The road to happiness
We all know that money can't buy happiness, but many times we act as if we'd be happier with a bit more money. We are trained to want the latest style that television tells us.1.But none of that win bring us happiness. No matter how much we earn, no matter how nice our clothing or cars or toys, none of it will make us happier. And the sad thing is that it could take us decades of pursuing wealth and luxury items before we realize this. So what will bring us happiness? 2.
Positive thinking. I'm obviously a big approval of positive thinking as the best way to achieve your goals, but it turns out that it can lead to happiness too.3.Happy people feel energetic, in control of their lives, and have a positive attitude to life.4.We have a human need to be close. Having good, supportive friendships, a strong, marriage or close and loving links with our family members will make us much more likely to be happy.
Flow. This is a popular concept on the Internet these days—the state we enter when we are completely focused on the work before us. Having work and leisure that gets you in this state of flow will almost undoubtedly lead to happiness. People find greatest enjoyment not when they're passively mindless, but when they're absorbed in a mindful challenge.5.Don't waste them!
A. Good relationships.
B. You've been given the three secrets to happiness.
C. In fact, this should be one of the first habits you develop.
D. It may sound ridiculous, but it has worked for me every time.
E. Luckily, here're three secrets to happiness that don't cost a thing.
F. We want to earn more money because then we'll have the good life.
G. Optimism and self-esteem are some of the best indicators of people who lead happy lives.
We all do it. We make huge plans for New Year's Eve. As the big day approaches, we start building expectations, planning the best night of our lives. And yet, it rarely lives up. After all, how could it? We set unrealistic goals for a single night when many places are crowded and loud, there are tons of noisy drunk people, and an astronomical bill comes at the end of the evening. You're left wondering, "Was it worth it?" Fortunately, all it takes is a little reconsideration of your expectations to make sure this year's big night is one to remember.
If you get smashed on New Year's Eve, it is likely that you won't even remember what you did and whether or not you had fun. That's not saying there's something wrong with having a couple of glasses of wine at midnight. After all, it is a celebration. Just keep it light, since you want to remember the fun you had with your friends and family. After all, do you really want to spend the first day of the new year with drunkenness?
Many people like to spend the holidays with their friends and family. You could reserve a table at a favorite restaurant, but how about staying home and cooking? There's nothing worse than having to shout across the table because the restaurant is so crowded, except maybe waiting in line for an hour or more for that privilege. Never mind the bill will almost always be significantly higher than it would be almost any other night of the year. If you love to cook, you can make a great meal that everyone can enjoy.
A great idea for an at-home New Year's Eve party is wonderful. If it's a large get-together, it might be difficult to have a sit-down meal due to space restrictions, but a buffet is always a good choice. You just need to display the dishes for them to choose as they wish. Consider your space and guests' comfort when deciding what to serve.
1.Why do our huge plans for New Year's Eve usually fail?
A. We waste too much money on dinner.
B. There are drunken people everywhere.
C. Every place is crowded with people.
D. We pin too much on a single night.
2.Which of the following can replace the underlined word "smashed" in Paragraph 2?
A. Tired. B. Drunk.
C. Bored. D. Excited.
3.What did the author suggest doing to spend holidays with your friends and family?
A. Treating them at home.
B. Inviting them to dinner outside.
C. Waiting in line for a favorite restaurant.
D. Booking a great meal that everyone can enjoy.
4.What should you do if your home is not big enough?
A. Try to arrange a sit-down meal for your friends.
B. Serve a small meal according to your space.
C. Let your friends help themselves to dishes.
D. Consider your guests' comfort only.
In the late 1990s, Google was just a start-up company operating out of a garage in Palo Alto, California. Co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin started the company while studying at Stanford University. Google's founders and its employees, then, understood some of the challenges that entrepreneurs around the world may face. An entrepreneur is a person who starts a business. They must be willing to risk financial loss in order to make money.
Mary Grove is the director of a program called Google for Entrepreneurs. She said Google wants to help new start-up businesses grow and be successful.
Google for Entrepreneurs has opened campuses around the world. Entrepreneurs in each city can use Google's buildings without paying. Entrepreneurs can work with each other and learn from people who are more experienced in business.
Yeram Kwon is the head of a company in South Korea. Her business is called I.M.Lab. It makes a product that helps people learn to perform the lifesaving technique called CPR. She said she has learned how to solve some of her business's problems by attending Google events in Seoul.
Outside of its own buildings in these cities, Google provides financial support and resources for partner organizations around the world. Building partnerships is a way for Google to spread the idea of entrepreneurialism around the world. Google can use its network to help find people who want to invest in start-up businesses. Those people need to be ready to take risks. That is something Kwon said that makes some Koreans uncomfortable. "Most Korean people think that it is much safer to work for big companies like Samsung and LG," she said.
But, Kwon said the Korean government and technology companies are now supporting people willing to take business risks.
1.What can be learned from the text?
A. Google provides direct financial support to entrepreneurs.
B. The idea of entrepreneurialism is highly thought of by everyone.
C. Yeram Kwon thinks most Korean people lack spirit of business adventure.
D. Entrepreneurs can use Google's network to find investors by themselves.
2.Why did the author mention Yeram Kwon?
A. She helped Google's program a lot.
B. She guided others to start business.
C. She benefited from Google's program.
D. She was active in investing in Google business.
3.Why does Google advocate the program according to the text?
A. Because it can make more money without risk.
B. Because it just wants to help the entrepreneur.
C. Because it can promote its reputation by doing this.
D. Because it can build partnerships with more companies.
4.What can be the best title for the text?
A. Google Inspires Entrepreneurs Around the World
B. Google Will Build Its Branches in the World
C. More Companies Like Google Will Appear
D. Start-up Businesses Learn From Google
I had started a small company several years ago. I worked hard to make it successful. It was a sign-making business. It was a small company, and it was private.
Still, I worked hard building up my business. I did not work only a few hours each day—no banker's hours for me. Instead I spent many hours each day, seven days a week, trying to grow the company. I never cut corners or tried to save on expenses. I made many cold calls. I called on possible buyers from a list of people I had never seen. Such calls were often hard sells.
Sometimes I sold my signs at a loss. I did not make money on my product. When this happened, there were cut backs. I had to use fewer supplies and reduce the number of workers. But after several years, the company broke even. Profits were equal to expenses. And soon after, I began to gain ground. My signs were selling very quickly. They were selling like hotcakes.
I was happy. The company was moving forward and making real progress. It was in the black, not in the red. The company was making money, not losing it.
My friend knew about my business. He is a leader in the sign-making industry—a real big gun, if you know what I mean. He offered to buy my company.
He offered me a ball park estimate of the amount he would pay to buy my company. But I knew his uneducated guess was low. My company was worth much more. That is, he asked his accountant to take a close look at the finances of my company and decide how much it was worth. Then my friend increased his offer.
My friend's official offer was finally given to me in black and white. It was written on paper and more than I ever dreamed. I was finally able to get a break. I made a huge profit on my company, and my friend also got a bang for the buck. He got a successful business for the money he spent.
1.What's the author's attitude towards his business?
A. He worked like a banker.
B. He showed no interest in it.
C. He devoted almost all his time to it.
D. He didn't expect to make money from it.
2.Which of the following matches the author's business?
A. Making neither a loss nor a profit→making money→running at a loss.
B. Making money→running at a loss→making neither a loss nor a profit.
C. Making neither a loss nor a profit→running at a loss→making money.
D. Running at a loss→making neither a loss nor a profit→making money.
3.What did the author think of his friend?
A. A big gun. B. A proud fellow.
C. A selfish guy. D. A stubborn man
Best Toys for Kids
From wooden blocks to electronic games, the best toys for kids make their young users think and dream while building useful skills. Of course, They're also tons of fun!
●Educational Toys
Many of the best toys for kids combine learning and fun. The GeoSafari Talking Globe provides interactive geography games in a fun electronic format. It was named to Dr. Toy's Best Classic Toys List in 2016. Professor Noggin's History of the United States is a fun and informative card game that made FamilyFun. com's Toy of the Year list.
●Pretend Play
Kids love to pretend, and the best toys for kids can spark their imaginations and lead to hours of fun. The Real Projects Workshop was a grand prize winner in the 2016 FamilyFun.com Toy of the Year awards. With this pretend workshop kids can play with realistic tools while building projects out of foam "wood". Dora's Talking Kitchen won "Girl Toy of the Year" in the 2016 Toy Industry Association Toy of the Year Awards.
●Stuffed（填充的）Animals
Every kid needs a cuddly（可抱的）friend. Kids may ask for stuffed animals based on popular television and movie characters, but teddy bears, stuffed dogs, and other plush figures that haven't appeared on-screen will have long-lasting appeal. For a unique twist on stuffed animals, the Lil' Luvables Fluffy Factory lets kids stuff their own teddy bears. It was a Toy of the Year grand prize winner at FamilyFun.com.
●Games
Games promote cooperation while encouraging everything from memory skills to exercise. Hullabaloo, from the makers of Cranium, won "Best Game" honors in the 2016 Toy Industry Association Toy of the Year Awards. The game gets kids moving and laughing as they follow instructions from the game's audio console.
1.How can kids benefit from the educational toys?
A. They can improve their personalities.
B. They can enjoy geography games.
C. They can be active in doing homework.
D. They can gain knowledge while playing.
2.How many kinds of toys won the grand prize in FamilyFun.com Toy of the Year awards?
A. Only one. B. Two.
C. Three. D. Four.
3.Which toys can develop kids' team spirit?
A. Educational. B. Pretend play.
C. Stuffed animals. D. Games.
4.How can kids play with the toys made by the Lil' Luvables Fluffy Factory?
A. They can stuff the toys by themselves.
B. They can play board games with the toys.
C. They can treat the toys as bears.
D. They can interact with the toys.
假定你是李华，你的美国朋友John,本周日想邀请你去他的寄宿家庭参加朋友聚会，但你无法参加。请依据下列要点，给Jim发封电子邮件。
要点：1.感谢邀请；
2.陈述不能参加的原因（高考即将来临，身体状况不好），并表示歉意。
注意：1.词数100左右；
2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
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