A proverb allegedly from ancient China was widely spread in the West: "If you want to be happy for a few hours, go to get drunk: if you want a lifetime happiness, take up gardening." The reason for the last option is this: Gardening is not only useful, but it helps you to identify yourself with nature, and thus brings you new joy each day besides improving your health. A research of a US university that I've read gives a definition of happiness as what makes a person feel comfortably pleased. To put it specifically, happiness is an active state of mind where one thinks one' s life is meaningful, satisfactory and comfortable. This should be something lasting rather than transitory. Lots of people regard it the happiest to be at leisure. But according to a study, it is not a person with plenty of leisure but one at work that feels happy, especially those busy with work having little time for leisure. Happiness does not spell gains one is after but a desire to harvest what one is seeking for. People often do not cherish what they already have but yearn for what they cannot get. That is somewhat like a man indulging in fond dreams of numerous lovers while reluctant to settle down with the woman beside him. Happiness is a game balancing between two ends—what one has and what one wishes for, e.g. one' s dream and the possibility to realize it. The study comes to this conclusion: A happy man is one who aims high but never forgets his actual situation: one who meets challenges that tap his ability and potentiality: one who is proud of his achievements and the recognition given to him. He has self-respect and self-confidence: treasures his own identity and loves freedom. He is sociable and enjoys wide-range communication with others: he is helpful and ready to accept assistance. He knows he is able to endure sufferings and frustrations: he is sensible enough to get fun from daily chores. He is a man capable of love and passion.
单选题
According to the passage, gardening can bring lifelong happiness because______.
【正确答案】
D
【答案解析】解析：细节题。短文第一段最后一句指出it helps you to identify yourself with nature，and thus brings you new joy each day besides improving your health．可知园艺可以帮助你与大自然融合在一起，改善你的健康，给你带来新的快乐。故选项D正确。
单选题
It can be concluded from the research of the university that most people feel happy when______.
【正确答案】
C
【答案解析】解析：细节题。根据短文第三段第二句But according to a study，it is not a person with plenty of leisure but one at work that feels happy，especially those busy with work having little time for leisure．可知研究表明，工作着的人最快乐。故选项C正确。
单选题
The author mentions a man indulging in fond dreams of numerous lovers in Paragraph 3 in order to______.
【正确答案】
D
【答案解析】解析：细节题。短文第三段最后两句指出People often do not cherish what they already have but yearn for what they cannot get．That is somewhat like a man indulging in fond dreams of numerous lovers while reluctant to settle down with the woman beside him．由此可知作者用有些男人沉迷于有很多情人的这个例子来表明人们常常不会珍惜已经拥有的，却渴望那些得不到的。故选项D正确。
单选题
Which of the following is more likely to be unhappy according to the study?
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】解析：推断题。短文最后一段第二句指出…A happy man is one who aims high but never forgets his actual situation…这句话意思正好与选项B相反。而选项A、C、D表达的内容都符合原文对happy man的表述。故选B。
单选题
From the passage we know that happiness is______.
【正确答案】
D
【答案解析】解析：细节题。由短文最后一段第一句Happiness is a game balancing between two ends--what one has and what one wishes for…可知“快乐是一个在两端之间寻找平衡的游戏——一个人所拥有的和他所希望得到的”。故选项D正确。