While we may think it feels good to complain, complaining has some bad effects associated with it.
Why isn't complaining beneficial? Research shows that it connects our brain with negativity.The brain is designed to work efficiently.This means that when we repeat a thought, negative or positive, the nerve cells form a bridge between each other to pass information in a higher speed.Therefore, the next time we have a similar type of thought, it is more easily passed.This explains why certain thought patterns become habits.
Yet the harmful effects don't stop there.A study shows that complaining causes the hippocampus(海马区), which plays a vital role in problem-solving, to become smaller.
In addition to causing brain damage, complaining also releases a stress hormone: cortisol, a kind of chemical the body produces when we meet with some danger.Constantly having a high level of cortisol results in high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and lower immunity(免疫力).
The ill effects of our complaining aren't just limited to ourselves: they also involve those around us.We tend to mirror the moods of our friends.For this reason, we should be cautious about having stubborn complainers in our circle of companions.
The best way to deal with constant negativity is to develop a sense of gratitude(感恩).Just like complaining acts as a poison, gratitude acts as a medicine.Research shows it lowers cortisol levels by 23 percent, as well as reduces blood pressure and blood sugar.It also decreases tiredness and depression.Gratitude is the perfect cure for complaining, a behavior that steals our brain power, happiness and physical well-being.
What have you observed about the effects of complaining in your own life or in the lives of others? Have you noticed that when you are grateful, you feel better all over? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.
1.What do Para 2-3 mainly talk about?
A. The diseases caused by complaining.
B. The decrease of a vital part of our brain.
C. The bad effects of complaining on brain power.
D. The reason why certain thought patterns become habits.
2.What can we know about cortisol from the passage?
A. Gratitude is an effective cure for Cortisol.
B. Our body produce cortisol when we feel exited.
C. Cortisol is a chemical that can cause brain damage.
D. Having a high level of cortisol can lead to many health problems.
3.What attitude does the writer take to stubborn complainers?
A. Grateful. B. Tolerant.
C. Disapproving. D. Skeptical.
4.Where can the passage most probably appear?
A. In a newspaper. B. In a medical report.
C. On a website. D. In a radio program.
Thanks to technology, ride-hailing(打车) is as easy as opening an app on your phone. According to Didi, China’s top ride-hailing app, 81.3 percent of passengers preferred using an online service last year. But just like many other modern high-tech developments, convenience comes with concerns.
Didi Chuxing announced a trial re-launch of its carpool(拼车) service, Didi Hitch(滴滴顺风车), in seven cities including Harbin, Taiyuan and Beijing from Nov 20. More than a year ago, Didi suspended the service following the murders of two separate female passengers in May and August, respectively.
The re-launch comes with a range of new safety features. One of the new measures proved controversial. It carried out an 8 pm curfew(宵禁) on women, but allowed men to enjoy the service till 11 pm.
Many users complained on social media that the policy was sexist. According to CNN, the topic “#Women Can’tTakeDidiAfter8PM#” was trending on weibo, with one post calling it “negative marketing and gender- biased(性别歧视的)”. It had gained more than70,000 likes as of Nov 11.
After the strong public reaction, Didi Chuxing changed its decision. Both men and women will be able to use Didi Hitch between 5 am and 8 pm.
According to CNN, Didi Hitch had logged more than a billion total rides before its suspension, but it remains to be seen if the company can win back users’ trust.
Didi is not the only ride-sharing app to arouse public safety concerns, nor is it the only one to attempt special protections for women. The globally popular car-hailing services Uber and Lyft now require strict background checks and emergency SMS services that will automatically send a car’s description, license number, and current location to police, CBS news reported.
According to CNBC, one Boston-based ride-hailing service only hires women to drive and will only accept women or children under 13 as passengers. Despite all the safety features, riders should check their drivers’ number plates, ensure they are being taken on the correct route, and inform friends of travel plans.
1.What are the first six paragraphs mainly about?
A.Safety tips for using Didi Hitch. B.Public safety concerns over Didi Hitch.
C.The advantages of Didi Hitch’s new services. D.The recent developments of Didi Hitch.
2.The underlined word “suspended” in Paragraph 2 probably means ________.
A.improved on something B.worried about something
C.stopped something for a time D.took the responsibility for something
3.Why did Didi Chuxing change its Hitch curfews?
A.Because of its recent online risk analysis.
B.Because of the public’s negative reaction.
C.For the convenience of different users.
D.For the sake of safety problems of women.
4.The passage is probably taken from________.
A.an advertisement B.a textbook
C.a newspaper D.a public speech
Returns & Refund Guarantee
The “Returns & Refund Guarantee” is a promise provided by sellers for every item they sell on DHgate.com. When you receive an item that was bought and paid for on our site, and you find it is not as described or is of low quality, you can contact the seller to resolve these problems. DHgate will offer additional assistance if the seller is not cooperative.
Scope
The following points should not be included in the “Returns & Refund Guarantee”:
▲The seller didn’t make any promise.
▲The seller can provide evidence to prove the items are as described.
▲You didn’t contact the seller within the promised time.
▲You have released the payment to the seller before asking DHgate for help.
Sellers are able to set up the following promise:
Returning items for any reason
Buyers can return items for a refund within a specific day which has been set up by sellers, such as 3 days, and 7 days from the day when the items are received. The items’ receive date is the date that is indicated on the shipping carrier’s official website. Buyers should prepay any return shipping cost, which will be given back to the buyers after the seller receives the items as long as the items are returned in the same exact condition as when they were delivered.
Returns or Refunds accepted if the product has quality issues
Buyers can return the items for a refund when they are not as described or possess quality issues by communicating directly with the seller. The seller is responsible for the return shipping cost.
Buyers can get a refund and keep the items when the items are not as described or possess quality issues by negotiating directly with sellers.
1.Who can get additional assistance from DHgate in the guarantee?
A.The buyers in physical stores. B.The buyers on DHgate.com.
C.The sellers on DHgate.com. D.Both the buyers and the sellers.
2.Which situation is within the scope of the guarantee?
A.The seller didn’t make any promise.
B.The buyer has paid the seller in advance.
C.The buyer asked for help within the promised time.
D.The seller proves that there is nothing wrong with the item.
3.Which of the following is true according to the passage?
A.All the sellers didn’t make promises.
B.DHgate sometimes will pay the buyers.
C.Sellers should prepay return shipping cost.
D.The buyer can’t keep the items after getting a refund.
请根据以下要点以“My Best Friend”为题写一篇英语短文。
1. 简要描述你的朋友（外貌特征、性格等）；
2. 简述你们是如何成为好朋友的。
注意：1.词数:80-100；
2.不能透露个人真实姓名、学校等信息。
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阅读下面短文，用英语简要回答文后所给的五个问题，并将答案写在答题卡对应位置。（注意：每题答语不超过15个单词）
Mr. Black was spending his holiday in Africa. One day he watched some elephants passing by. Each of them was tied to his front legs only by a small rope. To his great surprise, these large strong animals could easily run away, but they did not.
So Mr. Black asked the owner why not a single elephant made an attempt to break free. The owner said, ''When the elephants were very young, the same size ropes were used to tie them, and at that time the ropes were strong enough to hold them. Now they have grown big and strong, but they believe that the ropes still hold them and it is impossible to escape, so they never try to get away. ''
Sometimes people act like these elephants. They often give up after the first failures. In fact, the failures are part of learning. If we want to succeed, we should never give up, but try and try again.
1.Where was Mr. Black spending his holiday?
2.What was each of the elephants tied by?
3.How did Mr. Black feel when he saw the elephants did not try to get away?
4.Why do the elephants never try to break free?
5.According to the text, what should we do if we want to succeed?
My 26, 2016
Dear Mr Landers,
I run a bookstore above Mr Shah's flower shop at 24 High Street. I started the business 20 years ago and it is now very successful. My customers have to walk through the flower shop to the stairs at the back which lead to my bookshop. This has never been a problem.
Mr Shah plans to retire later this year, and I have heard that you plan to rent the space to a music bar, I have thought about renting it myself and make my shop bigger, but I cannot persuade anyone to lend me that much money. My customers come to the bookstore to relax and the noise of a music bar will surely drive them away.
I have always paid my rent on time. You have told me that you wish me to continue with my business for as long as possible. I believe you own another empty shop in the High Street. Could the music bar go there, where it would not influence other people's businesses?
I hope you think carefully about this.
Sincerely,
Billy
1.From Paragraph 1, we know that the writer is ________ with his business.
A.embarrassed B.disappointed
C.satisfied D.tired
2.Why is it difficult for the writer to make his shop bigger?
A.He is short of money. B.He has no good friends.
C.He doesn't pay the rent. D.He has fewer customers.
3.What is the writer's main purpose of writing the letter?
A.To show why his store is successful.
B.To avoid problems for his business.
C.To explain why his customers are sad.
D.To rent the shop space downstairs.
