How Not to Be Awkward
Not at all us are outgoing and ready to take the world by storm.1. This usually happens when a person is still in his or her teen years and going through the socialization process. So, what can a person do to overcome this tendency to be awkward? Let’s try to find answers to the questions.
Stay in shape and dress up well
Sometimes, awkwardness could be due to being overweight. When you are large in size, you tend to get very self-conscious. So, in order to avoid this, get into the habit of exercising every day.2. If you look as if you have just stepped out of a 1980’s film when actually it is 2011, there is no doubt that you are bound to feel awkward about yourself?
Be optimistic
Another effective tip on how riot to feel awkward is to always keep a smile on your face.3. On the other hand, a smiling, happy and positive thinking person is appreciated by everybody. So, smile when you meet acquaintances or even strangers, say a cheerful “Hi!” and automatically some of your awkwardness will disappear completely!
Participate in team activities
This one really helps. Awkwardness generally develops when a person remains isolated from others. So, in order to change this situation, join groups.4. Joining people in book reading sessions as well as debates will help remove your awkwardness. Choose any activity of your choice, such as playing team sports or joining a dance class, and soon you will find your comfort level around people increasing day by day!
Develop your personality
Being a book-worm or an Internet addict will not get you anywhere. For self-improvement, take up a hobby that adds meaning to your life. Learn singing or try adventure sports.5.
A. Learn how to end a conversation.
B. Secondly, have appropriate clothes on.
C For instance, if you are a reading lover, join a book club,
D. If you look sad, nobody will actually like being with you.
E. Something as simple as listening to music will do wonders too.
F. Many among us are shy and may even feel kept apart from others.
G. Awkwardness could be because you do not have anything in common to talk about.
Is going on holiday of any benefit? New research shows that going on holiday makes you not only feel good while you’re there but also gain the health benefits for months.
Jetting off to destinations such as the Maldives cuts your blood pressure, helps you sleep better and bounce back from stress. The benefits last at least a fortnight longer than the vacation and can be felt for months in some cases where it is claimed. Experts say workers should always take their holiday entitlement (权利) each year, but as ‘many as one in three don’t.
The study compared key health markers in holidaymakers visiting Thailand, Peru or the Maldives, with those in people who stayed at home and continued working. The average blood pressure of those on holiday dropped by six percent while the workers saw their blood pressure rise by two percent over the same period. The sleep quality of holidaymakers improved by 17 percent while that of the non—holidaymakers deteriorated by 14 percent.
The study also found the ability of vacationers to recover from stress, known as the stress-resilience test, improved by 29 percent. There was a 71 percent fall in stress-resilience scores among workers. Tests showed fallen blood glucose (葡萄糖) levels, reduced risk of diabetes (糖尿病), trimmer waistlines and improved mood and energy levels, with the effects sustained for at least two weeks after returning home.
The Holiday Health Experiment was conducted by tour operator Kuoni and Nuffield Health, the UK’s largest healthcare charity.
1.According to the passage, how many people go on holiday?
A. One third. B. Two thirds.
C. 17 percent. D. A quarter.
2.Which of the following can we infer from the passage?
A. The further you go, the better you get the benefits.
B. Most people like to stay at home during the holiday.
C. The result of the study is mostly based on the description from the people involved.
D. Holidaymakers are more likely to be healthier than non-holidaymakers.
3.The author intends to tell us that .
A. we have to go on holiday as much as possible
B. you’ll certainly get depressed if you don’t go on holiday
C. we had better go on holiday for the benefits of our health
D. it is best to go to foreign countries like Maldives
4.The best title of the passage is .
A. A Holiday Health Experiment
B. Health Benefits from Holiday
C. Health Problems of Having Holiday
D. Key Health Markers m Holidaymakers
Black Friday is the Friday following Thanksgiving Day in the United States. It has been regarded as the beginning of the holiday shopping season. Although it’s not an official holiday, millions of employers give their employees the day off, and many people use that day to get a jump-start on their holiday shopping. A similar day in Canada and Great Britain is called “Boxing Day”.
Black Friday has become somewhat of a marketing sensation in recent years. Since 2005, it has been the busiest shopping day of the year. To lure shoppers, retailers (零售商) routinely open their doors as early as 4 a. m. and offer special sales and promotions to the shoppers that arrive early. Some of the special deals offered by stores are only available in limited quantities. That is why some shoppers intent on getting the best deals often camp out in front of stores overnight so that they’ll be the first in line when the doors open.
But why Black Friday? Historians believe the name started in Philadelphia in the mid-1960s. Bus drivers and police used “Black Friday” to describe the heavy traffic that would block city streets the day after Thanksgiving as shoppers headed to the stores.
Businesses, however, didn’t like the negative tone associated with the “Black Friday” name. In the early 1980s, a more positive explanation of the name began to circulate. According to this alternative explanation, Black Friday is the day when retailers finally begin to turn a profit for the year. In accounting terms (会计行业), operating at a loss is called being “in the red” because accountants traditionally used red ink to show negative amounts. Positive amounts were usually shown in black ink. Thus, being “in the black” is a good thing because it means stores are operating at a profit.
Recently, for those who are too busy to shop on Black Friday or who just don’t want to fight the crowds, the Monday following Black Friday has become known as Cyber Monday (网络星期一) for the many online deals.
1.On Black Friday，the Americans .
A. don’t have to go to work as usual
B. look exactly like the Canadians
C. are usually busy doing shopping
D. stay at home and relax themselves
2.The underlined word “lure” (in Paragraph 2) probably means .
A. protect B. attract
C. persuade D. remind
3.How do the retailers understand Black Friday?
A. It is totally different from Boxing Day.
B. They usually lose some money on the day.
C. It never keeps them very busy.
D. It probably brings them more money.
4.The author writes this passage in order to .
A. state the development of Cyber Monday
B. tell the difference between red and black
C. introduce Black Friday to the readers
D. explain the meaning of Boxing Day
Have you ever thought of quitting your job when you feel exhausted? Maybe most of you would say “yes”. After a particularly busy period at work, I decided to get away from it all by going on a hike in the mountains in southern France.
Before I left, I read an interesting story in a magazine. It read, “Once, while I was riding on a crowded bus, the man sitting next to me threw his cell phone out of the window when his phone rang. I was surprised. He looked at me, shrugged (耸耸肩) and looked away. I had no idea whether it was his or stolen or whether he even knew what a cell phone was or not, but he clearly wanted to be free of it, because it clearly troubled him.”
Billions of people across the world use cell phones. Though cell phones are a wonderful way for communication, they often do the exact opposite. Using cell phones can increase stress within families and friends.
So when I recently returned home, I got rid of my cell phone. Now I go outside without taking my phone with me. I’ve noticed things in my neighborhood I never noticed before, such as gardens. I’ve met new people, started conversations with neighbors I didn’t speak to before and talked with some of my friends face to face instead of chatting over the phone.
Instead of keeping me off from the world, stopping using my cell phone has helped me get even closer to my family and friends.
1.According to the story, the man on the bus threw away his cell phone because .
A. it didn’t work properly
B. it was stolen from someone else
C. he didn’t like the phone’s style
D. he didn’t want to be bothered by it
2.We can learn from the passage that cell phones .
A. are too expensive for many people
B. are of no use to the author
C. can also get people into trouble
D. can make life more interesting
3.What can we learn about the author?
A. He wants to own a garden now.
B. He always chatted with his neighbors.
C. He used to take his cell phone when going outside.
D. He once threw away his cell phone.
4.The main purpose of the passage is to .
A. tell us not to let cell phones control our lives
B. encourage others to hike with him in France
C. share his experiences in France with us
D. teach us how to get along with neighbors
2017 Chinese New Year is approaching and preparations are underway around the world. Here are some Chinatowns for those outside of China wishing to mark the day.
London
Although it may not be as large or as long —built as others, having only become a center for the Chinese community during the 1950s, London’s Chinatown is a perfectly formed little firework that knows how to see in the year with a bang. Decorated with red lanterns (灯笼), previous years have seen shows with acrobatics (杂技), martial arts (武术), dance and opera nearby.
San Francisco
San Francisco’s Chinatown is perhaps the most famous in the United States. The city was the main entry-point for Chinese who had crossed the Pacific to the USA during the early 19th century. Between the Grant Avenue and the Stockton Street, this historic area is a local treasure, attracting more visitors per year than the Golden Gate Bridge.
Bangkok
With an about 100-year-old history, the Thai capital’s Chinatown contains complex streets offering all kinds of tasty treats, clothes, toys and antiques. Sunday market days are such a good time to get the full atmosphere of the neighborhood. The area is also known for its gold dealers, whose shops line the road.
Mauritius
Found in Port Louis, this Mauritian Chinatown shows the island nation’s rich multicultural diversity. Established in the early years of the 20th century by settlers from China, its tiny shops and restaurants serve locals and visitors. During the Chinese Spring Festival, the most exciting sight is the Dragon Dances on Rue Royale when Chinese musicians and dancers perform the traditional Lion dances through the streets.
1.According to the text, which of the following has the longest history?
A. London’s Chinatown.
B. Bangkok’s Chinatown.
C. Mauritius’s Chinatown.
D. San Francisco’s Chinatown.
2.What’s special about Bangkok’s Chinatown?
A. It is crowded with Chinese restaurants.
B. It was the major entrance for the Chinese.
C. It is well-known for its gold business.
D. It is where you can enjoy fireworks.
3.If you want to enjoy the Dragon Dances, you can go to .
A. Rue Royale in Port Louis, Mauritius
B. the Sunday market in Bangkok
C. the Grant Avenue in San Francisco
D. the Chinese community in London
假定你是李华，你校英文报 “外国文化”栏目拟刊登介绍美国节日风俗和中学生生活的短文。请给美国朋友彼得写信约稿，要点如下：
1.栏目介绍
2.稿件内容
3.稿件长度：约400词
4.交稿日期：6月28日前
注意：1.词数100左右
2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯
3.开头语已为你写好。
Dear Peter,
I’d like to ask you to write an article for our school’s English newspaper.
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Yours,
Li Hua
