Some people make you feel comfortable when they are around. You spend an hour with them and feel as if you have known them half your life. These people have something in common. And once we know what it is, we can try to do it ourselves.
　　How is it done? Here are several skills that good talkers have. If you follow the skills, they’ll help you put people at their ease, and make friends with them quickly.
　　First of all, good talkers ask questions. Almost anyone, no matter how shy he is, will answer a question. One well-known businesswoman says, “At business lunches, I always ask people what they did that morning. It’s a common question, but it will get things going.” From there you can move on to other matters--sometimes to really personal questions. And how he answers will let you know how far you can go.
　　In addition, once good talkers have asked questions, they listen to the answers. This point seems clear, but it isn’t. Your questions should have a point and help to tell what sort of person you are talking to. And to find out, you really have to listen carefully and attentively.
　　Real listening at least means some things. First it means not to change the subject of conversation. If someone sticks to one topic, you can take it as a fact that he’s really interested in it. Real listening also means not just listening to words, but to tones of voice. If the voice sounds dull, then, it’s time for you to change the subject.
　　Last but not least, good talkers know well how to deal with the occasion of parting. If you’re saying good-bye, you may give him a firm handshake and say, “I’ve really enjoyed meeting you.” If you want to see that person again, don’t keep it a secret. Let people know what you feel, and they may walk away feeling as if they’ve known you half their life.
【小题1】 Which of the following is NOT the reason why good talkers ask questions?

A．To get the conversation going smoothly.

B．To continue the conversation with other matters.

C．To make more new friends.

D．To know how far the conversation can go.

【小题2】 How many skills does the author give us to be good talkers?

A．Three.

B．Four.

C．Five.

D．Six.

【小题3】 In general, good talkers are persons who __________.

A．can keep the conversation interesting

B．never talk too much or too little

C．always keep the conversation a secret

D．can change the topic of the conversation properly

【小题4】 If you are willing to meet someone again, __________.

A．you’d better let him know it

B．you’d better shake his hand firmly

C．you’d better keep it a secret

D．you’d better understand him further

Personal Growth

　　There are two basic ways to see growth: one as a product, the other as a process.

　　People have generally viewed personal growth as an external (外部的，表面的) result or product that can easily be identified and measured. The worker who gets a promotion, the student whose grades improve, the foreigner who learns a new language — all these are examples of people who have measurable results to show for their efforts.

　　By contrast, the process of personal growth is much more difficult to determine, since by definition it is a journey and not the specific signposts or landmarks along the way. The process is not the road itself, but rather the attitudes and feelings people have, their caution or courage, as they gain new experiences and face unexpected difficulties. In this process, the journey never really ends; there are always new ways to experience the world, new ideas to try, new challenges to accept.

　　In order to grow, to travel new roads, people need to have a willingness to take risks, to confront (正视) the unknown, and to accept the possibility that they may “fail” at first. How we see ourselves as we try a new way of being is essential to our ability to grow. Do we see ourselves as quick and curious? If so, then we tend to take more chances and to be more open to unfamiliar experiences. Do we think we’re shy and indecisive (优柔寡断)? Then we may hesitate, move slowly, and not take a step until we know the ground is safe. Do we think we’re slow to adapt to change or that we’re not smart enough to deal successfully with a new challenge? Then we are likely to take a more passive role or not try at all.

　　These feelings of insecurity and self-doubt are both unavoidable and necessary for us to change and grow. If we do not confront and overcome these internal (内部的) fears and doubts, if we protect ourselves too much, then we cease (停止) to grow. We become trapped inside a shell of our own making.

In the author’s eyes, one who views personal growth as a process would _______.

       A. succeed in climbing up the social ladder

       B. judge his ability to grow from his own achievements

       C. face difficulties and take up challenges

       D. aim high and reach his goal each time

When the author says “a new way of being”, he is referring to ________.

       A. a new approach to experiencing the world      B. a new way of taking risks

       C. a new method of understanding ourselves　    D. a new system of adapting to change

For personal growth, the author supports all of the following EXCEPT _______.

       A. curiosity about more chances    B. promptness (迅速) in self-adaptation

       C. open-mindedness to new experiences       D. avoidance of internal fears and doubts

The best title for this passage should be _________.

       A. Growth — Product or Process  B. Facing New Challenges

       C. Two Basic Ways of Growth          D. Overcoming Internal Fears

Some people make you feel comfortable when they are around. You spend an hour with them and feel as if you have known them half your life. These people have something in common. And once we know what it is, we can try to do it ourselves.

　　How is it done? Here are several skills that good talkers have. If you follow the skills, they’ll help you put people at their ease, and make friends with them quickly.

　　First of all, good talkers ask questions. Almost anyone, no matter how shy he is, will answer a question. One well-known businesswoman says, “At business lunches, I always ask people what they did that morning. It’s a common question, but it will get things going.” From there you can move on to other matters--sometimes to really personal questions. And how he answers will let you know how far you can go.

　　In addition, once good talkers have asked questions, they listen to the answers. This point seems clear, but it isn’t. Your questions should have a point and help to tell what sort of person you are talking to. And to find out, you really have to listen carefully and attentively.

　　Real listening at least means some things. First it means not to change the subject of conversation. If someone sticks to one topic, you can take it as a fact that he’s really interested in it. Real listening also means not just listening to words, but to tones of voice. If the voice sounds dull, then, it’s time for you to change the subject.

　　Last but not least, good talkers know well how to deal with the occasion of parting. If you’re saying good-bye, you may give him a firm handshake and say, “I’ve really enjoyed meeting you.” If you want to see that person again, don’t keep it a secret. Let people know what you feel, and they may walk away feeling as if they’ve known you half their life.

1. Which of the following is NOT the reason why good talkers ask questions?

A．To get the conversation going smoothly.

B．To continue the conversation with other matters.

C．To make more new friends.

D．To know how far the conversation can go.

2. How many skills does the author give us to be good talkers?

A．Three.            B．Four.             C．Five.             D．Six.

3. In general, good talkers are persons who __________.

A．can keep the conversation interesting

B．never talk too much or too little

C．always keep the conversation a secret

D．can change the topic of the conversation properly

4. If you are willing to meet someone again, __________.

A．you’d better let him know it

B．you’d better shake his hand firmly

C．you’d better keep it a secret

D．you’d better understand him further

 

Waiting with her mother at the check-out stand，a little girl saw a circle of white pearls in a box.“Oh，please，Mommy.Can I have them？”The mother __1__the back of the box.“A dollar ninety-five.If you really want them，I'll __2__some extra chores (杂活)for you and soon you can save enough money to buy them for __3__.”

After she got home，Jenny did __4__her share of chores，and at last she had enough money to buy the necklace.She wore it everywhere—school，park，__5__ to bed.The only time she took it __6__ was when she had a bath.

Jenny had a very __7__ daddy and every night when she was ready for bed，he __8__ stop whatever he was doing and come upstairs to read her a fairy tale.One night when he finished the __9__，he asked Jenny，“Could you give me your __10__，darling？”“Oh，no，please，Daddy.But you can have my toy horse __11__.”Dad kissed her and said good night.About a week later，__12__ the story time，Daddy asked for pearls again.“Oh Daddy，you can have my babydoll，”was Jenny's reply.And __13__，Daddy kissed her good night.

A few nights later when Daddy came in，he __14__ Jenny was trembling on the bed，crying.She said __15__ but lifted her little hand up to Daddy.And，when she __16__ it，there was her pearl necklace.“It's for you，Daddy，”she said.Tears in eyes，Daddy reached out with one hand to __17__ the necklace，and with the other hand he pulled out from his pocket a blue case with a __18__ of beautiful genuine(真正的)pearls.He had had them all the time.He was just waiting for her to give up the false stuff(东西) __19__ he could give her genuine treasure.

In our life，how many false things are we holding on to that __20__ us from receiving God 's genuine treasures?

1．A.found B．turned

2．A.smooth away 　 B．think of

C．take over 　　 D．cut down

3．A.ourselves 　 B．yourself

C．themselves 　 D．myself

4．A.so much as　 　　 B．no more than

C．more than 　　 D．less than

5．A.hardly 　　　 B．still

C．almost 　 D．even

6．A.in　 　　 B．up　

C．away 　 D．off

7．A.humorous B．loving

8．A.would 　　　 B．might

C．could 　 D．should

9．A.housework 　　　 B．work

C．bath 　　 D．story

10．A.kiss B．greetings

C．pearls 　 D．toy

11．A.instead 　　 B．also

C．probably 　　　 D．actually

12．A.after B．during

C．before 　 D．until

13．A.surprisingly enough B．once again

C．in return 　　　 D．as usual

14．A.remembered 　 B．noticed

C．realized D．expected

15．A.something 　　　 B．all

C．nothing D．much

16．A.opened 　 B．closed

C．removed 　　　 D．showed

17．A.reject 　　　 B．touch

C．take 　　 D．put

18．A.pile 　 B．piece

C．circle 　 D．set

19．A.until B．so that

C．in case D．though

20．A.stop B．protect

C．save 　　 D．get

完型填空

　　From Monday till Friday most people are busy__1__or studying, __2__in the evenings and on weekends they___3___enjoy ___4___. Some watch TV or go to movies; others engage in sports. It ___5___ individual（个人的）interests. ___6___ many different ways to spend our spare time.

　　Almost everyone has some kind of hobby. It may be anything ___7___collecting stamps___8___model airplanes. Some hobbies are very expensive, but others___9___anything at all. Some collections are worth a lot of money, others are ___10___only to___11___.

　　I know a man who has a coin___12___worth seven thousand dollars. A short time ago he bought a rare fifty-cent piece worth 250 dollars! He was very happy about that and thought the price was___13___. On the other hand, my younger brother collects match boxes. He has almost 600 of them but I___14___if they are worth any money. However, to my brother they are extremely___15___ ___16___makes him happier than to find a new match box for his collection.

　　That's___17___a hobby means, I guess. It is something we like to do in our spare time simply___18___of it.___ 19___in dollars is not important but the pleasure it___20___us is important.

(1)A.with 　　 working	B.working
C.At 　　 working	D.with 　　 work
(2)A.but	B.however
C.when	D.and
(3)A.like	B.consider
C.are 　　 thought to	D.are 　　 free to
(4)A.it	B.sports
C.themselves	D.lives
(5)A.depends 　　 on	B.is 　　 of
C.decides	D.depends
(6)A.Everyone 　　 has	B.There 　　 has
C.There 　　 are	D.People 　　 invent
(7)A.for 　　 example	B.such 　　 as
C.from	D.like
(8)A.to 　　 making	B.and 　　 make
C.to 　　 make	D.besides 　　 making
(9)A.are 　　 not	B.are 　　 not worthy
C.don't 　　 cost	D.aren't 　　 cost
(10)A.important	B.expensive
C.good	D.valuable
(11)A.their 　　 own	B.their 　　 owners
C.themselves	D.young
(12)A.which	B.collecting
C.collected	D.collection
(13)A.expensive	B.low
C.cheap	D.reasonable
(14)A.am 　　 sure	B.doubt
C.think	D.believe
(15)A.valuable	B.expensive
C.important	D.cheap
(16)A.It	B.What
C.Nothing	D.Everything
(17)A.how	B.what
C.why	D.called
(18)A.to 　　 Enjoy	B.for 　　 pleasure
C.for 　　 the fun	D.to 　　 please ourselves
(19)A.The 　　 value	B.The 　　 money
C.The 　　 expenses	D.The 　　 cost
(20)A.that 　　 gives	B.gives
C.giving	D.is 　　 given