1 . When you set a foot outside of your door to drop trash, go to a social event or go for a walk, thoughts like “I hope I don’t see anyone I know” or “please don’t talk to me” may run through your mind. I’ve also said such things to myself. Sometimes the last thing you want to do is to talk with someone, especially someone new.

Why do we go out of our ways to avoid people? Do we think meeting new people is a waste of time? Or are we just lazy, thinking that meeting someone new really is a trouble?

Communication is the key to life. We have been told that many times. Take the past generations, like our parents, for example. They seem to take full advantage of that whole “communication” idea because they grew up talking face to face while Generation-Y grew up staring at screens. We spend hours of our days sitting on Facebook. We send messages to our friends and think about all of the things we want to say to certain people that we don’t have the courage to do in reality.

Nowadays, we are so caught up in our little circle of friends—our comfort zone. We love it that they laugh at our jokes, understand our feelings and can read our minds. Most importantly, they know when we want to be alone. They just get us.

Holding a conversation with someone new means agreeing with things that you don’t really believe and being someone you think they want you to be—it is, as I said before, a trouble. It takes up so much energy, and at some point or another, it is too tiring.

But meeting new people is important. Life is too short, so meet all the people you can meet, make the effort to go out and laugh. Remember, every “hello” leads to a smile—and a smile is worth a lot.

1. What do we learn about the author?

A．He likes to meet someone new.	B．He feels stressed out lately.
C．He’s active in attending social events.	D．He used to be afraid of talking to others.

2. What’s the problem of Generation-Y in the author’s eyes?

A．They rely on the Internet to socialize.	B．They are less confident in themselves.
C．They have difficulty in communicating.	D．They are unwilling to make new friends.

3. Why do many young people avoid meeting new people?

A．They think it troublesome.	B．They are busy with their study.
C．They fear to disappoint their friends.	D．They want to do meaningful work.

4. Why does the author write the text?

A．To stress the importance of friends.

B．To give tips on how to meet new people.

C．To encourage people to meet new people.

D．To display the disadvantages of Generation-Y.

2 . 假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（/\）， 并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（\）划掉。
修改：在错的词下画一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：
1. 每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2. 只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。

It was Sunday. I was doing housework while someone knocked at the door. It was a milkman who sent a bottle of milk. But I didn’t order them. Feeling confused, I noticed a note stick to it. The note says “Dear neighbor, I’m sorry about a noise made by our decoration that will last for three days. The bottle of milk is given to you as a gift show our apology.”

The next day, everyone in the neighborhood were talking about the milk and our coming neighbor. With the decoration being finished, the family finally moved into the neighborhood. People came to help. I was deep touched by this scene which was full on consideration and appreciation.

3 . Everyone can benefit from better communication.     1    . Of course, we know that isn’t true, but this shouldn’t stop you improving you communication skills. Here are a few tips to help you become a better communicator.

    2    

Verbal language is only one aspect of the communication—body language is another aspect. If you ever wanted to know how to tell if someone is lying, body language is the answer. Your body language tells other people what you aren’t verbally saying, such as if you are anxious, confident, confused, angry or any other type of emotion or state of mind. If you become great at reading body language,it will help you become a better communicator.

Listen to others

Before you ever begin to speak, take a minute to see if anyone else has something to say.     3     Listening to others has many benefits, such as allowing you to learn new things or get information that you may later need.

Think before you speak

You parents probably told you this as a child, but many people still do not take a moment to think about the words they are about to say.     4    . There is a time and place for all words and tones of voice.

    5    You will have to practice your communication skills before you can ever become an excellent communicator.

A．This is not and over-night thing.

B．Singing a song for them is good.

C．Become fluent in body language

D．Don’t try to make the conversation go your way.

E．You should decide what you want to get in any conversation before you choose your words.

F．If you are too anxious, you can’t find the right body language to use in the communication.

G．In fact, if everybody were excellent communicators, the world would be a much better place.

4 . Eyes can speak

Much meaning can be conveyed, clearly, with our eyes, so it is often said that eyes can speak.     1    In a bus you may look at a stranger, but not for too long. And if he senses that you are staring at him, he may feel uncomfortable.

The same is true in our daily life. If you are stared at for more than necessary, you will look at yourself up and down to see if there is anything wrong with you.     2    Eyes do speak, right?

Looking too long at someone may seem to be rude and aggressive.     3    If a man stares at a woman for more than 10 seconds and refuses to look away from her, his intentions are obvious. He wishes to attract her attention and let her know that he is admiring her.

However, when two people are engaged in a conversation, the speaker will only look into the listener’s eyes from time to time to make sure that the listener does pay attention to what the former is speaking.     4    If a speaker looks at you continuously when speaking as if trying to control you, you will feel awkward. A poor liar usually exposes himself by looking too long at the victim. He wrongly believes that looking straight in the eye is a sign of honest communication.     5    

Actually, eye contact should be made based on specific relationships and situations.

A．That’s what normal eye contact is all about.

B．But things are different when it comes to staring at the opposite sex

C．Therefore, continuous eye contact is limited to lovers only.

D．On the contrary, it will give him away.

E．After all, nobody likes to be stared at for quite a long time.

F．Do you have such kind of experience?

G．If nothing goes wrong, you will feel annoyed at being stared at that way.

5 . Quite often, no matter how good you are, your success is dependent on how other people such as your boss, peers, clients and customers perceive your communication and responses. So when you come to people who make the key difference between helping you or holding you back, how can you influence and persuade them to give what you want?

Psychological researches repeatedly show that people generally make up their minds on whether to help or hinder you based on whether they like you or not. It is human nature. What can you do about it? You need to make a good impression on others to ensure they like you and give you what you want. Research again shows that people give opportunities to the people they like best. In fact, most people actually make up their minds about other people in the first five minutes or less of meeting someone. These are called first impressions or “moments of truth” .

Once they make up their minds, they tend to be very reluctant to change their opinions. You hardly have room for error when making that first impression on a new acquaintance. Therefore, whether you are applying for a job, going for an interview, attending a meeting with your boss or peers, or serving a customer, you need to prepare yourself mentally and rehearse how you will manage the first few minutes of your interaction. This includes doing your homework to gather information and researching all possible issues so you will know how to address them should the other party raise them unexpectedly.

It is amazing how poorly some people can come across at the beginning. The worst thing is that they do not even seem to realize it. Having good qualifications and an excellent work performance does not excuse candidates from trying to make a good first impression.

1. What is the passage mainly about?

A．Persuading people to like you.	B．People making the key difference.
C．Winning strategies for a job interview.	D．Making a good first impression.

2. Which is the way people tend to decide whether to like other people or not?

A．They make quick decisions.

B．They change their opinions frequently.

C．They prefer people who are experienced.

D．They pay much attention to good qualifications.

3. Which of the following strategies might help in an interview?

A．Show your friendliness and confidence.

B．Ask the interviewers for homework to do.

C．Know as much as possible about the situation.

D．Do something unexpected to impress interviewers.

4. What will probably be talked about in the next part of the passage?

A．Examples of how good first impressions help people succeed.

B．Some practical advice to help make a good first impression.

C．Questions that might be asked by the interviewers.

D．How to win over people who don't like you at first.

6 . 阅读下面材料， 在空白处填入适当的内容（不多于3个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。

Have you ever been too shy to express thanks towards someone? Well, a new study says you should not worry about that so much.

Recently, researchers have published a study on how people gave and     1    (receive) letters of thanks.     2    they found was that expressing and receiving appreciation increased     3     (happy) for both sides, but people's self-consciousness ( 自我意识 ) often made     4    less possible for them to express their appreciation.

In the experiments, the researchers asked     5    (hundred) of participants to write an email to someone close to them     6    (express) their appreciation and giving     7    specific example of how that person made their lives better.

The writers often underestimated ( 低估 ) the positive effect that the emails would have     8    the receivers. They thought that the receivers would feel     9    (awkward) and uncomfortable over the letters than they actually were. Contrary to the writers' belief, the receivers were thankful, warm and understanding.

So next time you feel hesitant about expressing your appreciation for others, remember that it will most     10    (probable) go a lot better than you think.

7 . 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。

Last week I     1    (take) on a difficult task of showing kindness. The idea came from a few posts on a website. I decided     2     (reach) out to a few people I hadn’t talked to for the past few years.

One was a cousin,     3     I had lost touch with for 25 years. She was very happy when we got     4     touch. The other two were friends I hadn’t talked to in nearly 10 years. It was really good to talk to     5     (they) both.

With one of them, I reached out at a great time for him. He had forgotten my name     6    (entire) but remembered I disliked     7    (run) when young because I had asthma（哮喘）. He was grateful that I called him and said some very kind     8     (thing) to me about our past. I am glad our friendship mattered to him.

I think     9     is good to be the one to take the initiative（主动性）to be kind and reach out. Even if it seems difficult at the time, in the end it offers     10     (wonder) rewards!

8 . Every parent has experienced the mixed bag of emotions when it comes to their kids being invited to their friends’ birthday parties.     1    . On the other hand, keeping up with purchasing gifts can really add up.

The newest birthday party trend is here to change that dilemma.     2    . The way it works is that rather than everyone bringing a gift that your child may or may not like, each guest brings a mere $5 instead. At the end of the day, your kid can pool up all of the cash and then choose their own gift, which will end up being something they actually want and will play with. This is a win for both you and your child.

    3    . First they don’t have to spend $20 and their spare time running to a toy store to try to figure out what another child may or may not want as a birthday gift. It also helps avoid the situation where a parent has to explain to their child why they cannot buy a toy since it is no this or her birthday. This can get pretty tiresome.

If your child is constantly invited to birthday parties, the costs can really add up. By cutting down the cost, parents can save a lot of money. By cutting down on the number of toys, it is both environmentally friendly and teaches children that value of owning thigs that they actually want and need, rather than be surrounded by a sea of $20 toys they will never touch.     4    

Another benefit is that it evens out the playing field.     5     Some people may be able to afford more expensive than others, but the “Fiver Party” ensures that nobody feels left out or bad about their financial situation.

This new trend lets kids be kids and allows them to focus on the real purpose of the birthday party: having fun with their friends.

A．Many gifts may end up lying around your house untouched.

B．This is also a win for all of the parents whose kids are invited to the party.

C．The “Fiver Party” might be a brilliant solution to this very problem.

D．This practical approach reduces waste and overconsumption.

E．The “Fiver Party” takes the guesswork out of trying to purchase the perfect gift.

F．On one hand, they’re happy because their child is being included and has an active social life.

G．Every child brings the same exact gift without worrying about whether their gift was “good enough”.

9 . Living together with other students may be a wonderful experience for you. If you can deal with it well, you and your roommates will probably enjoy a happy life and even build a lifelong friendship.     1    

Choose your roommates carefully if you are given permission. Combining the living spaces of several students into one location can be an exciting and beneficial experience for the outgoing students.     2    

Divide the bills equally. Some students are far less responsible than their roommates.     3     Resentment is quick to build when everyone has to pay the bill for a fellow student who can't seem to pay his share of the money.

Carry your part of the load. Everyone has to clean the bathroom and the kitchen sometimes. Don't avoid your part of responsibility. Student accommodation can get messy and it involves everyone to keep tidy and healthy.

    4     Put your roommates' interests above your own. Life will be far more enjoyable when everyone is concerned about the feelings, property, and studies of each other.

Be open and honest. Hostility between roommates may cause problems that can't be fixed. Everyone brings different standards and expectations to group living.     5     Disagreements can be managed when you are willing to both be open and listen to others.

A．They tend to let their part of the finance slide.

B．Here are a few tips for student accommodation.

C．It is quite easy to get along with outgoing students.

D．Think about someone else before you think about yourself.

E．It's in everyone's best interest to put them into the open.

F．If you are on the shy side, or prefer a quiet group, pick quieter roommates.

G．Telling a lie or saying rude words to your roommates may hurt their feelings.

10 . 阅读下面短文，根据短文内容在答题卡相应题号后的横线上写下相关信息，完成对该问题的回答。

Living by the Rules

Almost every community in the real world has some form of rules. A community is a group of people who are united by a number of factors, including geography, language, and values that dictate acceptable behavior. So why do we have rules, and what makes people follow them?

Studies have suggested that the reason we don’t like cheating and rule-breaking is because fairness is programmed into our brains. Tricomi et al (2010) have found that the brain reacts in a particular way when we feel we are being treated unfairly. The study identified a reaction in a specific part of the brain when test subjects were given less money than others. A fair situation makes our brains respond in ways that lead to feelings of comfort and even happiness, but unfairness causes our brains to respond with negative feelings such as anger and pain. The study found that this also happened when subjects saw other people being treated unfairly. They concluded that fairness is a basic human need along with food and social contact.

Our sense of fairness depends on the influences in our culture, the situation we are in, and our own self-interest. If we have a feeling of fairness, it means that we consider different points of view. Regardless of the disagreement, people almost always need to compromise. But it can be difficult to arrive at a compromise when there are conflicting interests. This is why communities have rules that everyone must follow.

Social controls are an important factor in setting and following rules. They influence the way we behave, and can be internal or external. Internal controls come from within and are based on our values and fears. Most of us don’t steal, for example, because we believe that theft is wrong. External controls include rewards and punishments. They do not come from within but are implemented by an authority. Rewards are designed to encourage people to act in the interest of the whole community, while punishments can prevent people from acting against the community’s best interests, regardless of their values.

People need their communities to function smoothly. Because of this, humans most often behave in orderly and fair ways. If there were no rules, the majority of people would probably continue to interact positively, like the subjects in the online avatar study. However, there would always be a minority who would not, with serious consequences. This is why a society without rules is unlikely to become a reality any time soon—at least not in the real world.

1. What is the passage mainly about?
2. Why do researchers believe that fairness is a basic human need?
3. What is the difference between internal controls and external controls?
4. Would you like to live in a community with no rules? Why or why not? (about 40 words)