Over the last 70 years, researchers have been studying happy and unhappy people and finally found out ten factors that make a difference. Our feelings of well-being at any moment are determined to a certain degree by genes. However, of all the factors, wealth and age are the top two.

Money can buy a degree of happiness. But once you can afford to feed, clothe and house yourself, each extra dollar makes less and less difference.

Researchers find that, on average, wealthier people are happier. But the link between money and happiness is complex. In the past half-century, average income has sharply increased in developed countries, yet happiness levels have remained almost the same. Once your basic needs are met, money only seems to increase happiness if you have more than your friends, neighbors and colleagues.

“Dollars buy status, and status makes people feel better,” conclude some experts, which helps explain why people who can seek status in other ways-scientists or actors, for example，may happily accept relatively poorly-paid jobs.

In a research, Professor Alex Michalos found that the people whose desires, not just for money, but for friends, family, job, health,rose furthest beyond what they already had, tended to be less happy than those who felt a smaller gap. Indeed, the size of the gap predicted happiness about five times better than income alone. “The gap measures just blow away the only measures of income.”says Michalos.

Another factor that has to do with happiness is age. Old age may not be so bad“Given all the problems of aging, how could the elderly be more satisfied？”asks Professor Laura Carstensen.

In one survey, Carstensen interviewed 184 people between the ages of 18 and 94, and asked them to fill out an emotions questionnaire. She found that old people reported positive emotions just as often as young people, Some scientists suggest older people may expect life to be harder and learn to live with it, or they’re more realistic about their time running out, older people have learned to focus on things that make them happy and let go of those that don’t.

“People realize not only what they have, but also that what they have cannot last forever,” she says. “A goodbye kiss to a husband or wife at the age of 85, for example, may bring far more complex emotional responses than a similar kiss to a boy or girl friend at the age of 20.”

57．According to the passage, the feeling of happiness        .

A．is determined partly by genes      B．increases gradually with age

C．has little to do with wealth        D．is measured by desires

58．Some actors would like to accept poorly-paid jobs because the jobs      .

A．make them feel much better       B．provide chances to make friends

C．improve their social position      D．satisfy their professional interests

59．Aged people are more likely to feel happy because they are more       .

A．optimistic  B．successful        C．practical      D．emotional

60．Professor Alex Michalos found that people feel less happy if         .

A．the gap between reality and desire is bigger

B．they have a stronger desire for friendship

C．their income is below their expectation

D．the hope for good health is greater

　　 When it comes to bringing up children, everybody agrees that it is not an easy task. Every parent watches eagerly the child’s acquisition (學(xué)會) of each new skill — the first spoken words, the first independent steps, or the beginning of reading and writing. It is often tempting (吸引人的) to hurry the child beyond his natural learning rate, but this can set up dangerous feelings of failure and states of worry in the child. This might happen at any stage. A baby might be forced to learn something too early. A young child might be encouraged to learn to read before he knows the meaning of the words he reads. On the other hand, though, if a child is left alone too much, or without any learning opportunities, he loses his natural enthusiasm for life and his desire to find out new things for himself.

Parents vary greatly in their degree of strictness towards their children. Some may be especially strict in money matters. Others are severe over the time of coming home at night or punctuality for meals. In general, the controls represent the needs of the parents and values of the community as much as the children’s own happiness.

As regards the development of moral standards in the growing child, consistency is very important in parental teaching. To forbid a thing one day and excuse it the next is no foundation for morality. Also, parents should realize that “example is better than precept”. If they are not sincere and do not practice what they preach (說教), their children may grow confused and emotionally insecure when they grow old enough to think for themselves, and realize they have been to some extent cheated.

A sudden awareness of a marked difference between their parents’ principles and their morals can be a dangerous disappointment.

53. Eagerly watching the child’s acquisition of new skills ___________.

A. is universal among parents　　　 B. should be avoided

C. sets up dangerous states of worry in the child

D. will make him lose interest in learning new things

54. In the process of children’s learning new skills, parents _____________.

A. should encourage them to read before they know the meaning of the words they read

B. should achieve a balance between pushing them too hard and leaving them on their own

C. should not expect too much of them

D. should create as many learning opportunities as possible

55. The underlined word “precept” in Paragraph 3 probably means __________.

A. idea　　　 B. instruction　　　　 C. behavior　　 D. punishment

56. In moral matters, parents should _______________.

A. consistently ensure the security of their children

B. be aware of the marked difference between adults and children

C. forbid things which have no foundation in morality

D. obey the rules themselves

Social networking isn’t only for the under 40s. More than 25 percent of Americans 50 years and older stay connected using sites such as Facebook, MySpace and Twitter, according to new research.

　 “The latest data tells us that more and more social networking is becoming a part of everyday life for Americans 50 plus,” said Kevin Donnellan, the chief communications officer at AARP, which released the report.

　 Nearly a quarter of older Americans are on Facebook and 73 percent said they use it to stay in touch with relatives, but not just their children and grandchildren. “They are using the Internet to keep up with the world and the people who are important to them,” said Jean Koppen, the author of the report. She added that older adults are also on Facebook to stay connected, not only with their family, but with their friends and those in the same age group. Almost 50 percent of older adults were introduced to the social networking sites by a family member, mainly a child or grandchild. “Just under one-fifth of adults aged 50 and older say they do not use the Internet,” according to the report.

　 The findings are based on a telephone survey of 1,863 adults. In addition to keeping up on Facebook and Twitter older adults are aware of the latest technology. Eighty-three percent had heard about the Apple iPad and 11 percent intended to buy one.

　 Despite the popularity of the Internet among the over 50s, they still mostly go to print newspapers and magazines for news. Only one percent said they followed blogs.

49.What is the main idea of the text?

A.Social networking isn’t for the under 40s in the U.S.A.

B.American old people’s way of life is quite fashionable.

C.Social networking is becoming popular among older Americans.

D.Facebook, MySpace and Twitter are the most popular websites in the US.

50.Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?

A.85% of Americans 50 plus choose the Internet over print media.

B.About 460 people in the telephone survey often use Facebook.

C.About 20% of adults aged 50 plus have access to the Internet.

D.Three quarters of the people surveyed got to know the Internet through their family.

51.From the text, it can be concluded that______.

A.many older Americans are open-minded about new developments

B.Kevin Donnellan approves of this change among older Americans

C.Young people should introduce their elders to new technology

D.In a high tech age it is difficult to avoid social networking

52.Where does the text probably come from?

A.A novel.　　　　 　　　　　　　　 B. A newspaper.

C.A technology guide.　　　　　　　　 D. A student’s research paper

How can a creature weighing over 5 tons and normally taking 150 kilograms of food and 120 liters of water per day survive in a desert environment?

In the southwest African country of Namibia, and the Sahara lands of Mali further north, the desert elephant does just that.

Although not regarded as a separate species from the African elephant, the desert cousin differs in many ways. Their bodies are smaller, to absorb less heat, and their feet are larger for easier walking across sandy surfaces. They are taller, to reach higher branches. They have shorter tusks（象牙）， and most importantly, longer trunks to dig for water in riverbeds.

Desert elephants can travel over 70 kilometers in search for feeding grounds and waterholes, and have a larger group of families, They drink only every 3-4 days, and can store water in a “bag” at the back of their throat, which is only used when badly needed. Desert elephants are careful feeders ----- they seldom root up trees and break fewer branches, and thus maintain what little food sources are available. Yong elephants may even eat the dung（糞便）of the female leader of a group when facing food shortage.

During drought they are unlikely to give birth to their young but with good rains the birthrate will increase greatly. Desert elephants have sand baths, sometimes adding their own urine(尿液) to make them muddy!

As we continue to overheat our weak planet, it can only be hoped that other animal species will adapt as extraordinarily well to change as the desert elephant.

46．Desert elephants are called careful feeders because they   

A．rarely ruin trees              B．drink only every 3-4 days

C．search for food in large groups  D．protect food sources for their young

47．The author answers the question raised in the first paragraph with   

A．stories and explanation        B．facts and descriptions

C．examples and conclusion       D．evidence and argument

48．What can be inferred from the last sentence in the passage?

A．Overheating the earth can be stopped．

B．Not all animal species are so adaptable.

C．The planet will become hotter and hotter.

D．Not all animals are as smart as desert elephants. 

On August 26, 1999, New York City experienced a terrible rainstorm. The rain caused the streets to 　26 and the subway system almost came to a stop.

　 Unfortunately, this happened during the morning rush hour. Many people who were going to work were 　27 to go home. Some battled to 　28 a taxi or to get on a bus. Still others faced the 　29 bravely, walking miles to get to work.

　 I 　30 to be one of the people on the way to work that morning. I went from subway line to subway line only to find that most 　31 had stopped. After making my way 　32 crowds of people, I finally found a subway line that was 　　33 . Unfortunately, there were so many people waiting to 　34 the subway that I could not even get down the stairs to the 35 . So I took the train going in the opposite direction, and then switch back to the downtown train. Finally, after what seemed like an forever, the train 　36 my stop. Then I had to walk several blocks in the increasingly heavy rain. When I finally got to my office, I was 　37 through, exhausted and 　38 .

　　 My co-workers and I spent most of the day drying off. When it was 5:00 pm，I was ready to go home. I was about to turn off my computer 　39 I received an email from Garth, my Director:

　 I would like to thank all of you who made the effort and 　40 reported to work. It is always reassuring(令人欣慰), at times like these, when employees so clearly show their 　41 to their jobs. Thank you.

Garth’s email was short, but I learned more from that 　42 message than I ever did from a textbook. The email taught me that a few words of 　43 can make a big difference. The rainstorm and the traffic 　44 had made me tired and upset. But Garth’s words immediately 45 me and put a smile back on my face.

26. A. break　　　　　　　　 B. sink　　　　　 　 C. flood　　　　 D. crash

27. A. forced　　　　　　　 B. refused　　　　　　 C. adjusted　　　　　 D. gathered

28. A. order　　　　　　　　 B. pay　　　　　　　　　 C. call　　　　　　　　　 D. search

29. A. climate　　　　 B. scenery　　　　　　 C. burden　　　　　　 D. storm

30. A. used　　　　　　　　　 B. promised　　　　　 C. happened　 D. deserved

31. A. practice　　　　　　 B. routine　　　　　　 C. process　　　　　　 D. service

32. A. to　　　　　　　　　　　 B. through　　　　　　 C. over　　　　　　　　 D. for

33. A. rushing　　　 B. cycling　　　　　　 C. turning　　　　　　 D. operating

34. A. check　　　　　　　　 B. carry　　　　　　　　 C. find　　　　　　　　 D. board

35. A. street　　　　　　　　 B. ground　　　　　　 C. floor　　　　　　　　 D. platform

36. A. reached　　　 B. crossed　　　　　　 C. paused　　　　　　 D. parked

37. A. wet　　　　　　　　　 B. weak　　　　　　　　 C. sick　　　　　　　　 D. hurt

38. A. ashamed　　　　　　 B. discouraged　　　 C. surprised　　　　　 D. puzzled

39. A. when　　　　　　　　 B. while　　　　　　　　 C. where　　　 D. after

40. A. hardly　　　　　　　　 B. casually　　　　　　 C. absolutely　 D. eventually

41. A. connection　 B. donation　　　　　 C. devotion　　 　 D. reaction

42. A. accurate　　　　　　 B. urgent　　　 C. brief　　　　　　　　 D. humorous

43. A. promise　　　　　　 B. appreciation　　　 C. advice　　　 D. guidance

44. A. troubles　　　　　　 B. signals　　　 C. rules　　　　　　　　 D. signs

45. A. corrected　　　　　 B. refreshed C. amazed　　　　　　 D. supported　

 You naughty boy! You _______ get what you deserve!

   A. should       B. can                C. shall         D. may    

 Though having lived abroad for years, many Chinese still______ the traditional customs.

　 A. perform      B. possess       C. observe     D. support

 You’d better not leave the medicine _____ kids can get at it.

   A. even if       B. which        C. where      D. so that

 Occasions are quite rare ____ I have the time to spend a day with my kids.

   A. who         B. which        C. why       D. when

Thank you for your hard work last week. I don’t think we ____ it without you.

　 A. can manage　 　　　　　　　　B. could have managed　

C. could manage 　　　　　　　 D. can have managed