We are told breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and dinner the most enjoyable. But what about lunch? In today’s fast-paced society, not many people take time to enjoy this midday meal. We just take a quick salad, or buy a sandwich and eat at our computers. Sometimes, if there is a deadline around the corner, we just give up lunch. The development of technology hasn’t done our eating habits much good, either. We are constantly distracted（分神） by e-mails, social media, 24-hour news, and hand-held electronic devices.
Long working hours can cause all kinds of health problems. Employers should encourage workers to take time off for lunch. This is because long lunch breaks can benefit both people and society. To take a lunch break is to slow down and gain some views. A break from work allows us to think cleverly and outside the box. It also puts our daily tasks into a wider context（环境）.
What we eat at lunch is also important. A fast-food lunch is more harmful than not having lunch at all. And it’s not just about calories and unhealthy food. Recent studies show that fast food also has negative effects on how we think. However, if we sit down at a proper restaurant and chat leisurely with colleagues, we are more likely to slow down and talk about something that hardly can be achieved in a noisy and crowded fast food chain.Do many people take time to enjoy the midday meal?
What can cause all kinds of health problems?
Why should employers encourage workers to take time off for lunch?
Which is more harmful, having a fast-food lunch or not having lunch at all?
阅读短文，根据短文内容回答问题。（共10分，每小题2分）
Confidence is very important in daily life. It can help you to develop a healthy attitude. A study shows that the people who are more confident are much happier. They can have more chance to make themselves successful. But how to be more confident? Here are some suggestions:
Speak loudWhen you are not confident, you can’t do well what you want to do. You speak in a voice so low that other people can hardly hear you. Try to speak loud enough so that people can hear you clearly. The high voice can help you become more confident.
Play sports Physical exercise makes you tired but completely relaxed. A strong body helps you be full of confidence.
Encourage yourself Write down a list of things you did during the day to see how many things you have done well. Did you finish your homework? Did you tell a joke that made everybody laugh? Give yourself praise for the good things you’ve done.
Get rid of(消除)fear Fear comes along with failure. But it’s easy to overcome (克服) if you know that failure is part of your life. Don’t hide your head just because you said something stupid last time. Try to start again and believe you can do better.
Pick up a hobby If you like singing, sing as much as you can. In some ways, a hobby can make you outstanding. And it will make you happy and confident.
In a US study, researchers measured (测量) the happiness of 4739 people over 20 years. The study found that a person’s happiness depends on the happiness of people he connects with. Surprisingly, it also found that happiness spreads not only between direct friends, but also among friends of your friends’ friends! And those good feelings seem to have the greatest influence among friends of the same sex (性别).
“People with more good friends are less likely to develop depression (情绪低落) and worry,” says Dr. Toupey Luft. “Though you can’t choose your family or workmates, you do have control over friendships.” With a little effort, you can add more positive (正面的,积极的) relationships to your social circle. Here’re the suggestions:
“Nobody is all positive or all negative,” says Luft. “But there are people you may feel more positive. Use that as your way to check people and keep records.” When spending time with others, pay attention to your feeling. Are you feeling tired and unhappy？To help you keep records, Luft suggests taking a moment when you get home to write down what your feeling is when around them.
While it’s great to gather with positive friends, it’s also good to stay with others in the same life situations. “But if you’re all just complaining (抱怨) and nothing is changing, it’s not healthy,” says Luft. Are your friends negative, or are you doing most of the complaining? Considering the answers to these questions can help you decide if you want to stand in front of them. Or you could let the relationship disappear slowly.
Sometimes your hobbies can lead to true friendships. Check out newspapers and websites to find a group or class for something you enjoy. These friends can always be there for you and can care each other through difficulties, illness and death.
Not into groups? Look for individual (个人的) communication instead. Luft says, “Set small goals, such as having coffee with one new person, and develop friendship according to a plan. If someone suggests going for lunch sometime, set a date.”
“If you’re feeling disappointed (失望) with a friend, try talking about what you both need,” says Luft. For example, tell her what you want during hard times in your lives. While your friend may need to be left alone, you may want caring phone calls. With some friends you laugh and have fun together at the movies—and that can be enough. With others, you pay attention to your deep connection.
| A．How people you connect with feel. |
| B．How many friends you have. |
| C．What situation you are in now. |
| D．What kind of friends you have. |
| A．To measure our happiness. |
| B．To check people around. |
| C．To join a group for hobbies. |
| D．To leave negative friends. |
| A．We often have many friends during good times but few during hard times. |
| B．It’s necessary to complain about something but not right to do so for long. |
| C．Joining a group can bring better friendship than making individual friends. |
| D．All the suggestions tell us to add positive relationship to our social circle. |
| A．when your friend is sad, you should call her up |
| B．when your friend leaves you, you need comfort |
| C．friends’ needs may be quite different sometimes |
| D．people may behave differently during hard times |
It can be hard to meet people from another culture. From the beginning, people may send the wrong signal (信号). Or they may pay no attention to signals from another person who is trying to develop a relationship.
Different cultures emphasize（强调）the importance of relationship building to a greater or lesser degree. For example, business in some countries is not possible until there is a relationship of trust. Even with people at work, it is necessary to spend a lot of time in “small talk”, usually over a glass of tea, before they do any job. In many European countries—like the UK or France—people find it easier to build up a lasting working relationship at restaurants or cafes rather than at the office.
Talk and silence may also be different in some cultures. I once made a speech in Thailand. I had expected my speech to be a success and start a lively discussion; instead there was an uncomfortable silence. The people present just stared at me and smiled. After getting to know their ways better, I realized that they thought I was talking too much. In my own culture, we express meaning mainly through words, but people there sometimes feel too many words are unnecessary.
Even within Northern Europe, cultural differences can cause serious problems. Certainly, English and German cultures share similar values; however, Germans prefer to get down to business more quickly. We think that they are rude. In fact, this is just because one culture starts discussions and makes decisions more quickly.
People from different parts of the world have different values, and sometimes these values are quite against each other. However, if we can understand them better, a multicultural（多元文化）environment will offer a wonderful chance for us to learn from each other.
| A．keep each other company |
| B．share the same culture |
| C．get to know each other |
| D．develop closer relations |
| A．too many words are of no use |
| B．the English prefer to make long speeches |
| C．even talk and silence can be culturally different |
| D．people from Thailand are quiet and shy by nature |
| A．Multicultural Environment |
| B．Cross-Cultural Differences |
| C．How to Understand Each Other |
| D．How to Build Up a Relationship |
It was a cold winter afternoon before Christmas. My parents and I sat on the bench in Washington, D.C.’Union Station, waiting for the train. Inside the waiting hall were many people.
A boy sat nearby. His worn jacket, pale face, dirty hands all seemed to tell me that he was homeless.
“He must be cold and hungry. Maybe I should help him,” I said to myself.
Just at that moment, a well-dressed young couple walked towards him.
“Excuse me,” the man bent down. “My wife and I bought two meal boxes but one was enough for us. We hate to waste good food. Can you help us out and put this to use?” he handed the boy a meal box.
The boy thanked them and opened the box with joy and care. Suddenly he stopped. In the direction to which he looked, I saw an old man in rags-in a worn sweater, worn trousers and open shoes, entering the hall.
Putting the meal box aside, the boy stood and helped the old to his seat. He took off his jacket and covered it on the old man’s shoulders, saying, “A gentleman brought me this warm meal but I just finished eating. I hate to waste good food. Can you help me out?” He placed the still-warm meal box in the old man’s hands without waiting for an answer.
“Sure, son, but if only you share that sandwich with me. It’s too much for a man at my age. ”
We were all touched. Dad went away and soon returned with cups of hot chocolate and a big pizza. Mum and dad went up to those rags, “Excuse me…”
I rushed into a KFC and took out my pocket money. It was so cold that afternoon but I felt much warmer than I had ever thought possible.
| A．The young woman. | B．The old man. |
| C．The young man. | D．Mum and Dad. |
| A．He was not hungry. |
| B．He wanted to help the old man. |
| C．He didn’t like the food. |
| D．He saw a sandwich in the meal box. |
A. He bought some food for the homeless.
B. He told his story to the people in the KFC.
C. He gave his pocket money to the homeless.
D. He asked the other passengers to help the homeless.
Do you like visiting parks? The following three might be the ones that you are interested in.
Hyde Park, the biggest royal park of the UK, lies in the center of London, next to Green Park. It was built to be a royal park in 1536. About one hundred years later, the park was open to the public. Speakers’ Corner in Hyde Park is famous all over the world. Anyone can make a speech there on Sunday afternoon.
Central Park is a man-made park in the center of Manhattan, New York. It took about 15 years to build the park and in 1873 it was open to the public. With 21 playgrounds and 2 zoos, Central Park is a wonderful place for children to have fun.
Banff National Park, the largest park in Alberta, Canada, was open in 1885. The park is as large as 6, 641 km2. Whether by car, boat, bike or on foot, you can enjoy the beautiful mountains and lakes, as well as the plants and wild animals. There’re 3 famous ski areas in the park, which attracts millions of people to come every winter.
| A．London | B．Banff | C．New York | D．Alberta |
| A．2 | B．3 | C．15 | D．21 |
| A．Green Park | B．Hyde Park |
| C．Banff National Park | D．Central Park |