“Hello.” — it is one of the first words we learn as babies, yet it’s one of the last ones we think to use as adults. That’s regrettable, because saying hello is more than just saying hello — it’s the respect of another’s worth. How might the world change — how might we change — if we have mastered this word? To find out, I spent one month saying hello to every person I met. Here’s what I’ve learnt.
It can improve productivity. In one of the few studies ever done on this subject, Allan Allday, an assistant professor of special education at Oklahoma State University, had middle school teachers greet their students individually each morning. This exchange of greetings raised the kid’s productivity. School went from impersonal to personal, and that led to more class participation（参与）and better grades.
Environments influence friendliness. One study found that people in the city were less likely to shake hands with a stranger than those in the countryside. And, researchers say, pleasant environments generally encourage more smiles and hellos than unpleasant ones. My experience was similar. Whatever the reason, my hellos in the city were answered far less often than the ones in the countryside. Similarly, people in vacation areas, like the Jersey Shore, were far more friendly than those hurrying to work downtown.
It’s a form of health insurance（保险）. It’s impossible to say hello without smiling. And smiling has been shown to lower blood pressure, lighten unpleasant feelings and improve happiness. It seems that saying hello creates a similar influence.
So maybe we can make the world a better place by saying hello. After a month of doing it, I feel lighter and more connected and I have a better sense of well-being.
56. What can we know from the first paragraph?
A. People can say hello since they are born.
B. Saying hello is a way to show respect to others.
C. People lose the ability to say hello when they grow up.
D. Saying hello is a way to change the world completely.
57. Which of the following is true according to the second paragraph?
A. Students will get good grades by saying hello very often.
B. An assistant professor likes greeting his students every morning.
C. The teacher who often says hello to students is very popular at school.
D. Kids will be more active in class by exchanging greetings with teachers.
58. From the passage, we learn that ________.
A. smiles can take the place of hellos
B. people living in the city refuse to say hello
C. environments play a role in creating friendliness
D. having health insurance is more important than saying hello
59. The underlined word “well-being” in the last paragraph means ________.
A. health and happiness B. comfort and quietness
C. pride and confidence D. peace and hopefulness