I live in the land of Disney, Hollywood and year-round sun. You may think people in such a splendid, fun-filled place are happier than others. If so, you have some mistaken ideas about the nature of happiness.
Many intelligent people still equate happiness with fun. The truth is that fun and happiness have little or nothing in common. Fun is what we experience during an act. Happiness is what we experience after an act. It is a deeper, more lasting emotion.
Going to an amusement park or ball game, watching a movie or television, are fun activities that help us relax, temporarily forget our problems and maybe even laugh. But they do not bring happiness, because their positive effects end when the fun ends.
I have often thought that if Hollywood stars have a role to play, it is to teach us that happiness has nothing to do with fun. These rich, beautiful individuals have constant access to glamorous parties, fancy cars, expensive homes, everything that spells“happiness”. But in memoir(回憶錄)after memoir, they reveal the unhappiness hidden beneath all their fun: depression, alcoholism ,drug addiction, broken marriages, troubled children and profound loneliness.
Ask a bachelor why he resists marriage, if he’s honest, and he will tell you that he is afraid of making a commitment, for commitment is in fact quite painful. The single life is filled with fun, adventure and excitement. Marriage has such moments, but they are not its most distinguishing features.
Similarly, couples that choose not to have children are deciding in favor of painless fun over painful happiness. They can dine out whenever they want and sleep as late as they can. Couples with infant children are lucky to get a whole night’s sleep or a three-day vacation. I don’t know any parent who would choose the word fun to describe raising children.
Understanding and accepting that true happiness has nothing to do with fun is one of the most liberating(解放性的)realizations. It liberates time: now we can devote more hours to activities that can genuinely increase our happiness. It liberates money: buying that new car or those fancy clothes that will do nothing to increase our happiness now seems pointless. And it liberates us from envy: we now understand that all those rich and glamorous people we were so sure are happy because they are always having so much fun actually may not be happy at all.

  1. 1.

    We can learn from the passage that ________.

    1. A.
      fun creates long-lasting satisfaction
    2. B.
      fun provides enjoyment while pain leads to happiness
    3. C.
      happiness is lasting whereas fun is short-lived
    4. D.
      fun that is long-standing may lead to happiness
  2. 2.

    To the author, the role Hollywood stars play is to ________.

    1. A.
      write memoir after memoir about their happiness
    2. B.
      tell the public that happiness has nothing to do with fun
    3. C.
      teach people how to enjoy their lives
    4. D.
      bring happiness to the public instead of going to parties
  3. 3.

    In the author’s opinion, marriage ________ .

    1. A.
      affords greater fun
    2. B.
      leads to raising children
    3. C.
      indicates duty and devotion
    4. D.
      usually ends up in pain
  4. 4.

    Which of the following is the best example of“painful happiness”?

    1. A.
      Winning lottery by accident
    2. B.
      A bachelor resisting marriage
    3. C.
      Raising children
    4. D.
      Buying some fancy clothes
  5. 5.

    If one gets the true sense of happiness, he will ________.

    1. A.
      stop playing games and joking with others
    2. B.
      keep himself with his family
    3. C.
      give a free hand to money
    4. D.
      use his time to increase happiness
CBCCD
1.細(xì)節(jié)題。從第二段的最后三句話“Fun is what we experience during an act. Happiness is what we experience after an act. It is a deeper, more abiding emotion.”可以看出,“fun”僅僅是活動(dòng)時(shí)的體驗(yàn),而“happiness”是一種持久的情感,所以答案為C。
2.細(xì)節(jié)題。從文中第四段可以看出,那些好萊塢的明星雖然表面風(fēng)光但是私下卻有很多煩惱、痛苦。而作者提到明星,把明星做為例子的目的就是為了證明他的觀點(diǎn):“fun”不同于“happiness”,所以選B。
3.細(xì)節(jié)題。從文中第五段的第1、2句話“Ask a bachelor why he resists marriage even though he finds dating to be less and less satisfying. If he’s honest, he will tell you that he is afraid of making a commitment.”可以看出,結(jié)婚就意味著義務(wù)和忠誠(chéng),所以選C,其他選項(xiàng)不符合文意。
4.細(xì)節(jié)題。從文中第六段中可以看出作者對(duì)于有孩子的態(tài)度是:painful痛苦的。
5.細(xì)節(jié)題。結(jié)合文章最后一段It liberates time: now we can devote more hours to activities that can genuinely increase our happiness.可知答案。當(dāng)你真正理解了“happiness”的含義,那么你可以自由支配時(shí)間、金錢(qián),也不再嫉妒有錢(qián)人。
練習(xí)冊(cè)系列答案
相關(guān)習(xí)題

科目:高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源:2011-2012學(xué)年福建省安溪一中高一下學(xué)期期中考試英語(yǔ)試卷(帶解析) 題型:閱讀理解

I grew up in a house where the TV was seldom turned on and with one wall in my bedroom entirely lined with bookshelves, most of my childhood was spent on books I could get hold of. In fact, I grew up thinking of reading as natural as breathing and books unbelievably powerful in shaping perspectives(觀點(diǎn))by creating worlds we could step into, take part in and live in.
With this unshakable belief, I, at fourteen, decided to become a writer. Here too, reading became useful. Every writer starts off knowing that he has something to say, but being unable to find the right ways to say it. He has to find his own voice by reading widely and discovering which parts of the writers he agrees or disagrees with, or agrees with so strongly that it reshapes his own world. He cannot write without loving to read, because only through reading other people’s writing can one discover what works, what doesn’t and, in the end, together with lots of practice, what voice he has.
Now I am in college, and have come to realize how important it is to read fiction. As a law student, my reading is in fact limited to subject matter — the volume(量)of what I have to read for classes every week means there is little time to read anything else. Such reading made it all the clearer to me that I live in a very small part in this great place called life. Reading fiction reminds me that there is life beyond my own. It allows me to travel across the high seas and along the Silk Road, all from the comfort of my own armchair, to experience, though secondhand, exciting experiences that I wouldn’t necessarily be able to have in my lifetime.
【小題1】What can be inferred about the author as a child?

A.He never watched TV.
B.He read what he had to.
C.He found reading unbelievable.
D.He considered reading part of his life.
【小題2】The underlined word “voice” in the second paragraph most probably means _________.
A.the ability to speak
B.a(chǎn) way of writing
C.a(chǎn) sound quality
D.a(chǎn) world to write about
【小題3】What effect does reading have on the author?
A.It opens up a wider world for him.
B.It helps him to realize his dream.
C.It makes his college life more interesting.
D.It increases his interest in worldwide travel.
【小題4】Which of the following can be the best title of this text?
A.How do I read?B.What do I read?C.Why do I read?D.When do I read?

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源:2012-2013學(xué)年湖南省邵陽(yáng)二中高一上學(xué)期期中考試英語(yǔ)試卷(帶解析) 題型:閱讀理解

Steven Jobs, the designer of Apple Computer, was not clever when he was in school. At that time, he was not a good student and he always made troubles with his schoolmates. When he went into college, he didn’t change a lot. Then he dropped out(退學(xué)). But he was full of new ideas.
After he left college, Steven Jobs worked as a video game designer. He worked there for only several months and then he went to India. He hoped that the trip would give him some new ideas and give him a change in his life.
Steven Jobs lived on a farm in California for a year after he returned from India.
In 1975, he began to make a new type of computer. He designed the Apple Computer with his friend in his garage. He chose the name “Apple” just because it could help him to remember a happy summer he once spent in an apple tree garden.
His Apple Computer was so successful that Steven Jobs soon became famous all over the world.
He often said, “I live in order to change the world, there aren’t any other reasons. The only way to have a great achievement is to love your own career. If you can’t find your favorite career, go on looking for it and never give up.”
This is Steven Jobs, though he is dead, his spirit and achievements still influence our lives.
【小題1】Steven Jobs was not a good student in school because he ________.

A.never did his lessonsB.dropped out
C.a(chǎn)lways made troubles with his schoolmatesD.he was full of new ideas
【小題2】Why did Steven Jobs go to India?
A.Because he wanted to be a video game designer.
B.Because he wanted to get some new ideas.
C.Because he wanted to make a new type of computer. 
D.Because he wanted to have a happy summer.
【小題3】Steven Jobs was famous for his ________ all over the world.
A.new ideas  B.Apple Computer  C.video gamesD.saying
【小題4】From this passage we know Steven Jobs ________.
A.didn’t finish his studies in the college because he hated his schoolmates
B.liked traveling in India and California
C.liked trying new things and making his new ideas come true
D.thought he had many reasons to live in the world
【小題5】Which of the following sentences is NOT true according to this passage?
A.The only way to have a great achievement is to love your career.
B.The name “Apple” helped Jobs to remember a happy summer in an apple tree garden.
C.If you can’t find the career you love, give it up and try another one.
D.People remember Jobs because of his achievements.

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源:2011-2012學(xué)年江蘇省漣水中學(xué)高一下學(xué)期期末考試英語(yǔ)試卷(帶解析) 題型:閱讀理解

I live in a very over populated beach area in the Los Angeles, and I love the beautiful scenery! But because of many people, lots of things are easy to be out of order, and sometimes it’s also easy to lose your cool. Today was a day I wish I did not get out of bed. I mean that if I did not have to wake up and deal with all the things that I deal with on a daily basis, it would have been wonderful.
I had a cup of coffee this morning and that was my meal for breakfast, not healthy I know. Anyway, my stomach was sounding like a truck. So, I jumped in my car and decided to buy some food.
I was in line at Taco Bell (一家墨西哥速食店) and the line was like a long snake! Finally I got to place my order, but a young girl in nice clothes pulled in and was stuck in such a way that unless I moved for her, she wouldn’t be able to get out. So I backed up and waved her into my place in the front of the line.
To my surprise, this young girl did not say thanks. I was cool with it because I thought that I had done something nice for a change. After the girl received her food and pulled away, I pulled into the ordering spot, not mad, but hungry, and the employee said, “Hi, that girl just paid for your food.”
That food was the most satisfying nourishment (營(yíng)養(yǎng)品) my body had ever taken! If just by chance you are that person who bought my food, I should say “Thank you!”
【小題1】The underlined part in the first paragraph probably means “_____”.

A.be friendly to othersB.become angry
C.get warmerD.remain calm
【小題2】What happened to the author according to the passage?
A.He remained lying in bed all the morning.
B.He didn’t feel well after drinking a cup of coffee.
C.He made room for a girl who jumped the queue.
D.He had a quarrel with a girl who didn’t stand in line.
【小題3】How did the young girl show her thanks to the author?
A.She got out of her car and said thanks.
B.She drove away with her own food.
C.She received her food and waved goodbye.
D.She paid for the author’s food without him knowing.
【小題4】The best title for the passage might be _____.
A.Kindness is spreading
B.Being patient wins respect
C.Being calm is important in accidents
D.Being polite can change the world

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源:2013屆黑龍江齊齊哈爾實(shí)驗(yàn)中學(xué)高三二模英語(yǔ)試卷(帶解析) 題型:閱讀理解

Recently, I experienced a wonderful lesson in how little things still mean a lot. My brother, mother and I live in a very rural district on the Big Island of Hawaii. Our farm is at least a dozen miles from the most basic of services. Consequently, we take weekly trips to COSTCO to procure fuel and supplies. About a month ago, we’d finished loading up the SUV and prepared to leave. As I settled into my seat, I glanced down at the roadside, when a piece of paper caught my eye. I picked it up and read it carefully. Instantly, I was grateful I did.
The form turned out to be a receipt from the State Motor Vehicle Division, documenting the owners’ payment of their Vehicle’s Registration fees. Quickly, I put myself in their shoes and figured: no one would throw this out, especially if it was current. I also looked over the form for contact or any personal data, perhaps a license tag or telephone number. But that seemed impractical. Although the form had been born on the wind, where in the busy, crowded parking lot would I find the owners? Had it been lying there for a few minutes or a week? So I checked the date, the fees paid, noted the names of the owners and pocketed the receipt. Recalling the parable of the Good Samaritan, I concluded that the best and easiest step to take was to put the form in an envelope addressed to the couple and send it to them by post. Further, I imagined how crazy I’d be if I had misplaced my receipt. Much easier to attempt returning it than to leave them angry, upset, etc. over the loss.
By the end of the week, I received a beautiful thank-you letter from a very grateful and happy couple containing a hand written message and a gift card to use at any Starbuck’s. In her note, the wife explained how a gust of wind snatched their receipt from a pocket in her car’s passenger door. They had panicked and searched crazily for quite some time before giving up. It felt great to know I’d helped someone avoid a major loss by doing something that at first glance seemed minor or even unimportant.
【小題1】What did the author really mean when he said “Instantly, I was grateful I did.”?

A.He was lucky to notice the paper on the roadside.
B.He was happy to do shopping in the district for it was convenient.
C.He was right to pick the paper up because it was important.
D.He was thankful to pick up the paper because he found it for a long time.
【小題2】Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the short passage?
A.I rode my car to COSTCO to buy supplies a month ago.
B.The receipt was out of date, so the owner threw it away.
C.I waited on the roadside for the receipt owner for half a day.
D.I called up the owner to take back the receipt.
【小題3】The author decided to give the paper back to the owner because ______.
A.it was useless for him
B.he knew the owner was upset about losing it
C.the owner asked him to do so
D.he knew the owner would reward him for it
【小題4】Which would be the best title for this passage?
A.How I helped the coupleB.The loss of an important receipt
C.The owner of the receiptD.Little things still mean a lot

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源:2012-2013學(xué)年遼寧省高三上學(xué)期期末考試英語(yǔ)試卷(解析版) 題型:短文改錯(cuò)

假定英語(yǔ)課上老師要求同桌之間交換修改作文,請(qǐng)你修改你同桌寫(xiě)的以下作文。文中共有10處語(yǔ)言錯(cuò)誤,每句中最多有兩處,每處錯(cuò)誤僅涉及一個(gè)單詞的增加、刪除或修改。

增加:在缺詞處加一個(gè)漏字符號(hào)(∧),并在其下面寫(xiě)出該加的詞。

刪除:把多余的詞用斜線(\)劃掉。

修改:在錯(cuò)的詞下劃一橫線,并在該詞下面寫(xiě)出修改后的詞。

注意:1.每處錯(cuò)誤及其修改均限一詞。

2.只允許修改10處,多者(從第11處起)不計(jì)分。

I live in a small town. Most people here traveled around by the bike in the past, and I learn how to ride a bike at an early age. Recently, electric bikes have become more and more popular, so they are convenient and can save energy. There is two in my family. One is for my mom and the another is for my dad. They sometimes allow me to riding them when they send me to buy something, but I seldom ride them. It doesn’t seem strangely for children to do that. The reason where I refuse to do so is that I can’t get used the speed of electric bikes. I prefer walking to riding it.

 

查看答案和解析>>

同步練習(xí)冊(cè)答案