Given that motivation is so central to our lives, what do we truly understand about how it operates and about its role in our lives? The assumption is that it’s driven by a positive, external (外部的）reward. Do this, get that. But the story is much more complex.

One of the most striking aspects of motivation is that it often drives us to achievements that are difficult, challenging and even painful. You may think that you would be happy to spend all your time sitting on a white-sand beach drinking and that as long as you get to fill your days this way, you would be happy forever. But while a few days of enjoyment might be fun from time to time, I can’t imagine that you would be satisfied by spending your days, weeks, months, years and even your life this way.

Research that examines the differences between meaning and happiness finds that the things which give us a sense of meaning don’t necessarily make us happy. Moreover, people who report having meaningful lives are often more interested in doing things for others, while those who focus mostly on doing things for themselves report being only superficially happy, in other words, just externally and apparently delighted. The essential quality of “meaning” has to do with having a sense of being involved in something bigger than the self.

We all know people obtain a great sense of meaning even in the most unpleasant of circumstances. Many volunteers spend portions of their lives working in dangerous, war-tom areas, tiding to keep disease and death from innocent civilians or teaching orphans to read. Their pain is real; their sense of doing something truly meaningful is substantial (豐富的).They show how our deep-rooted desire to believe that our lives have purpose beyond our lifespan drives us to work extra hard, even to the point of our own personal suffering, in order to gain more meaning.

The point is that these seemingly unusual and irrational (不合理的）motivations get us to do things that are complex, difficult and unpleasant. But they go beyond helping people in need. They motivate us in every aspect of our lives 一 whether in our personal relationships, in our individual pursuits or in the workplace.

1.What’s the main idea of the passage? (No more than 10 words)

2.Why is motivation so significant to our life? (No more than 15 words)

3.What is the meaning of the underlined word “superficially” in Paragraph 3? (No more than 1 word)

4.What can volunteers obtain working in dangerous, war-tom areas? (No more than 10 words)

5.Do you agree with the opinion that motivation is driven by a positive, external reward? Why or why not? (No more than 20 words)

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科目：高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源：廣東省廣州市2017屆英語(yǔ)高考沖刺題（一） 題型：閱讀理解

By age 25 John D. Rockefeller controlled one of the largest oil companies in America. By age 31 he had become the world’s largest oil producer. By age 38 he commanded 90% of the oil produced in the U.S. By the time of his retirement at age 58, he was the richest man in the country. By the time he died, he had become the richest man in the world.

But there was little in Rockefeller’s upbringing that would signal his great success. He was born in a run-down house in New York in 1839. His mother was a solid, religious woman, but his father, William Avery Rockefeller, was little more than a dishonest salesman, unable to provide for his family.

Young John grew up helping work the family farm. But he had his eyes set on greater things, and earnestly desired to rise in the world.

He had a talent for numbers, and he dropped out of high school to become better acquainted with their management. Enrolling in a 3-month business course at a commercial college, he learned the basics of book-keeping and banking.

After graduating at the age of 16, Rockefeller left his rural home to look for a job in Cleveland. As Rockefeller remembered, the job market was tight, and the response was not encouraging: “No one wanted a boy, and very few showed any interest in me.” Yet young John was not at all discouraged.

From morning until later afternoon, six days a week, for six weeks — sweating through Cleveland’s hot summer, walking its streets until his feet ached — Rockefeller continued to seek a job. He attacked this goal with patient persistence. Finally, on September 26, 1855, he heard the words he’d been waiting for: “We’ll give you a chance.” Ever after, Rockefeller referred to this date as “Job Day” and celebrated its anniversary with more passion than his own birthday, for this was the great turning point in his life. Through singular focus on a goal, and patient persistence, he had obtained a toehold in the world of business.

1.What is the purpose of Paragraph 1?

A. To explain why Rockefeller was so successful.

B. To attract the readers with facts about Rockefeller.

C. To entertain the readers with some stories of Rockefeller.

D. To inform the readers of the road for Rockefeller’s success.

2.Which of the following mainly contributed to Rockefeller’s success?

A. Family upbringing. B. His talent for numbers.

C. His persistence and determination. D. Training at a commercial college.

3.What happened to Rockefeller before he got his first job?

A. He had an eye problem.

B. He was turned down for many times.

C. He dropped out of his commercial college.

D. He was forced to go home by the tight market.

4.Why did he choose to celebrate the “Job Day”?

A. It changed his whole life. B. It was close to his birthday.

C. It was the hardest day in his life. D. It was the day he got his first job.

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科目：高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源：寧夏2016-2017學(xué)年高一下學(xué)期期中考試英語(yǔ)試卷 題型：閱讀理解

My writing career began ten years ago with my articles published locally and nationally. As a beginning writer, I was happy to be on my way, writing and learning as much as I could . With two little kids underfoot, as well as working full-time, it was really difficult to make time for writing, but I managed.

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I realized I had to make some changes. I started walking every morning. It cleared my head, allowed me time to think, gave me fresh air, and made me feel invigorated (精神煥發(fā)） and healthy. I was eating wisely, and the weight started to go. I started a new job, joined a monthly writing chapter，and was determined to keep up my walking. Finding the balance was sometimes difficult. But I was determined to fit in writing time because it made me happy. Sure I loved to watch the news and have my tea, but that wasn't what made me truly happy.

My own happiness has shown through my family, my job performance and my attitude towards challenging situations. I again have readers telling me the effect my writing has had on them, with some able to get on with their own writing because of my articles.

It was up to me to make it happen—my own happiness. One step at a time-one word at a time. And I did it.

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B. To enjoy fresh early morning air.

C. To have more energy for writing.

D. To get back to happiness.

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C. She wasn't interested in watching TV news.

D. She couldn't find the balance between work and life.

4.What do you think is the main idea of the story?

A. Practice makes perfect. B. Well begun is half done.

C. Time and tide wait for no man. D. Happiness lies in your own hand.

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The Museum: The Charles Dickens Museum in London is the world’s most important collection of material relating to the great Victorian novelist and social commentator. The only surviving London home of Dickens (from 1837 until 1839) was opened as a museum in 1925 and is still welcoming visitors from all over the world. On four floors, visitors can see paintings, rare editions, manuscripts, original furniture and many items relating to the life of one of the most popular and beloved personalities of the Victorian age.

Opening Hours:

The Museum is open from Mondays to Saturdays 10:00-17:00; Sundays 11:00-17:00.

Last admission is 30 minutes before closing time.

Special opening times can be arranged for groups, who may wish to book a private view.

Admission Charges: Adults:￡5.00; Students:￡4:00; Seniors:￡4.00; Children:￡3.00; Families:￡14.00 (2 adults & up to five children).

Group Rates: For a group of 10 or more, a special group rate of ￡4.00 each applies. Children will still be admitted for ￡3.00 each.

Access: We are constantly working to improve access to the Museum and its collection. Our current projects involve the fitting of a wheelchair ramp (活動(dòng)坡道) for better access, a customer care kit and an audio tour for visitors with impaired vision. Our Handling Sessions are also suitable for the visually impaired. The Museum has developed an online virtual tour through the Museum. Click here to visit all the rooms in the Museum online.

Hire the Museum: The Museum can be hired for private functions, parties and many other social occasions.

Find Us: The Museum may be reached by using the following buses: 7, 17, 19, 38, 45, 46, 55, 243. And by these underground services: Piccadilly Line; Central Line. For a map, please click here. The British Museum and the Foundling Museum are within walking distance.

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C. ￡11. 00 D. ￡8. 00

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B. Visitors with poor vision cannot enjoy the Museum.

C. The Museum is not very far from the British Museum.

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3.The passage is probably from a .

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C. guidebook D. newspaper

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I had a great time this past summer visiting Stone Mountain Park with my twin grandsons.I had the opportunity to spend the day with them seeing the various sights and attractions.One thing that my grandsons had really wanted to do that particular day was to climb to the top of the mountain.Stone Mountain isn't a particularly tall mountain and fortunately has walking trails to the top,but for two 5-year-olds,along with grandpa,it's a formidable task.

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1.What does the underlined word "formidable" in Paragraph 1 mean?

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C. Strange. D. Difficult.

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C. A life lesson learnt from grandsons. D. Learning to enjoy the journey.

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3.A. arose B. raised C. rose D. aroused

4.A. situation B. place C. condition D. position

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8.A. until B. before C. after D. when

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10.A. no matter B. even if C. whether D. as if

11.A. put B. dressed C. wore D. fit

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13.A. required B. replied C. recognized D. regarded

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17.A. In B. On C. At D. Under

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要點(diǎn)如下：

1. 寫信目的；

2. 出國(guó)目的；

3. 邀請(qǐng)David來(lái)中國(guó)。

注意：

1. 詞數(shù)100左右；

2. 可以適當(dāng)增加細(xì)節(jié)，以使行文連貫；

3. 開(kāi)頭和結(jié)尾已給出，不計(jì)入總詞數(shù)。

Dear David,

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________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

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