Moving to a new town or even a new neighborhood is stressful at any age, but a new study shows that frequent moves in childhood are related to poorer well-being(幸福) in adulthood, especially among people who are more introverted(内向的) or neurotic(神经症的).
The researchers tested the relationship between the number of childhood moves and well-being in a sample of 7108 American adults who were followed for 10 years.
“We know that children who move frequently are more likely to perform poorly in school and have more behavioral problems,” said the study’s lead author Shigehiro Oishi. “However, the long-term effects of moving on well-being in adulthood have been overlooked by researchers.”
The study’s participants, who were between the ages of 20 and 75, were contacted in 1994 and 1995 and were surveyed again 10 years later. They were asked how many times they had moved as children, as well as about their psychological well-being, personality type and social relationships.
The researchers found that the more times people moved as children, the more likely they were to report lower life satisfaction and psychological well-being at the time they were surveyed. The research also showed that those who moved frequently as children had fewer quality social relationships as adults.
The researchers also looked to see if different personality types affected frequent movers’ well-being. Among introverts, the more moves participants reported as children, the worse off they were as adults. “Moving a lot makes it difficult for people to keep long-term close relationships.” Said Oishi. “This might not be a serious problem for outgoing people who can make friends quickly and easily.”
The findings showed neurotic people who moved frequently reported less life satisfaction and poorer psychological well-being than people who did not move as much and people who were not neurotic. However, the number and quality of neurotic people’s relationships had no effect on their well-being, no matter how often they had moved as children. In the article, Oishi thinks this may be because neurotic people have more negative reactions to stressful life events in general.
“We can guess that moving often creates more stress,” Oishi said. “But we need more research on this link before we can conclude that moving often in childhood can, in fact, be dangerous to your health in the long-term.”What can be learnt about the new study from the passage?
A.The participants were from all over the world. |
B.It was carried out in two periods of time. |
C.The participants were mostly old people. |
D.The participants had poor health. |
What is the purpose of the study?
A.To show the relationship between moving and performance in school |
B.To show the relationship between moving and well-being |
C.To investigate Americans’ well-being in general |
D.To research the personality types of Americans |
According to Oishi, .
A.moving a lot is a serious problem for outgoing people |
B.moving probably makes some people feel worried and tense |
C.moving frequently is likely to help people make more friends |
D.moving often is dangerous to people’s health in the long-term |
The fifth and sixth paragraphs mainly talk about .
A.the process of the study |
B.the results of the study |
C.the importance of the study |
D.the theory of the study |
It can be inferred from the passage that .
A.adults should take more care over their kids |
B.neurotic people are likely to move frequently |
C.children who move frequently behave well in school |
D.personality types are related to frequent movers’ happiness |
News that Microsoft made a $44.6 billion bid to buy Yahoo resulted in heated discussions made by many Internet users. Here are some responses:
Diane Burke of Weeks bury, Kentucky
I think it would definitely be an interesting combination. Everyone recognizes the names Yahoo and Microsoft, but everyone also says, “Did you Google it?” Such a catchphrase (时髦话) is going to be hard to beat.
Shaun Carney of Laurelville, Ohio
I think the merger (合并) will provide more competitions for Google. I don’t think the merger will allow Microsoft to develop faster than Google, though. I believe the increased competition this merger brings will force Google to stay on top of its game by offering more fresh and original Internet tools and expanding on the tools it already offers.
Toni Suarez of Hacienda Heights, California
I view the merger as a necessary element in preventing a monopolization (垄断). Perhaps it would bring better high technology innovations to e-mail and help in researching and developing a better Internet!
Rick R. of Edgewater, Florida
It sounds like a disaster to me. If this were to happen, I would stop using my Yahoo e-mail account because I don’t like the feeling of Microsoft spying upon my business. I will sign up for Google.
Antonio Glosser of Kansas City, Missouri
Right now, Yahoo offers a lot of features and tools at no cost for all different levels of Internet users. Microsoft seeks nothing but profit. Undoubtedly, they’ll do nothing other than find ways to start removing Yahoo’s formerly non-priced features. Microsoft’s greed will ruin the great thing that Yahoo currently is.How many companies are mentioned in the passage?
A.One. | B.Two. | C.Three. | D.Four. |
Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?
A.Shaun’s attitude towards Google is passive. |
B.Toni believes the Internet will have a promising future. |
C.Rick will support Google after the merger. |
D.Antonio is afraid that the merger will cost Yahoo’s free features. |
The passage is mainly about ______.
A.the future of Yahoo and Microsoft |
B.the strengths of Yahoo and Microsoft |
C.the strengths and weaknesses of large companies |
D.opinions on the merger of Yahoo and Microsoft. |
Top Four Ways to Build a Wonderful Life
1. Live Below Your Means
There will always be temptation to give up the future for immediate pleasure. We all want to buy that new piece of technology, treat ourselves to an expensive night on the town, or take out a loan for the flashy car we can’t afford. It might feel great at the time but unwise spending hurts a lot later on. Enjoy life’s simple pleasures and save as much as you can. Expensive things don’t create lasting happiness and security. Careful spending will bring you greater leisure and enjoyment in the long run.
2. Put Your Money to Work
Saving is great, but to make the most of your money you need to put it to work. Good investments can be the difference between retiring in your 40’s or in your 60’s. A post today at The Simple Dollar really got me thinking. According to Trent’s estimates, if a person in their early 20’s invests 20% of their income in an S&P index fund, the interest they earn will equal their current salary when they reach their early 40’s. They could retire without a drop in income! Wise investing is the surest path to financial independence and it’s something everyone can work on. It’s definitely an area I’ll be devoting more attention to in my personal life.
3. Educate Yourself
To be happy we need continuous growth. The best way to grow is life-long education. This doesn’t mean you need to pursue a doctorate or spend 2 hours reading every day. Self-education can be anything that takes you out of your comfort zone. The important part is keeping an open mind and searching for fresh ideas and perspectives. Education builds over time. It might feel like the bits of wisdom you acquire don’t mean much, but over the years they add up to form a wiser, kinder, more interesting person.
4. Develop Lasting Personal Relationships
Suppose you had everything you wanted. Would you be happy without anyone to share it with? The personal relationships we develop with friends and family members are the greatest source of happiness in our lives. Don’t forget about them. Taking the time to cultivate and enjoy personal relationships is essential to long-term happiness. Without the people you care about you’ll probably be miserable, no matter how successful you become.According to the passage, in order to achieve financial independence after retirement, we’d better ________.
A.get along well with our family and friends |
B.bring ourselves leisure as well as enjoyment |
C.invest our money wisely when we are young |
D.learn some new skills and try to find a new job |
From the passage we can infer that some people try to ________.
A.gain happiness by buying themselves expensive things |
B.save everything they can to help those in need |
C.devote more attention to their personal life |
D.take out a loan to promote technology |
The author of the passage may agree that the key to self-education is________.
A.gaining as many degrees as possible |
B.being open to new ideas and views |
C.only focusing on very big events |
D.creating long-term happiness |
The above passage is written in order to ________.
A.explain what true happiness is about |
B.offer ways to achieve a happy and successful life |
C.introduce different definitions about happiness |
D.persuade readers to find out the meaning of life |
How Room Designs Affect Our Work and Feelings
Architects have long had the feeling that the places we live in can affect our thoughts, feelings and behaviors. But now scientists are giving this feeling an empirical basis. They are discovering how to design spaces that promote creativity, keep people focused and lead to relaxation.
Researches show that aspects of the physical environment can influence creativity. In 2007, Joan Meyers—Levy at the University of Minnesota, reported that the height of a room’s ceiling affects how people think. Her research indicates that higher ceilings encourage people to think more freely, which may lead them to make more abstract connections. Low ceilings, on the other hand, may inspire a more detailed outlook.
In additions to ceiling height, the view afforded by a building may influence an occupant’s ability to concentrate. Nancy Wells and her colleagues at Cornell University found in their study that kids who experienced the greatest increase in greenness as a result of a family move made the most gains on a standard test of attention.
Using nature to improve focus of attention ought to pay off academically, and it seems to, according to a study led by C. Kenneth Tanner, head of the School Design & Planning Laboratory at the University of Georgia. Tanner and his team found that students in classrooms with unblocked views of at least 50 feet outside the window had higher scores on tests of vocabulary, language arts and maths than did students whose classrooms primarily overlooked roads and parking lots.
Recent study on room lighting design suggests than dim light helps people to loosen up. If that is true generally, keeping the light low during dinner or at parties could increase relaxation. Researchers of Harvard Medical School also discovered that furniture with rounded edges could help visitors relax.
So far scientists have focused mainly on public buildings. “We have a very limited number of studies, so we’re almost looking at the problem through a straw,” architect David Allison says. “How do you take answers to very specific questions and make broad, generalized use of them? That's what we’re all struggling with.”What does Joan Meyers—Levy focus on in her research?
A.Light. | B.Ceilings. | C.Windows. | D.Furniture. |
The passage tells us that _____.
A.the shape of furniture may affect people’s feelings |
B.lower ceilings may help improve students’ creativity |
C.children in a dim classroom may improve their grades |
D.students in rooms with unblocked views may feel relaxed |
The underlined sentence in the last paragraph probably means that _____.
A.the problem is not approached step by step |
B.the researches so far have faults in themselves |
C.the problem is too difficult for researchers to detect |
D.research in this area is not enough to make generalized patterns |
.Which of the following shows the organization of the passage?
CP: Central Point P: Point SP: Sub-point(次要点) C: Conclusion
A
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What do we know about 1234 PENS?
A.It has a history of over 30 years. |
B.It has built up a large pen market. |
C.It has its name printed on each pen. |
D.It charges a low price for extra service. |
What is mainly discussed in Paragraph 3?
A.The different types of the products. |
B.The high quality of the products. |
C.The quick service of 1234 PENS. |
D.The trade shows of 1234 PENS. |
What is special about the pens produced in 1234 PENS?
A.They are designed in 16 styles. |
B.They come in 48 different colours. |
C.Their material is less harmful to the earth. |
D.Their price is much lower in the pen market. |
The main purpose of the passage is to _____.
A.persuade people to order the products |
B.explain the process of making logo pens |
C.show people how to choose different pens |
D.introduce the different services of 1234 PENS |
This brief book is aimed at high school students, but speaks to anyone learning at any stage of life.
Its formal, serious style closely matches its content, a school-masterly book on schooling.The author, W.H.Armstrong, starts with the basics: reading and writing.In his opinion, reading doesn’t just mean recognizing each word on the page; it means taking in the information, digesting it and incorporating it into oneself just as one digests a sandwich and makes it a part of himself.The goal is to bring the information back to life, not just to treat it as dead facts on paper from dead trees.Reading and writing cannot be completely separated from each other; in fact, the aim of reading is to express the information you have got from the text.I’ve seen it again and again:some-one who can’t express an idea after reading a text is just as ineffective as someone who hasn’t read it at all.
Only a third of the book remains after that discussion, which Armstrong devotes to specific tips for studying languages, math, science and history.He generally handles these topics thoroughly(透彻地) and equally, except for some weakness in the science and math sections and a bit too much passion(激情) regarding history to his students, that was a hundred times more than my history teachers ever got across.To my disappointment, in this part of the book he ignores the arts.As a matter of fact, they demand all the concentration and study that math and science do, though the study differs slightly in kind.Although it’s commonly believed that the arts can only be naturally acquired, actually, learning the arts is no more natural than learning French or mathematics.
My other comment is that the text aged.The first edition apparently dates to the 1960s—none of the references(参考文献)seem newer than the late 1950s.As a result, the discussion misses the entire computer age.
These are small points, though, and don’t affect the main discussion.I recommend it to any student and any teacher, including the self-taught student.According to Armstrong, the goal of reading is to ________.
A.gain knowledge and expand one’s view |
B.understand the meaning between the lines |
C.express ideas based on what one has read |
D.get information and keep it alive in memory |
The author of the passage insists that learning the arts _________.
A.requires great efforts |
B.demands real passion |
C.is less natural than learning maths |
D.is as natural as learning a language |
What is a shortcoming of Armstrong’s work according to the author?
A.Some ideas are slightly contradictory. |
B.There is too much discussion on studying science. |
C.The style is too serious. |
D.It lacks new information. |
This passage can be classified as________.
A.an advertisement | B.a book review |
C.a feature story | D.A news report |
Which of the following words can best describe the author’s attitude towards the book_____。
A.positive | B.neutral |
C.negative | D.objective |