Assertiveness is the ability to confidently express your opinions, feelings,attitudes, and rights, in a way that doesn't infringe（侵犯） the rights of others.
Many of us are taught that it is not nice to consider our own needs above those of others. If someone says or does something that we don't like, we should just be quiet and try to stay away from that person in the future.
Why is Assertiveness important?
If you don't know how to be assertive, you might experience:
•Depression - Anger, a sense of being helpless, hopeless, or of having no control over your life.
•Resentment - Anger at others for taking advantage of you.
•Frustration - Why did I allow that to happen?
Most people find it easier to be assertive in some situations than in others. This makes perfect sense. It's a lot easier to hold your ground with a stranger than with someone you love. But the more important the relationship is to you, the more ｉｍｐｏｒｔａｎｔ it is to be assertive. Assertive behavior leads to increased respect from others！
But before you decide to act assertively, you have to decide if you can live
with the results. Although assertive behavior usually will result in a positive
response (积极的回应)，some people might react differently.
How to be effectively（有效地） assertive:
•Use "I" statements. Keep the focus on the problem you're having. "I'd like to be able to tell my stories without interruption." instead of "You're always interrupting my stories ! "
•Use facts, not opinions. "Did you know that shirt has a hole?" instead of "You're not going out looking like THAT, are you?"
•Express ownership of your thoughts, feelings, and opinions. "I get angry when he breaks his promises. " instead of "He makes me angry. "
• Make clear and direct requirements. Don't invite the person to say no. "Will you please?" instead of 'Would you mind．．．?" or "Why don't you．．．?"
•Keep repeating your point. Use a low level and pleasant voice. Don't try to explain yourself.
1.The writer probably agrees that____________.
A. you should consider others' response before you act assertively
B. you should be assertive if you want to get good marks
C. assertiveness is the ability to infringe others' rights.
D. assertive behavior will bring you bad feelings
2.The expression "hold yourｇround" probably means “_________________”
A. reach an agreement
B. insist on your point
C. keep your word
D. keep on fighting
3.Which of the following helps you to be effectively assertive?
A. Explaining yourself in a soft and sweet voice.
B. Expressing ownership of others' thoughts.
C. Making requirements directly and clearly.
D. Using your opinions instead of facts.
I bought a jasmine plant for my office. When I bought it, I was told it would bloom（开花） and the sweet smell would fill my office. I had the plant for two months, and every day I looked at it, but there weren't any flowers or pleasant smell. I was not happy, so I gave the plant to my friend Linda.
One day, another friend Mary called and invited me to her office. When I walked in, her jasmine flowers surprised me. I reached out to touch the flowers. Mary cut some and gave them to me. I couldn't help smelling them. Surrounded by the sweet smell of only a handful of these flowers, I suddenly understood something.
Mary bought her plant the same time I did. It took a year for her jasmine to bloom. I was so impatient for mine to bloom; regretfully, I gave it away.
In a way my life is like the jasmine plant. I need to be patient and let things happen.
Last Sunday Linda told me that she was going abroad the next week. Before she left, she returned the plant to me. This time I am going to wait. I have learned that when we want something in our life, we have to be patient. I am slowly learning to have that patience to wait for my jasmine to bloom.
1.Before she gave the jasmine away, the writer had it for .
A. one day B. one year C . two weeks D. two months
2.When the writer saw Mary's jasmine, she felt____________ .
A. unhappy B. peaceful C. hopeful D. surprised
3.What has the writer learned from her experience?
A. Patience is needed in life.
B. Flowers can make life better.
C. Friendship is necessary for us.
D. Jasmine can be a wonderful plant.
C
1.How many popular articles are there in the magazine?
A. 2 B. 3 C. 4 D.5
2.Which article is about saving money?
A. Ice cream and banking.
B. Black sheep and Uncle Bob.
C. Relation between you and food.
D. Films that aren’t really about Canada.
3.What is Black sheep and Uncle Bob about?
A. American films. B. Family stories.
C. Food. D. Banking.
My stutter（口吃）had always been much of a problem. I'd had so many specialists for my______35________ over the years. As l walked down the hallway to meet a new one, memories popped in my head of how painful（痛苦的）being a kid who stutters had been. It______36________ hurt.
“Hello! I'm Mrs. Claussen. I hear you're from Texas!"
“Ye-Ye-Ye-Yes m-m-m-m-m-m-m-aam I am…”My heart felt like it was pounding through my chest and my hands were dripping wet. I really blew that
______37________ .
“Well," she said with a ______38________Smile. 161've always liked Texas."
She turned out to be the best speech specialist I've ever had, not like those who
told me to clap my hands while speaking. She was______39________.She spent the first several weeks just talking to me - asking me all kinds of questions about myself, especially my feelings. And she______40________ . She then began to teach me about the speech. Not just about my speech, but about everybody's.
I______41________ in my old school and was a pretty good tenor（男高音）, but I learned that the new school's singing group was all filled up. It was such bad news, for I thought that was the one thing I could really do well - and I could do it
______42________ stuttering. Somehow Mrs. Claussen finally got me in the group. I felt like she really cared about me as a person, not just a speech student.
During the next two years, my speech didn't get much better - except with her. When I was in college, things got worse. I once even wondered if I would ever be able to______43________ ! It was a very depressing time, and I often felt alone. When I was feeling really sorry for myself, I remembered Mrs. Claussen had told me whether I could______44________ my speech was all up to me. She had told me not to fight for perfect speech, just better speech. She was right about that. I finally improved my speech greatly.
Many years have passed, but I think of her from time to time, wondering if she had as much______45________ 0n her other students as she had on me. I like to think that she did. Her name was Mrs. Claussen... and she______46_______ . I'II never forget her.
1.A. speech B. study C. dream D. fear
2.A. maybe B. even C. still D. never
3.A. instruction B. description C. introduction D. presentation
4.A. shy B. cold C. weak D. kind
5.A. silent B. simple C. direct D. different
6.A. cried B. listened C. waited D. stopped
7.A. sang B. spoke C. played D. clapped
8.A. against B. besides C. beyond D. without
9.A. practise B. communicate C. report D. reply
10.A. train B. share C. change D. follow
11.A. advice B. influence C. dependence D. action
12.A. continued B. taught C. agreed D. cared
I don't remember____________ the book yesterday.
A. where I put B. where did I put
C. where will I put D. where l will put
Flowers____________ along the road last year.
A. plant B. planted C. are planted D. were planted
