Do you want to live a happier, less stressful (有压力的) life?
Try laughing for no reason at all. That’s how thousands of people start their day at Laughter Clubs around the world – and many doctors now think that having a good laugh might be one of the best ways to stay healthy.
The first Laughter Club was started in Mumbai, India, in 1995 by Dr Madan Kataria. “Young children laugh about 300 times a day. Adults laugh between 7 and 15 times a day,” says Dr Kataria. “Everyone’s naturally good at laughing – it’s the universal language. We want people to feel happy with their lives.” There are now more than 500 Laughter Clubs in India and over 1,300 worldwide.
Many doctors are also interested in the effects (效果) of laughter on our health. According to a 5 – year study in the body. Laughter improves our health against illness by about 40%.
So, what happens at a Laughter Club? I went along to my nearest club in South London to find out. I was quite nervous at the beginning of the class, to be honest – I wasn’t interested in laughing with a group of strangers, and I was worried about looking stupid. Our laughter teacher told us to clap our hands and say “ho ho ho, ha ha ha,” while looking at each other. However, our bodies can’t tell the difference between fake laughter and real laughter, so they still produce the same healthy effects.
Surprisingly, it works! After ten minutes everybody in the room was laughing for real – and some people just couldn’t stop! At the end of the class I was surprised by how relaxed and comfortable I felt. So if you’re under stress, then start laughing. You might be very pleased with the results!

1. 1.

   In which country was the first Laughter Club started?

   1. A.
      Britain.
   2. B.
      America.
   3. C.
      Australia.
   4. D.
      India.
2. 2.

   How did the writer feel at the beginning of the class?

   1. A.
      Surprised.
   2. B.
      Pleased.
   3. C.
      Nervous.
   4. D.
      Stressful.
3. 3.

   When did the people in the club begin to laugh for real?

   1. A.
      After a few minutes.
   2. B.
      After a few hours.
   3. C.
      After a few seconds.
   4. D.
      After a few days.
4. 4.

   Which of the following is true according to the passage?

   1. A.
      Fake laughter and real laughter are both good for health.
   2. B.
      40% of the people in Laughter Clubs are good friends.
   3. C.
      Adults laugh more often than children in a day.
   4. D.
      Laughing is the best way to prevent illness.

Do you want to live a happier, less stressful (有压力的) life?
Try laughing for no reason at all. That’s how thousands of people start their day at Laughter Clubs around the world – and many doctors now think that having a good laugh might be one of the best ways to stay healthy.
The first Laughter Club was started in Mumbai, India, in 1995 by Dr Madan Kataria. “Young children laugh about 300 times a day. Adults laugh between 7 and 15 times a day,” says Dr Kataria. “Everyone’s naturally good at laughing – it’s the universal language. We want people to feel happy with their lives.” There are now more than 500 Laughter Clubs in India and over 1,300 worldwide.
Many doctors are also interested in the effects (效果) of laughter on our health. According to a 5 – year study in the body. Laughter improves our health against illness by about 40%.
So, what happens at a Laughter Club? I went along to my nearest club in South London to find out. I was quite nervous at the beginning of the class, to be honest – I wasn’t interested in laughing with a group of strangers, and I was worried about looking stupid. Our laughter teacher told us to clap our hands and say “ho ho ho, ha ha ha,” while looking at each other. However, our bodies can’t tell the difference between fake laughter and real laughter, so they still produce the same healthy effects.
Surprisingly, it works! After ten minutes everybody in the room was laughing for real – and some people just couldn’t stop! At the end of the class I was surprised by how relaxed and comfortable I felt. So if you’re under stress, then start laughing. You might be very pleased with the results!
【小题1】In which country was the first Laughter Club started?

The winter after 9/11 was a hard one for me. I had just left the Greenville and started what?　1to be long-term unemployment and, at midlife, many endless depressed 　2.I felt empty inside. My one　3 was having my grandchildren, Sophie and Simeon, with me for Hanukkah?(犹太教的光明节),but when they　4 home, I was left with a 　5 state of mind and that inner emptiness again.?

It was then that my wife, Linda, director of the Upstate Homeless Coalition,　6 that I play Santa for 30 children in a holiday program at a local hall. As she pointed out, I 　7 the part. I have a big belly(肚子) and a full, almost white beard.?

The question about coming across religious limits doesn’t concern me. I’d always believed in 8 people to be less tough about sticking to those strict lines.　9,for reasons having nothing to do with religion, I　10 admit that year, my heart just wasn’t in it. Linda 　11 “the show must go on.” So I practised “Ho, ho, ho.”?

I was not 　12for the 30 sets of eyes that fastened upon me　13 I walked  in. “Santa! Santa! Look at my new shoes! Santa! I’ve been a good girl. Santa! Can we sing ‘Jingle Bells’?”

They　14 around me, hugged and kissed me. Each child sat in my lap and posed (摆姿势)for 　15 and I gave them all a present—a teddy bear, a doll...

Their?16 delight and excited voices brought tears to my eyes. I felt a wave of compassion(同情).These 17 were God’s gentlest gifts to a 18 world—gifts of warmth and love. These homeless children 19 me from self-doubt and depression.20 I lost my mind and regained my healthy state of judgment.

1．A．ought               B．went                  C．proved               D．supposed?

2．A．wishes                  B．days                   C．ideas                   D．jobs?

3．A．sadness                 B．hobby              C．hope   q            D．happiness?

4．A．returned                B．got                  C．left                     D．came?

5．A．cheerful                B．dark                    C．light               D．normal?

6．A．demanded             B．said                     C．remembered        D．suggested?

8．A．allowing                B．preventing           C．stopping              D．encouraging?

9．A．Yet                       B．So                      C．Therefore            D．And?

10．A．can                     B．must                   C．may                    D．shall?

11．A．insisted                B．ordered               C．advised               D．joked?

12．A．familiar               B．strange                C．prepared              D．known?

13．A．while                  B．before                 C．until                    D．when?

14．A．walked                B．crowded              C．stared                 D．observed?

15．A．a picture              B．a book                 C．a smile                D．a pleasure?

16．A．relaxed                B．pitiful                  C．shameful             D．confused?

17．A．memories            B．children               C．tears                   D．eyes?

18．A．kind                    B．big                      C．warm                  D．cold?

19．A．lifted                   B．took                    C．push                   D．pulled?

20．A．Since then       B．Sooner or later     C．At that moment  D．In no time

Do you want to live a happier, less stressful (有压力的) life?

Try laughing for no reason at all. That’s how thousands of people start their day at Laughter Clubs around the world – and many doctors now think that having a good laugh might be one of the best ways to stay healthy.

The first Laughter Club was started in Mumbai, India, in 1995 by Dr Madan Kataria. “Young children laugh about 300 times a day. Adults laugh between 7 and 15 times a day,” says Dr Kataria. “Everyone’s naturally good at laughing – it’s the universal language. We want people to feel happy with their lives.” There are now more than 500 Laughter Clubs in India and over 1,300 worldwide.

Many doctors are also interested in the effects (效果) of laughter on our health. According to a 5 – year study in the body. Laughter improves our health against illness by about 40%.

So, what happens at a Laughter Club? I went along to my nearest club in South London to find out. I was quite nervous at the beginning of the class, to be honest – I wasn’t interested in laughing with a group of strangers, and I was worried about looking stupid. Our laughter teacher told us to clap our hands and say “ho ho ho, ha ha ha,” while looking at each other. However, our bodies can’t tell the difference between fake laughter and real laughter, so they still produce the same healthy effects.

Surprisingly, it works! After ten minutes everybody in the room was laughing for real – and some people just couldn’t stop! At the end of the class I was surprised by how relaxed and comfortable I felt. So if you’re under stress, then start laughing. You might be very pleased with the results!

57．In which country was the first Laughter Club started?

       A．Britain.                B．America.             C．Australia.             D．India.

58．How did the writer feel at the beginning of the class?

       A．Surprised.           B．Pleased.               C．Nervous.             D．Stressful.

59．When did the people in the club begin to laugh for real?

       A．After a few minutes.                            B．After a few hours.

       C．After a few seconds.                            D．After a few days.

60．Which of the following is true according to the passage?

       A．Fake laughter and real laughter are both good for health.

       B．40% of the people in Laughter Clubs are good friends.

       C．Adults laugh more often than children in a day.

       D．Laughing is the best way to prevent illness.

第三部分：阅读理解（共15小题；每小题2分，满分30分）
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C 和D）中，选出最佳选项。
Having divorced (离婚) my dad, my mom had to move frequently in order to find a job that would provide her with enough money to support the big family. For three years, we lived in the town of Parkersburg. On the first Christmas there, my brothers and I had been well prepared for a holiday without presents. But we had a surprise on Christmas Eve.
At midnight, we were woken up by someone shouting at our front door, “Ho, ho, ho! Merry Christmas!” We jumped up and ran to the door to find no one there, but several boxes and bags! Not only were there gifts, which were our favorite, but there were also clothes and food. Each of us kids, as well as Mom, had gifts with our names on them. And the clothes all fit us!
Another year went by and on Christmas Eve, we again got boxes and bags full of goodies. The next year we moved. We were in the same town but across the other side. Mom was beginning to get on her feet. Since we had moved and Mom had a better job, we were quite certain that “Santa” wouldn’t visit us that year. But we were wrong!
Those “Santa” visits restored in me the belief in the goodness of mankind, though to this day we don’t know who our helper was.
When we grew up, Mom moved to Virginia. She had some extra money one Christmas. She sent it to me and let us know her decision. We then took action. My husband and children had so much fun buying and wrapping presents for the needy family we had chosen. On Christmas Eve, we allowed the excited kids to stay up late to be part of our secret “Santa” project.
Such satisfaction there was in being able to pass on the gift of love to others who needed it. And the gift goes on!
56. From the first paragraph, we can learn that ______.
A. the writer’s family didn’t like to celebrate Christmas
B. the writer felt sorry about not having Christmas presents
C. the writer’s mother couldn’t afford any Christmas presents
D. the writer knew that something surprising would happen
57. The presents that the writer’s family received must be from _______.
A. someone who has no children        B. someone who knew them well
C. the church in the neighborhood       D. the richest family in the town 
58. What decision did the writer’s mom make in the fifth paragraph?
A. To give her extra money to a poor family.   
B. To thank the person who once helped her family.
C. To give some Christmas presents to a poor family in secret.  
D. To invite a poor family to spend Christmas with her family.  
59. This passage is written to ______.
A. show pity to the poor people        B. show human kindness  
C. thank the helper                 D. show the advantages of being rich