1 . In the days before air conditioning, a wife and her husband were visiting her parents in a small town. As they were relaxing one day, the wife’s father suggested that they all drive to Abilene for dinner. The son-in-law dreaded the hot drive to a town 53 miles away, but said OK to avoid being a rude guest. The wife and mother-in-law both said it sounded good, so they went off.
Having the not very good food and returning home hot and sweaty, the mother-in-law said they would never have taken the terrible trip if it had been up to her. The son-in-law said that he chose to agree because the others wanted to go. Finally, the father-in-law said he only suggested it because he thought the younger couple might be bored at home.
This story happened to Jerry B. Harvey who later became a university professor. In 1974 he told it in an article entitled, “The Abilene Paradox (悖论): The Management of Agreement”, which shows that sometimes a consensus (一致) of opinion may not lead to achieving the desired result. The Abilene paradox sounds like groupthink. But in fact, groupthink members are voting according to their conscience (是非感) while Abilene “paradoxers” are not.
Going along to get along arises from a desire to avoid conflict and unwillingness to be seen as the “spoiler” who criticizes ideas and plans that others favor. The choice to go against one’s conscience to please the group produces cognitive dissonance (认识失调), and could involve personal risk to relationships or career or both.
The only way for either groupthink or the Abilene paradox in planning or decision-making situations is to avoid agreeing publicly with something you disagree with privately. You can’t control what others in the group do, but at least you can speak up, “I’ll go if everyone else wants to, but I’d be just happy to stay here and relax”.
1. What do we know about the son-in-law?| A．He was good at pleasing others. | B．He didn’t want to take the trip. |
| C．He behaved badly during the visit. | D．He was treated as an honored guest. |
| A．She helped the family make a decision. | B．She suggested taking some food along. |
| C．She had an argument with her family. | D．She made a complaint about the trip. |
| A．It is difficult to make a balance. |
| B．It is impossible to avoid a conflict. |
| C．It is unnecessary to satisfy everyone. |
| D．It is impolite to blame a person publicly. |
| A．A man should find right ways to relax. |
| B．A man should consider others’ ideas deeply. |
| C．A man should actively participate in group discussions. |
| D．A man should express himself directly in decision-making. |
2 . I don’t remember the exact date I met Marty for the first time. Like a lot of people who want to get through a checkout line, I found my thoughts on speed, nothing more. The line I was standing in wasn't moving as quickly as I wanted, and I glanced toward the cashier, who was busy receiving money from customers.
He was an old man in his sixties. I thought, well, it probably took him a little longer to get the jobs done. For the next few minutes I watched him. He greeted every customer before he began scanning the goods they were purchasing. Sure, his words were the usual, “How’s it going?” But he did something different—he actually listened to people. Then he would respond to what they had said and talk with them briefly.
I thought it was strange, but I guessed I had grown accustomed to people asking me how I was doing simply out of a conversation without thinking. Usually, after a while, you don't give any thought to the question and just say something back quietly.
This old cashier seemed sincere about wanting to know how people were feeling. Meanwhile, the high-tech cash register rang up their purchases and he announced what they owed. When customers handed money to him, he pushed the appropriate keys, the cash drawer popped open, and he counted out their change.
Then magic happened.
He placed the change in his left hand, walked around the counter to the customers, and extended his right hand in an act of friendship. As their hands met, the old cashier looked the customers in the eyes. “I want to thank you for shopping here today,” he told them. “You have a great day. Bye-bye.” The looks on the faces of the customers were priceless.
Now it was my turn. I glanced down at the name tag on his red waistcoat, the kind experienced Wal-Mart cashier wore, it read, “Marty.”
Marty told me how much I owed and I handed him some money. The next thing I knew he was standing beside me, offering his right hand and holding my change in his left hand. His kind eyes locked onto mine. Smiling, and with a firm handshake...
1. While the author in the checkout line, she felt ________.| A．Comfortable | B．warm |
| C．impatient | D．embarrassed |
| A．talk about unimportant topics | B．face communication problems |
| C．remain calm while having a talk | D．develop a mindless conversation |
| A．he expressed his sincerity while giving back the change |
| B．He spent as much time as possible serving customers |
| C．he was patient with all the questions from customers |
| D．he showed particular interest in customers' personal life |
| A．Marty was a talkative man. |
| B．Marty cared a lot about what he did. |
| C．The author failed to get along well with others. |
| D．The author was dissatisfied with such a waste of time. |
3 . We should show respect to everybody, especially our elders because they are ahead of us—in age, in wisdom and maturity, in experience and education. Our
When we
It is
With changing times and
If there is no space on sofas or chairs, children will immediately give up their places, and sit on the carpet. In buses and trains, youngsters are
When you do simple things as a mark of respect, elders become aware that youngsters care for them, and they respond with affection and kindness.
1.| A．youngsters | B．parents | C．elders | D．juniors |
| A．show | B．explain | C．exhibit | D．point |
| A．receiving | B．greeting | C．declaring | D．showing |
| A．expressing | B．describing | C．sending | D．suggesting |
| A．experiencing with | B．going through | C．suffering from | D．worrying out |
| A．maybe | B．likely | C．possible | D．probably |
| A．quarreled | B．dealt | C．lived | D．disagreed |
| A．experience | B．reality | C．emotion | D．information |
| A．cultural | B．special | C．environmental | D．position |
| A．silently | B．loudly | C．quietly | D．coldly |
| A．rise | B．raise | C．support | D．force |
| A．expected | B．forced | C．needed | D．reminded |
| A．doubt | B．question | C．wonder | D．challenge |
| A．suffering | B．discomfort | C．trouble | D．upset |
| A．serious | B．light | C．slight | D．heavy |
4 . Chimpanzees (黑猩猩）enjoy watching movies together, scientists have discovered, in research that suggests social bonding through shared experience has deep evolutionary roots.
It is widely known that humans can bond over group activities such as watching a movie or playing board games. But it has been unclear whether the underlying psychology behind this effect is present in other species.
In the research, chimpanzees were placed in pairs and shown a short video. The researchers then measured how long it took them to approach their partners, how close they got and how long they remained in proximity (靠近）－two measures of social bonding.
Chimpanzees who had viewed the video with either another of their own species or a human approached their partner faster or spent longer in proximity to them, compared with those who had watched the video on their own, the scientists found.
The finding indicates that social bonding created by shared experience may have deeper evolutionary roots than previously thought.
“Animals can stand together and watch a waterfall, but they don't seem to seek out those kinds of experiences," said Wolf, an author on the study. “So for a long time we thought they weren't capable of processing that way or they weren't feeling any psychological consequences from doing so.
“It's exciting that at least some parts of the psychology that we need to connect through shared experiences may actually have a slightly older evolutionary history than previously suspected.”
The animals were tracked for only three minutes after they had watched the film, so it is not clear whether shared experiences strengthen social bonds in the long term. The research used animals in captivity (圈养），and scientists said it was not known whether the same effects would be observed in the wild.
1. What does the underlined part in Paragraph 2 mean?| A．Experiencing social bonds. |
| B．Sharing evolutionary roots. |
| C．Humans bonding over group activities. |
| D．Chimpanzees watching movies together. |
| A．By making a comparison. |
| B．By introducing a concept. |
| C．By using an expert's words. |
| D．By referring to another study. |
| A．Imperfect. |
| B．Encouraging. |
| C．Groundless. |
| D．Doubtful. |
| A．Approaches to future studies. |
| B．New perceptions of other scientists. |
| C．The aspects which need further tests. |
| D．The application of the research findings. |
5 . Improve Your Relationships
Having stable and positive relationships in your life can make you happier and more fulfilled. Whether it's your friends, family, or significant other, improving a relationship can sometimes be confusing.
Express your appreciation for the person.
If you hardly see each other or talk to each other, it can be difficult to maintain a relationship. Take extra time out of your day and devote it to the person that you want to improve relations with. Try to work around the other person's schedule so that you can spend the time together. You can share a meal, watch a show, listen to music, or go shopping with them.
Turn off distractions.
Distractions like a cell phone, social media, or video games can create a division in between you and another person. If you notice that you are always distracted, you should turn off your cell phone or computer and talk to them.
Seek therapy(心理治疗) if you can't get along.
To fix or improve family relationships or relationships with your significant other, you can turn to therapy. If you notice that you and the person are always arguing over the same kinds of things, and nothing has worked, you should consider seeking therapy with them.
| A．Spend more time with the person. |
| B．Maintain a relationship if possible. |
| C．People often like to be praised for achievements. |
| D．A specialist can help solve longterm issues in the relationship. |
| E．If they are the one always distracted, ask them if they can do the same. |
| F．Follow the tips and you can develop good relationships with your family. |
| G．Luckily, by adjusting your behaviour, you can improve any relationship in your life. |
6 . 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.
1. What’s the function of the first paragraph?| A．To lead to the topic. |
| B．To highlight the importance of the study. |
| C．To recommend a journal. |
| D．To persuade people to give gifts regularly. |
| A．To challenge the past research. |
| B．To rule out different experimental data. |
| C．To show the benefits of donation. |
| D．To make the conclusion more convincing. |
| A．Develop. | B．Show. | C．Reduce. | D．Lack. |
| A．Gift giving will result in longer happiness than receiving. |
| B．Thinking longer and harder on giving will promote higher happiness. |
| C．The feeling of happiness will disappear soon if people just give holiday gifts. |
| D．Taking a break from what were currently consuming will sustain happiness. |
7 . When most of us get a text message on our cell phone from an unknown person,we usually say＂sorry,wrong number!" and move on. But when Dennis Williams
＂Congratulations!But I think someone was mistaken,"Dennis
Much to the family's surprise, Dennis stuck to his
Teresa posted a photo of the chance meeting on a social networking website
| A．polished | B．translated | C．viewed | D．received |
| A．familiar | B．practical | C．special | D．urgent |
| A．reminding | B．informing | C．convincing | D．impressing |
| A．predicted | B．interrupted | C．responded | D．repeated |
| A．passing down | B．setting out | C．coming in | D．moving around |
| A．excitement | B．anxiety | C．opinion | D．effort |
| A．accept | B．bother | C．believe | D．know |
| A．patients | B．doctors | C．parents | D．visitors |
| A．dream | B．principle | C．schedule | D．promise |
| A．opening | B．collecting | C．bearing | D．making |
| A．appreciate | B．need | C．admit | D．expect |
| A．confirmed | B．accompanied | C．clarified | D．simplified |
| A．coincidence | B．problem | C．relief | D．blessing |
| A．sweet | B．calm | C．smart | D．fair |
| A．sympathy | B．trust | C．control | D．attention |
8 . Psychologists have long believed that human beings have a fairly consistent “negativity bias（消极偏见）” that leads us to pay more attention to negative thoughts, feelings and events than to positive ones.
Practice Positivity. Like your muscles, your thought patterns respond to how they are used and exercised. You don't have to erase the negativity bias from your mind.
Ask for Positive Reminders. Get in the habit of checking in with people who are with you when goodness finds you today. Mention to them, “That is an unexpected bit of praise from the boss, isn't it?”
| A．Try the following suggested ideas. |
| B．Redefine negativity as an opportunity. |
| C．Instead, practice your positive lifestyle. |
| D．Its negative influence can never be avoided. |
| E．Why and how does this phenomenon happen? |
| F．How do you handle it as you try to live with more positivity? |
| G．Asking others to confirm your positive insights can facilitate your positivity. |
9 . Even with wonderful friends, family and a partner, I don't always want to be surrounded by people. “Table for one? Or will someone else be joining you?” A dinner reservation for one person never fails to raise a few eyebrows. I actively choose to spend time alone when possible. But not everyone has the luxury of choosing to be alone, of course, many are forced into one-on-one time because they have no one.
But for those of us who spend our days surrounded by colleagues in the workplace, our evenings and weekends with family, friends and partners, all the while being constantly bombarded by WhatsApp,social media and email, time to ourselves can be a rare treat. Time to yourself not only gives you the chance to do practical things you don't normally get round to but also the activities your pals don't want to do. In a less real way, spending time alone also allows-or perhaps forces- you to sit with your own thoughts, to think about things that might normally be drowned out by conversation and the noise of companionship. When you're alone you get time to think without purpose.
It is worth noting that I'm a real introvert(性格内向者）,so perhaps sitting alone with my thoughts-refilling my energy reserves-might just be indulging personality traits that others don't have. But I believe more people could benefit from it.
Given this constant social conditioning since childhood that we should be surrounded by people , it's no wonder many hesitate to press forward at the idea of spending time alone-a sign we've failed at climbing that social ladder. And if you're an extrovert who gets their energy from other people, this must be even harder. But as someone who has come to love spending time alone, even when there are many wonderful souls in my life I can spend time with, I wish more people would give solo a go.
Reservation for one, please.
1. What can we learn from the first paragraph?| A．The author wants to be alone all the time. |
| B．The author feels bored with family and friends. |
| C．Surrounded by people, the author still feels lonely. |
| D．Reserving a table for one will draw disapproving looks. |
| A．The benefits of alone time. |
| B．The weaknesses of social media. |
| C．The definition of being alone. |
| D．The ways of spending time alone. |
| A．By eating delicious food. |
| B．By reflecting on their own thoughts. |
| C．By socializing with others. |
| D．By reading their favourite books. |
| A．quote others' words |
| B．answer the waiter's question |
| C．excite the readers' appetite |
| D．stress the author's determination |
If you're invited to an American friend's home for dinner, keep
First of all, arrive approximately on time (but not early).
When you're invited to someone's home for a meal,
Wearing proper clothes and
Don't leave
