题目内容
C
What is it that makes people happy? Youth, health, a good job, good looks, a flash car? None of these things, Spanish experts say.
The concept(概念) of happiness is thought to be determined by genetics, while the rest depends on childhood environment and the process(过程) of growing up. Perhaps the most surprising thing about happiness is coming under increasingly close examination in Spain.
As the nation rises to the club of the world's wealthiest countries, people are discovering that material(物质的) things do not bring happiness.
"Most people use money as a measure of human value," says Jesus Ynfante, author of a book on Spain's 300 biggest fortunes. "Expensive products are regarded as the best. The rich are admired simply for being rich," Ynfante said.
Yet psychologists(心理学家) warn that happiness as a moment of ecstatic pleasure(狂喜)--something that, by definition(定义) ,cannot last--while others speak of it as peace and acceptance of oneself. Polls(问卷调查) in different countries indicate that between 65 and 85 percent of the world's population regard themselves as reasonably happy.
Around 40 percent of a person's happiness is that it has little to do with age, health, wealth, or other values thought to be important in Western society. For most Spaniards, happiness is linked with feeling close to other people. Happy people accept their limitations and set themselves reachable goals, experts say.
There are life-style choices that favour happiness, such as exercise, eating carbohydrates and exposing oneself to sunlight. But the main secret of happiness is to take pleasure in small things.
“If you are given a choice between eternal(永久的)happiness and a cheese sandwich, take the sandwich,” advises musician Julian Hernandez.
58. Spain, as this passage tells us, __________.
A. has built more clubs than the other countries
B. has owned the largest group of experts
C. has become one of the richest countries in the world
D. has produced the most wealth in the world
59. It can be concluded that Jesus Ynfante is__________.
A. a famous expert B. a famous psychologist
C. one of the richest Spaniards D. familiar with the richest Spaniards
60. As psychologists warn in this passage, people can't feel happy even if they_________.
A. have too much money B. only care about themselves
C. don't do any homework D. have a few relations
61 Happy people, as we can find in this passage, __________.
A. are always full of feelings B. are always born in rich families
C. always enjoy every achievement they get D. always look down upon themselves
58---61 CDAC
解析
I was working with a client who was completely burned out on her career and life and then ready for a career change. As we were talking, she said, “I just wish I had meaningful work. I don’t feel like I am making a difference. I am just wasting my life.” This is the theme I hear most often from clients who have been in the workforce awhile.All of us want to feel like we are making a difference. We want to believe our work means something. The problem comes in defining “meaningful work”. What is it? That answer is different for everyone. For some meaningful work might be helping others organize their office. For others it may mean making a million dollars.
What really matters is how you see it. What is meaningful work to you? Take out a piece of paper and answer these questions. How do you define meaningful work? When do you feel like you are really making a difference? What work have you done so far that feels the most meaningful? Write down whatever comes to mind.
What you want to do is meaningful. It is very easy to start judging yourself as being selfish. Stop! Allow yourself to be honest. The fact is when Picasso painted; he was doing it because he liked to paint. He was not thinking, “Oh, I hope this brings joy to others’ lives.” He painted because he wanted to. When Beethoven composed, he did it because he loved music. Even scientists searching for a cure for cancer are immersed in their work because it fascinates them.
Don’t look down on your work. It is easy to downplay the importance of work that feels meaningful. I remember Tony Robbins told a story of talking with the owner of a major company. The man said to Tony, “I wish I could do what you do because it makes such adifference in people’s lives”. Tony said, “You have got to be kidding! Look at what adifference you make. You provide work, health insurance and security for thousands ofpeople!” Don’t underestimate the value you provide.
Take a look at what you have written about meaningful work. Do you see any themes? How do you wish to contribute to this world? Whatever you choose, remember that the greatest gift you can give is to find work that makes you feel fulfilled and delighted. Respect your preference because giving your gifts to the world, whatever they look like, is the most meaningful action you can ever take.
【小题1】. What does the writer mean by mentioning the famous people?
A.Famous people are selfish to start work for themselves. |
B.Doing meaningful work requires our interest in it. |
C.Interest is the best teacher in learning. |
D.Honesty makes for the greatest people. |
A.quite different | B.very successful | C.not meaningful | D.less important |
A.The one which is popular in society. |
B.The one which brings you profits. |
C.The one which wins you fame. |
D.The one which interests you. |
A.explain what is the most important in changing one’s job |
B.advise taking an immediate action to find meaningful work |
C.suggest we should show confidence and talent in work |
D.tell us the problem that the author’s client met |
Why is a full moon, yellower and bigger when it is coming up than when it is higher in the sky?
That's a good question about something that we all can see. Let's talk about the moon's color first.
We see the moon only because of the sunlight that falls on it and is reflected. Actually, the moon is not a very good reflector, because its surface is all rocks and dirt. We see it in almost its true color when it is high in the sky.
When the moon first comes up, its light reaches our eyes after an extra-long path through the atmosphere (大气). There are lots of particles (微粒) scattering (分散) light in that long path. Blue light is scattered more than other colors, which means that it doesn't reach your eyes. The light that is left over looks yellow to your eye.
Now about the other question—why the moon seems to change in size. That's more complicated. It's not an effect of the atmosphere, the way color is; it's not caused by something fooling your eyes. It seems, instead, to be caused by something that fools your brain—an illusion(错觉).
Here's a drawing that creates an illusion. The two cones(圆锥体) are really the same size. But the rest of the drawing makes the right-hand cone seem farther away. Your brain knows that faraway objects are really larger than they look. It decides that the right-hand cone must be larger because it seems to be farther away.
Similarly, when you see the moon just come up over a line of trees or houses—or whatever makes the horizon(地平线)—it may be that your brain decides that the moon must be larger because it seems to be farther away.
【小题1】The moon doesn't reflect the sunlight very well because________________.
A.it is high in the sky | B.its surface is rough |
C.its surface is white | D.it isn't a good reflector |
A.In the course of its rising, the moon is getting smaller and smaller |
B.The size of the moon is more complicated than its color |
C.The atmosphere has the same effect on the moon's size as on its color |
D.The change in the moon's size is caused by an illusion while that in its color is caused by the atmosphere |
A.Why is the sun bigger when it rises over the horizon? |
B.Why does the sun look bigger when it rises over the horizon? |
C.Why does the sun look golden? |
D.Why does the sun rise in the east? |
A.A novelist | B.A reporter |
C.A science editor | D.An English teacher. |
To the Editor,
I have been reading your newspaper, the Hometown Gazette, for the past two years, ever since I moved to Smithville. We moved here from New York City, so I am accustomed(习惯的) to reading excellent newspapers such as The New York Times . In fact, we still have the Times delivered on Sundays. The entire family enjoys reading the recipes(食谱) in the magazine, as well as the Styles section.
The Times is great, but the Gazette is another story. I’ve never read an article that doesn’t contain at least three or four spelling or grammatical errors. For instance, in last week’s issue you misspelled the word “secretary”, used a singular verb with a plural noun, and used “it’s” as a possessive (所有格). And that was just in the lead story! In case you never went to elementary school, “it’s” means “it is ”.It’s also a possessive adjective!
It’s a pity that this tiny little hick(乡下) town has only one newspaper, because I’d like to have an alternative(替换物) to the rag you publish. I find it hard to believe your news stories. If you can’t spell correctly. How can you get your facts right?
I’ve been meaning to get this off my chest for some time. Please cancel my subscription(订阅). And buy yourself a dictionary.
Sincerely,
Jane Z, Jones
【小题1】 Which phrase from the passage shows the writer’s prejudice(偏见)?
A.get this off my chest |
B.three or four spelling or grammatical errors |
C.tiny little hick town |
D.reading the recipes in the magazine |
A.happy | B.angry | C.sympathetic(同情的) | D.objective |
A.The writer once lived in New York City, so he was used to reading the Times. |
B.The entire family enjoys reading the Styles section in the mafazine. |
C.The writer has long been planning to express his dissatisfaction with the local newspaper |
D.It is obvious that the editors of the newspaper are not very careful about their work. |