题目内容

阅读理解

  When people ask me why I’m so negative, I always tell them I’m simply looking out for my best interests and everyone else’s.But negativity gets a bad reputation.Everywhere you look, someone’s talking about the power of positive thinking.

  My life is good and I contribute it to imagining the worse and then being pleasantly surprised when the worst doesn’t happen.Last week, I read about a report out of the Netherlands suggesting this outlook increases my chances of dying from heart disease.

  This news might have moved me to change my ways, but then I saw an article about some new data from Denmark.Over the last three decades, Danes have been shown to have higher rates of “life satisfaction” than any other Western country.Their key to contentment? Low expectations.

  As the article explained, Danes know they don’t come from the largest, blondest or most temperate nation on the earth.They don’t expect to be the winners of any game.So when good things happen, they are that much happier.

  This is the philosophy I’ve been living for years.It’s why I go to every party expecting to have a miserable time and leave for every vacation thinking it will rain.These things rarely happen, so every time things don’t turn out so bad, I’m relieved and joyful.That’s the power of negative thinking.

  I strongly doubt if there is a sense of contentment being too positive, especially when expectation gets confused with hope.Americans seem unable to separate these ideas.Our entire belief is wrapped up in the myth of turning dreams into reality, of constantly reaching for higher goals, of never settling.Obviously, this can-do spirit turned us into the most powerful nation in the world.But I’ve always thought we would get better results with a belief like “the pursuit of contentment”.

  It is interesting how it sounds strange that people often hope to get the best, while making preparations for the worst”.But that’s the problem with positive thinking.Because it ignores satisfaction, which is really desirable, and runs after high expectations, which are less likely to be achieved.So let’s stop being so optimistic.

(1)

What is the main reason why Danes have higher rates of “life satisfaction”?

[  ]

A.

Danes live a rich life.

B.

Danes have few social problems.

C.

Danes are very optimistic.

D.

Danes don’t expect too much.

(2)

What does “this outlook” in the 2nd paragraph refer to?

[  ]

A.

Positive thinking.

B.

Negative thinking

C.

Setting a high goal.

D.

Imaging a bright future.

(3)

Where does the writer come from?

[  ]

A.

The Netherlands

B.

Denmark

C.

The U.S.A.

D.

Japan

(4)

Which of the following proverbs agrees with the writer’s point of view?

[  ]

A.

Don’t count your chickens before they are hatched.

B.

Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.

C.

God helps those who help themselves.

D.

Nothing is impossible to a willing heart.

答案:1.D;2.B;3.C;4.A;
解析:

(1)

细节理解题。从第三段可知答案D正确。

(2)

细节理解题。第二段告知作者总是持有一种消极态度,作最坏打算。荷兰的一篇研究报告却说持这种观点的人会增加死于心脏病的比率。所以B是对的。

(3)

推理题从倒数第二段可知

(4)

主旨大意题。作者主要观点是“生活中不要期望太高,要消极思维,不要盲目乐观”。选项A原意为“小鸡孵出之后才算数”,其含义与作者观点想吻合。


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How Long Can People Live?

  She took up skating at age 85, made her first movie appearance at age 114, and held a concert in the neighborhood on her 121st birthday.

  Whe n it comes to long life, Jeanne Calment is the world’s recordholder.She lived to the ripe old age of 122.So is 122 the upper limit to the human life span(寿命)?If scientists come up with some sort of pill or diet that would slow aging, could we possibly make it to 150-or beyond?

  Researchers don’t entirely agree on the answers.“Calment lived to 122, so it wouldn’t surprise me if someone alive today reaches 130 or 135,”says Jerry Shay at the University of Texas.

  Steve Austad at the University of Texas agrees.“People can live much longer than we think,”he says.“Experts used to say that humans couldn’t live past 110.When Calment blew past that age, they raised the number to 120.So why can’t we go higher?”

  The trouble with guessing how old people can live to be is that it’s all just guessing.“Anyone can make up a number,”says Rich Miller at the University of Michigan.“Usually the scientist who picks the highest number gets his name in Time magazine.”

  Won’t new anti-aging techniques keep us alive for centuries?Any cure, says Miller, for aging would probably keep most of us kicking until about 120.Researchers are working on treatments that lengthen the life span of mice by 50 percent at most.So, if the average human life span is about 80 years, says Miller,“adding another 50 percent would get you to 120.”

  So what can we conclude from this little disagreement among the researchers?That life span is flexible(有弹性的),but there is a limit, says George Martin of the University of Washington.“We can get flies to live 50 percent longer,”he says.“But a fly’s never going to live 150 years.”

  “Of course, if you became a new species(物种),one that ages at a slower speed, that would be a different story,”he adds.

  Does Martin really believe that humans could evolve(进化)their way to longer life?“It’s pretty cool to think about it,”he says with a smile.

(1)

What does the story of Jeanne Calment prove to us?

[  ]

A.

People can live to 122.

B.

Old people are creative.

C.

Women are sporty at 85.

D.

Women live longer than men.

(2)

According to Steve Austad at the University of Texas, ________.

[  ]

A.

the average human life span could be 110

B.

scientists cannot find ways to slow aging

C.

few people can expect to live to over 150

D.

researchers are not sure how long people can live

(3)

Who would agree that a scientist will become famous if he makes the wildest guess at longevity?

[  ]

A.

Jerry Shay.

B.

Steve Austad

C.

Rich Miller

D.

George Martin

(4)

What can we infer from the last three paragraphs?

[  ]

A.

Most of us could be good at sports even at 120.

B.

The average human life span cannot be doubled.

C.

Scientists believe mice are aging at a slower speed than before.

D.

New techniques could be used to change flies into a new species.

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