Most people say “yes” much more readily than “no”.
A friend is moving house this weekend and would like some help, and you agree. But, what you really wanted was a couple of quiet days relaxing at home. Or a roommate spends the entire weekends playing video games and wants to borrow your homework for “reference”. But, you’ve just finished it after taking a whole day to work hard.
Many people say “yes” to these kinds of requests. They tend not to consider their own interests and feelings, and are often angry with themselves afterwards.
Saying “no” requires courage and considerable practice, in fact, according to psychologists.
“Everyone wants to be liked,” says Gabriele Steinki, a German psychologist. “Saying ‘no’ risks losing the affection of the person asking the favor or even a job.”
The result is that many people say “yes” just for keeping the peace. But experts say this is regrettable. Anyone should have the right to say “no”.
In fact, rejecting a request can even help to strengthen a relationship because it expresses a true feeling.
But, for people used to agreeing to every request, changing can be a long and uncomfortable learning process.
Most people believe that “If I say ‘no’, I’ll lose the affection of the person. But the affection is important to me.” This way of thinking can be replaced by this: “If he only likes me because I always do what suits him , then the price of his affection is too high in the long term.”
Steinki says the key is talking to the other person to find a mutual (相互的) solution. “One needs to present the situation from one’s own point of view, and to suggest how the situation can be dealt with to the advantage of both parties. The other person must have the feeling that his interests are being considered.”
When the refusal is not accepted, Steinki advises giving the reasons calmly again until the person gets the message.
1.Most people say “yes” much more readily than “no” because ________.
A. they don’t care about their own interests and feelings
B. they don’t know they will regret afterwards
C. they have already been used to saying “yes”
D. they care more about others’ affection
2. In the opinion of experts, _________ .
A. people need a lot of practice to say “no”
B. people should say “yes” to keep the peace
C. saying “no” means losing a job
D. people have the right to be liked
3. According to the writer, what should you do if you want to refuse the other person’s request?
A. Just say you can’t help him.
B. Say sorry to him.
C. Refuse him clearly.
D. Talk to the other person to find a mutual way.
4.According to the writer, what should you do if your refusal is not accepted?
A. Say yes to him.
B. Repeat your reason for his acceptance
C. Just go away
D. Say no to him
5.What is the best title of the passage?
A. You Need Courage To Say “No”
B. “Yes” More Than “No”
C. Nobody Has the Right To Say “No”
D. It’s Easy To Say “Yes”
Success is often measured by the ability to overcome adversity(逆境). But it is often the belief of others that gives us the courage to try.
J. K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter book series, began writing at age 6. In her biography(传记), she remembers with great fondness when her good friend-Sean became the first person to encourage her and help her build the confidence that one day she would be a very good writer.
“He was the first person with whom I really discussed my serious ambition(志向) to be a writer. He was also the only person who thought I was bound to(注定)be a success at it, which meant much more to me than I ever told him at the time.”
Though there were many difficulties, Rowling continued her writing, particularly fantasy stories. But it wasn’t until l990 that she first came up with the idea about Harry Potter. As she recalls(回忆), it was on a long train journey from London to Manchester that “the idea of Harry Potter simply fell into my head. To my great disappointment, I didn’t have a pen with me, and I was too shy to ask anybody if I could borrow one. I think, now, that this was probably a good thing, because I simply sat and thought, for four (delayed train) hours, and all the details came up in my brain, and this thin, black-haired, bespectacled(戴眼镜的)boy who didn't know he was a wizard became more and more real to me.”
That same year, her mother died after a ten-year fight with serious diseases, which deeply affected her writing. She went on to marry and had a daughter, but separated from her husband shortly afterwards.
During this time, Rowling was diagnosed with depression(诊断患有抑郁症). Unemployed, she finished her first novel in area cafes, where she could get her daughter to fall asleep. After being refused by l2 publishing houses, the first Harry Potter novel was sold to a small British publishing house.
Now with seven books that have sold nearly 400 million copies in 64 languages, J. K. Rowling is the highest earning novelist in history. And it all began with her friend’s encouragement as well as her ambition to write.
1. Who believed J. K. Rowling was to be a good writer?
A.Her friend Sean. B.Her mother.
C.Her daughter. D.Her husband.
2.Rowling first came up with the idea about Harry Potter________.
A.at the age of 6 B.on a train journey
C.after her mother’s death D.in her secondary school
3.She felt disappointed on the train because_________.
A.her train was delayed for four hours
B.she didn’t have a pen with her
C.her mind suddenly went blank
D.no one would offer her help
4.It can be concluded from Paragraph 5 and 6 that Rowling is_________.
A.open-minded B.warm-hearted
C.good-natured D.strong-willed
5.The text mainly tells us_________.
A.adversity makes a good novelist
B.the courage to try is a special ability
C.you can have a wonderful idea everywhere
D.encouragement helps one succeed
This is a true story from Guyana.One day, a boy took a piece of paper from a box.He made a paper ball and pushed it into his nose.He couldn’t get it out.He ran crying to his mother.His mother couldn’t get the paper out, either.A week later, the paper was still in the boy’s nose.His nose began to have a bad smell.
So his mother took the boy to a hospital.The doctor looked up at the child’s nose, but she couldn’t get the paper out.She said she had to cut the boy’s nose to get the paper out.
The boy’s mother came home looking sad.She didn’t want her child to have his nose cut.The next day she took the boy to her friend Sidney who lived in a house with an old lady called May.May wanted to see the child, so the child let her look up his nose.
“Yes, I can see it,” May said.“It will be out soon.”
As she spoke, she shook some black pepper on the child’s nose.The child gave a mighty(强而有力的) sneeze and the paper flew out.His mother was surprised.May told his mother to take the boy to the seaside for a swim, for the salt water would go up his nose and stop the bad smell.
So the lucky boy didn’t have to go to the hospital to have his nose cut.
1.After the boy pushed a paper ball into his nose, ____.
A.he took it out
B.his mother took it out
C.he tried to take it out but failed
D.he did nothing but cry
2.Which of the following is TRUE?
A.The doctor helped to take the paper ball out of the boy’s nose.
B.The boy had to have his nose cut at last.
C.The boy’s mother found some black pepper to solve the problem.
D.May succeeded in taking the paper out.
3.The boy should be taken to the seaside for a swim because ____.
A.he needed to learn to swim.
B.the sea water would wash out the paper ball.
C.the sea water would stop the bad smell of his nose.
D.he needed a rest.
4.The paper ball stayed in the boy’s nose for ________.
A.at most seven days B.less than seven days
C.more than seven days D.exactly seven days
5.According to the story,______was most worried about the boy’s accident.
A.the boy’s mother B.Sidney
C.May D.the doctor
书面表达
请从下列人物中选择你最喜欢的一位,用英语写一篇80~100词左右的短文。需包含以下三部分内容:
内容要点如下:
1. 对该人物的简单介绍;
2. 喜欢该人物的理由;
3. 从该人物身上得到的启示。
Thomas Edison | Helen Keller | William Shakespeare |
短文改错
短文中共有10处错误,错误涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加:在缺词处加一个漏词符号(∧),并在此符号下面写出该加的词。
删除:把多余的词用斜线( \ )划掉。
修改:在错的词下划一横线,并在该词的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。
The students’ union will organize an activity when we can exchange items we don’t need with others. If you are interested it, you can join in between three and six on Saturday afternoon on the Central Road in our school. As a matter of the fact, many of us have difficulty deal with used things that mean little to us. If you take it there, not only can you get anything you want, but you can also help others. Beside, it will be a good chance to communicate and make new friend. Any used items is welcome, such as used books, shoes, watches. The more, the good.
单词拼写
1.I saw many f_____________ cows rush up the street.
2.You can’t j__________ a book by its cover.
3.She is very g____________ because she always shares things with others.
4.Before stepping onto the s_________ of The Voice of China, the young singer took a deep breath to keep her courage up.
5.The people trapped in the fire in this building must be r________ as soon as possible.
6.Whenever an earthquake happens, it may cause ___________ (损害)to the people and buildings in the area.
7.Please give him my ________________(祝贺)when you see him.
8.It is his great pleasure to be presented with the highest ___________(奖金)by the principle.
9.The newspaper sent some ___________(记者)to cover the event immediately it happened.
10.How do you do to prevent people asking you for ___________(法律的)advice when you’re out of the office?