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Does money buy happiness? Not! Ah, but would a little more money make us a little happier? Many of us smirk(傻笑，假笑) and nod. There is, we believe, some connection between financial fitness and emotional fulfillment. Three in four American college students—nearly double the 1970 proportion— now consider it “very important” or “essential” that they become “very well off financially”. Money matters.
    But a surprising fact of life is that in countries where nearly everyone can afford life’s necessities, increasing wealth matters surprisingly little. The connection between income and happiness is “surprisingly weak,” observed University of Michigan researcher Ronald Inglehart in one 16-nation study of 170,000 people. Once comfortable, more money provides diminishing returns(报酬递减). The second piece of pie, or the second $100,000, never tastes as good as the first. 
Even lottery winners and the Forbes’ 100 wealthiest Americans have expressed only slightly greater happiness than the average American. Making it big brings temporary joy. But in the long run wealth is like health: its complete absence can create suffering, but having it doesn’t guarantee happiness. Happiness seems less a matter of getting what we want than of wanting what we have.
    Has our happiness, however, floated upward with the rising economic tide? Are we happier today than in 1940s, when two out of five homes lacked a shower or tub? Actually, we are not. Since 1957, the number of Americans who say they are “very happy” has declined from 35 to 32 percent. Meanwhile, the divorce rate has doubled, the teen suicide(自杀) rate has increased nearly three times, the violent crime rate has gone up nearly four times, and depression has mushroomed. Economic growth has provided no boost to human morale. When it comes to psychological well being, it is not the economy.
    I call this soaring wealth and shrinking spirit “the American paradox.” More than ever, we have big houses and broken homes, high incomes and low confidence, secured rights and reduced civility. We are good at making a living but often fail at making a life. We celebrate our prosperity(繁荣) but long for a purpose. We treasure our freedoms but long for connection. In an age of plenty, we feel spiritual hunger.  
50. Which of the following statements best expresses the author’s view?
   A. The more money we earn, the less returns we have.
   B. The more money we earn, the happier we would be.
   C. In the long run, money cannot guarantee happiness.
   D. With the economy going up, our happiness decreases.
51. “The second $100,000 never tastes as good as the first” because ____________.
   A. it is not so fresh as the first $100,000
   B. it is not so important as the first $100,000
   C. profit brought by it is less than that from the first $100,000
   D. happiness brought by it is less than that from the first $100,000
52. According to the passage, people do well in making a living but don’t ____________.
   A. have any primary aim 
B. know how to spend money
C. know how to enjoy life  
D. keep in touch with other people
53. The things that happened after 1957 are given to show that ____________.
   A. people’s spiritual needs cannot be fulfilled by wealth
   B. family problems become more and more serious
   C. young people are not happy about their life
   D. social crimes have increased significantly
54. In this passage, “the American paradox” probably means _____________.
   A. the American characteristic          B. the American contradiction (矛盾)
   C. the American wonder               D. the American phenomenon
D
We were standing at the top of a church tower. My father had brought me to this spot in a small Italian town not far from our home in Rome. I wondered why.
"Look down, Elsa," Father said. I gathered all my courage and looked down. I saw the square in the centre of the village. And I saw the crisscross（十字形） of twisting, turning streets leading to the square.
"See, my dear,” Father said gently. "There is more than one way to the square. Life is like that. If you can’t get to the place where you want to go by one road, try another."
Now I understood why I was there. Earlier that day I had begged my mother to do something about the awful lunches that were served at school. But she refused because she could not believe the lunches were as bad as I said.
When I turned to Father for help, he would not interfere. Instead, he brought me to this high tower to give me a lesson. By the time we reached home, I had a plan.
At school the next day, I secretly poured my luncheon（午宴） soup into a bottle and brought it home. Then I talked the cook into serving it to Mother at dinner. The plan worked perfectly. She swallowed one spoonful and sputtered（喷溅）, "The cook must have gone mad!” Quickly I told her what I had done, and Mother stated firmly that she would take up the matter of lunches at school the next day!
In the years that followed I often remembered the lesson Father taught me. I knew where I wanted to go in life. I wanted to be a fashion designer. And on the way to my first small success I found the road blocked.
I was busy getting ready to show my winter fashions. Then just 13 days before the presentation the sewing（缝纫） girls were called out on strike. I found myself left with one tailor and woman who was in charge of the sewing room! I was as gloomy as my models and salesgirls. "We’ll never make it," one of them cried.
Here, I thought, is the test of all tests for Father’s advice. Where is the way out this time? I wondered and worried. I was certain we would have to call off the presentation or else show the clothes unfinished. Then it dawned on me. Why not show the clothes unfinished?
We worked hurriedly. And, exactly 13 days later, right on time, the Schiaparelli showing took place.
What a showing it was! Some coats had no sleeves; others had only one. Many of our clothes were still in an early stage. They were only patterns made of heavy cotton cloth. But on these we pinned sketches and pieces of material. In this way we were able to show that what colors and textures the clothes would have when they were finished.
All in all, the showing was different. It was so different that it was a great success. Our unusual showing caught the attention of the public, and orders for the clothes poured in.
Father’s wise words had guided me once again. There is more than one way to the square always.
55.The method the writer uses to develop the passage is ______________.
A. offering analysis              B. providing explanations    
C. giving examples               D. making comparisons
56. The author’s father took her to the top of a church tower to ______________.
   A. enjoy the beautiful scenery of the whole town.
   B. find out how many ways lead to the square.
   C. inspire her to find out another way to solve her problem.
   D. help her forget some unpleasant things earlier that day.
57. Which of the following is true according to the passage?
A. When Elsa went to work on the first day, the road was blocked.
B. All the girls were busy preparing for their winter fashion show.
C. Without her father’s words, Elsa would probably not have achieved success.
D. They showed the clothes unfinished, so there were not so many orders.
58.What did the author want her mother to do earlier that day?
A. Do something delicious for lunch.
B. Taste her awful lunch.
C. Dismiss the mad cook.
D. Speak to the school about lunch.
59. What’s the attitude of the author in the passage?
A. Positive        B. Indifferent        C. Negative         D. Subjective
60.Which proverb can best express the main idea of the passage?
A. No Pains, no gains. 
B. All roads lead to Rome.
C. Where there is a will, there is a way. 
D. When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
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