknown risks |
C.It’s that there’s a lot to be learned |
D.As they grow up, you should let go |
E.You’d better stick to your perfect plan |
F.That can help you develop your empathy |
G.Correct the mistakes as soon as possible |
10 . One way to prevent anxiety from getting out of control is to recognise its benefits. It is a mistake to think that we’d make better decisions if only we keep our feelings under control. Instead, a mix of feelings like anxiety and logical thinking leads to sound decision-making. It’s true that there is plenty of research showing that higher levels of anxiety can make us more likely to avoid risks in our decision-making. There is also evidence that anxiety can increase the attention you pay to relevant information.
Recent studies have shown that people who are anxious about their relationships (for example, they fear to be abandoned) tend to be better at recognising people who tell lies and are more likely to raise the alarm when danger is present.
In the real world though, it’s worth realising that feeling anxious once in a while is extremely common. It communicates to others that you care, and what’s more, it’s probably a sign that you are intelligent. At least two published studies have identified that people who score higher on measures of anxiety also tend to perform better on intelligence tests. This seems reasonable: if you’re a thinker, you are sure to be always thinking about the future and imagine possible plots, including bad ones.
The important thing, if you are a worrywart (杞人忧天者), is not to let your fear destroy your dreams. And don’t bury your head in the sand. Instead, act on your fears—do the research as well as preparation, so rather than walking blindly into that which you fear, you meet the challenge in full readiness.
When anxiety beats you, or casts a shadow over your life, this is a serious problem. No one is denying that. But like everyday anxiety of this kind that you feel before a presentation or an interview, you needn’t see it as your enemy. Anxiety is an important feeling, developed through evolution. As for people who are fairly anxious by nature, there is reason for cheer, too. Your nerves are a sign of your watchfulness. Listen to them and act on them. Then you can turn your nervousness into your advantage.
1. What is the theme of the passage?A.Effective ways to prevent anxiety. |
B.Unexpected benefits of anxiety. |
C.Tips on how to keep a good mood. |
D.Common misunderstandings about anxiety. |
A.It can enable us to be more focused. |
B.It can stop us from thinking logically. |
C.It can make us more willing to take risks. |
D.It can be the only reason for all bad decisions. |
A.Anxious people are less sensitive to danger. |
B.Anxious people have difficulty discovering liars. |
C.Feeling anxious is more likely to put people at risk. |
D.Feeling anxious occasionally is a sign of intelligence. |
A.Regard it as our enemy. |
B.Take action to control it. |
C.Avoid being defeated by it. |
D.Treat it as a minor feeling. |