任務型閱讀

　　(建議用時: 30分鐘)

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　　In secret, we all talk to ourselves—an inner monologue(自言自語)that might seem rather pointless. As that study and others go on to show, the act of giving ourselves mental messages can help us learn and perform at our best. Researchers have identified the most effective forms of self-talk so that the next time you talk to yourself, you know exactly what you should say.

　　Self-talk isn’t just motivational message like “You can do it! ”or “Almost there, ”although this internal(內(nèi)心的)cheering section can give us confidence. A review of more than two dozen studies, published last year in the journal Perspectives on Psychological Science, found that there’s another kind of mental message that is even more useful, called “instructional self-talk”. This is the kind of comment we engage in when we’re carrying out a difficult task, especially one that’s unfamiliar to us. Think about when you were first learning to drive. Your self-talk might have gone something like this: “Foot on the gas pedal, hands on the wheel, slow down for the curve here, now put your blinker on. . . ”

　　Over time, of course, giving yourself instructions becomes unnecessary—but while you’re learning, it does three important things. First, it improves our attention, focusing us on the important elements of the task and screening out distractions. Second, it helps us adjust our effort and make decisions about what to do, how to do it, and when. And third, self-talk allows us to control our emotions, steadying us so we stay on task.

　　In a recent study of students learning to throw darts(飛鏢)in a gym class, Athansios Koloverlonis and his colleagues found that self-talk is most effective when included into a cycle of thought and action. First comes forethought(籌劃), when you set a goal for yourself and make a plan for how to get there. That’s followed by performance, when you work out the plan to the best of your ability. Last comes self-reflection, when you carefully evaluate what you’ve done and adjust your plan for the next time.

　　Self-talk can play a key part in this cycle. During the forethought period, consider carefully what you’ll say to yourself. You can even write out a script. Repeat these self-instructions during the performance period. With practice, you may find that your self-instructions become shorter; research has found that these so-called “cue words” can become powerful signals.

　　After the action is over, consider how you might change your self-talk to improve your performance next time—so that at the moment it matters, the right words are ringing in your ears.

　　2

　　(2013·蘇州模擬)

　　Tired of your old car and want to move on to a new one? Or maybe you just don’t have any use for the car anymore while still covering the expenses? Why not sell it to someone who wants it and will take good care of it. You’ll get some profit in return, and you won’t have to be burdened with a car that will be more useful to others.

　　The first step to selling your used car would be to prepare the car for the sale. Make sure that it is still in a useful condition. What use is there for the buyer if the car doesn’t even work? You’ll never get buyers if the car is in such a poor state. So it’s best to make your car presentable and competent. Take good pictures of your car, and make a list of its features that you think would appeal to potential buyers.

　　The next course to take would be to get the word out that you’re selling your car. You can do it by making an ad in the newspapers, or you can use the Web and advertise through an Internet auction. Make sure that in your ad, you write down the car’s features and condition as honestly as you can. If you’re not sure on how to make an ad, browse through automotive(汽車的)magazines and issues and take a look at how the other sellers do it.

　　If your car is one of the new models in the automobile industry, you might be able to attract a lot of buyers. It would be best to make some improvements to your car, at least on its appearance. Make it obvious that it is a new model. If you’re selling an old car, though, it might take more work to improve the car’s appearance. You will also have to make sure the car still functions as well as new. There may be instances where you will have to change some things to the car to make it more attractive to buyers. Be careful with the electrical and electronic parts of the car when cleaning it. Check the engine, too, and make sure you have it fully charged and the oil and filter have been changed.

　　When doing the financial transaction for the sale, insist on a cash payment, or cashier’s check. Just make sure that the money has already arrived in your account before signing over the title to your buyer. Never accept a personal check, though. It is not advisable, especially with such an amount. Once you’ve settled these things with your buyer, you can hand over the signed title and the key to the car, and move on with your own purchase of a new car.

　　Title: How to Sell a Second-hand Car

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　　(2013·鹽城模擬)

　　There are many things that we wish to achieve in life. For some, we set goals and objectives, and for some we don’t. Try to remember the last time you set a goal to achieve a certain task. Were you able to complete the task in an effective manner? The tasks which are done by setting and meeting daily goals will definitely be useful and rewarding experiences. A step-by-step approach towards achieving smaller goals is the key to achieving larger ones.

　　When it comes to the workplace, each and every employee is expected to meet daily responsibilities and expectations. With organizations becoming more and more competitive, the importance of goal-setting for employees is increasing. It helps the employee to perform better and increases his or her efficiency and time management. It’s also important for every student to set high academic goals so as to be able to build a good career.

　　Setting goals for completing the daily schedule helps an employee to finish the assigned tasks and targets in a timely manner. If an employee is performing the way he or she is expected to, then this will automatically increase the performance, output and productivity of both the employee and the organization. Daily study targets are the same. This helps you complete your assignments within the set time, thus putting less pressure on you during exams and increasing your chances of performing well.

　　How many times you have to be at work on a weekend just to complete your work? How many times you have had to stay up all night to complete your homework or study for your exams? Had you followed your set goals and targets right from the beginning, you would have spent the time relaxing rather than being busy working or studying! Setting up goals and objectives helps you organize your time and efforts in an efficient manner.

　　In performing your work diligently, you are likely to keep a steady pace when it comes to fulfilling your set targets. Because you are already on track, there will be no unnecessary workload and time limits over your head. Therefore, another benefit of effective goal-setting is lack of stress and a more calm and relaxed mind. Only a stress-free and calm mind can house progressive and productive thoughts. A calm mind causes positivity, which goes a long way towards increasing your ability to achieve the personal goals you have set for yourself.

　　Each and every human being aims to achieve two things: to fulfill desires and to enjoy life. This is possible only through proper discipline and time management. Goal-setting leads to not only professional growth but also personal growth and development. You are expected to know that every step counts and that setting up goals is easy, but following them on a consistent basis is difficult. Therefore, if you want to be successful and also harvest the fruits of your hard work, you need to stick to your set goals and be focused towards achieving them. Realize the significant role that goal-setting plays in your life, make sure that you do all you can to achieve what you want, set your goals, work towards achieving them and celebrate your success!

　　答案解析

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　　1. 【解析】Title/Topic。此題屬于概括性詞匯。本題考查學生根據(jù)表格右欄內(nèi)容使用概括性詞匯的能力。

　　2. 【解析】secretly。此題屬于轉(zhuǎn)換詞匯中的詞組轉(zhuǎn)換。本題考查學生對文中第一段“In secret, we all talk to ourselves. ”理解和運用能力。in secret=secretly。

　　3. 【解析】pointless/useless/worthless。此題屬于原文詞匯。本題考查學生對文中第一段“an inner monologue that might seem rather pointless. ”信息識別能力。

　　4. 【解析】confident。此題屬于轉(zhuǎn)換詞匯中的詞形轉(zhuǎn)換。本題考查學生對文中第二段“this internal cheering section can give us confidence. ”理解和運用能力�！癿ake sb. +形容詞”是一個常用句型。

　　5. 【解析】unfamiliar。此題屬于原文詞匯。本題考查學生對文中第二段“This is the kind of comment we engage in when we’re carrying out a difficult task, especially one that’s unfamiliar to us. ”信息識別能力。

　　6. 【解析】improved。此題屬于轉(zhuǎn)換詞匯中的詞形轉(zhuǎn)換。本題考查學生對文中第三段“First, it improves our attention. ”的理解和運用能力。原文是主動語態(tài), 此題是被動語態(tài), 故用improve的過去分詞形式。

　　7. 【解析】emotions。此題屬于原文詞匯。本題考查學生對文中第三段“self-talk allows us to control our emotions, ”信息識別能力。

　　8. 【解析】goals。此題屬于原文詞匯。本題考查學生對文中第四段“. . . when you set a goal for yourself and make a plan for how to get there. ”信息識別能力。

　　9. 【解析】reflect。此題屬于轉(zhuǎn)換詞匯中的詞形轉(zhuǎn)換。本題考查學生對文中倒數(shù)第三段“Last comes self-reflection”的理解和運用能力。此題的reflect on意思是“反省”。

　　10. 【解析】change。此題屬于原文詞匯。本題考查學生對文中最后一段“After the action is over, consider how you might change your self-talk to improve your performance next time”信息識別能力。

　　2

　　1. 【解析】burden。此題屬于轉(zhuǎn)換詞匯中的詞形轉(zhuǎn)換。本題考查學生對文中第一段“You’ll get some profit in return, and you won’t have to be burdened with a car that will be more useful to others. ”理解和運用能力。此題關鍵詞是burden, 在此題中跟在the后應該用名詞形式。

　　2. 【解析】functions/works/runs/performs。此題屬于轉(zhuǎn)換詞匯中的句型轉(zhuǎn)換。本題考查學生對文中第二段“Make sure that it is still in a useful condition. ”理解和概括能力。當然, function一詞也可從倒數(shù)第二段“make sure the car still functions as well as new”中得到暗示。

　　3. 【解析】List/Show。此題屬于原文詞匯。本題考查學生對文中第二段“make a list of its features that you think would appeal to potential buyers. ”理解和運用能力。原句中l(wèi)ist為名詞, 在此題中轉(zhuǎn)化為動詞。

　　4. 【解析】Advertising/Advertisement。此題屬于轉(zhuǎn)換詞匯中的詞形轉(zhuǎn)換。本題考查學生對文中第三段“you can use the web and advertise through an Internet auction. ”理解和運用能力。關鍵詞是advertise。

　　5. 【解析】media。此題屬于轉(zhuǎn)換詞匯中的詞組轉(zhuǎn)換。本題考查學生對文中第三段“You can do it by making an ad in the newspapers, or. . . ”理解和概括能力�！皥罂�”屬于“媒體”范圍之內(nèi)。

　　6. 【解析】uncertain/unsure。此題屬于轉(zhuǎn)換詞匯中的詞組轉(zhuǎn)換。本題考查學生對文中第三段“If you’re not sure on how to make an ad, browse”理解和運用能力�！皀ot sure”即unsure/uncertain。

　　7. 【解析】Improvements。此題屬于原文詞匯。本題考查學生對文中第四段“It would be best to make some improvements to your car, at least on its appearance. ”信息識別能力。

　　8. 【解析】appearance。此題屬于原文詞匯。本題考查學生對文中第四段“it might take more work to improve the car’s appearance. ”信息識別能力。

　　9. 【解析】like/as。此題屬于轉(zhuǎn)換詞匯中的詞組轉(zhuǎn)換。本題考查學生對文中第四段“the car still functions as well as new”理解和概括能力。

　　10. 【解析】Stick。此題屬于轉(zhuǎn)換詞匯中的詞組轉(zhuǎn)換。本題考查學生對原文最后一段“insist on a cash payment, or cashier’s check. ”理解和運用能力。insist on與stick to同義。

　　3

　　1. 【解析】increase。此題屬于原文詞匯。本題考查學生對文中第二段“It helps the employee to perform better and increases his or her efficiency and time management. ”的信息識別能力。

　　2. 【解析】importance。此題屬于轉(zhuǎn)換詞匯中的詞組轉(zhuǎn)換。本題考查學生對文中第二段“It’s also important for every student to set high academic goals”的理解和運用能力。另外, 此題的attach importance to為一固定詞組, 意為“認為……重要; 重視”。

　　3. 【解析】delaying。此題屬于轉(zhuǎn)換詞匯中的句型轉(zhuǎn)換。本題考查學生對文中第三段“finish the assigned tasks and targets in a timely manner”的理解和運用能力�！霸谝�(guī)定時間之內(nèi)”意思就是“不推遲完成任務”。注意, 此空前有介詞of, 此題要填delaying。

　　4. 【解析】organized。此題屬于轉(zhuǎn)換詞匯中的詞形轉(zhuǎn)換。本題考查學生對文中第四段“Setting up goals and objectives helps you organize your time and efforts in an efficient manner. ”的理解和運用能力。關鍵詞是organize, 此題是have something done句型, 故用organized作賓語補足語。

　　5. 【解析】relaxation。此題屬于轉(zhuǎn)換詞匯中的詞形轉(zhuǎn)換。本題考查學生對文中第四段“you would have spent the time relaxing rather than being busy working or studying. ”的理解和運用能力。關鍵詞是relax, 此題跟在介詞for后, 用名詞形式, 故此空填relaxation。

　　6. 【解析】stress。此題屬于原文詞匯。本題考查學生對文中第五段“l(fā)ack of stress and a more calm and relaxed mind”的信息識別能力。當然, “減壓”就是第五段討論的話題。

　　7. 【解析】due/owing。此題屬于轉(zhuǎn)換詞匯中的句型轉(zhuǎn)換。本題考查學生對文中第五段“Therefore, another benefit of effective goal-setting is lack of stress and a more calm and relaxed mind. ”的理解和運用能力。due/owing to在此表示原因。

　　8. 【解析】beneficial。此題屬于轉(zhuǎn)換詞匯中的詞形轉(zhuǎn)換。本題考查學生對文中第五段“another benefit”的理解和運用能力。此處跟在is后應用其形容詞形式。

　　9. 【解析】aware/conscious。此題屬于轉(zhuǎn)換詞匯中的詞組轉(zhuǎn)換。本題考查學生對文中最后一段“You are expected to know”的理解和運用能力。此處將know轉(zhuǎn)換成be aware/conscious。

　　10. 【解析】pay。此題屬于轉(zhuǎn)換詞匯中的句型轉(zhuǎn)換。本題考查學生對文中最后一段“if you want to be successful and also harvest the fruits of your hard work, you need to stick to your set goals. . . ”的理解和運用能力。此處pay off是牛津教材上一個重要的詞組, 意思是“取得成功; 帶來好結(jié)果”。此題是跟在will后, 應用動詞原形。