Question

Some of the best research on daily experience is rooted in rates of positive and negative interactions, which has proved that being blindly positive or negative can cause others to be frustrated or annoyed or to simply tune out.

Over the last two decades, scientists have made remarkable predictions simply by watching people interact with one another and then scoring the conversations based on the rate of positive and negative interactions. Researchers have used the findings to predict everything from the likelihood that a couple will divorce to the chances of a work team with high customer satisfaction and productivity levels.

More recent research helps explain why these brief exchanges matter so much. When you experience negative emotions as a result of criticism or rejection, for example, your body produces higher levels of the stress hormone, which shuts down much of your thinking and

activates(激活) conflict and defense mechanisms(机制). You assume that situations are worse

than they actually are.

When you experience a positive interaction, it activates a very different response. Positive exchanges increase your body’s production of oxytocin, a feel-good that increases your ability to communicate with, cooperate with and trust others. But the effects of a positive occurrence are less dramatic and lasting than they are for a negative one.

We need at least three to five positive interactions to outweigh every one negative exchange. Bad moments simply outweigh good ones. Whether you’re having a conversation, keep this simple short cut in mind: At least 80 percent of your conversations should be focused on what’s going right.

Workplaces, for example, often see this. During performance reviews, managers routinely spend 80 percent of their time on weaknesses and “areas for improvement”. They spend roughly 20 percent of the time on strengths and positive aspects. Any time you have discussions with a person or group, spend the vast majority of the time talking about what is working, and use the remaining time to address weaknesses.

1.The underlined phrase “tune out” in Paragraph 1 probably means.

A. stop listening    B. change mind

C. sing aloud    D. be crazy

2.What will happen if you experience negative emotions?

A. The situations are sure to become worse.

B. Much of your thinking will be prevented.

C. You will feel an urge to improve and become better.

D. You’ll be motivated to resolve conflicts with people.

3.From Paragraph 4, we can learn that     .

A. we need a positive feeling to beat one negative feeling

B. positive interactions have greater effects than negative ones

C. our conversation should center on what needs improvement

D. the effect of negative feelings lasts longer than that of positive ones

4.What is the best title for the passage?

A. Harmful Negatives    B. More Positive Interactions

C. How to Be a Productive Manager    D. Less Time on Strengths

Answer

1. A

2. B

3. D

4. B

【解析】

一些关于日常经验的研究证明，当你因为批评或遭到拒绝而经历负面情绪时，你的身体会产生较高水平的应激激素，它关闭了你的思维，激活冲突和防御的机制。而当你体验到积极的互动时，积极的交流会增加你与他人沟通、合作和信任的能力。但是积极的影响不如消极的影响更持久，它需要三到五个积极的互动才能去掉一个负面互动。这给我们一个启示，在谈话时尽可能多的积极互动，才会调动人的积极性。

1.A

猜测词义题。根据第一段中的内容可知，一些关于日常经验的最好研究是建立在积极和消极互动率的基础上的，这证明了盲目的积极或消极会使其他人感到沮丧或烦恼，或者干脆不理睬。分析选项的内容可知A项与划线词意思相同。

2.B

细节理解题。根据第三段中的中间部分“When you experience negative emotions as a result of criticism or rejection, for example, your body produces higher levels of the stress hormone, which shuts down much of your thinking and activates (激活) conflict and defense mechanisms (机制).”可知，你经历负面情绪时，你的身体会产生较高水平的应激激素，这会切断你的大部分思考，激活冲突和防御机制。故当你经历负面情绪的时候，你的大部分思考是被阻止了。B项正确。

3.D

细节理解题。根据第四段最后一句“But the effects of a positive occurrence are less dramatic and lasting than they are for a negative one.”可知，正面事件的影响比负面事件的影响要小和不持久，所以负面情绪的影响要比正面情绪的影响持续时间就，故D项正确。

4.B

主旨大意题。通读全文可知，一些关于日常经验的研究证明，当你因为批评或遭到拒绝而经历负面情绪时，你的身体会产生较高水平的应激激素，它切断了你的思维，激活冲突和防御的机制。而当你体验到积极的互动时，积极的交流会增加你与他人沟通、合作和信任的能力。但是积极的影响不如消极的影响更持久，它需要三到五个积极的互动才能去掉一个负面互动。这给我们一个启示，在谈话时尽可能多的积极互动，才会调动人的积极性。故B项More Positive Interactions（更多积极互动）是最佳题目。