Question

    The new science of spending comes to a surprising conclusion. How we use our money may __________ as much or more than how much we’ve got it.

Money spent on experiences, rather than material goods, brings along more happiness.

Imagine that you wake up tomorrow morning to discover $1 million under your bed. What would you do with that cash?

The money will probably make you think about one thing above all else—yourself. A large amount of research reveals that money __________ our selfish sides. We will __________ much on what that money can do for us alone. Perhaps you are imagining buying a faster car, or even a new house.

But studies show that __________ goods often fail to deliver lasting happiness. Fortunately, our ongoing research __________ many ways to get more happiness from every dollar you spend. Changing how you spend money can increase your happiness.

But making these __________ needs to challenge some of our ideas of spending. It’s hard not to view buying a house as a wise investment. But research shows it brings very little happiness. A study in the United States found that homeowners, on average, were no happier than renters.

So, working hard to save money for a house might not be such a good idea __________ it means spending less time with your families and friends. And dozens of studies show that people get more happiness from buying __________ than material things. Experimental purchase—such as trips, concerts and special meals—are more deeply connected to our sense of self.

And experiences come with one more advantage. They tend to bring us __________ to other people, but more often, material things are enjoyed __________. So social contacts are important to improve mental and physical health.

1.A.present B.matter C.appear D.equal

2.A.shows B.explains C.proves D.designs

3.A.depend B.concentrate C.take D.look

4.A.mental B.material C.beautiful D.clever

5.A.invites B.offers C.prefers D.follows

6.A.changes B.plans C.decisions D.mistakes

7.A.if B.how C.unless D.though

8.A.houses B.cars C.experiences D.health

9.A.familiar B.close C.proper D.native

10.A.completely B.worldwide C.secretly D.alone

Answer

1.B

2.A

3.B

4.B

5.B

6.A

7.A

8.C

9.B

10.D

【解析】

文章大意：近期，关于消费的研究得出了一个令人震惊的结论。我们管理手中财富的能力与我们赚钱的能力一样重要，花钱的经历要比物质的东西给我们带来更多的快乐。

1.句意：我们管理手中财富的能力与我们赚钱的能力（重要）相仿更加重要。

考查动词.present呈现；matter重要；appear似乎；equal和……相等。根据“How we use our money may （1）as much or more than how much we've got”关于消费的研究得出了一个令人震惊的结论。我们管理手中财富的能力与我们赚钱的能力（重要）相仿更加重要。故选B。

2.句意：大量的研究表明金钱显示了我们自私的一面。

考查动词。shows展示；explains解释；proves 证明；designs设计。根据“A large amount of research reveals that money （2）our selfish sides”研究表明钱显示了我们自私的一面。应填shows，故选A。

3.句意：我们将把精力集中在那些钱能为我们单独做些什么上。

考查动词。depend依赖；concentrate集中；take拿；look看。根据后一句“Perhaps you are imagining buying a faster car，or even a new house，”可知，我们专注更多的是钱可以为我们做什么。故选B。

4.句意：但研究表明，物质财富往往不能带来持久的幸福。

考查形容词。mental精神的；material物质的；beautiful美丽的；clever聪明的。从后一句“Fortunately，our ongoing research （5）many ways to get more happiness from every dollar you spend”可知物质的东西不能带来持久的快乐。故选B。

5.句意：幸运的是，我们正在进行的研究有很多方法可以让你从每一美元中获得更多的快乐。

考查动词。invites邀请；offers提供；prefers更喜欢；follows跟随。从后一句“Changing how you spend money can increase your happiness”可知，我们的研究提供更多的花钱可以带来快乐的方式。此空应填offers，故选B。

6.句意：但做出这些改变需要挑战我们的一些消费观念。

考查动词。plans计划；changes改变；decisions决定；mistakes错误。根据前一句“Changing how you spend money can increase your happiness”可知，做出这样的改变，需要挑战我们的习惯。应填changes，故选B。

7.句意：所以，努力攒钱买房可能不是一个好主意，如果这意味着减少与家人和朋友在一起的时间。

考查连词。if如果；how怎么样；unless除非；though虽然。根据后一句“it means spending less time with your families and friends”可知，如果这意味着和家人朋友在一起的时间短了，那么努力挣钱买房不是个好选择。故选A。

8.句意：几十项研究表明，人们从购买体验中获得的快乐要比从物质上获得的快乐多。

考查名词。houses房子；cars车；experiences经历；health健康。根据后一句“Experimental purchase—such as trips, concerts and special meals—are more deeply connected to our sense of self. ”可知，人们的购物经历比物质的东西带来更多的快乐。故选C。

9.句意：他们倾向于让我们接近其他人，但更多的时候，物质的东西是独自享受的。经历使我们和别人更密切。

考查形容词。familiar更熟悉；close密切的；proper适当的；native当地的。此空应填close，故选B。

10.句意：他们倾向于让我们接近其他人，但更多的时候，物质的东西是独自享受的。考查副词。completely完全；worldwide世界范围的；secretly秘密地；alone单独地。根据句意“material things are enjoyed（10）”可知，物质的财富是单独享受的。应填alone，故选D。