Does being rich make you happy? Many studies on happiness give negative answers. Here are some points in being happy.
Basic Human Needs Must Be Met
People whose basic needs for shelter, clothing and food are not met will find it very difficult to feel happy. Of course, there are exceptions, but for most of us, we can only be happy once our basic needs are met.
The Joneses Cannot Be Escaped
People’s happiness is not determined by how much they have, but by how much people around them have. So, we tend to feel happy once our basic needs are met and we have more than the people surrounding us.
This means that while keeping up with the Joneses could be destructive if we let it go too far. It is also part of humana nature to want to feel at least on the same level, financially, as those surrounding us.
You Should Escape The Rat Race
We should know the importance of staying out of the rat race. So yes, you need to work hard, get the education you need to land a good job and work long enough and hard enough to get to a place where you can easily meet your basic needs. What are basic needs? For most middle or upper middle class Americans, basic needs are not very basic anymore.
For most of us, once our basic needs have been met, happiness is achieved when we engage in activities we like, spend time with friends and family and stay active. Making money for the sake of making money does not make people happy.
Ideally, these questions should be answered when you’re still young and just starting out. Don’t wait until your midlife crisis to realize that half your life has passed you by and you’re still unhappy.What’s the main idea of the passage?
| A．The research on happiness. | B．Key points on being happy. |
| C．What makes people feel unhappy. | D．Being rich makes people happy. |
In the view of the author, we know that ______.
| A．people need to have a place to live first of all |
| B．human basic needs are not necessary for being happy |
| C．human basic needs are fundamental for being happy |
| D．one will be happy if he has enough money |
What does the underlined phrase”the Joneses” in Paragraph 4 probably stand for?
| A．Expensive things. | B．Neighbors. |
| C．Money. | D．Richer people. |
From the passage, what is the purpose of people probably to do in “the rat race”?
| A．To enjoy their life with family. |
| B．To get high education for better jobs. |
| C．To work too hard for money only. |
| D．To work hard for basic needs. |
What’s the attitude of the author towards the passage?
| A．Money is a big problem, but money isn’t everything. |
| B．The love of money is the root of all evil. |
| C．Money doesn’t grow on trees. |
| D．Money is happiness. |
For those who are tired doing the laundry, Samsung has found an answer: a washing machine that can tell you when your laundry is done via a smartphone app(application).
Strange though it may seem — “my wife already does that” was a common response among attendees viewing the device when it was introduced at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) this week — Samsung is just one of many appliance makers racing to install (安装) a large number of internet-connected features in machines in an effort to make them “smart”.
Last year, it was a refrigerator that tweeted. This year, it’s Wi-Fi-enabled laundry machines and fridges that can tell you when your groceries are going bad.
The washers and dryers, available starting in the spring, connect to any smartphone through a downloadable application. The phone can then be used as a remote control, so the machines can be turned on and off while their owners is at work or on the bus.
Samsung says it’s not just something new — the app connection actually has some practical uses.
“If you started to dry clothes in the morning and forgot to take them out, you can go to your phone and restart your dryer for the time when come home, so your clothes are refreshed and ready to go,” said spokesperson Amy Schmidt.
The company also says that with electricity rate(电价)varying depending on the time of day, more control over when the machines are used can help save money.
Perhaps, but what they will probably really accomplish is what all good technologies do —enable laziness. Rather than getting up to check on whether the laundry is done, users will instead monitor it on their phones while watching TV. What can be inferred from the common response of the attendees at the CES?
| A．The machine will be a big success. |
| B．their wives like doing the laundry. |
| C．The machine is unrelated to their life. |
| D．This kind of technology is familiar to them. |
What can we learn about the new laundry machines?
| A．They can tell you when your clothes need washing |
| B．They can be controlled with a smartphone |
| C．They are difficult to operate |
| D．They are sold at a low price |
We can conclude form Samsung’s statements that ___________.
| A．the app connection makes life easier |
| B．it is better to dry clothes in the morning |
| C．smartphone can shorten the drying time |
| D．we should refresh clothes back at home |
What is the main idea of the last paragraph?
| A．The laundry should be frequently checked |
| B．Lazy people like using such machines |
| C．Good technologies also cause problems |
| D．Television may help do the laundry. |
The Basics of Math—Made Clear
Basic Math introduces students to the basic concepts of mathematics, as well as the fundamentals of more tricky areas. These 30 fantastic lectures are designed to provide students with an understanding of arithmetic and to prepare them for Algebra(代数) and beyond.
The lessons in Basic Math cover every basic aspect of arithmetic. They also look into exponents(指数), the order of operations, and square roots. In addition to learning how to perform various mathematical operations, students discover why these operations work, how a particular mathematical topic relates to other branches of mathematics, and how these operations can be used practically.
Basic Math starts from the relatively easier concepts and gradually moves on to the more troublesome ones, so as to allow for steady and sure understanding of the material by students. The lectures offer students the chance to “make sense” of mathematical knowledge that may have seemed so frightening. They also help students prepare for college mathematics and overcome their anxiety about this amazing—and completely understandable—field of study.
By the conclusion of the course, students will have improved their understanding of basic math. They will be able to clear away the mystery(神秘性) of mathematics and face their studies with more confidence than they ever imagined. In addition, they will strengthen their ability to accept new and exciting mathematical challenges.
Professor H. Siegel, honored by Kentucky Educational Television as “the best math teacher in America,” is a devoted teacher and has a gift for explaining mathematical concepts in ways that make them seem clear and obvious. From the basic concrete ideas to the more abstract problems, he is master in making math lectures learner-friendlier and less scary.
With a PhD in Mathematics Education from Georgia State University, Dr. Siegel teaches mathematics at Central Arizona College. His courses include various make-up classes and a number of lectures for future primary school teachers.
If the course fails to provide complete satisfaction to you, you can easily exchange it for any other course that we offer. Or you can get your money back.What does the course Basic Math mainly cover?
| A．Algebra. |
| B．College Mathematics. |
| C．Arithmetic. |
| D．Mathematics Education. |
What benefits can students expect from Basic Math?
| A．Stronger imaginative ability. |
| B．Additional presentation skills. |
| C．More mathematical confidence. |
| D．Greater chances of becoming teachers. |
What can we learn about Professor H. Siegel?
| A．He is a guest lecturer at Kentucky Educational Television. |
| B．He is to deliver 30 lectures in Basic Math. |
| C．He works in Georgia State University. |
| D．He specializes in training teachers. |
Where is the passage most likely to have been taken from?
| A．A news report. |
| B．A book review |
| C．A lesson plan. |
| D．An advertisement |
Are you looking for some new and exciting places to take your kids (孩子) to? Try some of these places
·Visit art museums. They offer a variety of activities to excite your kids' interest. Many offer workshops for making land-made pieces, traveling exhibits, book signings by children's favorite writer, and even musical performances and other arts.
·Head to a natural history museum. This is where kids can discover the past from dinosaur(恐龙) models to rock collections and pictures of stars in the sky. Also, ask what kind of workshops and educational programs are prepared for kids and any special events that are coming up.
·Go to a Youtheater. Look for one in your area offering plays for child and family visitors. Pre-show play shops are conducted by area artists and educators where kids can discover the secret about performing arts. Puppet(木偶)making and stage make-up are just a couple of the special offerings you might find.
·Try hands-on science. Visit one of the many hands-on science museums around the country. These science play-lands are great fun for kids and grown-ups alike. They'll keep your child mentally and physically active the whole day through while pushing buttons, experimenting, and building. When everyone is tired, enjoy a fun family science show, commonly found in these museums.If a child is interested in the universe, he probably will visit
| A．a Youtheater |
| B．an art museum |
| C．a natural history museum |
| D．a hands-on science museum |
What can kids do at a Youtheater?
| A．Look at rock collections. |
| B．See dinosaur models. |
| C．Watch puppet making. |
| D．Give performances. |
What does "hands-on science" mean in the last paragraph?
| A．Science games designed by kids. |
| B．Learning science by doing things. |
| C．A show of kids' science work. |
| D．Reading science books. |
Where does this text probably come from?
| A．A science textbook. |
| B．A tourist map. |
| C．A museum guide. |
| D．A news report. |
They say there are three ways to experience the Grand Canyon; on foot, on mules(骡子) or by air. We chose the first. Up early; my husband and I and our three children couldn’t wait to get started. We decided to walk along a lovely path named Bright Angel Trail.
As we set out, I was shocked at how narrow the path was. And I couldn’t help noticing that the other tourists weren’t like us. They had heavy backpacks, water bottles, and hats. But as usual we were dressed, As the sun rose higher, Arizona’s famous heat seemed to roast(烘烤) us. There was no shade and our legs were aching. We decided to go back, with the girl on my back and the boys far behind. By the time we finally got back, our legs were like jelly.
The next day, after we’d had a long rest and a good breakfast, we were ready for another view of the Canyon by air. After our last walk, this would be the easiest thing in the world.
We called to each other excitedly as the plane took off and circled around the Canyon. But the smiles on our faces disappeared as the pilot tossed(翻转) the plane around, pretending he was going to hit the ground. I shouted, “STOP, TAKE US BACK!” When we finally arrived back on land, once again our legs were like jelly. We hardly spoke as we drove back.
As I said, there are three ways to view the Grand Canyon. We never tried the mules, but personally I’d suggest a fourth: buy yourself a good magazine like National Geographic. That way, you can see the Canyon, without fear or tiredness. Which of the following is true according to the second paragraph?
| A．They made a careful preparation before the trip |
| B．They children were more joyful than their parents. |
| C．Bright Angel Trail was not as lovely as they expected. |
| D．The summer heat prevented them from enjoying the view. |
The underlined expression “Our legs were like jelly” probably means.
we were weak
B. we were unhappy
C. we were dissatisfied
D. we were disappointed Which of the following best describes their Canyon trip by air?
| A．It proved to be frightening. |
| B．It was more comfortable |
| C．It turned out to be exciting |
| D．It made each of them tired. |
We can infer from the passage that .
| A．experiencing the Canyon on mules would be the best way |
| B．one needs to dress less when visiting the Grand Canyon. |
| C．the writer was not serious when she made the suggestion. |
| D．the whole family narrowly escaped from the air accident. |
When I first entered university, my aunt, who is an English professor, gave me a new English dictionary. I was _____to see that it was an English English dictionary, also known as a monolingual dictionary.
_it was a dictionary intended for non—native learners, none of my classmates had one __
__, to be honest, I found it extremely
_ to use at first. I would look up words in the dictionary and _
_ not fully understand the meaning. I was used to the _
__ bilingual dictionaries, in which the words are _
_ both in English and Chinese. I really wondered why my aunt __
_ to make things so difficult for me. Now, after studying English at university for three years, I _
__ that monolingual dictionaries are __
_ in learning a foreign language
As I found out, there is ___ often no perfect equivalence(对应)between two _
___ in two language. My aunt even goes so far as to
___ that a Chinese “equivalent” can never give you the __
__ meaning of a word in English! ___
, she insisted that I read the definition(定义) of a world in a monolingual dictionary __
___ I wanted to get a better understanding of its meaning. ____
_, I have come to see what she meant.
Using a monolingual dictionary for learners has helped me in another important way. This dictionary uses a(n)number of words, around 2, 000, in its definitions. When I read these definitions, I am
exposed to（接触）the basic words and learn how they are used to explain objects and ideas.
this, I can express myself more easily in English.
A．worried B．sad C．surprised D．nervous
A．Because B．Although C．Unless D．If
A．but B．so C．or D．and
A．difficult B．interesting C．ambiguous D．practical
A．thus B．even C．still D．again
A．newB．familiar C．earlier D．ordinary
A．explained B．expressed C．described D．created
A．offered B．agreed C．decided D．happened
A．imagine B．recommend C．predict D．understand
A．natural B．better C．easier D．convenient
A．at best B．in fact C．at times D．in case
A．words B．names C．ideas D．characters
A．hope B．declare C．doubt D．tell
A．exact B．basic C．translated D．expected
A．Rather B．However C．Therefore D．Instead
A．when B．before C．until D．while
A．Largely B．Generally C．Gradually D．Probably
A．extra B．average C．total D．limited
A．repeatedly B．nearly C．immediately D．anxiously
A．According to B．In relation to C．In addition to D．Because of