Researchers found that people become happier and experience less worry after they reach the age of fifty. In fact, they say by the age of eighty-five, people are happier with their life than they were when they were eighteen years old.
The findings came from a survey of more than 340,000 adults in the United States. The Gallup(民意調(diào)查) Organization questioned them by telephone in 2008. At that time, the people were between the ages of eighteen and eighty-five.
The researchers asked questions about emotions like happiness, sadness and worry. They also asked about mental or emotional stress.
Arthur Stone at Stony Brook University in New York led the study. His team found that levels of stress were highest among adults between the ages of twenty-two and twenty-five. The findings showed that stress levels dropped sharply after people reached their fifties. Happiness was highest among the youngest adults and those in their early seventies. The people least likely to report feeling negative emotions were those in their seventies and eighties.
Researchers say they do not know why happiness increases as people get older. One theory is that, as people grow older, they grow more thankful for what they have and have better control of their emotions. They also spend less time thinking about bad experiences.
Professor Stone says the emotional patterns could be linked to changes in how people see the world, or maybe even changes in brain chemistry.
The researchers also considered possible influences like having young children, being unemployed or being single. But they found that influences like these did not affect the levels of happiness and well-being related to age.
The study also showed that men and women have similar emotional patterns as they grow older. However, women at all ages reported more sadness, stress and worry than men.
小題1: What can be the best title of the text?

A．Happiness Varies with Ages

B．Experience More, Worry Less

C．The Older, the Wiser

D．Being Young, Being Happy

小題2:We can learn from the research that _________.

A．only when people get older will they feel happier

B．stress levels among the youngest are the highest

C．older people tend to be grateful

D．older people usually have no worries

小題3:According to the research, when people get older, _________.

A．they miss the old days

B．they are physically weak

C．they have better self-control

D．they are more emotional

小題4:What would the author probably talk about next?

A．What influences happiness.

B．How to live better.

C．How to keep happier.

D．Why women are less happier.

小題5:The author is intended to _________.

A．a(chǎn)dvise how to reduce stress

B．introduce a scientific finding

C．describe how to do research

D．talk about human emotions

Some years ago on a hot summer day in south Florida a little boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming lake behind his house.
In a hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out the back door, leaving behind his shoes, socks, and shirt as he went. He flew into the water, not realizing that as he swan toward the middle of the lake, an alligator(鱷魚) was swimming toward the shore.
His mother in the house was looking out the window and saw the two as they got closer and closer. In extreme fear, she ran toward the water, yelling(大叫) to her son as loudly as she could. Hearing her voice, the little boy became alarmed and made a U-turn to swim to his mother. It was too late. Just as he reached her, the alligator reached him.
From the dock(碼頭)，the mother grabbed her little boy by the arms just as the alligator snatched(奪取) his legs. That began an incredible tug-of-water(拔河). The alligator was much stronger than the mother, but the mother was much too passionate(有感情的). A farmer happened to drive by, took aim and shot the alligator.
After weeks and weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived. The newspaper reporter asked if he would show him his scars(傷疤). The boy lifted his legs, then, with obvious pride, he said to the reporter, “but look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms, too. I have them because my mum wouldn’t let go. ”
Some scars have caused us deep regret, but some scars are because of love.
小題1:From the second paragraph we can infer that_____.

A．A child shouldn’t swim in the water by himself.

B．We’d better grasp some skills to protect ourselves

C．We should make enough preparations before swimming

D．We are enjoying ourselves but don’t know the enemy is coming.

小題2:The incredible tug-of-water is between _______.

A．The boy and the alligator

B．the boy and the mother

C．The alligator and the mother

D．the alligator and the farmer.

小題3:Which of the following statements is true?

A．The alligator was killed by a hunter.

B．There’re scars both on the boy’s arms and legs.

C．The mother was calm when seeing the alligator.

D．The mother won the “match” because of her strength.

小題4:Why was the boy proud when he showed the scars on his arms？

A．He survived luckily.

B．He was a child of God.

C．He was injured slightly.

D．He was proud of the scars of love.

This is the age of being busy. Many of us live in busy places and have busy lives. Even the roads are busy as we try to get from here to there. Adults are busy going to jobs and taking care of their families. Kids are busy, too, going to school and doing a lot of homework after school and on weekends.
Busy isn’t bad, necessarily. If you are not busy enough you might be bored. But if you are too busy, you might break down. For example, if you have a soccer game that runs late on a school night and you haven’t eaten dinner or done your homework, that’s a not-so-fun kind of busy. We wanted to know what kids thought, so we did a kidsPoll about being busy with 882girls and boys aged 9 to 13.
Almost all of them said they felt stressed because they were too busy. About half said they felt this way once in a while or some of the time. But 17% said they felt this way most of the time and 24% said they felt this all the time! Oh dear, that’s no fun.
Only 4% of kids said they wanted less free time and 18% said they already had just the right amount. But, no big surprise, 61% of kids wish they had a lot more free time. If they had more time, most would spend it hanging out or playing with friends.
Often, adults plan large parts of a kid ’s day, especially during the school year. kids can’t tell their parents they’ll be skipping school(逃學(xué)) today to get more free time! But they can tell their parents they’d like to play a game or read a book during their free time instead of watching TV.
小題1:The purpose of the first paragraph is to _____.

A．Introduce the topic

B．Support the main idea

C．Raise the topic sentence

D．Attract the readers’ attention

小題2:By giving the example of a late soccer game, the writer intends to tell us______.

A．Being too busy is bad for the kids

B．It is no fun to be busy for the kids

C．Homework should go before gam.

D．Being busy may cause the kids to feel bored

小題3:According to the passage, the KidsPoll is done to carry out research on _____.

A．How kids arrange their free time

B．What kids think of being busy

C．How many kids felt stressed

D．What kids do with their study

小題4:From the passage, we can infer that the writer agrees kids can_____.

A．Spend their free time hanging or playing out

B．Get a lot more free time from their parents

C．Have a right amount of free time with permission

D．Get more free time from school work sometimes

Growing old is something that nobody can understand until they experience it for themselves．I may not be "old" but I am certainly beginning to  36   it? turned 18 just over a week ago．I am now an adult．
As a child you  37   adults—or "grown-ups" as I used to call them—to always be in control．to know what is right and wrong． 38   as a teenager, I thought that when I reached 18 I would be far more  39   in many aspects of life．But now that I am 18, 1 know that is not true．
It is clear to me now that you do not   40   learning when you are 18．Every day you learn
something  41   , no matter what your age．However, I do understand when you become an adultyou have to  42  more responsibility．
Whereas before I seldom had to clean the dishes, set the table or help out around the house, now I do all of those．I have already  43   myself the nickname "housekeeper"．
I can even drive now, which is pretty   44  , because of the frequency of accidents．But that's not to say that 18 is not   45  to be．Not only can I drink alcohol, but I can also  46 ．In fact, being 18 has made me really interested in politics because it now means that I can change things on  47  Day．More and more of my friends want to become politicians, and it is great to
think that they can change things for the better．

小題1:	A．dislike B．feel C．learn D．love

小題2:	A．expect B．criticize C．deny D．know

小題3:	A．Even B．But C．So D．Since

小題4:	A．comfortable B．interested C．a(chǎn)ssured D．contented

小題5:	A．continue B．desire C．stop D．refuse

小題6:	A．interested B．unique C．valuable D．new

小題7:	A．take on B．put on C．take up D．put up

小題8:	A．honored B．chosen C．earned D．won

小題9:	A．scary B．a(chǎn)mazing C．fascinating D．difficult

小題10:

A．a(chǎn)dventurous B．tough C．good D．a(chǎn)nnoying

小題11:

A．elect B．vote C．volunteer D．involve

小題12:

A．Labor B．Independence C．Christmas D．Election

閱讀下面短文，從短文后各題所給的四個選項A、B、C和D中，選出空白處的最佳選項，并在答題卡上將該項涂黑。
Tips to keep a hearty conversation flowing
On holidays we typically gather with our nearest and dearest. But    36   can be made, maintained and broken through the ways we talk to our loved  _37___, according to Deborah Tannen, a George-town University professor in linguistics（語言學(xué)）. She has suggestions   as to  how we can  38    communications at our festival dinner tables. Let’s take a look.
＊A  round dinning table is best for promoting a     39    conversation because
everyone   40     each other.
＊Avoid _41_ grandparents at the ends of a rectangular(長方形的) table, even though it is the traditional place of __42__. Elderly people may feel lonely there if they are unable to hear or keep __43__ a conversation.
＊__44__ prefer to face each other and make eye contact when they talk. In contrast, men tend to look around at other things. “Guys may be more   45    keeping gazing on the TV,” says Tannen. “They’ll still be _46__, though.”
＊Be aware that people have different ways of talking. Each person has a different __47__ of tone, rhyme, timing and how _48__ of a pause is normal in a conversation. Watch for people who seem left __49__. If you feel you are doing all the talking, hold back to give others a 50  .If you feel you aren’t getting a chance to speak, try pushing yourself to start  51    .
＊People sometimes get upset on big festivals _52 they stay too long in the apartment. Some families find that gatherings go more __53__ if they plan for some fun _54___. So why not get a breath of fresh air? Going to a park for a walk or taking a trip to the zoo may be more__55__ than just sitting around inside.

小題1:	A．demands B．relationships C．victories D．mistakes

小題2:	A．ones B．those C．others D．them

小題3:	A． bother B．delay C． damage D．improve

小題4:	A．lively B．short C． calm D．dull

小題5:	A．scolds B．blames C．faces D．a(chǎn)nnoys

小題6:	A．checking B．hiding C．seating D．hurting

小題7:	A．pity B．sorrow C．intelligence D．honor

小題8:	A．up with B．off C． away from D． out of

小題9:	A．Grown-ups B．Men C．People D．Women

小題10:

A．surprised B．relaxed C．encouraged D．upset

小題11:

A．thinking B．doubting C．listening D．looking

小題12:

A．matter B．sense C．direction D．point

小題13:

A． often B． long C． soon D． far

小題14:

A． out B． behind C． over D． off

小題15:

A．reward B．gift C．hand D．chance

小題16:A. talking       B  singing       C.  dancing       D. playing

小題17:

A．until B．if C．though D．since

小題18:

A．naturally B．coldly C．quickly D．smoothly

小題19:

A．indoors B．outside C．inside D．everywhere

小題20:

A．a(chǎn)bstract B．bitter C．enjoyable D．cruel

Human needs seem endless. When a hungry man gets a meal, he begins to think about an overcoat, when a manager gets a new sports car, a big house and pleasure boats dance into view.
The many needs of mankind might be regarded as making up several levels. When there is money enough to satisfy one level of needs, another level appears.
The first and most basic level of needs involves food. Once this level is satisfied, the second level of needs, clothing and some sort of shelter, appears. By the end of World War Ⅱ, these needs were satisfied for a great majority of Americans. Then a third level appeared. It included such items as automobiles and new houses.
By 1957 or 1958 this third level of needs was fairly well satisfied. Then, in the late 1950s, a fourth level of needs appeared; the “l(fā)ife-enriching” level. While the other levels involve physical satisfaction, that is, the need in comfort, safety, and transportation, this level stresses mental needs for recognition, achievement, and happiness. It includes a variety of goods and services, many of which could be called “l(fā)uxury” items. Among them are vacation trips, the best medical and dental care, and recreation. Also included here are fancy goods and the latest styles in clothing.
On the fourth level, a lot of money is spent on services, while on the first three levels more is spent on goods. Will consumers raise their sights to a fifth level of needs as their income increases, or will they continue to demand luxuries and personal services on the fourth level?
A fifth level would probably involve needs that can be achieved best by community action. Consumers may be spending more on taxes to pay for government action against disease, ignorance, crime, and prejudice. After filling our stomachs, our clothes closets, our garages, our teeth, and our minds, we now may seek to ensure the health, safety, and leisure to enjoy more fully the good things on the first four levels.
小題1: According to the passage, man will begin to think about such needs as housing and clothing only when       .

A．he has saved up enough money

B．he has grown dissatisfied with his simple shelter

C．he has satisfied his hunger

D．he has learned to build houses

小題2: It can be inferred from the passage that by the end of World War Ⅱ, most Americans        .

A．were very rich

B．lived in poverty

C．had the good things on the first three levels

D．did not own automobiles

小題3: Which of the following is NOT related to “physical satisfaction” ?

A．A successful career.	B．A comfortable home.
C．A good meal.	D．A family car.

小題4: What is the main concern of man on the fourth level?

A．The more goods the better.

B．The more mental satisfaction the better.

C．The more “l(fā)uxury” items the better.

D．The more earnings the better.

Eric and Doris King Turner are packing their bags for New Zealand. They're busy deciding what to pack and what to leave behind in Britain and are making plans to extend their new home in Nelson. Doris is looking forward to getting the garden into shape and Eric has his heart set on a spot of fly fishing. The difference is that Eric is 102, Doris is 87. Eric thinks he's Britain's oldest emigrant.
In January next year Eric King Turner and his wife of 12 years will wave goodbye to their neighbors, and set sail from Southampton on the voyage of a lifetime. The ocean liner (遠洋客輪)Saga Rose will take six weeks to get to Auckland and the couple are expecting a red-carpet welcome from family.
Doris was born in New Zealand but gave up her homeland when the couple met and married in the late 1990s. But New Zealand is close to both their hearts and the attraction of family and friends, and the good fishing helped to persuade them to move.
Doris, who has five children and nine grandchildren, supported her husband's application to settle in New Zealand. The paperwork took five months. Eric says, "We not only had to produce a marriage certificate（證書） but we had to produce evidence that we were in a long and stable relationship!" He also said he was not asked about his age but had to show that he could support himself financially (財政上) in New Zealand.
"I like New Zealand. The way of life is very much the same as it is here but it is not so crowded." His wife has always been “a little bit homesick” but has never complained. Now the couple are in the middle of the task of sorting out possessions and selling their flat.
小題1:Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?

A．They decided to leave all the things behind in Britain.

B．The wife always complained about the life in Britain.

C．The couple will set up their new home in Nelson.

D．Doris and Eric will go to New Zealand to hold the wedding.

小題2:The underlined word "emigrant" in Paragraph 1 probably refers to a person who___.

A．lives in a country forever	B．moves from one place to settle in another
C．travels around the world	D．visits many places in a country

小題3:What makes the couple's move to New Zealand special?

A．Their age.	B．The red carpet.
C．The ocean liner Saga Rose.	D．Their marriage certificate.

小題4:The best title of the passage may be       .

A．Better late than never

B．Eric and Doris King-Turner are packing their bags

C．To leave or not to leave, that's the problem

D．Eric, 102, leaves Britain with his wife

Canadian experts have found that so – called self – help books may actually do more harm than good to people who really need help．Researchers say that individuals （個人） with low respect felt much worse after repeating positive statements about themselves．
In their study, psychologists Joanne Wood and John Lee sought to determine how positive thinking affected people with different levels of self – confidence．They questioned dozens of people both made and female, analyzed their self – worth and optimism by means of the standard psychological methods and then asked them to write down their thoughts and feelings．The scoring system ranged from 0 to 35．
During the experiment, the researchers asked a total of 68 participants to repeat the self-help book phrase, “I am a lovable person．” After that they measured the participants’ moods and their feelings about themselves．The results revealed that the participants in the low self – respect group who repeated the mantra （頌歌）, were feeling much worse afterwards, when compared to other participants in low self – respect group who did not repeat the phrase．Those with low self – respect who repeated the phrase scored an average of 10 points．Their counterparts （對比者） with equally low self – respect who were not asked to repeat the statement, were able to score a little higher average of 17 points．
However, individuals with high self – respect reported feeling better after repeating the positive self – statement – but only slightly．They scored an average of 31 points, compared with an average of 25 for those with equally high self – respect who did not repeat the phrase．
Professor Wood urged those who promote self – help books, magazines and television shows to stop telling people that simply repeating a positive mantra could change one’s life．First, people start following this idea and feel like they are not alone．They are told that all they have to do is just to read that book and then to repeat these positive statements in a hope that things will be better, and when it does not work for them and they realize that nothing gets better, then it is really frustration to people．
Researchers concluded: “Repeating positive self – statements may benefit certain people such as individuals with high self – respect but discourage the very people who need confidence the most．”
小題1:The experts tried to find out, when repeating positive self – statements,         ．

A．the different influences on people with different levels of self - confidence

B．whether males or females will get more benefit from self – help books

C．which group of people self – help books will do the greatest harm to

D．who will get the least benefit from self – help book

小題2:How many points did the low self – respect participants get after repeating the self – help book phrase?

A．An average of 10 points．	B．An average of 17 points．
C．An average of 31 points．	D．An average of 25 points．

小題3:So – called self – help books do some good to          ．

A．people lacking confidence

B．people with high self - respect

C．people with problems to settle urgently

D．people repeating positive self – statements

One fine afternoon, I was walking along Fifth Street when I remembered that it was necessary to buy a pair of socks. Why I wished to buy only one pair was unimportant. I turned into the first sock shop that caught my eye. A boy clerk, who could not have been more than seventeen years old came forward. “What can I do for you, sir?” he said “I wish to buy a pair of socks.” I replied.
His eyes shone. There was a note of excitement in his voice. “Did you know that you had come into the finest place in the world to buy socks?” I had no idea of that, as my entrance had been accidental. “Come with me,” said the boy, eagerly. I followed him to the back of the shop, and he began to pull down box after box from the shelves, showing their contents (內(nèi)裝物)for my choice.
“Hold on, lad” I said “I am going to buy only one pair!” “I know that,” said he, “but I want you to see how beautiful these are. Aren’t they wonderful!” There was on his face an expression of seriousness and pride and delight as if he were showing me the secrets of his religion（宗教信仰）. I became far more interested in him than in the socks. I looked at him in surprise. “My friend, ” said I, “if you can keep this up, if this is not merely from having a new job, if you can keep up this high spirit and excitement day after day, in ten years you will own every sock in the United States.”
小題1:What did the writer want to buy one fine afternoon?

A．A pair of shoes.	B．A pair of socks.
C．Two pairs of socks.	D．A set of books.

小題2:Which is true according to the passage?

A．The shop was on the Second Road.	B．The boy was 18 years old.
C．The boy was not in high spirits.	D．The writer entered the shop by chance.

小題3:What the writer said in the last paragraph means that ______.

A．if you don’t work hard, you will lose the job

B．you should keep on following your customs

C．if you keep up your great interest in your work, you will succeed in the future

D．if you are too hardworking, you will fail

I was loading (裝載) my truck to go to the market when I hurt my left eye. The pain was like a hot sword(劍) being shoved through my head. I fell down on my hands and knees, and I knew it was bad.
I was taken to the Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga, and the doctors operated on me several times but couldn’t save my left eye. When they told me the news, I wanted to die.
Even after I got my fake（假的） eye, I couldn’t shake the sadness. To make matters worse, I lost my job as a transportation officer because of my lost eye. But one morning, I woke up and the TV was on, and there was a 16-year-old girl who had been badly burned on her face and legs. Her situation was much worse than mine. She wore a big smile and seemed to look right at me and said, “You can’t ever give up.” At that moment, I thought, “This is just an eye. Get over it.” And I did.
It’s been almost 12 years since my accident, and there’s nothing I can’t do now that I used to do. And although I didn’t get my old job back, I got my license again.
I read a story once. In that story, a man was feeling bad because he had no shoes until he met a man who had no feet. No matter how terrible your problem is, remember there’s always someone somewhere who’s worse off. So cheer up and smile at life!
小題1:Because of the accident, the writer _______.

A．lost both of his hands.	B．lost one of his eyes
C．was paid a lot of money	D．knew he was not a good driver

小題2:According to Paragraph 2, when the writer heard the bad news, _______.

A．he decided to refuse the fake eye	B．he accepted the fact immediately
C．he decided to live a happier life	D．he felt extremely sad

小題3:What can we learn from the passage?

A．The writer got his old job back	B．The writer can’t see things clearly
C．The writer is not strong-minded	D．The writer has got over the accident

小題4:By writing his story, the writer most probably wants to _______.

A．tell us his unusual experience

B．a(chǎn)sk people to help the disabled

C．a(chǎn)dvised us to be positive（積極樂觀的） about life

D．tell us that accident can happen anytime