There’s an energy crisis in America, and it has nothing to do with fossil fuels．Millions of us get up each morning already weary over the day holds．“I just can’t get started．” People say．But it’s not physical energy that most of us lack．Sure, we could all use extra sleep and a better diet．But in truth, people are healthier today than at any time in history．I can almost guarantee that if you long for more energy, the problem is not with your body．
What you’re seeking is not physical energy．It’s emotional energy．Yet, sad to say life sometimes seems designed to exhaust our supply．We work too hard．We have family obligations(义务)．We encounter(遭遇)emergencies and personal crises．No wonder so many of us suffer from emotional fatigue(疲劳), a kind of utter exhaustion of the spirit．
And yet we all know people who are filled with joy, despite the unpleasant circumstances of their lives．Even as a child I observed people who were poor or disabled or ill, but who nonetheless faced life with optimism and vigor(活力)．Consider Laura Hillenbrand, who despite an extremely weak body wrote the best-seller Seabiscuit．Hillenbrand barely had enough physical energy to drag herself out of bed to write．But she was fueled by having a story she wanted to share．It was emotional energy that helped her succeed．
Unlike physical energy, which is finite(有限的)and diminishes(减少)with age, emotional energy is unlimited and has nothing to do with genes or upbringing．So how do you get it? You can’t simply tell yourself to be positive．You must take action．Here are six practical strategies that work．
1．Do something new．
Very little that’s new occurs in our lives．The impact of this sameness on our emotional energy is gradual, but huge：It’s like a tire with a slow leak．You don’t notice it at first, but eventually you’ll get a flat．It’s up to you to plug the leak－even though there are always a dozen reasons to stay stuck in your dull routines of life．That’s where Maura, 36, a waitress, found herself a year ago．
Fortunately, Maura had a lifeline－a group of women friends who meet regularly to discuss their lives．Their lively discussions spurred Maura to make small but nevertheless life altering changes．She joined a gym in the next town．She changed her look with a short haircut and new black T-shirts．Eventually, Maura gathered the courage to quit her job and start her own business．
Here’s a challenge：If it’s something you wouldn’t ordinarily do, do it．Try a dish you’ve never eaten．Listen to music you’d ordinarily tune out．You’ll discover these small things add to your emotional energy．
2．Reclaim life’s meaning．
So many of my patients tell me that their lives used to have meaning, but that somewhere along the line things went stale(厌倦的)．
The first step in solving this meaning shortage is to figure out what you really care about, and then do something about it．A case in point is Ivy, 57, a pioneer in investment banking．“I mistakenly believed that all the money I made would mean something．” she says．“But I feel lost, like a 22-year-old wondering what to do with her life．” Ivy’s solution? She started a program that shows Wall Streeters how to donate time and money to poor children．In the process, Ivy filled her life with meaning．
3．Put yourself in the fun zone．
Most of us grown-ups are seriously fun-deprived．High-energy people have the same day-to-day work as the rest of us, but they manage to find something enjoyable in every situation．A real estate broker I know keeps herself amused on the job by mentally redecorating the houses she shows to clients．“I love imagining what even the most run-down house could look like with a little tender loving care,” she says．“It’s a challenge－and the least desirable properties are usually the most fun．”
We all define fun differently, of course, but I can guarantee this：If you put just a bit of it into your day, you energy will increase quickly．
4．Bid farewell to guilt and regret．
Everyone’s past is filled with regrets that still cause pain．But from an emotional energy point of view, they are dead weights that keep us from moving forward．While they can’t merely be willed away, I do recommend you remind yourself that whatever happened in the past, nothing can change that．Holding on to the memory only allows the damage to continue into the present．
5．Make up your mind．
Say you’ve been thinking about cutting your hair short．Will it look stylish－or too extreme? You endlessly think it over．Having the decision hanging over your head is a huge energy drain．Every time you can’t decide, you burden yourself with alternatives．Quit thinking that you have to make the right decision; instead, make a choice and don’t look back．
6．Give to get．
Emotional energy has a kind of magical quality：the more you give, the more you get back．This is the difference between emotional and physical energy．With the latter．You have to get it to be able to give it．With the former, however, you get it by giving it．
Start by asking everyone you meet, “How are you?” as if you really want to know, and then listen to the reply．Be the one who hears．Most of us also need to smile more often．If you don’t smile at the person you love first thing in the morning, you’re sucking energy out of your relationship．Finally, help another person－and make the help real, concrete．Give a massage to someone you love, or cook her dinner, Then, expand the circle to work．Try asking yourself what you’d do if your goal were to be helpful rather than efficient．
After all, if it’s true that what goes around comes around, why not make sure that what’s circulating around you is the good stuff?
(1)
The energy crisis in America discussed here mainly refers to a shortage of _________．
[ ]
A．
fossil fuels
B．
physical energy
C．
emotional energy
D．
natural energy
(2)
Laura Hillenbrand is an example quoted to show how _________ in life．
[ ]
A．
physical energy can contribute to one’s unsuccess
B．
emotional energy can contribute to one’s unsuccess
C．
physical energy can contribute to one’s success
D．
emotional energy can contribute to one’s success
(3)
The author believes emotional energy is _________．
[ ]
A．
inherited and genetically determined
B．
not inherited and genetically determined
C．
related to inherited and genes
D．
related to inherited and upbringing
(4)
Even small changes people make in their lives _________ their emotional energy．
[ ]
A．
can help increase
B．
cannot help increase
C．
can help control
D．
cannot help control
(5)
Ivy filled her life with meaning by launching a program to _________．
[ ]
A．
help herself
B．
teach herself
C．
help poor children
D．
teach poor children
(6)
The real-estate broker the author knows enjoyed _________．
Teams：Each team has four boys and four girls．Two boys and two girls from each team play in each division(a part of the field)．
Ball：A Korfball measures 68 to 71 cm in circumference(周长)．If there is no Korfball, a number four soccer ball or a netball can be used for children under the age of twelve and a number five size for older player．It is not recommended that basketballs can be used．
How to Play Korfball
Beginning the game：The game begins with the toss of a coin．Play starts with a throw off．
Time of game：A game has two twenty-minute halves with a ten-minute stop．
Division changes：After two goals have been scored, or after about six minutes with young or new player, all players change divisions．Players also change divisions．Players also change direction at half time．
Scoring：A goal counts for one point and the winner is the team with the most goals．
Moving the ball：Players are not allowed to run with the ball．If the ball is caught while running the player should pass it in a continuous movement．Dribbling(运球)the ball is not allowed and players cannot hand the ball to a teammate．
Infringements(违规)：An infringement is when you break the rules of the game．A free throw is awarded for general infringements or if the ball goes out of play．
(1)
A game of Korfball, including the stop, lasts ________．
[ ]
A．
20 minutes
B．
40 minutes
C．
50 minutes
D．
90 minutes
(2)
To move the ball down the field, players must be like ________．
[ ]
A．
B．
C．
D．
(3)
The game begins with ________．
[ ]
A．
a throw off of a ball
B．
a toss of a coin
C．
the running of the players
D．
the sound of the whistle
(4)
A Korfball team is made up of ________．
[ ]
A．
four boys or four girls
B．
four boys and four girls
C．
two boys or two girls
D．
two boys and two girls
阅读理解
What’s Needed to Play Korfball
Teams：Each team has four boys and four girls．Two boys and two girls from each team play in each division(a part of the field)．
Ball：A Korfball measures 68 to 71 cm in circumference(周长)．If there is no Korfball, a number-four soccer ball or a netball can be used for children under the age of twelve and a number-five size for older player．It is not recommended that basketballs can be used．
How to Play Korfball
Beginning the game：The game begins with the toss of a coin．Play starts with a throw off．
Time of game：A game has two twenty-minute halves with a ten-minute stop．
Division changes：After two goals have been scored, or after about six minutes with young or new player, all players change divisions．Players also change divisions．Players also change direction at half time．
Scoring：A goal counts for one point and the winner is the team with the most goals．
Moving the ball：players are not allowed to run with the ball．If the ball is caught while running the player should pass it in a continuous movement．Dribbling(运球)the ball is not allowed and players cannot hand the ball to a teammate．
Infringements(违规)：an infringement is when you break the rules of the game．A free throw is awarded for general infringements or if the ball goes out of play．
(1)
A game of Korfball, including the stop, lasts __________．
[ ]
A．
20 minutes
B．
40 minutes
C．
50 minutes
D．
90 minutes
(2)
To move the ball down the field, players must be like __________．
