Finding the Real You

Psychometric testing — personality testing — has been very popular nowadays as studies show their results to be three times more accurate in predicting your job performance. These tests are now included in almost all graduate recruitment (招聘) and are widely used in the selection of managers.

The most popular of these personality tests is the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). It is based on the theory that we are born with a tendency to one personality type which stays more or less fixed throughout life. You answer 88 questions and are then given your “type”, such as Outgoing or Quiet, Feeling or Thinking.

Critics of personality testing raise doubts about “social engineering”. Psychologist Dr. Colin Gill warns that the “popular” personality traits (特性) have their disadvantages. “People who are extremely open to new experiences can be butterflies, going from one idea to the next without mastering any of them.” However, the psychometric test is here to stay, which may be why a whole sub-industry on cheating personality tests has sprung up. “It’s possible to cheat,” admits Gill, “but having to pretend to be the person you are at work will be tiring and unhappy and probably short-lived.”

So can we change our personality? “Your basic personality is fixed by the time you’re 21,” says Gill, “but it can be affected by motivation and intelligence. If you didn’t have the personality type to be a doctor but desperately wanted to be one and were intelligent enough to master the skills, you could still go ahead. But trying to go too much against type for too long requires much energy and is actually to be suffered for long. I think it’s why we’re seeing this trend for downshifting — too many people trying to fit in to a type that they aren’t really suited for.”

Our interest in personality now exists in every part of our lives. If you ask an expert for advice on anything, you’ll probably be quizzed about your personality. But if personality tests have any value to us, perhaps it is to free us from the idea that all of us are full of potential, and remind us of what we are. As they say in one test when they ask for your age: pick the one you are, not the one you wish you were.

1.The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is based on the belief that __________.

A. personality is largely decided from birth

B. certain personality traits are common

C. some personality types are better than others

D. personality traits are various from time to time

2.According to Dr. Gill, what is the problem with personality tests?

A. The results could be opposite to what employers want.

B. People can easily lie about their true abilities.

C. Employers often find the results unclear.

D. They may have a negative effect on takers.

3.In Dr. Gill’s view, how easy is it to change your personality?

A. It’s possible in your adult life.

B. It’s easy if you have great motivation.

C. It’s unlikely because it requires much energy.

D. It’s difficult before the age of 21.

4.What final conclusion does the author reach about the value of personality tests?

A. They are of doubtful value to employers.

B. They are not really worth doing.

C. They can strengthen the idea we have of our abilities.

D. They may encourage greater realism.

Even as Google plans to test its fleet (车队) of self-driving cars on public roads this summer, its business model remains a bit of a mystery. By 2025, as many as 250,000 self-driving vehicles could be sold each year globally, according to a study by an industry research firm.

"Vehicles that can take anyone from A to B at the push of a button could transform mobility for millions of people," said Chris Urmson, director of Google's self-driving car project. For now, Google has no plans to sell any of its self-driving cars. They are strictly for research. But they will hit public roads this summer near Google's headquarters in Mountain View, California. Previous testing has taken place only on closed courses.

The cars are built to operate without a steering wheel, accelerator (油门) or brake pedal. "Our software and sensors do all the work," Urmson said. "The vehicles will be very basic — we want to learn from them and adapt them as quickly as possible — but they will take you where you want to go at the push of a button." The prototype (雏形) are the first of a 100-car fleet the tech giant is building.

In the long run, Urmson sees a future of safer roads — the majority of auto accidents are caused by human error — and fewer traffic jams. Robotic cars could also shuttle people who can't drive because of age or illness.

Google has said that self-driving cars could launch new business models in which people buy the use of vehicles they don't own. The company has already tested other types of self-driving cars on public streets, including modified Lexus sport-utility vehicles, under a special permit program by the California Department of Motor Vehicles that requires a human driver at the controls.

The state has issued six other companies permits to operate such cars, including Delphi, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Tesla, Bosch and Nissan. The vehicles that will be tested on open roads this summer will have removable steering wheels, accelerators and brake pedals to allow "safety drivers" to take control if needed.

Google says the cars are safe. The vehicles have sensors that "can detect objects out to a distance of more than two football fields in all directions, which is especially helpful on busy streets with lots of intersections," Urmson said. "We're looking forward to learning how the community understands and interacts with the vehicles, and to uncovering challenges that are unique to a fully self-driving vehicle," Urmson said.

1. According to Chris Urmson, __________.

A. self-driving cars can give driving orders to humans

B. software and sensors are vital for self-driving cars

C. self-driving cars are specially designed for the elderly

D. ordinary vehicles will be replaced by self-driving cars

2.The passage informs us that self-driving cars __________.

A. have already passed necessary tests

B. have been purchased by some companies

C. will be able to communicate with drivers

D. will probably decrease traffic jams

3.The underlined word "intersections" in the last paragraph can probably be replaced __________.

A. crossings B. buildings

C. vehicles D. accidents

4.What is the best title for this passage?

A. Google's Self-driving Car Graduates to City Streets

B. Google's Self-driving Car Enjoys Global Popularity

C. Self-driving Car Meets New Challenges

D. Self-driving Car Avoids Human Errors

根据短文内容，从短文后的七个选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。

How northern Europeans beat the winter blues

Ask a child from northern Europe to draw two pictures — one on a rainy day and a second in the sunshine — and this is what you will get: in the first, as raindrops fall from the top of the page, the man behind the window has an unhappy expression. When a yellow sun sends out some light from the corner, the man is smiling.

Northern Europeans associate rain with sadness and sunshine with happiness. They think this is true because they are so aware of how their environment affects them. 1. In October 2008, a group of researchers examined the influence of different daily weather factors, including temperature, wind and sunlight, on 1,200 participants. The conclusion was that good or bad weather had little effect on people’s feelings. 2. A person who is upset on dark or cold days suffers from a negative mood, and he will be likely to experience a sad winter. This is the basis of an illness called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). 3.

Kalayjian, professor of psychology at Fordham University, advises that we should take steps to strengthen the brain’s system against weather-driven mood changes. Research on SAD has been focused on the brain’s response to darkness and light. When our eyes detect darkness, the brain gives off melatonin, which starts sleep cycles. 4. It takes over to help us wake up and feel better when we detect light. “We can encourage people to take charge of their feelings,” says Kalayjian. “We tell them to leave the computers and the indoor games and get out there in the sun. 5.”

A day of rain can potentially destroy your plan and affect your mood. But as the Scottish comedian Billy Connolly once said: “There is no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothing.”

A. Another chemical called serotonin, however, can make people happy.

B. That’s when people can recharge their serotonin and get a better mood.

C. Most studies prove that a negative feeling is associated with bad weather.

D. They determined that people actually differ in their sensitivity to weather changes.

E. Yet that link has no scientific basis.

F. It is seriously doubted among the people who suffer from SAD.

G. It affects about 10% of the population of northern Europe each year.

People from every corner flooded into the streets that Christmas Eve. "Frosty the Snowman," and "Jingle Bells" in stores; on the pavements, the street singers performed happily. Everyone was by someone else, delighted and cheerful. I was alone.

As one of 8 kids of a Brazilian family, brought up in America's crowded apartment, I'd spent several years searching for aloneness. Now, , at 27, a college student after the with my girlfriend, every cell inside me wanted to be alone, not at Christmas. My family had to Brazil and my friends were with their own lives. Dusk was approaching, and the fact that I had to return to my home made me sad. Lights from windows blinked (闪烁), and I hoped someone would from one of those homes to invite me inside with a Christmas tree decorated with shiny fake snow and presents.

At a market, I felt more when people were buying lots of goods, which the gifts we received as children in my mind. I missed my family and wanted to cry for wanting to be alone and for having achieved it.

Outside the church, a manger (小耶稣) had been set . I stood with others watching the scene, some of them themselves, praying. As I walked home, I realized that leaving Brazil was still a painful experience as I struggled with I had become in 15 years in America. I'd mourned (悲叹) the , but for the first time, I recognized what I’d gained. I was independent, and healthy. My life was still ahead, full of .

Sometimes the best gift is the one that you give yourself. That Christmas, I gave myself for what I'd obtained up to now and promise to go forward. It is the best gift I've ever got, the one that I most .

1.A. served B. held C. shared D. played

2.A. employed B. attended C. supported D. accompanied

3.A. eventually B. usually C. extremely D. really

4.A. date B. sympathy C. breakup D. concern

5.A. but B. so C. and D. or

6.A. moved B. returned C. slipped D. came

7.A. bored B. pleased C. satisfied D. occupied

8.A. empty B. warm C. shabby D. cozy

9.A. hang out B. go away C. turn up D. break in

10.A. donated B. wrapped C. discounted D. dealt

11.A. nervous B. excited C. upset D. tired

12.A. called up B. called for C. called on D. called in

13.A. aside B. about C. down D. up

14.A. crossing B. hugging C. bowing D. bending

15. A. that B. what C. how D. which

16. A. worries B. cases C. limits D. losses

17.A. educated B. lonely C. shy D. wealthy

18.A. sadness B. possibility C. hardship D. sight

19.A. prize B. defeat C. credit D. surprise

20.A. save B. admit C. select D. value

阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（1个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。

Dubai was a 6,000-person fishing village half a century ago. Since 1966, when oil was discovered there, the population of Dubai has grown to 2.6 million. Over the years, it 1. (become) a well-known tourist destination.

2. attracts tourists to Dubai are tax-free shopping, dry weather, excellent accommodations, delicious food and beaches that go on for miles. In fact, some foreigners come here only 3. (experience) the shopping. There are dozens of shopping malls, 4. (provide) every famous brand you can name. Those outdoor markets sell everything from spices (香料) to gold at fair prices.

Choosing what places to visit in Dubai is difficult, because even the hotels there are also amazing 5. (attract). The Burj A1 Arab is considered one of the world’s best hotels, and 6. is located on its own island, about 1,000 feet offshore from Dubai. Built in the shape of 7. ship, this hotel is still 8. (tall) than the Eiffel Tower and nearly as tall as the Empire State Building. Certainly, there are also other great places of interest to visit.

Indeed, travelling around this country will 9. (true) give you an amazing experience because of its interesting things 【小题10 (offer) to all types of tourists.

假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。

增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写出该加的词。

删除：把多余的词用斜线（\）划掉。

修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。

注意：1. 每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；

只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。

As it is often the case, when people are attending meetings, having meals or waiting for buses, you can always find them addicting to their phones, completely ignoring others.

This is really a common phenomena in our life. The reason is why smart phones nowadays can be used for people to play mobile games and kept in touch with friends through QQ and WeChat. Therefore, too much exposure to phones are bad for people in terms of health. Moreover, people involved in phones fail to communicate well with these around them.

As far as I am concerned, people should wisely make use of their phones to help their work and study. Meanwhile, care much about their family and friends rather than mobile phones.

假如你是李华，你校学生会即将举行一次主题为“我爱中国古典诗词”的读书活动。你将代表全体学生，在启动仪式上发言。请你根据以下提示，用英文写一篇发言稿。内容包括：

1. 说明活动的目的；

2. 从中国古典诗词的特点的角度，陈述热爱它的理由；

3. 对学习中国古典诗词的认识。

注意：

1. 词数：100词左右；

2. 开头已写好，不计入总词数；

3. 可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

参考词汇：押韵 rhyme

Good morning, everyone!

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In Los Angeles, drivers spend sixty-one hours every year stuck in traffic. These drivers know all too well how bad the traffic can be. “There’re too many cars, and you can’t move around a lot.”

Professor Cyrus Shahabi also knows about traffic jams. He lives more than 65 kilometers from his office at the University of Southern California, in Los Angeles. He is always late even with the help of a navigation (导航) system.

He decided to develop a program called ClearPath for that. He says his program uses historical data to predict traffic conditions even before the driver leaves the house. “What’s unique (独特的) is that we use a lot of data that’s currently become available including traffic data, weather data, and we analyze that so that we can predict what’s going to happen in front of you when leave home.”

Professor Shahabi says his system does more than just answer current traffic conditions. With ClearPath, he says, a driver can decide what time he wants to leave, and ClearPath will give the fastest route. It looks at the entire road network, including surface streets as well as highways, before the driver hits the road. Professor Shahabi hopes to have ClearPath available nationwide and overseas once they can collect traffic data from other cities.

“I always thought that Los Angeles had the worst traffic, but now I know that Shanghai, Beijing, Seoul, Tokyo, believe it or not, Singapore, Hong Kong certainly are examples that can immediately use this.”Professor Shahabi hopes to share this new technology with companies that already have navigation systems, such as Google and Apple.

1.Drivers in Los Angeles were mentioned in order to________.

A. show care for them

B. introduce their life

C. solve traffic problems

D.raise the topic

2.What is unique about ClearPath?

A. It helps drivers know the road conditions ahead of time.

B. It can make sure that you will never be late for work.

C. It helps drivers see clearly what happens on the road.

D. It can use a lot of information and data all over the world.

3.The underlined word “ hits” in the fourth paragraph probably means ________.

A. has accident

B. gets to

C. turns left or right

D. collects traffic data

4.What’s Professor Shahabi’s attitude toward his invention?

A. Proud. B. Worried.

C. Disappointed. D. Optimistic.

Every man wants his son to be somewhat of a clone, not in features but in footsteps. As he grows you also age, and your ambitions become more unachievable. You begin to realize that your boy, in your footsteps, could probably accomplish what you hoped for. But footsteps can be muddied and they can go off in different directions.

My son Jody has hated school since day one in kindergarten. Science projects waited until the last moment. Book reports weren’t written until the final threat.

I’ve been a newspaperman all my adult life. My daughter is a university graduate working toward her master’s degree in English. But Jody? When he entered the tenth grade he became a “vo-tech” student(技校学生). They’re called “motorheads” by the rest of the student body.

When a secretary in my office first called him “motorhead”, I was shocked. “Hey, he’s a good kid,” I wanted to say. “And smart, really.”

I learned later that motorheads are, indeed, different. They usually have dirty hands and wear dirty work clothes. And they don’t often make school honor rolls(光荣榜).

But being the parent of a motorhead is itself an experience in education. We who labor in clean shirts in offices don’t have the abilities that motorheads have. I began to learn this when I had my car crashed. The cost to repair it was estimated at $800. “Hey, I can fix it,” said Jody. I doubted it , but let him go ahead, for I had nothing to lose.

My son ,with other motorheads, fixed the car. They got parts(零件）from a junkyard, non-toasting toaster have been fixed. Neighbours and co-workers trust their car repair to him.

Since that first repair job, a broken air-conditioner, a non-functioning washer and a non-toasting toaster have been fixed. Neighbors and co-workers trust their car repairs to him.

These kids are happiest when doing repairs. They joke and laugh and are living in their own relaxed world. And their minds are bright despite their dirty hands and clothes.

I have learned a lot from my motorhead: publishers need printers, engineers need mechanics, and architects need builders. Most important, I have learned that fathers don’t need clones in footsteps or anywhere else.

My son may never make the school honor roll. But he made mine.

1.What used to be the author’s hope for his son?

A. To avoid becoming his clone.

B. To resemble him in appearance.

C. To develop in a different direction.

D. To reach the author’s unachieved goals.

2.What can we learn about the author’s children?

A. His daughter does better in school.

B.His daughter has got a master’s degree.

C. His son tried hard to finish homework.

D. His son couldn’t write his book reports.

3.The author let his son repair the car because he believed that_______.

A. His son had the ability to fix it.

B. it would save him much time.

C. it wouldn’t cause him any more loss

D. other motorheads would come to help.

4.What did the author realize in the end?

A. It is unwise to expect your child to follow your path.

B. It is important for one to make the honor roll.

C. Architects play a more important role than builders.

D. Motorheads have greater ability than office workers.

While it is impossible to live completely free of stress, it is possible to prevent stress as well as reduce its effect when it can't be avoided. The US Department of Health and Human Services offers the following suggestions for ways to deal with stress.

Try physical activity

When you are nervous, angry or upset, try releasing the pressure through exercise or physical activity. Running, walking, playing tennis, or working in your garden are just some of the activities you might try. Physical exercise will relieve your anxiety and worry and help you to relax. Your body and your mind will work together to ease the stress in your life.

Share your stress

It helps to talk to someone about your anxieties and worries. Perhaps a friend, family member, teacher or even your leader can help you a better view of what's troubling you. If you feel your problem is serious, you might seek professional help from a psychologist or a doctor. Knowing when to ask for help is an important step in avoiding serious problems later.

Take care of yourself

You should make every effort to eat well and get enough rest. If you easily get angry and cannot sleep well enough, or if you're not eating properly, it will be more likely that you will fall into stressful situations. If stress repeatedly keeps you from sleeping, you should consult a doctor. Make time for yourself.

Make a list of the things you need to do

Stress can result from disorganization and a feeling that "there's so much to do, and not enough time". Trying to take care of everything at once can be too much for you and as a result, you may not achieve anything. Instead, make a list of everything you have to do, then do one thing at a time, checking off each task as it is completed. Set out to do the most important tasks first.

Go ahead and cry

A good cry can be a healthy way to bring relief to your anxiety. It might even help you avoid a headache or other physical effect of anxiety and stress.

1.What is most probably the writer's purpose in writing the article?

A. To release his or her working tiredness.

B. To help solve the universal problem of stress.

C. To strengthen his or her anxiety.

D. To have more people cry out.

2.Physical activity can help people release stress because________.

A. only your body movement can help you relax

B. your mind can work better to free you of anxiety

C. your body and mind can cooperate in releasing stress

D. physical activity doesn't play an important part in reducing nervousness

3.What is similarity between "Share your stress" and "Go ahead and cry"?

A. They both help you let out your feelings.

B. They both need physical movement.

C. They both require mental relaxation.

D. They can cause a headache.

4.The underlined sentence is close to the meaning of "________".

A. Strike while the iron is hot

B. More haste, less speed

C. Practice makes perfect

D. Quietness wins time