1 . ____________________________
It is obvious that it has nothing to do with success. For Sir Henry Steward was certainly successful. It is twenty years ago since he came down to our village from London, and bought a couple of old cottages, which he had knocked into one. He used his house as a weekend refuge. He was a lawyer. And the village followed his brilliant career with something almost amounting to paternal pride.
I remember some ten years ago when he was made a King’s Counsel, Amos and I, seeing him get off the London train, went to congratulate him. We grinned with pleasure; he merely looked as miserable as though he’d received a penal sentence. It was the same when he was knighted; he never smiled a bit.And not one of his achievements brought even a ghost of a smile to his tired eyes.
I asked him one day,soon after he’d retired to work with his garden,what it was like to achieve all one’s ambitions. He looked down at his roses and went on watering them. Then he said, “The only value in achieving one’s ambition is that you then realize that they are not worth achieving.’Quickly he moved the conversation on to a more practical level,and within a moment we were back to a safe discussion on the weather. That was two years ago.
I recall this incident, for yesterday, I was passing his house, and had drawn up my cart just outside his garden wall to let a bus pass me. As I sat there filling my pipe.I suddenly heard a shout of joy come from the other side of the wall.
I peered over.There stood Sir Henry doing nothing less than a tribal war dance of sheer unashamed ecstasy. Even when he observed my bewildered face staring over the wall he did not seem put out or embarrassed,but shouted for me to climb over.
“Come and see,Jack,Look! I have done it at last!I have done it at last!”
There he was,holding a small box of earth in his hand.I observed three tiny shoots out of it.
“And there were only three!’ he said,his eye laughing to heaven.
“Three what?’ I asked.
Peach stones, he replied. ‘I’ve always wanted to make peach stones grow,ever since I was a child,when I used to take them home after a party,or as a man after a banquet. And I used to plant them. But now at last I have done it, and what’s more, I had only three stones, and there you are, one, two, three shoots,’ he counted.
And Sir Henry ran off, calling for his wife to come and see his achievement-his achievement of simplicity.
1. Which of the following statement is correct about Sir Henry Steward?| A．He was regarded as an example of being successful by the villagers. |
| B．He used to bury himself in his lawyer job,which he was very proud of. |
| C．He participated in parties or banquets with the intention of finding peach stones. |
| D．He is more a capable gardener in a small village than a brilliant lawyer in London. |
| A．being appointed as a King’s Counsel | B．being knighted |
| C．being a respectable lawyer | D．being able to plant peach stones |
| A．However successful we maybe we can never find enough hours to do everything we want. |
| B．So seldom do people smile that we do not recognize their faces when they do. |
| C．It would seem that happiness has something to do with simplicity,and that it is the ability to extract pleasure from the simplest things. |
| D．Look at a man and you will notice that every day is greeted with only resignation,and endured with polite indifference. |
| A．Three peach stones | B．Smile like a kid |
| C．Unashamed excitement | D．Never too old to learn |
2 . Being good at something and having a passion for it are not enough. Success
When twelve-year-old John Wilson walked into his chemistry class on a rainy day in 1931, he had no
When Wilson returned home from hospital two months later, his parents
Later, he worked in Africa, where many people suffered from
Wilson received several international
| A．depends | B．holds | C．keeps | D．reflects |
| A．dilemmas | B．accidents | C．events | D．steps |
| A．way | B．hope | C．plan | D．measure |
| A．continually | B．gradually | C．gracefully | D．completely |
| A．direct | B．show | C．advocate | D．declare |
| A．Anyway | B．Moreover | C．Somehow | D．Thus |
| A．mistakenly | B．casually | C．amazingly | D．clumsily |
| A．erupted | B．exploded | C．emptied | D．exposed |
| A．deserved | B．attempted | C．cared | D．agreed |
| A．submitted to | B．catered for | C．impressed on | D．happened to |
| A．fantastic | B．extraordinary | C．impressive | D．catastrophic |
| A．accomplished | B．crucial | C．specific | D．innocent |
| A．deafness | B．depression | C．blindness | D．speechlessness |
| A．decide | B．abandon | C．control | D．accept |
| A．until | B．when | C．unless | D．before |
| A．opposition | B．adjustments | C．commitment | D．limitations |
| A．preventable | B．potential | C．spreadable | D．influential |
| A．scholarships | B．rewards | C．awards | D．bonuses |
| A．fortune | B．recipe | C．dream | D．vision |
| A．distinguishes | B．determines | C．claims | D．limits |
3 . 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
4 . One spring, two friends and I sought permission to plant a garden. Our school was located in the downtown area of a large city. There wasn’t
The three of us
We had received permission
Have you ever
| A．more | B．little | C．much | D．less |
| A．Suddenly | B．Now | C．Again | D．Actually |
| A．carried out | B．laid out | C．gave out | D．made out |
| A．greeted | B．ignored | C．approached | D．lectured |
| A．cost | B．reward | C．bargain | D．bonus |
| A．allowing | B．getting | C．granting | D．adopting |
| A．promise | B．tease | C．response | D．result |
| A．warmly | B．coldly | C．readily | D．hesitantly |
| A．if | B．unless | C．even if | D．as if |
| A．at most | B．at least | C．at first | D．at last |
| A．separating | B．setting | C．establishing | D．outlining |
| A．carved | B．landed | C．struck | D．smoothed |
| A．waiting | B．staring | C．glancing | D．lying |
| A．wished | B．guessed | C．liked | D．planned |
| A．lost | B．made | C．followed | D．felt |
| A．discouraged | B．excited | C．puzzled | D．awkward |
| A．go up | B．bring up | C．come up | D．pile up |
| A．hard | B．easy | C．early | D．late |
| A．potential | B．foundation | C．vision | D．strategy |
| A．beyond | B．beneath | C．above | D．off |
5 . Are you aware that every single person on this planet who has ever lived, lives now or will live, has a different perception of reality? The way each of us perceives the world is to some degree different than any other person's perception of reality. __①__ What is absolutely real and right for you may be an illusion, or nonexistent, or completely false for another!
It's important to know this. __②__ For example, the news media loves to create drama, and one of their favorite methods is to elicit(引起) fear: fear of other people, fear of the weather, fear of the economy, etc. The news media tells us how to perceive the world—and if a person takes the newscasters at their word, they perceive the world to be very dangerous and hostile. To that person，the mental images and emotions suggested by other people create a version of reality that is completely different from the reality perceived by someone who does not watch the news.
Things are not always what they seem. For most people, seeing is believing, which is why magicians, artists and marketers are so successful. Just like the TV news, they show you only what they want you to see and it is perceived as reality. But how would that reality change if you saw what went on behind the scenes or what was left out?
What's your story?
We all have a story. Over time, your story takes on a life of its own and you become your story. But who's the author and why did him put so much crap in there? All that unnecessary suffering, struggle, heartache, worry and pain... wouldn't it be better to live a story without all that? Who wants to live in a story with that much boredom and unfulfilled longings?
The story got its start when you were born, and was coauthored by you along with the influences in your life. __③__ Anytime you were influenced by someone or something, you unconsciously handed your pen over and said “Here, you write this about me.” So you are not even writing your OWN story! No one does—until they recognize that fact, and make a conscious decision to take control of the pen. You CAN write your story the way you want it to play out.
________________
It is helpful to understand how the brain takes reality and filters it to create your unique perception of reality. It's an automatic unconscious action that is based on：
● Physical experiences (which is why some optical illusions are extremely unsettling)
● Past conditioning (how you are programmed to see the world)
__④__ When you become aware of the fact that you are constructing your own reality, you can take charge and build one that is more pleasing. If you change your mind, your vibration and your intentions, you can change your circumstances! Instead of, “I am a victim of circumstance，” imprint in your mind, “I am the cocreator of my life”； Instead of, “I am sick and tired of...” imprint in your mind，“I am in control and enthusiastic about what I do”．
Raise your vibration by thinking, talking and acting more positively. As positiveness becomes a mental habit，that change will become your new inner reality, which will soon manifest in your outer reality.
The power of perception is immense. Choose to see more good than bad, more abundance than lack, more love than indifference and more success than struggle.
1. How does the author present his viewpoints in the first three paragraphs?| A．By answering questions. | B．By giving examples. |
| C．By making comparisons. | D．By drawing conclusions. |
| A．① | B．② | C．③ | D．④ |
| A．Seeing is not believing |
| B．Live up to your expectations |
| C．Change your perception and create a new reality |
| D．Physical experiences and past conditioning really count |
| A．Instructive. | B．Humorous. |
| C．Critical. | D．Ironic. |
6 . "We must learn not to take traditional morals（道德）too seriously." So said the biologist J. B. S. Haldane in a 1923 talk on science and the future. Haldane forecasted that scientific progress would destroy every belief and value. The future would be bright only "if mankind can adjust its morality to its powers". Haldane had a point: our powers have led to challenges that have never existed before. Climate change is a threat unlike any we have ever seen. Our machines might become smarter than us. Genetic engineering（基因工程）could change humanity forever.
In the face of such challenges, our evolved moral sense often proves not enough. Part of the problem is scale（规模）.The anthropologist Robin Dunbar says we can keep no more than about 150 meaningful relationships at once. But today, all 7 billion of us are connected—if not in meaningful relationships, not in meaningless ones, either. “Society" is now too big a concept for our brains to analyze.
One result is conflicting demands that are hard to solve. The bad situation of our fellow humans makes us use every possible way to deal with climate change. But that could hurt our own way of life. And then there's the urge to just forget all that pressure and get on a plane to somewhere sunny. Given this cognitive（认知的）overload, our original emotional responses tend to win out. We do what feels right. But such responses don't necessarily produce the best results. So how can we make sure we do what really is right?
It's a hard nut, but never fear: moral philosophers are on the case. Some, such as those based at the Centre for Effective Altruism in Oxford, UK, aim to maximize the good we can do by quantifying the results of our actions. Many of their suggestions have raised eyebrows: that it may be better to become a generous banker than work for a charity, for example.
Others suggest modifying our moral brains directly, through drugs. The difficulties with this idea are obvious: who decides what makes improvement? Given the practical difficulties of large-scale morality hacking（入侵），we should perhaps stick to education. We are not simply prisoners of our emotions: we can reason our way to workable solutions. Science alone will not get us there. So no, we shouldn't take traditional morality too seriously where it fails to address modern problems.
1. J. B. S. Haldane forecasted that scientific development would ______.| A．lead to the corruption of public morals |
| B．present a challenge to traditional morals |
| C．bring disasters and fears to human beings |
| D．affect human beings powers of adjustment |
| A．collective wisdom is a good solution to modern challenges |
| B．Robin Dunbar thinks it is hard to build up meaningful relationships |
| C．our evolved moral sense is too limited to solve the problems of modern society |
| D．the large scale of social connections makes our relationships less meaningful |
| A．Most people put the blame for modern problems on science. |
| B．Science can help with the modification of our moral brains. |
| C．The combination of reason and humanity can make more effective morality. |
| D．Human beings have a long way to go before they can overcome modern problems." |
7 . Every year, more books on happiness are published. And every year, more people feel depressed because they do not see themselves as happy. They don’t remember or know what it feels like, and instead, they feel guilty that they aren’t as happy as everyone says they should be. This is really a sad state of emotional affairs.
The books, blogs, YouTube videos and advice columns (专栏) will tell you that if you read, exercise, stay busy, help others, and increase your intimacy (亲密) every day, then you too can be happy.
The simple truth is that no one can be happy all the time. That doesn’t mean you have to be sad, angry, or depressed the rest of the time but that you can find a middle ground called contentment. This middle ground is a good place mentally and emotionally, and spending time there is a healthy choice.
Contentment is somewhere between satisfied and peaceful. When you are in that place, the stuff of life can be going on around you, but you don’t need to allow it to bother you. And that, my friends, is a very nice way to go through life.
I find contentment in walks and in writing, and in talking with my partner and reminding each other that our life is good, despite temporary setbacks or scary moments. Because I know about myself and I can respond differently. Doing this takes away stress and will keep you from losing your state of contentment.
If there is even one thing that puts you in a state of contentment — you do it regularly and early enough each day — it will help you go through any challenges you may have to face later.
Right at this moment, things around me are still a little out of my control — such is life — but I am feeling pretty good because I actively living my purpose. I am now content, and that feeling will last the whole day through. You can do the same.
1. What does the author want to stress by mentioning “Books on happiness in paragraph 1?| A．People find it difficult to agree on what happiness is. |
| B．Such books are so popular that they are sold out very soon. |
| C．Happiness is something easy to gain in our daily life. |
| D．Experts find it useless to argue about the value of happiness. |
| A．He turns to such media as blogs. |
| B．He definitely communicates with partners. |
| C．He adjusts himself and reacts positively. |
| D．He sees himself unlucky and feels depressed. |
| A．Still water runs deep. | B．Health is better than wealth. |
| C．Enough is as good as a feast. | D．One good turn deserves another. |
| A．To introduce a novel experience. |
| B．To advocate a proper life attitude. |
| C．To encourage studies on happiness. |
| D．To persuade us to work endlessly. |
8 . One afternoon many years ago, I parked my car by the street, waiting to
As I looked outside the car window to my right, there was a small park where I saw a little boy, around two years old, running freely on the grass as his mother
Actually, with kids, when they fall down, they don’t think of their falling down as failure;
His only aim was to run freely and to do it as effectively as he could. He was just being a child — being just himself completely in the moment. He was not looking for approval or was not worrying about
| A．pick out | B．look for | C．pick up | D．look after |
| A．smiled | B．watched | C．waved | D．shouted |
| A．set on | B．set down | C．set free | D．set up |
| A．as if | B．even if | C．only if | D．if only |
| A．meanwhile | B．moreover | C．though | D．rather |
| A．will | B．must | C．should | D．might |
| A．disappointed | B．discouraged | C．touched | D．treasured |
| A．attempt | B．failure | C．adventure | D．mistake |
| A．signals | B．signs | C．marks | D．symbols |
| A．why | B．how | C．while | D．whether |
| A．concerned | B．serious | C．curious | D．upset |
| A．accused | B．bothered | C．interrupted | D．impressed |
| A．appealing | B．surprising | C．embarrassing | D．exciting |
| A．happened | B．attracted | C．worked | D．mattered |
| A．observation | B．exposure | C．evolution | D．procedure |
| A．Until then | B．During that | C．Since then | D．After that |
| A．for | B．within | C．beyond | D．by |
| A．as well as | B．as soon as | C．as far as | D．as long as |
| A．conclude with | B．compare with | C．connect with | D．compromise with |
| A．car | B．open | C．wild | D．park |
“Mommy ,don't go,”my three-year-old son screamed as I walked to the door. My fifteen-year-old leaned against the kitchen counter with his arms folded across his chest ,not screaming,but glaring at me as I pulled his little brother off my leg.
“Are you mad at me too?”
“You spend all your time taking care of other people's kids,but what about us?”Dylan left angrily.
I was shocked and a little hurt. How could my own child not understand that the work I was doing was saving live? Then the answer hit me. He didn't know bemuse he had never seen what Healing the Children actually did. Dylan had heard the sores of sick children, but had never once looked into the eyes of a child and understood the hard truth-that without our help, the child would likely die.
“Get dressed. You are going with me.”I said.
I spend the drive explaining the case of Hector to my son, who pretended to ignore me the entire time.“He's seven, only weighs thirty pounds and is very sick. He has a heart condition called Tetralogy of Fallot, which could kill him. It is a miracle(奇迹) that he is still alive. ”
I went on to explain that it took a team of volunteer medical staff to get Hector to the hospital from his remote village and care for him while he was there. Still, Dylan seemed unimpressed.
We stopped at a convenience store for water and snacks. Dylan had one large and one small Slurpee (思乐冰饮料). He said the small one was for Hector. I doubted whether the little guy would be able to drink it, but remained silent. This was the first interest Dylan had shown in being there. I wasn't about to ruin it.
I stopped at the nurse's station to check on Hector's progress while Dylan went to his room. Our patient was recovering physically，but the nurse was concerned that Hector was struggling emotionally. She said “Kids usually bounce back fast, but he hardly speaks and never smiles.”
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
10 . I had reached the age of twenty-eight. Still, I
When the letter finally reached me, I opened it
I was touched, and tears welled up in my eyes at this
| A．believed | B．bet | C．considered | D．doubted |
| A．easy | B．tough | C．urgent | D．creative |
| A．inner | B．happy | C．future | D．young |
| A．promised | B．agreed | C．permitted | D．acknowledged |
| A．just | B．still | C．never | D．always |
| A．Making comment on | B．Thinking back on | C．Making up for | D．Giving a view of |
| A．grown-up | B．happy | C．made-up | D．promising |
| A．allowed | B．convince | C．encouraged | D．expected |
| A．calmly | B．cautiously | C．eagerly | D．naturally |
| A．even if | B．so that | C．now that | D．as if |
| A．appearing | B．arriving | C．approaching | D．approving |
| A．apparently | B．severely | C．desperately | D．slightly |
| A．value | B．enjoy | C．start | D．earn |
| A．Contrary | B．Natural | C．Surprised | D．Strange |
| A．tried to | B．failed to | C．managed to | D．determined to |
| A．pass by | B．drop by | C．stand by | D．come by |
| A．suspect | B．support | C．praise | D．follow |
| A．self-acceptance | B．self-service | C．self-defense | D．self-concern |
| A．identity | B．image | C．status | D．version |
| A．finished | B．treasured | C．accomplished | D．consumed |
