Many of us dream of having thousands and thousands of dollar to spend on what we desire We can buy lottery tickets, enter contests or spend hours building a business or invest in the stock market. We are sure that when we have plenty of money, we will be happy.
While having some money does have an impact on our level of happiness, having a lot of money does not. It is reported that Americans whose income goes from $20,000 a year to $50,000 a year are more likely to be happy. But beyond $50,000, happiness does not increase as salaries go up. It is because we are never satisfied. Catherine Sanderson, a psychology professor at Amherst College says, "We always think if we just had a little more money, we’d be happier. But when we get there, we are not."
Daniel Gilbert, a psychology professor at Harvard notes,"The more you make, the more you want. The more you have, the less it brings you joy. We incorrectly assume we’Il get more pleasure from more, and we don’t."
The things money can buy don't make you happy either. A lot of research suggests that you won't find the "good life" buying expensive "toys". You finally buy that BMW you've always wanted and it soon loses its appeal. Then, instead of wondering if a new car is what really makes you happy, you decide you just need a different new car. It is an endless cycle.
To really be happy, you need to understand what makes you happy in the first place. One secret of happiness is people. Surveys have found that people need people. Those who have five or more close friends are 50% more likely to describe themselves as "very happy". Good relationships have a far greater effect on happiness than larger salary. Andrew Oswald, an economist at England's University of Warwick says, "B you are looking for happiness in life, find the right husband or wife rather than trying to double your salary."
So invest your time and energy in people. The reward is much bigger in terms of happiness!
【小題1】In Paragraph 1 the author intends to tell us the "belief" that

A.we are unhappy because we often lack money 
B.people can buy what they want if they have enough money 
C.more money will make one's dreams come true 
D.happiness will result from more money 
【小題2】Which of the following statements would the author agree to?
A.Having some money brings happiness to some degree. 
B.The more money one earns, the sadder one becomes 
C.Buying expensive things will surely bring pleasure 
D.We get nothing from buying expensive things we want. 
【小題3】Why does happiness not increase with pay rises?
A.Most of us have a psychological problem. 
B.People are not content with what they get. 
C.It is human nature to be unhappy. 
D.Happiness has nothing to do with money. 
【小題4】In order to find happiness we should
A.a(chǎn)lways make new friends B.take no notice of our salaries 
C.focus on good relationships D.invest our money in our friend 


【小題1】D
【小題2】A
【小題3】B
【小題4】C

解析試題分析:文章介紹快樂和金錢的關系,更多的錢并不能真正帶來快樂,因為人都是不滿足的,只有專注于良好的人際關系,我們才能得到快樂。
【小題1】細節(jié)題:從第一段的句子:We are sure that when we have plenty of money, we will be happy,可知作者想告訴讀者一種想法:“快樂可以來自更多的錢”,選D
【小題2】細節(jié)題:從文章第二段的句子:While having some money does have an impact on our level of happiness, having a lot ofmoney does not.可知作者同意在某種程度上有錢可以帶來快樂,選A
【小題3】細節(jié)題:從文章第二段的句子:. It is because we are never satisfied.可知快樂不能隨著工資的上漲而增加,因為人們對得到的不滿意,選B
【小題4】細節(jié)題:從文章倒數(shù)第二段的句子:Good relationships have a far greater effect on happiness than larger salary可知為了得到快樂,我們應該專注于好的關系,選C
考點:考查人生百味類短文

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