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Finding time to enjoy life is becoming harder and harder. As the average workweek lengthens, leisure time drops. Yet some of the world’s busiest people are able to develop rewarding careers and also make time for family and leisure activities. Here is their best advice, plus that of time-management experts:
Use your peak hours wisely.
People tend to be most alert in late morning and midevening. Afternoon brings an increase in sleepiness. Use your high-efficiency hours to handle difficult jobs or engage in creative thinking. For low-efficiency times, concentrate on cleaning up or sorting your mail. By adapting to your mental condition, you can accomplish more in less time.
Make a plan.
Just 20 minutes of organizing can save an hour of extra effort remembering what must be done. “Don’t try to carry your life around in your head,” says Lucy Hedrick, author of Five Days to an Organized Life. “Write things down so you can free your brain for more inventive pursuit (追求).”
Discourage drop-ins.
The person who welcomes every visitor will get plenty of conversation but won’t accomplish much.
The trick is to develop harmless ways to protect yourself from minute-stealing interruptions. David E. Levy, a public-relations consultant (顾问), uses an alternative to the open-door policy by keeping his door half open. The message is clear: he really doesn’t want you to come in, but you can if it is important.
Tame (驯服) the telephone.
Few devices save more minutes—or waste so many more—than the telephone. Signal the end of your conversation with a phrase such as “Before we hang up…” You can save even more time by not taking every incoming call.
Keep a record of when people you call regularly are least busy and call them at those times. Even better, make appointments to call important contacts.
To help us gain an extra hour every day, a clockmaker in Dallas has created a timer measuring each minute at 57.6 seconds. The 2.5 seconds borrowed from each minute add up to an extra 60 minutes at the end of each day.
【语篇导读】本文是一篇说明文，属于生活类话题，文章讲述了如何在一天中节省出更多的时间。
21. According to Lucy Hedrick, you should ________.
22. Why does David E. Levy keep his door half open?
23. Who works most efficiently according to the passage?
B
We live in a judgment world where people are quick to point out the faults and imperfections of others yet seem unaware of their own. Some misguided souls believe they have a civil duty to help you to be a better person by telling you what a failure you really are first and then offering suggestions as to how you can improve.
So what is the solution to criticism ? If you are the one forcing others to feel ashamed of themselves, STOP. Make a conscious decision that rather than focus on the negative aspect of a person’s performance or attitudes, you’ll offer helpful suggestions from the get-go . If I’m living room and making a mess in doing so , I would like my husband to say to me , “This is a tough job. Can I offer a suggestion that might make it easier for you ? ” rather than having him point out what a sloppy painter I am and tell me how I should be doing it .
If you are on the receiving end of criticism , the “OK ” response is a perfect solution. What someone comments negatively on a task you are doing or a personality issue, a natural response is to defend and attack. However , this approach is rarely effective as it puts both parties on the defensive . Instead , simply reply with “OK ” . This brief one-word response acknowledges the other person’s comment without agreeing with it or feeling necessary to engage in a debate about it .
It is important to remain emotionally attached to what the other person is saying , to listen without feeling, to be an objective observer. It is much that one can learn form a negative review . You can ask yourself : Did I make a mistake ? Could I have done better? Did I give 100% of myself to the task at hand ? If so , how can I improve ? As for chronic (习惯性的) criticizers: It is important to set strict boundaries with them . Remove yourself from their presence when necessary .
In any event, one can learn to be “OK ” with criticism and not allow it to negatively impact their life or relationship with the other party . Examine it for any potential truths , and them let it go and just be “OK ”.
【语篇导读】本文是一篇论说文，属于社会生活类话题，文章论说了面对批评：批评别人和接受别人的批评应采取什么措施。
24.What does the underlined word “sloppy” in paragraph 2 mean?
25.What does the author want to show by using the example of painting ?
26. What is the best way to respond when you are criticized by a person?
27.You are told to ask yourself some questions in Paragraph 4 so as to _________,
C
Natalie Doan, 14, has always felt lucky to live in Rockaway, New York. Living just a few blocks from the beach, Natalie can see the ocean and hear the waves from her house. “It’s the ocean that makes Rockaway so special,” she says.
On October 29, 2012, that ocean turned fierce. That night, Hurricane Sandy attacked the East Coast, and Rockaway was hit especially hard. Fortunately, Natalie’s family escaped to Brooklyn shortly before the city’s bridge closed.
When they returned to Rockaway the next day, they found their neighborhood in ruins. Many of Natalie’s friends had lost their homes and were living far away. All around her, people were suffering, especially the elderly. Natalie’s school was so damaged that she had to temporarily attend a school in Brooklyn.
In the following few days, the men and women helping Rockaway recover inspired Natalie. Volunteers came with carloads of donated clothing and toys. Neighbors devoted their spare time to helping others rebuild. Teenagers climbed dozens of flights of stairs to deliver water and food to elderly people trapped in powerless high-rise buildings.
“My mom tells me that I can’t control what happens to me,” Natalie says. “but I can always choose how I deal with it.”
Natalie’s choice was to help.
She created a website page matching survivors in need with donors who wanted to help. Natalie posted information about a boy named Patrick, who lost his baseball card collection when his house burned down. Within days, Patrick’s collection was replaced.
In the coming months, her website page helped lots of kids: Christopher, who received a new basketball; Charlie, who got a new keyboard. Natalie also worked with other organizations to bring much-needed supplies to Rockaway. Her efforts made her a famous person. Last April, she was invited to the White House and honored as a Hurricane Sandy Champion of Change.
Today, the scars(创痕) of destruction are still seen in Rockaway, but hope is in the air. The streets are clear, and many homes have been rebuilt. “I can’t imagine living anywhere but Rockaway,” Natalie declares. “My neighborhood will be back, even stronger than before.”
【语篇导读】本文是一篇记叙文，属于社会生活助人为乐的话题，本文介绍了小女孩塔莉如何帮助家乡重建的故事，说明了在灾难面前，小人物也有大作为。
28. When Natalie returned to Rockaway after the hurricane, she found _________.
29. According to Paragraph 4, who inspired Natalie most?
30. How did Natalie help the survivors?
31. What does the story intend to tell us?
阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容或括号内单词的正确形式。
What defines a healthy city? Is it a place with a lot of open spaces 61 people can exercise and enjoy the fresh air? A place with little or no pollution? A place in which people can 62 (free) socialize and express their ideas? Perhaps, it’s all that plus more. Other considerations are the availability of health and fitness facilities, an excellent healthcare program and sincere efforts by 63 local government to actively promote health and wellness among its citizens. Of all the cities in the world, one of the top six 64 (healthy) cities is Copenhagen, Denmark. Copenhageners love to walk. Foot traffic accounts 65 80% of all traffic in the Copenhagen city center. Those who prefer can also bike. It is estimated that more than a third of all work trips in Copenhagen 66 (carry) out on a bike. As for the climate here, the city does not have the blessing of pleasant weather all year round. 67 everything starts to freeze, it turns several city squares into huge skating fields. The frozen parts of the city also make 68 easier for residents to skate around. The city also has museums and art galleries for the kids and 69 (grown-up). It has the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Art and the Royal Library housed in a rather grand building 70 (call) the Black Diamond.
【语篇导读】本文是一篇说明文，是属于社会生活类话题，文章讲述了什么是健康的城市。
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Before I studied psychology, I used to think that people would laugh when funny things occurred. While I was right about that, I discovered there are lots of other psychological factors that make people laugh other than the funny part of a joke. When someone laughs at a joke, there will usually be more than one reason that makes him laugh—and the more reasons there are, the more powerful the joke will be.
I was attending a stand-up comedy show in Egypt, and when the man started to make fun of pedestrians crossing streets, everyone laughed their hearts out. The main reason those people strongly laughed was that almost all of them felt angry towards pedestrians who crossed streets carelessly. The joke wasn’t only funny, it also made the audience feel that they were right about being angry at those pedestrians. That is, people were laughing both because of the funny joke and because of the happiness experienced as a result of the psychological support they got.
The better a joke makes a person feel, and the more it includes other psychological factors, the more the person will like it. For example, if you envy one of your friends, and someone tells a joke that is funny and, at the same time, makes your friend seem stupid, then you will probably laugh at it louder than if you weren’t jealous of him.
In short, we don’t laugh only when we hear something funny; we also laugh when we experience some kind of happiness that results from the other psychological factors involved in the joke. I strongly discourage making fun of anyone or belittling someone to make someone else laugh. All I want to explain is that if your joke supports a person’s emotions, he will certainly like it a lot.
【语篇导读】本文是一篇议论文，属于社会生活类话题，文章主要谈论了人们对于笑话或发笑的事情不仅仅是因故事可笑，往往还有一些其他心理因素。
32. What did the author find out after studying psychology?
33. Why did the audience laugh loud at the pedestrians?
34. What does the underlined word “belittling” probably mean?
35. Which of the following best shows the structure of the passage?
71.假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处错误，每句中最多有两处。错误涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号(Λ)，并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线(＼)划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意： 1．每处错误及其修改均仅限一词； 2．只允许修改10处，多者(从第11处起)不计分。
How time flies! A week have passed before I noticed it. Looking back on the things that happening last week, I found the life here full with happiness and interests. I can still remember the first day of the summer camp. I came to my bedroom by myself. When I opened a door, I saw a girl with short hair seating in a chair with a book in her hand. She must be a quiet girl who liked reading, I thought myself at the time. After we said hello to each other, other girl came in with a big noise. Her name was Rose. She was so outgoing and humor that both Cherry and I couldn’t help laughing at her words. Then we had studied and had meals together, and became good friends. I can’t forget the day when we spent together no matter where we are in the future.
【语篇导读】本文是一篇记叙文，属于日常生活类话题，作者记叙了自己快乐的夏令营。
Happiness is the only true measure of personal success. Making other people happy is the highest expression of success. 36 With that in mind, here are some suggestions that will immediately increase the amount of happiness in your life: 37 If there’s any big truth about life, it's that it usually lives up to your expectations. Therefore, when you rise from bed, make your first thought: “Something wonderful is going to happen today.” Guess what? You're probably right. Take time to plan and prioritize(优先处理). The most common source of stress is the thought that you've got too much work to do. Rather than worry about it, pick one thing that will move you closer to your highest goal and purpose in life. Then do that first. Eat high quality food slowly. 38 . Even so, at least once a day try to eat something really delicious, like a small chunk of fine cheese or an imported chocolate. Taste it, focus on it and enjoy it. Let go of your results. The big enemy of happiness is worry, which comes from focusing on events that are outside your control. Once you've taken action, there's usually nothing more you can do. 39 . End each day with gratitude. Just before you go to bed, write down at least one wonderful thing that happened. It might be something as small as making a child laugh or something as huge as a million dollar deal. 40
【语篇导读】本文是一篇记叙性说明文，是属于社会生活类话题，文章讲述了我们应该如何来增加我的生活中的幸福感。
第一节 完形填空（共20小题；每题1.5分，满分30分）
阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（A, B, C和D）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
My father left us when I was three and my mother was forced to leave us with our grandmother and travel from our small town in Malaysia to Singapore to earn a living. From that day on, my two older sisters and I 41 bd blank a difficult life living with our 42 bd blank uncle. We did everything he asked because we were 43 bd blank of him. I was 44 bd blank the shy younger sister who was always left at home alone. I tried very hard to 45 bd blank both my sisters so they would like me and play with me. To earn their 46 bd blank , I made every effort to be the good girl for my grandma and mother. For a long time, it seemed I was living the 47 bd blank of someone else, just trying to survive. But 48 bd blank I feel tired or sad, I will always tell myself "Almost there" and don’t 49 bd blank give up, just a few more steps and I will 50 bd blank it. I have heard a doctor once say, "For illness, we can help find a(n) 51 bd blank for it, but for a broken heart, we must 52 bd blank ourselves." Now I am working abroad. I have a good 53 bd blank that not only allows me to work on something I like, but also allows me to pass on my 54 bd blank thinking to younger friends and co-workers, as they have to 55 bd blank what will become of their lives. I like to 56 bd blank them that they will do well in life if they can 57 bd blank the mindset of "Almost there". It takes lots of 58 bd blank to move on, especially when you are suffering, but if we make it through it will 59 bd blank become good memories that we cherish and a good 60 bd blank that makes us become stronger.
【语篇导读】本篇文章是一篇记叙文，属于社会生活类话题，文章讲述了作者虽然在童年时生活很艰难，但是她始终坚信自己离成功只有一步之遥，坚持一下就能胜利。
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72．书面表达
假定你是高三学生李夏，最近你听说你市英语俱乐部即将开张， 且将有2名在本市工作的外教参加。请你用英语给俱乐部负责人写一封信，了解一下该俱乐部的相关信息， 以便加入。要点如下： 1. 介绍自己学习英语的情况； 2. 咨询相关事宜（如入会条件、会费以及活动等）； 3. 表达自己想加入的愿望。
注意：1. 词数100左右；2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；3. 结语已为你写好。
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