Have you ever noticed that the more you have the more you want?   Let’s face it. Thinking our life is good enough doesn’t come naturally to many people. When we have high expectations of everything in life we will run into disappointment. Only when we are aware that needs are different from desires can we live with satisfaction. Here are a few ideas to help you be happier with what you have and who you are.

Focus on what you are thankful for. Most people want things to be better than they are, or when things are going well, we forget to appreciate what we have. Learn to reflect on how much better things are than they could be. Focus on what you are thankful for. Write down 5 things you are grateful for right now.

When we hold onto regrets from decisions we have made, it can really poison our wellbeing. Many people regret something they can no longer change, which ends up holding them back from moving forward in a more positive manner. What happened in the past is done and gone, so work to stay present and be mindful of the current moment to find more joy and fulfillment.

When we use other people as the measuring stick for our personal success and quality of life, we are likely to be less satisfied. Social comparisons can provide useful information when we try to learn from others, but they also hold our perspective in a discontented position. Compare yourself less with others so you can be satisfied more.

When you are focused on your big ambitions and future goals, you might elide the daily pleasures that surround you. Learn to slow down and absorb the wonder and beauty around you. Stay present and focus on the task you’re undertaking at the moment. Don’t let the life pass you by because you’re always on the go and distracted by ambition.

Practice looking at life through the lens of contentment and it will become more natural.

1. How can we live with contentment?

A．To change our lifestyle.

B．To have a motivation in life.

C．To give less attention to what we are grateful for.

D．To realize the difference between needs and desires.

2. What’s the main idea of Paragraph 3?

A．Make wise decisions.	B．Know the present situation.
C．Let go of regrets.	D．Remember the past.

3. The underlined word “elide” in Paragraph 5 probably means “        ”．

A．enjoy	B．change
C．create	D．neglect

4. What should you do to put yourself in a good mood?

A．Make time for simple pleasures.	B．Learn from successful people.
C．Focus on your future goals.	D．Create chance to learn more.

As is known to us all, the stories we share with one another are significant, which shows our wisdom, providing our inspiration and attaching importance to our development. But occasionally people choose not to tell.

Consider the negative effects of not sharing a story in the news: People are wondering if public health officials are holding back too much information about the recent outbreak of Ebola.

There is a danger in holding back stories that ought to be told. Bobette Buster said it was like this, “The fact is, history has shown us that stories not told can become like a dangerous genie (妖怪) left in a bottle. When they are finally uncorked, their power to destroy is set free.”

There are a number of reasons why we hide parts of our story: they often show our weaknesses or expose our disadvantages; they require courage and strength to share, and of course, there are some stories that should be kept secret—especially those that embarrass someone else.

Most of us have two selves: the one we display on the outside and the one we actually are on the inside. And the better we get at hiding the stories that show our true selves, the more damage we may be causing to ourselves and to others.

Honesty and openness is important. It proves we are trustworthy. It displays we are human. We are not perfect or better. It highlights the importance of hard work and personal development. Hard work may not allow us to overcome our disadvantages completely. But with hard work, we do not have to be restricted to our mistakes.

Does this mean we admit every weakness, every disadvantage, and every secret regret to everybody we meet? No, of course not. There is a time and a place and a certain level of relationship necessary for some stories to be told in an appropriate manner.

5. What’s the function of the example in Paragraph 2?

A．It reflects that people are concerned about the spread of Ebola.

B．It concludes that one should share a story at a proper time.

C．It shows the bad effect caused by sharing a story.

D．It proves not sharing a story can cause trouble.

6. Which is close in meaning to the underlined word “uncorked” in Paragraph 3?

A．Broken.

B．Unfolded.

C．Untouched.

D．Freed.

7. What is one of the reasons why people are unwilling to share experiences?

A．People sometimes have no courage to share their stories.

B．Story-sharing highlights the importance of hard work.

C．People are used to exposing their weaknesses.

D．Some stories make people feel sad.

8. The writer aims to convince us to ________.

A．share stories appropriately for the good of others and ourselves

B．realize the importance of being honest when making friends

C．remove the dangers that can be caused by untold stories

D．be open to people close to you by sharing some secrets

阅读理解。
The 2014 Nobel Prize in Literature went to the French novelist “for the art of memory” with which he has “uncovered the life­world of the occupation”．
Although the 69­year­old writer is a very popular literary figure in France, he is little known elsewhere.
So who is this Patrick Modiano, why does his memory have such an influence upon him, and what exactly has he uncovered?
Modiano was born in a suburb of Paris right after World War Ⅱended in Europe in July 1945.His   father was a Jewish­Italian businessman who met his Belgian actress mother during the Nazi occupation of Paris.
As The New Yorker magazine put it, Europeans born in 1945 share a condition—They escaped the war, but “not the taint(污点) of the war”．
Modiano's life has been influenced by Nazi Germany's occupation during the war, and his family's connections to it.According to New York­based newspaper Forward, his father survived the war dishonorably.When Paris' Jews were brought together to be sent to concentration camps, the businessman did not join them but spent the time making money from deals with Nazis on the black market.
“The novelist has a duty to record the lives of the people who have disappeared, the people who were made to disappear，” French writer Clemence Boulouque, also an expert in Jewish studies, told The New Yorker magazine.
In his more than three dozen novels, Modiano has returned again and again to the same themes：Jewishness, the Nazi occupation, and loss of identity.His characters collect pieces of old evidence, handwriting, photographs, police files, and newspaper cuttings.
His most admired novel，Missing Person, is a good example.It's the story about a detective who has lost his memory.He tries to find out who he really is by following his own steps through history.
Although Modiano's win is a surprise outside France, people are celebrating in his home country.Modiano is the 15th French literature winner.After Le Clezio's 2008 win, it seemed unlikely that there would be another so soon.
9. The passage is mainly about ________.

A．a literary figure's personal affairs

B．a famous novelist's family background

C．a Nobel Prize winner and his literary achievement

D．European people's sufferings during World War Ⅱ

10. Which of the following statements about Patrick Modiano is TRUE according to the passage?

A．He is a survivor of World War Ⅱ.

B．He tried to find back his lost identity.

C．World War Ⅱ has an impact on his life.

D．He was world­famous before winning the Nobel Prize.

11. Modiano won the Nobel Prize because of ________.

A．his extraordinary character

B．his unique way of recording history

C．his characters' unusual experiences

D．his special connections to the war

12. It can be inferred from the passage that ________.

A．Modiano's parents were sent to the concentration camp

B．Modiano's winning the Prize was beyond expectation

C．Modiano's father had nothing to do with the Nazis

D．Clemence Boulouque is also of Jewish origin