Question

    There is beauty in each moment of our lives, but often we're too distracted to notice it. Instead, we spend much of our time worrying about the future or regretting the past, and this habit can have negative consequences for our mental and physical health.

That's why many people today are turning to the practice of mindfulness(正念减压法). Simply put, mindfulness means focusing on the present moment. Let's say you're sitting in traffic after a long day's work. Rather than dwelling on(老是想着)an unpleasant incident that occurred earlier or worrying about your schedule for the next day, you might direct your attention to the sound of the rain drops battering the windshield or to a specific image before you. By directing your attention to the here and now, you automatically shift your focus away from self-image, success, and other stress-inducing concerns.

Such a shift in consciousness helps us form more meaningful connections with others and handle problems with greater ease. It also lets us appreciate life's many little pleasures. So, it's not surprising that mindfulness has been found to help in the treatment of depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and even physical problems related to stress, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and upset stomachs.

How do you practice mindfulness? While it's often associated with meditation, you don't actually need to be in a particular place or position to cultivate it. In fact, it can be incorporated(使并入)into almost any daily activity, including eating, walking, showering, or doing the dishes. Let's take this last activity as an illustration:

Begin by bringing your attention to your breath. Inhale(吸入)through your nose allowing the air to expand your belly, and exhale through your mouth. Notice the sensations as each breath goes in and out.

As you engage in the task of washing the dishes, direct your awareness to the scent of the soap, the sound of the running water, and the feel of the suds(肥皂泡沫)between your fingers. Simply be aware of these and any other immediate sensations without forming any judgments about them.

At times, this process may not be relaxing, especially when what you're doing is boring or unpleasant. Nevertheless, by practicing mindfulness, we can learn to accept whatever situations life brings us and, over time develop greater happiness.

1.Why is the example of “sitting in traffic” mentioned in Paragraph 2?

A.To appreciate beauty at the present moment.

B.To explain the meaning of mindfulness.

C.To describe the traffic accident in the street.

D.To attract the reader's attention to the traffic.

2.Which of the following is the benefit of mindfulness?

A.Finding out problems in study more easily.

B.Helping cure diseases like high blood pressure.

C.Allowing us to enjoy small pleasures in life.

D.Making friends with other people in the traffic.

3.From the passage, mindfulness can be practised by_____________.

A.finding a particular place to cultivate it

B.bringing our attention to our breath

C.burying ourselves in washing the dishes

D.putting it to use in our everyday life

4.What is the passage mainly about?

A.The reasons why people begin to practise mindfulness.

B.The differences between mindfulness and meditation.

C.The benefits of mindfulness and the way to practice it.

D.The ways we should keep healthy mentally and physically.

Answer

1.B

2.C

3.D

4.C

【解析】

本文是一篇说明文。生活中的美时刻在我们身边，但常常对它视而不见。我们时常担心未来、悔恨过去。那何不试试用“正念”找回真正的人生。

1.推理判断题。根据文章第二段，作者以sitting in traffic为例，旨在通过举例方式来进一步解释说明本段主题，即“mindfulness means focusing on the present moment. ”（正念减压法指的就是关注当下）。故选B项。

2.细节理解题。根据第三段“It also lets us appreciate life's many little pleasures.”（它同时可以帮助我们欣赏生活中的小确幸）可知，正念能帮助我们享受生活中许多小乐趣。故选C项。

3.细节理解题。根据第四段“In fact, it can be incorporated into almost any daily activity, including eating, walking, showering, or doing the dishes.”（事实上，它可以被融入到我们生活的方方面面，包括饮食、步行、洗浴甚至是洗盘子）可知，正念可运用到我们的日常生活中。故选D项。

4.主旨大意题。结尾段阐述正念减压的好处，即“by practicing mindfulness, we can learn to accept whatever situations life brings us and, over time develop greater happiness.”（通过践行正念减压法，我们可以学着接受生活当中出现的各种境遇，长此以往，会给我们带来更多的幸福感）。纵观本文，先介绍了正念减压法的含义和好处，然后告诉我们怎样进行正念减压训练。故选C项。