Happiness is U-shaped, for we are happier at the start and end of our lives but hit a slump when we are middle-aged, British and US researchers say.
Economists from the University of Warwick, central England, and from Dartmouth College, New Hampshire, looked at data on the mental health of two million people from 80 countries.
In Britain, the probability of depression for men and women peaks at around 44 years of age, Warwick University said in a press release.
In the United States, though, ________________________between men and women. Among women, unhappiness peaked at around the age of 40, whereas among men, it was about 50.
But the U-shape of happiness is constant around the world, and mid-life depression occurs regardless of marital status（婚姻状况）, changes in job or income.
The study appears in Social Science & Medicine, published by the Dutch publishing house Elsevier.
"It happens to men and women, to single and married people, to rich and poor, and to those with and without children.” said co-author Andrew Oswald.
One possibility may be that people realize they won't achieve many of their ambitions at middle age. The researchers said.
Another reason could be that after seeing their fellow middle-aged peers begin to die, people begin to value their own remaining years and embrace life once more.
But the good news is that if people make it to aged 70 and are still physically fit, they are on average as happy and mentally healthy as a 20-year old.
"For the average persons in the modern world, the dip in mental health and happiness comes on slowly, not suddenly in a single year," Oswald said. "Only in their fifties do people emerge from this low period.”
1. Which sentence in the passage is the closest in meaning to the following one?
There are chances that the middle-aged people will realize their ideal is likely to be unattainable.
__________________________________________________________________________
2. Fill in the blank in Paragraph 3 with a proper sentence．（within 10 words）
__________________________________________________________________________
3. How do you understand the sentence that “Happiness is U-shaped”? （within 20 words）
__________________________________________________________________________
4. Is mid-life depression a common Phenomenon in the world? How do you know? （within 15 words）
__________________________________________________________________________
5. Translate the underlined sentence in the last paragraph into Chinese
__________________________________________________________________________
第二节语法填空(共10小题；每小题1.5分，满分15分)
阅读下面短文，按照句子结构的语法性和上下文连贯的要求，在空格处填人一个适当的词或使用括号中词语的正确形式填空，并将答案填写在答题卡标号为31～40的相应位置上。
I was always told that the three Ps, patience, positive thinking and perseverance (毅力), were a sure path 31 success. But this advice does not always work as planned. My high school maths exam is one example. The exam, 32 was originally to be held in our classroom, 33 (change) to the library at the last minute. This, 34 , didn’t bother me because maths had always been my strongest subject. I patiently walked to the library, took my seat and did some deep breathing to help relax 35 . But my mood quickly changed when I saw 36 first question. I had no idea how to do it. I tried to stay positive and persevered 37 I finally found the solution. With the problem 38 (solve), I felt proud of my achievement. 39 (fortunate), I then noticed that I had just 10 minutes left 40 (complete) the rest!
第二节语法填空(共10小题；每小题1.5分，满分15分)
阅读下面短文，按照句子结构的语法性和上下文连贯的要求，在空格处填入一个适当的词或使用括号中词语的正确形式填空，并将答案填写在答题卡标号为3l~40的相应位置上。
The long history of the Chinese Knot dates back to ancient times and 31 people first used knots for fastening, wrapping, hunting and fishing. The knot was developed and 32 an art from during the Tang (AD 618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties and later popularized in the Ming and Qing Dynasty (1368-1911 AD).
One major characteristic of decorative knot work is and 33 all the knots are tied using one thread, when and 34 (finish), the knot looks identical from both the front and back. They can come in a variety of colours such as: gold, green, blue or black. and 35 , the most commonly used colour is red. This is because 36 symbolizes good luck and prosperity.
Crafting the Chinese knot is and 37 three-step process, which involves tying, tightening and adding. There are many different shapes of Chinese knots, and 38 (offer) blessings of happiness, love and good luck.
In Chinese, “knot” means reunion, friendliness, and 39 (warm), love, etc. Up to now, the art of the Chinese Knot and 40 (use) in necklaces, buttons and even hangings for cars or mobile phones.
（二）短文语法填空（1分/题，共分10分）
In Mount Berry, Georgia, people find a group of schools built specially for mountain children. The schools, as well as the mountain itself, are named ___66___ Martha Berry.
Martha Berry was born in 1866. Luckier ___67___ most Georgian mountain children, she received education. But she never forgot other children of the mountains __68____ parents couldn’t afford to send them to school. In 1902 Martha Betty started a school with only five pupils. Now, ninety years later, ___69___ are a number of Betty schools in the area, with ___70___ total of over one thousand students and about five thousand students ___71___ (wait) for their opportunities.
Martha Betty in her later years received many medals and honors for what she ___72___ (do) for the poor mountain children of Georgia, and in 1931 she was named one of the most important ___73___ (woman) in the United States. She never stopped ___74___ (work) for the mountain children ___75___ her death in 1942.
五.语法填空 (20分)
Dear Mr. Costa,
I’m sorry it has taken me so long to write. I’ve been very busy with work and school, but I’ve thought about you often.
How have you been (1) (late)? Did you have a good Christmas and New Year’s? Mac says you’ve been working hard at (2) restaurant and that business is very good. What else have you been doing?
I had a short (3) good vacation. Mac and I went to Chicago for a few days before Christmas, but I had to come back and work (4) Christmas and New Year’s, (5) (include) Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve! Every time something like that (6) (happen), I wonder (7) I really want to work in the hotel business.
The other day I was thinking about the fun (8) we used to have in our English class. I haven’t seen many of our classmates (9) the course was over. In fact, the only one I see very often is Tomiko. I’d really like to get in touch with Franco. Does he ever write to you? If so, could you please send me his address?
Well, Mac and I are going skating and he is waiting for (10) , so I guess I’d better say goodbye now. Write as soon as you can.
Yours ever
B
I am going to tell you an unbelievable story. This afternoon a __41___(poor) dressed gentleman came into my restaurant. Nobody knew who he was and __42___he came from. After __43___(sit) down, he ordered a lot of food. He stared at it and then _44___ (eat) it up very quickly.
To be_45___, we doubted whether the man was able to pay for the food. When he was asked to pay the bill, the gentleman asked if we would mind__46__ (wait) just a few minutes. Then we were _47___ (shock) to see that he took a million pound bank note. __48__(fortunate), we could not change the bank note as it was too large. So I gave this strange but very rich man a _49__ dinner, in the hope__50__he might come to our restaurant again.