It's easy to see how to help others, but what about those whose needs aren't so obvious? This
story may have happened a while back, but it was a lesson which has stayed with me and helped
me ever since.
     It was Thanksgiving and I was volunteering with my parents at a shelter for the poor. We stood
behind the counter dishing out hot food to whoever came in. most of our dinners looked like they
had been having hard times, their clothes old, worn and dry. In short, they looked poor!
     Then, a man came in, who looked anything but poor. He was well dressed, wearing an expensive
suit. I wondered what he was doing there and my jaw dropped in amazement when he joined the
line for food. The closer he came to my service station, the more I muttered. What was this man
doing? I wanted to know. Surely he wasn't gong to take food.
     Then my mother quietly took me to one side. She said, "You have assumed that the needs of the
people who come here must be purely physical: hunger, inadequate shelter and needs are emotional?
What if he needs comfort, friends, or just to be among other human beings?" her words hit me like a
ton of bricks! I felt like I should apologize to the man, but I didn't.
     About a week later the shelter received a large donation from an anonymous source. I can't help
but wonder if it came from that man.
     Now, whether I meet others, I remember my mother's words and try to send kindness and blessings
to them, regardless of how they look.
     Needs aren't always visible. But kindness always makes a difference.

1. The task of the author at the shelter was to_______.

A. decide whether dinners looked poor      
B. learn life experience there
C. serve hot food to the poor                
D. help parents order dishes

2. When the man waited in line, how did the author feel?

A. Surprised        
B. Pitiful            
C. Excited      
D. Angry

3. The author felt he should apologize to the man, because he_______.

A. was asked to do so by his mother  
B. gave the man food much less than others
C. realized something was wrong with the man
D. knew later that the man went there to donate

4. What can we infer from the last paragraph?

A. We should show others kindness whatever their needs are  
B. Some needs can't be known clearly at times
C. Needs can always be met by kindness
D. We should find out others' needs      

     We all know that money can't make us happy, but many times we act as if we'd be
happier with a bit more money. We are conditioned to want to be richer; we are trained
to want the latest style that television tells us; we want to earn more money because then
we'll have a good life.
     But none of that will make us happier. And the sad thing is that it can take us decades
of pursuing (追求) wealth and expensive things before we realize that. So what will bring
us happiness? Luckily, there are three things that don't cost anything. Here they are:
     Good relationships. We have a human need to be close with other human beings. Having
good, supportive friendships, a strong marriage or loving relationships with our family members
will make us much more likely to be happy. Therefore, take time, today, to stay with your
loved ones, to tell them what they mean to you, to listen to them, and to develop your r
elationships with them.
     Positive thinking. Optimism(樂觀) is one of the best indicators of people who lead a
happy life. Happy people feel empowered, in control of their lives. So why not make
positive thinking a habit? In fact, this should be one of the first habits you develop.
     Flow. This is a popular concept on the Internet these days 一 the state we enter when
we are completely focused on the work or task. Having work and leisure(休閑)that gets
you in this state of flow will almost undoubtedly lead to happiness. People find the greatest
enjoyment not when they're passively mindless, but when they're absorbed in a mindful
challenge.
     If you are interested in some kind of work and keen on some kind of hobbies, it is not a
bad idea. Turn off the TV 一 this is the opposite of flow 一 and then go outside and do
something that truly makes you active.

         Childhood was an illusion(錯覺)  and the illusion was this:everything was bigger. No, I
ruean everything, not just houses and shops and grown-ups, but colors and flowers and joumeys,
especially journeys which  seemed endless. "Are we there yet, Daddy?"
        Funfairs(游樂場)  were huge things that spread for miles around you with noise and lights
and exciting  danger. Rainy days at home when you were ill seemed  to last for ever. Being a
grown-up yourself was an un- thinkable distant possibility. Every sound was louder, every
game was grander, every pain was unbearable.
        As I've grown old, life has become smaller. Tastes  have dulled. Surprises have turned into
shocks. Days go  by unnoticed. How can I regain childhood when it was  an illusion?
        I have only one repeatable and wonderful way and even in this way I can regain only part
of that larger  world.l can play upon the stage like a child and make  the crowd laugh with them,
sonletimes helplessly like a child, and then, even though I'm a sixty-one-year-old man, I can almost
catch the colors and sounds and  stillness of those bigger years when I was little.

1. How does the author feel about his childhood?      

A. It was endless.
B. It was unpleasant.
C. He is glad that it is over.
D. He misses it as a grown-up.

2. The author thinks that everything was bigger in childhood because     ___  

A. children could not make proper judgments
B. children were cunous and eager about life
C. things appeared really big in children's eyes
D. to grow up seemed so long for children

3.The world seems to have become smaller to the author because _______.    

A. life is disappointing
B. time goes by too fast
C. he has had too many surprises
D. foods no longer taste delicious

4. The author enjoys playing on the stage so as to                 

A. act like a child
B. live an unusual life
C. make the crowd laugh
D. regain his childhood

     How often one hears children wishing they were grown-ups and, old people wishing they were young
again. Each age has its pleasures and its pains, and the happiest person is the one who enjoys what each age
gives him without wasting his time in useless regrets.
     Childhood is a time when there are few responsibilities to make life difficult. If a child has good parents,
he is fed, looked after and loved, whatever he may do. It is impossible that he will ever again in his life be
given so much without having to do anything in return. What's more, life is always giving new things to the
child-things that have lost their interest for older people because they are too well known. But a child has his
pains: he is not so free to do what he wishes to do; he is repeatedly being told not to do something, or being
punished for what he has wrongly done.
     When a young man starts to earn his own living, he can no longer expect others to pay for his food, his
clothes, and his room, but has to work if he wants to live comfortably. If he spends most of his time playing
about in the way that he used to as a child, he will go hungry. And if he breaks the laws of society as he used
to break the laws of his parents, he may go to prison. If, however, he works hard, keeps out of trouble and
has good health, he can have the great happiness of building up for himself his own position in society.

1. According to Paragraph 2, the writer thinks that _____.

A. life for a child is fairly easy
B. a child is always loved whatever he does
C. if much is given to a child, he must do something in return
D. only children are interested in life

2. According to the passage, after a child grows up, he _______.

A. will have little time playing
B. has to be successful in finding a job
C. can still ask for help in time of trouble
D. should be able to take care of himself

3. The underlined word "responsibilities" in the second paragraph means _______.

A. duties
B. jobs
C. suggestions
D. desires

4. The main idea of the passage is that _____.

A. life is not enjoyable since each age has some pains
B. young men can have the greatest happiness if they work hard
C. childhood is the most enjoyable time in one's life
D. one is the happiest if he can make good use of each age in his life

     For a long time being happy was considered something that just happened, and there was nothing
special about it. Now we know that getting along with other people is something that we can work at.
It is possible to act in such a way that other people will like us better. One way is being unselfishness,
not wanting everything from our friends. Another way is to look for good points, not bad ones in other
people. It is surprising how successful this treasure hunt can be.
     You don't have to be spinelss (軟弱的) in order to be popular, in fact, you will be liked and respected
if you are not afraid to stand up for your rights. But do it politely and pleasantly. Being friendly and polite
to your group, to other people and to strangers and especially to those who do not look important or do
not interest you is one way to develop a good character.
     You can not expect to be perfect, and so you must learn not to be unhappy when you make mistakes.
Everyone makes mistakes, and no one is to be blamed (責備) unless he refuses to learn from them. Many
young people become discouraged when they know in themselves qualities (品格) that they do not like-
selfishness, laziness, and other unpleasant qualities. Just remember that we all have some of these faults
(過錯) and have to fight against them.
     At the same time, it is important to remember that, while you are probably no worse than others, the
best way to be happy is to think yourself above other people. When something is wrong, it is good sense
to try to make it right. Perhaps you don't like a teacher or a classmate. Try to see why, and look at yourself,
too. To be sure that you are not doing anything to make that person dislike you. Some day, things may turn
out all right, then you will have to learn to get along the best with situation, without thinking too much about
it. Worrying never helps in a situation you can't change.

1. One of the two ways the author suggested for us to get along with others is _____.

A. to draw attention of our friends
B. to demand the best share of everything
C. to look for treasure in order to be successful
D. to pay more attention to other people's strong points

2. According to the passage, if one wants to be popular one needs to _____.

A. be polite and friendly
B. give up some rights
C. avoid arguing with other people
D. be ready to change his or her character

3. The passage shows that there is no perfect person but someone should be blamed if he _____.

A. is no better than others
B. is selfish and lazy
C. does not draw a lesson from his own fault
D. is very happy about his unpleasant quality

4. The passage implies (暗示) that in order to be a happy person, one should consider oneself _____.

A. no better than other
B. not the same as others
C. as having something better than others
D. as having better chances than others

     Childhood was an illusion (錯覺) and the illusion was this: everything was bigger. No, Imean everything,
not just houses and shops and grown-ups, but colors and flowers and journeys, especially journeys which
seemed endless. "Are we there yet, Daddy?"
     Funfairs (游樂場) were huge things that spread for miles around you with noise and lights and exciting
danger. Rainy days at home when you were ill seemed to last for ever. Being a grown-up yourself was an
unthinkable distant possibility. Every sound was louder, every game was grander, every pain unbearable.
     As I've grown old, life has become smaller. Tastes have bulled. Surprises have lurned into shocks. Days
go by unnoticed. How can I regain childhood when it was an illusion? 
     I have only one repeatable and wonderful way and even in this way I can regain only part of that larger
world. I can play upon the stage like a child and make the crowd laugh and laugh with them, sometimes
helplessly like a child, and then, even though I'm a sixty-one-year-old man, I can almost catch the colors and
sounds and stillness of those bigger years when I was little.

1. How does the author feel about his childhood?

A. It was endless.
B. It was unpleasant.
C. He is glad that it is over.
D. He misses it as a grown-up

2. The author thinks that everything was bigger in childhood because ____.

A. children could not make proper judgments
B. children were curious and eager about life
C. things appeared really big in children's eyes
D. to grow up seemed so long for children

3. The world seems to have become smaller to the author because ____.

A. life is disappointing
B. time goes by too fast
C. he has had too many surprises
D. foods no longer taste delicious

4. The author enjoys playing on the stage so as to ____.

A. act like a child
B. live an unusual life
C. make the crowd laugh
D. regain his childhood