Most of the time, we choose colors for decorating based on our personal taste and our sense of aesthetics (审美学). But, a number of color experts believe that colors have an effect on our emotions and that it would be wise of us to be conscious of that before settling on a definite choice.
Some of the effects of colors are well known and accepted by most people. In fact, those effects have been the subject of serious research and experiments and have been scientifically proven. But not all scientists agree on the validity (正确性) of the results.
When we become interested in the psychological effects of colors, it is important to know that not all societies share our opinion of those effects on our emotions. What we hold as an "objective" observation on a color is often nothing more than a reflection of our cultural belongingness, which has attributed properties to that color for generations.
Why is it not possible for us to hold a really objective discourse(论述)on the subject? In part, because it is very difficult to separate the psychological from the symbolic, the symbolic aspects are definitely cultural. Often, and this without our realizing it, they influence our understanding of colors and the following emotions - both psychological aspects. Black and white are good examples. In western countries, black is considered serious, dramatic and sometimes sad. People are warned against its potentially depressing effects on decoration. Black is the traditional color of mourning. White, on the other hand, is associated with purity, peace and optimism. For those reasons, white is the traditional color of bridal dresses. No one would think of attending a funeral in white. Any more than it would occur to a bride to wear black. We simply remain convinced that it is not in the "nature" of those colors. Yet, in certain oriental countries, it is white, not black that is the color of mourning.
That having been said, there is some “overlapping” in the properties different cultures attribute to certain colors. For example, Feng Shui, the traditional Chinese philosophy that distinguishes between good and evil influences explains colors much in the same way as the majority of western color specialists. Is that to say that colors have real natural properties which all humans perceive(感知) in the same way or is the phenomenon an example of the cross-influences that affect the thinking of cultures brought closer to one another by a certain Venetian(威尼斯人) called Marco Polo? It is difficult to say.
But, be that as it may, colors do affect us. And if you feel emotions for a certain color, note them and remember them. You may even wish to consider them next time you are planning to decorate. The decision is yours! Most of the time, we ignore ______ when choosing colors for decoration.
A.personal taste | B.our aesthetics |
C.cultural effects | D.psychological effects |
Why is it not possible for us to hold a really objective discourse on the subject?
A.Because it is often nothing more than a reflection of our cultural belongingness. |
B.Because the colors have the properties for generations. |
C.Because it is difficult to separate the psychological from the cultural. |
D.Because the symbolic aspects influence our perception of colors. |
The italicized word “overlapping” is paragraph 6 is closest in meaning to______
A.difference | B.conflict | C.sameness | D.agreement |
In western countries, white is ______.
A.preferred by bridals | B.used in a funerals sometimes |
C.depressing in decoration | D.pure in its nature |
According to the author, which of the following statements is certain?
A.Different cultures can have the same properties of colors. |
B.If you feel emotions for a color, note them and remember them. |
C.All humans perceive colors’ natural properties in the same way. |
D.Marco Polo disclosed the psychological effects of colors. |
An atheist was taking a walk through the woods, admiring all that the “accident of evolution” had created.
“What majestic trees! What powerful rivers! What beautiful animals!” he said to himself. As he was walking alongside the river he heard a rustling in the bushes behind him. He turned to look. He saw a 7 - foot grizzly(灰熊)charge towards him. He ran as fast as he could up the path. He looked over his shoulder and saw that the bear was closing. He ran even faster, so scared that tears were coming to his eyes. He looked over his shoulder again, and the bear was even closer. His heart was pumping frantically and he tried to run even faster. He tripped and fell on the ground. He rolled over to pick himself up but saw the bear right on top of him, reaching for him with his left paw and raising his right paw to strike him.
At that instant the atheist cried out “Oh my God!”
Time stopped. The bear froze. The forest was silent. Even the river stopped moving.
As a bright light shone upon the man, a voice came out of the sky,“ You deny my existence for all of these years; teach others I don’t exist; and even credit creation to a cosmic (宇宙的)accident. Do you expect me to help you out of this difficulty? Am I to count you as a believer?”
The atheist looked directly into the light. “It would be hypocritical(伪善的)of me to suddenly ask you to treat me as Christian now, but perhaps could you make the bear a Christian?”“Very well,” said the voice.
The light went out. The river ran again. And the sounds of the forest resumed.
And then the bear dropped his right paw... brought both paws together... bowed his head and spoke, “Lord, for this food which I am about to receive, I am truly thankful.”According to the passage, the “accident of evolution” refers to the following Except ________.
A.rivers | B.God |
C.trees | D.the 7 - foot grizzly |
It can be inferred from the passage that an atheist is a person ________.
A.who believes that there is God | B.who likes to do good needs |
C.who makes a living by selling wood | D.who denies the existence of God |
What is the purpose of this text?
A.To tell a real interesting story. |
B.To give practical advice. |
C.To convince readers of the existence of God. |
D.To entertain readers. |
Thoughts claim our attention continuously, and waste our time and energy on unimportant and useless matters. They actually rule our life. We have become so used to this slavery, that we take it for granted, and have become unconscious of this habit, except on certain occasions.
While breathing, we do not need to pay attention to each inhalation and exhalation. We become conscious of the process of breathing only when we have some difficulty with breathing, such as when our nose is blocked, due to a cold, or when we are in an unventilated(不通风的) room.
It is the same with thinking. We become conscious of the constant onslaught of our thoughts, and of our inability to calm them down, only when we need to concentrate, solve a problem or study. We are also aware of them when we have worries or fears.
Look at the following familiar situation. You need to study something for an exam. You sit comfortably on the sofa with the book in your hands and start reading. After a while you feel hungry and go to the kitchen to eat something.
You return to read, and then hear your people talking outside. You listen to them for several moments and then bring your attention back to the book.
After a while you feel restless and switch on the radio to listen to some music. You continue to read for a little while, and then remember something that happened yesterday, and you start thinking about it.
When you look at your watch, you are amazed to find out that one complete hour has passed and you have hardly read anything. And at this time, you feel you’re thinking.
This is what happens when one lacks concentration. Imagine what you could have accomplished if you could control your attention and focus your mind!When can you feel you are thinking?
A.While breathing. | B.While not reading. |
C.When you need to concentrate. | D.When you waste your time. |
Why does the author put forward the exam situation?
A.To explain the course of thinking awareness. |
B.To show how to get ready for an exam. |
C.To present an example of concentration. |
D.To emphasize the importance of reading. |
Where can you most probably find the above passage?
A.In a guidebook of natural science. |
B.In the front page of a newspaper. |
C.In an advertisement part of a magazine. |
D.In the section of psychology of a magazine. |
This passage is mainly about _______.
A.the relationship between thoughts and breathing |
B.how people’s thought and mind work |
C.what happens when one wants to think |
D.the ways to increase your thought |
1During the First World War, some Americans indirectly benefited because of the war. With two million white men fighting in Europe and no new immigrants entering the country, many jobs in the United States became available to blacks and women for the first time.
2Both groups proved their ability to do any kind of job. Women became railway conductors, brick layers, and factory workers. Their presence in traditionally male workplace produced many problems. Men were annoyed by women’s higher productivity and willingness to work for lower pay. Working mothers were often criticized for leaving their families. But many women welcomed the responsibilities. “It was not until our men were called overseas,” said one woman bank executive, “that we make any real onslaught on the realm of finance, and became tellers, managers of departments, and junior and senior officers.”
3Women who did not take jobs helped in the war effort in other ways. They made uniforms, rolled bandages, and campaigned for the sale of Liberty Bonds to help finance the war.
4American manufacturers offered jobs to large numbers of black Americans for the first time as a result of the war. Most factories were located in the North. To take advantage of these new job opportunities, many black families moved from their homes in the South to the Northern cities such as Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Buffalo, Chicago, and Detroit.
5White Americans were of two minds about the role of black Americans in the war effort. On the one hand, black workers’ ability to learn new jobs quickly and do them well strengthened the home front, and the black men’s fighting ability helped the Allies win the war. However, many whites did not want to acknowledge that blacks were capable, effective workers. White soldiers returning from the war had no desire to compete for jobs with blacks on equal terms. At the same time, many blacks were not willing to a lesser role once the war had ended. Why could American women and backs find jobs during World War I?
A.They were taken to serve the war. | B.They had their equal right at that time. |
C.Workforce was in great need. | D.They had better productivities. |
Which of the following is Untrue according to the above passage?
A.Blacks women were not allowed to fight in World War I. |
B.All American women went to work during World War I. |
C.Northern cities applied more blacks during World War I. |
D.Women and blacks earned a lot during World War I. |
Which of the following is the main idea of the whole passage?
A. Americans benefited a lot from World Ward I.
B. World War I had strong effect on America.
C. Some Americans benefited from World War I indirectly.
D. U.S.A. women and blacks contributed much in World War I.Which of the following shows the right structures of the above passage?
A.1→23→45 | B.1→2→3→4→5 |
C.1→23→4→5 | D.123→4→5 |
It’s such a shame to lose a free throw. Playing in the court has pressure from the opponent, time, your teammates, the audience, and yourself. You have to shoot the ball despite all the pressures around. But with a free throw, you have the ball, no one will try to get it from you, and you have all the time to shoot the ball. But why is it that many players, even good shooters, miss most of their free throws? Maybe they need more practice or maybe they need to apply more ways to improve their free throw.
Improve your player or your free throwing skills by following the tips below:
Make it personal. The truth is, there is no rule on how one should handle and throw the ball in a free throw. What matters is that the player should shoot the ball from the free throw line no matter how he does it. So when trying to improve your free throw shooting, better stick to what works the best for you. Do not copy other people’s techniques. Make it your own and leave those techniques as theirs.
Formulate (公式化) a repetitive way of shooting the ball. A free throw should be personalized. But it should also be repetitive. You should be able to repeat your free throw techniques whether you are in your court or in another court, whether you are energized or tired. You can’t say you have a personal free throw technique if you can’t repeat it over and over again.
Shoot at the same position and distance for every free throw. Basketball courts may be located in different places or maybe marked with different paint colors. But all of these courts maintain the same distance from the ring to the free throw line. Familiarize your perfect position when making your free throws. That should help you do your perfect throw. Why do so many players fail to make a successful free throw?
A.Because they don’t have any special skills |
B.Because they are lacking in practice and tips. |
C.Because they are not so familiar with rules |
D.Because many of them are green hands. |
What can you do if you want to be a wonderful free thrower?
A.Learn from others. |
B.Form your own throwing skills. |
C.Keep active in the court. |
D.Learn to throw in different locations. |
The underlined word “ring” in the last paragraph may most probably mean “________”.
A.sound | B.basket | C.ball | D.group |
Which of the following might serve as the best title of the above passage?
A.How to play basketball successfully in the court. |
B.How to improve your basketball throw skills. |
C.How to gain more points in throwing. |
D.How to improve your basketball free throwing. |
How did your friendships begin? Most start with a short conversation on a random day. Asking about a homework assignment in class or complaining about your painful legs after playing in a soccer game, you found your best pal by accident.
“Small talk is where all your relationships begin,” Forbes magazine summed up.
The following is a five-step guide to making small talk from Bernardo J. Carducci, the director of the Shyness Research Institute at Indiana University Southeast, US. Let’s have a look.
Getting started
Begin by talking about the setting, such as the weather outside or the room you are in (“It’s cold in here, isn’t it?”). The purpose of talking about the setting is to show the other person that you are willing to make a conversation.
②The personal introduction
You should mention something about yourself, such as your name. A good personal introduction helps move the conversation forward.
③Looking for topics
At this point, you and your conversation partner need to find common ground. This is a good time to ask questions or to refer back to things you’ve said or heard earlier. Don’t worry if it gets quiet. The other person is probably just thinking of something to say.
④Expanding the topic
The goal is to keep the conversation going. At every stage, you should be careful not to talk too much. But don’t let the other person dominate the conversation either. If that starts to happen, mention something about yourself when he or she takes a breath.
⑤A polite ending
When ending a conversation, let the person know you’ll be leaving soon, express gratitude for the conversation and set the stage for a future conversation. For example, you could say, “I really must be going soon, but I had a great time chatting with you. I really liked hearing your opinion about that new movie. Here’s my phone number. Call or text me if you know of any other movies you think I might enjoy.” According to the article, starting by talking about the setting is meant to ________.
A.find common ground | B.impress the other person |
C.make a conversation | D.make the room warmer |
What does the underlined word “dominate” mean in Tip④?
A.interrupt | B.control | C.adapt | D.simplify |
When ending a conversation, you’d better ________.
A.talk about how much you want to keep talking |
B.show that you’ve not enjoyed the talk |
C.mention a specific movie that you love |
D.give your opinion about the other person’s earlier comments |
The main purpose of the article is to ________.
A.encourage students to make more friends |
B.give students tips on making small talk |
C.introduce popular topics for students |
D.teach students how to create friendships |