Question

   There's more misery in people's lives than a decade ago. So says a new study on life's negatives from the University of Chicago's National Opinion Research Center,which conducts social science research for government agencies,educational institutions,nonprofit organizations and private corporations.

  The researchers surveyed 1,340 people about negative life events and found that the 2004 respondents had more troubles than those who were surveyed in 1991.

  "The expectation would have been that problems would have been down," says Tom Smith,the study's author. He says good economic years during the 90s would have brought an expectation of fewer problems,not more.

  Overall,the percentage that reported at least one significant negative life event increased from 88% to 92% . Most of the problems were related to increased incidents of illness and the inability to afford medical care,unemployment,and troubled romantic relationships.

  On a more positive note,fewer of those surveyed reported having trouble with crime or the law.

  Some of the problems outlined in the study were more complicated than just a single bad event. For instance,the inability to afford health care rose from 7% in 1991 to 11% in 2004. Those who said they lacked health insurance increased from 12% to 18% . On the romantic front,the percentage that reported breaking up with a steady partner doubled from 4% to 8% .

  But people shouldn't despair even if there is trouble around them. Bad experiences don't necessarily make people unhappy,says Jonathan Haidt,an associate professor of psychology at the University of Virginia and author of the new book The Happiness Hypothesis.

  He advises a threepoint checkup on the state of personal relationships,the work environment and control over daily life,because improving those areas will boost happiness.

(   ) 5. Which of the following verbs can be used instead of "boost" in the last paragraph?

   A. Increase. B. Reduce. C. Make. D. Find.

(   ) 6. It can be inferred from the passage that         .

   A. the economy has nothing to do with people's happiness

   B. people's problems were probably not only one single bad event

   C. most of the people's personal problems are related to the money

   D. people have a lot of trouble with crime or law

(   ) 7. Which of the following statements may NOT be found in the book The Happiness Hypothesis?

   A. When you come across the trouble,do not lose heart.

   B. Working environment and daily life should be paid much attention to.

   C. It is unnecessary for us to think about the conditions of personal relationships.

   D. Unhappy experience may not surely make people upset all the time.

(   ) 8. In your opinion,the best title for this passage may be         .

   A. Unhappiness Has Risen in the Past Decade

   B. The Problems,the Solutions

   C. The Biggest Problems in the World

   D. What's Your Life Look Like

Answer 1

5. A根据本句的意思，boost在此是增加(increase) 的意思

6. B从第6段第1句话some of the problems ... were more complicated than just a single bad event可以得知B为正确选项。

7. C最后一段提到的三方面包含the state of personal relationship。

8. A全文的主题就是表明最近十年人们的烦恼增多了。