1 . How to Be a Good Friend

It’s important to have friends at different times of our lives. They may serve a different purpose as we get older, but they are still important to us.    1    . Luckily, here are some true elements(要素) of being a good friend.

Honesty

When things come up in life that may not have been the best choice, you have to be able to tell your friends about it. They should offer the same in return. If you were supposed to go out with a friend and something comes up that you would prefer doing, be honest and tell your friend. A good friend will understand and want you to take advantage of the opportunity (机会).    2    .

Support

    3    . You may have a significant (重要的) other who is part of your support system, but sometimes you need a good friend who knows you well and who knows the things to say and not. Good friends who are part of your support system also need to be honest. You have to know that they will be there for you.

    4    

Sometimes we don’t need to hear advice or stories. We need someone who will listen to us. An active listener who is there to listen can be the best medicine. As we talk through feelings, we may come to our own realizations about what has been said. We don’t always need to hear someone else’s talk on what has happened.    5    .

A．A good listener

B．Following a friend’s advice

C．Then try your best to achieve your dream

D．It may be harder to make and keep friends over time

E．We need a close friend who is willing to listen with his heart

F．When you are at a loss, it’s important to have someone to turn to

G．If you lie to the friend and he later finds out about it, it may hurt the friendship

2 . One of the most important skills in building a successful career is listening. While drive and confidence may get you in the door of a dream job, listening enables you to build successful partnerships that will help you climb to the top.     1     When colleagues feel listened to, they feel safe to communicate and enjoy working together.

So how do people become good listeners?

    2    

While we all have our own ideas, to properly listen, we must put these aside when the other person is speaking. Many people succeed because they’ve learned to listen with the purpose of understanding what the other person is trying to convey. It helps you get important information, of course, but it’s more than that: It’s also the greatest sign of respect you can give someone.

Ask question.

This shows the other person that you re paying attention and interested, which will lead to a more honest and productive conversation. Clarify things that may be unclear, reflect back what you hear and ask questions that allow the person to unpack the topic.     3    

Be supportive.

Create a safe and comfortable workplace by showing your support.     4     Body language can also play a significant role in creating a supportive environment. Positive feedback (反馈) is an important part too. Gaining new information is the best way to stay on top of the game, no matter what the job is.

Be patient with yourself.

Don’t forget to be patient with yourself.     5     Take the time to manage your success in this field and remember that little change can go a long way.

A．Listen with the goal of comprehension.

B．Learning to listen effectively doesn’t happen overnight.

C．Here’s how to build your career by being a good listener.

D．Understand what words will truly persuade the other person.

E．Open-ended questions are the best as they don’t force a direct answer.

F．Sincere listening is transformative as it helps create a supportive workplace.

G．This can be done by showing confidence in the person and avoiding criticism.

3 . Many Americans find silence uncomfortable while staying in a buffet(自助餐) or at a dinner. So in the United States there is a widespread practice of making “small talk” in certain social situations. Small talk deals with various topics superficially, simply for the sake of keeping a conversation going. The topics might include the weather, sports, college courses, clothing, food, etc. Small talk is especially useful at social gatherings when you meet someone for the first time, or when polite conversation is expected but no serious discussion is desired.

It is common but not necessarily expected that one knows someone in a group before engaging with him or her in conversation. However, at a party or other informal social gathering, a simple “May I join you?” and a self-introduction is normally sufficient to gain acceptance into a group and to join in a conversation. In some places, such as the lobby of a concert hall or theatre, a waiting room or a classroom, it is common for strangers to start a conversation even without an introduction.

Despite the informal phenomenon that is all over the US society, people in the States expect those whom they speak to to put aside whatever they are doing and listening. As a rule, the conversation distance between two people is at least two or three feet. Standing more closely will make many Americans feel uneasy.

1. What’s probably not the common topic for small talk?

A．Weather.	B．Doing shopping.
C．Career design.	D．Paper news.

2. The underlined word “superficially” in the first paragraph is nearest in meaning to _______.

A．seriously

B．deeply

C．thoroughly

D．generally

3. Which of the following statements is WRONG?

A．People in the US hate standing too close while talking.

B．A small talk is usually carried out between acquaintances (熟人).

C．Even strangers can start a conversation without an introduction.

D．It’s uncomfortable for many Americans to keep silent during waiting time.

4 . How to Become a Trustworthy Person

Being trustworthy is admirable and desirable. It always feels great to be have others rely on you and people prefer to make friends with those who are reliable, supportive and honest. Here are some practical ways to help you become a trustworthy person.

Be of good character.

Have more than good intentions in life. While it's nice to mean well, it's far better to show people that you're a person who is reliable.     1     Actions prove far more than words.

    2    

When you say that you will do something for someone, then do it. People rely on a promise and seeing it through is a great quality of a trustworthy person. Don't break your promise. If you have problems keeping it, talk to the person about the situation.

Keep secrets.

    3     That is a bond to never be broken. You must guard these secrets closely unless and until the person who told you says that you can do otherwise.

Don't lie.

There will be times when lying seem like the right way out of something. Yet, the truth will eventually come out. Just as Mark Twain once said: "If you tell the truth you don't have to remember anything", it’s the truth that makes for a simpler, happier and more fulfilling life.

    4       

Tell people you may have hurt that you're sorry for making a mistake, for getting them wrong or for being totally out of order. You may like to explain the reason you did something, but that depends on the situation. Sometimes it's just best to say sorry and to own your mistake. Then, do your best to make it up to the other person.

    5     It takes time to change bad habits, a poor attitude and bad ways of reacting to others. Earning trust takes time too, especially if you have been a difficult human being in the past. Yet, it will happen, especially as you continue to prove through your actions that you are reliable, honest and of good character.

A．Apologize for your mistakes.

B．Support and help each other to continue growing as good human beings throughout life.

C．Keep your word.

D．Remember that being trustworthy is a journey, not an endpoint.

E．Some honesty can be hard but is still essential.

F．Good, caring and thoughtful actions make good character.

G．People tell you things that are kept untold because they think you are trustworthy.

5 . Volunteering offers great help to people in need, but the benefits (好处) can be even greater for you, the volunteer.

    1    . Being a volunteer helps you make new friends and improve your social skills. Volunteering is a great way to meet new people, especially if you are new to an area. It develops your ties to the community, broadens your support network and offers you chances to know people with common interests and fun activities.

    2    , others are shy and have a hard time meeting new people. Volunteering gives you the opportunity to practice and develop your social skills, since you are meeting regularly with a group of people with common interests.

Volunteering is good for your mind and body.     3    . Nothing reduces (减少) stress better than a meaningful connection to another person. Working with pets and other animals has also been shown to improve mood and reduce stress and anxiety. Studies have found that older volunteers are likely to walk more and find it easier to sleep regularly.     4    .

If you’re considering a new job, volunteering can help you get experience in your area of interest and meet people in the field.     5     , volunteering gives you the opportunity to practice important skills used in the workplace, such as teamwork communication, problem solving and organization. You might feel more comfortable stretching (伸展) your wings at work once you have improved these skills in a volunteer position first.

A．Volunteering increases self-confidence

B．Volunteering connects you to others

C．Even if you're not planning on changing your job

D．While some people are naturally outgoing

E．It provides many benefits to both mental and physical health

F．Many people volunteer in order to make time for hobbies outside of work

G．Volunteering can also reduce the risk of heart disease

6 . Denver, Colorado is one of the fastest growing cities in America. It also has one of the biggest populations of _______young people. A Denver coffee shop is seeking to solve the problem. The Purple Door Coffee Shop employs and_______homeless young people, giving them a second_______to make a new start.

For many years, Kevin Persons lived on the _______. Today, he is working in a bar, serving coffee. He is also working to move off the streets and into a home.

The owners of the two-year-old nonprofit_______three to four young adults per year. Shelters such as Urban Peak, where Kevin was staying,_______young people who are ready to commit to working.

Madison Chandler, co-founder of Purple Door,and her partner meet with their workers _______each week. They talk about topics _______ from mental health, finance to customer service. They also _______a life coach to make sure the workers have the __________ and skills that will set them up for success.

Kevin __________ that he is learning what he needs to __________ the struggles of homelessness and live a full life.

For Madison Chandler, providing these young adults with __________and education and helping them become confident and__________is worthwhile. The most __________part of her job is helping them achieve a life for themselves that they have dreamed of.

1.

A．hopeless

B．homeless

C．powerless

D．useless

2.

A．controls

B．treats

C．requires

D．trains

3.

A．change

B．charity

C．chance

D．compromise

4.

A．roof

B．bridge

C．bank

D．street

5.

A．hire

B．fire

C．contact

D．exchange

6.

A．remind

B．indicate

C．recommend

D．suggest

7.

A．accidentally

B．proudly

C．particularly

D．individually

8.

A．including

B．ranging

C．spreading

D．extending

9.

A．advertise

B．teach

C．provide

D．promote

10.

A．support

B．imagination

C．production

D．supply

11.

A．lies

B．regrets

C．recognizes

D．claims

12.

A．keep

B．leave

C．await

D．recall

13.

A．adjustment

B．development

C．movement

D．employment

14.

A．humorous

B．independent

C．determined

D．stubborn

15.

A．rewarding

B．encouraging

C．astonishing

D．amusing