During my many contacts with people in China, I have been asked by two different people what I would recommend to them so that they could be happy. One of these people was my student and friend who began her question by saying I always appeared happy to her. She then asked how I could be this way and if I could teach her how to be happy all the time. The other inquiry was basically the same and came from the secretary of a company for which I was doing some work.
The first one to ask was my student and in thinking about an answer I even explored in class the idea of optimism and pessimism, of people who feel the glass is always half full and those who think it is half empty. It was easy to show that different people react differently to the same situations and conditions but that didn’t bring me much closer to understanding why.
About two months later I was riding to the airport in a taxi with the company secretary who asked me the same question and it made me think. Why did both these ladies feel they needed help to become happy? Indeed, why did either of them think they were not happy? Why did they choose to ask this question of me? Why are some people generally happy while others are not?
Certainly if someone is healthy, it might be expected that they are happy, and this is probably true. However, some people have money and health but have a miserable disposition that makes it difficult for them to have friends and meaningful relationships. Similarly, one would expect those who have little to complain about their fate and many do, but others are able to enjoy what they have and enjoy life. It seems the difference must lie within the people. What we may be looking at is acceptance of a personal set of circumstances and the contentment which flows from that. It should not mean, however, that those people cannot wish for something better.
If the difference between people who are happy and those who are not lies within the people themselves, can happiness be learned? I think there are things we can do, such as dreaming of the future, which can give us the sort of positive outlook which will generally make us happy people.
1. According to the passage, which of the following is true?
A. The author was once asked how to be healthy and wealthy by two people.
B. The author came to realize why people responded differently to happiness.
C. Those who think the glass is always half empty are optimistic.
D. Those who feel the glass is always half full are pessimistic.
2.. The underlined word “disposition” in the fourth paragraph means .
A. character B. habit C. reputation D. fate
3. The underlined word “it” in the fourth paragraph refers to .
A. the idea of pessimism B. the attitude towards happiness
C. the satisfaction within D. the appearance of happiness
4.. What will the author most probably talk about after the last paragraph?
A. Learning how to be happy. B. Accepting the present situation.
C. Developing meaningful relationships. D. Going after the dream.
This year Canada’s navy is one hundred years old. To mark the occasion, military ships from six different countries around the Pacific Ocean came to Canada for a four-day celebration. There were parades, parties and demonstrations of navy search and rescue aircraft and a show put on by the Snowbirds.
The Snowbirds, Canada’s aerobatic team, fly Tudor jet aircraft that are not particularly fast or particularly new but with amazing and sometimes hair-raising precision. They put a formation of nine aircraft into a space that would normally hold only one and they change the information in flight, roll it, loop it, break it and reform it in a dizzying ballet in the sky. The Snowbirds are one of the best aerobatic flying teams in the world and they are a readily recognized symbol of Canada just as the Great Wall is a recognized symbol of China. For a Canadian, watching the Snowbirds fly can bring tears. They make us very proud.
The Snowbirds have been flying since 1971. All of the pilots are serving members of the Canadian Air Force. They are all very young, all are highly-skilled and each is attached to the Snowbirds for two or three years. Each winter they practice in the cold, clear skies and each summer they put on more than fifty air-shows across the country and sometimes abroad. What they do is highly specialized. They often fly less than two meters from each other at speeds of about seven hundred and fifty kilometers an hour.
Flying is, by its nature, inherently risky and what the Snowbirds do increases that risk. While the pilots are all highly trained professionals, eight Snowbird pilots have been killed over the years. I have been fortunate enough to watch the Snowbirds fly probably fifteen or twenty times and if I know they are going to be flying I will go to see them again and again. This is not because I want to see someone do something dangerous, it is because I want to see something done so well—it is almost unbelievably precise and beautiful. I want to watch nine aircraft in an incredibly tight formation, each one painted in the red and white of my country’s flag, soaring through the cloudless blue sky. I want to feel that pride and that tear just behind my eyelids that comes from watching something uniquely and wonderfully Canadian.
1..
Which of the following is TRUE about the Snowbirds?
A. The aircraft they fly are particularly fast and new.
B. They are the best aerobatic flying team in the world.
C. They are regarded as a symbol of Canada.
D. Every year they put on more than fifty air-shows across the country.
2..
. The underlined word “inherently” in the last paragraph refers to .
A. naturally B. truly C. entirely D. nearly
3..
Why does the author like to watch the Snowbirds fly?
A. Because he wants to see someone do something dangerous.
B. Because the flying is unbelievably precise and beautiful.
C. Because his country’s flag is painted on each one.
D. Because watching them fly can make people cry.
4..
Which of the following might be the best title for the passage?
A. Air-shows of the Snowbirds
B. A Four-day Celebration of Canada
C. The Training of Highly-skilled Pilots
D. A National Symbol -- the Snowbirds
The most common complaint about cellphones is that people talk on them to the annoyance of people around them. But more damaging may be the cellphone’s interruption of our thoughts.
We have already entered a golden age of little white lies about our cellphones, and this is in generally a healthy, protective development. “I didn’t hear it ring” or “I didn’t realize my phone had shut off” are among the lies we tell to give ourselves space where we’re beyond reach.
The concept of being unreachable is not new – we have “Do Not Disturb” signs on the doors of hotel rooms. So why must we feel guilty when it comes to cellphones? Why must we apologize if we decide to shut off the phone for a while?
The problem is that we come from a long-established tradition of difficulty with distance communication. Until the recent mass use of cellphones, it was easy to communicate with someone next to us or a few feet away, but difficult with someone across town, the country or the globe. We came to take it for granted.
But cellphones make long-distance communication common, and endanger our time by ourselves. Now time alone, or a conversation with someone next to us which cannot be interrupted by a phone, is something to be cherished. Even cellphone devotees, myself usually included, can’t help at times wanting to throw their phones away, or curse this invention.
But we don’t and won’t, and there really is no need. That we have the right to take back our private time is a general social recognition.
In other words, we don’t have to pay too much attention to the rings of our own phones. Given the ease of making and receiving cellphone calls, if we don’t talk to the caller right now, we surely will shortly later.
A cellphone call deserves no more importance than a word from the person next to us. Though the call on my cellphone may be the one-in-a-million from Steven Spielberg–who has finally read my novel and wants to make it his next movie. But most likely it is not, and I’m better off, thinking about the idea I just had for a new story, or the slice of pizza I’ll eat for lunch.
1..
What does the writer think about people telling “white lies” about their cellphones?
A. It is a way to show that you don’t like the caller.
B. It is natural to tell lies about small things.
C. It is basically a good way to protect one’s privacy.
D. We should feel guilty when we can’t tell the truth.
2..
What is the meaning of the underlined word “devotees” in Paragraph 5?
A. people who enjoy something. B. people who are bothered.
C. people who hate something. D. people who are interrupted.
3..
. According to the author, what is the most annoying problem caused by cellphones?
A. People are always thinking of the cellphone rings so that they fail to notice anything else.
B. Cellphones interrupt people’s private time.
C. People feel guilty when they are not able to answer their cellphones.
D. With cellphones it is no longer possible to be unreachable.
4..
. What does the last paragraph suggest?
A. A person who calls us from afar deserves more of our attention.
B. Steven Spielberg once called the author to talk about the author’s novel.
C. You should always finish your lunch before you answer a call on the cellphone.
D. Never let cellphones disturb your life too much.
Do you ever wonder how some things came about? For instance, who figured out that there was something worth eating inside a banana peel? Or how astonishing do you have to be to discover that an artichoke has edible parts? Well, we may not know how either of those foods was discovered, but we do know how potato chips were invented.
Potato chips originated in New England as one man’s variation on the French-fried potatoes, and their production was the result not of a sudden inspiration of cooking invention but of a fit of annoyance.
It was the summer of 1853 and Commodore Vanderbilt, a wealthy railroad magnate, was vacationing at a hotel named Moon Lake Lodge in New York. On the restaurant menu were French-fried potatoes, prepared in the thick-cut French style that was popularized in France in the 1700s and enjoyed by Thomas Jefferson as ambassador to that country.
At dinner one night, Vanderbilt complained that his French-fried potatoes were cut too thick and sent them back to the kitchen. Offended by his snobby guest, chef George Crum decided he would give Mr. Vanderbilt exactly what he asked for! He decided to annoy the guest by producing French fries too thin and crisp. The chef angrily gathered up some potatoes and sliced them paper-thin. He threw the slices into hot oil to fry, drained and salted them and then personally served the new dish to Mr. Vanderbilt.
Surprised to see the chef in the dining room, the other diners fell into silence and everyone held their breath, waiting for Vanderbilt’s reaction.
Vanderbilt immediately popped a crisp potato slice into his mouth and the loud “Crunch” broke the silence. He continued to crunch away, delighted with his new dish. The plan backfired. Vanderbilt was interested in the browned, paper-thin potatoes. Clapping a surprised Chef Crum on the back, Vanderbilt praised him on the impressive potatoes. And other diners requested Crum’s potato chips, which began to appear on the menu as “Saratoga Chips”, a house specialty. Soon they were packaged and sold, first locally, then throughout the New England area. Crum eventually opened his own restaurant, featuring chips. At that time, potatoes were peeled and sliced by hand. It was the invention of the mechanical potato peeler in the 1920s that paved the way for potato chips to rise quickly from a small specialty item to a top-selling snack food.
1..
The author wrote the first paragraph to .
A. tell us how potato chips were invented
B. introduce the topic dealt with in the passage
C. give examples of how some things came about
D. explain why we do know how those foods were discovered
2..
. According to the passage, chef George Crum .
A. invented potato chips by accident
B. opened his own restaurant, featuring potatoes
C. served the new dish to Mr. Vanderbilt in private
D. helped promote potato chips to a top-selling snack
3..
. The production of potato chips was the result of .
A. Mr. Vanderbilt’s praise for the new dish
B. Thomas Jefferson’s appreciation of the French Fries
C. George Crum’s anger at Mr. Vanderbilt
D. the invention of the mechanical potato peeler
4..
The underlined word “backfired” in the 6th paragraph probably means .
A. developed in a successful way B. made a big difference
C. happened in a particular way D. had an opposite result
I was shopping in the supermarket when I heard a young voice.
“Mom, come here! There’s this lady here my size!”
The mother rushed to her son; then she turned to me to apologize.
I smiled and told her, “It’s okay.” Then I talked to the boy, “Hi, I’m Darryl Kramer. How are you?”
He studied me from head to toe, and asked, “Are you a little mommy?”
“Yes, I have a son,” I answered.
“Why are you so little?” he asked.
“It’s the way I was born,” I said. “Some people are little. Some are tall. I’m just not going to grow any bigger.” After I answered his other questions, I shook the boy’s hand, and left.
My life as a little person is filled with stories like that. I enjoy talking to children and explaining why I look different from their parents.
It takes only one glance to see my uniqueness. I stand three feet nine inches tall. I was born an achondroplasia dwarf. Despite this, I did all the things other kids did when I was growing up.
I didn’t realize how short I was until I started school. Some kids picked on me, calling me names. Then I knew. I began to hate the first day of school each year. New students would always stare at me as I struggled to climb the school bus stairs.
But I learned to smile and accept the fact that I was going to be noticed my whole life. I decided to make my uniqueness an advantage rather than a disadvantage. What I lacked in height, I made up for in personality.
I’m 47 now, and the stares have not diminished as I’ve grown older. People are amazed when they see me driving. I try to keep a good attitude. When people are rude, I remind myself, “Look what else I have — a great family, nice friends.”
It’s the children’s questions that make my life special. I enjoy answering their questions. My hope is that I will encourage them to accept their peers (a person of the same age, class, position, etc.), whatever size and shape they come in, and treat them with respect.
1... Why did the mother apologize to the author?
A. Because the boy ran into the author.
B. Because the boy laughed at the author.
C. Because the boy said the author was fatter than him.
D. Because she thought the boy’s words had hurt the author.
2.. When did the author realize that she was too short?
A. When she began to go to school. B. When she was 47 years old.
C. When she grew up. D. When she met the boy in the supermarket.
3.. Which of the following word can best replace the underlined word “diminished”?
A. dismissed B. increased C. decreased D. discriminated
4.. How does the author feel about people’s stares?
A. Angry. B. Calm. C. Painful. D. Discouraged.
I was sure that I was to be killed. I became terribly nervous. I felt blindly in my pockets to see if there were any cigarettes, which had 31 the search of jailers (people who guard prisoners). I found one and because of my shaking hands, I could 32 get it to my lips. But I had no matches, they had taken those.
I 33 through the bars at my jailer. He did not make eye contact with me. I called out to him, “Have you got a light?” He looked at me, 34 and came over to light my cigarette. As he came close and 35 the match, his eyes accidentally locked with mine. At that moment, I 36 . I don't know why I did that. Perhaps it was 37 , perhaps it was because, when you get very close, one to another, it is very 38 not to smile. In any case, I smiled. In that instant, it was as though a 39 jumped across the gap between our two hearts, our two human souls. I know he didn't want to, but my smile leaped through the bars and 40 a smile on his lips, too. He lit my cigarette but stayed 41 , looking at me directly in the eyes and continuing to smile.
I kept smiling at him, now 42 of him as a person and not just a jailer. “Do you have 43 ?” he asked. “Yes, here.” I took out my wallet and nervously felt for the 44 of my family. He, too, took out the pictures of his family and began to talk about his plans and hopes for them. My eyes were 45 with tears. I said that I 46 that I'd never see my family again, never have the chance to see them grow up. 47 came to his eyes, too. 48 , without another word, he 49 my cell and silently led me out. There, at the edge of town, he 50 me. And without another word, he turned back toward the town.
My life was saved by a smile. Yes, the smile ― the unaffected, unplanned, natural connection between people.
1... A. caught B. broken C. met D. escaped
2.. A. barely B. consequently C. continuously D. constantly
3... A. saw B. looked C. went D. broke
4.. A. trembled B. ignored C. shrugged D. hesitated
5... A. struck B. seized C. counted D. found
6.. A. sobbed B. smelled C. sighed D. smiled
7.. A. defence B. delight C. nervousness D. despair
8... A. hard B. easy C. simple D. clear
9... A. humor B. spark C. hatred D. sense
10... A. spread B. generated C. brought D. Forced
11.. A. near B. distant C. away D. up
12.. A. afraid B. sure C. aware D. awake
13..A. enemies B. pets C. friends D. kids
14... A. photos B. drawings C. films D. outlines
15.. A. fixed B. blocked C. filled D. packed
16.. A. hoped B. feared C. wondered D. annoyed
17.. A. Anger B. Sadness C. Sympathy D. Tears
18.. A. Accidentally B. Instantly C. Suddenly D. Occasionally
19.. A. grasped B. unlocked C. shut D. fastened
20.. A. offended B. saved C. shot D. released
