Many people avoid apologizing because admitting to wrongdoing makes them uncomfortable. “We like to view ourselves as good people-as kind and considerate,” says Ryan Fehr, a professor at the University of Washington. “Apologies force us to admit to ourselves that we don't always live up to our own standards. We might also fear that the victim won't accept our apology, further damaging our positive sense of self. For these reasons, an apology can be very difficult to give.”
For many, apologizing is stressful, awkward and uncomfortable. But a heartfelt apology has positive effects. It can improve your mental health, repair damaged relationships and promote self-esteem. “Apology acts as a signal of one's moral character,” Fehr says.
Researchers at Ohio State University have determined that effective apologies have five elements: expressing regret, explaining what went wrong, acknowledging responsibility, offering to repair the situation and requesting forgiveness. All five aren't necessary every time. “The more of those elements were included, the more likely the apology was seen as convincing,” says Roy Lewicki, the lead study author. “Acknowledgement of responsibility turned out to be the most important piece, followed by an explanation of why it happened and declaration of regret.”
“Sometimes, an immediate apology is called for,” says Antony Manstead, a psychology professor at Cardiff University. “But if the other party is angry at your wrongdoing, it may be more effective to wait, because their anger may stop them accepting an apology. Some research suggests that a delay increases an apology's effectiveness because it conveys that the wrongdoer has had time to reflect on. his/her misdeeds,” says Mara Olekalns, a professor of management at Melbourne Business School. “The best time to apologize is when one feels ready to sincerely apologize,” says Etienne Mullet, research director of the Ethics and Work Laboratory at the Institute of Advanced Studies. “There is nothing worse in these situations than insincere apologies.”
1.Why do many people feel uncomfortable to apologize?
A.They are kind and considerate people. B.They are afraid of losing face.
C.They believe themselves right. D.They have high moral standards.
2.What is the most important when it comes to making an effective apology?
A.To express regret. B.To express what went wrong.
C.To accept responsibility. D.To request forgiveness.
3.What can be inferred about an apology from the last paragraph?
A.The sooner, the better. B.The later, the better.
C.The more often, the better. D.The more genuine, the better.
4.What is the passage mainly about?
A.How you can make an effective apology. B.Why people avoid apologizing.
C.What benefits you can get from an apology. D.When you can make a heartfelt apology.
A new wave of psychological research is pioneering Virtual Reality (VR) to treat medical conditions from social anxiety to Alzheimer's disease.
Riding a wave of interest in mental health tech, companies creating VR content for treatment are receiving a flood of attention and funding. And, while VR has been used successfully to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) since the 1990s, these new programs address a much broader range of conditions. The library of Palo Alto-based Limbix, for instance, includes VR content designed to treat issues including alcohol addiction and teenage depression. Barcelona-based Psious offers treatments for eating disorders.
Today's VR content is primarily designed to aid exposure treatment, a treatment for anxiety disorders in which patients are exposed to the “threats” they're worried about in a safe, controlled environment, eventually learning that the “threats” are not actually very dangerous. For example, someone who fears heights might visit taller and taller buildings under the guidance of their doctor, while someone with PTSD might revisit painful memories.
VR allows doctors to create a safe and controlled environment inside a VR headset. It's a far safer, quicker and less expensive option. Using VR also gives doctors much more control over the intensity(强度)of their patients' experiences, which can lead to better treatment outcomes, said Stephane Bouchard, a professor at the University of Quebec. VR treatment patients can also do things they couldn't do in the real world. “In one of our studies, we asked patients who are afraid of heights to actually jump from a cliff,” Bouchard said.
However, not all VR treatment content is created equal. “Some companies show videos of VR environments that are incomplete, untested and definitely haven't been tried out by psychologists,” Bouchard said. Clearer rules and standards will make it easier for patients and doctors to identify products that work.
1.What problems can VR be used to treat according to the passage?
A.The fear of heights, blood pressure and eating disorders.
B.Social anxiety, PTSD and alcohol addiction.
C.Alzheimer's disease, heart attack and teenage depression.
D.Sleeping disorders, deafness and computer addiction.
2.What is the main idea of Para 4?
A.The benefits of using VR treatment. B.The principles of using V R treatment.
C.The side effects of using VR treatment. D.The causes of using VR treatment.
3.Which word can be used to describe the future of VR treatment?
A.Passive. B.Uncertain. C.Promising. D.Worrying.
4.What will be most probably discussed in the paragraph following the passage?
A.Wide use of VR treatment. B.Criteria of VR treatment.
C.Problems VR treatment are facing. D.Reasons why VR treatment standards are needed.
I am a putterer—a person spending a lot of time doing things people usually consider unimportant in a relaxed way. However, I don’t think puttering is wasting my time. It is a satisfying way of dealing with one’s domestic environment in a way one cannot do with the world at large.
As a father, I’ve had a difficult time communicating this to my college-age son. Tom recently bought a used car. I was proud of him for negotiating a good deal. When I looked it over, I noticed a tiny spot of rust (锈). Like a superhero out to save the day, I rushed toward the imperfection with a piece of sandpaper and a small bottle of clear nail polish from my puttering resources. Tom watched as I sanded the spot and then coated it with the nail polish. He rolled his eyes. ''You'll understand someday,” I told him.
As a rule, I do not usually conduct such public performances. Puttering is, in brief, a solitary(独自进行的) act, and putterers are modest people. They observe small things that most folks simply tolerate ---- a picture hung not in a straight position, a door not shutting well, a shaky table leg ... It doesn't take much effort or time to right such deficiencies. But once again, there is something in the sensibility of the putterer that makes correcting them deeply rewarding.
All of this risks giving an impression of endless, and perhaps mindless activity. But nothing could be further from the truth. The beauty of puttering is that it is a symbol of having control over one’s time, responding to the needs of one’s home as one sees fit: If I don’t fix the shaky kitchen table today, I can do it tomorrow, or the next day, or not at all. Puttering, you might say, has set me free.
1.Which of the following best describes Tom’s attitude toward his father’s puttering?
A.Disapproval. B.Admiration.
C.Gratitude. D.Embarrassment.
2.What do we know about the author?
A.He is extremely strict with his son. B.He shows interest in collecting old things.
C.He has an observing eye for small things. D.He often overlooks others’ imperfections.
3.Which of the following word is closest in meaning to the underlined word “deficiencies” in paragraph 3?
A.Consequences. B.Obstacles.
C.Inconveniences. D.Drawbacks.
4.What can be a suitable title for the text?
A.The Benefits of Puttering B.My Enjoyment of Puttering
C.Puttering，Wasting Time D.Puttering, My Daily Life
There are numerous hotels and resorts with water parks to keep you cool and refreshed in the hot summer days located along the Myrtle Beach. Here is some of the most popular lodging(住宿).
Comfort Suites-Myrtle Beach
While staying at the Comfort Suites in Myrtle Beach, guests have access to an outdoor pool to swim in or lie by the side in one of the comfortable chairs. The hotel features a free breakfast each morning with fresh fruits, cereals, and pastries. Free Wi-Fi is provided across the -property, and guests can enjoy free cable television in each room.
Best Western Grand Strand Inn & Suites
The Best Western Grand Strand Inn & Suites is located on the sunny beach of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The hotel features a fitness center, an outdoor heated pool, a hot tub, and free breakfast. Also offered are an attraction and entertainment ticket service, and room service. Just a few minutes away are Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum, the Haunted Adventure, and Myrtle
Waves Water Park, along with several dining options.
Econo Lodge Conway SC
This Econo Lodge is located in Conway and a short drive away from Myrtle Beach. There are some attractions that can be found in the area for people to enjoy, such as Legends in Concert Myrtle Beach. This lodge offers some great special features for their guests to enjoy in order to make their stay better: free Wi-Fi, free parking, refrigerator and microwave in room, free continental breakfast, and indoor pool.
1.Which hotel provides free cable television?
A.Econo Lodge Conway SC B.Myrtle Waves Water Park
C.Comfort Suites-Myrtle Beach D.Best Western Grand Strand Inn & Suites
2.What can you do in Best Western Grand Strand Inn & Suites?
A.Exercise in a fitness center. B.Swim in an indoor pool.
C.Park your car free of charge. D.Enjoy free lunch.
3.Which item does the Econo Lodge provide?.
A.An outdoor swimming pool. B.Cookers for heating food.
C.Free breakfasts with fruits. D.Entertainment ticket service.
假定你是李华，你在报纸上看到你市电视台今年七月将举办外国人"学做中餐，乐享中国菜"才艺大赛．你的外教Peter非常喜欢中国厨艺，你建议他去试一试．请按以下要点给他写信告知此事，并表示可以提供帮助．
1． 比赛时间：7月15日；
2． 报名时间：截止到6月30日；
3． 报名地点：市电视台．
注意：
1． 词数100左右；
2． 可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯．
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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。
We are required to collect our smart phones and keep it in the teacher's during the weekdays. In fact, the most of us obey this regulation, but some still play various trick against it. I'm among them. Once, I hand in a waste phone. Mr Li, our head teacher, seemed ignore all that. So I felt very luckily to have an extra phone with me. And good times don't last long. "Can I use your phone as a while? I forgot to take mine by chance. " Mr Li said, pick out my waste phone and dialing. You can see how embarrassing I was at the scene!
