There are two types of people in the world. Although they have equal degrees of health and wealth and the other comforts of life, one becomes happy, the other becomes miserable. This arises from the different ways in which they consider things, persons, and events, and the resulting effects upon their minds. The people who are to be happy fix their attention on the conveniences of things, the pleasant parts of conveniences, the well-prepared dishes, the goodness of wines, the fine weather. They enjoy all the cheerful things. Those who are to be unhappy think and speak only of the contrary things. Therefore, they are continually discontented. By their remarks, they sour the pleasures of society, offend many people, and make themselves disagreeable everywhere. If this turn of mind were founded in nature, such unhappy persons would be the more to be critical. The tendency to criticize and be disgusted is perhaps taken up originally by imitation. It grows into a habit, unknown to its possessors. The habit may be strong, but it may be cured when those who have it are convinced of its bad effects on their interests and tastes. Although in fact it is chiefly an act of imagination, it has serious consequences in life, since it brings on deep sorrow and bad luck. Those people offend many others, nobody loves them, and no one treats them with more than the most common politeness and respect, and scarcely that. This fre quency puts them in bad temper and draws them into arguments. If they aim at obtaining some ad vantage in rank or fortune, nobody wishes them success. If they bring on themselves public disapproval, no one will defend or excuse them, and many will join to criticize their misconduct. These people should change this bad habit and condescend to be pleased with what is pleasing, without worrying needlessly about themselves and others. If they do not, it will be good for others to avoid any contact with them. Otherwise it can be disagreeable and sometimes very inconvenient, especially when one becomes mixed up in their quarrels.
单选题 According to the author, the major reason to cause the difference between happy and unhappy people is that ______.
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】解析:细节题。根据短文第一段最后一句This arises from the different ways in which they consider things,persons,and events,and the resulting effects upon their minds.可知正是由于看待事物、人和事件的方式存在差异,才导致了两种人的区别。故选项C正确。
单选题 The basic difference between happy and unhappy people lies in the facts that______.
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】解析:细节题。短文第二段指出两种人的差别:The people who are to be happy fix their attention on the conveniences of things和Those who are to be unhappy think and speak only of the contrary things,由此可知两种人的区别在于关注点不同。故选项A正确。
单选题 The sentence "The tendency to criticize and be disgusted is perhaps taken up originally by imitation" in Paragraph 2 means______.
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】解析:细节题。“The tendency to criticize and be disgusted is perhaps taken up originally by imitation”这句话可解释为:这种挑剔和让人厌烦的倾向最初可能是由于模仿造成的。故选项B正确。
单选题 What does "condescend"(Para. 3)mean?
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】解析:含义题。联系上下文,根据句意可知,condescend的意思应为选项D.Be humble and acceptive.意为“谦逊,屈尊”。故选项D正确。
单选题 In the third paragraph the writer states that______.
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】解析:细节题。短文最后一段主要叙述unhappy people的情况。本段第一句指出…it has serious consequencesin life,since it brings on deep sorrow and bad luck.故可知unhappy people常常把自己置于一个不利的境地。故选项A正确。