Think about the last time you felt a negative emotion—like stress, anger, or frustration. What was going through your mind as you were going through that negativity? Was your mind cluttered with (充斥) different kinds of thoughts? Or was it paralyzed, unable to think?

The next time you find yourself in the middle of a very stressful time, or you feel angry or frustrated, stop. Yes, that’s right, stop. Whatever you’re doing, stop and sit for one minute. While you’re sitting there, completely immerse yourself in the negative emotion. Allow that emotion to consume you. Allow yourself one minute to truly feel that emotion. Don’t cheat yourself here. Take the entire minute—but only one minute—to do nothing else but feel that emotion.

When the minute is over, ask yourself, “Am I willing to keep holding on to this negative emotion as I go through the rest of the day?” Once you’ve allowed yourself to be totally immersed in the emotion and really feel it, you will be surprised to find that the emotion clears rather quickly.

If you feel you need to hold on to the emotion for a little longer, that is OK. Allow yourself another minute to feel the emotion. When you feel you’ve had enough of the emotion, ask yourself if you’re willing to carry that negativity with you for the rest of the day. If not, take a deep breath. As you exhale, release all that negativity with your breath.

This exercise seems simple—almost too simple. But, it is very effective. By allowing that negative emotion the space to be truly felt, you are dealing with the emotion rather than stuffing it down and trying not to feel it. You are actually taking away the power of the emotion by giving it the space and attention it needs. When you immerse yourself in the emotion, and realize that it is only emotion, it loses its control. You can clear your head and proceed with your task.

41. Which one does not belong to the negative emotion?

A. anxiety            B. confusion           C. depression                 D. sorrow

42. What should you do when you are into negativity according to the article?

A. Listen to some music.                                   

B. Ignore it and do something else.

C. Just do nothing and truly feel that emotion. 

D. Think about it and try to deal with it immediately.

43. The underlined word “immerse” (Paragraph 2) most probably means ______.

A. break down       B. get rid of             C. cut off                   D. throw into

44. What’s the best title of this text?

A. Clear Your Mental Space.                       

B. Deep Breath, Trouble Away.

C. Try to Avoid the Negative Emotion.

D. Hold on to Negative Emotion as Long as Possible.

45. The author’s opinion towards negative emotion is ______.

A. doubtful          B. optimistic             C. frightened         D. confused

I have always wanted to share this story because it is one of the things that I will remember for my entire life. And I’m sure 21 person feels the same.

We had a new teacher in my high school World History class. She was very nice and excited to see us. She told a story about her 22 fighting in a war and brought a picture of him. After about fifteen 23 of her talking, the class started talking softly to each other 24 they were getting bored. Looking 25 , she asked “So, you guys don’t really want to hear any more?” No one dared to actually say “no” to her out loud 26 one kid. He said, “No, not really!” in a disrespectful way. Some kids were a little 27 and thought that it was rather rude.

I felt extremely bad for this teacher. No one deserves to be 28 in such a disrespectful manner. 29 , a little before class let out, I went up to her and 30 for the guy’s rude behavior. I told her I had been 31 , and even though I may not entirely like 32 , I did appreciate her sharing her story. I asked her 33 about her father and asked to see the picture of him. We had a very nice, genuine conversation about her father.

The teacher was 34 . She really appreciated me coming up and actually treating her with the 　35 that she deserved. I felt at full peace with myself knowing that I did the right thing and I was super happy that I actually 36 . Even though I didn’t really care for history, I 37 listened, and I hope that others in different situations will do the same. Listening means a lot to the people sharing; it really 38 . If I had just left the class without saying a word, I would have felt extremely 39 and would have a constant reminder, probably to this day, that 40 was not served and I had left a person in their time of need.

21. A. neither　　　　　　　 B. no　 　　　　　　　 C. a certain　 　　　　　 D. the other

22. A. father 　　　　　　　　　　 B. nephew 　　　　　 C. uncle 　　　　　　　　　 D. brother

23. A. hours　 　　　　　 B. minutes 　　　　 C. seconds 　　　　　　　 D. days

24. A. even if　　　　　　　 B. as if 　　　　　　　 C. because 　　　　　　　　 D. so

25. A. hurt 　　　　　　　 B. funny 　　　　　 C. proud 　　　　　　　　　 D. amused

26. A. besides 　　　　　　 B. except 　　　　　 C. as well as 　　　　　　　 D. along with

27. A. interested 　　　　 B. excited 　　　　　 C. disappointed 　　　　 D. shocked

28. A. treated 　　　　　　 B. considered 　　 C. scolded　　 　　　　 D. taught

29. A. Therefore 　　　 B. However 　　　 C. Personally　　　　　　　 D. Naturally

30. A. thanked 　　　　　 B. prepared　 　　　 C. apologized 　　　　　　 D. argued

31. A. talking　　　　　　　 B. listening　　　　　　 C. laughing 　　　　　　　　 D. wondering

32. A. geography 　　　　 B. literature 　　　 C. architecture 　　　　　 D. history

33. A. nothing　　　　　　　 B. little 　　　 C. less　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. more

34. A. amazed　　　　　　　 B. touched 　　　　　 C. embarrassed 　　　　　 D. bored

35. A. gift 　　　　　　　　　 B. reward 　　　　　 C. respect　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. praise

36. A. made her day 　　 B. made my day 　 C. made her way 　　　　 D. made my way

37. A. ever 　　　　　　　 B. even 　　　　　　 C. still 　　　　　　　　　　　 D. seldom

38. A. means　　　　　　　　 B. makes 　　　　　 C. is 　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. does

39. A. happy　　　　　　　　 B. guilty　　　　　　　 C. lucky 　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. empty

40. A. justice　　　 　 B. right　　　　　　　　 C. purpose　　　 　　　　　　 D. interest

 — I’m sorry I didn’t make it to your party last night.

—______, I know you’re busy these days.

A. Of course             B. No kidding                C. That’s all right          D. You are welcome

 After he retired from the office, Tom ______ painting for a while, but soon lost interest.

A. took up                 B. saved up                   C. kept up                    D. drew up

 When the old man ______ to walk back to his house, the sun ______ itself behind the mountain.

A. started; had already hidden                         B. was starting; hid

C. had started; had already hidden             D. had started; was hiding

 The majority of visitors ______ in favor of his conclusion that the number of books published on the subject ______ simply surprising.

A. were; was           B. was; was               C. were; were             D. was; were

 — The plane is due to take off at 8:00 from the airport.

— ______ we can’t get there in time?

— Try to take another flight then.

A. As if                   B. Even if                     C. Only if                    D. What if

 — Now that you like the computer so much, why not buy one?

— Well, I can’t afford ______ computer at present.

A. that expensive a     B. a such cheap            C. a so cheap                D. that an expensive

 Don’t be ______ by products promising to make you lose weight quickly.

A. taken off             B. taken out                  C. taken away              D. taken in

 The government has handed out all the ______ food and clothes to the victims.

A. reflected              B. abandoned             C. donated                   D. rented