We’ve all been there: in a lift, in line at the bank or on an airplane, surrounded by people who are, like us, deeply focused on their smartphones or, worse, struggling with the uncomfortable silence.
What’s the problem? It’s possible that we all have compromised conversational intelligence. It’s more likely that none of us start a conversation because it’s awkward and challenging, or we think it’s annoying and unnecessary. But the next time you find yourself among strangers, consider that small talk is worth the trouble. Experts say it’s an invaluable social practice that results in big benefits.
Dismissing small talk as unimportant is easy, but we can’t forget that deep relationships wouldn’t
even exist if it weren’t for casual conversation. Small talk is the grease(润滑剂) for social communication, says Bernardo Carducci, director of the Shyness Research Institute at Indiana University Southeast. ＂Almost every great love story and each big business deal begins with small talk,＂ he explains. ＂The key to successful small talk is learning how to connect with others, not just communicate with them.＂
In a 2014 study, Elizabeth Dunn, associate professor of psychology at UBC, invited people on their way into a coffee shop. One group was asked to seek out an interaction(互动) with its waiter; the other, to speak only when necessary. The results showed that those who chatted with their server reported significantly higher positive feelings and a better coffee shop experience. ＂It’s not that talking to the waiter is better than talking to your husband,＂ says Dunn. ＂But interactions with peripheral(边缘的) members of our social network matter for our well-being also.＂
Dunn believes that people who reach out to strangers feel a significantly greater sense of belonging, a bond with others. Carducci believes developing such a sense of belonging starts with small talk. ＂Small talk is the basis of good manners,＂ he says.
1.What phenomenon is described in the first paragraph?
A. Addiction to smartphones.
B. Inappropriate behaviours in public places.
C. Absence of communication between strangers.
D. Impatience with slow service.
2.What is important for successful small talk according to Carducci?
A. Showing good manners. B. Relating to other people.
C. Focusing on a topic. D. Making business deals.
3.What does the coffee-shop study suggest about small talk?
A. It improves family relationships. B. It raises people’s confidence.
C. It matters as much as a formal talk. D. It makes people feel good.
4.What is the best title for the text?
A. Conversation Counts B. Ways of Making Small Talk
C. Benefits of Small Talk D. Uncomfortable Silence
难度: 困难查看答案及解析
In the coming months, we are bringing together artists from all over the globe, to enjoy speaking Shakespeare’s plays in their language, in our Globe, within the architecture Shakespeare wrote for. Please come and join us.
National Theatre Of China Beijing｜Chinese
This great occasion(盛会) will be the National Theatre of China’s first visit to the UK. The company’s productions show the new face of 21st century Chinese theatre. This production of Shakespeare’s Richard III will be directed by the National’s Associate Director, Wang Xiaoying.
Date & Time: Saturday 28 April, 2.30 pm & Sunday 29 April, 1.30 pm & 6.30 pm
Marjanishvili Theatre Tbilisi｜Georgian
One of the most famous theatres in Georgia, the Marjanishvili, founded in 1928, appears regularly at theatre festivals all over the world. This new production of As You Like It is helmed(指导) by the company’s Artistic Director Levan Tsuladze.
Date & Time: Friday 18 May, 2.30 pm & Saturday 19 May, 7.30 pm
Deafinitely Theatre London｜British Sign Language(BSL)
By translating the rich and humourous text of Love’s Labour’s Lost into the physical language of BSL, Deafinitely Theatre creates a new interpretation of Shakespeare’s comedy and aims to build a bridge between deaf and hearing worlds by performing to both groups as one audience.
Date & Time: Tuesday 22 May, 2.30 pm & Wednesday 23 May, 7.30 pm
Habima National Theatre Tel Aviv｜Hebrew
The Habima is the centre of Hebrew-language theatre worldwide. Founded in Moscow after the 1905 revolution, the company eventually settled in Tel Aviv in the late 1920s. Since 1958, they have been recognized as the national theatre of Israel. This production of Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice marks their first visit to the UK.
Date & Time: Monday 28 May, 7.30 & Tuesday 29 May, 7.30 pm
1.Which play will be performed by the National Theatre of China?
A.RichardⅢ. B.Lover’s Labour’s Lost.
C.As You Like It. D.The Merchant of Venice.
2.What is special about Deafinitely Theatre?
A.It has two groups of actors. B.It is the leading theatre in London.
C.It performs plays in BSL. D.It is good at producing comedies.
3.When can you see a play in Hebrew?
A.On Saturday 28 April. B.On Sunday 29 April.
C.On Tuesday 22 May. D.On Tuesday 29 May.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
California has been facing droughts for many years, with certain areas even having to pump freshwater hundreds of miles to their distribution system. The problem is growing as the population of the state continues to expand. New research has found deep water reserves under the state which could help solve their drought crisis. Previous drilling of wells could only reach depths of 1,000 feet, but due to new pumping practices, water deeper than this can now be extracted (抽取). The team at Stanford investigated the aquifers (地下蓄水层) below this depth and found that reserves may be three times what was previously thought.
It is profitable to drill to depths more than 1,000 feet for oil and gas, but only recently in California has it become profitable to pump water from this depth. The aquifers range from 1,000 to 3,000 feet below the ground, which means that pumping will be expensive and there are other concerns. The biggest concern is the gradual setting down of the land surface. As the water is pumped out, the vacant space left is pressed by the weight of the earth above.
Even though pumping from these depths is expensive, it is still cheaper than desalinating (脱盐) the ocean water in the largely coastal state. Some desalination plants exist where possible, but they are costly to run and can need constant repairs. Wells are much more reliable sources of freshwater, and California is hoping that these deep wells may be the answer to their severe water shortage.
One problem with these sources is that the deep water also has a higher level of salt than shallower aquifers. This means that some water may even need to be desalinated after extraction, thus increasing the cost. Research from the study of groundwater has just been published. New estimates of the water reserves now go up to 2,700 billion cubic meters of freshwater.
1.According to the text, what causes the water crisis in California?
A.Previous drilling of wells. B.The messy distribution system.
C.Constant droughts in the area. D.The adoption of new pumping practices.
2.The research teams think it ________ to extract water from deeper aquifers.
A.expensive but practical B.reliable and profitable
C.cost-free but demanding D.cheap and environment-friendly
3.What is mentioned as a consequence of extracting water from deep underground?
A.The damage to aquifers. B.The sinking of land surface.
C.The decrease in operation costs. D.The negative effects on the climate.
4.What is the author’s purpose in writing the text?
A.To encourage people to save water.
B.To promote the seawater desalination.
C.To introduce a new way of extracting freshwater.
D.To draw people’s attention to the droughts in California.
难度: 困难查看答案及解析
You’ve heard of the fat suit and the pregnancy suit; now meet AGNES—the old person suit.
AGNES stands for “Age Gain Now Empathy（换位体验）System” and was designed by researchers at MIT’s AgeLab to let you know what it feels like—physically—to be 75 years old. “The business of old age demands new tools, ” said Joseph Coughlin, director of the AgeLab. “While focus groups and observations and surveys can help you understand what the older consumer needs and wants, young marketers never get that ‘Ah ha!’ moment of having difficulty opening a jar, or getting in and out of a car. That’s what AGNES provides. ”
Coughlin and his team carefully adjusted the suit to make the wearer just as uncomfortable as an old person who has spent a lifetime eating poorly and not doing much exercise. Special shoes provide a feeling of imbalance, while braces on the knees and elbows limit joint mobility. Gloves give the feeling of decreased strength and mobility in the hands and wrists, and earplugs make it difficult to hear high-pitched sounds and soft tones. A helmet with straps（带）attached to it presses the spine（脊柱）.
AGNES has been used most recently by a group of students working on a design of an updated walker. By wearing the suit they could see for themselves what design and materials would make the most sense for a physically limited older person. Coughlin said the suit has also been used by clothing companies, car companies and retail goods companies to help them understand the limitations of an older consumer. An unexpected benefit they’ve found with AGNES is that it has become a powerful tool to get younger people to invest in their long-term health.
1.AGNES has been developed mainly to _______.
A.make the users more comfortable B.help old people move more quickly
C.let people understand the old better D.remind the young to take care of their health
2.According to the article, young marketers never _______.
A.ask what old people need and want
B.see the efforts old people make to put on clothes
C.feel the same way as old people do
D.say “Ah ha!” when they meet with difficulty
3.The third paragraph mainly talks about _______.
A.how researchers feel wearing AGNES B.how AGNES has been developed
C.how people act when they are old D.how AGNES works
4.The underlined phrase “an updated walker” in the last paragraph most likely refers to _______.
A.someone who travels a lot
B.a physically limited old person
C.some equipment that helps old people walk
D.a company providing service to the old
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Many people believe that there is some truth in the saying Laughter is the best medicine.1. Laughter helps relieve pain, strengthen the immune system and reduce stress. Laughter stimulates(激发) hormones which make us feel happy. Laughter also increases the flow of blood throughout the body and has benefits which are similar to the ones you get by doing exercise.
2.Children exposed to funny films and cartoons before major medical procedures are able to cope better with pain and anxiety.3.. These are professional clowns who are sent to hospitals and wards to entertain and distract sick children.
Laughter therapy has become very popular in recent years and as a result, more and more laughter clubs are starting to open up in cities and towns all over the world. At a laughter session, a trained therapist instructs the group to perform a series of exercises which are designed to produce laughter. 4.And it takes them some time to get rid of their inhibitions（心理抑制）.They might even start off with fake laughter, but this doesn’t matter because our bodies can’t tell the difference, and the results are the same. Moreover, laughter is contagious（传染的).5.
So next time you feel ill, stressed out or depressed, try watching a funny film or try remembering an amusing incident in your life. You will soon feel better.
A. If one person starts giggling, it is unavoidable that everyone else will be drawn in.
B. Laughter helps you focus.
C. This finding has led to so-called clown doctors.
D. In fact, research done by scientists has shown that laughter has a lot of health benefits.
E. Laughter makes the world a better and more colorful place.
F. Some people may find the idea embarrassing at first.
G. Using laughter therapy in children’s hospitals has proven to be invaluable.
难度: 简单查看答案及解析
As children enter and move through their school years, they become increasingly able to manage matters like homework and school projects on their own. _______, each year they should take on more responsibilities in the classroom and at home. These daily chores (家务) and responsibilities are an important part of learning that life requires _______, not just play.
Normally, of course, children are still single-minded with their _______ to have fun. While they may join in, particularly if _______ gives them time with their parents, children are not _______ to ask for household tasks, and parents often need to assign responsibilities as part of _______ to the family. At this age, many children find it difficult to _______ their chores, at least initially. Responsibility and initiative (积极性) are learned through a _______ process of guidance and reward.
As your own child takes on more responsibilities, he or she will probably have periods of acting _______, procrastinating(拖延) and dawdling (懒散). Most children do. During these times, parents need to step in and, with encouragement and gentle guidance, point him in the ________ direction.
Sometimes parents may demand too much ________ their children, or may see a problem in everything their children do. They may ________ them with too many responsibilities — an unfair number of chores, extra hours of taking care of younger siblings or a too strict schedule of after-school activities. When that happens, children may ________ taking on any responsibility at all. Parents need to ________ this kind of overloading, while still making sure that their youngsters are assuming a(n) ________ of responsibility. Children, of course ________ in the personalities. Some are simply not very persistent in the middle of chores. Others have difficulty getting organized. ________ others have trouble shifting from one activity to another. You should have a good ________ of your child’s style, and shape your ________ accordingly.
Children need to have some obligations and duties within the family, ________ they will notlearn to accept responsibility.
1.A.Next B.Also C.Therefore D.Alike
2.A.work B.music C.love D.sport
3.A.courage B.time C.effort D.desire
4.A.helping out B.coming out C.running out D.trying out
5.A.anxious B.likely C.afraid D.able
6.A.attending B.belonging C.appealing D.referring
7.A.check B.present C.record D.complete
8.A.gradual B.virtual C.casual D.punctual
9.A.inaccurately B.irresponsibly C.illegally D.impolitely
10.A.free B.usual C.right D.same
11.A.of B.with C.in D.out
12.A.replace B.compare C.combine D.burden
13.A.forget B.resist C.forgive D.risk
14.A.carry B.offer C.prevent D.protect
15.A.temporary B.limited C.universal D.appropriate
16.A.conflict B.differ C.fail D.change
17.A.Still B.Only C.Again D.Almost
18.A.point B.taste C.sense D.place
19.A.collections B.assumptions C.expectations D.conditions
20.A.and B.but C.for D.or
难度: 困难查看答案及解析
语法填空
A short trailer (预告片) has attracted huge attention on China’s social media platform, with many netizens 1.(regard) the short video as the “best commercial video of 2019”. It tells a 2.(touch) story that highlights Chinese families.
In the beginning, 3. senior man named Li Yubao living in a remote rural area asked his grandson on the phone what gifts he wanted for the Spring Festival, only 4. (hear) the word “Peppa” due to the poor mobile signal. Therefore, the man began his journey to discover who Peppa is. 5. the help of neighbors, he found the answer, created a Peppa Pig model using metals, and 6.(surprise) his grandson.
The 5-minute trailer is advertising the upcoming animated film Peppa Celebrates Chinese New Year, 7. is set to hit big screens on Feb 5, the first day of the Chinese New Year of the Pig. The short video encourages people working outside to return home often and accompany their family 8.(member) to spend a happy and warm Spring Festival holiday.
“After watching it, I want to go back to my hometown 9.(immediate). I 10.(be) away from my home for almost one year, and I miss my family very much,” said a Sina Weibo user.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
最近，我校就同学们的习惯养成问题展开了讨论。请你根据下表所提示的信息，用英语写一篇题为A good habit, a successful life 的短文，发表在学校的网站上。
| 良好的学习习惯 | 1.上课注意力集中；2.充分利用自习时间；3.独立完成作业。 |
| 良好的生活习惯 | 1.健康饮食；2.正常锻炼；3.充足睡眠。 |
| 养成良好的习惯的好处 | （考生结合自身感受补充两点） |
注意：1.对所有要点逐一陈述，适当发挥，不要简单翻译；
2.词数120左右。开头已经写好，不计入总词数；
3.作文中不得提及有关考生个人身份的任何信息，如校名、人名等；
4.参考词汇：自习 independent study。
A good habit, a successful life
A habit is something that you do often or regularly almost without thinking, especially something that is hard to stop doing.
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难度: 中等查看答案及解析