Happiness through Honorable Actions
Do you want to live with a strong sense of peacefulness, happiness, goodness, and self-respect? The collection of happiness actions broadly categorized as “honor” help you create this life of good feelings.
Here is an example to show how honorable actions create happiness.
Say a store clerk fails to charge us for an item. If we keep silent, and profit from the clerk’s mistake, we would drive home with a sense of mean excitement. Later we might tell our family of friends about our good fortune. On the other hand, if we tell the clerk about the uncharged item, the clerk would be grateful and thank us for our honesty. We would leave the store with a quiet sense of honor that we might never share with another soul.
Then, what is it to do with our sense of happiness?
In the first case, where we don’t tell the clerk, a couple of things would happen. Deep down inside we would know ourselves as a type of thief. In the process, we would lose some peace of mind and self-respect. We would also demonstrate that we cannot be trusted, since we advertise our dishonor by telling our family and friends. We damage our own reputations by telling others. In contrast, bringing the error to the clerk’s attention causes different things to happen. Immediately the clerk knows us to be honorable. Upon leaving the store, we feel honorable and our self-respect is increased. Whenever we take honorable action we gain the deep internal rewards of goodness and a sense of nobility.
There is a beautiful positive cycle that is created by living a life of honorable actions. Honorable thoughts lead to honorable actions. Honorable actions lead us to a happier existence. And it’s easy to think and act honorably again when we’re happy. While the positive cycle can be difficult to start, once it’s started, it’s easy to continue. Keeping on doing good deeds brings us peace of mind, which is important for our happiness. According to the passage, the positive action in the example contributes to our ______.
| A．self-respect | B．financial rewards |
| C．advertising ability | D．friendly relationship |
The author thinks that keeping silent about the uncharged item is equal to ______.
| A．lying | B．stealing | C．cheating | D．advertising |
The underlined phrase “bringing the error to the clerk’s attention” means ______.
| A．offering advice to the clerk | B．telling the truth to the clerk |
| C．asking the clerk to be more attentive | D．reminding the clerk of the charged item |
How does the positive cycle work according to the author?
A long time ago, there lived a poor man whose real name has been forgotten. He was little and old and his face was wrinkled, and that was why his friends called him Mr. Vinegar. His wife was also little and old, and they lived in a little old cottage at the back of a little old field.
"John," said Mrs. Vinegar, "you must go to town and buy a cow. I will milk her and churn（搅拌） butter and we shall never want for anything."
"That is a good plan," said Mr. Vinegar, so he started off to town while his wife waited by the roadside.
Mr. Vinegar walked up and down the street of the town looking for a cow. After a time, a farmer came that way, leading one that was very pretty and fat.
"Oh, if I only had that cow," said Mr. Vinegar, "I would be the happiest man in the world!"
"She's a very good cow," said the farmer.
"Well," said Mr. Vinegar, "I'll give you these 50 gold pieces for her."
The farmer smiled and held out his hand for the money, "You may have her," he said, "I always like to oblige（施恩惠） , my friends!"
Mr. Vinegar took hold of the cow's halter and led her up and down the street. "I am the luckiest man in the world," he said, "for only see how all the people are looking at me and my cow!"
But at one end of the street, he met a man playing bagpipes（风笛） . He stopped and listened -- Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dee.
"Oh, that is the sweetest music I ever heard," he said, "and just see how all the children crowd around the man and give him pennies! If I only had those bagpipes, I would be the happiest man in the world!!"
"I'll sell them to you," said the piper.
"Will you? Well then, since I have no money, I will give you this cow for them."
"You may have them," answered the piper, "I always like to oblige a friend."
Mr. Vinegar took the bagpipes and the piper led the cow away.
"Now we will have some music," said Mr. Vinegar, but try as hard as he might, he could not play a tune. He could get nothing out of the bagpipes but "squeak, squeak". The children instead of giving him pennies laughed at him.
The day was chilly and in trying to play the pipes, his fingers grew very cold. He wished he had kept the cow.
He just started for home when he met a man who had warm gloves on his hands. "Oh, if I only had those pretty gloves," he said, "I would be the happiest man in the world."
"How much will you give for them?" asked the man.
"Oh, I have no money, but I will give you these bagpipes," answered Mr. Vinegar.
"Well," said the man, "you may have them for I always like to oblige a friend."
Mr. Vinegar gave him the bagpipes and drew the gloves on over his half frozen fingers. "How lucky I am," he said as he trudged（跋涉） homeward. His hands were soon quite warm, but the road was rough and the walking hard. He was very tired when he came to the foot of the steep hill. "How shall I ever get to the top?" he said. Just then he met a man who was walking the other way. He had a stick in his hand which he used as a cane to help him along.
"My friend," said Mr. Vinegar, "if only I had that stick of yours to help me up this hill, I would be the happiest man in the world!"
"How much will you give me for it?" asked the man.
"Well, I have no money, but I will give you this pair of warm gloves," said Mr. Vinegar.
"Well," said the man, "you may have it for I always like to oblige a friend."
Mr. Vinegar's hands were now quite warm, so he gave the gloves to the man and took the stout（结实的） stick to help him along. "How lucky I am!'' he said as he toiled upward.
At the top of the hill he stopped to rest. But as he was thinking of all his good luck that day, he heard someone calling his name. He looked up and saw only a green parrot sitting in a tree.
"Mr. Vinegar, Mr. Vinegar," it cried.
"What now?" said Mr. Vinegar.
"You're a dunce（傻瓜） , you're a dunce!'' answered the bird, "you went to seek your fortune and you found it, then you gave it for a cow, and the cow for some bagpipes, and the bagpipes for some gloves, and the gloves for a stick which you might of cut by the roadside. He He He, you're a dunce! You're a dunce!''
This made Mr. Vinegar very angry. He threw the stick at the bird with all his might. But the bird only answered, "You're a dunce! You're a dunce!" And the stick lodged in the tree where he could not get it again.
Mr. Vinegar went on slowly for he had many things to think about. His wife was standing by the roadside and as soon as she saw him, she cried out, "Where's the cow? Where's the cow?" "Well, I just don't know where the cow is," said Mr. Vinegar. And then he told her the whole story.What’s the meaning of the underlined word in the passage?
| A．成功 | B．财富 | C．幸福 | D．健康 |
How many exchanges happen in the passage?
| A．1 | B．2 | C．3 | D．4 |
Why does the parrot think Mr.Vinegar foolish?
| A．Because Mr.Vinegar married an old woman |
| B．Because Mr.Vinegar gave his fortune for nothing |
| C．Because Mr.Vinegar was little and old |
| D．Because Mr.Vinegar did nothing but be angry |
What’s Mrs.Vinegar’s feeling after she knew the fact?
| A．Sad | B．Calm | C．Happ | D．Angry |
Every Friday we have a fire alarm test at nine o'clock sharp, and even though the sound is very noisy, I am so happy because when I heard that it reminded me today is Friday and tomorrow is weekend, it is the last working day of the week and I have two days off, it’s so excited!Sometimes we have a fire drill, when you hear the fire alarm, everybody have to run out through the fire exit.
One Monday at nine o’clock, the alarm was sounded and I was working behind the fish house and didn’t hear it. The department manager and staff were looking for me thoroughly, finally they found me and asked me to stop my job and follow them went out.
"I am busy, No problem! You leave, I work." I said.
"No, this is the law, everybody has to leave." The manager said.
I understood that if I insisted not to leave, they must carry me out. I went out with them together finally, no choice.
One afternoon, when I was working outside, the fire alarm cropped up（突然出现） sounding wildly, nobody knew what’s happening, some were standing and looking around, some were asking questions, some were running, I knew this wasn’t a test or drill, must be a real one. At that moment, one lady called me from a distance:"Jinglebell: leave your job, go out quickly."I joined the crowded flow of customers and staff going out. I asked somebody what's happened? And they told me this is a real one as there was some smoke on the shop floor.Finally I found out, actually there was no problem, that it was an electrician who used the equipment for the carpet and made a little smoke.
After that I asked somebody how to deal with the customer’s food in the restaurant in that case, because they went out to leave because of the fire, but hadn't finished their food. They told me that the customers who had bought food or drinks there could get a new one.
I don't understand, if in China, under that situation, everybody must carry a bucket（桶） or some other water containers to the fire spot, to fight the flames.
I agree with the English emphasis the human right, but maybe a very small problem could become a big problem while everybody had withdrawn from the shop, because the fire fighters could not come at once.
I was just thinking.Despite the noise from the fire alarm, the author still feels happy because _____.
| A．the noise lasts too long |
| B．the noise is not too loud |
| C．the noise reminds the author of the coming of weekend |
| D．the author often ignores it when working |
If there is a fire breaking out in a restaurant, what will happen in China?
| A．people will go out to leave |
| B．people will scream and cry in panic |
| C．people will not leave until they finish their food |
| D．people will carry a basket or some water containers to help put out the flames |
What’s the author’s attitude to the human right?
| A．Approval |
| B．Rejection |
| C．Neutral |
| D．Not mentioned |
Why does the author think that a very small problem may become a big one while everybody had withdrawn from the shop?
| A．Because the author thinks the fire is dangerous |
| B．Because the author thinks the fire spreads fast |
| C．Because the author thinks the fire fighters could not come at once |
| D．Because the author thinks the human right is important |
IT’S over – millions of Senior 3 students across the country have finished their last exams. But in two years, it’ll be your turn in the examination room. How can you spend the time you have left to best effect? Read these thoughts from new graduates to get some pointers.
Cao A’min, 18
Xuanhua No 1 High School, Hebei
Study: Keeping pace (步伐) with teachers is a good way to study. Teachers are experienced and their plans are systematic (系统的). But remember to work in a way that suits you. It’s also important to learn from past mistakes. Keep a notebook to make a record of the mistakes you make – it’ll help you avoid making the same ones later.
Zhang Zilu, 17
Xinyu No 1 High School, Jiangxi
Friendship: This time of life may be hard, but you’re not alone. You may be busy studying, but you can show you care by calling your friends or sending a short message. Don’t let your friendships die. Some boys and girls in my class were in love, but I’d advise against a relationship at this stage.
Zhan Yu, 17
Huanggang High School, Hubei
Health: It’s as important to live well as it is to study well, I think. I went to bed no later than 11:30 pm. It put me in the right mood for the next day. I didn’t follow a special diet (饮食), but I did make sure I ate a nutritious (有营养的) breakfast each day.
Ju Shuntian, 18
Yantai Economic and Technological Development Zone Senior High School, Shandong
Relaxation: The person who plays well, studies well. Having a lot of schoolwork doesn’t mean having to give up on every other activity. I played basketball or took a walk to relax when I felt tired. Time out is not a waste of time but helps you study more efficiently (高效地).
Zhang Qingzhou, 17
Dongtai High School, Jiangsu
Options: Besides taking the big exam, you have other choices for college. I took the independent enrollment (自主招生) exam held by Peking University and some other students even prepared to study abroad. Pay attention to any relevant information you can find, whether it’s from school, the news media or another source (来源).Who is the passage mainly written for?
| A．teachers |
| B．senior students |
| C．junior students |
| D．parents |
This passage shows students some aspects of proper arrangement except ________.
| A．Study | B．Friendship | C．Health | D．Sports |
What’s Zhang Zilu’s attitude to students’ love happening in senior life?
| A．Approval |
| B．Rejective |
| C．Neutral |
| D．Not mentioned |
If you’d like to take the independent enrollment, what should you do?
| A．Do morning exercises every day |
| B．Go to bed later than11:30 |
| C．Pay attention to any relevant information |
| D．Call your friends or send short message |
阅读下面短文并回答问题，然后将答案写到答题卡相应的位置上(请注意问题后的字数要求)。
Each and every one of us is responsible for the greenhouse nts should the need arise-as it almostpected, and is prepared to tion, something comes along to gases we give out in our daily actions and choices．Therefore，combating climate change is going to take the combined efforts of everyone on the planet．
The average household carbon footprint in China is 2.41 tons of carbon dioxide annually．That's enough to fill half an Olympic swimming pool．
Surprised? Well,．here's how you can work to reduce it：
1．Take showers rather than baths and reduce your shower time by two minutes．This will save water and give you an extra two minutes in bed．
2．Don't purchase unnecessary clothes，and be careful about the materials you buy．Wool and cotton have a really high greenhouse gas impact．Manmade fibers are a better choice．
3．Try to buy high-quality，long-lasting products even though they．A laptop is more efficient than a desktop，and a small screen TV is better than a big flat-screen．
4．Only turn the water heater on when necessary，and adjust temperature controls to avoid overheating．Put a lid on a pan when boiling water．
5．When using the washing machine，be sure there's a full load and turn the temperature down if it's not really dirty．
6．The greediest home device along with the washing machine is the fridge．Make sure it's as efficient as possible by keeping it out of direct sunlight and away from the oven or heater．Don't put food in when it's still warm．
7．Only buy the amount of food you need and if there are leftovers，get creative．For instance，make them into a soup．Ask to take food home from restaurants if there's some left，but remember to take your own container to avoid using a disposable carton．How does the author introduce the topic of the text?(no more than 5 words)
Fill in the blank in Paragraph 6 with proper words．(no more than 5 words)
Why do we keep the fridge out of direct sunlight?(no more than 5 words)
What does the author say about leftovers?(no more than 14 words)
What is the main idea of the text?(no more than 6 words)
American researchers have developed a technique that may become an important tool in fighting AIDS virus from attacking its target-cells in the body's defense system．When AIDS virus enters the blood，it searches for blood cells called T4 lymphocytes(淋巴细胞)．The virus connects to the outside of T4 lymphocytes．Then it forces its way inside．There it directs the cells' genetic material to produce copies of the AIDS virus．This is how AIDS spreads．
Researchers think they may be able to stop AIDS from connecting to T4 ceils．When AIDS virus finds a T4 cell，it actually connects to a part of the cell called CD4 protein．
Researchers want to fool the virus by putting copies or clones of the CD4 protein into the blood．This way the AIDS virus will connect to cloned protein instead of the real ones．Scientists use genetic engineering methods to make the clones．Normally a CD4 protein remains on the T4 cell at all times；the AIDS virus must go to it．
In a new technique，however，the cloned CD4 protein is not connected to a cell．It floats freely，so a lot more can be put into the blood to keep the AIDS virus away from real CD4 protein on T4 cells．One report says the．AIDS virus connects to cloned protein just as effectively as it connects to real protein．That report was based on tests with blood cells grown in labs．The technique is just now beginning to be tested in animals．If successful，it may be tested in humans within a year．The new technique can.
| A．cure AIDS |
| B．kill the AIDS virus |
| C．prevent the AIDS virus from spreading |
| D．produce new anti-AIDS cells |
When the AIDS virus enters the blood，it is reproduced by.
| A．itself |
| B．the blood cells |
| C．the CD4 protein |
| D．the genetic material of T4 lymphocytes |
The AIDS virus connects to cloned protein instead of the real CD4 protein because.
| A．cloned protein stays On the T4 cells |
| B．it connects to cloned protein more effectively |
| C．cloned protein is made by genetic engineering methods |
| D．cloned protein floats freely，and many more can be put into the blood |
Which of the following statements is NOT true?
| A．The new technique has been tested in labs． |
| B．The new technique is being tested in animals． |
| C．The new technique may be tested in humans． |
| D．The new technique is now under clinic test． |
The best title for this passage is．
| A．AIDS-a deadly disease |
| B．A new technique in fighting AIDS |
| C．The spread of AIDS virus |
| D．The cloned CD4 protein |