YOU don’t need millions to be happy. In fact, at The Happiness Institute in Australia, a couple of hundred dollars may be enough.

The institute opened its doors last year, and, since then, men and women of all ages have been paying A$200 an hour (US$140) for l essons on how to feel great.

“You can actually increase your happiness levels. That’s what we teach,” said Timothy Sharp, founder of the institute.

Experts say that only about 15 per cent of happiness comes from income, assets and other financial factors. As much as 85 per cent comes from things such as attitude, life control and relationships.

Most of us are significantly better off financially than our parents and grandparents, but happiness levels haven’t changed to reflect that.

Studies show that once the basic needs of shelter and food are met, additional wealth adds very little to happiness.

Many decades ago, the “sage of Baltimore, Maryland”, editor HL Mencken, defined wealth as earning US$100 more than your “wife’s sister’s husband.”

Behavioral economists now say part of the reason we are richer but not happier is because we compare ourselves to people better off materially.

“The argument is that if you want to be happy there’s a very simple thing you can do: Compare yourself to people who are less well off than you — poorer, smaller house, car,” said Sharp.

The Happiness Institute aims to show you how to overcome these unhappiness factors by focusing on “more than just your bank account.”

“If I compare myself to Bill Gates then I’m always going to be down,” said Sharp.

A better thing to compare with, he said, might be Kerry Packer, Australia’s richest person who has had a kidney transplant and heart surgery in recent years.

1. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?

  A. You can increase your happiness levels by attending the classes at the Happiness Institute.

  B. Most of us are happier than our parents or grandparents since we earn more.

  C. Earning US$ 100 more than your wife’s sister’s husband if you want to be happy.

  D. Both Bill Gates and Kerry Packer are examples of those who are extremely rich but obviously unhappy.

2. The underlined phrase has the same meaning as the word _______.

  A. healthy          B. unhealthy          C. free           D. wealthy

3. The author wrote the passage to tell us _______.

  A. happiness is everything

  B. wealth is the foundation of happiness

  C. have fun at the Happiness Institute

  D. money doesn’t always mean happiness

London Summer School in Classics

Dates

The London Summer School in Classics 2008 will be held at King’s College London. It will run from 8th July until 17th July. Applications close on 2nd June, 2008.

For an application form, please download either the 2-page PDF or the word format document from the foot of the page.

If you have any problems downloading the application form or any questions, please contact: London Summer School in Classics, King’s College London.

Tel: 020 7848 2299

Fax: 020 7848 2545

Organization

The school is organized by the colleges of the University of London. The summer school offers eight days of intensive teaching in Greek and Latin. There are four language classes each day as well as lectures and a debate, between 10:30 am and 4:30 pm. The course is not residential (提供住宿的), and there is no teaching during the weekend of 12th to 13th July.

The fee is ??85.00. Travel grants (旅行补助金) are available as a contribution to your travel costs, but may not cover all your expenses. The travel grants are arranged during the summer school.

Teaching is generally in groups of 12-15 people and it, as far as possible, comprises (包含) of students of roughly the same level of experience. The style of teaching is friendly, but demanding: a lot of work is expected from students during the school, but they usually find the whole experience both stimulating and valuable. Some classes concentrate chiefly on reading, while others offer a mixture of grammar and translation practice. Our tutors include some of the most experienced and talented teachers of Classics in the London area and beyond.

The Summer School in Classics caters for a wide range of interests and for both school & university students as well as those who wish to learn Greek or Latin, or to revive their knowledge of the languages. Our principal concern is to provide a thorough program of language learning in a lively university environment.

62. To join in the school, you have to apply before ________.

A. 8th July, 2008          B. 2nd June, 2008

C. 17th July, 2008         D. 13th July, 2008

63. As a student of the school, you are probably asked to _______.

A. do a lot of reading in Greek and Latin

B. learn the grammar of Greek and Latin only

C. do some translation work only

D. speak Greek and Latin with experienced teachers

64. What is the London Summer School in Classics most concerned about?

A. Providing a stimulating experience for students.

B. Promoting students to develop a wide range of interests.

C. Teaching students languages in a lively environment.

D. Improving students’ level of debating in the argument.

65. Which is one of the teaching ways of the school?

A. Student groups consist of the same level students strictly.

B. Students needn’t do any work in the class.

C. Students learn Greek and Latin by listening to teachers all day.

D. Students are generally divided into groups of 12-15.

The man sitting opposite Robert was the Financial Controller. Everybody called him “the FC” for short. He made all the decisions about money. Robert needed some more. That was why he had to see him. The two men did not get on very well. In fact, they had always disliked each other.

“Your request is out of the question,” the FC said. Robert had difficulty in controlling himself, but he managed somehow. He explained that he wanted the money in order to make more programmes.

“And why do you want to do that?” the FC asked sharply. Again, Robert almost lost his temper. “Because more and more people are listening to my department’s programmes. There’s great demand for them,” he answered.

The FC did not seem to believe him. But Robert had a report on the numbers of listeners to all EBC programmes. The FC became less confident. Robert threw the report down on the table and told him to read it.

The FC looked at it in silence. The figures (数字) proved that he had been wrong, but he did not want to admit it. “Well,” he finally said, “I may have made a small mistake.” Robert noticed the word “may.” He got up to leave. But he had the feeling that he would get the money after all.

1.In the story the Financial Controller was a person who was in charge of

A.Robert’s department’s programmes      B.EBC programmes

C.EBC money                            D.both B and C

2. “Your request is out of the question.”Here “out of the question”means

A.without any question                    B.with some question

C.impossible                             D.possible

3.Robert decided to make more programmes because

A.he wanted to meet the needs of the listeners

B.“the FC” disliked him

C.the members of his department wanted him to do so

D.he wanted to show himself off

4.Why were more and more people listening to Robert’s programmes?

A.Because he always lost his temper (脾气)

B.Because he disliked “the FC”

C.Because the programmes were rich and to the taste of the listeners

D.We don’t know

5.Who do you think won the argument(争论)in the end?

A.The Financial Controller                  B.Robert            C.Nobody    D.The listeners

 

Men have always believed that they are smarter than women. Now, a study has found that while this is certainly true, men also have to deal with the fact that they are also more stupid than the fairer sex.

In the study, scientists measured the IQ of 2500 brothers and sisters and they found an uneven number of men not only in the top two percent, but also in the bottom two percent.

The study's participants were tested on science, maths, English and mechanical abilities.

Though there were twice as many men as women in the smartest group, there were also twice as many men among the dolts.

The aggregate scores of men and women were similar.

One of the study's authors, psychology professor Timothy Bates, said that the phenomenon may be because men have always been expected to be high achievers and women have been restricted to spend more time taking care of their home.

"The female developmental program may be tilted more towards ensuring survival and the safety of the middle ground.," the Daily Mail quoted Professor Bates, of Edinburgh University, as saying.

The research tallies with past results that men were more likely than women to receive first class University degrees or thirds and women secured the seconds.

It has been said that men are more ready to take risk when it comes to academics. Women have always found to be steadier in their learning.

A past study has shown that women are securing more firsts and seconds, while men are continuing to receive more thirds.

The argument for the change is that the increase of coursework at the cost of exams favors women's steady approach.

51. The purpose of the passage is to tell us that ________.

A. man are smarter then women

B. man are more stupid the women

C. a new fact about the IQ of men and women has been found

D. men are more likely to receive first class university degrees

52. According to Timothy Bates, less women are in the smartest group because _________.

A. they are born stupid

B. they have to spend more time to tale care of their home than men 

C. they don’t like to take risk

D. they are not expected to be high achievers

53. The underlined word tallies with in the eighth paragraph means________.

A. agree with      B. deal with     C. go against     D. go with

54. It can be inferred from the passage that______.

A. Women are steadier in their learning.

B. men are more ready to take risk in everything

C. women are securing more firsts and seconds

D. women are doing much better in academy

55. Which of the following questions has NOT been discussed in the passage?

A. Why are men smarter than women? 

B. Why are men more stupid than women?

C. How does the result go along with the past research?

D. How can we help the men in the bottom?

 

Americans are proud of their variety and individuality, yet they love and respect few things more than a uniform, whether it is the uniform of a lift operator or the uniform of a five-star general. Why are uniforms so popular in the United States?

Among the arguments for uniforms, one of the first is that in the eyes of most people they look more professional than civilian(百姓的) clothes. People have become conditioned to expect higher quality from a man who wears a uniform. The television repairman who wears a uniform is likely to inspire more trust than one who appears in civilian clothes. Faith in the skill of a garage mechanic is increased by a uniform.

What easier way is there for a nurse, a policeman, a hairdresser, or a waiter to lose professional identity(职业身份) than to step out of uniform?

Primary among the argument against uniforms in their lack of variety and the loss of individuality experienced by people who must wear them. Though there are many types of uniforms, the wearer of any particular type is generally stuck with it, without change, until retirement. When people look alike, they are likely to think ,speak, and act similarly on the job at least. Uniforms also give rise to some practical problems. Though they are long-lasting, often their initial expense is greater than the cost of civilian clothes, Some uniforms are also expensive to maintain , requiring professional dry cleaning rather than the home laundering possible with types of civilian clothes.

60  People are likely to think that a man in uniform_________.

A.  suggests quality work

B.  shows his social position

C.  appears to be more practical

D.  looks more fresh and attractive

61 Those who are against uniforms believe that people wearing uniforms_________.      

A.  are usually helpful                B.  have little freedom

C.  lose personal character             D.  enjoy greater popularity

62  It can be concluded from the passage that_________.

A.  people generally trust a person in uniform

B.people enjoy wearing comfortable uniform

C.the cost of the uniform is acceptable to people

D.people wear uniforms to show their professions

63  The underlined sentence tells us that_________.

A.  it’s impossible that people can be recognized more easily by their uniforms

B.people’s identity can be recognized more easily by their uniforms

C.nurses and policemen must wear uniforms when working

D.people in those professions act in an easier way without uniforms

 

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