In a US study, researchers measured (测量) the happiness of 4739 people over 20 years. The study found that a person’s happiness depends on the happiness of people he connects with. Surprisingly, it also found that happiness spreads not only between direct friends, but also among friends of your friends’ friends! And those good feelings seem to have the greatest influence among friends of the same sex (性别).
“People with more good friends are less likely to develop depression (情绪低落) and worry,” says Dr. Toupey Luft. “Though you can’t choose your family or workmates, you do have control over friendships.” With a little effort, you can add more positive (正面的,积极的) relationships to your social circle. Here’re the suggestions:
“Nobody is all positive or all negative,” says Luft. “But there are people you may feel more positive. Use that as your way to check people and keep records.” When spending time with others, pay attention to your feeling. Are you feeling tired and unhappy？To help you keep records, Luft suggests taking a moment when you get home to write down what your feeling is when around them.
While it’s great to gather with positive friends, it’s also good to stay with others in the same life situations. “But if you’re all just complaining (抱怨) and nothing is changing, it’s not healthy,” says Luft. Are your friends negative, or are you doing most of the complaining? Considering the answers to these questions can help you decide if you want to stand in front of them. Or you could let the relationship disappear slowly.
Sometimes your hobbies can lead to true friendships. Check out newspapers and websites to find a group or class for something you enjoy. These friends can always be there for you and can care each other through difficulties, illness and death.
Not into groups? Look for individual (个人的) communication instead. Luft says, “Set small goals, such as having coffee with one new person, and develop friendship according to a plan. If someone suggests going for lunch sometime, set a date.”
“If you’re feeling disappointed (失望) with a friend, try talking about what you both need,” says Luft. For example, tell her what you want during hard times in your lives. While your friend may need to be left alone, you may want caring phone calls. With some friends you laugh and have fun together at the movies—and that can be enough. With others, you pay attention to your deep connection.
【小题1】What does your happiness depend on, according to the passage?

“BANG!” the door caused a reverberation (回声). It was just standing there, with father standing on one side, and I on the other side.

　 We were both in great anger. “Never set foot in this house again!” stormed father. With tears welling up in my eyes, I rushed out of the flat and ran along the street.

　 The street lights were shining, causing rather sad-feeling. I wandered aimlessly.

　 A young father who held a child in his arms walked past me. I felt as if I saw my childhood from another space: happy and carefree.

　 But now … I don’t know whether it is because I have grown up or because dad is getting old. We differ in our ways of thinking. He always puts his opinions and codes of behavior on me. Whenever I do something wrong, he never admits it. We are just like two people coming from two different worlds. It feels like there is an iron door between us that can never be opened.

　 I wandered the streets, without a destination in mind. My heart was frozen on this hot summer night. As I walked on, there were no people in the streets, until I had only the street lights to keep me company. When I finally reached the high-rise apartment block in which I lived, I saw that the light was still on.

　 I thought to myself, “Is father waiting for me, or is he still angry with me?”

　 In fact, it was nothing. Perhaps, dad was throwing away some of his old stamps. Perhaps he thought they were useless. I never had the courage to tell him that I liked collecting stamps. I couldn’t stand his outrageous(蛮横的)words, “I can’t throw you away, let alone these old papers?”

　 All the lights were off except father’s.

　 Dad was always like this. Maybe he didn’t know how to express himself. After shouting at me, he never showed any mercy or any moments of regret. After an argument he had the habit of creeping up in my sleep and then tucked me underneath the covers.

　 This was how he always was．He has been a leader for so long that telling everyone else what to do has become his second nature.

　 The light was still on. “Am I wrong?” I whispered, maybe… With the key in hand, I was as nervous as I had ever been. At last, I decided to open the door. As soon as I opened the door tears ran down my cheeks. I suddenly realized that the iron door that I had thought between us did not exist at all. Love—it second to none.

46. Decide which is the best order of the following according to what happened in the passage.

　 a. I opened the door and entered the house.

　 b. Sadly I ran out into the street.

　 c. I reached the place where I lived and saw my house still brightly lit.

　 d. I thought of my father’s kindness towards me.

　 e. I walked about in the street without any aim.

A. b, e, d, c, a　　　 B. b, e, c, d, a　　　　　　

C. b, e, a, c, d　　　 D. b, e, c, a, d

47. What made the writer think of his childhood?

　 A. The sight of the street lights.　　　

B. The sight of the empty street.

　 C. The sight of a father with a child in his arms.

　 D. The sight of light in his own house.

48. Why do you think the father often shouts at his son?

　 A. perhaps the father is getting older and older.

B. perhaps the son has already grown up.

　 C. perhaps they never agree with each other.

D. perhaps the father has got used to doing that.

49. According to the passage what does “Love—it’s second to none” mean ?

A. 爱是至高无上的 B. 爱是第二位的　

C. 爱并没有什么 D. 爱就是没什么

50. What conclusion(结论) can you come to after reading the passage?

　 A. The father treats his son in an unfair way.

B. The father is actually kind to his son.

　 C. The father is neither kind nor cruel to his son.

D. The father is always finding fault with his son.

缺词填空：

Most American families are smaller than the families in other c___1___. Children in the US will l ___2___ in their parents’ homes. When they grow up, they usually live f___3___ from their parents because they want to f___4___ good jobs. They often w___5___ to their parents or telephone them. And they often go to v___6___  their parents on holiday. Parents usually let their children c___7____ their own jobs. Americans think it i___8___ for young people to decide(决定) their lives alone（独自地）. Parents often ask their children to do some work a___9___ their houses. And in many families, Their parents pay them for doing some housework so that they can learn h___10___ to make money for their own use.

Many teenagers feel that the most important people in their lives are their friends. They believe that their family members, and in particular, their parents, don’t know them as well as their friends do. In large families, it is quite often for brothers and sisters to fight with each other and then they can only go to their friends for advice.

It is very important for teenagers to have one good friend or a circle of friends Even when they are not with their friends, they usually spend a lot of time talking among them on the phone. This communication is very important in children’s growing up, because friends can discuss something difficult to say to their family members.

However, parents often try to choose their children’s friends for them. Some parents may even stop their children from meeting their good friends. The question of “choice” is an interesting one.

Who chooses your friends?

Do you choose your friends or your friends choose you?

Have you got a good friend your parents don’t like?

Your answers are welcome.

1.Many teenagers think their ________ know them better than their parents do.

A．friends        B．brothers    C．sisters        D．teachers

2.When teenagers stay alone, their usual way of communication is ________.

A．to go to their friends

B．to talk with their parents

C．to have a discussion with their family by phone

D．to talk with their friends on the phone

3.Which of the following is different in meaning from the sentences “Some parents may even stop their children from meeting their friends?

A．Some parents may even not allow their children to meet their good friends.

B．Some parents may even ask their children to stay away from their good friends.

C．Some parents may even not let their children meet their good friends.

D．Some parents may want their children to meet their good friends at the stop.

4.Which of the following sentences is right according to the passage?

A．Parents should like everything their children enjoy.

B．In all families children can choose everything they like.

C．Parents should try their best to understand their children better.

D．Teenagers can only go to their friends for help.

5.The sentence “Your answers are welcome” means“________”.

A．You are welcome to have a discussion with us.

B．We’ve got no idea, so your answers are welcome.

C．Your answers are always correct.

D．You can give us all the right answers.

6.Which is the best title of the passage?

A．Only Parents Can Decide  B．Parents and Children

C．Teenagers Need Friends   D．A Strange Question