Life is full of change, and this leads to growth. Change is what keeps our lives moving, and allows us to achieve what we desire and deserve. Like it or not, we need to be willing to go with the flow, and be adaptable when something doesn’t go according to plan. A catalyst is a person that causes something else to happen, and if you’re not currently a catalyst for change, here are some things you can do to become one.
Take a look at what you’ve got going on in your life right now. Write down everything that comes to mind. Is there anything that jumps out at you that you"re not content with? Is there something that isn"t moving forward as quickly as you would like it to? Identifying what you want to change is the first step to getting somewhere with it.
Take the initiative to make change happen. Once you have identified what you want to work on changing, write down several possible "next steps" you can take to realizing that change. Whatever it is you want to change, you won"t get very far without having specific actions in mind to carry out. Start small, and then focus on items that are a bit more involved or difficult and just keep going!
When carrying out a change, it’s great if you’re able to bounce ideas off other people, particularly if they can help you implement that change in some way. Be receptive to feedback, but realize that others’ opinions are not golden. Also remember to give feedback when asked for it. Be sure it"s genuine and that you are able to stand behind it.
Create an environment for change. There is nothing more discouraging than trying to create change in an environment that is not conducive to it. It’s like trying to stick to a diet in a house that is filled with chips, cookies, ice cream and chocolate; you are just making it more difficult for yourself.
Change is good, and often leads to process improvement, increased productivity and efficiency. Take the initiative, and make changes to your life to get to where you want to go faster than you are going right now.
小题1:If you decide to change, you should start by _________. | A．going with the flow | | B．changing from day to day | | C．writing down good ideas | | D．making sure you know what to change |
小题2:Which of the following is TRUE, according to the fourth paragraph? | A．One should accept others’ opinions uncritically. | | B．One should be cautious about the opinions of others. | | C．It’s more important to get than to give feedback. | | D．Change may not happen without ideas from other people. |
小题3:The underlined words “bounce ideas off other people” in the fourth paragraph probably mean
“_________”. | A．get approval from others | | B．get your ideas across to other people | | C．get others’ feedback about your ideas | | D．carry out your ideas without the help of others |
小题4:What can we infer from the text?| A．Change benefits us in different ways. | | B．Creating a good environment is the most important step. | | C．It’s discouraging to try to change one’s environment. | | D．Being a catalyst for change is risky but rewarding. |
小题5:Which would be the best title for the text?| A．How to achieve what you desire. | | B．How to be a catalyst for change. | | C．How to act according to your plans. | | D．How to move in the right direction. |
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小题1:D
小题2:B
小题3:C
小题4:A
小题5:B |
试题分析：本文主要讲述的是变化在人生中所起的巨大作用，并告诉我们如何成为一个变化的诱因及如何面对这些变化。
小题1:D 细节题。根据第二段最后一句Identifying what you want to change is the first step to getting somewhere with it.可知首先你要知道你要改变的东西。故D正确。
小题2:B 推理题。根据文章第四段第三行Be receptive to feedback, but realize that others’ opinions are not golden.可知我们要特别注意别人的观点，要注意别人的反馈信息，故B正确。
小题3:C 推理题。根据When carrying out a change, it’s great if you’re able to bounce ideas off other people, particularly if they can help you implement that change in some way.中的后半句如果别人能够帮助你在某些方面实施这些变化，那么你要特别注意别人的观点。故C正确。
小题4:A 推断题。根据文章最后一段Change is good, and often leads to process improvement, increased productivity and efficiency. Take the initiative, and make changes to your life to get to where you want to go faster than you are going right now.说明本文讲述的是变化对人是有好处的，让你的生活变得更好。故A正确。
小题5:B 主旨大意题。根据文章主题段第一段A catalyst is a person that causes something else to happen, and if you’re not currently a catalyst for change, here are some things you can do to become one. 可知本文讲述的是我们如何成为一个变化的诱因。故B正确。
点评：本文主要讲述的是变化在人生中所起的巨大作用，并告诉我们如何成为一个变化的诱因及如何面对这些变化。测试考生在阅读基础上的逻辑推理能力，要求考生根据文章所述事件的逻辑关系，对未说明的趋势或结局作出合理的推断；或根据作者所阐述的观点理论，对文章未涉及的现象、事例给以解释。考生首先要仔细阅读短文，完整了解信息，准确把握作者观点。 |
核心考点
试题【Life is full of change, and this leads to growth. Change is what keeps our lives】；主要考察你对
题材分类等知识点的理解。
[详细]举一反三
Gallows humor（黑色幽默）seem like a mistake, or at least in poor taste. But psychologists say that gallows humor can be an important way to relieve stress. “Humor makes you feel in control and it can give you that feeling that everything is okay even when it"s not,” says James M. Jones, a psychology professor at the University of Delaware.
Psychologists say that just because you"re laughing doesn"t mean you’re wasting time. Occasional teasing among colleagues, particularly if it revolves around things associated with the job, can boost creativity, departmental cohesiveness（凝聚力）and performance.
“There are a lot of stressors out there,” says Ed Dunkelblau, a psychologist with the Institute for Emotionally Intelligent Learning in Chicago. “But gallows humor is a way of making difficult things a little less difficult.”
This is true as long as the humor is used for the right purpose. The main point of it should be inspiring people --- not laughing at them. “Anything that would lift morale（士气）in terms of the company would be good humor,” says Thierry Guedj, a professor of business and psychology at Boston University. “Before you say or do anything, think about, ‘How is this helping my employees’ morale?’”
You want to give your employees and co-workers a sense of belonging, so don’t make observations that are aggressive. Most obviously, Dr Guedj says, don’t make comments about people’s physical appearance, or faith. If you have any doubt, it"s appropriate, don"t go through with it.
Or you can take aim at the one person you know won"t be offended（冒犯）:Yourself. “If there"s going to be a joke or story, it should be you,” Mr. Dunkelblau says. For example, if you"re a marketing manager reviewing a failed campaign that you led, begin with a line like, “The guy who gave permission to this deal might just be looking for work next week.”
“People with the ability to laugh at themselves can give other people permission to laugh at themselves too,” Mr. Jones says. “And if you can laugh at yourself, you feel better about yourself.”
小题1:According to the text, gallows humor has the following functions EXCEPT ________. | A．reducing pressure | | B．improving performance | | C．making people more creative | | D．leading to a big mistake |
小题2:What is Ed Dunkelblau’s attitude towards gallows humor?| A．Positive. | B．Negative. | C．Neutral. | D．Uncertain. |
小题3:Which of the following would Dr. Guedj most probably agree with?| A．Gallows humor is the basic source of morale. | | B．Gallows humor allows people to laugh at others. | | C．Gallows humor may sometimes be used for the wrong purpose. | | D．Anything that may lift morale can be called gallows humor. |
小题4:When people use gallows humor, they should ________. | A．observe who is aggressive | | B．show a sense of belonging | | C．doubt about the result of humors | | D．try to avoid irritating others |
小题5:What can we infer from the text? | A．People tend to laugh at others rather than themselves. | | B．Laughing at ourselves can help relieve the stress of others. | | C．People can’t avoid offending others with gallows humor. | | D．People who laugh at themselves are hard to be friends with. |
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When I was young, I belonged to a club that did community service work. There was one specific event that was 1 for me. I spent three or four hours handing out warm dinner to the ___2_ out in the streets. After that I went to a homeless shelter(避难所) not far from the Bay Bridge. I was in high school and at the time my sister was too young to join in . She wanted to help, 3 she made many chocolate chip cookies for me to __4_____ and hand out to people. When getting to the shelter, I passed out the 5 . I began making sandwiches and shared them with the crowd. I had the containers with my sister’s cookies in them and began to walk around, offering them to anyone near me.
I walked 6 to an old gentleman and said, “Sir, would you like a cookie?” He stopped and turned around, looked at me 7 and said, “What did you say? Did you call me sir?” I told him I had , and his eyes 8 a little bit and said, “No one has ever called me sir.” So he was completely 9 . It struck me.
I explained I had been raised that regardless of (不顾) 10 and social status（地位）, everyone deserved(值得） 11 . It saddened me to think that just because he was homeless, no one offered him the honor . It broke my heart. I just didn’t understand 12 no one ever called him sir. I had never thought that anyone was 13 me because I wasn’t raised that way. Every single person deserves to be treated with respect. Years later, I still carry that 14 and the lesson it taught me. Somtimes, what we take for granted can really make a difference in 15 life.
| 小题1: | | A．uncommon | B．unusual | C．universal | D．simple |
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| 小题2: | | A．winners | B．losers | C．hopeless | D．homeless |
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| 小题4: | | A．enjoy | B．eat | C．take | D．produce |
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| 小题5: | | A．meals | B．cookies | C．chocolates | D．chips |
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| 小题6: | | A．near | B．close | C．forward | D．along |
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| 小题7: | | A．briefly | B．swiftly | C．highly | D．directly |
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| 小题8: | | A．cried | B．opened | C．watered | D．lit |
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| 小题9: | | A．disappointed | B．moved | C．spoiled | D．relieved |
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| 小题10: | | A．income | B．pain | C．colour | D．goal |
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| 小题11: | | A．respect | B．praise | C．happiness | D．laughter |
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| 小题12: | | A．what | B．how | C．why | D．whether |
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| 小题13: | | A．in front of | B．below | C．behind | D．beside |
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| 小题14: | | A．word | B．memory | C．feeling | D．sadness |
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| 小题15: | | A．someone’s | B．anyone’s | C．everyone’s | D．no one’s |
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In the first week after arriving in the new city for further study, I fell and broke my leg. I was really ___36___by the kindness of my new roommate. “We are family now,” she said when she __37__me lying in my bed with a swollen leg, unable to move. She took me to ___38__ by taxi to get my leg examined. The driver was so___39__ that we arrived there very quickly. After that, my __40___continued helping me though I told her I could do things on my own.
So many blessing I had never expected came to me when I was alone and helpless. Bus drivers picked me up from anywhere they saw me. Many people __41__ the door for me. Such things were small but __42___ for a person on walking sticks.
___43___for people’s kindness, I did whatever I could to make people laugh. I made many jokes about my two sticks and the bad fall. And I tried not to __44__ a single time about what had happened. I also tried to be kind to other students who were injured. I took time to __45__ with a girl in a wheelchair who always ate lunch alone.
I soon realized that pain can be__46__ by mental strength. I could see that although I was using physical sticks, there were hundreds of mental sticks I could depend on. I also saw that sometimes ____47____ situation can be good. There are choices to discover great kindness in the world.
| 小题1: | | A．touched | B．saved | C．cured | D．supported |
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| 小题2: | | A．heard | B．left | C．found | D．viewed |
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| 小题3: | | A．hotel | B．hospital | C．playground | D．library |
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| 小题4: | | A．patient | B．angry | C．kind | D．brave |
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| 小题5: | | A．driver | B．doctor | C．family | D．roommate |
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| 小题6: | | A．cleaned | B．moved | C．opened | D．decorated |
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| 小题7: | | A．hard | B．impossible | C．different | D．useless |
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| 小题8: | | A．In turn | B．In reply | C．In return | D．In addition |
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| 小题9: | | A．complain | B．advise | C．miss | D．enjoy |
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| 小题10: | | A．study | B．discuss | C．practise | D．chat |
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| 小题11: | | A．reduced | B．gained | C．caused | D．limited |
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| 小题12: | | A．busy | B．unpleasant | C．puzzled | D．tiring |
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When I was a teenager, I volunteered to give out water at a marathon. Watching the different runners who passed by and grabbed a cup was 36 . The next year I signed up for the race. I did little preparation and my only goal was to finish. On the day of the race, it was 37 hot. I remember struggling at about the 5th mile, thinking, “I am never doing this again!”
Have you ever felt that way about something? You eagerly choose a goal 38 soon realize it is 39 to achieve than you imagined it would be. That first 10 km race was quite an experience. I jogged, I walked, I jogged and I walked. Then 40 a decisive moment. Near the end, a 70-year-old man ran past me. I felt 41 that I was younger than him but I couldn’t keep up with him. I felt defeated for a second but then I realized 42 . He was running his race and I was running mine. He had different experience, training and goals and I had mine. 43 in life do we 44 ourselves with others and feel disappointed in ourselves when we really shouldn’t? I decided, then, that one day I would be one of those 70-year-olds who were still running. 45 I crossed the finish line, I was proud of my achievement. Since then I have run several races and run purely for fun.
In life we all 46 compare ourselves with others, which is only natural. But don’t let them weaken you. 47 , you should use them to inspire you and show you what is possible. Then you are a true winner.
| 小题1: | | A．pleasing | B．interesting | C．inspiring | D．amazing |
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| 小题2: | | A．extremely | B．strangely | C．sadly | D．certainly |
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| 小题4: | | A．easier | B．harder | C．better | D．worse |
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| 小题5: | | A．went | B．flew | C．happened | D．came |
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| 小题6: | | A．exhausted | B．disappointed | C．embarrassed | D．annoyed |
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| 小题7: | | A．something | B．anything | C．everything | D．nothing |
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| 小题8: | | A．How many | B．How much | C．How often | D．How old |
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| 小题9: | | A．cooperate | B．compare | C．combine | D．compromise |
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| 小题10: | | A．When | B．Because | C．Since | D．Until |
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| 小题11: | | A．hardly | B．sometimes | C．always | D．never |
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| 小题12: | | A．Furthermore | B．Therefore | C．Meanwhile | D．Instead |
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When you meet someone for the first time, you will form an impression in your mind of that person in the first moment. Your reactions to other people, however, are really just barometers (晴雨表) for how you perceive(理解) yourself. Your reactions to others say more about you than they do about others. You cannot really love or hate something about another unless it reflects something you love or hate yourself. We are usually drawn to those who are most like us and tend to dislike those who display those aspects of ourselves that we dislike.
Therefore, you can allow others to be the mirror to illuminate (阐明;照亮) more clearly your own feelings of self-worth. Conversely, you can view the people you judge negatively as mirrors to show you what you are not accepting about yourself.
To survive together peacefully with others, you will need to learn tolerance. A big challenge is to shift your perspective from judgment of others to a lifelong exploration of yourself. Your task is to assess all the decisions, judgments you make onto others and to begin to view them as clues to how you can heal yourself and become whole.
Several days ago I had a business lunch with a man who displayed objectionable table manners. My first reaction was to judge him as rude and his table manners as annoying. When I noticed that I was judging him, I stopped and asked myself what I was feeling. I discovered that I was embarrassed to be seen with someone who was chewing with his mouth open and loudly blowing his nose. I was astonished to find how much I cared about how the other people in the restaurant perceived me.
Remember that your judgment of someone will not serve as a protective shield against you becoming like him. Just because I judge my lunch partner as rude does not prevent me from ever looking or acting like him. In the same way, extending tolerance to him would not cause me to suddenly begin chewing my food with my mouth open.
When you approach life in this manner, those with whom you have the greatest dissatisfactions as well as those you admire and love can be seen as mirrors, guiding you to discover parts of yourself that you reject and to embrace your greatest quality.
小题1:The purpose of the author writing this passage is to advise people to _______.| A．avoid inappropriate manners | | B．learn tolerance towards others | | C．pay attention to others’ needs and feelings | | D．judge others favorably in any case |
小题2:The underlined word “objectionable” in Paragraph 4 has the closest meaning to __________.| A．discouraging | B．disappointing | C．disgusting | D．disturbing |
小题3:According to the passage, the following statements are all true except ______.| A．You can’t really love or hate others if they are similar to you. | | B．We are easily attracted by someone who is similar to us. | | C．Our first judgment of a person mostly comes from our personal opinion. | | D．The moment we see a stranger, our mind forms an impression of that person. |
小题4:It can be implied from the text that __________.| A．the writer’s first reaction to the man was to judge him as offensive | | B．we will need to learn tolerance to co-exist with others | | C．we shouldn’t focus on judging others but should constantly reflect on our own | | D．the writer didn’t care about other people’s view of him |
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