1、大学英语四级（阅读）模拟试卷 45及答案与解析 Section B Directions: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. You should decide on the best choice. 0 Ingredients for Happiness No, happiness isnt
2、a lottery ticket away. I am fascinated by academic studies of human happiness, because they bring scientific rigor to issues we all struggle with. We think more money will make us happier and yet studies suggest Americans are no more satisfied than they were three decades ago, when the standard of l
3、iving was much lower. So if winning the lottery wont do the trick, what will? Here are seven key lessons from happiness research. It is indeed possible to boost our happiness but itll take more than a fat wallet. 1. What matters is what we focus on. Those with higher incomes arent necessarily happie
4、r. But when asked how satisfied they are with their lives, high earners are more likely to say theyre happy. Why? The question makes them ponder their position in society and they realize theyre pretty lucky. The implication: If you have a hefty portfolio or hefty paycheck, you can probably bolster
5、your happiness by regularly contemplating your good fortune. Meanwhile, if you are less well off, avoid situations where you feel deprived and seek out those where comparisons are in your favor. Rather than buying the cheapest house in a wealthy neighborhood, settle for a town where people have simi
6、lar salaries. When you think about your net worth, forget your well-heeled sister and focus on your cash-strapped brother. 2. Dont go it alone. Studies have found that married folks are happier than those who are single. “Marriage provides two sources of happiness,“ says Andrew Oswald, an economics
7、professor at Englands Warwick University. “One is sex and the other is friendship. Marriage has one of the largest impacts on human well-being.“ Similarly, spending time with friends can boost happiness. Studies indicate that commuting is one of lifes least enjoyable activities, that looking after t
8、he kids is more of a struggle than we like to admit and that eating is one of lifes great pleasures. But all of these things can be enhanced by adding friends. Commuting with others will make the trip less grim, playing with the kids will be more fun if theres another adult along and eating with oth
9、ers is better than eating alone. 3. We like to feel secure. Midlife is a period of relative unhappiness. This dissatisfaction may stem from the lack of control felt by those in their 40s, as they juggle raising children and the demands of work. By contrast, employees in senior positions, retirees an
10、d those with good job security often report being happy. One explanation: They have greater control over their daily lives. “Theres a profound link between insecurities of all kinds and human well-being,“ Prof. Oswald notes. “Supervisors are happier than those who are supervised. Job loss is an enor
11、mous negative and job security is an enormous plus to mental health.“ 4. We enjoy making progress. Studies suggest we prefer leisure to work. But that doesnt mean work is always a source of unhappiness. We like the feeling of performing a job competently and being in the flow of work. “There are def
12、initely better and worse jobs,“ says David Schkade, a management professor at the University of California at San Diego. “If youre in the flow more often, thats going to be a better job.“ But Prof. Schkade says works real pleasure may come from the sense of accomplishment we feel afterward. “We know
13、 progress makes people feel good,“ he says. “You should design a life where you have that feeling of progress.“ Work also has the benefit of making leisure seem sweeter, Prof. Schkade adds. This may be the reason seniors who set out solely to relax and have fun are often disappointed by their retire
14、ment. 5. We adapt to improvements. In pursuit of progress, we strive for faster cars, fatter paychecks and winning lottery tickets. Yet, when we get what we are after, we quickly become dissatisfied and soon were lusting after something else. Academics refer to this as the “hedonic treadmill“ or “he
15、donic adaptation.“ We may, however, be able to slow the process of adaptation. If we go out and celebrate our recent promotion, we will hang onto the good feelings for a little longer. If we bought a house last year, we may recover some of the initial thrill by pausing to admire our new home. We sho
16、uld also think about how we spend our money. It seems we get more lasting happiness from experiences than goods. If we buy a new car, it will eventually go from being our pride and joy to being a scruffy set of wheels with an irritating rattle. But if we spend our money on meals with friends or vaca
17、tions with family, we will be left with fond memories that may grow even fonder with time. 6. We also adapt to setbacks. While adaptation can work against us when good things happen, it saves us from misery when bad times strike. If a close friend dies, we imagine we will never laugh again. But adap
18、tation rides to the rescue. Oddly enough, it seems we adjust more quickly if a setback is large or irreversible. If we become disabled, we will likely adapt with surprising speed. If our spouse is a slob, we may never get used to it. One reason: We figure theres still a chance our spouse will change
19、 his or her slovenly ways. 7. We enjoy behaving virtuously. If we volunteer, give to charity or behave politely, we usually feel pretty good. Pure altruism (利他主义 )? It may, instead, be our ancient instincts kicking in. Good behavior paid big dividends in ancient societies, notes Boston money manager
20、 Terry Burnham, co-author of “Mean Genes.“ “Virtue is built into us because virtue was rewarded,“ he argues. “In small-scale societies, where you are well known, there are rewards for being a good citizen and severe punishments for being a rule breaker.“ Still, whatever our true motivation, behaving
21、 virtuously is almost always a good thing and it will likely make us happier. 1 High earners are more likely to feel satisfied with their lives probably because_. （ A） money make human happier （ B） their life is more comfortable （ C） they realize they have good luck （ D） they only focus on their poo
22、r peers 2 The unpleasant things like commuting can be improved by_. （ A） having a happy marriage （ B） being together with friends （ C） playing with kids （ D） getting higher salary 3 According to Prof. Oswald, job security is beneficial to_. （ A） mental health （ B） physical health （ C） work performan
23、ce （ D） promotion 4 David Schkade notes that jobs can be better on the condition that_. （ A） we get lifetime employment （ B） we have more leisure time at work （ C） we positively get involved in our work （ D） we get promotion in a short time 5 According to the passage, what is the solution to “hedoni
24、c treadmill“? （ A） To stop seeking for progress. （ B） To slow the process of adaptation. （ C） To spend less money. （ D） To keep pursuing new goals. 6 We can get more lasting happiness from_. （ A） luxurious goods （ B） great pride （ C） fond memories （ D） sincere praise 7 We can see the importance of a
25、daptation when _. （ A） good things happen （ B） bad times strike （ C） we never laugh （ D） our spouse is slovenly 8 If you are not well off, you can still find happiness in occasions where _. 9 According to Prof. Schkade, when one has the sense of accomplishment in work, he will find _ 10 It is most p
26、robably our_that make us want to volunteer and feel good. 10 Tips for Those Who Travel Alone When it comes to traveling, sometimes taking a journey alone can be great. Traveling alone allows for a time of self-reflection, relaxation and self-discovery, when you can take the time to soak in the finer
27、 things the world has to offer. The independence gained by going alone allows for the opportunity to experience your choice destination exactly the way you want. Planning your trip: Where to stay So youve finally decided to take advantage of some well-earned vacation time and visit Prague, the city
28、of your dreams. Because youll be all by yourself, the planning of your trip is automatically different. One of the first questions worth attention is how youre going to spend your time in the beautiful Czech Republic capital. Are you going on a shoestring budget, or would you rather go all-out and b
29、ook a room in a fancy hotel? Because traveling alone means your money is funding the trip, a wise choice would be to stay in youth hostels. Cast away the wrong idea that these places are uncomfortable and dirty, and accept the fact that hostels provide safe, clean, comfortable, and most importantly,
30、 cheap housing that millions of students and economical travelers take advantage of every year. It is relatively easy to book a room at a hostel via the Internet, and plenty of information is available about each one. On the other hand, if you cant wait to take advantage of room service and a Jacuzz
31、i bath, then turn to a hotel. Have a plan Along with securing your accommodations, prepare a route of the journey for each day before you leave. This plan should include everything from visiting all the famous landmarks to some relaxation time, which is essential since youll be likely walking for mi
32、les in your comfortable shoes (invest in a good pair, it will pay off). As great as organization is, however, you may not, at times, have to be restrained by your plan so as to leave room for some sceneries unexpected or unplanned on your trip. That is exactly the beauty of traveling alone: You are
33、your own master, and while preparation is key, there is always room to do something wild. Important information prior to takeoff One of the hardest parts of traveling in general is coming up with a list of what youll need to bring with you(or leave behind). Thinking of these all-important items beco
34、mes all the more difficult (and necessary) when you have no one else to rely on. Luggage Whatever luggage you take, make sure its easy to handle. The best solution is to take one hold-all, be it a suitcase or a backpack, and then a smaller bag which you can hang loosely from your shoulder. Its also
35、a good idea to keep a change of clothing in your shoulder bag in case your suitcase or backpack gets lost by an airline or bus company. Carry a dictionary If youre heading for a foreign country, dont leave home without a bilingual dictionary. Although a strong grasp of Czech will prove quite difficu
36、lt, it is still important to learn phrases like “thank you,“ “hello,“ “please,“ and “I didnt know she charged money for her time,“ in case youre in trouble. Make copies of documents Make a copy of all essential travel documents such as your passport and health insurance. Keep the copies separate or
37、leave them behind with someone you trust, in the event of an emergency. Bring a credit card Along with cash, bring a credit card as an emergency method of payment and make sure to take note of your credit card companys customer service line in case of loss or theft. That way, you can cancel your car
38、d immediately and have a new one delivered to you while on your trip (if possible). Pack pleasure items A book to enjoy on a train ride or on the beach, a journal to record your experiences, and maps to educate yourself on the layout of the land (you can get these from a tourism bureau), can make a
39、world of a difference. With these things in mind and a positive spirit, you are now officially ready to set out on your own. Finally there Youve taken the big step, said goodbye to family and friends, endured a long plane ride, and are finally in the place you dreamed of visiting. until now. You mig
40、ht be quite overwhelmed by your new surroundings, but there are ways to control these feelings of over-stimulation. Instead of being an outsider looking in, try to transform yourself into a relaxed traveler who is not held back by minor frustrations, such as long lines at the train station or delays
41、 in visiting hours of certain landmarks. If you planned accordingly, then you can afford to “waste“ time at the busy tourist hotspots. Besides, youre on vacation, and have nowhere to be! Another benefit of traveling alone is the ability to explore museums and engage in other time-consuming activitie
42、s. There is no pressure to rush through exhibits or cut the visit short; pace yourself and take in the masterpieces, whether youre an art lover or just a beginner. Getting around Make an effort to walk everywhere within reason, of course. This will help you get in touch with the area (so to speak) a
43、nd observe the locals in their element. Using your legs also allows you to find interesting shops and cafes more easily than if you were on some poor-quality tour bus. Your goal should be to blend in, something a well-designed (and perhaps overpriced) tour wont likely offer. Wear loose, light clothi
44、ng because the more comfortable you feel, the more willing you will be to stay out an extra hour to explore a section you might have overlooked. Remain enthusiastic, relaxed and prepared, and the stories you will have to share upon your return will be priceless. Extra tips: Bring along a camera with
45、 lots of films. Leave your route with someone at home, along with the numbers of each place youre staying at. Its okay if your plans are sketchy, but if there is a big change in your plans, you might want to e-mail the new information to your “in case of emergency“ person back home. Stay safe and ke
46、ep an eye out when it comes to money or your belongings; you dont have a companion to catch the pickpocket creeping up from behind. While having fun is important, so is safety. Be carefree, but dont throw caution to the wind. 11 What is said about the city Prague? （ A） It is most visited by self-ser
47、vice tourists. （ B） It is the most beautiful in East Europe. （ C） It is the capital city of Czech Republic. （ D） It is a city famous for its fairy tales. 12 According to the author, youth hostels are _. （ A） safe but uncomfortable （ B） cheap but inconvenient （ C） popular and pleasant （ D） economical
48、 and tidy 13 What we are sure is not included in the services of youth hostels? （ A） Access to the Internet. （ B） Jucuzzi bath. （ C） Breakfast. （ D） Swimming pool. 14 The author suggests that you should bring with you _ in your shoulder bag. （ A） a map of the destination （ B） a change of clothing （
49、C） an interesting book （ D） some convenience food 15 If you have problems with the foreign language, you should _. （ A） take a bilingual dictionary along （ B） seek help from travel agencies （ C） be ready to hire an interpreter （ D） avoid talking to local citizens 16 If you bring a credit card, make sure you take down _ in case of loss or theft. （ A） the card number （ B） the name of the card company （ C） the service number of the card company （ D） the record of ev
