原文:
You should spend about 20 minutes on Question 1-13 which are based on Reading Passage below.
Throughout the whole period of one’s lifetime, the achieving of happiness can be seen as our ultimate and everlasting goal. Happiness is far more than a strong body, a magnificent villa or an around-the-world tour; it is something we need from our heart. However, we can investigate happiness through scientific methods.
A
When we are asked the question "Where can we find happiness", it is a puzzle difficult to answer accurately. We can find happiness right in our own home, in our workplace, in school, in the company of our friends, etc. It is up to us to find 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 to achieve happiness. People may have different ideas with regard to the ways of achieving happiness. The following five classifications are perceived by many people as sources of happiness: family and friends, wealth, position, educational achievement and fame.
B
To give it a comprehensive definition, happiness is a mental state of well-being characterized by positive or pleasant emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy. A variety of biological, psychological, religious, and philosophical approaches have striven to define happiness and identify its sources. Various research groups, including Positive Psychology, endeavor to apply the scientific method to answer questions about what "happiness" is, and how we might attain it. While philosophers and religious thinkers often define happiness in terms of living a good life, or flourishing, rather than simply as an emotion. Happiness in this sense was used to translate the Greek Eudaimonia, and is still used in virtue ethics.
C
While the level of physical healthiness is the biggest determinant of happiness, comparison of financial success with others of the same age group is the second largest source of happiness and unhappiness. Financially richer people tend to be happier than poorer people, according to sociological researcher Glenn Firebaugh of Pennsylvania State University. Their research is focused on whether the income effect on happiness results largely from the things money can buy (absolute income effect) or from comparing one's income to the income of others (relative income effect). They present their research in a session paper, tided "Relative Income and Happiness: Arc Americans on a Hedonk Treadmill?" Firebaugh argues that, in evaluating their own incomes, individuals compare themselves to their peers of the same age. Therefore, a persons reported level of happiness depends on how his or her income compares to others in the same age group. Using comparison groups on the basis of age, the researchers find evidence of both relative and absolute effects, but relative income is more important than absolute income in determining the happiness of individuals in the United States. This may result in a self-indulgent treadmill, because incomes in the United States rise over most of the adult lifespan. They always dissatisfy with the salary. For example, the survey indicates that the students studied in Harvard University expect to earn much more money than their classmates rather than care about the exact amount of the salary.
D
We have long been aware that elements from various perspectives of We could contribute to realizing happiness. The Minnesota Study of Twins Reared Apart (MISTRA) has recently conducted a research project, choosing 120 pairs of reared-apart twins as subjects to test their perception of happiness. In an early report of results it was found that, on most measurable psychological traits, the level of welfare between 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 feeling of happiness significantly. In another investigation, among persons of European ancestry, for psychological features that can be measured, heritability range from about 25 percent to 80 percent. Or, to put it more concretely, from one-fourth to four-fifths of the variation from person to person in such features as IQ, creativity and happiness, is associated with genetic differences between those persons. That indicates that genetic difference may also affect the happiness. Furthermore, neurobiological evidence shows that left and right frontal lobes play different roles in the emotion (MC) (M). Happiness is a type of emotion, a positive one. From the experiments, happiness and the left prefrontal lobe are combined together. The more active it is, the more positive emotion you sense.
E
At the outset of new millennium, a global research had a result that the people living in the modern world were even unhappier. With crises being on the rise these days, finding happiness can be a bit challenging. Despite of all the stresses associated with life, we still do our best to be happy — because being happy is the only way to keep us afloat. Happiness is considered a very important therapy, both physically and mentally. With it, we are inspired to accomplish whatever goals we want to achieve. It's a strong drive that keeps us going and helps us live our life every single day.
F
There are many ways to be happy. Spend time with individuals who are dear to you. There is nothing more joyful than to be with the people you love. During the weekends, try to schedule 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. Do something nice for others. Helping others is a very honorable way to find happiness. If your schedule is too tight for volunteer work, you can just donate a small sum of money or some old clothes or toys to charity. When you eat out, try to be a good tipper to the waiters or the valet who safely parked your car. All these simple things will not only make you happy, but other people as well. Start and end your day with a smile. Smiling is a very powerful gesture. There's no need for words to describe how pleasant it is. If you have a 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 your friends. A close circle of friends is one of the most important sources of happiness.
Questions 1-5
The reading Passage has six paragraphs A-F
Choose the correct heading for paragraphs A-E from the list of headings below.
Write the appropriate number, i-ix. in boxes 1-5 on your answer sheet.
List of Headings
i. Solutions of acquiring happiness
ii. Happiness helps to ease pressure from modem life
iii. Smile can make you happy
iv. The wealthier, the happier
v. The influence of environment
vi. Sources of happiness
vii. How to define happiness
viii. The comparison of old times and modem life
ix. Factors that affect 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 correct letter, A, B, C, or D.
Write your answers in boxes 6-10 on your answer sheet
6 Which of the following items is NOT the source of happiness?
A. company of wife and children
B. experience of having a big feast
C. obtaining higher education
D. high social status
7 What is the decisive step of achieving happiness?
A. having a positive mind
B. strong in social activities
C. lots of belongings and properties
D. a healthy body
8 Which is NOT mentioned in this passage for affecting the happiness?
A. personal character
B. the reflection of frontal lobes
C. genetic differences
D. environmental factors
9 A worldwide research in the 21st century indicates that
A. Male feels more stressful than female.
B. People are leading a happy life.
C. Modem life makes people upset.
D. Most people are not satisfied with current situation.
10 Which suggestion is NOT mentioned in the last paragraph for achieving happiness?
A. go out for a picnic during weekends
B. to consult a psychologist
C. make donations to charities
D. a beautiful smile
Questions 11-13
Complete each sentence with the correct ending, A-G, below.
Write the correct letter, A-G, in boxes 11-13 on your answer sheet.
11 A study of reared-apart twins
12 The left prefrontal lobe of human
13 People living in modern city
A. have no method to escape from pressure.
B. may cam more sense of happiness by a circle of close friends.
C. encouraged people to make further investigation.
D. demonstrates that environment is not the sole factor that affects happiness.
E. suggests that people have no control on their welfare.
F. has affirmative connection with the feeling of happiness.
G. are not sure about what is happiness.
参考译文
怎样获得快乐
终其一生,快乐是我们最终和永恒的最求目标。快乐不仅仅是一个强健的体魄,一栋豪华的别墅,或者一场环球旅行,而是我们自己心底的某种感觉。然而,我们可以通过科学的方法来研究快乐。
A
“我们可以从哪里找到快乐?”当被问到时,会发现这个问题很难准确回答。我们可以从家里,工作中,学校,朋友的陪伴中找到快乐。获得我们自己所寻找和渴望的快乐的方式和方法取决于我们自己。然而,有一点我们非常清楚,获得快乐并没有绝对唯一的方式。不同的人可能对于获得快乐的方式的看法不一样。以下五种分类被很多人认为是快乐的来源:亲人朋友,财富,地位,教育成就和名望。
B
快乐的宽泛定义是一种以积极或愉快的情绪为特点的良好的精神状态,其中情绪从满足到极度快乐都有可能。很多生物学的,心理学的,宗教的和哲学的方法都已经试图定义快乐和它的来源。各种各样的研究组,包括积极心理学,致力于应用科学的方法来回答诸如“快乐是什么以及我们如何可能获得快乐”这样的问题。哲学家们和宗教思想家们仍然定义快乐为好好生活或者健康成长,而不是简单的定义为一种情绪。从这个层面上来说,快乐被用来理解希腊的快乐主义并且仍然被用在美德伦理学。
C
身体健康的程度是快乐最大的决定因素,而同年龄层的人们财务成功的对比则是快乐与否的第二大来源。根据宾夕法尼亚州立大学的格伦菲尔鲍社会学研究表明,财务上富裕的人比贫穷的人更倾向于变得快乐。他们的研究注重收入对快乐的影响是否很大程度上因为金钱能够买到的东西(绝对收入影响)或对比人与人之间的收入(相对收入影响)。他们把自己的研究以“相对收入和快乐:美国人处于享乐适应症吗?”为标题放在了学期的论文上。格伦菲尔鲍通过估计他们自己的收入证明人们会把自己和同龄人比较。因此,个人所报告出来的快乐程度取决于和同龄的其他人比起来,他或她的收入怎么样。通过基于同龄人群的比较,研究者们发现了相对和决定影响的证据,但是在决定美国个体快乐程度方面,相对收入比觉得收入更重要。这可能导致自我放纵的单调的工作,因为在美国大部分成年人的整个生命中收入是上升的。他们总是对收入不满。比如,这个研究表明哈佛大学的学生期望比他们的同学挣更多的钱而不关心工资的准确数量。
D
我们很早就知道来自生活的各个方面的因素能够促进实现快乐。米尼苏达州双胞胎分开抚养研究最近做了一个研究项目,选了120对分开抚养的双胞胎作为测试快乐理解的对象。在早期的结果报告中发现,在大部分可测的心理学特点方面,双胞胎之间的良好程度并非相同或相似而是不同。因此环境因素可能不是唯一的对快乐感影响巨大的因素。在另一项调查中,研究对象的祖先都是欧洲人,对于可以测量的心理学特点而言,遗传可能性从25%到80%都有可能,或者更加具体的来说,人和人之间在智商,创造力和快乐方面的差异度从四分之一到五分之四,遗传性和这些人之间的基因不同有联系。那就表明基因不同可能也会影响快乐。此外,神经生物学的证据表明左右大脑额叶可能在情绪在有不同的作用。快乐是一种情绪,一种积极的情绪。从这个实验来看,快乐和左前额叶是结合在一起的。左前额叶越活跃,你就会感觉到越积极的情绪。
E
在新千年的开始,一项全球的研究表明生活在现代的人们甚至感觉更加不快乐。在那些日子里伴随着危机上升,寻找快乐比较有挑战。尽管和生活相关的所有压力,我们任然尽力变得快乐,因为变得快乐是我们保持活动起来的唯一方式。快乐被认为是一种非常重要的身心的治疗方法。有了它,我们被激励去完成任何我们想要到达的目标。它是一个保持我们继续向前和帮助我们过好每一天的强大动力。
F
有很多方法可以变得快乐。花时间和自己爱的人在一起。没有什么比和自己爱的人在一起更开心。周末,试着组织一次你和朋友或者全家人的旅行。只需要去其他的地方并且享受由此带来的变化的风景。为其他人做件好事。帮助他人是一种寻找快乐的可敬方式。如果你的安排太满以至于没有时间去做志愿者工作,你可以捐点钱,旧衣服或者玩具给慈善机构。当你外出吃饭的时候,多给服务员或者帮你安全停好车的服务人员一些小费。所有这些事情,不仅可以使你自己快乐而且也可以让别人快乐。用微笑来开始和结束你的一天。微笑是一个非常有力量的表情。没有必要去表述它有多愉快。如果你的一天过得不顺利,在离开办公室的路上微笑。当人们对你的微笑给予回复,这会使你情绪变好并使你感觉好起来。花更多时间和你的朋友在一起。一群关系亲密的朋友是快乐最重要的来源之一。
答案:
1.vi 2.vii 3.iv 4.ix 5.ii 6.B 7.D
8.A 9.D 10.B 11.D 12.F 13.B