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This is a stranger truth that anyone older than 25 will already know: as life goes on, time seems to speed up. Think back to childhood when holidays seemed to last forever and you attended a school for what felt like decades. Now consider last year, by contrast, and it probably raced by. As those in their 30s and 40s will know, the effect gets worse with age—and, for people in their 70s, a year can flash by in what seems like days. “Where did the time go?” we wonder.
One study found that if you’re 40, assuming you live to be 80, your life, in terms of your subjective experience of time, is already 70 percent gone. It’s all rather terrifying. Fortunately, though, you have the power to change things.
The best explanation is that memories seem longer when our brains have to process more information. Childhood and young adulthood are full of novelty—the first time you rode a bike, had a romance, go job—but, as we get older, things get more routine. You can test this out by recalling a recent experience of novelty in your life, such as travel. A few years back, I went skiing for the first time, and that four-day trip still feels “long”. But a four-day period in my ordinary life zooms by too quickly for me to notice.
One solution, then, is obvious: do lots of new stuff. Travel more, if you can, and to unfamiliar places. Try new hobbies and meet new people—you’ll be taxing your brain, and the result will be a life that feels longer, more expansive and meaningful. But smaller changes work, too: even altering the route you take to the office, reading different kinds of novels or varying where you buy your sandwich at lunchtime will have some impact.
But novelty can only go so far. Besides, a fulfilling life requires routine: you can’t build deep relationships, or rise through the ranks at work if you’re always switching friends or jobs or even spouses. That’s why the Buddhist teacher Shinzen Young suggests an additional strategy: learn to meditate(冥想). Even a few minutes a day will enhance your concentration, and the better you get at concentrating, the more information your brain will take in during any experience, no matter how boring.
You’ll be making your whole life a little more novel. You’ll be more present and time will pass less quickly; in effect, you’ll extend your life—without magic pills or groundbreaking medical technology.
Title: How to stop time speeding up | |
Passage outline | Supporting details |
A truth familiar to 1. | ●Everything seemed to last longer in our childhood, 2. holidays. ●With people 3., the worsening effect makes them believe time goes faster and faster. |
Findings of a previous study | There exists an explicit gap between our real age and our 4. understanding of how old we are. |
The best explanation | 5. something fresh can make our memories last. |
Two possible 6. on handling the problem | ●Doing new stuff 7. much effort of our brain, causing a seemingly longer and more meaningful life. ●Making minor changes is also an 8. way to create longer feelings. ●Meditation helps people concentrate on routine and 9. more information from boring experiences. |
Conclusion | Even without medication, people can live a more novel life and experiencing slow flow of time actually 10. their life. |
Despite all the ways we have to interact with others, people still feel isolated and lone. Loneliness is an increasing problem—so much so that, last year, the government introduced a loneliness strategy and minister for loneliness. We used to talk of the condition in relation to older people but rarely gender. It may come as a surprise then that so many of those affected by loneliness are men.
A recent YouGov survey for Movember, a charity event that raises awareness of men’s health issues, asked men about their friendships and whether they had people outside their homes they could swap their worries with. Half of men asked said they had two or fewer friends and one in eight had none—that’s 2.5 million men with no close friends. Even worse, men’s friendlessness doubles between their early 20s and late middle age.
Isolation can have physical and mental health implications. A 2017 report by the Commission on Loneliness said loneliness is as harmful to health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Research shows correlation between loneliness and heart disease and strokes, and other studies associate loneliness with depression. However, why are so many men affected? In our latest podcast, psychotherapist Noel Bell says some men feel they have to be self-reliant. Due to widespread social stereotypes(刻板印象), it can be viewed as a sign of weakness for men to admit they have a problem, express their deepest feelings or discuss a serious personal topic.
Perhaps due to the way generations of men have been raised, it is often difficult to recognize feelings of loneliness in the first place. Behavioural differences between boys and girls are not naturally born at birth, they are socialised. Girls are stereotypically seen as more emotional and talkative and so their communicative and expressive skills are more valued than those of boys by parents and teachers, according to researchers.
For some men, having a partner and a family can somewhat shelter them from the negative effects of loneliness—but what if their personal circumstances change? After a relationship breaks down or there is a loss of you beloved, some men find their friends have drifted away and they have no one to talk to. Social media can be beneficial if it leads to interaction in the real world, but online networks are no substitute for face-to-face friendships—the number of likes on your most recent post does not compare with genuine connection.
Social activities such as team sports aren’t for everyone and, if you’re already feeling lonely or isolated, it can be difficult to build the confidence to enter those environments and connect over a shared interest. There is also the danger that some male-dominated social environments encourage drinking alcohol and may not be the right places for those who are feeling the mental health effects of isolation. That said, ‘shoulder to shoulder’ active interactions for men, such as exercise, especially running, are proven to be beneficial. But such activities do not interest all men and this is where psychotherapy(心理疗法) can be of particular use.
Don’t suffer in silence. A psychotherapist is not a friend, nor is therapy a substitute for a meaningful friendship. A therapist will, however, help a client identify what may be creating barriers to them building supportive friendships and determine the factors that may be causing their feelings of isolation. A therapist will work with the client to address their issues, providing a fair, non-judgemental space in which a lonely person can work out what is best for them and how to move towards a more connected and contented life. Bell, a famous therapist, says too many men enter therapy only when a situation has reached crisis point and he encourages men not to bottle up their emotions. “Reflecting on your feelings is healthy and normal,” he says.
1.Who used to be the prime victims of loneliness?
A.Junior students. B.Isolated ministers.
C.Mature men. D.Senior citizens.
2.What does the survey done by YouGov imply?
A.Men tend to expand their social circle after their adolescence.
B.Young and middle-aged male adults suffer more from loneliness.
C.Loneliness remains at the same level despite different ages.
D.Deep friendships are difficult to maintain between the males.
3.According to the Nobel Bell, men’s loneliness is relevant to _______.
A.the fear of dying of heart disease and strokes
B.the depression popular among men of all ages
C.the conventional view on how men should behave
D.their reliance on outside assistance through hardships
4.In terms of social stereotypes, girls are better at _______.
A.gaining sympathy from men B.hiding their true emotions
C.disciplining their own behavior D.interacting with other people
5.Why does the author mention social media in Paragraph 5?
A.To stress the importance of real interaction to men.
B.To introduce a possible way out of loneliness for men.
C.To contradict the belief that men feel lonely online.
D.To illustrate how social media can relieve depression.
6.When might a psychotherapist be of particular use?
A.When there is no substitute for the current therapy.
B.Not until a man is fully conscious of the crisis point?
C.When active interactions fail to attract a lonely man.
D.After a man is excluded from a team of common interests.
Throwing handfuls of bread to birds has long been seen as harmless enough. But in recent years, some scientists have suggested that bread might not do birds’ digestive systems any good, saying that as uneaten food rots down, the water quality worsens and algal blooms can occur. Plus, by encouraging birds to gather in one place, the build-up of droppings may result in outbreaks of disease too. Meanwhile, many cities have signs telling us not to feed pigeons and gulls, which are considered an “annoyance” due to the mess they make, and scattering bread inevitably attracts rats and mice.
It seems that the public has accepted these warnings, and that fewer of us now feed birds this way. In October, a sign went up in a Derbyshire park claiming that the local birds were dying of starvation, and urging visitors to feed them as before. When online posts about the notice went viral, feathers flew as people debated the benefits of handing out bread to birds.
Paul Stancliffe of the British Trust for Ornithology(BTO) points out that there’s insufficient scientific evidence for bread harming birds, adding that, as little research has been done, it could even turn out to be beneficial. ① “We just don’t know,” he says. Although bread is a heavily processed “unnatural” food intended for humans, that alone may be insufficient grounds for not feeding it to birds.
In the 1980s, the Wildfowl & Wetland Trust (WWT) carried out a comparative study of different flocks of mute swans, and the birds that consumed the most bread had weaker muscles, implying that a bread-heavy diet might be the cause. “Our official line is that bread is okay for ducks, geese and swans, but only in moderation,” says WWT’s Peter Morris. “However, this advice comes with several other warnings.” ② The first is that it’s best offered in winter, when there is less plant and insect food around. In spring and summer, too much artificial food may not be a good idea, since young birds have to learn how to look after themselves and natural food will contain a wider range of nutrients to help them grow.
“Just like us, birds need a varied diet to stay healthy,” says a spokesperson for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds(RSPB). “Although ducks, geese and swans can digest all types of bread, too much can leave them feeling full without giving them all of the important vitamins, minerals and nutrients they need.” ③
When bird feeding first became popular in the UK in the 19th century, some Victorians encouraged tough love, arguing that such handouts would only make our feathered friends lazy and dependent on welfare. ④ Morris says that there is a theory that wild birds can get “hooked” on easy meals, losing interest in other types of food. Another danger, he says, is that birds fed regularly end up accustomed to humans, placing themselves at greater risk of predation(捕食).
1.How can feeding birds with bread affect our urban life?
A.Birds’ mess can attract many rats and mice.
B.Birds’ gathering in one place disturbs our peace.
C.Bread goes bad and the water quality will suffer.
D.Human beings are likely to be infected with bird flu.
2.If birds rely on a bread-heavy diet, there is a strong possibility that ________.
A.they will become bigger in size with stronger muscles
B.lack of certain nutrients negatively influences their health
C.their digestive system will be damaged by artificial food
D.they would soon choose bread rather than natural food
3.Where does the sentence “Such moralizing sounds old-fashioned nowadays, but may have a grain of truth.” best suit?
A.① B.② C.③ D.④
4.What is the best title for this passage?
A.Is feeding birds a wise choice? B.Why not feed our bird neighbours?
C.Can we treat birds as friends? D.When do birds need our food aid?
You are standing in a hall packed with friends, family, colleagues and peers. You are about to walk onto the stage and address theme. You’re expected to say something meaningful and profound and everyone is hanging on your every word. You need to be clearly spoken, confident and calm, maybe even funny. How do you feel?
If you’re shaking, sweating and looking for the exit, you’re normal. Most of us are scared of public speaking and yet, as a society, we’re becoming more obsessed with hearing what people have to say: we watch endless TED talks, download podcasts and screen hours of YouTube clips. Being able to address a crowd is no longer the domain of the brave—if you want to get ahead in your career, you need to master it. I’ve done enough public speaking to have picked up some tips and tricks, and these are the ones I rely on most.
The most important thing is to prepare. You don’t have to write out your speech word by word but get the headline, three key points and the concluding sentence on paper and put bullet points under each. Then run through it and note which of your bullet points made it in and what you added. Adapt your notes and try again. Keep going until you have a structure.
Now it’s time to watch yourself—yes, get out your camera and film yourself. This is how you will see the points that need work and where you can polish it up.
Most of the information the audience will take away will be from your energy and your tone, a little from your words. Once you have sorted out the words, focus on how to exude(散发) the right energy—do you need confidence or humor? I go for confidence so, five minutes before a talk, I try to recall a success I’ve had. I focus on the details and aim to bring that feelings of competence to life.
Finally, breathe. We cannot speak without breath, yet it is the first thing we let go of when we are nervous. Settle your breathing before you start. If you lose control of your breath in the middle, say “Let’s take a moment to think about that last point.” That gives you a pause to collect your breath. The only way to get over a fear of public speaking is to do it, again and again. You will have good and bad experiences but, if you do it enough, you’ll realize that, occasionally, it’s fun.
1.According to the author, why is public speech important to the average?
A.Friendships can be established through it.
B.Public speeches can display our courage.
C.There are more occasions for pubic speeches.
D.It is beneficial to our way up the career ladder.
2.Which of the following tips is recommended by the author?
A.Preparing and writing down every detail.
B.Displaying right energy during the speech.
C.Watching famous films of public speeches.
D.Telling key points and bullet points apart.
3.What view does the author hold about public speaking?
A.It creates more and more fun if we stick to practice.
B.It is easier to practise at home than to perform outside.
C.Experiences of public speaking can delight us sometimes.
D.Attempts to give public speaking tend to fail in the end.
Twin Cities Campus · Office of Admissions
240 Williamson Hall · 231 Pillsbury Drive SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455
Dear Blair Connie,
Congratulations! You have been admitted to the University of Minnesota (U of M) Twin Cities. Your college of admission is the College of Science and Engineering.
We believe your accomplishments have prepared you well to thrive here. When you step on campus as a Golden Gopher, you will be involved in our world-class academic programs and will shape your future in cutting-edge facilities.
Choose a community bursting with Gopher pride. By choosing the U of M, you choose to work with classmates and professors who are “Driven to Discover.” When you choose the U of M, you will...
■Discover exceptional academics. With thousands of courses to pick from each semester, you can engage with professors who are leaders in their fields and make meaningful connections with your fellow students in our technology-packed active learning classrooms.
■Discover unique opportunities. At the U of M, your college experience goes beyond the classroom. Your knowledge and talents can shine in one of our 900+ student organizations.
■Discover an ideal location. Campus is in the center of Minneapolis and St. Paul, where you can work as trainees at one of the 18 Fortune 500 companies or thousands of startups and nonprofits in the Twin Cities.
■Discover great value. The U of M is committed to four-year graduation, which lowers your costs and gets you an internationally recognized degree sooner. The University has been named “best value” by Forbes, Princeton Review, and Kiplinger’s.
On behalf of the U of M, we are honored to have you join our academic community. In the coming weeks you will receive additional information about your next steps to becoming a U of M student. Welcome to the Class of 2024!
Executive Director of Admissions
Sincerely
Heidi Meyer
1.What does the underlined phrase “a Golden Gopher” refer to?
A.A freshman. B.A professor. C.An amateur. D.An inspector.
2.Which of the following is the benefit of choosing the U of M?
A.The university invites leaders in different fields to teach on campus.
B.There are numerous clubs which offer students various activities.
C.It is so ideally located that you have easy access to famous top brands.
D.Many magazines rank it among the top universities with high tuition.
When I was a child my father taught me five words that I’ve used all my life—in my acting career, as a mother, in my business activities. If I _______ that I was afraid of the dark, or if I seemed worried about meeting new people, Dad would say, “Stand porter to your _______.”
A porter is a gatekeeper, who stands at a door _______ people in or out. Dad would get me to _______ myself stopping destructive things—such as fear—at the door, _______ saying “Come in” to faith, love and self-assurance.
As a(n) _______, before I went on camera, I’d make sure anxiety stayed out and confidence in my ability came in. As a mother, when I was _______ about my children, I would try not to let worry in but would _______ my mind with trust in them.
Of course, there were always times I’d _______ those words.
In 1972 my husband, Fillmore Crank, and I opened the doors to our own __________ in North Hollywood. This was a new business venture for us, and it was a lot more __________ and complicated than we had __________.
We were on call 24 hours a day. Something was always going __________. Electricity went on the blink, food wasn’t delivered, employees called in sick. Once, a flu epidemic __________ left us with no maids. Fillmore gave me a __________: scrub floors or do the laundry. For 10 days I folded enough king-size sheets to __________ the whole state of California.
Then there was the __________ crisis. The price of gasoline doubled, and tourism in California __________. How could we fill our beds? What if we kept losing money? What if we failed? Fear and worry were sneaking in. But I caught them just __________. I stood porter.
I stood in the door of my mind and sent fear packing.
These days at the hotel, whenever fear tries to __________, I just smile and point to the sign that reads No Vacancy.
1.A.complained B.announced C.recalled D.decided
2.A.future B.find C.family D.studio
3.A.letting B.urging C.inviting D.observing
4.A.busy B.involve C.send D.picture
5.A.so B.and C.but D.or
6.A.official B.actress C.maid D.manager
7.A.serious B.curious C.anxious D.cautious
8.A.fill B.change C.read D.ease
9.A.eat B.twist C.exchange D.forget
10.A.clinic B.hotel C.laundry D.restaurant
11.A.promising B.demanding C.convincing D.boring
12.A.figured B.confirmed C.deduced D.suggested
13.A.sour B.missing C.wrong D.pale
14.A.hardly B.regularly C.specially D.suddenly
15.A.warning B.command C.choice D.solution
16.A.serve B.touch C.decorate D.blanket
17.A.credit B.energy C.identity D.family
18.A.ceased B.recovered C.dropped D.boomed
19.A.in time B.on purpose C.at random D.by chance
20.A.split B.shelter C.withdraw D.register
