We've all experienced test anxiety right before a big test. When you’ re sitting at the desk,it's a little too late to manage your stress physically. 1 But the toughest test anxiety war can happen in your head. The following test anxiety tips will help get those nerves settled right before you take the big test.

   2 You may never score perfectly on all big tests and you know what? That's okay!Drop the image of who you think you should be. Before you head to the testing center,just set a realistic goal for yourself. Practice with a test booklet,so you know what you can and can't do. Part of your test anxiety may be coming from too high expectations.

   Use positive imagery. Obviously,the most relaxing place in the world is not a classroom. But you' 11 be surprised how much test anxiety you will reduce by just imagining yourself being in a place without a ticking clock. For example,bury your toes in imaginary sand. 3 Listen for the lap of waves breaking against a warm beach.

   Repeat a positive phrase. 4 Since your cheering section can't sit with you during the test,you’ re going to have to raise your own morale (士气) . What is a good strategy? Try a positive phrase like,u\ can do this,” or “I deserve to achieve my goals." Who knows the result? You may just start believing it.

   Accept mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes. 5 Learning to tolerate small failures and mistakes — like the one you made in the math pop quiz 一 is a valuable skill.

   A. Take care of yourself.

   B. Set realistic expectations.

   C. They can contribute to your anxiety.

   D. Feel the warmth of the sun on your shoulders.

   E. Sure,you can take some calming breaths to reduce some stress.

   F. Much of our test anxiety comes from our own lack of confidence.

   G. You may have even heard teachers refer to mistakes as learning opportunities.

            Four habits of highly emotionally intelligent people 

   It has increasingly become accepted that emotional intelligence (EI) is an important factor in our success and happiness,not only at work,but in our relationships and all areas of our lives. 1 Here are four habits that people with high El have:

   1. They focus on the positive. While not ignoring the bad news,emotionally intelligent people do not spend a lot of time and energy focusing on problems. 2 These people focus on what they are able to do and what is within their control.

   2. They surround themselves with positive people. People with a lot of El don't spend a lot of time listening to complainers. They are aware that those people are not helpful to them. 3 You can spot these folks as they tend to smile and laugh a great deal and attract other positive people. Their warmth,openness,and caring attitude let others look upon them as more trustworthy.

   3. They look for ways to make life more fun,happy,and interesting. Whether it is in their workplace,at home,or with friends,high El people know what makes them happy and look for opportunities to expand their enjoyment. 4 Therefore,they do whatever they can to brighten someone else's day.

   4. 5 People with high El are so busy thinking of possibilities in the future that they don't spend a lot of time worrying about things that didn't work out in the past. They take the learning from their past failures and apply it to their actions in the future.

   A. They are willing to let go of the past.

   B. They know how they can use their energy wisely.

   C. So what sets emotionally intelligent people apart?

   D. They receive pleasure and satisfaction from seeing others happy.

   E. So they always spend time with people that look at the bright side of life.

   F. Instead,they use the incident to create awareness of how to not let it happen again.

   G. Rather,they look at what is positive in a situation and look for solutions to a problem.

   Livestock(牲畜） cloning is the practice of cloning sheep,cattle and other livestock species as a way to improve efficiency. The basic idea behind livestock cloning is to clone animals that have certain qualities,such as cows that produce more milk or meat. 1 However,this practice is very controversial,and livestock farmers have been hesitant to adopt it fully because of public opposition and certain inefficiencies.

   In technical terms,livestock are cloned by taking cells from one animal and using them to fertilize eggs(使卵子受精) .Scientists take the fertilized eggs and put them in female animals. 2 Many animals are bom with abnormal shapes. Scientists are looking for ways to improve the process and make it less expensive to adopt on a wider scale.

   3 For example,if farmers were able to take only their very best animals and recreate them many times,they could potentially be more productive.

   There are also some potential problems with cloned livestock. 4. For example,when a disease hits,there are usually individuals who cannot be harmed by the disease or are more resistant,and they will generally survive. If all the animals were genetically (在基因方面) identical or similar,this sort of disease could totally destroy an entire generation of livestock,leaving the world with a massive food shortage.

   In addition to concerns about genetic diversity,there are other concerns about cloning. 5 There are also some people who worry that livestock cloning research may be a gateway to introducing human cloning,which is widely disapproved of.

   A. Are the surviving clones really clones?

   B. Therefore,the new species is expected to be better.

   C. The biggest one arises from a reduction in genetic diversity.

   D. Cloned livestock have the potential to provide some major benefits.

   E. Cloning animals shows us what might happen if we try to clone humans.

   F. These concerns sometimes come from worries over unforeseen consequences.

   G. This process doesn't always work perfectly,and it can be relatively expensive.

   A young lady was standing on the comer with a map in her hand. She looked puzzled. 1 I wondered why. Maybe it was because of the way she was dressed. She wore a dirty dress and looked pale.

   As I crossed the street and came closer to her I asked if she wanted help. 2 As it turned out she was looking for the hospital. I felt wonderful just reaching out,and taking that extra moment to help.

   Many times in these situations I end up walking a person to where he or she is going when giving directions would be too complicated. 3 Many years ago,we travelled in Japan and needed directions. A kind Japanese who saw our problem came to us and helped us out. This man just took my heavy bags and guided us to where we needed to be. We could not speak any Japanese while the man could not speak any English. 4 

   Sometimes when I do a special favor for a stranger,the person will say, “I hope I can do something for you one day to return the favor." 5 But I hope that when they come across a situation where someone needs their help,they will be willing to reach out as well.

   A. Although we could not communicate through words,we communicated through the heart.

   B. They already have done something for me by giving me the opportunity to help them.

   C. I like helping people this way due to my own experience.

   D. Several people passed by,looked at her but did not stop.

   E. It is never too late to do others a favor.

   F. These words made me feel quite warm.

   G. She thanked me and smiled in relief.

            Reasons why people who learn music are more likely to be successful

   I myself became a drummer at around the age of 11 ,and have played ever since. 1 Nowadays,there is a mountain of evidence suggesting that music education is not only good for you,but very important if you want to be successful in life. So why are people who learn music more likely to be successful? Read on.

   They are more creative. Recent research has shown that many successful politicians,businessmen,and people in other fields were trained at a young age to be a musician of some kind. 2 What does matter is that these people credit their music education with making them more creative.

   They connect with others better. 3 Even when you are unfamiliar with a location,you can always use your ability to play music to get to know those around you,and establish connections that may have been impossible to create otherwise.

   They are better at math. I am not sure if this one applies to me,but it has long been known that there is some kind of connection between math and music. 4 If you can get a sense of music and musical language,mathematical concepts should begin to make more sense.

   5 As a drummer,I know how to keep time in a song and play to the beat. In life,I use those same skills to maintain some order in my schedule. Thus,learning how to maintain a steady pace not only makes for a good musician,but a more productive and effective worker as well.

   A. They have more self-control.

   B. They have a better sense of rhythm.

   C. Becoming successful requires that you be a good listener.

   D. Whether they were trained to play the piano or the violin,it doesn't matter.

   E. Music is often thought of as a useful way to connect different cultures and ideas.

   F. Both deal with analyzing puzzles and finding patterns in order to work out solutions.

   G. From my own experiences,I have believed learning how to play an instrument is beneficial.

                       How to get a friend back 

   If a good friend is keeping their distance and you want to reach out to them,the best approach is openness,honesty,and a willingness to acknowledge your friend's feelings. 1 Here are some specific steps to get a friend back.

   2

   There is most likely a specific reason for the rift (裂缝) in your friendship. Consider the situation as objectively as you can. Even if you feel wronged by your friend,consider the possibility that somewhere along the line you have also hurt them in ways that you weren't aware of.

   Beware of assumptions.

   If there seems to be no clear reason for your friend's distance,don't jump to conclusions. It may have nothing to do with you. 3 

   Think about what you want to say in advance.

   If you feel you need to apologize,be specific about what you’ re apologizing for. 4 For example,if you’ve been ignoring your friend because you’ re spending all your time with a new friend,it isn't appropriate to apologize for spending time with this other person. Instead,talk about how you're sorry you haven’t been making time for your friend.

   Call your friend or ask to meet.

   5 Body language can communicate a lot more than just your voices and may help avoid misunderstandings. If you ask to meet,try to avoid unclear phrases like, “We need to talk." These can put your friend on the defensive. Instead’ try a more emotionally rooted approach like, “I miss you,” or “I was just hoping we could spend a little time together."

   A. Reflect on what happened.

   B. Talk about things that you’d like to change.

   C. It's probably best to talk in person if you can.

   D. Your friend might have something troubling them.

   E. Make sure it's sincere: what are you really sorry about?

   F. Both of you might need time to process what the other has said.

   G. Take your time,be thoughtful,and hopefully you can repair the damage.

                                  Is conversation a lost art?

   The next time you eat at a restaurant,take some time to look around you. What do you notice? 1 How many of them are engaged(忙于） in face-to-face conversations? On the other hand,how many of them have their heads down using a smartphone?

   Thanks to smartphones and the Internet,we’ re able to text,email,or make phone calls all day long.2 Experts argue,however,that the types of communication made possible by modem technology have come at the expense of real,face-to-face conversations. Even though we re connecting more than ever,the exchanges aren't as deep as in-person conversations.

   Do we really spend that much time on electronic devices（设备）， though? 3 According to a recent study,today's young Americans (ages 8-18) spend more than seven-and-a-half hours every day on electronic devices,such as smartphones,televisions,computers,and video games.

   So what's the big deal? Many experts have noted that a reliance（依赖） upon electronic communica- tions can have a negative effect on social skills and writing skills. 4 While digital communications teach certain skills and habits,face-to-face conversations teach other skills that are important for our overall well-being.

   5 Experts urge people to unplug more often. Set aside time without electronics to share face-to-face conversations with friends and family. Keeping a healthy balance between on-screen and off-screen discussions will make you a better communicator in all areas of your life.

   A. Researchers have found the answer is yes.

   B. Pay particular attention to the other people around you.

   C. How can we be sure we don't lose the art of conversation?

   D. When you're sad or lonely,a smile may make a huge difference.

   E. This can make it harder to keep healthy relationships as an adult.

   F. In many ways,v/e re communicating more than

   G. There's an average of 11 hours of media content in those seven-and-a-half hours.

   Two days before Christmas,I was shopping in a local grocery store. I bought a lot of vegetables and some food for my two children. My cart was full as I entered the checkout lane(付款通道) . 1  

   It was beginning to snow and I found that the lady looked worried. 2 I turned back and insisted she go before me. She was surprised and then she thanked me sincerely.

   3 We took advantage of this little time and had a nice chat about kindness. I told her that she seemed close to my mother's age and I hoped that someone would do the same for her.

   After her goods were tallied(清点）, she was handed a receipt. Her receipt had a message that she would receive a special gift for a child at customer services. 4 

   As I stood there,I felt that there may have been a child that would benefit from that gift in her own family or circle of friends and realized that one act of kindness could have a chain reaction. Had I denied myself that opportunity to practice this random act,I would have received the “free gift” receipt. 5 Furthermore,by allowing myself the opportunity to show generosity,I also received a gift 一 the satisfaction of helping others.

   A. Seeing this,she was delighted.

   B. She thought I was just telling a joke.

   C. But I knew in my heart that she needed it more.

   D. It occurred to me that I should do something for her.

   E. There were still several people waiting in line before us.

   F. A little elderly lady was behind me with a full cart as well.

   G. I was a little worried because I would have to wait for at least ten minutes.

   Karla L. Miller writes a Washington Post advice column（专栏） on finding your way around the modern workplace. Each week she will answer one or two questions from readers.

Question: I'm Sam. I work part-time,paid hourly. There are only two employees: me and my boss. I receive no paid holidays or sick time,no health insurance,and orie week's paid vacation. For me,this job is just a job,and the salary I earn doesn't guarantee a 24/7 on-call mentality.

   From almost the beginning,my boss has freely called me at home,called my personal cellphone,and emailed my personal account during my off-hours and vacation.

   Five years later,it's still happening despite my having politely asked her several times not to contact me during my non-working hours.

   Each time I ask,she apologizes and stops for a while,but always goes back to the behavior. I never take her phone calls on my cell,but she hasn't got my point.

   The point is,it is never anything that can't wait until the next business day!I am ready to lose it.

Answer: If it won't cost you your job,call block and email filters(过滤器） are one easy path to inner peace.

   It puzzles me that your boss seems to agree she's out of bounds,but then continues to contact you.

   Either she occasionally gets enough response from you to make it worth trying,or she can't help firing off questions on impulse(—时冲动) .

   You could ask her,once and for all,whether she's OK with waiting for .responses.— in which case her afler-hours calls and emails will be answered the next business day 一 or whether she wants instant answers 一 in which case,you will be tracking the time you spend responding so you can be paid for it.

11. What,s Sam's problem?

   A. His salary is too low.

   B. His job is very challenging.

   C. His working hours are too long.

   D. His boss always contacts him during off-duty time.

12. Which word can best describe Sam's feeling when he was writing the letter?

   A. Upset. B. Disappointed.

   C. Calm. D. Excited.

13. What does the underlined part “she's out of bounds” in the text probably mean?

   A. What she's doing is acceptable.

   B. What she's doing is hard to explain.

   C. She's doing what she is not supposed to do.

   D. She has the right to do whatever she wants.

14. Karla L. Miller advises Sam to .

   A. give up his current job

   B. keep silent about the matter

   C. turn off his cellphone during his off-hours

   D. talk about the matter with his boss seriously

   A Canadian study suggests that current sodium (钠) intake levels are relatively safe for most Americans and that reducing them to the very low levels recommended by federal health officials and leading medical groups may harm a significant number.

   The current average sodium consumption in the United States is about 3,400 milligrams (there are 1,000 milligrams in one gram) per day. This is about the amount of sodium in about 1. 5 teaspoons of salt. Dietary guidelines offered by the federal government and leading medical groups recommend reducing the average to 2,300 milligrams for the general population and 1,500 for groups considered at greater risk,like adults older than 50,African-Americans,and people with high blood pressure,among others.

   However,previous studies have found little evidence to support those low recommended sodium targets. There is considerable evidence that lowering sodium can reduce blood pressure,but there is scant evidence that reducing sodium consumption will necessarily reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes(中 风) and death.

   Now a large study by researchers at McMaster University in Ontario,Canada,which tracked more than 100,000 people from 17 countries on five continents,has found that the safest levels of sodium intake are between 3 ,000 and 6,000 milligrams. Consumption below that level showed increased risk of death and cardiovascular(心血管的) events.

Roughly 10 percent of the patients followed in the study fell below 3,000 milligrams,a sizable number to put at risk.

   Brian Strom,honorary head of biomedical and health sciences at Rutgers University,who led a group of experts who reviewed the data on sodium for the Institute of Medicine last year,said that the new McMaster data are among the best available and that no study has shown a benefit from reducing sodium consumption to below 2,300 milligrams a day.

   That does not mean individuals wiiose sodium intake is high should not take steps to bring it down. The McMaster researchers say that if your blood pressure rises beyond the normal level (140/90 or higher) or your sodium intake is high,you should reduce sodium consumption,perhaps even to below 5 ,000 milligrams.

6. For healthy elderly people,the US government recommends sodium intake .

   A. 1,500 milligrams daily

   B. 2,300 milligrams daily

   C. 3,000 milligrams daily

   D. 3,400 milligrams daily

7. The underlined word “scant” in Paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to “”.

   A. direct   B. important

   C. limited   D. conflicting

8. According to the study,consuming less than 3,000 milligrams of sodium a day.

   A. is beneficial for most patients

   B. may help prevent heart disease

   C. may be harmful to your health

   D. is especially helpful for Americans

9. What is Strom's attitude towards the research findings?

   A. He is doubtful about them.

   B. He is uncertain of them.

   C. He tolerates them.

   D. He supports them.

10. What is the Canadian scientists’ advice for high blood pressure patients?

   A. Follow the government's dietary guidelines.

   B. Lower sodium intake to a reasonable level.

   C. Join one of the leading medical groups.

   D. Have physical examinations regularly.