In a US study, researchers measured (测量) the happiness of 4739 people over 20 years. The study found that a person’s happiness depends on the happiness of people he connects with. Surprisingly, it also found that happiness spreads not only between direct friends, but also among friends of your friends’ friends! And those good feelings seem to have the greatest influence among friends of the same sex (性别).
“People with more good friends are less likely to develop depression (情绪低落) and worry,” says Dr. Toupey Luft. “Though you can’t choose your family or workmates, you do have control over friendships.” With a little effort, you can add more positive (正面的,积极的) relationships to your social circle. Here’re the suggestions:
“Nobody is all positive or all negative,” says Luft. “But there are people you may feel more positive. Use that as your way to check people and keep records.” When spending time with others, pay attention to your feeling. Are you feeling tired and unhappy？To help you keep records, Luft suggests
taking a moment when you get home to write down what your feeling is when around them.
While it’s great to gather with positive friends, it’s also good to stay with others in the same life situations. “But if you’re
all just complaining (抱怨) and nothing is changing, it’s not healthy,” says Luft. Are your friends negative, or are you doing most of the complaining? Considering the answers to these questions can help you decide if you want to stand in front of them. Or you could let the relationship disappear slowly.
Sometimes your hobbies can lead to true friendships. Check out newspapers and websites to find a group or class for something you enjoy. These friends can always be there for you and can care each other through difficulties, illness and death.
Not into groups? Look for individual (个人的) communication instead. Luft says, “Set small goals, such as having coffee with one new person, and develop friendship according to a plan. If someone suggests going for lunch sometime, set a date.”
“If you’re feeling disappointed (失望) with a friend, try talking about what you both need,” says Luft. For example, tell her what you want during hard times in your lives. While your friend may need to be left alone, you may want caring phone calls. With some friends you laugh and have fun together at the movies—and that can be enough. With others, you pay attention to your deep connection.
1.What does your happiness depend on, according to the passage?
A. How people you connect with feel.
B. How many friends you have.
C. What situation you are in now.
D. What kind of friends you have.
2.What does the first suggestion want us to do?
A. To measure our happiness.
B. To check people around.
C. To join a group for hobbies.
D. To leave negative friends.
3.Which of the following is true?
A. We often have many friends during good times but few during hard times.
B. It’s necessary to complain about something but not right to do so for long.
C. Joining a group can bring better friendship than making individual friends.
D. All the suggestions tell us to add positive relationship to our social circle.
4.The underlined sentence in the last paragraph means that ______.
A. when your friend is sad, you should call her up
B. when your friend leaves you, you need comfort
C. friends’ needs may be quite different sometimes
D. people may behave differently during hard times
It can be hard to meet people from another culture. From the beginning, people may send the wrong signal (信号). Or they may pay no attention to signals from another person who is trying to develop a relationship.
Different cultures emphasize（强调）the importance of relationship building to a greater or lesser degree. For example, business in some countries is not possible until there is a relationship of trust. Even with people at work, it is necessary to spend a lot of time in “small talk”, usually ov
er a glass of tea, before they do any job. In many European countries—like the UK or France—people find it easier to build up a lasting working relationship at restaurants or cafes rather than at the office.
Talk and silence may also be different in some cultures. I once made a speech in Thailand. I had expected my speech to be a success and start a lively discussion; instead there was an uncomfortable silence. The people present just stared at me and smiled. After getting to know their ways better, I realized that they thought I was talking too much. In my own culture, we express meaning mainly through words, but people there sometimes feel too many words are unnecessary.
Even within Northern Europe,
cultural differences can cause serious problems. Certainly, English and German cultures share similar values; however, Germans prefer to get down to business more quickly. We think that they are rude. In fact, this is just because one culture starts discussions and makes decisions more quickly.
People from different parts of the world have different values, and sometimes these values are quite against each other. However, if we can understand them better, a multicultural（多元文化）environment will offer a wonderful chance for us to learn from each other.
1.In some countries, eating together at restaurants may make it easier for people to ______.
A. keep each other company
B. share the same culture
C. get to know each other
D. develop closer relations
2.The writer mentions his experience in Thailand to show that ______.
A. too many words are of no use
B. the English prefer to make long speeches
C. even talk and silence can be culturally different
D. people from Thailand are quiet and shy by nature
3.What would be the best title for the passage?
A. Multicultural Environment
B. Cross-Cultural Differences
C. How to Understand Each Other
D. How to Build Up a Relationship
It was a cold winter afternoon before Christmas. My parents and I sat on the bench in Washington, D.C.’Union Station, waiting for the train. Inside the waiting hall were many people.
A boy sat nearby. His worn jacket, pale face, dirty hands all seemed to tell me that he was homeless.
“He must be cold and hungry. Maybe I should help him,” I said to myself.
Just at that moment, a well-dressed young couple walked towards him.
“Excuse me,” the man bent down. “My wife and I bought two meal boxes but one was enough for us. We hate to waste good food. Can you help us out and put this to use?” he handed the boy a meal box.
The boy thanked them and opened the box with joy and care. Suddenly he stopped. In the direction 
to which he looked, I saw an old man in rags-in a worn sweater, worn trousers and open shoes, entering the hall.
Putting the meal box aside, the boy stood and helped the old to his seat. He took off his jacket and covered it on the old man’s shoulders, saying, “A gentleman brought me this warm meal but I just finished eating. I hate to waste good food. Can you help me out?” He placed the still-warm meal box in the old man’s hands without waiting for an answer.
“Sure, son, but if only you share that sandwich with me. It’s too much for a man at my age. ”
We were all touched. Dad went away and soon returned with cups of hot chocolate and a big pizza. Mum and dad went up to those rags, “Excuse me…”
I rushed into a KFC and took out my pocket money. It was so cold that afternoon but I felt much warmer than I had ever thought possible.
1.Who gave the boy a meal box?
A. The young woman. B. The old man.
C. The young man. D. Mum and Dad.
2.Why didn’t the boy have the meal?
A. He was not hungry.
B. He wanted to help the old man.
C. He didn’t like the food.
D. He saw a sandwich in the meal box.
3.What did the writer most probably do at the end of the story?
A. He bought some food for the homeless.
B. He told his story to the people in the KFC.
C. He gave his pocket money to the homeless.
D. He asked the other passengers to help the homeless.
Do you like visiting parks? The following three might be the ones that you are interested in.
Hyde Park, the biggest royal park of the UK, lies in the center of London, next to Green Park. It was built to be a royal park in 1536. About one hundred years later, the park was open to the public. Speakers’ Corner in Hyde Park is famous all over the world. Anyone can make a speech there on Sunday afternoon.
Central Park is a man-made park in the center of Manhattan, New York. It took about 15 years to build the park and in 1873 it was open to the public. With 21 playgrounds and 2 zoos, Central Park is a wonderful place for children to have fun.
Banff National Park, the largest park in Alberta, Canada, was open in 1885. The park is as large as 6, 641 km2. Whether by car, boat, bike or on foot, you can enjoy the beautiful mountains and lakes, as well as the plants and wild animals. There’re 3 famous ski areas in the park, which attracts millions of people to come every winter.
1.Hyde Park is in ______.
A. London B. Banff C. New York D. Alberta
2.There are ______ playgrounds in Central Park.
A. 2 B. 3 C. 15 D. 21
3. ______ was open to the public in 1885.
A. Green Park B. Hyde Park
C. Banff National Park D. Central Park
I didn’t cry when I learned I was the parent of a disabled child. I just sat still and didn’t say anything.
When Jenny was old enough, I sent her to a kindergarten. On the first morning, Jenny spent hours playing by herself. It seemed that she felt very ______.
However, to my joy, Jenny’s classmates always ______ her, “You got all your spelling words right today!” In fact, her spelling list was the easiest. Later, she faced a very painful ______—— at the end of the term, there was a game which had something to do with physical education. But Jenny was behind in it.
My husband and I were anxious about the day. I wanted to let my child stay home! But my heart wouldn’t let me off that easily. So I ______a pale, unwilling Jenny onto the school bus.
At the kindergarten, I was quite worried because of her slow action, Jenny would probably ______up her team. The game went well until it was time for the sack（麻袋）race. Surely Jenny would find it ______ . Now each child had to climb into a sack, jump to the finishing line, return and climb out of the sack. I noticed Jenny standing near the end of her line of players.
But as it was her turn to join, a change took place in her ______. The tallest boy behind Jenny placed his hands on her waist(腰). Two other boys ______in front of her. 
The moment the player before Jenny stepped out from the sack, the two boys _____the sack suddenly and kept it open while the tall boy ______ Jenny and put her into it. A girl nearby took her hand and supported her ______ Jenny got her balance(平衡). Then she jumped forward, smiling and proud. In the cheers of the teachers, schoolmates and parents, I silently thanked the warm, understanding people in life who made it ______ for my disabled daughter to be like her fellow human beings. Then I finally cried.
1.A. excited B. lonely C. happy D. weak
2.A. greeted B. respected C. encouraged D. appreciated
3.A. problem B. choice C. result D. exam
4.A. threw B. pushed C. knocked D. fixed
5.A. hold B. build C. keep D. take
6.A. stupid B. simple C. relaxing D. difficult
7.A. school B. family C. team D. heart
8.A. ran B. lay C. walked D. stood
9.A. picked up B. gave up C. looked up D. made up
10.A. shook B. hid C. lifted D. helped
11.A. when B. until C. after D. unless
12.A. popular B. special C. necessary D. possible
Can you tell me ______ when I called you?
A. what were you doing B. what are you doing
C. what you are doing D. what you were doing
