If your parents were to surprise you with a present on your birthday, which one would you prefer, a trip to the amusement park or a new pair of shoes?

According to Science Daily, about one-third of the people are likely to prefer shoes to a fun trip. These people are called "materialists", namely, those who value material goods more than experiences. But which of the two choices makes people happier?

Back in 2009, Ryan Howell, a professor at San Francisco State University, found that in the long run, experiences make people happier than possessions. This is because the joy of receiving a new object fades over time as you get used to seeing it every day. Experiences, on the other hand, can continue to bring you joy in the future through happy memories.

But materialists should at least be happy when they first buy something, shouldn't they?

To figure it out, Howell did another study. He classified a group of adults according to their personality types, ranging from less materialistic to more materialistic. Each person was asked different questions to see how they felt about spending money on material goods versus spending money on experiences.

As expected, the more materialistic participants got less happiness from purchases than the less materialistic, because such purchases didn't fit with their personalities and values. But to Howell's surprise, he found that materialists weren't any happier even if they spent money on material items.

This is because materialists worry that others may criticize or look clown on their choices. "There are certain value systems that are rejected by society," said Howell. "When we find out someone is materialistic, we think less of them, and that drives their happiness down.”

Another reason is that materialistic people always focus on what they don't have instead of what they have now. This makes them feel less satisfied and grateful.

If you happen to be a materialistic person, there's something you can try. "If materialists make more accurate purchases, rather than trying to impress others, they will be happier, “Howell said.

You should also remember what an ancient Greek philosopher once said, “Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for."

1.What did Ryan Howell find in his studies?

A. Material goods bring people less happiness than experiences.

B. About one-third of the people prefer material goods to experiences.

C. Materialists have more fun spending money on goods than on experiences.

D. Receiving a new object brings lasting joy while the joy of an experience fades soon.

2.What did Ryan Howell want to find out by doing another study?

A. How to judge whether a person is a materialist.

B. Why materialists are not happy with their purchases.

C. How materialists feel when they spend money on goods.

D. Whether materialists are happy when they first make purchases.

3.Why does the author use the ancient Greek philosopher's words in the last paragraph?

A. To advise materialistic people not to try to impress others.

B. To persuade people to be satisfied with what they have.

C. To prove it's unwise to be materialistic and desire too much.

D. To tell readers what they desire now might one day become theirs.

4.What can be the best title for the passage?

A. Are You a Materialist?

B. How To Acquire Happiness?

C. The Best Present For the Birthday

D. Which Can Make People Happier?

Winter-swimming has become popular in Beijing. Three years ago, few people would go swimming in the icy waters. But now there is a Winter-swimming Enthusiasts’ Club(冬泳爱好者协会)and it has more than 2 000 members. The oldest is 84 years old and the youngest is only 7. The members are from all walks of life. They may be workers, peasants, soldiers, teachers, students…

Though it is now the coldest part of the season and the water temperature in the city’s lakes is around 0℃, many winter-swimmers still swim in the icy waters, even when it is snowing. They enjoy themselves in the lake, while the people by the side of the lake are wearing heavy clothes.

Why are so many people interested in winter-swimming? Because winter-swimming can be good for one’s health.

Bei Sha is a good example. He is 69, and he once suffered from(患……病)heart trouble for 26 years. After ten years of winter-swimming he is now in good health. Scientists are now studying the effects of winter-swimming on health.

1.Among the winter-swimmers the oldest man is_______ years older than the youngest one.

A. 91 B. 84

C. 77 D. 7

2.Guess what “The members are from all walks of life” means?

A. The members do different jobs at different places.

B. They come from all parts of Beijing.

C. They are persons of different ages.

D. They are men and women, old and young.

3.The winter-swimmers are able to swim in the icy waters, even on snowy days because_________________________.

A. they are not afraid of coldness

B. they often swim in the icy waters

C. they know that they can benefit(得益)from it

D. winter-swimming can make people healthy

4.Winter-swimming has become popular in Beijing because ________________.

A. more and more people like to swim in Beijing

B. it is more interesting than swimming in summer

C. winter-swimmers are brave men

D. winter-swimming does a lot of good to one’s health

Some people think that success is only for those with talent or those who grow up in the right family, and others believe that success mostly comes down to luck. I’m not going to say luck, talent, and circumstances don’t come into play because they do. Some people are born into the right family while others are born with great intelligence, and that’s just the reality of how life is.

However, to succeed in life, one first needs to set a goal and then gradually make it more practical. And, in addition to that, in order to get really good at something, one needs to spend at least 10,000 hours studying and practicing. To become great at certain things, it’ll require even more time, time that most people won’t put in.

This is a big reason why many successful people advise you to do something you love. If you don’t enjoy what you do, it is going to feel like unbearable pain and will likely make you quit well before you ever become good at it.

When you see people exhibiting some great skills or having achieved great success, you know that they have put in a huge part of their life to get there at a huge cost. It’s sometimes easy to think they got lucky or they were born with some rare talent, but thinking that way does you no good, and there’s a huge chance that you’re wrong anyway.

Whatever you do, if you want to become great at it, you need to work day in and day out, almost to the point of addiction, and over a long period of time. If you’re not willing to put in the time and work, don’t expect to receive any rewards. Consistent, hard work won’t guarantee you the level of success you may want, but it will guarantee that you will become really good at whatever it is you put all that work into.

1.Paragraph 1 mainly talks about ______.

A. the meaning of success B. the reasons for success

C. the standards of success D. the importance of success

2.Successful people suggest doing what one loves because ______.

A. work makes one feel pain B. one tends to enjoy his work

C. it takes a lot of time to succeed D. one gives up his work easily

3.What can we infer from Paragraph 4?

A. People sometimes succeed without luck or talent.

B. Successful people like to show their great skills.

C. People need to achieve success at the cost of life.

D. It helps to think that luck or talent leads to success.

4.What is the main theme of the passage?

A. Having a goal is vital to success.

B. Being good is different from being great.

C. Luck, talent and family help to achieve success.

D. One cannot succeed without time and practice.

San Francisco Fire Engine Tours

San Francisco Winery Tour

Running: February 1st through April 30th

This delicious tour goes through the city on its way to Treasure Island where we will stop at the famous Winery SF. Here you can enjoy 4 pours of some of the best wine San Francisco has to offer.(Included in tickets price)

Departing from the Cannery: Tell time upon request.

Duration(时长):2 hours

Price: $90

Back to the Fifties Tour

Running: August 16th through August 31st

This tour transports you back in time to one of San Francisco’s most fantastic periods, the 1950s! Enjoy fun history as we take you through San Francisco for a free taste of ice cream.

Departing form the Cannery 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm

Duration:2 hours

Price:$90

Spooky Halloween Tour

Running: October 10th through October 31st

Join us for a ride through the historical Presidio district .Authentic fire gear (服装)is provided for your warmth as our entertainers take you to some of the most thrilling parts of San Francisco

Departing from the Cannery:6:30 pm and 8:30 pm

Duration :1 hour and 30 minutes

Price: Available upon request

Holiday Lights Tour

Running: December 6th through December 23nd

This tractive four takes you to some of San Francis’s most cheerful holiday scenes. Authentic fire gear is provided for your warmth as you get into the holiday spirit.

Departing from the Cannery 7:00 pm and 9:00 pm

Duration: I hour and 30 minutes

Advance reservations required.

1.Which of the tours is available in March?

A. San Francisco Winery Tour.

B. Back to the Fifties Tour.

C. Spooky Hallowen Tour.

D. Holiday Lights Tour.

2.What can tourists do on Back to the Fifties Tours?

A. Go to Treasure Island.

B. Enjoy the holiday scenes.

C. Have free ice cream.

D. Visit the Presidio district.

3.What are tourists required to do to go on Holiday Lights Tour?

A. Take some drinks.

B. Set off early in the morning.

C. Wear warm clothes.

D. Make reservations in advance.

One day, a professor entered the classroom and asked his students to prepare for a surprise test. They waited anxiously at their desks for the test to begin. The professor _____________the question papers, with the text facing down as usual. ___he handed them all out, he asked his students to ___the page and begin. To everyone's surprise, there were no ___just a black dot (点) in the center of the page. The professor, seeing the expression on everyone's face, told them the following:

“I want you to write what you ___there.”

The students, ___, got started on the inexplicable (令人费解的) task.

At the end of the class, the professor ___all the answer papers and started reading each one of them aloud in front of all the students. All of them, with no ___, described the black dot, trying to explain its position in the middle of the sheet, etc. After all had been ___, the classroom was silent, the professor began to explain:

"I'm not going to grade this. I ___wanted to give you something to think about. No one wrote about the __ part of the paper. Everyone focused on the black dot, and the same happens in our __. We have a white paper to observe and __, but we always focus on the dark spots. Our life is a __ given to us with love and care and we always have ____to celebrate: nature renewing itself every day, our friends around us, the job that ____ our livelihood(生计) and the miracles we see every day.

__, we insist on focusing only on the dark spots: the health issues that bother us, the lack of money, the ___relationship with colleagues, the ___with a friend, and etc.

The dark spots are very ___compared to everything we have in our lives, but they are the ones that pollute our minds. "

1.A. handed out B. turned up C. referred to D. pointed at

2.A. Since B. Until C. If D. After

3.A. fold B. turn C. open D. use

4.A. exercises B. choices C. questions D. excuses

5.A. .remember B. imagine C. study D. see

6.A. surprised B. confused C. curious D. displeased

7.A. collected B. finished C. marked D. selected

8.A. excuse B. doubt C. exception D. explanation

9.A. said B. answered C. returned D. read

10.A. also B. just C. even D. finally

11.A. big B. black C. beautiful D. white

12.A. lives B. classrooms C. colleges D. studies

13.A. send B. keep C. enjoy D. show

14.A. burden B. gift C. pressure D. lesson

15.A. reasons B. time C. freedom D. festivals

16.A. threatens B. ruins C. provides D. changes

17.A. However B. Therefore C. Besides D. Moreover

18.A. close B. complicate C. special D. strong

19.A. stay B. contact C. satisfaction D. disappointment

20.A. dark B. round C. small D. dirty

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