There is a Web site called the “World Database of Happiness”. It combines and ____ the results of hundreds of surveys from around the world that have been conducted on life ____. Most of the findings are predictable, but a few are ____.
The database(数据库) makes it ____ that there is not a strong connection between material wealth and general contentment. It is a cliche(陈词滥调) to say that money ____ buy happiness, but the old saying seems to be ____ by research. Many people still stick to the belief that gaining riches will be the answer to all their problems, yet they are probably ____.
Studies have been ____ on people who acquired sudden wealth, such as lottery winners. In most cases, after the initial joy had ____， people were not left with a sense of lasting happiness. In fact, they ____ to return to the way they felt before they became rich.____ contented people continue to be contented，____ those who were miserable in the past sink back into misery.
If material wealth does not bring happiness, then ____ does? Perhaps happiness has something to do with ____ you live. The authorities at the World Database of Happiness have surveyed levels of happiness in different ____. Apparently, people in America, Canada, and Singapore are very happy; people living in India and Russia, not surprisingly, are not happy.
Other surveys consistently point to the importance of relationships. Family relationships，____， seem to be the key to long－term contentment. The Web site suggests that ____ in love and having children are two of the situations that bring the greatest happiness.
Nowadays people look to ____ as an alternative source of satisfaction. People increasingly spend more time alone watching TV or surfing the Internet ____ spending time with family. Can technology truly make people happy? It is too difficult to tell, but one thing is sure: If the Web site's research is ____， time spent with your family is a better investment than time spent making money.
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请认真阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题纸(卡)上将该项涂黑。
Today the scientific community is in almost total agreement that the earth’s climate is changing and that this represents a huge threat to the planet and to us. According to a survey, with only 69% accepting the earth is warming— only 1 in 4 Americans see global warming as a major threat, public opinion ________ the scientific conclusion.
Climate scientists and campaigners have long debated how to better communicate the message to nonexperts so that climate science can be ________ into action. According to Christopher Rapley, the usual tactic(策略) of climate experts to provide the public with information isn’t________ because “it does not address key potential causes.” We are all exposed to the evidence of climate change on an almost a daily basis. The information is almost ___________.
Then what’s wrong? _______our brains.
Daniel Gilbert mentioned our brains’ failure to accurately notice gradual change. Robert
Gifford also _________the point about our brains’ difficulty in grasping climate change because of limited cognition and social ______ with other people (“Why should we change if X won’t?”) “ A more powerful barrier is the ___________ of perceived （感知的）behavioral control; ‘I’ m only one person; what can I do ?’ is certainly a big one. For many, the first challenge will be in recognizing barriers _____ they can overcome them”
But for those of us who understand that climate change is a problem yet make little effort
to cut the number of overseas trips we make or the amount of meat we consume, neither the uncaring attitude nor denial really explains the _________between our actions and beliefs. Lertzman has come to the conclusion that the conflict between ________ both the planet and our way of life is too painful to bear. “When we don’t ________ the pain of that, that’s when we get ______and can’t move forward.” Lertzman refers to this ________ as “environmental melancholia(忧郁症),” and points out that there’s a lot to be said for providing a means______ acceptable to talk about.”
Rosemary Randall suggests that climate change is such a(n) __________ subject that it “can raise fears and anxieties that people feel have no_________ in polite conversation.”
Lertzman says the community has been slow to realize the value of psychology. Gifford says otherwise,________—“ climate change, and not mental health, is the biggest psychological problem”
Despite the pain, shame, difficulty in fully addressing climate change, both Lertzman and Gifford are still _______ about our ability to face up to the challenge. “There can’t be anything about the human mind that stops us struggling with these issues , given that so many people ______ are — maybe that’s what we should be focusing on instead.” says Lertzman.
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完形填空,阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
While attending a conference, I returned to my hotel room late one evening. The overhead light outside my door was burned out and I had finding the keyhole. When I to open the door, I around the wall for a light switch. I found a plate where a switch was installed... but no switch!
Not discouraged easily, I remembered a lamp by the bed when I laid my luggage in the day. I found the bed in the and then the lamp, but when I switched it on, nothing ! I thought that perhaps if I opened the curtains I might be able to use whatever light comes in from the ___ to find another lamp. So I my way slowly across the room to the curtains and... no drawstring! I finally stumbled（跌跌撞撞地走）around I found a desk lamp which actually !
That evening I discovered in a whole new way just how dark the world _____ be and how necessary light is! But even more necessary than light is the light that shines from people — the light of and faith. Because, for many people, the world is a dark and place. For someone today just may be stumbling in discouragement or sadness or fear and in of some light. So let your light shine. Whatever light you may be a beacon of hope and encouragement. And if you feel that your light is a candle in a forest remember — there isn’t enough darkness in all the world to the light of one small candle.
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阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
Life becomes easier when you learn to accept an apology you never got. I’ve always tried to keep my ________from people who are rude, aggressive and mean. But sometimes we ________ become tied to people who might not have our best________ at heart.
Last summer, I became involved with a(n) ________ coworker who was at a bad spot in his life. I had a lot of________ for him and decided to help him ________ this tough time, so I tried my best to ________his rudeness when he lost his temper. However, just like a swimmer drowning in a pool, he grabbed on and ended up drowning me when I reached out and tried to ________ him. His rudeness gradually was out of ________ . One night, when I got up to get a glass of water, he started yelling at me to get back into my bedroom. I did as I was told but I was not happy about it. He ________ my shift in mood and asked what was wrong. But when I told him his behavior toward me was ________ and that I was very hurt by the way he had treated me, he was ________ . He could not understand his actions had ________ impacted me. He told me he didn’t have anything against me that there was no need for me to________it. I used examples from his life of things that had hurt him and then tried to make the ________ that the same things also made me ________ . I said, “ I always treat you with compassion, patience and understanding, but you haven’t treated me with ________ respect.” He was silent after listening to my words. What I had said might ________ him.
People only change if they want to change. I didn’t know whether he would shift his ________or not in the future, but I would continue to________ him through my patience, understanding and kindness.
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阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从1—20各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
Billy, a hard – working student, is fourteen years old and in the ninth grade. He has a part – time job that ________ him up every morning at five o’clock, when most people are still ________ asleep. He is a newspaper boy.
Each morning, Billy leaves the house at 5:15 to go to the ________ where the newspapers always are. The newspapers were ________to the corner by truck at midnight. He always takes a wagon to ________them.
In the winter it is still dark ________ he gets up every day, but during the rest of the year it is ________ . Billy must send the newspapers to the houses of people on his ________ in all kinds of weather. He tries to put each paper on the porch (门廊) where it will be ________ from wind and rain or snow. Sometimes his customers give him tips, ________ him very excited.
Billy earns about $ 70 per month through hard ________ , and he is saving some of the money to go to ________ where he has always been longing to go. Besides that, he ________ the rest of the earnings on records and clothes. Once a month, he has to collect the ________ at night since many of the people work during the day. That is when he is ________ so that he is full of excitement. Luckily, he gets ________ supported by his family. Sometimes, when Billy is sick, his brother offers to deliver the newspapers for him. Once, his father was too ________ to help him.
Billy has seventy customers now, but he doesn’t feel ________ about the number.
He dreams that he will get ________ customers as possible some day. ________ , he might win a prize for being an outstanding newspaper boy. He wants to win a trip to Europe, but he will be happy if he wins a new bicycle.
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完形填空
Burned Toast
When I was a kid, my mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. And I remember one night in particular when she had made dinner after a long, hard day at________.
On that evening so long ago, my mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage and extremely burned toast in front of my dad. I remember__________ to see if anyone noticed! __________ all my dad did was reach for his toast, ________ at my mom and ask me how my day was at school. . . I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember__________him spread butter and jelly on that toast and eat every bite!
When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my mom __________ to my dad for burning the toast. And I'II never________what he said: “Honey, I love burned toast.” Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really __________ his toast burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said," Your Momma put_________ a hard day at work today and she's really _________. And besides, a burned toast never ________anyone! "
__________is full of imperfect things... and imperfect people. I'm not the best at anything, and I forget_________ and anniversaries just like everyone else. But what I've learned over the years is that learning to accept each other's _________---and choosing to__________ each other's differences---is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and________relationship where a burned toast isn't a deal-breaker!
We could extend this to any___________. In fact, understanding is the_________ of any relationship, whether it is a husband-wife or parent-child or friendship!
"Don't put the key to your___________in someone else's pocket---keep it in your own.”
So please pass me a toast, and yes, a__________ one will be fine!
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