Who cares if money can’t buy you love? But it can still be your best friend forever. That’s one of the surprising findings in a new research paper, “The Power of Money”, published in me journal Psychological Science.
Like any best friend forever, money demonstrated to researchers its ability to soothe us, reduce our sense of social exclusion and even reduce life’s painful moments.
“I was surprised” says Katherine Vohs, one of the researchers and professor at the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management. “The findings were surprising because no one had connected the meaning of money to pain. The money wasn’t buying the subjects more friends; it was only psychologically helpful.”
In the research ,students were told they would be participating in a test of finger dexterity(敏捷度). One group was given some paper money to count, while the other group was given blank pieces of paper. Once the counting was complete, all the test subjects were asked to dip their fingers into bowls of water heated to 122 degrees--roughly the temperature of a very hot bath.
Result? Those who had been counting money reported less pain than those who had not. Subjects also were asked about their feelings. Those who handled actual money reported feeling stronger even 10 minutes after they put down the cash.
Combined with previous experiments, the findings confirmed what researchers have long doubted, that money acts as a general panacea(万能药) in the brain, giving us social self-confidence and reducing physical pain without having to spend a dime on aspirin.
But can we get the same effect by using credit cards? “No, credit cards do not have the same effect, ” Vohs says. “They are scary for most people, and they in fact represent debt m many ways.” The findings could have an interesting effect in the business world, where recent trends have been to issue non-monetary rewards and bonuses instead of what was thought of as “cold, hard cash”.The underlined word “soothe” in Paragraph 2 is the closest in meaning to“_________” .
| A．encourage | B．remind |
| C．calm | D．trust |
What’s Katherine Vohs’s attitude towards the result of the study?
| A．He found it totally unexpected. |
| B．He had no doubt about it. |
| C．He thought it needed further experiments. |
| D．He thought it was not convincing. |
What do we know about the students involved in the study?
| A．They were divided into two groups according to their ages. |
| B．One group was given paper money while the other was given coins. |
| C．They were holding the money while dipping fingers into hot water. |
| D．Both groups were asked to dip fingers into hot water. |
We can 1earn from the passage that_________.
| A．the effect of money can only last until we put it down |
| B．money is both psychologically and socially helpful to us |
| C．the result of the research hasn’t been confirmed（证实）by experts |
| D．credit cards have the same effect on us as money |
The last paragraph suggests that___________.
| A．the recent trend in the business world is to give cash as rewards |
| B．employers should give non-monetary rewards to employees |
| C．cash is a better way to reward employees than credit cards |
| D．more and more employees prefer non-monetary rewards to cash |
Rising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are a major cause of climate change, and now a new study has confirmed that atmospheric CO2 is also affecting the ocean chemistry and potentially harming sea life.
Montana State University scientist Robert Dore has been researching the water in the Pacific Ocean for almost two decades. "We've been going to the same spot in the Pacific Ocean, and we try and characterize long-term change in the open ocean environment. And one of the key things that we measure is COx levels. And We've been able to record this increasing quantity of atmospheric CO, into the ocean. "Scientists expected that as atmospheric CO2 increased, more and一 more of the carbon dioxide would be absorbed into the ocean, affecting the chemical balance of the sea water, with a potentially harmful impact on shellfish and coral in particular.
"As carbon dioxide dissolves in the water, or seawater in this case, it forms a weak acid, carbonic acid," Dore explains. "And therefore, as the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere goes up and that exchanges with the surface seawater, it drives the pH down, and makes it more acidic."
The seawater samples Dow and his colleagues have analyzed confirm what the theory predicts. The effect was particular striking at about 250 meters down, and again at 500 meters. Dore and his colleagues came up with two possible explanations. It could be that surface water picked up CO2 and then moved to those depths. Or there could be a biological explanation.
"It's important to realize that the oceans are really becoming acidic. And it can have negative impacts on a whole variety of sea life from fish to coral. It’s potentially catastrophic."What can be the best title of the passage?
| A．Sea Life Facing Danger | B．Scientist Researching Seawater |
| C．Oceans Becoming More Acidic | D．Climate Change Affecting Seawater |
With the increase of atmospheric C02，＿．
| A．more corals will appear in the sea |
| B．the surface water is becoming warmer |
| C．the chemical balance of the seawater is affected |
| D．the pH of the ocean out here has been increasing |
Which of the following shows the process of the impact of atmospheric C02 on sea life?
a. Sea life is endangered. b. C02 goes into the surface water.
c. The ocean chemistry is affected. d. C02 levels in the atmosphere go up
e. C02 decreases the pH and makes the seawater more acidic.
| A．abcde | B．dbcea | C．aebed | D．edcba |
Scientist Robert Dore came to the conclusion based on＿．
| A．his research and analysis | B．the expectation of other scientists |
| C．some former theory | D．a major cause of climate change |
Many of us dream of having thousands and thousands of dollar to spend on what we desire We can buy lottery tickets, enter contests or spend hours building a business or invest in the stock market. We are sure that when we have plenty of money, we will be happy.
While having some money does have an impact on our level of happiness, having a lot of money does not. It is reported that Americans whose income goes from $20,000 a year to $50,000 a year are more likely to be happy. But beyond $50,000, happiness does not increase as salaries go up. It is because we are never satisfied. Catherine Sanderson, a psychology professor at Amherst College says, "We always think if we just had a little more money, we’d be happier. But when we get there, we are not."
Daniel Gilbert, a psychology professor at Harvard notes,"The more you make, the more you want. The more you have, the less it brings you joy. We incorrectly assume we’Il get more pleasure from more, and we don’t."
The things money can buy don't make you happy either. A lot of research suggests that you won't find the "good life" buying expensive "toys". You finally buy that BMW you've always wanted and it soon loses its appeal. Then, instead of wondering if a new car is what really makes you happy, you decide you just need a different new car. It is an endless cycle.
To really be happy, you need to understand what makes you happy in the first place. One secret of happiness is people. Surveys have found that people need people. Those who have five or more close friends are 50% more likely to describe themselves as "very happy". Good relationships have a far greater effect on happiness than larger salary. Andrew Oswald, an economist at England's University of Warwick says, "B you are looking for happiness in life, find the right husband or wife rather than trying to double your salary."
So invest your time and energy in people. The reward is much bigger in terms of happiness!In Paragraph 1 the author intends to tell us the "belief" that
| A．we are unhappy because we often lack money |
| B．people can buy what they want if they have enough money |
| C．more money will make one's dreams come true |
| D．happiness will result from more money |
Which of the following statements would the author agree to?
| A．Having some money brings happiness to some degree. |
| B．The more money one earns, the sadder one becomes |
| C．Buying expensive things will surely bring pleasure |
| D．We get nothing from buying expensive things we want. |
Why does happiness not increase with pay rises?
| A．Most of us have a psychological problem. |
| B．People are not content with what they get. |
| C．It is human nature to be unhappy. |
| D．Happiness has nothing to do with money. |
In order to find happiness we should
| A．always make new friends | B．take no notice of our salaries |
| C．focus on good relationships | D．invest our money in our friend |
Beer and fried chicken — Thanks to a South Korean drama currently on air, Man From the Stars, this new mix-and-match junk food trend has become popular among young audiences, despite its unhealthy nature. Indeed, South Korean TV dramas, or K-drama for short, have been a major force in the South Korean pop-culture wave that has captured the hearts of young Chinese audiences. According to iQiyi, a video website that features Man From the Stars, by Feb 15, the number of views for the TV drama hit 370 million in China.
“It is interesting to explore what elements of those dramas appeal to audiences. It’s obviously more than just pretty faces,” says Yan Feng, a professor of Chinese literature at Fudan University. Reflected by audiences, culture critics and insiders of the industry, youth fantasy, creative storylines, cultural proximity, and well-organized production all add up to K-drama’s success, along with, of course, those handsome and cute faces dressed in the latest fashion trends.
“Everyone fancies a perfect partner, handsome or beautiful,” says Zhou Ying, a professor at Chongqing Technology and Business University. “The South Korean TV industry is feeding this need.” After Lee Min-ho appeared on CCTV’s annual Spring Festival gala, he became the most famous South Korean in China. Only weeks later, Kim Soo-hyun, lead actor in Man From the Stars, swept the country. Apart from pretty faces, fashion is another highlight of the series. Each time actors from the series wear a new set of outfits, similar clothes experience a sales boom online, according to Xiao Yi, a Taobao store owner.
As is known, with love triangles, incurable diseases, and Cinderella tales, storylines in South Korean dramas may seem a bit commonplace. While The Man From the Stars challenges this by putting aliens and time travel into these existing stories, Peng Sanyuan, a screenwriter, says a focus on detail is a key factor in the success of these dramas. “In order to accurately target audiences and find emotional reflections with them, more and more female writers are working in the industry,” says Peng about her experience of exchanging ideas with South Korean colleagues. According the experts, South Korean writers somehow make sense of these plots, no matter how unlikely it seems.Why has beer and fried chicken become so popular among Chinese young people at present?
| A．Because the food tastes very great. |
| B．Because they want to change the trend. |
| C．Because the food is good for their health. |
| D．Because they are deeply affected by the Korean TV drama. |
What’s the meaning of the underlined word “proximity” in paragraph 2?
| A．similarity | B．difference | C．conflict | D．curiosity |
According to the whole passage, how many elements can lead to the appeal of Korean dramas?
| A．Two | B．Four | C．Six | D．Seven |
After reading the third paragraph, which of the following is right?
| A．Lee Min-ho is the lead actor in Man From the Stars. |
| B．Kim Soo-hyun appeared on CCTV’s annual Spring Festival gala |
| C．The similar clothes worn by the Korean actors become very hot online. |
| D．Everyone has a perfect partner, who is handsome or beautiful. |
What makes Man From the Stars different from other K-dramas according to the last paragraph?
| A．Female writers | B．Creative stories | C．Pretty faces | D．Fashionable clothes |
New technology links the world as never before. Our planet has shrunk. It's now a "global village" where countries are only seconds away by fax or phone or satellite link. And, of course, our ability to benefit from this high-tech communication equipment is greatly improved by foreign language skills.
Deeply involved with this new technology is a kind of modem businesspeople who have a growing respect for the economic value of doing business abroad. In modern markets, success overseas often helps support home business efforts.
Overseas assignments are becoming increasingly important to advancement within executive ranks (管理层). The executive stationed in another country no longer need fear being "out of sight and out of mind." He or she can be sure that the overseas effort is central to the company's plan for success, and that promotions often follow or accompany an assignment abroad. If an employee can succeed in a difficult assignment overseas, superiors will have greater confidence in his or her ability to cope back in the United States where cross-cultural considerations and foreign language issues are becoming more and more popular.
Thanks to a variety of relatively inexpensive communication devices with business applications, even small businesses in the United States are able to get into international markets.
English is still the international language of business. But there is an ever-growing need for people who can speak another language. A second language isn't generally required to get a job in business, but having language skills gives a candidate the edge when other qualifications appear to be equal.
The employee posted abroad who speaks the country's official language has an opportunity to fast-forward certain negotiations, and can have the cultural insight to know when it is better to move more slowly. The employee at the home office who can communicate well with foreign partners over the telephone or by fax machine is an obvious asset（资产）to the firm.What is the author's attitude toward high-tech communications equipment?
| A．Negative. | B．Positive. | C．Prejudiced. | D．discontented. |
With the increased use of high-tech communication equipment, business people ________.
| A．are eager to work overseas |
| B．have to get familiar with modem technology |
| C．are attaching more importance to their overseas businesses |
| D．are gaining more economic benefits from domestic businesses |
In paragraph 3, "out of sight and out of mind" (Line 2-3) probably means ________.
| A．leaving all care and worry behind |
| B．being totally out of touch with business at home |
| C．being unable to think properly for lack of insight |
| D．missing opportunities for promotion when abroad |
According to the passage, what is an important consideration of international corporations in employing people today?
| A．Ability to speak the customer's language. |
| B．Connections with businesses over seas |
| C．Technical know-how. |
| D．Business experience. |
The advantage of employees having foreign language skills is that they can _________.
| A．fast-forward their proposals to their bosses. |
| B．better control the whole negotiation process |
| C．easily make friends with business people abroad |
| D．easily find new approaches to meet market needs |
There is a story about a man who lost his legs and left arm in an accident. After the accident, only a finger and thumb on his right hand remained.
He was a brilliant, creative, and educated man. He had gained a lot of experience while traveling around the world, so he became very depressed after his accident. He was afraid that he would spend the rest of his life suffering and would no longer be able to spend his life in a meaningful way. Then, he realized that he still had partial function of his right hand and could still write even though it was very difficult. An idea occurred to him. "Why not write to other people who need encouragement?"
He wrote to the prison ministry about sending letters to the prisoners. The prison minister replied, "Writing to the prisoners is acceptable, but your letters will not be answered."
Filled with excitement, the man knew he could write his letters. He began sending one-way messages of God’s love, hope, strength, and encouragement. He wrote twice a week, testing his strength and ability to the limit. He poured his heart and soul into his words and shared his experience, sense of humor, optimism, and faith.
It was difficult to write those letters, especially without hope of a reply. One day he received a letter from the prison ministry. It was a short note from the officer who monitored and checked the prison mail.
The letter said, "Please write on the best paper you can afford. Your letters are passed from cell to cell until they literally fall to pieces!"
No matter what circumstances life may present, we all have unique experiences, abilities, and God-given talents. We can discover ways to reach others who desperately need messages of encouragement and strength. Before the man had the accident, he ________.
| A．had toured around the world |
| B．had visited local prisons |
| C．had tried doing exercise to recover himself |
| D．had been friends with the prison minister |
In order to live in a meaningful way, the man began to ________.
| A．receive the school education |
| B．write to other people who needs encouragement |
| C．meet the people who are depressed |
| D．help other people lost arms and legs |
According to the prison minister, ________.
| A．the man was not allowed to write to the prisoners |
| B．the man couldn’t go to see the prisoners himself |
| C．the prisoners were not allowed to answer the letters |
| D．he was not sure if the prisoners liked receiving the letters |
From the officer’s short note we are told that ________.
| A．the man would be offered free paper to write letters on |
| B．some of the prisoners were not satisfied with his letters |
| C．the prisoners eagerly wanted to write back to the man |
| D．his letters were very popular among the prisoners |
What can be the best title for the passage?
| A．Stories about a humorous Person |
| B．Popularity of Special Letters |
| C．Special letters of Encouragement |
| D．Relationship between writers and prisoners |