Gratitude means thankfulness, noticing simple pleasures, and acknowledging everything that you receive. It shifts your focus from what your life lacks to the abundance that is already present. Psychological research has shown the surprising life improvements gained from the practice of gratitude.
Two psychologists, Michael McCollough and Robert Emmons, conducted an experience on gratitude and its effect on well being. The results of the study indicated that daily gratitude exercises resulted in higher reported levels of enthusiasm, determination, optimism, and energy. In addition, those who practiced gratitude experienced less depression and stress, were more likely to help others, worked out problems more regularly, and made greater progress toward achieving personal goals.
Therefore, it's important to practice gratitude. Here are a few reminders.
A common method is to get yourself a cute little notebook and write down 3-5 things that you're grateful for at the end of each day. They can be small things, or bigger things.
You can also send a handwritten letter or make a phone call to a person for whom you are thankful, expressing the gratitude. It will surely brighten their day, and in turn, yours.
Besides, for some, it may be a good idea to express their gratitude in person. It doesn't need to be formal. Just a simple gesture of thanks is only needed to feel the benefits of this kind of gratitude.
Finally, there are certain times you can devote to gratitude. For example, at the beginning of your meals, or at bedtime, or when your parents get home from work. Committing to a specific time establishes a practice of gratitude.
Once you become accustomed to looking for things to be grateful for, you will find that you begin to appreciate simple pleasures, which can make a day and even change a life.
| Title |
Gratitude |
| Introduction |
Gratitude means being grateful and can help people. |
| ■Feeling more ■Becoming less depressed and stressed, but more willing to be ■Working out problems more regularly. ■Achieving your |
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| ■Putting down whatever you feel grateful for every day. ■Writing to or calling whoever you want to ■Giving thanks personally in a ■Devoting a proper |
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| Conclusion |
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阅读下面短文，按照句子结构的语法性和上下文连贯的要求，在空格处填入一个适当的词或使用括号中词语的正确形式填空，并将答案填写在答题卡标号为31～40的相应位置上。
Chinese proverbs are rich and they are still widely used in Chinese people’s daily life. 31these proverbs, there are often interesting stories. For example, the proverb, “plucking up a crop 32(help) it grow”, is based on the following story.
It is said that a short-tempered man in the Song Dynasty (960 — 1279) was very anxious to help 33rice crop grow up quickly. He was thinking about 34 day and night. But the crop was growing much slower than he expected.
One day, he came up with an idea 35he would pluck up all of his crop a few inches. He did so the next day.
He was very tired 36doing this for a whole day, 37he felt very happy since the crop did “grow” 38(high).
His son heard about this and went to see the crop. Unfortunately the leaves of the crop began to wither.
This proverb is saying we have to let things go in their 39(nature) course. Being too anxious to help an event develop often 40(result) in the contrary to our intention.
第二节：语法填空(共10小题；每小题1分，满分10分)
仔细阅读下面的短文，短文中有10个空格。请按照每小题括号内的具体要求完成语法填空和词形变化。（每格填1~2个单词）
Several days before July 28, 1976, many strange things happened in Tangshan. They were signs for the earthquake.31 (副词), people in the city of Tangshan thought32 of these. At 3:42 am that day, the earth began to shake,33 destroyed the city. Steam（蒸汽）34 (burst) from holes in the ground. It gave35 smelly gas. Many buildings fell into bricks all of a sudden like pieces of dominos. Many people,36 (include) workers and doctors, came to rescue those37 (trap) under the ruins. Later that afternoon,38 (限定词) big earthquake struck Tangshan. More people were killed or injured and more buildings fell down. Soldiers were called in to help the rescue workers. Teams39 (organize) to dig out those under the ruins and bury the dead.40 number of the miners who were rescued from coal mines reached almost 10,000. With the help from all over the country, Tangshan began to recover slowly.
B
I have never been able to make sense of my idea 31 money. I can walk into a store and spend $ 700 on suit, 32 go home and squeeze(挤)three cups of tea out of a single teabag. Am I a spendthrift or a miser or both?
A spendthrift is a person 33 likes to spend money. He always buys things 34 regard to cost. All of his spending gives him 35 (please), so he enjoys 36. with shopping spending. He is both warmhearted and free - handed. He has a lot of friends 37 he often treats everybody to drinks and meals. He would even give or lend money to his 38 (bad) enemy! Some people can accept a spendthrift's habits very easily. They consider such a person inexperienced, 39they enjoy being with him.
Are you a little like the person just 40 (write) about? If you are one of the big spenders of the world, you will always have debts, but you may have a lot of fun, too.
第二节语法填空 (共20小题，满分30分)
阅读下面短文，按照句子结构的语法性和上下文连贯的要求，在空格处填入一个适当的词或使用括号中词语的正确形式填空，并将答案填写在答题卡标号为26～45的相应位置上。
A
The most energetic and important festivals are the 21that look forward to the end of winter and to the coming of spring. 22 the Spring Festival in China, people eat dumplings, fish and meat and may give 23(child) lucky money in red paper. There are dragon dances and carnivals, 24families celebrate the Lunar New Year together. Some Western countries have very exciting carnivals,25take place forty days before Easter, usually in February, These carnivals might include parades,26(dance) in the streets day and night, loud music and colorful clothing of all kinds. Easter is 27important religious and social festival for Christians around the world. It celebrates the return of Jesus 28 the dead and the coming of spring and new life. Japan’s Cherry Blossom Festival happens a little later. The country, 29(cover) with cherry tree flowers, looks as though 30 is covered with pink snow.
B
Just now, I entered the website “Topic for Today”, I feel 36 (interest) in the report on middle school students’ using cell-phones on campus．In fact, many students now come to school 37 cell-phones．My schoolmates have different opinions．Some think 38 is convenient to get in touch with others with the cell-phone, which also makes you feel safe especially in time of trouble． 39 , it is nice to enjoy various functions of different cell-phones．40 think differently．First, the cell-phone is not 41 must in school, as 42 are some IC phones in the school 43 (make) it easy to call others．Second, many students often play e-games and send e-messages with their cell-phones, even in class, 44 will surely have bad effects on their study．What’s more, it will result in a great waste of time and money．In my opinion, the cell-phone is a 45 (use) tool in our daily life．But it doesn’t mean we can use it freely in school．