1 . “All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way,” opens Leo Tolstoy’s novel Anna Karenina. While Tolstoy’s quote is famous, it is also inaccurate. It ignores the fact that happiness is a subjective (主观的) experience. Therefore, happy families and individuals come in all shapes and sizes. Even nations, we now know, can be happy in different ways.

Since 2012, the World Happiness Report has been ranking countries according to their levels of happiness. The latest report ranks Finland as the happiest country in the world, followed by Denmark and Iceland. Happiness matters.

Happier people more often engage in their communities and help others, making them important building blocks for advancing societies. So nations worldwide have increasingly focused on promoting people’s happiness.

Scientists employ “subjective well-being”, commonly termed “happiness”, to include both happiness and life satisfaction. They have identified characteristics typical of countries with high levels of happiness. Studies suggest richer countries are happier. Institutional quality, such as strong courts and good laws, also plays a vital role in shaping happier nations.

A country’s culture also influences subjective well-being. It is frequently analyzed from four main aspects: individualism, masculinity (男子气概), power distance and uncertainty avoidance. In individualistic countries, people tend to put their own interests first, leading to higher levels of happiness. Happier nations usually have lower levels of masculinity, which show a preference for cooperation, care and equal opportunities for both men and women. Happier nations also tend to more evenly distribute (分配) power, called “low power distance”. Finally, happier nations appear to be more tolerant of uncertainty, less anxious about risk-taking, and therefore more likely to seize life’s opportunities.

Although the image of a happy country sounds similar as described in these terms, all happy nations are not alike. That’s because each nation has different cultural, economic, and social factors that shape their unique identities and experiences.

The takeaway from this research is that governments worldwide should adopt a flexible approach to policy making, recognizing that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to promoting well-being.

1. Why does the author quote Leo Tolstoy?

A．To give the definition of happiness.	B．To introduce the topic of happiness.
C．To show the inaccuracy of his statement.	D．To recommend his novel Anna Karenina.

2. Why are nations placing great emphasis on people’s happiness?

A．It is related to people’s satisfaction with the government.

B．Happiness of a nation helps improve its international image.

C．Individual happiness contributes positively to social progress.

D．Nations worldwide are competing for high happiness rankings.

3. What is paragraph 4 mainly about?

A．The importance of happiness.	B．The differences among happy nations.
C．The ways to promote happiness.	D．The impact of culture on happiness.

4. What does the underlined word “takeaway” in the last paragraph probably mean?

A．Message.

B．Method.

C．Reason.

D．Result.

2 . Taking toddlers to the hairdressers isn’t always a walk in the park. But worry no more. There are lots of great kids’ hair salons in Singapore that make the whole process a breeze.

LA Kids Cowboy

Wouldn’t it be good if you or your partner could head somewhere for a quick cut and have the kids’ hair cut at the same time? Sure would, which is why we’re loving LA Kids Cowboy. It’s Singapore’s first parent-child haircut and styling concept. Cut s are a great value of $20, making it a cheap and cheerful barber for kids.

Bonbon Blowout Bar

Bonbon Blowout Bar comes with individual tablets and sweets, so haircuts won’t seem like such a terrible affair for kids. The full-service salon provides haircuts, styling, and hair perm services for children from $28; and if it’s their first haircut, your kid will even bring home a First Haircut Certificate!

BabySpa

If you’re looking for a baby haircut, look no further. At BabySpa, your kids’ hair is in good hands. The wonderful stylists will ensure the gentles t of haircuts while your baby watches Barney, sitting in a toy car. BabySpa also offers a bathing service for kids up to age two.

Kids ‘N’ Me

This kids’ hairdressers over at United Square are a firm fan favorite. It’s down to the experienced hairstylists, who are known and loved for their awesome kids’ haircuts for football matches, from simple “short back and sides” to a full-on Mohawk. We hear children can even have their hair sprayed with temporary hair d ye for special occasions!

1. Where will a boy probably have a haircut for a football match?

A．At LA Kids Cowboy.	B．At Bonbon Blowout Bar.
C．At BabySpa.	D．At Kids ‘N’ Me.

2. What is offered by LA Kids Cowboy?

A．An adult haircut.

B．A toy football.

C．A bathing service.

D．A Haircut Certificate.

3. Who are the target readers of the text?

A．Parents.

B．Hairstylists.

C．Children.

D．Athletes.

3 . Both Debbie and Simon work in the Sunbeam Travel Company. One day they were sitting in the office. The door opened and a lady entered. She glanced at them both, _______ a moment, then walked over and sat opposite Debbie. Debbie greeted her _______ in the corridor, and they got down to business.

Simon _______, stood up and left. He met Mr Smith, the manager. “What’s up, Simon? You don’t look very _______.”

“It’s the customers,” Simon said. “They always prefer Debbie to me. I can’t _______it. ”

“I can. It’s the way you _______.”

“How can that be ?” Simon said. “I don’t even get a _______ to speak to them.”

“Communicating is more than speaking and listening, Simon. Your body language is _______, too.”

“What kind of language is that?”

“It’s the way you stand and sit and walk. It’s your gestures and the expression on your face and in your eyes. Your whole _______ communicates things, even you’re not speaking. The way you look at customers doesn’t give them a good impression, Simon. For example, you often rest your head on your __________ . You don’t smile. You don’t turn your head or your body towards the customers. But look at Debbie. She’s holding her head __________. She looks at the customer in the eye. She smiles. She turns her head and her body towards the customer. Your body language is telling customers to __________. Debbie’s is making them feel welcome. That’s why the customers go to her and not to you.”

After that, Simon tried to improve his body language. This seemed to __________. Minutes later, a girl entered. Without __________, she sat down opposite Simon and gave him a big smile. A few moments later, she left, still smiling.

Mr Smith came over and said, “Well Simon, you __________ made a good impression on that customer. Well done.”

“That wasn’t a customer,” Simon said. “That was my sister. She wanted to borrow some money for lunch.”

1.

A．listened

B．stood

C．looked

D．paused

2.

A．calmly

B．wildly

C．cheerfully

D．hopefully

3.

A．bowed

B．sighed

C．laughed

D．nodded

4.

A．sad

B．relaxed

C．happy

D．nervous

5.

A．understand

B．grasp

C．believe

D．guess

6.

A．think

B．interpret

C．communicate

D．perceive

7.

A．chance

B．minute

C．word

D．right

8.

A．creative

B．adorable

C．fun

D．important

9.

A．style

B．appearance

C．speech

D．character

10.

A．shoulder

B．arm

C．finger

D．hand

11.

A．high

B．up

C．steady

D．back

12.

A．go away

B．go ahead

C．get going

D．get ready

13.

A．work

B．confuse

C．frustrate

D．motivate

14.

A．invitation

B．explanation

C．permission

D．hesitation

15.

A．probably

B．certainly

C．finally

D．likely

4 . Does a happy person live longer? Many studies have convinced us that happiness brings good health, which has resulted in an increasing demand for speakers and products encouraging positive thinking. However, being happy does not promise that one is going to be healthy. There are other factors that influence one’s health and long life such as a person’s genes or even a person’s socio-economic condition.

Some research even suggests that positive thinking can be dangerous. Positive thinking, when taken to the extreme, can cause a person to be separated from reality. For example, a person who thinks that staying happy and positive can help him recover from an illness like cancer but later fails to recover from it, may blame himself for not being happy. In this case, positive thinking may potentially make the victim disregard other factors. Sometimes the pursuit of happiness is even associated with serious mental health problems such as depression.

All types of happiness are not good for us either. For example, pride, a pleasant feeling, can sometimes rob us of the ability to empathize with others or understand another’s viewpoint. This anti-social behavior can cause people around us to turn away from us, and this could, in turn, make us feel lonely and do harm to our mental and even physical health.

Moreover, unpleasant feelings can be beneficial to a person’s well-being. Researchers believe that unpleasant feelings can help us make sense of our challenges and experiences in a way that supports psychological well-being. For example, if I have behaved badly towards my good friend, the feelings of guilt and sadness might motivate me to apologize and ask for forgiveness. The rebuilding of a broken relationship can be a lift to one’s mental well-being.

In trying to experience happiness, we should remember that seeking for happiness as an end in itself can be self-defeating, and does not necessarily lead to better health. After all, one will surely experience setbacks and conflicts in life. Instead, learning to cope with negative emotions with a realistic positive attitude is key to a person’s good health.

1. What’s the writer’s opinion in this passage?

A．Negative thinking can be dangerous.

B．Staying happy can bring good health.

C．Unpleasant feelings cannot be beneficial.

D．Happiness cannot ensure one’s good health.

2. When can positive thinking be dangerous according to the passage?

A．When we use it with a realistic attitude to solve problems.

B．When we focus on it as an only determinant of happy life.

C．When we think it one of the necessary factor for good health.

D．When we realize it may rob us of the ability to understand others.

3. How can unpleasant feelings be beneficial to a person’s well-being?

A．They rebuild a broken relationship.

B．They lead to self-reflection and personal growth.

C．They help keep the problems and challenges away.

D．They prevent long-term negative effects on mental health.

4. Which of the following has the similar meaning of “an end in itself”?

A．An ultimate goal.	B．An individual plan.
C．A final decision.	D．A great start.

5 . It is a practice favored by Lena Dunham, Tom Hanks and Lady Gaga to improve their focus and bring about calmness in an often busy, distracted world. Now researchers have found evidence that frequent meditation (冥想) over several years, may help change human gut (肠道), boost the body’s immune (免疫的) system and reduce the risk of anxiety, depression and heart disease. The findings are published by the British Medical Journal.

Meditation is increasingly used to help treat drug abuse, overwhelming stress, eating disorders and long-lasting pain. But until now it has not been clear whether it could also be able to change the composition of the gut microbiome (微生物组). In an effort to find out, researchers led by the Shanghai Mental Health Centre at the Shanghai Jiao Tong University analyzed the stool (粪便) and blood samples of 37 Tibetan Buddhist monks from three temples and 19 residents in the neighboring areas. The Tibetan meditation from the ancient Indian medical system, is a form of psychological training. The monks in the study had practiced it for at least 2 hours a day for 3-30 years. Both groups were matched for age, blood pressure, heart rate and diet. Stool sample analysis revealed significant differences in the diversity and volume of microbes between the monks and their neighbors. “Bacteria enriched in the meditation group had a positive effect on human physical and mental health,” the researchers wrote. “This changed gut microbiome composition could improve immune function in the body.” Blood sample analysis also revealed the levels of markers associated with risk of heart disease were significantly lower in the monks.

The researchers emphasized that the study was observational and the number joining was small, all male and living at high altitude, making it difficult to draw any firm or general conclusions. However, based on their findings, the researchers said the role of meditation in helping to prevent or treat mental and physical illness deserved further research.

1. Why do many people do meditation according to the passage?

A．To bring about inner peace.

B．To cure some certain illnesses.

C．To reduce some extra movement.

D．To change the gut microbiome composition.

2. What did the researchers analyze in their study?

A．Stool and blood sample.	B．Immune system.
C．Human gut.	D．Tibetan Meditation.

3. According to the study, what contributed to human immune system?

A．The Drugs taken before.

B．The religion people belong to.

C．The eating habit formed already.

D．The bacteria produced in the meditation.

4. What is the major achievement the study made?

A．It tracked the joiners over a long period.

B．It explored the way how the bacteria influences the gut microbiome.

C．It involved a large sample size of different genders, age groups, and areas.

D．It provides evidence that meditation changes gut microbiome composition.

6 . Coined as “deliveryman by day, poet by night,” 55-year-old Wang Jibing earns a living as a delivery person in Jiangsu Province. He started writing poems online in the 2000s, and later expanded to different social media platforms. He also came under the spotlight as his name was on the 2023 list of new members for the Chinese Writers Association, igniting (点燃) praise and discussions among Chinese netizens.

Dropping out of secondary school, Wang tried various jobs to make a living, such as a construction worker and working on sand mining boats, as well as a garbage collector. Now as a husband and a father of three children, the financial burden on his shoulder has become heavier and his work schedule has gotten even busier. Yet it has never stopped him from reading and writing routinely all his life. His passion for poetry has driven him to write over 4, 000 poems.

His poem titled “People in a Hurry” gathered more than 13 million views within a week. Wang gained inspiration for the poem from an unpleasant food delivery experience in 2019. Because the customer made a mistake with the address, he had to rush several times to get the food delivered on time. It led to delays with other orders, as well as punishments and a decrease in his earnings for the delivery. The government later took action to tackle this type of situation, demanding delivery firms better protect delivery person’s rights.

The subjects of Wang’s poems cover a wide range, including his memories of his family and hometown, and his observations of society and life while working as a laborer in different cities. During an interview with the media, Wang noted that delivering food allows him to interact with more people and experience more things. The job has also sparked a deeper understanding and empathy for others. Writing poetry helps him feel comfortable and find peace of mind.

1. How is Wang’s daily life now?

A．He enjoys the popularity of his poetry.

B．He writes at night to let go his displeasure.

C．He balances his responsibilities and his dream.

D．He struggles in speaking up for ordinary people.

2. What can we infer from Wang’s 2019 experience and its result?

A．Ordinary people can achieve a good living.

B．Ordinary people’s voice is heard by the society.

C．Ordinary people’s idea can be artfully expressed.

D．Ordinary people are eager to have a spiritual homeland.

3. Why do so many people read Wang’s poems?

A．His poems help people get more information.

B．His poems care about the unfairness in the society.

C．His poems are filled with memories of his family and hometown.

D．His poems are rooted in everyday life of ordinary people.

4. Which word can better describe Wang’s story?

A．Inspiring.

B．Surprising.

C．Interesting.

D．Concerning.

8 . Most of us have some sort of bucket list—a checklist of experiences and accomplishments we hope to achieve before our time here on earth is up. When we think of how to improve our lives, our first urge is generally to add things: I’d be happier if my career were going better. Everything would be different if I could find a good relationship. There is only one problem with this approach—science suggests it tends to have the opposite result.

A mountain of researches show that when you reach your goals, they’re likely to only bring you momentary joy. After a brief high, dissatisfaction creeps in and we start to long for the next thing on the list. How do you get off this problem and find lasting peace of mind? Brooks offers a simple, practical suggestion: Swap your traditional bucket list for something he calls a “reverse bucket list.”

“Each year on my birthday, I list my wants and attachments—the stuff that fits under the categories of money, power, pleasure and honor. I try to be completely honest,” he writes. Next, Brooks sits down and lists what his life would be like in five years if he were truly happy and successful—if he were living up to his values and experiencing a sense of psychological peace. The final step is to compare the two lists side by side. Would those things he longs for actually bring him closer to his vision of the good life?

If an item is on your bucket list because it lines up with your deepest desires and values, keep it. If it’s there to impress the neighbors or feed a vague and strong need for “success”, onto the reverse bucket list it goes.

When scientists ask people to solve problems of all kinds, their first urge is to add elements. They think a new feature, additional rule or extra ingredient will improve the final outcome. But recent research shows that subtraction (减法) is often the better one.

1. What is a problem probably caused when you achieve your goals?

A．You will be eaten up with pride.

B．Your confidence will be boosted overly.

C．You will be unwilling to achieve the next goal.

D．Your temporary happiness will give way to discontent.

2. What’s the difference between the traditional and the reverse bucket list?

A．Whether the items on the list are listed honestly.

B．Whether the items on the list can bring you glory.

C．Whether the items on the list can be achieved.

D．Whether the items on the list are consistent with your beliefs.

3. According to Brooks, which of the following will be classified into the reverse bucket list?

A．Buying a more luxurious villa than a friend’s.

B．Keeping on working out regularly to keep fit.

C．Serving the community to keep mentally peaceful.

D．Studying abroad for further education to realize self-value.

4. What is a suitable title for the text?

A．The Barrier of Happiness: A Rule of Subtraction

B．The Secret to Happiness: A Reverse Bucket List

C．The Block to Happiness: A Traditional Bucket List

D．The Truth of Happiness: A Checklist of Achievements

9 . It’s not polite to stare, especially in the hospital. But nearly everyone who passes Moxi, the robot at Elmhurst Hospital in Elmhurst, Illinois, can’t help but goggle at it as it slowly rolls through hallways and corridors. The robot is roughly human-shaped, stands about 5 feet tall and perhaps most strikingly, has his big blue eyes that occasionally blink.

For months, Moxi robots have been travelling the halls of Chicago-area hospitals. They deliver medication, supplies and small pieces of equipment across the facilities. “With the staffing shortage, we’re always looking for ways to take no-clinical tasks away from the clinical staff, especially repetitive tasks,” said Dr. Kimberley Darey, Elmhurst chief medical officer. She noted that Moxi does not work with patients. The idea behind the robots is to give nurses more time with patients and perform higher level care.

When nurses want to use Moxi, they can summon (召唤) the robot by entering a request into an app on a tablet, similar to the way a person might request an Uber ride. When the robot arrives, a nurse or worker then holds their badge (工作证) up to a detector, which allows the worker to open any of the three drawers on the robot, and the nurse can place medication, supplies or equipment into a drawer. Moxi then scoots away. When Moxi arrives at its destination, a written message appears on its face screen. A nurse can then flash their badge at Moxi’s detector, prompting the drawer to unlock so the nurse can retrieve the delivery.

Each month, the two Moxi robots at Elmhurst Hospital perform about 1, 800 deliveries. At first, when Moxi arrived at Elmhurst, some of the nurses were nervous, said Heather Johnson, a nurse and clinical leader at the hospital. But after a successful trial run, nurses began to feel more optimistic about the robot’s usefulness. What’s more, at Elmhurst Hospital, patients often grin as Moxi rolls by, and some even stop to take selfies with it.

1. Why do people passing Moxi robot stare at it?

A．Out of interest.

B．Out of mercy.

C．Out of kindness.

D．Out of necessity.

2. What’s the purpose of introducing Moxi robots into hospital?

A．To entertain patients and medical workers.

B．To cut down expense by replacing nurses.

C．To take medical tasks away from medical workers.

D．To free nurses up to spend more time with patients.

3. What is paragraph 3 of the text mainly about?

A．When Moxi robots are wanted.	B．How Moxi robots are operated.
C．How Moxi robots are summoned.	D．Why Moxi robots are needed.

4. What is the author’s attitude towards Moxi robots?

A．Dismissive.

B．Indifferent.

C．Favourable.

D．Suspicious.

10 . Lying in the Mexican state of Oaxaca, the fishing village Huatulco is home to nine bays, 36 beaches and thousands of baby turtles that apparently needed me. I had three open days on my calendar, and a desire to save some turtles. And so, away I went to Huatulco with Wildcoast, a group of champions-for-change who were protecting coastal and marine ecosystem in the U. S. and Mexico.

I was taken to La Escobilla to experience Wildcoast in action. Just one hour north of Huatulco, this protected beach is where mass turtle nesting happens. This natural phenomenon lasts just four days during rainy season, hundreds of thousands of female sea turtles swinging their way ashore to lay their eggs.

Between threats of dogs, crabs, development and oil spills, the little creatures have the whole world against them. As recently as 2002, turtles hunting was not only a common practice, but an important part of the culture and diet in the Oaxaca communities. Luckily, Wildcoast rescues turtle eggs and recreates habitats by monitoring temperatures and humidity. Thanks to their efforts, the sea turtles have made a major comeback, with now over 72 million turtles being born on the beaches that Wildcoast protects.

I got to hold 50 of the tiny creatures in a bowl. Despite an average laying of 100 eggs, just one in 1, 000 baby turtles will make it to adulthood. Gazing into the bowl, I so badly wanted them to taste the sea and find shelter somewhere deep in the ocean. Finally, it was time to liberate those little creatures. Out spilled the creatures, some moving full steam ahead while others barely paddled in place. Literally, hundreds of them began to spread out across the beach.

With each set of waves, we witnessed the survival of the fittest, some pushing past the whitewash while others crashed back to shore. Their fight for life made my eyes wet. A flock of birds were ready to dive into the sea for their moving targets. “One in 1, 000.” Nature was cruel and compassionate at the same time. After 30 long minutes, the last creature made his way to the sea.

1. The baby turtles are threatened by various factors except ________.

A．the cruel hunters	B．the rapid development
C．the extreme weather	D．the oil-polluted ocean

2. What do the underlined words “full steam ahead” in paragraph 4 mean?

A．With slow pace and fear.	B．With all energy and enthusiasm.
C．With full caution and curiosity.	D．With great satisfaction and responsibility.

3. What does the author indicate by mentioning “One in 1,000” in the last paragraph?

A．One baby turtle in 1,000 can make his way to the sea.

B．Thousands of baby turtles were crashed back to shore.

C．The struggle of baby turtles for life touched the author.

D．Baby turtles can hardly survive the harsh living conditions.

4. What can we learn from the author’s experience in saving baby turtles?

A．Think twice before you leap.	B．God helps those who help themselves.
C．Cease to struggle and you cease to live.	D．When the buying stops, the killing can too.