1 . If you just want to come up with a fun idea that will generate enthusiasm for your community group, we have five worthy suggestions.

●    1    

Getting all your neighbors together for an afternoon or an evening on weekends can help you develop more than a nodding acquaintance with them. This is a bit simple, but things like picking a location, sending out invitations and arranging for food follow pretty organically once you start setting up strategy.

●Hold a hobby show

    2    , from face painting to woodcarving, and most are willing to share their works. From conducting a cooking contest in the public kitchen to putting on a dance show, there are hundreds of ways that you can make your neighbors show their hobbies.

●Host a nature walk

Hosting a nature walk around a neighborhood park is a good way to educate the community about green practices and conservation.    3    . In this activity neighbors actively join in the identification of the trees, birds, insects, and other wildlife you share space with.

●Hold a pumpkin painting contest

In fall, pumpkin carving is a big contest. This year, instead of slicing those orange globes into scary shapes, hold a kid-focused pumpkin decorating day.    4    . For the grownups, prepare a couple of face painting booths and let a professional to help.

●Have a treasure hunt

A treasure hunt gets people thinking creatively and actively engaged in the hunt. We really love this idea because it can be an indoor or outdoor activity, so it’s a year-round option. All you need is some gifts, a hiding place and mysterious clues. You just place a flag where the treasure should be.    5    .

A．Throw a community party

B．Everyone has a personal interest

C．Turn to neighbors in your community

D．It also helps identify some regional creatures

E．The carving contest is more suitable for grownups

F．The winner can use it to claim his prize and get the glory

G．Kids can become pumpkin reinvention masters with adults’ help

2 . Are you an agreeable person— you know, a nice guy? If so, a logical follow-up might be: How are your finances? And here’s why: Agreeable people have lower savings, they have higher debts, and they’re also more likely to go bankrupt or default (违约) on their loans.

Sandra Matz is a computational social scientist at the Columbia Business School. And using a combination of questionnaires and bank data, she and her colleague found that people who scored as more agreeable on personality tests had a better chance of ending up in terrible financial crisis—especially if they were low-income to begin with.

The researchers also combined personality data on millions of people in the US and the UK with regional data on how many people were unable to pay their debts. And they found again, that the nicer a county or local area’s people on average, the worse their finances. Sandra thinks a factor could be that agreeable people just don’t care much about money. Maybe they pick up the tab (账单) more often, or loan money when they can’t afford to. They’re generous to a fault.

So how do you get them to wise up? We can say, “Don’t care about money just for yourself, but care about it for the people you love. Because if you manage your money badly, it’s not just going to affect you, but it’s also going to affect all the people you care about, and that you love deeply. “ This might translate agreeable people’s superpower —caring about other people— into better financial sense.

So if Sandra does succeed in teaching nice people to be stingy, who then will pick up the tab? Then it’s a matter of negotiating, right? So if the agreeable person says, “I can’t pay all the time, I only want to do that once in a while, but I also want you to give something back. ” That might mean agreeable people need to get a little more comfortable having unpleasant conversations.

1. What did Sandra and her colleague find in their research?

A．Kind people had more friends.

B．Agreeable people were low-income.

C．Friendly people were rewarded by others.

D．Nice people had more financial problems.

2. What does Sandra think of the agreeable people?

A．They never attach importance to their money.

B．They tend to lend money to others very often.

C．They are too generous regardless of their money.

D．They earn less money than their friends and neighbors.

3. Which of the following can replace the word “stingy” in the last paragraph?

A．mean

B．rigid

C．greedy

D．sharp

4. Where is the text probably taken?

A．A social report.

B．A travel advertisement.

C．A biology interview.

D．A personal biography.

3 . Four Qualities That Make You Attractive to Others

There is something many people gets wrong about attraction.     1     The reality is that attraction usually has more to do with personality characteristics than appearance. What follows are four qualities that can make you highly attractive to others.

Have control over your emotions(情绪). It’s not easy to always have control over your emotions. And people who do are extremely attractive. Have control over your emotions so that your emotions don’t control you. Allow yourself to think about what you’re going to say.     2    

Laugh at yourself. It’s not what happens to us that makes us feel stressed.     3     Every time you laugh at yourself, you decide to minimize something that could affect you negatively. Laughing at yourself is an attractive quality, as it means you don’t take yourself too seriously.

    4     When you show your warmth, people see you as respectful and friendly. Also, they see you as someone approachable. A warm person says hello to and cares about you after your long and tough day. This quality is important for you to build meaningful relationships.

Give plenty of space. The secret to long-lasting relationships is space, because time apart helps each partner recharge and bring positive energy into the relationship.     5     They don’t let others breathe. Instead, those who let others have their space when they need it are extremely attractive.

A．Be warm.

B．Controlling people are unattractive.

C．Don’t be too quick to show warmth.

D．It’s how we react to it that affects us.

E．They should develop a sense of humor.

F．Take your time to cool down and reorganize your thoughts.

G．They think they have to look beautiful to be accepted by others.

4 . How to Politely Cancel Plans

Imagine you have made plans with a friend, but you just don’t have the energy when leaving the house. Or maybe something else comes up, and you actually can’t make it.     1     But with the following tips, you can gracefully cancel your plan without feeling guilty.

Text them as soon as possible. If you know you’re not going to be able to make it or you’re just not feeling like it, keep your friends informed with the least delay.     2     Other-wise, your friends might be disappointed about the inconvenience, especially if they set aside time specifically to see you.

    3     If you’re canceling a date with someone, tell your friends how much you’re looking forward to seeing them. When you start with something nice, your friends will know how much you really appreciate them and that canceling the plans isn’t a personal attack.

Be honest about your situation.     4     If you’ve encountered an obstacle in your schedule, you just need to tell them what it is and why you can’t make it. Your friends will be much more understanding if they can tell you’re telling the truth. And it can even help you feel less guilty.

Let them know if you’re just in a bad mood. Sometimes you want to cancel plans because you just aren’t feeling like it, and that’s okay. If you get out of bed in the morning and realize that all you want to do is sit on the couch and eat ice cream, let your friend know.     5    

A．Start with your appreciation.

B．However, you don’t need to do that too much.

C．Ask if you can reschedule if you can’t make it.

D．There is no need to lie to a friend about what’s going on.

E．Whatever the case is, canceling plans can make you upset.

F．So your friends can adjust their schedule without too much trouble.

G．Everyone has those days, and true friends will surely understand it.

5 . No matter what profession or occupation you hold you will need to work with others to meet your goals. Group work is a great way to showcase your own skills while getting help from your teammates in areas where you might not be as strong.     1    

Clarify the team expectations so everyone is on the same page.     2     It’s likely that each teammate has a different idea about what’s expected of them, as well as what everyone else needs to be doing. It’s essential that the team discuss these expectations and agree on one universal list of expectations that everyone will follow.

    3     No one likes a teammate who barely contributes to the project. Take on an equal part of the work, and speak up if you realize you aren’t doing your fair share. Not only will your group mates appreciate your work ethic, it will show your supervisor or instructor that you’re a good team player.

Direct your concern toward the problem, not your teammates. Don’t accuse or blame anyone on your team for causing the conflict, even if you believe they did.     4     Have your team work through conflict, using it to their benefit.

Focus on the success of the group, not your personal success. When you’re on a team, everyone’s success depends on each member working toward a common goal.     5     Keep your focus on your team’s success, and your own success will follow.

A．Make sure you do an equal share of the work.

B．Volunteer to take on extra work when necessary.

C．Treat the team’s accomplishments as a group success.

D．Our guide will show you how to boost your teamwork skills.

E．State the issue you’re having, then listen to what everyone has to say.

F．Instead, keep all of your comments focused on the issue and how your team can solve it.

G．This can include explaining the expectations or asking questions if you find them unclear.

6 . 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.

7 . How to Overcome Social Anxiety

Do you get nervous when you are tasked to give a speech? Do you get sweaty and uncomfortable during interviews? Many people get nervous or self-conscious on occasion, but social anxiety is more than just shyness or occasional nerves.    1    In fact, it becomes so intense that you may go to great lengths to avoid situations that can trigger it. Here are some self-help strategies to help you overcome social anxiety.

Analyze the negative thoughts contributing to social anxiety. For example, when you are worried about an upcoming social gathering, identify the underlying negative thought like “I’ll seem boring”. Be objective and ask questions like “Do I know for sure that they will get bored with me?”    2    

Stop unhelpful thinking patterns that fuel your anxiety. One typical example is mind reading, which refers to assuming someone is thinking something negative about you.    3    It occurs when you describe yourself with just one word such as “stupid”, or “failure”. These patterns of thought prevent you from seeing things as they really are. By transforming your way of thinking, you can change how you feel for the better.

    4    When you are in a social situation, you tend to get caught up in your anxious thoughts. You are convincing yourself that all the people are looking at you, thus triggering even more anxiety! To overcome it, take time to appreciate what other people are doing. Do your best to engage with them and make a genuine connection.

Gather up your courage to face your fears. Avoidance will only keep your social anxiety disorder going. It prevents you from becoming more comfortable in social situations.    5     Also, avoidance prevents you from doing things you’d like to do. The way out is to start with a situation that you can handle like talking to one office mate. Then you can gradually work your way up to more challenging situations.

A．Focus on other things instead of yourself.

B．To be exact, it is a slight fear of social situations.

C．Avoid thinking about what other people are thinking of you.

D．Labeling is another thinking trap you should avoid falling into.

E．The longer you escape a situation, the more frightening it becomes.

F．Figuring out the reasons for your anxiety helps lessen its negative impact.

G．If you have a social anxiety disorder, the stress of these situations is too much to handle.

8 . 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。

Alice had just been appointed in the multinational bank. After one month of severe training, today was her first day to go to work.

She got up a bit earlier than usual, and decided to skip her gym workout as she did not want to risk being tired or getting late to her office on her first day. She went through her morning routine and spent a lot of time in selecting what to wear. None of her dresses seemed to appeal to her—they were either a little too casual or too dull and she definitely wanted to make an impression right from the start. Finally she settled on the white embroidered (刺绣的) dress.

She waved bye to her mom and set off cheerfully towards the bus stop. But she saw a bus leaving the stop just as she crossed the street. Now she would have to wait for a good 15 minutes. 15 minutes passed and then 30 minutes and there was no sign of the bus. “It must be stuck in heavy traffic”, a kind lady who was also waiting for the bus told her. Hearing that, Alice got anxious. She had to reach her office on time. Then she saw a taxi approaching but when she tried to stop it, the taxi driver sped by without even taking a glance at her. Alice was wondering what she could do.

It was then that a car stopped near her and a man waved to her. The driver asked her where she was going and after Alice told him that she was going to the bank at Nariman Point, the man said “Oh, my office is in the nearby building. Can I give you a lift?” Alice hesitated for a moment and got into the car. They exchanged names and began to talk for a while. Then the driver switched on the radio and was absorbed in the song. Alice looked out of the window and imagined her first day at work, worrying whether she was capable of the new job, and if she could get along well with her colleagues. After about ten minutes, Alice realized they were not on the familiar route to her office.

注意:续写词数应为150左右；
Paragraph 1:

She began to worry that she might get into the car of a bad man.

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Paragraph 2:

Then the car turned around a corner and Alice saw the tall building where her office was unexpectedly.

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