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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, events, and the resulting effects upon their minds.
People who are to be happy fix their attention on the convenience of things, the pleasant parts of conversation, the well-prepared dishes, the goodness of the wine, and 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 pleasure of society, offend many people, and make themselves disagreeable everywhere. If this turn of mind was founded in nature, such unhappy persons would be the more to be pitied.
The tendency to criticizing and being 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. I hope this little warning may be of service to them, and help them change this habit.
Although in fact it is chiefly an act of the 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 frequently puts them in bad temper and draws them into arguments. If they aim at obtaining some advantage in rank or fortune, nobody wishes them success. Nor will anyone speak a word to favor their hopes. If they bring on themselves public disapproval, no one will defend or excuse them. These people should change this bad habit. If they do not, it will be good for others to avoid any contact with them.
1.People who are to be unhappy____.
A.always consider things differently from others
B.are usually influenced by the results of certain things
C.can discover the unpleasant part of certain things
D.usually have a fault-finding habit
2.When those unhappy people meet others, they will____.
A.have a good taste of the pleasures of society
B.feel depressed about the pleasures of society
C.be happy with the pleasures of society
D.enjoy the pleasures of society
3.According to the passage, it can be safely said that____.
A.if they realize the harmfulness of their habits the unhappy people may get rid of it
B.if people are in misery, they will be critical about everything
C.we should not pity these unhappy people for their self-criticism
D.these unhappy people are not content with anything they have
4.“And scarcely that”(Line 3, Para. 4)means____.
A.just like that
B.almost not like that
C.more than that
D.not at all like that
5.If such unhappy persons don't change their bad behavior, the author suggests that people____.
A.avoid contacting with them
B.criticize their misconduct
C.help them recognize its bad effects
D.show no respect and politeness to them
1.【答案】D
【精析】由第二段第三句“Those who are to be unhappy think and speak only of the contrary things.”可知,不快乐的人的表现是,他们总是看到或关注事物的负面,爱挑毛病。因此D项与文意相符。
2.【答案】B
【精析】由题干关键词“unhappy”,定位到文章第二段第三句。从本段接下来对不快乐的人的描述可知,他们会使原本愉快的社交活动变得不愉快。因此,B项符合文意。
3.【答案】A
【精析】从文章第三段第三句“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.”可知,当有这种习惯的人认识到这种态度给他们带来的不良影响时,他们也许会改掉这种毛病。
4.【答案】B
【精析】scarcely表示“几乎不是,几乎没有”或是“几乎还没”的意思,具有否定意义。因此,选项中只有B项符合文意。
5.【答案】A
【精析】由题干关键词“change”和“bad behavior”定位到全文最后两句“These people should change this bad habit. If they do not, it will be good for others to avoid any contact with them.”作者建议人们对这样的人最好采取回避的态度。题干中的bad behavior是文中bad habit的转述。