1 . Trying to find the perfect present is about as easy as trying to read someone’s mind. Few people will actually tell you what they want for a special occasion. So what to do? Here are some tips that could help.

Start Early

Be honest-do you wait until the last minute to start looking for presents? While you are definitely not alone in this ritual, it is something you might want to try to change. Starting your shopping early can have a number of advantages, particularly when stocking up for holidays such as Christmas. If you plan in advance rather than last minute you can go shopping online which increases your gift buying possibilities as you’ll have time to factor in the delivery of the gift.

Make a List, Check It Twice

Now is the time to put your thinking cap on as you make a list. If you are lucky, you should be able to find a few good ideas in one of these lists. However, what if this list isn’t as helpful as you might have hoped? In this instance, write down different personality traits of the person you are shopping for. Then try to determine how to use this information to find a gift that is perfectly suited to them.

Think Outside the Box

If you are still coming up empty, it is time to get creative. Often, the reason you get stuck for gift ideas is because you are restricting yourself too much. An example of being creative is to think about what your friend’s office looks like. This can give you lots of ideas to give him a gift for his workspace. In the end, it’s about finding something he can use every day, something he can really appreciate.

Gift an Experience

If a regular old present isn’t doing the trick, it may be time to think a little bigger. Instead of a physical gift, you can give someone an experience that they will never forget. You may be wondering what an “experience” means exactly. Well, it can be anything that will interest the recipient. If they are an adventurer, a local or foreign trip will be excellent. On the other hand, if they are a sports enthusiast, you can buy them tickets to a significant game.

1. What does the underlined sentence in paragraph 2 mean?

A．Many people make a plan in advance.

B．You have many friends who do the same.

C．People tend to send gifts earlier than planned.

D．Other people also buy presents at the last moment.

2. What can be done if you find your list of little help in choosing a gift?

A．Listing the character features of your friends.

B．Thinking it over before making a decision.

C．Asking your friends what they like best.

D．Doing shopping with your friends.

3. What do we know about Think Outside the Box?

A．Presents should be unique and special.

B．Practical presents can be a good option.

C．Offices are usually designed for creation.

D．Appreciation could be shown through gifts.

4. According to the last paragraph, which can be the best gift idea for a photographer?

A．Dining in a Michelin-starred restaurant.

B．Visiting a science museum in your town.

C．Buying a smart phone with an advanced camera.

D．Taking a trip to Mount Tai in the coming summer.

5. What is the purpose of the passage?

A．To show the significance of pleasing friends.

B．To offer some tips on buying friends presents.

C．To suggest several ways on how to make friends.

D．To stress the importance of buying gifts for friends.

2 . Whether we’re making small talk with a waiter, or meeting up with a close friend, we may hope to make a connection, only to leave the conversation feeling that our minds have failed to meet.     1    .

Ask questions

If you want to have a meaningful dialogue with someone, then you should make the effort to ask some questions.     2    . A follow-up that requires more information about a previous point is more appealing than a “switch” that changes topic, or a “mirror” that simply copies what someone has already asked you.

Be cautious about empathy(同理心)

We are often told to place ourselves in other people’s shoes. But our empathy is rarely as accurate as we think it is.     3    . “It’s when I’m using my own experience, my own mental states, as a representative of yours,” says Nicholas Epley, a professor of behavioural science. “And we fail to differentiate sufficiently between the two.” In general, it’s far better to ask someone what they actually think and feel than trying to guess it.

Favor familiarity over originality

    4    ? The drawback of novelty arises from the “informational gaps” in our conversation. If we are talking about something completely new, our audience may not have enough knowledge to understand everything that we are saying. If we are talking about something already familiar to our audience, however, the listeners can fill in those gaps themselves.

Don't be afraid to go deep

This need for common ground should not limit our conversation to dull small talk.     5    . And most people appreciate the chance to explore their innermost thoughts and feelings, even if they are talking to perfect strangers.

When practicing each of these steps, you should always remain conscious of the other person’s mood and comfort. With a little strategy, sensitivity and a genuine interest in the people around you, you may often find that greater social connection is easily within your reach.

A．One reason for this is being self-centered

B．But not all questions are equally appealing

C．If this rings true for you, help may be at hand

D．How about our choices for the topic of conversation

E．That will make us become a considerate and sympathetic person

F．Why do people tend to talk with each other about the things they both like

G．On the contrary, many shared human experiences can be incredibly meaningful

3 . Criticism is harmful to healthy relationships.     1     First, work on changing your own behavior. Then, find effective ways to communicate if someone bothers you.

Changing Your Behavior

●Think before you speak.     2     Sometimes, it’s best to let small indiscretions (轻率的行为) go. Try taking a few deep breaths and leaving the room instead of criticizing.

●Separate the individual from their actions. If you work on separating the person from the action, you may naturally want to criticize less. As you realize you cannot judge a person’s character based on a single choice or decision, you will be unable to call someone out for being rude or disrespectful.

●Focus on positives. Oftentimes, being critical results from how you’re choosing to see a situation. Everyone has shortcomings. However, the vast majority of people have good qualities that outweigh bad ones.     3    

Communicating More Effectively

●    4     Some people have issues that may need addressing. However, feedback is very different from criticism. When addressing an issue, focus on suggestions you can make to help another person improve, which is more effective than criticizing.

●Ask for what you want directly. Inefficient communication often results in heavy criticism.     5     Make sure to ask for what you want in a direct, respectful manner. This will eliminate (消除) the need for criticism.

●Consider the other party’s perspective. If you criticize others too often, you may be shutting out the other person’s point of view. Try to step in another person’s shoes before criticizing and you may get some new and special ideas.

A．Give feedback rather than criticism.

B．However, there are ways to avoid criticism.

C．Try to focus on a person’s positive qualities over their negative ones.

D．If you find yourself making assumptions about a person’s character, stop yourself.

E．If you’re not telling someone what you want, that person cannot be expected to know.

F．Criticism should, ideally, be working towards an effective solution to a negative situation.

G．When you want to dish out criticism, pause and consider whether you really need to say anything.

4 . “There is nothing noble (高尚的) in being superior (优秀的) to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.” —— Ernest Hemingway

As Hemingway says, self-improvement is a noble cause.     1     Much of who we are is determined by how we relate with others around us. When we seek to improve ourselves, we can also make our relationships with others better.

    2     If you have a good self-image, then others are likely to relate to you in a positive way. When people see a self-controlled and confident individual, they are likely to be affected in a positive way. And this can result in a more optimistic and constructive relationship.

Only when you have accepted who you are can you grow. If you continuously fight against yourself, you won’t have the emotional energy you need to better yourself. If you wish to get on with people better, then you may start by accepting yourself.     3    

If you are on a personal path that is going upwards, then you are likely to find a friend or partner who is also seeking to better themselves and their circumstances.     4    

Focusing on your good qualities and attempting to protect and improve these characteristics will help you become a better person.     5     When you stop damaging who you are, you are likely to avoid ruining relationships and this can lead to longer and more meaningful connections with others.

A．Like-minded people attract one another.

B．When you feel confident, you keep calm.

C．It will also stop you from damaging yourself.

D．The way you view yourself affects how others view you.

E．This will probably help you become a successful person.

F．People like to be around individuals who like and accept themselves.

G．It can help us learn about who we are and enable us to be better people.

5 . Tips for Submitting a Good Letter of Recommendation

If you consider applying for any colleges abroad, one of the most important parts is the recommendation letter. Its purpose is to give universities a complete picture of you.

    1    

But a credible (可信的) reference saying you’ve consistently worked hard on a project can be the difference between getting accepted or rejected.

Choose the right references

Universities want to know how well you work under pressure and how you react to criticism, basically your characteristics, abilities and mentality. A good referee (推荐人) should have a solid professional relationship with you and be able to communicate your academic and personal strengths.

    2    

Most universities ask for two recommendation letters. They are regularly split between a school professor and an extracurricular (课外的) source. Undoubtedly, it’s good to show your skills in the subject you want to study.     3    

Time

Professionals can sometimes find it hard to make time for writing recommendations.     4     So give them plenty of time and send them a link of your university’s recommendation letter guidance page, if possible.

Clear goals

Don’t be afraid to ask your referees to include certain qualities or examples you want to highlight. You should inform at least one of your referees about your career goals, grades and recent projects. They may not be referenced. But giving referees additional evidence to back up their points can make the letter more convincing.

    5     It’s where you can find what a university lays stress on, as well as some important information such as deadlines and so on.

A．Make sure to know more about your university.

B．You can write that you’re hard-working yourself.

C．They can be quite occupied during application season.

D．The more information you include, the better it may be.

E．Don’t forget to check each university’s guidelines for reference letters.

F．Examples of how you have demonstrated them are needed to add more credibility.

G．But other abilities that may not be apparent in the classroom can be equally valuable.