1 . 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 |
2 . A therapy (治疗) client and I are working on an eating disorder and find it originated from a relationship break-up or perhaps being bullied in middle school. Such hurtful experiences led to not eating for a couple of weeks. Then comes a high praise from a friend that totally backfires. Maybe it’s an enthusiastic, “Wow, you look great!’’ In a flash, this praise excites an inner and often unconscious thought: “Oh, people care more about me if I lose weight. So many things feel out of control but I can control people’s affection by not eating.”
Often, very well-intentioned individuals offer praise out of a desire to uplift and connect. Such praise is often tied, directly or indirectly, to a person’s relationship with the standards of a specific group or institution. Sadly, such praise can easily reduce an individual’s dignity to their level in line with the group’s expectations rather than supporting their inherent (固有的) dignity and worth. So, what’s a better way?
One answer is to exit the game of “right and wrong” and enter a more life-giving focus on what needs are present. Returning to our example above, when you see that someone has lost weight and you want to give them a praise, just pause and take a deep breath. Simply ask, “How are you doing?” See them and hear them. Appreciate them as a person of limitless value. Know there may be much more to their inner world than meets the eye. Similarly, when you see someone’s success in school, appreciate the hard work they put into it. Ask with gentle curiosity, “How’s it been for you?” Listen with your full attention that in itself can be a rare gift in today’s hustle and bustle world.
By maintaining your concern and listening to the ways they want to be accompanied and supported — even when it might not be your first instinct — you can see them as a whole person, with complex feelings, very human needs, and inherent dignity.
1. What does the underlined word “backfires” in paragraph 1 refer to?| A．Improves the situation. | B．Shows sincere concern. |
| C．Removes hurtful feelings. | D．Produces an unexpected result. |
| A．Analyzing the phenomenon. | B．Listing another example. |
| C．Presenting the solution. | D．Making a proposal. |
| A．To start a light conversation. |
| B．To focus on one’s inner needs. |
| C．To explore the secret of keeping slim. |
| D．To show appreciation for one’s efforts. |
| A．Say No to the “Right or Wrong” Game |
| B．Why We Need to Make Praises to Others. |
| C．Follow Me and Be a Qualified Therapist |
| D．How Innocent Words can Be Harmful |
3 . Self-confidence is about trusting your judgement and your ability to do something well. It is also about being willing to consider the possibility that you are wrong and change your mind. It is a combination of courage and humility, which leads to open-minded thinking.
·One of the reasons is the home environment where children grow and develop. They may find it difficult to develop self-confidence if their parents are critical or overprotective. Once they fail to fulfill expectations, they may feel bad about themselves and get trapped in the cage of self-doubt.
·
Self-confidence can be improved
·Work on positive thinking. A positive attitude will lead to positive results. Go for it and don’t worry about letting others down.
·Set realistic goals for yourself and visualize yourself achieving these goals.
| A．Instead, try to make up for lost time |
| B．All they expect is that you do your best |
| C．Confidence is built an a sense of accomplishment |
| D．Children spare no effort to satisfy parents’ expectations |
| E．Negative experiences also have a huge impact on self-confidence |
| F．Low self-confidence, in contrast, will make you feel unmotivated |
| G．The reasons for low self-confidence often differ from person to person |
4 . Customer service refers to the way that companies behave towards their customers.
First of all, you need to realize the great value of the customers. It’s they who are the boss, and it, s because of them that you get your pay checks. So do take your customers seriously.
Making customers feel they are important is an excellent way to serve them better.
In addition, there are some other skills which will help you in serving your customers better. For example, once you finish solving the problem for the customers, before ending the call, always remember to ask if there is anything else you can do for them. End the call with a “thank you”. If the customers are angry, let them express their anger completely.
In a word, always remember that if the customers remain happy, you’ll be in business.
| A．Treat customers as individuals. |
| B．Never interrupt or start speaking until they’ve finished. |
| C．You can bring in as many new customers as you want. |
| D．So customer service is important and you should know how to improve it. |
| E．Finding out the needs of the customers is another important customer service tip. |
| F．More companies are finding that their customer service should not be limited to stores. |
| G．It’s the quality of service that determines whether the customer remains with the company. |
5 . Building Up Your Empathy
Empathy is the ability to understand and emotionally engage with others. It is viewed as the fundamental social glue and main psychological mechanism, which enables us to relate to each other, maintain social relations and create a more sympathetic world.
Practice active listening
Listening is one of the most effective ways you can demonstrate empathy to other people. Active listening requires three things. To begin with, paraphrase what the person said to show that you understood the content.
Challenge your prejudices and assumptions
Ask yourself why you think that all poor people are lazy, or all people with mental health issues are dangerous. A lot of assumptions and prejudices are based on misinformation that has become widespread.
Treat people as being important
Recognize that you aren’t the only one living in this world and that you aren’t some superior being.
This means getting a direct experience of another person’s life, the “walk a mile in another person’s shoes” proverb. You don’t have to go quite that far, but consider taking on all the things that your mother does in a day for an entire week. You’ll discover how difficult it is to manage both the home and work, and you’ll have a better appreciation for how much work she has to do. You may even decide to pitch in a bit more.
In conclusion, building up your empathy takes time and effort, but it is worth it. So start practicing today and make a positive impact on the world around you.
| A．Practice experiential empathy |
| B．Leave each person as they are |
| C．Practice gratitude and appreciation |
| D．Take each person as they come |
| E．Reflect on your emotional reaction as well |
| F．However, empathy is not something we are born with |
| G．Educate yourself and listen to the groups that are affected by this misinformation |
6 . 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 toxic 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 ifs not just friends. It’s the in-laws who volunteer to watch your kids but belittle your parenting. The manager who praises your work but denies you a promotion.
Everyone knows how relationships like that can tie your stomach into a knot. But 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.
I had assumed that with a neighbor or a colleague, having some positive interactions was better than all negative interactions. But being cheered on by the same person who cuts you down doesn’t reduce the bad feelings; it increases them. And it’s not just in your head: It leaves a trace in your heart and your blood.
Even a single ambivalent interaction can cause harm. In one experiment, people gave impromptu speeches on controversial 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 strong, but the reasons can be harder to read — just like the relationships themselves.
The most intuitive 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 disrupt 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 upsetting 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 counted as a frenemy?| A．Your neighbour’s kid who advises you to study hard but idles away his own time. |
| B．Your classmate who admires your diligence 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 moderate amount of homework while ensuring adequate sleep. |
| A．Ambivalent relationships have a permanent effect on your well-being. |
| B．The common cause for high blood pressure is ambivalent relationship. |
| C．Ambivalent interactions will be more painful if it is done consciously. |
| D．The negative impact of ambivalent interactions is direct and strong. |
| A．devalue | B．appreciate | C．respect | D．abuse |
| A．Some Negative Relationships Are Bad for Your Health |
| B．Your Most Ambivalent Relationships Are the Most Toxic |
| C．The Reasons for Ambivalent Relationships Are Unpredictable |
| D．Some Positive Relationships Are Better than All Negative Ones |
7 . As our lives become more closely connected with the digital age, it’s more important than ever to keep the spark of human connections, a key part of which is making small talk.
The cornerstone of effective small talk lies in developing genuine interest. Genuine interest is about actively seeking to understand the other person, valuing their perspectives and appreciating the uniqueness they bring to the conversation.
Small talk extends beyond spoken words; it includes the art of observation. As you engage in conversation, pay attention to the speaker’s body language, facial expressions and tone of voice.
Actually listening and connecting with someone is essential for a conversation. By providing your undivided attention, you convey respect and interest in what the other person has to say.
At the heart of successful small talk lies the authenticity (真实性) of your engagement. Authenticity fosters a sense of trust and connection, making the conversation more meaningful and memorable. Avoid the temptation to project an image or use scripted responses.
| A．Instead, let your true self shine through. |
| B．Some accessible topics are great for small talk. |
| C．Active listening involves fully engaging with the speaker. |
| D．Focus on understanding their viewpoints beyond simply hearing words. |
| E．The signals provide valuable insights into their emotions and intentions. |
| F．Small talk may be a gateway to building rich and meaningful relationships. |
| G．By expressing authentic curiosity, you make the other person feel seen and heard. |
8 . Social Masking
Amanda is always an expert at working the room. She would adopt the manner of the people around her to fit in while hiding her true personality. This is social masking, the process of hiding your natural way of interacting with others so you can feel accepted.
In a world that often tells us to just be ourselves, you might wonder why we are still dependent on these social masking behaviors. “Social masking happens because we as a species want to be included,” says Tara. “It has been a tribal thing of being together rather than being on our own, from a historical perspective.
There is a huge difference between naturally identifying with someone and consciously social masking.
| A．Social maskers do not try hard to match other people in pace and tone. |
| B．Social masking is something we all engage in to some extent. |
| C．Social maskers are not trying to fox anyone. |
| D．When we are in natural identification with someone, it happens naturally, and there is very little effort involved. |
| E．It’s adopted by people unable to naturally act in a way considered socially acceptable. |
| F．That is, it’s an ancient part of our evolution to socialize, rather than be anti-social or a misfit. |
9 . If you’re not sure which relationships to prioritize (优先考虑), here are some types of people to keep close.
It’s essential that we can trust the people around us. Honesty is not just about someone refraining from lying or coming forward when they screw up. It’s also about finding a way to tell us truths that we don’t want to hear. It’s important to be around individuals who will call us out when we are wrong or heading down a path that they know is not leading to a destination we want.
People who make space for your emotions. Many people are good at having stimulating conversations but lack the emotional availability needed to make space for how we feel. We all need individuals who respect our feelings understand that sometimes all we need is to be heard.
People who model qualities you admire, understand and accept you, and show up authentically are also valuable.
Let’s remember to apply these criteria to every type of relationship in our life.
| A．People who tell us lies |
| B．People who tell us the truth |
| C．People who encourage and support you |
| D．Find people who are not satisfied with everything you do |
| E．They will sit with us through the hard or painful moments |
| F．Our time is valuable, so spend it with people who deserve it |
| G．Find people who areas happy about your wins as they would be about their own |
10 . When we hurt someone, we may be unwilling to acknowledge our fault and make an apology because it makes us feel guilty, conflicts with our beliefs about being a good person, or means accepting that we’re imperfect human beings. We may want to excuse our behavior and blame the other person, minimizing our role in hurting him or her.
Researchers carried out a study to find out how we can be better at apologizing. In the study, researchers asked 120 college students to recall a time when they’d hurt someone else and the conflict remained unresolved. Then, participants were randomly assigned to either a 15-minute guided mindfulness exercise focusing on their breath and having people think in the present moment or a guided mind-wandering exercise, where they were encouraged to let their minds wander.
Afterward, they were asked to report how much they felt like apologizing to the person versus not apologizing or offering excuses for their behavior. Then, they were asked to write a note to the person, without instructions to apologize or not. In analyzing the notes, the researchers found that participants who had practiced mindfulness were more likely to write statements like “I’m sorry” or “I apologize” in their notes than those who had mind-wandered.
“One way in which we can foster apologies is by having people think in the present moment,” lead author Sana Rizvi says. “We can teach individuals to be mindful of their present states, and it can be done in about 15 minutes.”
Why might this be the case? Rizvi isn’t sure, as there has been very little research on how being more mindful might affect us when we hurt others. Prior research has found that being more mindful helps victims of wrong doing to be more forgiving, and it seems to improve relationships generally.
Mindfulness makes us feel less defensive and, therefore, helps us consider the importance of the other person in the conflict more. It’s encouraging that teaching simple mindfulness techniques (like focused breathing) could increase apologies, especially in places that are often filled with interpersonal conflicts, like workplaces or other occasions. It could help improve interpersonal interactions and repair relationships helping people move more easily from a place of conflict to understanding and forgiveness.
1. What does the author want to convey in Paragraph 1?| A．It is difficult for us to apologize. | B．It is hard to put ideas into action. |
| C．It is normal for us to make mistakes. | D．It is useless to regret what we have done. |
| A．They were bad at handling conflicts. |
| B．They were encouraged to discuss their trouble. |
| C．They did something hurtful to others in the past. |
| D．They received mindfulness training before the study. |
| A．Mind-wandering tended to increase conflicts. |
| B．Mindfulness could help people apologize more. |
| C．College students are more likely to behave responsibly. |
| D．College students seem to have better emotional control. |
| A．It is challenging to carry out. | B．It takes time to prove its effect. |
| C．It solves conflicts once and for all | D．It helps achieve better relationships. |
| A．Necessity of apology. | B．Benefits of mindfulness. |
| C．Apology and mindfulness. | D．Understanding and mindfulness. |
