Not long ago, I opened an interesting e-mail from Jennifer, a friend of mine. “I’ve realized I want to be around people who make me happy,” she wrote, “I’ve been seeing how I feel after communicating with different people and making a mental list of who I feel good about. And you’re on my list.”
Then she invited me — and 11 other women— to a “Movie Night” to be held every six weeks at her house. We’d chat, eat, and watch feel-good movies. She made it clear in her invitation that there was no stress to show up to all or any movie nights. Wonderful! I e-mailed her back immediately. I was in.
Later, Jennifer told me she had some puzzled reactions to her invitation. Though all the women were willing to join, some said they didn’t see themselves as cheerful people. “I’ve told them they didn’t have to be cheerful around me all the time. I invited them because they made me feel happy,” she says.
Research shows that gatherings such as Jennifer’s make sense. In a US study, researchers measured(测量) the happiness of 4739 people at regular intervals (间隔) over 20 years. The study found that a person’s happiness depends on(取决于) the happiness of people they connect with. Amazingly, it also found that happiness spreads not only between direct friends, but also among friends of your friends’ friends! And those good feelings seem to be the most contagious (传染性的) among friends of the same sex.
“People with more supportive friends are less likely to develop sadness,” says Dr Toupey Luft, a psychologist in Penticyon, British Columbia. “Though you can’t choose your family or workmates, you do have control over friendships.” With a little effort, you can add more positive(乐观的) relationships to your social circle. Here’s how…
1.How many people did Jennifer invite?
A. 1 B. 11 C. 12 D. 13
2.What kind of things can you do on Jennifer’s movie night?
A. Gathering and measuring happiness among friends.
B. Chatting, eating and watching feel-good movies.
C. Being cheerful all the time.
D. Showing up stress.
3.What do the underlined words mean?
A. 有意义 B. 有鉴赏力 C. 有感觉 D. 制造气氛
4.Which of the following is right?
A. Jennifer was puzzled with her invitation.
B. All the women who were invited are cheerful people.
C. Jennifer invited people who are cheerful around her all the time.
D. People with more supportive friends seem to be more positive than people who don’t.
5.Can you guess what will be talked about in the following passage?
A. Why it is important to pick friends who make you feel good.
B. How to make friends who make you feel good.
C. What kinds of friends you should not make.
D. How you can find your social circle.
Paris—French President Nicolas Sarkozy said he would clear over 300 Roma camps in France. He will send more than 700 Roma back to their native countries, including Romania (罗马尼亚) and Bulgaria (保加利亚) in the next three months.
Many French people disagree with Sarkozy’s move. Some European countries don’t agree with the move, either. They say it goes against human rights. However, Sarkozy has made up his mind. Police have been clearing Roma camps.
Roma are also called gypsies (吉普赛人). They came from India. They left their homeland sometime during the 11th century and entered Europe in the 14th century. Today there are 2-5 million gypsies. Most of them live in Eastern Europe.
They traveled everywhere and made a living as actors, actresses, workers, and by selling goods from faraway lands. Most gypsies are very poor and their children don’t go to school. Some gypsies can’t find work so they make a living begging (乞讨) or stealing. The French government thinks gypsies bring a lot of social problems. That’s why Sarkozy wants them out of France.
Sarkozy’s move, however, won’t solve the gypsy problems in France for the long term. According to EU (欧盟) laws, the gypsies of EU member countries are free to go to another EU member country, like France. They can stay there for up to three months. Many of the gypsies will probably come back to France in the future.
1.How many Roma will be sent from France to their native countries in the next three months?
A. Over 300 B. Over 700 C. 2 million D. 5 million
2.According to the news, most of the Roma live in _________.
A. France B. India C. America D. Eastern Europe
3.Why does Sarkozy want to send the Roma out of France?
A. They traveled everywhere around Europe and India.
B. The gypsies are free to go to another EU member country.
C. Most gypsies are very poor and their children don’t go to school.
D. The French government thinks gypsies bring a lot of social problems.
4.How long can the gypsies of EU member countries stay in another EU member country?
A. They can stay there all life long.
B. They can stay for up to three months.
C. They stayed from 11th century to 14th century.
D. They can travel to the country and stay for a few days.
5.Which is Not True according to the text?
A. Police have been clearing Roma camps.
B. All the French people agree with Sarkozy’s move.
C. Some European countries say the move goes against human rights.
D. Sarkozy’s move won’t solve the gypsy problems in France for the long term.
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※When parents get angry, it isn't the time to get angry back. A lot of times they're not upset with you, but with their boss, the neighbor, or the price of vegetables. You just happen to be there at the wrong time. Look hurt? Get out of the way when they're in a bad mood. They need some time and space. Go outside, to a friend's house, or to your room. At last they will become calm and miss you. |
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※If you have trouble talking to your parents, or if they get angry every time you try to discuss something, write a note. Put it on their bedside table. Parents are easily moved by notes like this and will probably keep them forever. |
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※Do not create situations where there is a winner and a loser. You're the child and will probably lose most of the time. How many times have you grounded your mother or taken away the phone privileges(特权) from your dad? Try to compromise with each other and work out a situation where both of you win. |
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※Ask your parents once a day, "Is there anything I can do for you?" Most of the time they will probably say no, or give you something that will take a few minutes to complete. Your parents will love this and see you as a very cooperative(可合作的) person. When this happens, they will probably be more cooperative with you. You could also surprise them by doing something they don't make you do. They'll tell everyone you are the best possible son or daughter and, what's more, they will believe it. ※Click for more information at the red icon on the left. |
1.Leave a note on your parents’ bedside table if___________.
A. your parents quarrel with each other
B. you find it difficult to talk with them
C. you want to be the best possible child
D. you go outside to your friend’s house
2.From the above we learn_________.
A. if we want to help do house work, parents always refuse us.
B. your parents will be hurt if you get angry back at a wrong time.
C. parents often ground children and control their use of the telephone
D. if we want to discuss with parents, we should wait till they are happy
3.The underlined word “compromise” probably means_________.
A. 抗争 B. 妥协 C. 承诺 D. 辩论
4.What’s the topic of the above?
A. How to cooperate with family and friends
B. Arguments between children and parents
C. Tips for teenagers on family problems
D. Advice on educating angry children
5.You can read the above _________.
A. in a magazine B. in a newspaper
C. in a poster D. on the Internet
Mr. King works in a shop and drives a car for the manager. He drives carefully and can keep calm when 16 danger. And he escaped from several accidents. The manager 17 him more and the traffic policemen often speaks highly of him.
Mr. Baker，one of his friends，works in a factory outside the city. It’s far from his house and he has to go to work by bus. As the street is 18 in the morning, sometimes he’s late for the work. His manager warns the young man that he will be sent away 19 he gets to his office on time. He hopes to buy a car，but he hasn’t enough 20 . He decides to buy an old one. One day, he went to the second-hand market and at last he chose a beautiful but cheap car. He said he wanted to try the car，the seller agreed. He 21 Mr King and asked him to help him at once.
Mr. King examined(检查) the car and then drove it away. It was early in the morning and there were few cars in the street. At first he drove slowly and it 22 well. Then he drove fast. And when he reached a crossing，the lights turned 23 . He tried to stop it， but he failed and 24 hit an old woman who was crossing the street. A policeman told him to stop，but the car went on until it hit a big tree by the road.
“Didn’t you hear me？” the policeman asked angrily.
“Yes, I did，sir,” said Mr King，“ 25 it doesn’t listen to me，can it obey（听从）you？”
1.A. looking B. reaching C. facing D. getting
2.A. gives B. pays C. needs D. believes
3.A. crowded B. quiet C. empty D. full
4.A. until B. unless C. when D. if
5.A. time B. experience C. friends D. money
6.A. called B. found C. visited D. invited
7.A. looked B. traveled C. seemed D. worked
8.A. red B. green C. up D. out
9.A. hardly B. heavily C. nearly D. mostly
10.A. Although B. Since C. While D. For
— Kate is seldom late for school, _______ she?
— ________. She is used to going to school early.
A. is; Yes B. isn’t; No C. is; No D. isn’t; Yes
—Why not come and join us in the game, Linda?
—__________, but I have something to discuss with Mr. Smith at his office.
A. I hope so B. I’d like to C. Let's go D. It's a pleasure
