Last spring, I started a new exercise class. As someone who dislikes doing jumping jacks, burpees, and push-ups, I found the workouts surprisingly enjoyable, at least for a while. But after several months, I was overly familiar with the class routine, and my excitement had been replaced with boredom.
A 2016 study for the American Psychological Association estimated that 63 percent of us suffer from boredom regularly. And research shows that chronically(长期地) bored people tend to fall into depression, drug abuse and anxiety.
But boredom isn’t a character weakness. It’s a state caused by something called hedonic(享乐的) adaptations, or the tendency to get used to things over time. This explains why activities and even relationships that were initially satisfying can sometimes lose their appeal.
Humans are remarkably good at growing accustomed to changes in our lives, both positive and negative, according to Sonja Lyubomirsky, a professor of psychology at the University of California, Riverside. This is a good thing when we are faced with adjusting to setbacks such as losing a loved one or a job. But becoming insensitive to positive events can prove harmful. Think about the last time you got a raise, bought a car, or moved. At first, these experiences can bring immense joy. But over time, they become part of the routine. We are ready for the next new thing to excite us.
While boredom can be a downer when it removes the pleasure from our lives, it can provide a sort of service. “If our emotional reactions didn’t weaken with time, we couldn’t recognize new changes that may signal rewards or threats,” Lyubomirsky says. In other words, we’d ignored cues signaling us to make important decisions about our relationships and safety.
It’s not unlike how our reactions change when we fall in love or experience loss. Being caught in the glow of happiness or the web of sadness can make us distracted or forgetful. We may miss signals that indicate whether we’re about to make a smart move or a disastrous one. The good news is that understanding the connection between hedonic adaptation and boredom can help us.
A study published in 2018 in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin showed that finding unusual ways to get along with familiar people, places, and things can make everyday experiences feel exciting. In other words, sometimes you’ve just got to shake things up!
1.The author talked about his new exercise class in Paragraph 1 to ______.
A.introduce the topic of boredom B.show the negative effects of exercise
C.prove the significance of exercise D.encourage people to work out regularly
2.What did the 2016 study find about boredom?
A.Three in five people are bound to live with boredom.
B.Occasional boredom has no side effects at all.
C.Lasting boredom may affect people negatively.
D.63 percent of people are victims of anxiety disorder.
3.Why do some people suffer from boredom?
A.They possess some character weaknesses.
B.They adjust themselves to negative changes.
C.They get accustomed to previous happenings.
D.They have difficulty handling human relations.
4.What can we infer from Paragraphs 4 and 5?
A.Emotional reactions result in decision making.
B.Emotional reactions determine the social relationship.
C.Boredom leads to being distracted or forgetful.
D.Boredom helps the discovery of new changes.
5.At the end of the passage, the author might continue to write about ______.
A.the tiny excitement of familiarity B.some fresh ideas for keeping life fresh
C.the reasons for accepting boredom D.some methods to mix things up
I have been carrying a notebook and pen around with me since I was three. I practiced letters over and over because the act of writing was appealing. Once I could form words, I discovered the beauty of the sentence. The pages transformed into two- or three-line tales about dogs and horses and something else that interested me.
Eventually, I began to understand what it was my heart longed for: to create words and stories. I wrote plays out of the adventures of my American Girl dolls and mimicked(模仿) the mysteries of Harry Potter. I scribbled(涂鸦) across margins in class notes and grabbed any magazine that caught my eye.
I was 11 when I wandered into a Goodwill shop one afternoon with my mother. We searched for treasures and I discovered a row of old typewriters. Most were black, some electric and others manual(手动的), almost all behemoths(庞然大物). Many keys were yellowed with age, but they all shone up at me like magic. I spent long minutes opening cases, tapping keys, shifting rollers to hear that oh-so-delightful ping.At last, I came across a small tan case. Inside was a 1950s baby blue Smith Corona typewriter. I was instantly attracted.
I begged my mom to buy it. Despite my puppy-dog eyes, we left without it. Months passed, and the typewriter left my mind. Christmas arrived with a usual number of presents, until we reached the last one: a tiny box behind the tree. Inside I found a typewriter tape, along with instructions to look under my brother’s bed. With a scream I dashed for his room and found a familiar tan case hidden below.
Within minutes, I had the baby blue beauty set up at our dining table and paper gathered. Growing up, I spent many hours pulling out the typewriter whenever I wanted to copy handwritten stories or needed inspiration.I dragged it with me when I moved from Illinois to Washington.
My typewriter made my childhood dreams of being a writer feel real. Its well-worn keys stoked the creativity in my soul. The words I imagined went from the scribbled pages of notebooks to the print of the typewriter. It was as if I was turning these fantasies into published works all on my own.
1.What happened after the author was able to write a sentence?
A.She developed an interest in writing. B.She took to practising her handwriting.
C.She showed much affection for pets. D.She became a huge Harry Potter fan.
2.Why was the author attracted to the 1950s Smith Corona typewriter?
A.It had yellow keys originally.
B.It was in better condition than the others.
C.It was of small size and had a unique color.
D.It made a more delightful sound than the rest.
3.How did the author finally get the typewriter she had desired?
A.She saved up for the typewriter. B.She received it as a prize.
C.She got it as a Christmas gift. D.She got it from the shop owner.
4.The underlined word “stoked” in Paragraph 6 is closest in meaning to “ ________”.
A.prevented B.increased C.reflected D.consumed
5.Which of the following might be the best title of the passage?
A.Magical Typewriter B.Happy Childhood C.Power of Words D.Typewritten Wonder
In 2006, one of the biggest music feuds(积怨) in history ended when Apple (the iPad and iPhone company) and Apple Corps (The Beatles' record label) settled their differences. The argument had been over the ''apple'' logos they both have as part of their trademarks(商标). Shortly after, The Beatles' music was launched for download. While the band's hit songs didn't make as big an impact as commentators(评论员) lad predicted, the event still led to plenty of press coverage.
But iTunes isn't the only technology linked to The Beatles. The Beatles: Rock Band is a video game for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii which allows you to become The Beatles. Released in 2009, the game includes a drum kit, guitar and microphone so you can sing and play along to your favourite songs. Not surprisingly, the game was a huge success, selling more than two million units. A remastered box set of all The Beatles' albums was released on the same day, which also sold well.
Films about The Beatles are also popular. Recent movies include Nowhere Boy, which is a film about the life of John Lennon. It's directed by Sam Taylor-Wood and stars Aaron Johnson and Kristin Scott Thomas.
Magazines and newspapers are still often filled with Beatles stories, and the zebra crossing near Abbey Road recording studios(where the 1969 album of the same name was recorded), was ranked Grade II listing in 2010, which means it’ll be protected. This followed similar recognition for Abbey Road studios itself.
And the future for The Beatles? Well, the band could still top the charts as there are unreleased tracks that still haven't seen the light of day. A strange experimental track called Carnival of Light, and a 27-minute jam of Helter Skelter have never been heard by the public.
Will they ever be released?
1.According to the passage, The Beatles' hit songs in 2006 ______
A.did not have ''apple'' logos B.were not well received as expected
C.couldn't be downloaded D.had a bad impact on commentators
2.Why is The Beatles: Rock Band mentioned in Paragraph 2?
A.To show the increasing popularity of video games.
B.To highlight the technological application of The Beatles.
C.To promote the online sales of technological devices.
D.To emphasize the music talent of the rock band.
3.From the passage we know John Lennon is ______.
A.a member of The Beatles B.the director of Nowhere Boy
C.a game developer D.the lead actor of Nowhere Boy
4.The protection of the zebra crossing implies that ______.
A.the road was in bad state and needed protection
B.the road was a desirable place t report Beatles stories
C.the road made it difficult to recognize Abbey Road studios
D.the road was of historic importance and deserved attention
5.What makes The Beatles' topping the charts possible?
A.Classical music. B.Unreleased songs. C.Strange works. D.Public curiosity.
It was in four decades of nursing that I'd had such a terrible problem with a colleague. Rita seemed to look down upon me and I had no idea why. Every _______ I expressed had the opposite effect. Our relationship was so impossibly _______ that I didn't even pray about it.
It is eight years since I _______ from nursing, and certainly retired from ever thinking about that _______ coworker. A pandemic (流行病) had _______ us all like a ton of bricks and even my town of Huntington had sold out of protective masks. I _______ for a box of hospital-grade masks I had left over. Well, I didn’t find the masks, _______ I found some old, unopened mail----a Christmas card ----I’d _______ placed near some reference materials a year ago. That kind of thing is always a _______ to find, but the return address was Florida and I couldn't ________ who I knew there.
I opened the envelope and read the card in ________ ----it was from Rita. ''Please ________ me for being such a mean person. '' she wrote. A ________ of love and forgiveness washed over me. I’m not really a(n) ________ because of a problem with my hands, but there at 11:30 p.m., I typed out an emotional message ________ her that there was no cause for concern, no need for forgiveness ________ there is only love and gratitude for the mercy and miracles of God. In a matter of seconds, I ________ a text back. Rita was over the moon with ________. She said that this reconciliation(和解) and my physical healing had been her ________ prayer. That was ________, I thought, but then again with God nothing is really ever that unexpected, is it?
1.A.kindness B.quarrel C.apology D.interest
2.A.special B.close C.bad D.casual
3.A.hid B.retired C.suffered D.heard
4.A.merciful B.elegant C.grateful D.troublesome
5.A.hit B.violated C.guided D.teased
6.A.made B.paid C.searched D.answered
7.A.and B.so C.or D.but
8.A.politely B.unconsciously C.directly D.annually
9.A.treat B.conflict C.disaster D.reward
10.A.agree on B.figure out C.look into D.deal with
11.A.astonishment B.craziness C.disappointment D.sadness
12.A.blame B.punish C.forgive D.applaud
13.A.roll B.glance C.copy D.wave
14.A.doctor B.editor C.texter D.educator
15.A.convincing B.informing C.instructing D.warning
16.A.unless B.while C.until D.because
17.A.reviewed B.received C.rewrote D.recognized
18.A.joy B.sorrow C.anxiety D.frustration
19.A.initial B.absurd C.constant D.unique
20.A.unaffected B.reliable C.ordinary D.unexpected
Not only ______ me improve my Spanish, but Campero introduced me to her culture.
A.she helped B.did she help C.had she helped D.she had helped
_____ never easy, innovation is absolutely possible with adequate training and continuous practice.
A.When B.As C.Since D.While
