As time flies, 2024 is coming to an end. Some people look forward to 2025 with anticipation and joy, while others may feel anxious and uneasy. Stress, anxiety, anticipation, excitement, and dread are just some examples of the feelings that arise as people become aware that the year is quickly drawing to a close. It’s normal to feel more self-reflective and emotional during this time of the year.
Why do we usually feel anxious at the end of the year? Common reasons for feeling year-end anxiety include realizing that we have goals and experiences we didn’t achieve, feeling like time is running out to do what matters, and anticipating end-of-the-year social commitments and responsibilities.
How to cope with these feelings? Here are some suggestions.
One of the first steps in coping with year-end anxiety is to be kind to yourself. It’s easy to be hard on yourself for what you didn’t accomplish. It’s simple to be critical of what you could have or should have done, and any other ways you feel like you came up short. Holding on to more negative judgments against yourself won’t help you move forward nor will it change anything about the past. Being understanding and forgiving with yourself will help you keep going in the valuable time remaining this year.
Keep in mind that the end of the year is just an arbitrary marker of time. We don’t have to treat the end of the year or a new year as a strict deadline. These time markers can be helpful motivators (动力), but they shouldn’t be viewed with such a rigid attitude that if you don’t achieve something by December 31, all hope is lost. This kind of attitude will always hinder any sort of change or progress.
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1.1. What is a common reaction among people during the end of the year?
A They become more physically active.
B They tend to avoid social interactions.
C They feel more emotionally charged.
D They try to achieve their New Year’s goals.
解析：选C。细节理解题。根据第一段的“It’s normal to feel more self-reflective and emotional during this time of the year.”可知，年底时人们通常会更加情绪化。故选C。
2.2. Why do some people feel anxious at the end of the year?
A Because they don’t like New Year celebrations.
B Because they realize they have unmet goals.
C Because it means that the exams are coming.
D Because they’re about to change their routine.
解析：选B。细节理解题。根据第二段可知，年终焦虑的常见原因：①意识到我们有些没有达到的目标和经历；②感觉我们没有时间做重要的事情了；③预计年底会有一系列的社会义务和责任需要履行。故选B。
3.3. What can be inferred from Para. 4?
A Negative judgments can help us learn from the past.
B Being critical of oneself is necessary for personal growth.
C Forgiving oneself is important for making progress.
D Year-end anxiety is caused by unfinished goals.
解析：选C。推理判断题。根据第四段最后两句可知，坚持对自己的负面判断不会帮助你前进，也不会改变过去的任何事情。理解和原谅自己会帮助你在剩下的宝贵时间里继续前进。由此可推知，原谅自己对进步很重要。故选C。
4.4. According to the passage, how should one view the end of the year?
A As a reason to be overly critical of oneself.
B As a strict deadline that must be completely met.
C As a time to give up on all old goals and set up new ones.
D As a marker that can motivate but shouldn’t cause rigid stress.
解析：选D。细节理解题。根据最后一段的“Keep in mind that the end of the year is just an arbitrary marker of time .... they shouldn’t be viewed with such a rigid attitude”可知，年底只是一个任意的时间标记。我们不必把年底或新年当作一个如此严肃的结束一切的最后期限。这些时间标记可以成为有用的激励因素，但不应该以过于严格的态度看待它，以至于（你觉得）如果你在12月31日之前没有完成某事，那么所有的希望都会破灭。故选D。
