Question

8．Ever since the global economic recession（ 蕭條） began in 2008，many Americans have changed their lifestyles by downsizing what they buy and what they possess．
Tammy Strobel and her husband used to own a two-bedroom apartment，two cars and had good incomes．But Tammy wasn't happy．Inspired by a web site，they began donating some of their belongings to charity，and eventually got rid of their cars．Some thought they were crazy，but now they feel much happier．Without debt and working fewer hours，now they have more time to be outdoors and to volunteer．
"The idea that you need to go bigger to be happy is false，"Ms．Strobel says．"I really believe that the acquisition of material goods doesn't bring about happiness．"
Despite the fact that the economy is not as booming as it was，studies have shown that many are feeling happier as they save more and spend less．This mainly happens when they spend money on experiences instead of material objects and when they relish（喜愛）what they plan to buy long before they buy it．
It is true that extra cash always makes life a little easier because it lets people meet basic needs．But scholars have found that types of purchases，their size and frequency，and even the timing of the spending all affect long-term happiness．One major finding is that spending money for an experience---concert tickets，F(xiàn)rench lessons，sushi-rolling classes---produces longer-lasting satisfaction．
At the height of the recession in 2008，consumers were doing something different---vacationing in their yards，eating more dinners at home，organizing family game nights．As a result，these leisure activities appeared to make them less lonely and increased their interactions with others．
"I think people are realizing they don't need what they had．They're more interested in creating memories，"says a scholar．
To stop purchasing things using credit cards at any time brings happiness，too；in other words，waiting for something and working hard to get it makes it feel more valuable and more stimulating．In fact，scholar have found that anticipation increases happiness．Considering buying an i-Pad？You might want to think about it as long as possible before taking one home．
Ms．Strobel is now an advocate（擁護者） of simple living．"My lifestyle now would not be possible if I still had a huge two-bedroom apartment filled to the gills（完全滿了）with stuff，two cars，and 30 grand（一千美元） in debt，"she says．"Give away some of your stuff，"she advises．"See how it feels．"
56．What did Ms Strobel and her husband do to change their life？D
a．Donated their things to charity．b．Changed their jobs．
c．Got rid of their cars．d．Spent more time outdoors．
A．a，b，c          B．b，c，d          C．a，b，d          D．a，c，d
57．Which of the following is not a purchase of experience？C
A．Enroll in a French course．
B．Learn how to make Japanese sushi．
C．Get a new Mac．
D．Go to a concert．
58．It is true that moneyD
A．always makes people happier        
B．enables people to work fewer hours
C．makes one a better volunteer        
D．helps people to meet their basic needs
59．Purchase of experience can make people feel happier becauseA
A．They increase the interaction between people
B．They are more economical than material goods
C．They are unique and can't be obtained again
D．They make the participant smarter
60．Why does stopping using a credit card to buy anything at any time bring happiness？B
A．Because one has to pay for interest by using a credit card．
B．Because the process of saving money and waiting for the thing you want makes it feel more valuable．
C．Because it helps stop buying things one actually doesn't need
D．Because as one waits，he/she often finds something better to buy．

Answer 1

分析 本文屬于說明文閱讀，作者通過這篇文章主要向我們描述了多美國人已經改變了他們的生活方式縮減他們的開支，但錢可以幫助人來滿足他們的基本需求，而社會體驗可以增加了人與人之間的互動．

解答 56．D．細節(jié)理解題．根據第二段Inspired by a web site，they began donating some of their belongings to charity，and eventually got rid of their cars可知斯托貝爾女士和她的丈夫捐贈他們的東西，放棄了他們的車，花費更多時間在戶外來改變他們的生活；故選D．
57．C．細節(jié)理解題．根據第五段One major finding is that spending money for an experience---concert tickets，F(xiàn)rench lessons，sushi-rolling classes---produces longer-lasting satisfaction可知一個重要的發(fā)現(xiàn)是花錢買體驗--演唱會門票、法語課、壽司滾動類---產生更持久的滿意度；故選C．
58．D．細節(jié)理解題．根據第五段It is true that extra cash always makes life a little easier because it lets people meet basic needs可知錢可以幫助人來滿足他們的基本需求；故選D．
59．A．細節(jié)理解題．根據第六段As a result，these leisure activities appeared to make them less lonely and increased their interactions with others可知購買體驗可以增加了人與人之間的互動；故選A．
60．B．推理判斷題．根據倒數(shù)第二段in other words，waiting for something and working hard to get it makes it feel more valuable and more stimulating可知因為存錢和等待你想要的東西讓你覺得更有價值使得在任何時候停止使用信用卡購買任何東西會帶來幸福；故選B．

點評 考察學生的細節(jié)理解和推理判斷能力，做細節(jié)理解題時一定要找到文章中的原句，和題干進行比較，再做出正確的選擇．在做推理判斷題不要以個人的主觀想象代替文章的事實，要根據文章事實進行合乎邏輯的推理判斷．