Question

People are divided into two groups in the world. Though each of them has equal degree of health and wealth and other comforts of life, one becomes happy and the other becomes unhappy. This arises from the different ways in which they consider things, persons, events and the resulting effects upon their minds.

People who are to be happy fix their attention on the convenience of things: the pleasant parts of conversation, the well prepared dishes, the goodness of the wine and the fine weather. They enjoy all the cheerful things. Those who are to be unhappy think and speak only of the opposite things. Therefore, they are continually dissatisfied. By their remarks, they sour the pleasure of society, offend (hurt) many people, and make themselves disagreeable everywhere. If this turn of mind was founded in nature, such unhappy persons would be the more to be pitied. The intention of criticizing(批评) and being disliked is perhaps taken up by imitation(模仿). It grows into a habit, unknown to its possessors. The habit may be strong, but it may be cured when those who have it realize its bad effects on their interests and tastes. I hope this little warning may be of service to them, and help them change this habit.

Although in fact it is chiefly an act of the imagination, it has serious results in life since it brings on deep sorrow and bad luck. Those people offend many others; nobody loves them, and no one treats them with more than the most common politeness and respect. This frequently puts them in bad temper and draws them into arguments. If they aim at getting some advantages in social position or fortune, nobody wishes them success. Nor will anyone start a step or speak a word to favor their hopes. If they bring on themselves public objections, no one will defend or excuse them, and many will join to criticize their wrongdoings. These should change this bad habit and be pleased with what is pleasing, without worrying needlessly about themselves and others. If they do not, it will be good for others to avoid any contact(接触) with them. Otherwise, it can be disagreeable and sometimes very inconvenient, especially when one becomes mixed up in their quarrels.

1.People who are unhappy _______.

A. always consider things differently from others

B. usually are affected by the results of certain things

C. usually misunderstand what others think or say

D. always discover the unpleasant side of certain things

2.The phrase “sour the pleasure of society” most nearly means “_______”.

A. have a good taste with social life    B. make others unhappy

C. tend to please others openly    D. enjoy the pleasure of life

3.We can conclude from the passage that _______.

A. we should pity all such unhappy people

B. such unhappy people are dangerous to social life

C. people can get rid of the habit of unhappiness

D. unhappy people can not understand happy persons

4.If such unhappy persons insist on keeping the habit, the author suggests that people should _______.

A. prevent any communication with them

B. show no respect and politeness to them

C. persuade them to recognize the bad effects

D. quarrel with them until they realize the mistakes

5.In this passage, the writer mainly _______.

A. describes two types of people

B. laughs at the unhappy people

C. suggests the unhappy people get rid of the habits of unhappiness

D. tells people how to be happy in life

Answer

1. D

2. B

3. C

4. A

5. C

【解析】

本文是一篇说明文，介绍了世界上有两种人——快乐的人和不快乐的人，快乐的人总能发现事物好的一面，而不快乐的人恰恰相反，总能发现事物不好的一面，但不快乐的习惯是可以摆脱的，作者建议不快乐的人改掉他们不快乐的习惯。

1.细节理解题。根据第二段中的“People who are to be happy fix their attention on the convenience of things…Those who are to be unhappy think and speak only of the opposite things.”可知，快乐的人总能发现事物好的一面，而不快乐的人恰恰相反，总能发现事物不好的一面，故D项正确。

2.居易理解题。根据sour the pleasure of society后的“offend (hurt) many people, and make themselves disagreeable everywhere.”可知，他们伤害了很多人，处处不讨人喜欢，由此可知sour the pleasure of society的意思是“让别人不快乐”，故B项正确。

3.推理判断题。根据第二段中的“The habit may be strong, but it may be cured when those who have it realize its bad effects on their interests and tastes.”可知，不快乐的习惯是可以摆脱的，故C项正确。

4.细节理解题。根据最后一段中的“These should change this bad habit and be pleased with what is pleasing, without worrying needlessly about themselves and others. If they do not, it will be good for others to avoid any contact with them.”可知，如果不快乐的人拒绝改掉他们的习惯，其他人最好避免与他们接触，故A项正确。

5.作者意图题。根据文章内容，特别是第二段中的“I hope this little warning may be of service to them, and help them change this habit.”可知，作者写这篇文章的目的是建议不快的人改掉他们不快乐的习惯，故C项正确。