Definition of Happiness

A proverb from ancient China was widely spread in the West: “If you want to be happy for a few hours, go to get drunk; if you want the happiness to last three years, get married; if you want lifetime happiness, take up gardening.” The reason for the last is this: Gardening is not only useful, but it helps you to identify(与……一致) yourself with nature, and thus brings you new joy each day besides improving your health.

A research of a US university that I’ve read gives a definition of happiness as what makes a person feel comfortably pleased. To put it specially, happiness is an active state of mind where one thinks one’s life is meaningful, satisfactory and comfortable. This should be something lasting rather than transitory (短暂的).

Lots of people regard it the happiest to be at leisure (空闲). But according to a study, it is not a person with plenty of leisure but one at work that feels happy, especially those busy with work having little time for leisure. Happiness does not mean gains one is after but a desire to harvest what one is seeking for. People often do not treasure what they already have but desire what they cannot get. That is somewhat like a man with fond dreams of numerous lovers while unwilling to settle down with the woman beside him.

Happiness is a game balancing between two ends — what one has and what one wishes for, i.e. one’s dream and the possibility to realize it. The study comes to this conclusion: A happy man is one who aims high but never forget his actual situation; one who meets challenges that develop his ability and potentiality; one who’s proud of his achievements and the recognition given to him. He has self-respect and self-confidence; treasures his own identity and loves freedom. He is sociable and enjoys wide range communication with others; he’s helpful and ready to accept assistance. He knows he is able to bear sufferings and failures; he is sensible enough to get fun from daily work. He is a man capable of love and passion.

1. According to the passage, gardening can bring lifetime happiness because _______.

A. it is a business that brings money     

B. it can strengthen gardeners’ ability to remake nature

C. it can make gardeners enjoy very happy marriage

D. gardeners can build good relationship with nature

2. It can be concluded from the research of the university that most people feel happy when _______.

A. they are at leisure      

B. they are engaged in working

C. they are gardening     

D. they have numerous lovers

3. The writer mentioned a man with fond dreams of numerous lovers in order to _______.

A. give an example of a person who doesn’t value what he already owns

B. show that this kind of person has plenty of leisure time to do what he wants

C. make it clear that only this kind of person can enjoy happiness

D. show the serious problem in marriage in modern society

4. From the passage we can know that happiness is _______.

A. getting everything one longs for    

B. just dreams made by those confident people

C. taking up gardening              

D. a balance between what one owns and what one dreams of

Definition of Happiness

       A proverb from ancient China was widely spread in the West: “If you want to be happy for a few hours, go to get drunk; if you want the happiness to last three years, get married; if you want lifetime happiness, take up gardening.” The reason for the last is this: Gardening is not only useful, but it helps you to identify(与……一致) yourself with nature, and thus brings you new joy each day besides improving your health.

       A research of a US university that I’ve read gives a definition of happiness as what makes a person feel comfortably pleased. To put it specially, happiness is an active state of mind where one thinks one’s life is meaningful, satisfactory and comfortable. This should be something lasting rather than transitory (短暂的).

       Lots of people regard it the happiest to be at leisure (空闲). But according to a study, it is not a person with plenty of leisure but one at work that feels happy, especially those busy with work having little time for leisure. Happiness does not mean gains one is after but a desire to harvest what one is seeking for. People often do not treasure what they already have but desire what they cannot get. That is somewhat like a man with fond dreams of numerous lovers while unwilling to settle down with the woman beside him.

       Happiness is a game balancing between two ends — what one has and what one wishes for, i.e. one’s dream and the possibility to realize it. The study comes to this conclusion: A happy man is one who aims high but never forget his actual situation; one who meets challenges that develop his ability and potentiality; one who’s proud of his achievements and the recognition given to him. He has self-respect and self-confidence; treasures his own identity and loves freedom. He is sociable and enjoys wide range communication with others; he’s helpful and ready to accept assistance. He knows he is able to bear sufferings and failures; he is sensible enough to get fun from daily work. He is a man capable of love and passion.

1. According to the passage, gardening can bring lifetime happiness because _______.

     A. it is a business that brings money     

     B. it can strengthen gardeners’ ability to remake nature

     C. it can make gardeners enjoy very happy marriage

     D. gardeners can build good relationship with nature

2. It can be concluded from the research of the university that most people feel happy when _______.

     A. they are at leisure      

     B. they are engaged in working

     C. they are gardening     

     D. they have numerous lovers

3. The writer mentioned a man with fond dreams of numerous lovers in order to _______.

     A. give an example of a person who doesn’t value what he already owns

     B. show that this kind of person has plenty of leisure time to do what he wants

     C. make it clear that only this kind of person can enjoy happiness

     D. show the serious problem in marriage in modern society

4. From the passage we can know that happiness is _______.

     A. getting everything one longs for    

     B. just dreams made by those confident people

     C. taking up gardening              

     D. a balance between what one owns and what one dreams of

Definition of Happiness
A proverb from ancient China was widely spread in the West: “If you want to be happy for a few hours, go to get drunk; if you want the happiness to last three years, get married; if you want lifetime happiness, take up gardening.” The reason for the last is this: Gardening is not only useful, but it helps you to identify(与……一致) yourself with nature, and thus brings you new joy each day besides improving your health.
A research of a US university that I’ve read gives a definition of happiness as what makes a person feel comfortably pleased. To put it specially, happiness is an active state of mind where one thinks one’s life is meaningful, satisfactory and comfortable. This should be something lasting rather than transitory (短暂的).
Lots of people regard it the happiest to be at leisure (空闲). But according to a study, it is not a person with plenty of leisure but one at work that feels happy, especially those busy with work having little time for leisure. Happiness does not mean gains one is after but a desire to harvest what one is seeking for. People often do not treasure what they already have but desire what they cannot get. That is somewhat like a man with fond dreams of numerous lovers while unwilling to settle down with the woman beside him.
Happiness is a game balancing between two ends — what one has and what one wishes for, i.e. one’s dream and the possibility to realize it. The study comes to this conclusion: A happy man is one who aims high but never forget his actual situation; one who meets challenges that develop his ability and potentiality; one who’s proud of his achievements and the recognition given to him. He has self-respect and self-confidence; treasures his own identity and loves freedom. He is sociable and enjoys wide range communication with others; he’s helpful and ready to accept assistance. He knows he is able to bear sufferings and failures; he is sensible enough to get fun from daily work. He is a man capable of love and passion.

1. 1.

   According to the passage, gardening can bring lifetime happiness because _______.
   

   1. A.
      it is a business that brings money     
   2. B.
      it can strengthen gardeners’ ability to remake nature
   3. C.
      it can make gardeners enjoy very happy marriage
   4. D.
      gardeners can build good relationship with nature
2. 2.

   It can be concluded from the research of the university that most people feel happy when _______.
   

   1. A.
      they are at leisure      
   2. B.
      they are engaged in working
   3. C.
      they are gardening     
   4. D.
      they have numerous lovers
3. 3.

   The writer mentioned a man with fond dreams of numerous lovers in order to _______.
   

   1. A.
      give an example of a person who doesn’t value what he already owns
   2. B.
      show that this kind of person has plenty of leisure time to do what he wants
   3. C.
      make it clear that only this kind of person can enjoy happiness
   4. D.
      show the serious problem in marriage in modern society
4. 4.

   From the passage we can know that happiness is _______.
   

   1. A.
      getting everything one longs for    
   2. B.
      just dreams made by those confident people
   3. C.
      taking up gardening              
   4. D.
      a balance between what one owns and what one dreams of

John Blanchard was studying the crowd making their way through the station. He was looking for the girl with a rose whose heart he knew, but whose face he didn’t.

When reading a book in a Florida library a year before, John became interested not in the contents of the book, but in the notes penciled in the margin. The handwriting reflected a thoughtful soul and beautiful mind. He discovered the former owner's name in the front of the book: Miss Hollis Maynell.

He located her address and wrote a letter introducing himself. The next day he was shipped overseas to serve in the army. During the next year, they grew to know each other through the mail and their friendship developed. John requested a photograph, but she refused, saying if he really cared, it wouldn't matter what she looked like. When the day finally came for him to return home, their first meeting was suggested — 7:00 p.m. at the Grand Central Station in New York.

She wrote, “You’ll recognize me by the red rose I wear on my coat.” So now John was in the station to meet the girl with a rose.                                        

As a pretty and slim girl in green came over, John noticed her blue eyes like flowers in spring. He walked directly towards her, entirely forgetting she was not wearing a rose. As John came closer to her, he saw another woman with a red rose stood nearby. Well past 40, this woman had graying hair done under a worn hat. Seeing the girl in green walk quickly away, John felt as if he were split in two. He desired to follow that girl, but longed for the woman whose spirit had truly companioned and supported him.

The woman looked gentle and sensible. John went to her, saying, “I’m Captain John Blanchard. You must be Miss Maynell. I am glad to meet you here. May I take you to dinner?”

She replied with a smile, “I don’t know what this is about. But the lady in green who just went by, begged me to wear this rose on my coat. She said if you asked me out to dinner, I’d tell you she is waiting for you in the big restaurant across the street. She said it was some kind of test!”

John was eager to know the former owner of the book because he______.

A. was very interested in the contents of the book

B. was impressed by the notes written by its owner

C. wanted to improve his handwriting

D. wanted to discuss the book with her

What happened to John after getting in touch with Miss Hollis Maynell?

   A. He served in the army abroad.

   B. He went overseas for vacation.

   C. He went on a business trip in New York.

   D. He visited Miss Maynell.

What do we know about the woman with a rose?

   A. She was Miss Maynell’s close friend.

   B. She was a waitress in the big restaurant.

   C. She was probably a passerby.

   D. She was paid to meet John at the Station.

Which would be the best title of the text?

A. An Interesting Book                            B. A Woman With a Rose

C. A Brave Soldier                         D. A Love Test

John Blanchard was studying the crowd making their way through the station. He was looking for the girl whose heart he knew, but whose face he didn’t, the girl with the rose.
When reading a book in a Florida library a year before, John became interested not in the contents of the book, but in the notes penciled in the margin(（空白处）. The handwriting reflected a thoughtful soul and beautiful mind. He discovered the former owner’s name in the front of the book: Miss Hollis Maynell.
He located her address and wrote a letter introducing himself. The next day he was shipped overseas to serve in the army. During the next year,they grew to know each other through the mail and their friendship developed. John requested a photograph, but she refused, saying if he really cared, it wouldn’t matter what
she looked like. When the day finally came for him to return home, their first meeting was suggested-7:00 p.m. at the Grand Central Station in New York.
She wrote, “You’ll recognize me by the red rose I wear on my coat.” So now John was in the station to meet the girl with a rose.
As a pretty and slim girl in green came over, John noticed her blue eyes like flowers in spring. He walked directly towards her, entirely forgetting she was not wearing a rose. As John came closer to her, he saw another woman with a red rose stood nearby. Well past 40, this woman had graying hair done under a worn hat. Seeing the girl in green walk quickly away, John felt as if he were split(劈开) in two. He desired to follow that girl, but longed for the woman whose spirit had truly companioned and supported him.
The woman looked gentle and sensible. John went to her, saying, “I’m Captain John Blanchard. You must be Miss Maynell. I am glad to meet you here. May I take you to dinner?”
She replied with a smile, “I don’t know what this is about. But the lady in green who just went by, begged me to wear this rose on my coat. She said if you asked me out to dinner, I’d tell you she is waiting for you in the big restaurant across the street. She said it was some kind of test!”
【小题1】
John was eager to know the former owner of the book because      .