It is the season for taking the time to reflect on what we’re thankful for in life. Spending that time with friends and family to give thanks is what makes the holidays so special. But why should limit it to just a few weeks in the year? Gratitude (感恩) is a muscle we should strengthen year-round to make us healthier, happier humans and leaders.
Gratitude builds empathy . We often take for granted the simple things in life. Those who recognize the goodness in life, no matter how simple or automatic, are more likely to be sensitive to the needs of others and to help whenever they can. Being empathetic to others’ opinions, experiences and backgrounds will make you a better professional, no matter your career.
Through his research, Emmons, a leading researcher, found that grateful people reported feeling healthier, both mentally and physically. Specifically, those who were grateful were 25 percent happier than those who weren’t. In the workplace, well-being (健康快乐) is a crucial topic when it comes to preventing employee burn-out and promoting engagement. Beyond the research that shows that employees who are shown that they are appreciated are more productive by 50 percent, caring for your employees’ well-being is simply the right thing to do. Offering fitness classes or carrying out flexible work schedules are just a few things that, when paired with gratitude, can lead to more productive, engaged and happier working professionals.
Working in a developing, fast-paced industry, we are often surrounded by ambitious people who are always striving (奋斗) for more and better. Gratitude makes us more self-aware. It challenges us to reflect in the moment instead of always thinking about the future. It starts by paying attention to what’s going on in our life, and that true self-awareness is a key factor to being successful in our career.
Gratitude is a powerful tool for making relationships stronger, both at work and in our personal life. People who express their gratitude tend to be more willing to forgive others and therefore able to create relatively long-lasting connections.
During my month-long vacation, I made it a point to be reflective during the time I had without disturbances or deadlines. Part of that was making a mental list of the people, things and experiences I was grateful for in my life. I decided to reach out to my fifth-grade teacher and thank her for being positive instructor and a strong influence on my life.
The old saying goes “It’s never too late to say you’re sorry,” but the same is true of gratitude. Taking the time to thank people for their work, kindness or empathy-whether it was today, last month or many years ago-makes you happier, healthier and more self-aware. And that’s a gift worth celebrating 365 days a year.
1 . What does the underlined word “empathy” in Paragraph 2 probably mean?
A . The feeling of being sorry for others’ problems.
B . The desire to help people in difficult situations.
C . The ability to understand other people’s feelings.
D . The feeling of pleasure or satisfaction towards others.
2 . What can be inferred from the passage?
A . People who have self-awareness can succeed without effort.
B . Grateful people will live a much longer life than ungrateful people.
C . Wise enterprises should raise the employees’ sense of well-being.
D . Gratitude can ensure the relationship between people is unbreakable.
3 . Why does the author mention his own experience in Paragraph 6?
A . To encourage people to contact with teachers.
B . To show it’s never too late to express gratitude.
C . To order people to keep long-lasting connection.
D . To present that his teacher greatly influenced him.
4 . Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?
A . Being Grateful Year-Round.
B . The Season for Gratitude.
C . The Way to Show Thanks.
D . The Special Holiday of Gratitude.
1 . C
2 . C
3 . B
4 . A
【分析】
本文是一篇说明文。文章通过调查和举例阐明主题 —— 永怀感恩之心。
1 .词义猜测题。根据下文 “Those who recognize the goodness in life, no matter how simple or automatic, are more likely to be sensitive to the needs of others and to help whenever they can. (那些能意识到生活美好的人,无论多么简单或自然而然,都更有可能对他人的需求敏感,并尽可能地提供帮助。) ” 可知,感恩建立同理心基础上的,所以 empathy 指的是 “ 理解他人感受的能力 ” 。故选 C 。
2 .推理判断题。根据第三段 “Offering fitness classes or carrying out flexible work schedules are just a few things that, when paired with gratitude, can lead to more productive, engaged and happier working professionals. (提供健身课程或实行灵活的工作时间安排,如果能与感恩相结合,就能让工作更有效率、更投入、更快乐。) ” 可推断,明智的企业应该提高员工的幸福感。故选 C 。
3 .推理判断题。根据第七段 “The old saying goes “It’s never too late to say you’re sorry,” but the same is true of gratitude. (老话说 :“ 说对不起永远不晚 ” ,但感恩也是如此。) ” 可推断,作者在第六段提到了他自己的经历是为了表达感激永远不嫌晚。故选 B 。
4 .主旨大意题。根据最后一段 “Taking the time to thank people for their work, kindness or empathy-whether it was today, last month or many years ago-makes you happier, healthier and more self-aware. And that’s a gift worth celebrating 365 days a year. (花点时间感谢别人的工作、善良或同情 —— 不管是今天、上个月还是多年前 —— 会让你更快乐、更健康、更有自知之明。这是一年 365 天都值得庆祝的礼物。) ” 及全文可知,本文阐述的主题是我们要永怀感恩之心。故选 A 。