You should spendabout 20 minutes on Question 1-13 which are based on Reading Passage below.
Throughout thewhole period of one’s lifetime, the achieving of happiness canbe seen as our ultimate and everlasting goal. Happiness is far more than astrong body, a magnificent villa or an around-the-world tour; it is somethingwe need from our heart. However, we can investigate happiness throughscientific methods.
A
When we are askedthe question "Where can we find happiness", it is a puzzle difficultto answer accurately. We can find happiness right in our own home, in ourworkplace, in school, in the company of our friends, etc. It is up to us tofind the ways and means to achieve that happiness each of us seek and long for.However, it is essential to recognize that there is no one absolute way toachieve happiness. People may have different ideas with regard to the ways ofachieving happiness. The following five classifications are perceived by manypeople as sources of happiness: family and friends, wealth, position,educational achievement and fame. B
To give it acomprehensive definition, happiness is a mental state of well-beingcharacterized by positive or pleasant emotions ranging from contentment tointense joy. A variety of biological, psychological, religious, andphilosophical approaches have striven to define happiness and identify itssources. Various research groups, including Positive Psychology, endeavor toapply the scientific method to answer questions about what"happiness" is, and how we might attain it. While philosophers andreligious thinkers often define happiness in terms of living a good life, orflourishing, rather than simply as an emotion. Happiness in this sense was usedto translate the Greek Eudaimonia, and is still used in virtue ethics.
C
While the level ofphysical healthiness is the biggest determinant of happiness, comparison offinancial success with others of the same age group is the second largestsource of happiness and unhappiness. Financially richer people tend to behappier than poorer people, according to sociological researcher GlennFirebaugh of Pennsylvania State University. Their research is focused onwhether the income effect on happiness results largely from the things moneycan buy (absolute income effect) or from comparing one's income to the incomeof others (relative income effect). They present their research in a sessionpaper, tided "Relative Income and Happiness: Arc Americans on a HedonkTreadmill?" Firebaugh argues that, in evaluating their own incomes,individuals compare themselves to their peers of the same age. Therefore, apersons reported level of happiness depends on how his or her income comparesto others in the same age group. Using comparison groups on the basis of age,the researchers find evidence of both relative and absolute effects, butrelative income is more important than absolute income in determining thehappiness of individuals in the United States. This may result in aself-indulgent treadmill, because incomes in the United States rise over mostof the adult lifespan. They always dissatisfy with the salary. For example, thesurvey indicates that the students studied in Harvard University expect toearn much more money than their classmates rather than care about the exactamount of the salary. D
We have long beenaware that elements from various perspectives of We could contribute to realizinghappiness. The Minnesota Study of Twins Reared Apart (MISTRA) has recentlyconducted a research project, choosing 120 pairs of reared-apart twins assubjects to test their perception of happiness. In an early report of resultsit was found that, on most measurable psychological traits, the level of welfarebetween the twins in a set felt is varied instead of being the same or similar.Thus environmental factors may not be the only factor that affects the feelingof happiness significantly. In another investigation, among persons of Europeanancestry, for psychological features that can be measured, heritability rangefrom about 25 percent to 80 percent. Or, to put it more concretely, fromone-fourth to four-fifths of the variation from person to person in suchfeatures as IQ, creativity and happiness, is associated with geneticdifferences between those persons. That indicates that genetic difference mayalso affect the happiness. Furthermore, neurobiological evidence shows thatleft and right frontal lobes play different roles in the emotion (MC) (M). Happinessis a type of emotion, a positive one. From the experiments, happiness and theleft prefrontal lobe are combined together. The more active it is, the morepositive emotion you sense. E
At the outset ofnew millennium, a global research had a result that the people living in themodern world were even unhappier. With crises being on the rise these days,finding happiness can be a bit challenging. Despite of all the stressesassociated with life, we still do our best to be happy — becausebeing happy is the only way to keep us afloat. Happiness is considered a veryimportant therapy, both physically and mentally. With it, we are inspired toaccomplish whatever goals we want to achieve. It's a strong drive that keeps usgoing and helps us live our life every single day.
F
There are many waysto be happy. Spend time with individuals who are dear to you. There is nothingmore joyful than to be with the people you love. During the weekends, try toschedule a fun trip for you and your partner, or one for your whole family.Just go somewhere else for a change and enjoy the change of scenery. Dosomething nice for others. Helping others is a very honorable way to findhappiness. If your schedule is too tight for volunteer work, you can justdonate a small sum of money or some old clothes or toys to charity. When youeat out, try to be a good tipper to the waiters or the valet who safely parkedyour car. All these simple things will not only make you happy, but otherpeople as well. Start and end your day with a smile. Smiling is a very powerfulgesture. There's no need for words to describe how pleasant it is. If you havea lousy day, smile your way out of the office. When people smile back at you,it will uplift your mood and make you feel better. Spending some time with yourfriends. A close circle of friends is one of the most important sources ofhappiness.
Questions 1-5
The reading Passagehas six paragraphs A-F
Choose the correctheading for paragraphs A-E from the list of headings below.
Write theappropriate number, i-ix. in boxes 1-5 on your answer sheet.
List of Headings
i. Solutions ofacquiring happiness
ii. Happiness helpsto ease pressure from modem life
iii. Smile can makeyou happy
iv. The wealthier,the happier
v. The influence ofenvironment
vi. Sources ofhappiness
vii. How to definehappiness
viii. Thecomparison of old times and modem life
ix. Factors thataffect the happiness
1. Paragraph A
2. Paragraph B
3. Paragraph C
4. Paragraph D
5. Paragraph E
Example
Paragraph F i
Questions 6-10
Choose the correctletter, A, B, C, or D.
Write your answersin boxes 6-10 on your answer sheet
6 Which of thefollowing items is NOT the source of happiness?
A. company of wifeand children
B. experience ofhaving a big feast
C. obtaining highereducation
D. high socialstatus
7 What is thedecisive step of achieving happiness?
A. having apositive mind
B. strong in socialactivities
C. lots ofbelongings and properties
D. a healthy body
8 Which is NOTmentioned in this passage for affecting the happiness?
A. personalcharacter
B. the reflectionof frontal lobes
C. geneticdifferences
D. environmentalfactors
9 A worldwideresearch in the 21st century indicates that
A. Male feels morestressful than female.
B. People areleading a happy life.
C. Modem life makespeople upset.
D. Most people arenot satisfied with current situation.
10 Which suggestionis NOT mentioned in the last paragraph for achieving happiness?
A. go out for apicnic during weekends
B. to consult apsychologist
C. make donationsto charities
D. a beautifulsmile
Questions 11-13
Complete eachsentence with the correct ending, A-G, below.
Write the correctletter, A-G, in boxes 11-13 on your answer sheet.
11 A study ofreared-apart twins
12 The leftprefrontal lobe of human
13 People living inmodern city
A. have no methodto escape from pressure.
B. may cam moresense of happiness by a circle of close friends.
C. encouragedpeople to make further investigation.
D. demonstratesthat environment is not the sole factor that affects happiness.
E. suggests thatpeople have no control on their welfare.
F. has affirmativeconnection with the feeling of happiness.
G. are not sureabout what is happiness.
|Archiver|手机版|小黑屋|雅思托福英语全球网
( 闽ICP备14014910号 )
|
闽公网安备 35020302034732号
发表于 2020-12-31 17:31:28
QQ好友和群
QQ空间
腾讯微博
腾讯朋友
收藏