Assertiveness is the ability to confidently express your opinions, feelings, attitudes, and rights, in a way that doesn't infringe(侵犯) the rights of others.
Many of us are taught that it is not nice to consider our own needs above those of others. If someone says or does something that we don't like, we should just be quiet and try to stay away from that person in the future.
Why is Assertiveness important?
If you don't know how to be assertive, you might experience:
•Depression - Anger, a sense of being helpless, hopeless, or of having no control over your life.
•Resentment - Anger at others for taking advantage of you.
•Frustration - Why did I allow that to happen?
Most people find it easier to be assertive in some situations than in others. This makes perfect sense. It's a lot easier to hold your ground with a stranger than with someone you love. But the more important the relationship is to you, the more important it is to be assertive. Assertive behavior leads to increased respect from others!
But before you decide to act assertively, you have to decide if you can live
with the results. Although assertive behavior usually will result in a positive
response (积极的回应),some people might react differently.
How to be effectively(有效地) assertive:
•Use "I" statements. Keep the focus on the problem you're having. "I'd like to be able to tell my stories without interruption." instead of "You're always interrupting my stories ! "
•Use facts, not opinions. "Did you know that shirt has a hole?" instead of "You're not going out looking like THAT, are you?"
•Express ownership of your thoughts, feelings, and opinions. "I get angry when he breaks his promises. " instead of "He makes me angry. "
• Make clear and direct requirements. Don't invite the person to say no. "Will you please?" instead of 'Would you mind...?" or "Why don't you...?"
•Keep repeating your point. Use a low level and pleasant voice. Don't try to explain yourself.
The writer probably agrees that____________.
A.you should consider others' response before you act assertively |
B.you should be assertive if you want to get good marks |
C.assertiveness is the ability to infringe others' rights. |
D.assertive behavior will bring you bad feelings |
The expression "hold yourground" probably means “_________________”
A.reach an agreement |
B.insist on your point |
C.keep your word |
D.keep on fighting |
Which of the following helps you to be effectively assertive?
A.Explaining yourself in a soft and sweet voice. |
B.Expressing ownership of others' thoughts. |
C.Making requirements directly and clearly. |
D.Using your opinions instead of facts. |
“If you want to see a thing well, reach out and touch it!”
That may seem a strange thing to say. But touching things can help you to see them better. Your eyes can tell you that a glass ball is round. But by holding it in your hands, you can feel how smooth and cool the ball is. You can feel how heavy the glass is. When you feel all these about the ball, you really see it.
With your skin, you can feel better. For example, your fingers can tell the difference between two coins in your pocket. You can feel a little drop of water on the back of your hand, too. You can even feel sounds against your skin. Have you ever wanted to know why some people like very loud music? They must like to feel the sounds of music.
All children soon learn what “Don’t touch!” means. They hear it often. Yet most of us keep on touching things as we grow up. In shops, we touch things we might buy, such as food, clothes and so on. To see something well, we have to touch it.
The bottoms of our feet can feel things, too. You know this when you walk on warm sand, cool grass or a bad floor. All feel different under your feet.
There are ways of learning to see well by feeling. One way is to close your eyes and try to feel everything that is touching your skin. Feel the shoes on your feet, the clothes on your body, the air on your skin. At first, it is not easy to feel these things. You are too used to them!
Most museums are just for looking. But today some museums have some things to touch. Their signs say, “Do touch!” There you can feel everything on show.
If you want to see better, reach out and touch. Then you’ll really see!Which of the following can be the best title of the story?
A.Touching by Feeling |
B.To See or to Feel |
C.To See Better by Feeling |
D.Ways of Feeling |
When people buy things in shops, they often ______.
A.try them on first |
B.put their right hand on them |
C.just have a look |
D.feel and touch them |
Why does it say, “At first, it is not easy to feel these things?”
A.The things are used by people, too. |
B.People are used to the things. |
C.People know how to use the things |
D.The things are easy to feel. |
Which of the following is true?
A.Touching can help people learn things better. |
B.Our feet, fingers, hands and skin can help us enjoy music. |
C.People have to learn to see by feeling as they grow up. |
D.Visitors cannot feel the things on show in some museums. |
How green are you ? Do you know how to be green?
We all need a healthy environment, but we produce waste every day and it does harm to our environment. Though we are young, we can still do something to help. In fact, even the simplest everyday activities can make a real difference to the environment. Here are some ideas for you.
Reduce
Reduce means “use less”. Don’t waste things. This saves money and reduces pollution and waste going into the environment. Before we buy something new, think whether it is really necessary—or maybe the old one will be just as good! When we do buy things, choose local products if possible, and try not to buy too many things from abroad.
Reuse
Reuse means “use again”. Use things for as long as possible. When we buy things, make sure that they last a long time. We should look after them so that they will last, and we should repair them if we can instead of throwing them away and buying new ones. Don’t use a paper cup or a paper bag. It’s better to use a china cup and a lunch box because you can use them again.
Recycle
Recycle means “change things into something else”. Though it takes energy(精力) to change something into something else, it’s better than throwing things away or burning them. Find out what can be recycled in your neighborhood and take part in recycling programmes. We should also buy products made from recycled materials, such as recycled paper, to help save trees.
So please remember these three words: reduce, reuse and recycle.What is the passage about ?
A.How to produce things. |
B.How to burn things. |
C.How to help others. |
D.How to be green. |
Which of the following is right?
A.Don’t waste things. |
B.Always throw away old things. |
C.Always buy new things. |
D.Buy too many things from abroad. |
Why is it better to use a china cup and a lunch box?
A.You can burn them. |
B.You can use them again. |
C.You can throw them away. |
D.You can change them into something else. |
To protect the environment, we should remember these three words: _______.
A.waste, reuse and recycle | B.repair, burn and recycle |
C.reduce, reuse and recycle | D.reduce, waste and recycle. |
“Cool” is a word with many meanings. Its old meaning is used to express a temperature that is a little bit cold. As the world has changed, the word has had many different meanings. “Cool” can be used to express feelings of interest in almost everything.
When you see a famous car in the street, maybe you will say. “It’s cool.” You May think, “He’s so cool,” when you see your favorite football player.
We all maximize(扩大)the meaning of “cool”. You can use it instead of many words, such as “new” or “surprising”. Here’s an interesting story we can use to show the way the word is used. A teacher asked her student to write about the waterfall(瀑布) they had visited. On the student’s paper was just the one sentence, “It’s so cool.” Maybe he thought it was the best way to show what he saw and felt.
But the story also shows a scarcity(缺乏)of words. Without “cool”, some people have no words to show the same meaning. So it is quite important to keep some credibility(可信度).Can you think of many other words that make your life as colorful as the word “cool”? I can. And I think they are also very cool.We know that the word “cool” has had ________.
A.only one meaning | B.no meaning |
C.many different meanings | D.the same meaning |
In the passage, the word “express” means “_______”.
A.see | B.show | C.know | D.feel |
If you are ________ something, you may say, “It’s cool.”
A.interested in | B.angry about |
C.worried about | D.unhappy with |
The writer takes an example to show he is ________ the way the word is used.
A.pleased with | B.strange to |
C.worried about | D.unhappy with |
In the passage, the writer suggests(暗示)that the word “cool”___________.
A.can be used instead of many words |
B.usually means something interesting |
C.can make your life colorful |
D.may not be as cool as it seems |
Being safe in your everyday life needs knowledge. If you remember the following information, your life will be much safer.
● Always notice the environment around you. You shouldn’t walk alone outside. Make sure where the public phones are. If anything dangerous happens, you can find them easily.
● Don’t use earphones (耳机) when running in the schoolyard (校园) or on the street. You will keep yourself from the outside world and can be surprised.
● Your bag should be carried in front of your body instead of putting it on your back. When a bus is full of people, it is easy enough for a thief to take away the things in the bag on your back.
● If you are followed by someone you don’t know, cross the street and go to the other way, let the person understand that you know he or she is after you. Next, don’t go home right away. You are safer in the street than you are alone in your home.
● If you have to take a bus to a place far away, try to get to the stop a few minutes earlier before the bus leaves. This stops other people from studying you. On the bus, don’t sit alone. Sit behind the driver or with other people. Don’t sleep.You’d better put your bag _________ when there are too many people on a bus.
A.on your back | B.on your right |
C.in front of you | D.behind the driver |
When you are followed by someone on your way home, you should _________ to make yourself safe.
A.run home |
B.find a supermarket and go in |
C.turn back and walk to him or her right away |
D.cross the street and go to the other way |
When you take a bus alone, it’s safe for you to _________________.
A.sit behind the driver or with other people, but not to sleep |
B.talk with the driver |
C.call your friends |
D.get off the bus right away |
Which of the following is NOT safe when you are out?
A.Going home alone late at night. |
B.Making sure where the public phones are. |
C.Not getting to the bus stop too early. |
D.Always noticing the environment around you. |
What’s the best title for the passage?
A.How to notice the environment around you |
B.How to be safe in your everyday life |
C.How to cross the street |
D.How to use the public phones |
HI! I’m Harry. Life used to be a little difficult for me. The muscles(肌肉) in my arms and legs are weak. I have to be in a wheelchair all day. I can’t use my legs at all, and also can’t do many things with my hands. If I drop something, it stays there until someone picks it up for me. I can’t open doors or turn the lights on and off. Carrying things I need for school is a problem too.
Now things are easier. I have a helping hand. Pete is a golden dog that has been trained(被训练) to help kids like me. Pete had been at dog training school for two years to learn how to do different tasks. I had to be trained too. I had to learn how to give Pete instructions and how to take care of him.
When Pete is working, he doesn’t play around. My friends don’t pet him or call him when he is working. He can pull my wheelchair and pick up things I drop. Pete carries my books and lunch on his back. He pushes the button(按钮) on the school lift and opens some kinds of doors. He even knows how to turn the lights on.
But best of all, Pete is here when I need a friend.Harry has to stay in a wheelchair all day because________.
A.his legs are broken | B.his leg muscles are weak |
C.he is too lazy | D.he likes it |
At first when Harry drops something, he ________ .
A.picks it up by himself | B.throws it |
C.waits for someone to help him | D.calls his parents |
According to the passage, who is Harry’s helping hand?
A.Pete | B.his teacher |
C.his brother | D.his parents |
What does the underlined word “instructions” mean in the second paragraph?
A.指令 | B.美食 | C.教训 | D.奖励 |
Which of the following about Pete is NOT true?
A.Pete can turn lights on. |
B.Pete can clean Harry’s room. |
C.Peter can pull Harry’s wheelchair. |
D.Pete can push the button on the school lift. |
What does the writer mean by saying, “Pete is here when I need a friend.”
A.Pete is with him all night long. |
B.Pete is a funny dog to make him happy. |
C.Pete is only a helpful tool for him. |
D.Pete is not only a helping hand but also his good friend. |