The Happiest Cities On EarthIf you’re looking for a cheery destination for your

The Happiest Cities On EarthIf you’re looking for a cheery destination for your

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The Happiest Cities On Earth
If you’re looking for a cheery destination for your next vacation, consider these four spots and get ready to take notes on how to really live the good life.
Singapore
With one of the highest population densities(密度)in the world and residents known for being workaholics, it’s hard to imagine the city-state of Singapore having one of the happiest populations on earth. And yet in a recent survey, 95% of them said they were either very happy or quite happy.
They give their city high marks for cleanliness and safety—subways are pristine (洁净的) and unfailingly arrive on time, and police are seen as helpful and good at their jobs. What’s more, they feel they can count on their neighbours—all 5.1 million of them.
Arhus, Denmark
The residents of Arhus cheerfully part with 68% of their income in taxes, knowing that in return they will be guaranteed free healthcare, free daycare, and a top-notch (第一流的) education for their children.
An energetic city of 300,000 with a lively cultural scene and a diverse number of religions represented, the sense of equality (the range in incomes is narrow), as well as easy access to the nearby sea and surrounding countryside, make Arhus seem more like a small town.
San Luis Obispo, CA
According to a 2008 Gallup-Healthways study, people who live in San Luis Obispo are more likely than residents of other U.S. cities to smile and experience joy and are less likely to experience pain or depression. About 64,000 of the 260,000 people in the greater metropolitan area (都市区), located halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, volunteer at over 11,000 non-profit organizations.
Few journeys to work are longer than 10 minutes (one reason its members rank in the upper third for job satisfaction), so “it’s easy to be involved,” resident Pierre Rademaker said. Business signs are unobtrusive (不显眼的) by law, fewer than 11% of residents smoke—the lower rate in the U.S.—there are lots of bike lanes, and the city’s plaza draws crowds of people for free concerts on summer Fridays. What’s not to love?
Monterrey, Mexico
The people of Monterrey don’t enjoy high household incomes or access to good healthcare. Instead, there’s a profound sense of gratitude for the new political freedom enjoyed since the oppressive Institutional Revolutionary Party lost power in 2000—the first time in nearly a century—as well as an emphasis on social life over work.
Another reason Monterrey residents may be so happy is their faith in God and family, and their ability to tough it out through bad times.
“We laugh at sickness, poverty and even death,” says Basanez, a political scientist who lives in Monterrey. “We even have a holiday to celebrate death. November 2, the Day of the Dead, is one of the biggest holidays of the year.”
小题1:According to the passage, what do the residents in the four cities have in common?
A.All the residents can make great fortunes by working hard.
B.The residents there are mostly educators.
C.All the residents enjoy enough material wealth.
D.The majority of the residents are satisfied with their current life.
小题2:According to the passage, we can infer that _______.
A.the people of Singapore expect their neighbours to come to their help when necessary
B.the people of Monterrey even observe one’s death on a special day of a year
C.the residents of Arhus happily pay 68% of their income for their children’s education fee
D.the people who live in San Luis Obispo have job satisfaction because they can enjoy good working conditions
小题3:According to the passage which of the following statements is NOT TRUE?
A.The people of Monterrey didn’t enjoy political freedom until 2000.
B.The residents in Singapore feel happy because of its low population density.
C.The people of San Luis Obispo can enjoy free concerts in summer.
D.Arhus is handy to the seaside and countryside.
小题4:What can we learn from the underlined part “the sense of equality”?
A.The residents of Arhus have no racial discrimination.
B.Arhus is considered as a family sharing everything with each other.
C.There is no wide gap between the rich and the poor in Arhus.
D.The residents of Arhus can depend on their neighbours to help.

答案

小题1:D
小题2:A
小题3:B
小题4:C
解析

试题分析:本文介绍了世界上最适合旅游的,当地人满意度最高的四个地方,并且详细描述了这四个地方的特色。
小题1:D推理题。根据文章中对这4各地方的描述可知这些地方都有很多的特色之处,而且当地的人对于本地教育,环境等都很满意。根据the city’s plaza draws crowds of people for free concerts on summer Fridays. What’s not to love?和in a recent survey, 95% of them said they were either very happy or quite happy.故D正确。
小题2: A推理题。根据文章第2段最后一句What’s more, they feel they can count on their neighbours—all 5.1 million of them.可知他们都很信赖他们的邻居,认为邻居在必要的时候能够来帮助他们。故A正确。
小题3:B细节题。根据文章第二段第一句With one of the highest population densities(密度)in the world and residents known for being workaholics可知新加坡是世界上人口密度做大的国家之一。故B项的说法是错误的。
小题4:C推理题。根据横线后面的括号(the range in incomes is narrow)可知划线部分是指收入之间的差距是很小的。故C正确。
举一反三
Every morning my father buys a newspaper on his way to work. Every evening my mother looks through magazines at home. And every night, I look at the posters with photos of David Beckham and Yao Ming on my bedroom wall before I go to sleep. Can we imagine life without paper or print?
Paper was first created about 2,000 years ago, and has been made from silk, cotton, bamboo, and, since the 19th century, from wood. People learned to write words on paper to make a book. But in those days, books could only be produced one at a time by hand. As a result, they were expensive and rare. And because there weren’t many books, few people learned to read.
Then printing was invented in China. When printing was developed greatly at the beginning of the 11th century, books could be produced more quickly and cheaply. As a result, more people learned to read. After that, knowledge and ideas spread quickly.
Today information can be received online, downloaded from the Internet rather than found in books, and information can be kept on CD-ROMs or machines such as MP3 players.
Computers are already used in classrooms, and newspapers and magazines can already be read online. So will books be replaced by computers one day? No, I don’t think the Yao Ming poster on my bedroom wall will ever be replaced by a computer two metres high!
小题1:What does the writer do before he goes to sleep’?
A.He reads books.B.He reads newspapers
C.He looks through magazinesD.He looks at the posters on the wall.
小题2:When was paper first created?
A.About 2.000 years ago.B.In the 19th century.
C.About 1.000 years ago.D.In the 11th century.
小题3:Why were books expensive and rare before the invention of printing?
A. People could not read.
B. People could not write words on paper.
C. People could not find silk, cotton or bamboo.
D People could only produce books one at a time by hand
小题4:What happened after books became cheaper?
A.People didn’t want to buy books.
B.Printing was invented in China.
C.Knowledge and ideas spread quickly.
D.The Internet was introduced to people soon
小题5:What is the writer’s opinion about books and computers’?
A.People won’t need books any more
B.Books won’t be replaced by computers.
C.People prefer to find information in books.
D.Computers have already replaced books.

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On his bench in Madison Square Soapy moved uneasily, and he realized the fact that the time had come for him to provide against the coming winter.
The winter ambitions of Soapy were not of the highest. In them there were no dreams of Mediterranean voyages or blue Southern skies. Three months on the Island was what his soul desired. Three months of assured board and bed and good company, safe from north winds seemed to Soapy the most desirable thing.
Just as the more fortunate New Yorkers had bought their tickets to Palm Beach each winter, Soapy had made his arrangements for his annual journey to the Island. And now the time had come.
There were many institutions of charity in New York where he might receive lodging and food, but to Soapy’s proud spirit the gifts of charity were undesirable. You must pay in humiliation of spirit for everything received at the hands of mercy. So it was better to be a guest of the law.
Soapy, having decided to go to the Island, at once set about accomplishing his desire. He left his bench and went up Broadway. He stopped at the door of a glittering cafe. He was shaven and his coat was decent. If he could reach a table in the restaurant, the portion of him that would show above the table would raise no doubt in the waiter’s mind. A roasted duck, with a bottle of wine, a cigar and a cup of coffee would be enough. Such a dinner would make him happy, for the journey to his winter refuge.
But as Soapy entered the restaurant door, the head waiter’s eye fell upon his shabby trousers and old shoes. Strong hands pushed him in silence and haste out into the street.
Some other way of entering the desirable refuge must be found.
At a corner of Sixth Avenue Soapy took a stone and sent it through the glass of a glittering shop window. People came running around the corner, a policeman at the head of them. Soapy stood still, with his hands in his pockets, and smiled at the sight of the policeman.
“Where is the man that has done that?” asked the policeman.
“Don’t you think that I have had something to do with it?” said Soapy, friendly.
The policeman paid no attention to Soapy. Men who break windows don’t remain to speak with policemen. They run away. He saw a man running and rushed after him, stick in hand. Soapy, disgusted, walked along, twice unsuccessful.
On the opposite side of the street was a restaurant for people with large appetites and modest purses. Soapy entered this place without difficulty. He sat at a table and ate beefsteak and pie. And then he told the waiter he had no money.
“Go and call a cop,” said Soapy. “And don’t keep a gentleman waiting.”
“No cop for you,” said the waiter. “Hey!”
Then Soapy found himself lying upon his left ear on the pavement. He arose with difficulty, and beat the dust from his clothes. Arrest seemed a rosy dream. The Island seemed far away.
After another unsuccessful attempt to be arrested for harassing a young woman, Soapy went further toward the district of theatres.
When he saw a policeman standing in front of a glittering theatre, he thought of “disorderly conduct”. On the sidewalk Soapy began to sing drunken songs at the top of his voice. He danced, cried, and otherwise disturbed the peace.
The policeman turned his back to Soapy, and said to a citizen, “It is one of the Yale boys celebrating their football victory. Noisy, but no harm.”
Sadly, Soapy stopped his useless singing and dancing. The Island seemed unattainable. He buttoned his thin coat against the north wind.
In a cigar store he saw a well-dressed man who had set his silk umbrella by the door. Soapy entered the store, took the umbrella, and went out with it slowly. The man with the cigar followed hastily.
“My umbrella,” he said.
“Oh, is it?” said Soapy. “Well, why don’t you call a policeman? I took your umbrella! Why don’t you call a cop? There stands one on the corner.”
The umbrella owner slowed his steps. Soapy did likewise. The policeman looked at them curiously.
“Of course,” said the umbrella man, “well, you know how these mistakes occur…if it’s your umbrella I hope you’ll excuse me – I picked it up this morning in a restaurant – if it’s yours, I hope you’ll…”
“Of course it’s mine,” said Soapy.
The ex-umbrella man retreated. The policeman hurried to help a well-dressed woman across the street.
Soapy threw the umbrella angrily. He was angry with the men who wear helmets and carry clubs. They seemed to regard him as a king who could do no wrong.
At last Soapy stopped before an old church on a quiet corner. Through one window a soft light glowed, where, the organist played a Sunday anthem. For there came to Soapy’s ears sweet music that caught and held him at the iron fence.
The moon was shining; cars and pedestrians were few; birds twittered sleepily under the roof. And the anthem that the organist played cemented Soapy to the iron fence, for he had known it well in the days when his life contained such things as mothers and roses and ambitions and friends.
The influence of the music and the old church produced a sudden and wonderful change in Soapy’s soul. He thought of his degraded days, dead hopes and wrecked faculties.
And also in a moment a strong impulse moved him to battle with his desperate fate. He would pull himself out of this pit; he would make a man of himself again. Those sweet notes had set up a revolution in him. Tomorrow he would be somebody in the world. He would…
Soapy felt a hand on his arm. He looked quickly around into the broad face of a policeman.
“What are you doing here?”
“Nothing.”
“Then come along,” said the policeman.
“Three months on the Island,” said the Judge the next morning.
小题1:Soapy regarded the Island as his winter ambition because _____.
A.he wanted to go on Mediterranean voyages and enjoy blue Southern skies
B.he wanted to spend the cold winter somewhere warm other than New York
C.he wanted to be put into prison to survive the coming winter
D.he wanted to buy a ticket to the Island to spend the cold winter
小题2:Which of the following is the reason for Soapy’s not turning to charity?
A.His pride gets in the way.
B.What the institutions of charity offer isn’t what Soapy needs.
C.He wants to be a citizen who obeys the law.
D.The institutions of charity are not located on the island.
小题3: How many times did Soapy try to accomplish his desire?
A.4.B.5.C.6.D.7.
小题4: From the passage, we can see what the two restaurants have in common is that _____.
A.they are both fancy upper class restaurants
B.neither of them served Soapy
C.they both drove Soapy out of the restaurant after he finished his meal
D.neither of them called cops
小题5:Hearing the Sunday anthem at the church, Soapy _____.
A.was reminded of his good old days and wanted to play the anthem again
B.was reminded of his unaccomplished ambition and was determined to get to the Island
C.was reminded of his disgraceful past and determined to transform himself
D.was reminded of his rosy dream and wished to realize it
小题6:By ending the story this way, the author means to _____.
A.show that one always gets what he/she wants with enough efforts
B.make a contrast and criticize the sick society
C.surprise readers by proving justice was done after all
D.put a tragic end to Soapy’s life and show his sympathy for Soapy

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The most important holiday in spring, especially for Christians (基督徒), is Easter. This Christian holiday is not on the same date every year, but it‘s always on a Sunday. It can be any Sunday between March 22 and April 25. Many people celebrate Easter by buying new clothes. Children celebrate by hunting for colored eggs that their parents have hidden around the house. People also give Easter baskets filled with candy and other goodies to one another to celebrate the day.
But the holiday is more than new clothes and good things to eat. On Easter, many people go to church to celebrate Jesus‘ resurrection (复活) from the dead.
Most people color them. Some people hide them. Others just eat them. But no matter what one does with Easter eggs, they are an important Easter tradition throughout the Western world.
People from many different cultures celebrate Easter. In both America and Belgium, children look for Easter eggs hidden on lawns and in bushes. In America, children believe the eggs are hidden by the Easter bunny (复活节兔子)。 But in Belgium, the hidden eggs are supposed to have fallen from church bells. In Bulgaria, red Easter eggs are lucky in churches; Bulgarian families also hit these Easter eggs together to see whose is the strongest. The winner looks forward to good fortune that year. Still dozens of other Easter traditions exist. In parts of Austria, for example, children sing from door to door and are rewarded with colorful eggs.
小题1:Easter comes _______.
A.on Sunday on April 25
B.on a Sunday between March 22 and April 25
C.on the same date every year
D.on Sunday on March 22
小题2:To celebrate Easter, people ___________.
A.go shopping, hide colored eggs and children hunt for them
B.give Easter baskets filled candy and goodies to one another
C.buy new clothes, hide colored eggs and children look for them around the house
D.both B and C
小题3:For Christians the more important thing to do on Easter is________.
A.going to church to celebrate Jesus‘ resurrection
B.buying new clothes
C.eating delicious food and paint color eggs
D.exchange beautiful gifts each other
小题4:People from different cultures have different ideas about Easter egg, _________.
A.In both American and Belgium, children hunt for Easter eggs hidden in rooms and in bushes
B.In Belgium, the hidden eggs are thought to have fallen from doorbells
C.In America, the hidden eggs are supposed to have fallen from doorbells
D.In American, children believe the eggs are hidden by the Easter bunny
小题5:In some places of Austria,children sing from door to door for_______.
A.Easter bunnyB.Blesses
C.candy and goodieD.Easter eggs

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Few Americans remain in one position or one place for a lifetime. We move from town to city to suburb, from high school to college in a different state, from a job in one region to a better job elsewhere, from the home where we raise our children to the home where we plan to live in retirement. With each move we are forever making new friends, who become part of our new life at that time.
For many of us summer is a special time for forming new friendships. Today millions of Americans vacation abroad, and they go not only to see new sights but also with the hope of meeting new people. No one really expects a vacation trip to produce a close friend, but the beginning of a friendship is possible.
The word “friend ” can be applied to a wide range of relationships ---- to someone one has known for a few weeks in a new place, to a fellow worker, to a childhood playmate, to a man or woman, to a trusted confidant.
小题1:Many Americans move from place to place for the following reasons except______.
A.going to collegeB.getting a better job
C.finding a place to live in retirementD.saving money
小题2:Summer is a special time when many Americans_____.
A.enjoy the sunlightB.feel strangeC.travel to other countriesD.get a new job
小题3:When summer comes, many Americans _________.
A.hope to meet new people
B.expect to find some close friends
C.want to begin lasting friendships with new people
D.Both A and B
小题4:From the passage it can be seen that a “friend” can be ______.
A.a fellow workerB.a football teammateC.a boy or a girlD.all of the above
小题5:Which of the following is the topic sentence of the second paragraph?
A.For many of us summer is a special time for forming new friendships.
B.Today millions of Americans vacation abroad.
C.No one really expects a vacation trip to produce a close friendship.
D.But surely the beginning of friendship is possible.

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Michael J. “Crocodile Dundee” (also called Mick), played by Paul Hogan, is the main character in the fictional Crocodile Dundee film series consisting of Crocodile Dundee, Crocodile Dundee II, and Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles. The character is a crocodile hunter, hence the nickname.
In the first film, Crocodile Dundee, Mick is visited by a New York reporter, Sue Charlton, who travels to Australia to investigate a report she heard of a crocodile hunter, who had his leg bitten off by a crocodile in the outback. The hunter supposedly walked more than a hundred miles back to civilization and miraculously survived his injuries. However, by the time she meets him, the story turns out to be a somewhat exaggerated legend where the “bitten-off leg” turns out to be just being some bad scarring on his leg; a “love bite” as Mick calls it. Still intrigued by the idea of “Crocodile Dundee”, Sue continues with the story. They travel together out to where the incident occurred, and follow his route through the bush to the nearest hospital. Despite his old-fashioned views, the pair eventually become close, especially after Mick saves Sue from a crocodile attack.
Feeling there is still more to the story, Sue invites Mick back to New York with her, as his first trip to a city (or “first trip anywhere,” as Dundee says). The rest of the film depicts Dundee as a “fish out of water,” showing how, despite his expert knowledge of living outdoors, he knows little of city life. Mick meets Sue’s boyfriend, Richard, but they do not get along. By the end of the film, Mick is on his way home, lovesick, when Sue realizes she loves Mick, too, and not Richard. She runs to the subway station to stop Mick from leaving and, by passing on messages through the packed-to-the-gills crowd, she tells him she won’t marry Richard, and she loves him instead. With the help of the other people in the subway, Mick and Sue have a loving reunion as the film ends.
小题1:Which of the following statements is true about Mick?
A.He is a crocodile hunter living in Los Angeles.
B.He is based on a real person in Australia.
C.He got his nickname because of his job.
D.He wrote a film series about himself.
小题2:In the film Crocodile Dundee, Mick ________.
A.pretends he was bitten by a crocodile
B.urges Sue Charlton to write his life story
C.hasn’t been abroad before his trip to America
D.shows Sue Charlton around the town he lives in
小题3: The underlined word “intrigued” in Paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to ________.
A.annoyedB.interestedC.troubledD.surprised
小题4:When in New York, Mick ________.
A.makes friends with Richard
B.makes full use of his bush skills
C.feels excited about living in a big city
D.doesn’t know how to fit into city life
小题5:The film Crocodile Dundee can be best described as ________.
A.a romantic storyB.an action movie
C.a science fictionD.a frightening story

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