The secret to happiness is keeping busy, research has found. Keeping the mind occupied(被占据) with tasks—no matter how meaningless—keeps off negative emotions, the study found.
However, the bad news is that humans are seemingly born to be lazy in order to save energy, according to Professor Christoper Hsee, a behavioral scientist at Chicago University.
In a study, 98 students were asked to complete two surveys. After they had completed the first, they were made to wait 15 minutes to receive the next one. They were given a choice of either handing in the first survey nearby or a more distant location they had to walk to. Whichever option they chose, they received a chocolate bar. It turned out that about two-thirds(68students) chose the lazy option. Those who had taken the walk reported feeling happier than those who had stayed put.
Professor Hsee concluded that keeping busy helped keep people happy. He said the findings, reported in the journal Psychological Science, had policy implications.( 暗示)
“Governments may increase the happiness of idle(闲散的) citizens by having them build bridges that are actually useless,” he proposed.( 提议)
At the individual level, he advised, “Get up and do something. Anything. Even if there really is no point to what you are doing, you will feel better for it.” He added,, “Incidentally, thinking deeply or engaging in self-reflection counts as keeping busy, too.”
“You do not need to be running around. You just need to be engaged, either physically or mentally.”
1.Keeping busy can make people happy because_____________.
A. it can help people get rid of laziness
B. it can make people sleep better
C. it can help get rid of negative emotions
D. it can give people a sense of achievement
2.Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
A. The finding may contribute to politics.
B. The officials have taken Pro.Hsee’s advice.
C. In the study half students handed in the first survey nearby.
D. Governments can increase citizens’ happiness by building bridges.
3.What can we infer from the passage?
A. Everybody is born to be lazy.
B. Only by keeping working all the time can you gain happiness.
C. Pro. Hsee’s finding was published in Psychological Science.
D. Keeping busy can add to the possibility of being happy.
4.What is the author’s purpose in writing this passage?
A. To explain what happiness is
B. To advise people not to sit around
C. To advise people to do what they like to
D. To show people how to take life correctly
New Zealand’s government is hoping to make the nation greener by planting 100 million trees each year, ensuring the electricity grid（电网） runs entirely from renewable energy, and spending more money on cycle ways and rail transport. The government’s plan is to reduce its net greenhouse gas emission to zero by the year 2050.
New Zealand’s prime minister Jacinda Ardern has set ambitious environmental policies to confront a warming planet. “We will absolutely focus on the challenge of climate change,” said Ardern. “That will include a zero carbon government policy. That will include an independent climate commission. That will include making sure that we have an all gases, all sectors emissions trading scheme,” she added. According to the Associated Press (AP), Arden said the goal of doubling the amount of trees the country plants each year is “absolutely achievable.”
Not everybody is happy with the plans. Many farmers are worried they will be required to pay more if they are absorbed into an emissions trading plan. “There is concern that if this should happen, New Zealand will become less competitive with other food-producing nations.” said Katie Milne, the president of Federated Farmers.
More than 80 percent of New Zealand’s electricity already comes from renewable resources. The AP reported that Ardern wants to increase it to 100 percent by 2035, in part by investing more in solar, which currently takes up only 0.1 percent of the country’s total renewable energy slice.
1.The New Zealand government’s plan will bring about the following benefits except ______.
A. The country will be covered with more green.
B. Most of the country’s electricity will come from fossil fuel.
C. Cycle ways and rail transportation will get more fund from the government.
D. It will contribute to cutting carbon emission.
2.Who may go against the plan?
A. Government officials B. the Electricity grid
C. Rail workers D. Farmers
3.The Prime Minister Arden holds the belief that _________.
A. The plan will affect the country’s competitiveness in food industry.
B. The farmers should apply themselves more to planting trees.
C. The government is to blame for the global warming.
D. The investment in solar energy should be raised.
4.Which column can we read the passage in the newspaper?
A. Environment B. Entertainment
C. Health D. Technology
A trip to Paris is not complete without a visit to the Eiffel Tower. To get the most out of your visit, read our tips below：
Visit at Night
Riding up the Eiffel Tower at night and looking out over the streets of Paris, you’ll see why Paris is known as the “City of Light”. At street level，the spotlights on the top of the Tower zoom across the Paris skyline, and the reflections of the Tower in the Seine are sights not to be missed.
Purchase Your Ticket in Advance Online
Bypass the long ticket lines at the Eiffel Tower by purchasing your ticket online from the Eiffel Tower website. You’ll pick a time to visit, and then select whether to print out the ticket or display it on your phone or iPad a convenient option if you buy your ticket in Paris without easy access to a printer.
Don’t Bring Valuable Objects with You
Before entering the Eiffel Tower, your bags will be examined by a security officer. If an item you are carrying sets off the metal detector, the officer will take you away from the line for further inspection. We’ve stood in line for hours behind people who missed their chance to go up the Eiffel Tower.
Have Drinks and Snacks at the Eiffel Tower
If you’re like us，after an exciting trip to the Eiffel Tower，you’ll be ready to rest your legs and have a relaxing snack and a drink in a Parisian cafe. Across the Seine in the Trocadero area, there are many elegant cafes. The atmosphere is great，but the prices are in the stratosphere. Actually, the perfect place for common visitors to eat and drink is on the Eiffel Tower itself.
1.Why does the author suggest visiting the Tower at night?
A. Because you can see the Seine as clear as possible.
B. Because you can avoid the crowds and enjoy it peacefully.
C. Because you can have a special sight of the city of Pairs.
D. Because you can stand on the top of the Tower.
2.What does the underlined word “Bypass” in Paragraph 3 mean?
A. Control. B. Avoid.
C. Stand. D. Remember.
3.Why did some people fail to go up the Eiffel Tower?
A. Because they had a quarrel with the officer.
B. Because they lost valuable objects.
C. Because they set off the metal detector.
D. Because they didn’t seize the chance.
4.What can be inferred from the last paragraph?
A. The author recommends tourists have snacks at the Eiffel Tower.
B. You spend more if you have snacks at the Tower.
C. The author prefers to eat across the Seine.
D. The Eiffel Tower provides expensive foods and drinks.
听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1.What is the speaker’s main purpose of coming to England?
A. To make a trip to the city
B. To buy some presents for her boyfriend
C. To attend a conference and exhibition
2.What did the speaker do yesterday?
A. She visited Chinatown.
B. She did some shopping.
C. She registered for the exhibition.
3.What arrangements did the speaker make for the exhibition today?
A. She checked in at the hotel
B. She discussed with the manager about the conference.
C. She persuaded people to buy their holidays.
4.Where is the stand of the speaker's company?
A. Near the restaurant
B. Near the coffee shop
C. Near the clothes shop
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.What is the woman's problem?
A. She forgot to buy apple pies.
B. The apple pies she made have gone bad
C. She is at a loss what to have for dessert
2.What does the woman say about Steve's parents?
A. They are very considerate.
B. They are always complaining.
C. They tend to eat less dessert
3.What does the man suggest the woman do?
A. Go out to have dinner.
B. Buy some fruit and vegetables
C. Prepare fresh fruit and cheese for dessert.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.Where is the Flower Show?
A. In the City Park
B. In the Forest Park
C. In the Flower Park
2.What did the woman's daughter say about the Flower Show?
A. It was beautiful.
B. It was open in the morning.
C. It was the biggest tourist attraction in the city.
3.What can we learn from the conversation?
A. The man will go to the Flower Show.
B. The woman has been to see the Flower Show once.
C. The woman's daughter went to the Flower Show yesterday
