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I live in the land of Disney, Hollywood and year - round sun.You may think People , such an attractive, fun - filled place are happier than others.If so you have some mistaken ideas about the nature of happiness.
Many intelligent people still think fun equals happiness.The truth is that fun and happiness have little or nothing in common.Fun is what we experience during an act.Happiness is what we experience after an act.It is a deep, long-lasting emotion.
Going to an amusement park or a ball game, watching a movie or television are fun activities that help us relax, temporally forget our problems and maybe even laugh.But they do not bring happiness, because their positive effects end when the fun ends.
I have often thought that if Hollywood stars have a role to play, it is to teach us that happiness has nothing to do with fun.They have constant access to exciting parties, fancy cars, expensive homes, everything that spells "happiness" But in memoir(回忆录) after memoir, they expose Ac unhappiness hidden beneath all their fun: depression, alcoholism, drug addiction, broken marriages and loneliness.
Ask a bachelor why he resists marriage even though he finds dating to be less and less satisfying.If he is honest, he will tell you that he is afraid of making a commitment.For commitment is in fact quite painful.The single life is filled with fun, adventure and excitement.Man-iage has such moments, but they are not its most distinguishing features.
Similarly, couples that choose not to have children are deciding in favor of painless fun over painful happiness.They can dine out whenever they want and sleep as late as they want.Couples with babies are lucky to get a whole night' s sleep.I don't know any parent who would choose the word fun to describe raising children.
Understanding and accepting that true happiness has nothing to do with fun is one of the most liberating realizations we can ever come to.It liberates time: now we can devote more hours to activities that can truly increase our happiness.It liberates money: buying that new car or those fancy clothes that will do nothing to increase our happiness now seems pointless.And it frees us from envy: we now understand that all those rich and famous people we were so sure are happy because they are always having so much fun actually may not be happy at all.
What is the passage mainly about?

A.Fun and happiness. B.Success and satisfaction.
C.Marriage and commitment. D.Entertainment and responsibility.

The author probably agrees that ____.

A.fun creates long - lasting satisfaction
B.long - standing fun may lead to happiness
C.fun is short-lived while happiness is long-lasting
D.fun provides enjoyment while pain leads to happiness

What does the author think of marriage?

A.It ends in pain. B.It means commitment.
C.It affords greater fun. D.It leads to raising children.

If one gets the real meaning of happiness, he ____.
A.will start a business          B  won' t place too much value on money
C.will seek for freedom           D.won't devote himself to his family

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Winning the lottery (彩票) is not the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow for many past winners. Sad stories do exist in large numbers for the past lottery winners and that's why some financial experts say "70 percent of lottery winners will squander away (乱花) winning within a few years." Some end up losing all within two years, family relationships destroyed or even worse.
Wayne Schenk was an old soldier diagnosed with lung cancer. When he won a million dollars in a lottery he thought his troubles were over and he would get the advanced medical treatment that might save his life. But Lottery officials refused to pay him the total sum in a single payment and they said they could not make an exception to the regulations. When Schenk died in 2007, he'd only received one payment of $34,000.
Another lottery winner, Billy Bob Harrell, Jr. killed himself two years after winning 31 million dollars in the Texas lottery in 1997.He'd spent large amounts of money and given large amounts away, but he didn't end me expected peace that should have come with the freedom of money.
Other lottery winners have ended up in prison for crimes. Many suffer bankruptcy (破产) after the big jackpot (头奖) is spent and given away, including some of the eight people who won the 365 million Powerball in 2006.
The examples given paint a sad picture of what can happen if you win a big lottery jackpot, but fortunately, these examples don't tell the stories of all jackpot winners.
What is the main idea of the first paragraph?

A.Most lottery winners use up money quickly.
B.Most lottery winners don't really end up well.
C.Winning lottery means relationships destroyed.
D.Financial experts are against the lottery industry.

Why did lottery officials refuse to give Wayne Schenk the million dollars in one payment?

A.He was diagnosed with lung cancer.
B.He was unwilling to give away his money.
C.They had to observe the official rules.
D.They didn't want to disturb his peace.

The author supports his main idea by ____.

A.giving examples B.making comparisons
C.listing numbers D.listing reasons

In the following paragraph, the author will probably talk about_____.

A.advice given by financial experts
B.happy stories of the lottery winners
C.conclusion drawn by the author
D.regulations about lottery winning

There are two basic ways to see growth: one as a product, the other as a process. People have generally viewed personal growth as an external(外部的) result or product that can easily be identified and measured. The worker who gets a promotion, the student whose grades improve, the foreigner who learns a new language--- all these are examples of people who have measurable results to show for their efforts.
By contrast, the process of personal growth is much more difficult to determine, since by definition it is a journey and not the specific signposts or landmarks along the way. The process is not the road itself, but rather the attitudes and feelings people have, their caution or courage, as they go through new experiences and unexpected obstacles. In this process, the journey never really ends; there are always new ways to experience the world, new ideas to try, new challenges to accept.
In order to grow, to travel new roads, people need to have a willingness to take risks, to be faced with the unknown, and to accept the possibility that they may “fail” at first. How we see ourselves as we try a new way of being is essential to our ability to grow.
These feelings of insecurity and self – doubt are both unavoidable and necessary if we are to change and grow. If we do not face and overcome these internal fears and doubts, if we protect ourselves too much, then we cease to grow. We become trapped inside a shell of our own making.
A person is generally believed to achieve personal growth when______..

A.he has given up his smoking habit
B.he has made great efforts in his work
C.he is interested in making anything new
D.he has tried to determine where he is on his journey

In the author’s eyes, one who views personal growth as a process would______.

A.judge his ability to grow from his own achievements
B.succeed in climbing up the social ladder
C.face difficulties and take up challenges
D.aim high and reach his goal each time

When the author says “a new way of being” (para. 3), he is referring to _____.

A.a new way of taking risks
B.a new approach to experiencing the world
C.a new system of adapting to change
D.a new method of finding ourselves

For personal growth, the author may not support __________.

A.curiosity and more chances
B.being quick in self – adaptation
C.open – minded to new experiences
D.avoidance of internal fears and doubts

The New York Aquarium (水族馆) offers a diverse collection and nice viewing experience for all our guests. Whether you’re observing penguins on their rocky coastline home or swimming underwater, looking at a coral reef (珊瑚礁) under the water, or cheering on California sea lions at the theater, you’ll find plenty to see and do during your visit. Your underwater adventure is waiting for you! This summer, head out to Coney Island to learn about the underwater world at the New York Aquarium.
Just off the Coney Island in Brooklyn, the New York Aquarium features more than 300 marine (海洋的) species, such as dolphins and seals. Meet some of our mammals and fish, and learn about their natural history, biology, and cultural roles.


Hours
Summer hours
May 28 – Sept. 5
10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. , Monday–Friday
10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. , Weekends & Holidays
Fall hours
Sept. 6 – Nov. 6
10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. , Monday–Friday
10:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. , Weekends & Holidays
Winter hours
Nov. 7 – Mar. 31
10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. , Daily
Spring hours
Apr. 1– May 27
10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. , Monday–Friday
10:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. , Weekends & Holidays

Total Experience Ticket
Adult $18.00
Child (Ages 3-12)$14.00
Senior (65+) $15.00
Groups (at least ten visitors) $8.00
﹡Includes admission to our 4-D Theater Plus General Admission.
﹡Children under 3 years old are free!
﹡To receive the group rate, you must make a reservation at least two weeks in advance of your group’s visit. Please call 718-741-1818.
Friday Afternoon Special
Admission on Fridays beginning at 3:00 p.m. is by donation. Suggested donation is $13 for adults, $9 for children, and $10 for seniors. Every dollar you give supports our work in caring for animals at the aquarium.
Aquarium Parking
Car $13.00
Bus $13.00
Please note:
﹡Due to rising costs, the Wildlife Conservation Society reserves the right to change all fees without notice.
﹡All Aquarium buildings and exhibits are wheelchair-accessible.
﹡For further information, please call 718-265-3454.
Which animal can’t visitors probably see at the New York Aquarium?

A.Penguins. B.Pandas. C.Dolphins. D.Seals.

Six adults (including a man of 68) and two children (aged 2 and 10) are going to visit the New York Aquarium on Sunday. They will have to pay ______________ at least.

A.$144 B.$133 C.$64 D.$119

The donation is used to ______________.

A.help the poor people
B.help to save the endangered animals in the wild
C.care for animals at the aquarium
D.help the disabled visitors

Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?

A.You can visit the New York Aquarium at 5:30 p.m. on Christmas.
B.A visitor in a wheelchair can get around at the New York Aquarium.
C.Visitors can enjoy free parking service on Friday.
D.To enjoy the group rate, visitors must make a reservation at least two weeks in advance by sending an e-mail.

When next year’s crop of high-school graduates arrive at Oxford University in the fall of 2009, they’ll be joined by a new face; Andrew Hamilton, the 55-year-old provost (教务长) of Yale, who’ll become Oxford’s vice-chancellor—a position equivalent to university president in America.
  Hamilton isn’t the only educator crossing the Atlantic. Schools in France, Egypt, Singapore, etc, have also recently made top-level hires from abroad. Higher education has become a big and competitive business nowadays, and like so many businesses, it’s gone global. Yet the talent flow isn’t universal. High-level personnel tend to head in only one direction: outward from America.
  The chief reason is that American schools don’t tend to seriously consider looking abroad. For example, when the board of the University of Colorado searched for a new president, it wanted a leader familiar with the state government, a major source of the university’s budget. “We didn’t do any global consideration,” says Patricia Hayes, the board’s chair. The board ultimately picked Bruce Benson, a 69-year-old Colorado businessman and political activist (活动家) who is likely to do well in the main task of modern university presidents: fund-raising. Fund-raising is a distinctively American thing, since U.S. schools rely heavily on donations. The fund-raising ability is largely a product of experience and necessity.
  Many European universities, meanwhile, are still mostly dependent on government funding. But government support has failed to keep pace with rising student number. The decline in government support has made funding-raising an increasing necessary ability among administrators and has hiring committees hungry for Americans.
  In the past few years, prominent schools around the world have joined the trend. In 2003, when Cambridge University appointed Alison Richard, another former Yale provost, as its vice-chancellor, the university publicly stressed that in her previous job she had overseen “a major strengthening of Yale’s financial position.”
  Of course, fund-raising isn’t the only skill outsiders offer. The globalization of education means more universities will be seeking heads with international experience of some kind of promote international programs and attract a global student body. Foreigners can offer a fresh perspective on established practices.
What is the current trend in higher education discussed in the passage?

A.Institutions worldwide are hiring administrators from the U.S.
B.A lot of political activists are being recruited as administrators.
C.American universities are enrolling more international students.
D.University presidents are paying more attention to funding-raising.

What is the chief consideration of American universities when hiring top-level administrators?

A.The political correctness.
B.Their ability to raise funds.
C.Their fame in academic circles.
D.Their administrative experience.

What do we learn about European universities from the passage?

A.The tuitions they charge have been rising considerably.
B.Their operation is under strict government supervision.
C.They are strengthening their position by globalization.
D.Most of their revenues come from the government.

Cambridge University appointed Alison Richard as its vice-chancellor chiefly because _____.

A.she was known to be good at raising money
B.she could help strengthen its ties with Yale
C.she knew how to attract students overseas
D.she had boosted Yale’s academic status

In what way do top-level administrators from abroad contribute to university development?

A.They can enhance the university’s image.
B.They will bring with them more international faculty.
C.They will view a lot of things from a new perspective.
D.They can set up new academic disciplines.

Throughout this long, tense election, everyone has focused on the presidential candidates and how they’ll change America. Rightly so, but selfishly, I’m more fascinated by Michelle Obama and what she might be able to do, not just for this country, but for me as an African-American woman. As the potential First Lady, she would have the world’s attention. And that means that for the first time people will have a chance to get up close and personal with the type of African-American woman they so rarely see.
  Usually, the lives of black women go largely unexamined. The prevailing theory seems to be that we’re all hot-tempered single mothers who can’t keep a man. Even in the world of make-believe, black women still can’t escape the stereotype of being eye-rolling, oversexed females raised by our never-married, alcoholic (酗酒的) mothers.
  These images have helped define the way all women are viewed, including Michelle Obama. Before she ever gets the chance to commit to a cause, charity or foundation as First Lady, her most urgent and perhaps most complicated duty may be simple to be herself.
  It won’t be easy. Because few mainstream publications have done in-depth features on regular African-American women, little is known about who we are, what we think and what we face on a regular basis. For better or worse, Michelle will represent us all.
  Just as she will have her critics, she will also have millions of fans who usually have little interest in the First Lady. Many African-American blogs have written about what they’d like to see Michelle bring to the White House—mainly showing the world that a black woman can support her man and raise a strong black family. Michelle will have to work to please everyone—an impossible task. But for many African-American women like me, just a little of her poise (沉着), confidence and intelligence will go a long way in changing an image that’s been around for far too long.
Why does Michelle Obama hold a strong fascination for the author?

A.She serves as a role model for African women.
B.She possesses many admirable qualities becoming a First Lady.
C.She will present to the world a new image of African-American women.
D.She will pay closer attention to the interests of African-American women.

What is the common stereotype of African-American women according to the author?

A.They are victims of violence.
B.They are of an inferior violence.
C.They use quite a lot of body language.
D.They live on charity and social welfare.

What do many African-Americans write about in their blogs?

A.Whether Michelle can live up to the high expectations of her fans.
B.How Michelle should behave as a public figure.
C.How proud they are to have a black woman in the White House.
D.What Michelle should do as wife and mother in the White House.

What does the author say about Michelle Obama as a First Lady?

A.However many fans she has, she should remain modest,
B.She shouldn’t disappoint the African-American community.
C.However hard she tries, she can’t expect to please everybody.
D.She will give priority to African-American women’s concerns.

What do many African-American women hope Michelle Obama will do?

A.Help change the prevailing view about black women.
B.Help her husband in the task of changing America.
C.Outshine previous First Lady.
D.Fully display her fine qualities.

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