Question

    Should you choose time over money, or money over time? This is one of those so-called dilemmas of happiness that isn’t really a dilemma at all, because the answer is so painfully obvious. Money, after all, is just an instrument for obtaining other things, including time-while time is all we’ve got. And to make matters worse, you can’t save it up.

And yet we do choose money over time, again and again, even when basic material well-being doesn’t demand it. Partly, no doubt, that’s because even well-off people fear future poverty. But it’s also because the time/money trade-off rarely presents itself in simple ways. Suppose you’re offered a better-paid job that requires a longer commute (more money in return for less time); but then again, that extra cash could lead to more or better time in future, in the form of nicer holidays, or a more secure retirement. Which choice prioritizes time, and which money? It’s hard to say.

Thankfully, a new study throws a little light on the matter. The researchers surveyed more than 4,000 Americans to determine whether they valued time or money more, and how happy they were. A clear majority preferred money-but those who valued time were happier. Older people, married people and parents were more likely to value time, which makes sense: older people have less time left, while those with spouses and kids probably either value time with them, or feel they steal all their time. Or both.

The crucial finding here is that it’s not having more time that makes you happier, but valuing it more. Economists continue to argue about whether money buys happiness-but few doubt that being comfortably off is more pleasant than struggling to make ends meet. This study makes a different point: it implies that even if you’re scraping by (勉强维持), and thus forced to focus on money, you’ll be happier if deep down you know it’s time that’s most important.

It also contains ironic (讽刺的) good news for those of us who feel basically secure, financially, but horribly pushed for time. If you strongly wish you had more time, as I do, who could accuse you of not valuing it? At least my eagerness for more time shows that my priorities are in order, and maybe that means I’ll enjoy any spare time I do get. We talk about scarce time like it’s a bad thing. But scarcity is what makes us treat things as precious, too.

1.The example in Paragraph 2 suggests that ______.

A.money can be made at the expense of time

B.the time/money trade-off is a complicated issue

C.money is a tool for obtaining material well-being

D.circumstances force one to choose money over time

2.We can know from the findings of the study that ______.

A.valuing time more makes people happier

B.parents regret the time spent on their kids

C.people won’t value time until they’re rich

D.a comfortable life is superior to more time

3.Which of the following best serves as the title of the passage?

A.What you should spend time on

B.What you should trade money for

C.Why you need to value money, not time

D.Why you need to count time, not money

Answer

1.B

2.A

3.D

【解析】

本文是议论文。主要探讨的是时间和金钱选择的问题。时间是我们仅有的东西，并且是不能挽回的。珍惜时间让人们更快乐。

1.

推理判断题。根据题干定位到第二段的“But it’s also because the time/money trade-off rarely presents itself in simple ways.”可知，时间和金钱的权衡很少是以简单的方式出现的，也就是说两者之间的权衡是复杂的问题。接下来的举例证明了"it' s hard to say”，两者的抉择很难，是个复杂的问题。故选B。

2.

推理判断题。根据题干定位到第四段首句The crucial finding here is that it’s not having more time that makes you happier, but valuing it more.可知，研究的关键发现是让你更快乐的并不是拥有更多的时间，而是更珍惜时间才会更快乐。第四段最后一句的you’ll be happier if deep down you know it’s time that’s most important.也再次表明即使勉强度日，并被迫专注于金钱,但内心深处明白现在是最重要的时刻时，还是会感到快乐。因此推断从这项研究我们知道珍惜时间让人们更快乐。故选A。

3.

主旨大意题。首先，本文主要探讨的是时间和金钱选择的问题，故排除A项和B项。其次,文章第一段就给出观点，时间是我们仅有的东西，并且是不能挽回的。接着文章通过硏究调査来明确重视时间更让人感到快乐，因此本篇文章主要是提出论点，然后阐述原因的写作顺序，因此推断D项“你为什需要珍惜时间，而不是金钱”为最佳标题。故选D。