When your friend yawns as you chat, don't be angry. For, far from being a sign of boredom, yawning may signal empathy (同感).
Scientists believe that contagious (容易感染他人的) yawning— yawning someone else does —is a sign of being very in the first person's thoughts and feelings. This is the theory of Italian researchers who more than 100 men and women from four continents as they went to work, ate in restaurants and sat in the waiting room. When one of the yawned, the researchers noted whether anyone within 10 feet yawned within the next three . Their results showed that race and had no effect on whether the uncontrollable urge to yawn was . But how well the two people knew each other did.
A reciprocal (相互的) yawn was most to occur among family members, then , then acquaintances. The phenomenon was common among strangers, the journal PLoS ONE reports.
The University of Pisa team concluded that contagious yawning is driven by how emotionally (感情上的) we are to someone and so how likely we are to the same feeling with them. They say there are other reasons to link yawning with empathy. , we start to "catch" yawns from the age of four or five, around the time when we the ability to identify each other's emotions .
Studies also show that those easily by contagious yawning are better at knowing others are thinking about from their faces.
Most animals, including snakes and fish, yawn, it is only contagious in humans and chimps (猩猩) and, according to a recent study, dogs.The researchers, from the University of London's Birbeck College, put 29 in a room with a yawning man and found that 21, or 72%, also started to yawn. They said the skill may allow the pet to build stronger with their owners.
A．when B．before C．while D．after
A．absorbed B．concerned C．interested D．disappointed
A．observed B．saw C．noticed D．watched
A．workers B．customers C．researchers D．volunteers
A．days B．weeks C．minutes D．hours
A．age B．sex C．profession D．health
A．passed on B．passed by C．passed away D．passed through
A．normal B．possible C．likely D．probable
A．strangers B．friends C．teachers D．classmates
A．most B．more C．less D．least
A．distant B．different C．close D．fond
A．share B．hurt C．lack D．mix
A．For example B．That is C．In a word D．To begin with
A．need B．lose C．control D．develop
A．exactly B．properly C．particularly D．quickly
A．disturbed B．caught C．influenced D．interrupted
A．what B．which C．how D．who
A．and B．but C．so D．otherwise
A．snakes B．fish C．cats D．dogs
A．beliefs B．bonds C．basis D．bodies
The “Doorman”
On a trip to California, my family stopped for lunch. As we walked toward the entrance to the restaurant, a man, with a beard and dirty hair, jumped up from a bench and opened the door for us．Regardless of his , he greeted us in a friendly way．
Once inside, my daughters whispered, “Mom, he .” After we ordered our lunch, I explained, telling the kids to look the dirt．We then watched other customers approach the restaurant but many him．Seeing this rudeness truly upset me．The day I became a mother, I had resolved to set a good for my children．Yet sometimes when things didn’t go right, being a good example was . When our meal arrived, I realized I had left the car-sick pills in the truck．With the windiest trip ahead, the kids needed them, so I myself from the meal and went to get them．
Just then, the “doorman” was opening the door for a couple．They rushed past him without even acknowledging his . Letting them in first, I said a loud “thank you” to him as I ．
When I returned, we talked a bit．He said he was not allowed inside he purchased food．I went back and told my family his .Then I asked our waitress to add one soup and sandwich．The kids looked as we had already eaten, but when I said the order was for the “doorman” , they smiled．When it was time to our trip, I noticed the "doorman" enjoying his meal．Upon seeing me, he stood up and thanked me heartily．He then his hand for a handshake and I gratefully accepted．I suddenly noticed the tears in his eyes—tears of .What happened next drew great astonishment: I gave the “doorman” a ! He could hardly say a word, with tears down his face．
Back in truck, I fell into deep thought．While we can't choose many things in life, we can choose when to show gratitude．I said thanks to a man who had held open a door for me, and also said thanks for that to teach my children by example．
A．heavy B．long C．messy D．grey
A．service B．appearance C．status D．attitude
A．smokes B．smiles C．sniffs D．smells
A．beyond B．over C．around D．into
A．hated B．ignored C．missed D．refused
A．target B．rule C．record D．example
A．stressful B．accessible C．awkward D．tough
A．excused B．freed C．prevented D．withdrew
A．company B．presence C．effort D．attempt
A．quitted B．marched C．exited D．approached
A．before B．unless C．though D．since
A．story B．deed C．experience D．demand
A．concerned B．shocked C．puzzled D．bored
A．make B．start C．take D．continue
A．extended B．washed C．raised D．waved
A．approval B．affection C．sympathy D．gratitude
A．hug B．nod C．lift D．clap
A．slipping B．streaming C．rushing D．breaking
A．firmly B．constantly C．simply D．politely
A．journey B．wisdom C．opportunity D．coincidence
Cheerful Charlie was a very special boy. When he was still in his mother’s tummy, she had an accident, which meant that Charlie couldn’t walk. But that had never been a(n) for him; they had started calling him Cheerful Charlie because of his joyful and nature. He really brightened everything up for those around him.
There wasn’t a postman, or a taxi driver who wasn’t to see Charlie. “Cheer up, Mr. Postman, that way you’ll more letters today!” he would say, or “That was great, Mr. Taxi Driver. You that thing better than anyone else. ”
He also had great ideas and for everything; and he shared them so generously that, just about every day in that town, someone did a great job, or something new, thanks to Charlie’s ideas.
One day, though, he came up against a real . A young boy came to town on his holidays. He was known as Waterworks and was a real crybaby. No matter what Charlie said to him, Waterworks would always find some to be sad: “I don’t have many sweets… my parents didn’t buy me that toy…” Everything seemed so bad to him. But Cheerful Charlie wasn’t going to be , and he kept spending more time with Waterworks, trying to cheer him up, just as he did with everyone.
Then, one day, when they were together in the street, someone a pie from a window above by chance, and it landed on Charlie’s head. He got such a fright that he couldn’t even move his lips. He was speechless, and although Waterworks was just about to cry, he Charlie’s happy words so much that he finally said,“Wow, Charlie, that’s a nice clown mask(小丑面具)you just put on!”
On saying those words, Waterworks felt so that he finally understood why Charlie was always so happy and cheerful. He realized that he was so used to Charlie’s enthusiasm that he couldn’t help but see the funny side of everything.
A．problem B．mistake C．excuse D．topic
A．sensitive B．humorous C．responsible D．enthusiastic
A．surprised B．moved C．pleased D．disappointed
A．send B．write C．print D．find
A．paint B．play C．park D．repair
A．opportunities B．solutions C．comments D．impressions
A．cleared B．noticed C．enjoyed D．invented
A．difficulty B．surprise C．risk D．disaster
A．means B．reason C．method D．value
A．let down B．taken up C．set free D．driven away
A．hardly B．quickly C．constantly D．specially
A．aimed B．moved C．threw D．dropped
A．ahead B．right C．almost D．even
A．missed B．loved C．envied D．wanted
A．ordinary B．sorry C．good D．curious
I have always wanted to share this story because it is one of the things that I will remember for my entire life. And I’m sure person feels the same.
We had a new teacher in my high school World History class. She was very nice and excited to see us. She told a story about her fighting in a war and brought a picture of him. After about fifteen of her talking, the class started talking softly to each other they were getting bored. Looking , she asked “So, you guys don’t really want to hear any more?” No one dared to actually say “no” to her out loud one kid. He said, “No, not really!” in a disrespectful way. Some kids were a little and thought that it was rather rude.
I felt extremely bad for this teacher. No one deserves to be in such a disrespectful manner. , a little before class let out, I went up to her and for the guy’s rude behavior. I told her I had been , and even though I may not entirely like , I did appreciate her sharing her story. I asked her about her father and asked to see the picture of him. We had a very nice, genuine conversation about her father.
The teacher was . She really appreciated me coming up and actually treating her with the that she deserved. I felt at full peace with myself knowing that I did the right thing and I was super happy that I actually . Even though I didn’t really care for history, I listened, and I hope that others in different situations will do the same. Listening means a lot to the people sharing; it really . If I had just left the class without saying a word, I would have felt extremely and would have a constant reminder, probably to this day, that was not served and I had left a person in their time of need.
A．neither B．no C．a certain D．the other
A．father B．nephew C．uncle D．brother
A．hours B．minutes C．seconds D．days
A．even if B．as if C．because D．so
A．hurt B．funny C．proud D．amused
A．besides B．except C．as well as D．along with
A．interested B．excited C．disappointed D．shocked
A．treated B．considered C．scolded D．taught
A．Therefore B．However C．Personally D．Naturally
A．thanked B．prepared C．apologized D．argued
A．talking B．listening C．laughing D．wondering
A．geography B．literature C．architecture D．history
A．nothing B．little C．less D．more
A．amazed B．touched C．embarrassed D．bored
A．gift B．reward C．respect D．praise
A．made her day B．made my day C．made her way D．made my way
A．ever B．even C．still D．seldom
A．means B．makes C．is D．does
A．happy B．guilty C．lucky D．empty
A．justice B．right C．purpose D．interest
German Prime Minister Otto Von Bismarck may be most famous for his and diplomatic talent, but his contributions to the society include many of today’s social insurance programs. During the middle of the 19th century, Germany, other European nations, an unusual outbreak of workplace deaths and accidents as a result of growing . in part by Christian sympathy for the helpless as well as a practical political impulse to get the of the socialist labor movement, Bismarck the world’s first worker’s compensation law in 1884.
By 1908, the United States was the industrial nation in the world that lacked workers’ compensation insurance. American’s injured workers could seek in a court of law, but they still faced a number of tough legal barriers. , employees had to prove that their injuries directly employer’s lack of care and they themselves were ignorant about potential danger in the workplace. The first state workers’ compensation law in this country passed in 1911, and the program soon throughout the nation.
After World War II, benefit payments to American workers did not the cost of living. In fact, real benefit levels were lower in the 1970s than they were in the 1940s, and in most states the maximum benefit was below the poverty level for a family of four. In 1970, President Richard Nixon set up a national to study the problems workers’ compensation. Two years later, the committee issued 19 key recommendations, one that called for increasing compensation benefit levels to 100 percent of the states’ average weekly wages.
A．artistic B．literary C．military D．economic
A．along with B．other than C．apart from D．rather than
A．experimented B．explored C．experienced D．excluded
A．urbanization B．revolution C．evolution D．industrialization
A．Inspired B．Touched C．Organized D．Motivated
A．feedback B．statement C．proof D．support
A．discovered B．created C．uncovered D．revealed
A．unique B．only C．powerful D．most
A．rights B．help C．compensation D．support
A．For example B．However C．Consequently D．Moreover
A．resulted in B．stood for C．resulted from D．deal with
A．spread B．promoted C．stretched D．placed
A．put up with B．face up to C．benefit from D．keep up with
A．community B．committee C．authority D．government
A．including B．insisting C．installing D．investing
A young and successful executive was traveling down a street , going a bit too fast in his new car; He was for kids rushing out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something.
his car passed a brick the car’s side door, He pressed hard the and spun the car back to the from where the brick had been thrown,.
He jumped out of the car, a kid and pushed him up a parked car,shouting,”what was that all about and who are you? Just what the heck are you doing?” more and more angry, he wen on “That’s a new car and that brick you threw is gonna a lot of money, Why did you do it?””Please ,mister,please,I’m sorry, Ididn’t know what else to do!” the youngster, “It’s my brother”,he said ,”He fell out of his wheelchair and I can’t him up”,Sobbing ,the boy asked the executive, “Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair?”He’s hurt and he’s too heavy for me.”
beyond words, the driver tried to the rapidly swelling lump(块)in his throat, He the young man back into the wheelchair and took out his and wiped the scrapes (擦伤)and cuts, to see that everything was going to be okay.
“Thank you ,sir, And God bless you,”the child said to him ,The man then watched the little boy bis brother to the sidewalk toward their home.
It was a long slow walk back to his car, He never did the side door ,He kept the dent(凹痕)to remind him not to go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to get your .
A．looking B．watching C．caring D．waiting
A．Before B．After C．as D．while
A．hit B．blocked C．dropped D．scratched
A．hit B．brakes C．brick D．wheel
A．spot B．which C．that D．this
A．saw B．found C．stopped D．grabbed
A．on B．in C．against D．towards
A．Remaining B．Growing C．Building up D．Making up
A．cost B．spend C．use D．take
A．begged B．required C．asked D．wondered
A．get B．pick C．lift D．put
A．Worried B．Depressed C．Moved D．Surprised
A．chew B．melt C．spit D．swallow
A．helped B．pulled C．held D．took
A．medicine B．handkerchief C．belt D．money
A．demanding B．expecting C．checking D．wanting
A．delighted B．sad C．helpless D．grateful
A．push B．bring C．hand D．raise
A．recovery B．repair C．reform D．record
A．information B．help C．attention D．notice