Does owning the latest iPhone, designer dress or expensive shoes really make you happy? It’s an age-old question, but one psychologist(心理学家) thinks he might have the answer.
Dr. Thomas Gilovich, psychology professor at Cornell University, has studied the topic for over 20 years. According to Dr. Gilovich, “We buy things to make us happy, and we succeed, but only for a while. New things are exciting to us at first, but then we adapt to them.” In other words, once the excitement of our newest buying wears off, we begin looking for something else to buy to make us happy.
Dr. Gilovich found that our satisfaction with possessions( 物 品 ) fades over time. Yet our happiness over things we’ve experienced increases. For that reason, he noted that we are spending our money on the wrong things.
A study out of San Francisco State University agrees. The research showed that those people who spent money on experiences instead of possessions were happier. They also thought their money was better invested(投资).
Why experiences are the better investment? “ A trip, adventure, or hobby is more likely to bring people closer together and unite them over a shared interest,” According to Gilovich. As a result, these experiences typically create a positive link and good feelings toward the other person or people.
Also, your experiences become a part of you. You might be someone who loves taking cooking lessons. More than likely, you’ll become known by friends and family as a great cook. They won’t know you as someone who owns the latest kitchen equipment.
Moreover, experiences provide lasting memories. Planned experiences are always something we expect. Then when the moment arrives, if we enjoy ourselves in the activity, we’re left with beautiful memories. These memories will often last a lifetime. Even our worst trips, on many occasions, are later remembered with laughter.
Most of us have limited resources. Why not spend them on things that will make the greatest influence on our lives--meaningful experiences?
1.The writer raises a question at the beginning of this article in order to________.
A.lead into the topic B.know about the answer
C.make a survey D.divide the article into two parts
2.The underlined phrase “adapt to” in paragraph two may mean________
A.pay attention to B.look forward to
C.get used to D.stick to
3.The following pie charts show how the four people spent their money in 2019. According to the article, who might live a much happier life than the other three?
A.
Mary B.
Stacy
C.
Michael D.
Andrew
4.What’s the purpose of this passage?
A.To tell people to stop buying expensive things.
B.To encourage people to spend money on meaningful experiences.
C.To advise people to take cooking lessons in their free time.
D.To explain why experiences can make people happier.
While I was jumping rope, my phone fell to the floor which created several cracks（裂痕） on my screen. However, the music kept playing, so all was well--or so I thought.
Thirty minutes later, I could see only one-tenth of my screen while the rest was black. The next morning, I decided not to go to the phone store until 24 hours later. I felt a sense of calm that day, which led to my not going for one week. One week ended up becoming 60 days without my smartphone. Here are three advantages I noticed.
1.
While in line at a Starbucks, I noticed how every person had their head down, eyes locked on their smartphone. With nothing else to do during the waiting period, I became bored, and my mind wandered through all kinds of topics.
Boredom is typically something we avoid at all costs. However, new ideas are often hidden in boredom. When you enter a state of boredom, you allow your mind to relax and get away from the realities of today to the possibilities of tomorrow. Then boredom ends up being a perfect way for new ideas to pop out.
2. You’ll be able to dramatically reduce(减少) your work hours
A study found that people aged 18 to 33 checked their smartphones 85 times a day, or once every 10 minutes.
By not having my smartphone, my distraction(使人分心的事) time went down, which helped me fall into deep work more easily. There were many times when I found myself wondering what to do with the afternoon since I had already completed my stressful tasks for the day.
3.Your mental health will improve a lot
Focusing on smart phones for too long can lead to health problems, back and neck pain, bad memory and poor eyesight, to name a few. It’s also important to remember that online connections cannot take the place of real-life interactions. Without my smart phone for 60 days, I went to more dinners with friends and asked more questions to strangers out of curiosity. I realized that spending time with friends in person and building networks off-line can be protective for your mental health.
1.The writer has been without his/her smart phone for________.
A.thirty minutes B.24 hours C.a week D.two months
2.Which of the following can be put in ▲ ?
A.You’ll learn to relax. B.You’ll have a better idea.
C.You’ll become bored. D.You’ll get away from the realities.
3.Which of the following statement is the writer’s OPINION about smartphones?
A.While waiting in line, most people play their smart phones to kill time.
B.Adults aged 18 to 33 check their smartphones once every ten minutes.
C.Focusing too much on smart phones causes problems to physical health.
D.Spending time with friends in real life does good to our mental health.
4.The writer shows the problems of smart phones by________.
A.sharing experiences. B.asking questions.
C.telling stories. D.giving examples
Imagine waking up at the age of six and discovering your family is missing! That’s what happened to young Charles Mulli in his Kenyan hut one morning. He soon realized he had been abandoned(抛弃) by his very poor parents and seven siblings!
The child was forced to become a street beggar in order to make a living. Living a poor and hopeless life, he still dreamed of being an important man someday.
When Mulli turned 16, he walked for three days to Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, in search of work.
In the years that followed, he tried many difficult jobs.
Mulli saved his money and bought a car, which he began using as a taxi in 1971. In time, he started a transportation service. The company, called “Mullyways,” became quite successful. Mulli then went on to become the owner of an oil company.
All of his hard work turned Mulli into a millionaire and an important man. Yet his life would soon take another dramatic turn.
Mulli was becoming painfully aware of the growing number of homeless children in Kenya. Their faces were a haunting reminder of his own childhood. One day Mulli told his wife and children that he was to devote his life to taking care of street kids.
Soon the Mulli House was filled with 100 orphans( 孤 儿 ), but that was just the beginning! In 1989, Mulli and his wife opened the Mulli Children’s Family (MCF). They provided children with food, clothes, medical care and an education. Most importantly, they offered something many of the kids had never experienced--parental love. In fact, the Mullis chose the name “Mully Children’s Family” because their emphasis was on providing a family.
So far, MCF has helped more than 12,000 children through its MCF homes and community-based centers.
In evaluating his life, Mulli once said, “I believe you can make a difference to the world, one child at a time. As a child, I wanted to be important, but where I am now is important for mankind.”
1.The underlined word “siblings” in paragraph one probably means “________”.
A.teachers B.classmates C.friends D.brothers and sisters
2.The right order of the following is________.
①MCF was set up and has helped a large number of homeless children.
②Mulli decided to provide a family for homeless children in Kenya.
③Charles Mulli became a homelss child at the age of six.
④Mulli worked as a taxi driver and later set up a company called Mullyways.
A.③④②① B.①④③② C.②④①③ D.③②①④
3.In the eyes of Mulli, ________was the most important for homeless kids.
A.clothes B.food C.love D.education
4.Which of the following might be the best title for the passage?
A.From A Poor Boy to A Rich Man B.Charles Mulli--Father to the Fatherless
C.Mully Children’s Family D.Help Homeless Children
Do you like to solve problems for children? Listed below are probably three of the best answers.
Why won’t my parents let me eat in my room? I throw away my trash. --Aaron, Oregon During a time when your parents aren’t busy, kindly ask them why they made this rule. Then listen to what they have to say. They might be worried about crumps or spills, which could make the room dirty. Or they may have other reasons. By speaking to them openly and honestly, you and your parents may come to understand each other’s point of view. |
I have a hard time being nice to my sister, but I am super nice to my friends. ---Savannah, Virginia Sometimes it’s normal to treat friends better than family. One reason may be that you know your family will always love you but friendships can break down with unkind or rude behavior. Why not think of your relationship with your sister as another one of your friendships? Challenge yourself to treat her as you would treat one of your friends. Try to remember that each kind, helpful and loving action builds a stronger, happier relationship between you. You may be surprised at the results. |
My family is always late for activities, and it’s embarrassing for me. --Thomas, Connecticut It may help to talk to your parents about this sometime when they’re not busy. You might say “Is there something we can do to be on time for activities?” Try to keep a positive attitude, and listen closely to what they have today. You should also do what you can to help everyone get out of the door on time. Get yourself ready and then see if there is anything you can do to help someone else. Grabbing a jacket for someone or turning off the TV and lights are just two ways you can pitch in. |
1.What’s Savannah’s problem according to the passage?
A.Her parents don’t allow her to eat in her bedroom.
B.She has a hard relationship with her sister.
C.She is always late for some activities.
D.She doesn’t have many friends at school.
2.The three children in the passage have problems with________.
A.Families. B.Friends. C.Classmates. D.Teachers.
3.Which column(栏目) of a magazine is the passage probably from?
A.Sports Club. B.Growing Pains. C.Brain Play. D.Nature Watch.
I’m in my room, getting ready to head to the community theater with my stepbrother Henry.
I’m not in the mood( 心 情 ) for being onstage today. “Kirstie, come here,” my mom calls from down the hall.
“__________is it?” I call back.
My mother gives the book a ________. “Henry’s book was in the bathroom. Did you put it there?”
“Not___________,” I say, shrugging(耸肩).
My mother glares at me angrily, something she___________did it before. “You could have been kind to him.”
Being kind didn’t use to be___________. But now that Henry and his dad have moved in with us,___________feels different.
As Henry walks ahead of us to the car, my mom takes me aside. “This is our _________of the world now, Kirstie,” she says. “Let’s ____________to make it a good one.”
I nod but sigh(叹气).
The community theater is busy when we get there. Theater used to be what my mom and I did together--one play a year for our ________thing. With Henry involved, it doesn’t seem so special anymore.
______________, it’s my turn. I forget my annoyance(恼火) at Henry when I hear my cue(出场提示)to go onstage. As we kids line up on the stage, I__________how poorly I’ve tied the drawstring(束带) on my skirt. I should have asked my___________for help.
And then, suddenly, my bow comes untied and my skirt begins to drop. In front of hundreds of people! It’s not a(n) __________. It is horribly real. Laughter sprinkles throughout the audience(观众), and I can feel my face burst into flames.
Then Henry, beside me, comes to my aid. He fixes my costume, tying the drawstring with a fancy knot. He makes a joke about me “not” knowing knots, and the audience ________again. This time, the laughter feels OK.
At the end of the performance, I find Henry and tap him on the arm. I smile at him.___________. “Thanks,” I say. “For, you know.”
He grins. “Knot a problem.”
Maybe it won’t be so bad to have a new person in my corner of the world after all.
1.A.Where B.Who C.What D.How
2.A.shake B.knock C.hug D.kick
3.A.by mistake B.on purpose C.in surprise D.in person
4.A.always B.sometimes C.never D.often
5.A.hard B.harmful C.natural D.perfect
6.A.something B.nothing C.everything D.anything
7.A.palace B.location C.place D.corner
8.A.decide B.try C.expect D.stick
9.A.different B.wonderful C.amazing D.special
10.A.Soon B.Fast C.Quickly D.Later
11.A.suppose B.regret C.regard D.realize
12.A.mom B.dad C.brother D.sister
13.A.play B.dream C.party D.accident
14.A.shouts B.laughs C.cries D.smiles
15.A.Carefully B.Slowly C.Seriously D.Kindly
我国青少年近视率排名世界第一，对于这一问题，习近平主席连续做出重要指示，要求“全社会都要行动起来，共同呵护好孩子的视力，让他们拥有一个光明的未来。”假如你是某某学校的一名学生李华，请你根据下列要点提示，写一篇短文提出你对保护视力的建议，然后张贴在学校的英文宣传栏内。
要点提示：
（1）养成好的阅读习惯；
（2）多参加户外运动，走近大自然；
（3）按时做眼保健操；
（4）减少使用电脑和手机的时间。
要求：（1）把握要点，紧扣话题，不要逐条翻译，可适当发挥；
（2）80词左右（开头和结尾已给出，不计人总词数）。
Dear fellow students,
Good eyesight plays an important role in our life. However, more and more middle school students become short-sighted. Here is some advice on how to protect your eyes. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Follow my advice, and you will improve the health of your eyes and say goodbye to thick glasses.
Li Hua,
Class 5 Grade 9
