People are very social animals. We need to talk with and do things with other people. We often understand ourselves better when we discuss our ideas and activities with other people. We need to make meaningful connections with friends and family. These connections help us forget our failures and worries. We can focus (集中) on things that are important: the people we care about.

Your community is the area near your home. It’s where you work, play and go to school. It is the neighborhood where your family makes connections with other people. It’s the places you feel like you belong (属于) to.

Communities grow and change over time. Families move from one city to another because of work or family situations. Older people often move to smaller homes or vacation areas after their children have grown up. Their children move out to start families of their own. New families move in when others leave.

Basic services, such as police, fire, post office, health and public schools are in almost every community. Businesses provide services to the community, too. Stores sell things that people need. Restaurants sell prepared food. Offices provide lots kinds of skilled work.

The job of the city government is to listen to the people of the community and help them connect. Some people may move on, but the community remains.

1.Are people very social animals?

2.What can these connections help us forget?

3.Why do older people move to smaller homes or vacation areas?

4.What does the passage tell us?

If the eyes are the windows of the soul, then the body is the mirror of our feelings. If we are feeling great, we may give our body signals(信号). If we look at someone else’s body, we can often tell how they are feeling by their body signals. So reading body language signals is a great tool in daily communication.

    In case(假使) you don't think that learning how to read and use body language is important, here are some numbers for you. 7% of the information we receive is from what people actually say, and 38% of the information we receive is from the tone(语气) and the speed of their voice; while 55% of the information we receive is from their body language.

    These non-verbal(非口头的) signals will help you a lot, but you still need to focus on what people are saying. If you focus too much on their body language signals, you and the person may feel uncomfortable. It is useful to be able to read people’s body language, but it is useful to learn how to send the right signals and avoid the wrong signals too. Body language may be given several interpretations. Many signals have different meanings, depending on the person and the situation. Be sure of it when you are trying to read a body language signal.

1.The numbers mentioned in the second paragraph are to ___________.

    A. explain what body language is

    B. show the importance of body language

    C. tell us body language is less used than verbal language

    D. tell us body language is the only tool in communication

2.What is the meaning of the underlined sentence in the last paragraph?

    A. Body language is widely used all over the world

    B. Body language can be explained in different ways.

    C. It’s too hard to understand the meanings of body language

    D. People have already looked through many books on body language.

3.According to the writer, body language is very ___________.

    A. simple to learn              B. negative to be used

    C. hard to understand           D. helpful in communication

4.According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE?

    A. Body language is uncomfortable.

B. What people are saying is not important

    C. Body language can show your emotion.

D. To send wrong signals is not body language

5.We can infer(推断) that the writer will most probably talk about __________ next.

    A. what the wrong body language signals are

    B. examples of how to understand body language correctly.

    C. numbers about how many people wrongly use body language

    D. an analysis (分析) of why people wrongly understand body language

Choose the best answer to complete the passage.

You've just finished with middle school and you may start wondering, “What is high school like? Is high school a lot  32  middle school? Is it going to be hard to start out in a new place?"

Most high schools in America hold a freshman class  33  school actually starts. When you talk to people in the freshman class, you  34  that a lot of them are feeling just like you are, excited, maybe  35  afraid. Talking about a question of common interest with your classmates could start a new   36  .

The work in high school builds on what you  37  in middle school, and gives you more knowledge of many subjects. So you  38   feel that it's a bit more challenging. But these challenges can make you feel   39  . And there are many resources (资源）to use if you feel that the work is too much.

At the beginning of high school, you'll get to know it has more activities than middle school, such as clubs, music groups, and sports teams. These activities may      40   before or after school, or during your free time. 41  this, time management is an important skill in your 42  year.

Middle school teaches you the  43  of study and social skills while high school gives you the chance to learn 44  to be more independent (独立的).It's all right if you're nervous 45  . Just be patient and keep  46  . Once you've got used to your new independence, you can go farther than you ever imagined.

1.A. the same as       B. different from      C. helpful to

2.A. before           B. after              C. since

3. A. found           B. will find           C. have found

4. A. too             B. so                C. a little

5. A. hobby           B. friendship         C. topic

6.A. are learning      B. will learn          C. have learned

7.A. have to          B. should            C. may

8.A. more bored       B. less bored         C. less excited

9.A. take part         B. take up           C. take place

10.A. Because of       B. Thanks to         C. Instead of

11.A. first             B. second           C. third

12.A. aims           B. pleasure           C. ways

13.A. what           B. how              C. whether

14.A. at first          B. at last             C. at that moment

15.A. doing           B. studying           C. trying

“I hate school, and I’m not going back!”Have you ever had that thought?
Lots of kids have had. Usually this feeling doesn’t last long. But what if you feel this way too much? If you are stressed out, you might have a hard time making decisions. In the morning, you can’t decide what to eat, what to wear, or what to take for lunch.    Sometimes it’s a problem with your classes and schoolwork. Maybe the work is too easy and you get bored. Or maybe the work is too hard, or you don’t feel as clever as the other kids. Reading may be difficult for you, but you are asked to do a lot of it. You may be getting farther and farther behind, and it may seem that you will never catch up with others. When you know why you don’t like school, you can start taking steps to make things better 
It’s a good idea to talk to someone about your problems at school. Your mom, dad, friends, teachers, or even classmates will be able to help you.
Another good idea is to write down your feeling about school. For instance, keep a diary or just write in a notebook. It’s a great way to let out emotion that may be stuck inside you. And you don’t have to share（分享）what you have written with others.
The next time you find yourself disliking school, this will also help you:
Make a list of everything you dislike or enjoy—even there is only one thing. See what you can change on “don’t like” list. Could you find a way to show off your special interests and talents on what you like? Which activities could you try that would help you solve these “don’t like” problems? Focus on what you can change and you might be able to put the good feeling back in school!
【小题1】This article mainly gives you some advice on       .