(05·全国Ⅱ、全国ⅢB篇)

The days of elderly women doing nothing but cooking huge meals on holidays are gone. Enter the Red Hat Society －a group holding the belief that old ladies should have fun.

“My grandmothers didn’t do anything but keep house and serve everybody. They were programmed to do that,” said Emils Comette, head of a chapter of the 7-year-old Red Hat Society.

While men have long spent their time fishing and playing golf, women have sometimes seemed to become unnoticed as they age. But the generation now turning 50 is the baby boomers(生育高峰期出生的人), and the same people who refused their parents’ way of being young are now trying a new way of growing old.

If you take into consideration feminism(女权主义), a bit of spare money, and better health for most elderly, the Red Hat Society looks almost inevitable(必然的). In this society, women over 50 wear red hats and purple(紫色的) clothes, while the women under 50 wear pink hats and light purple clothing.

“The organization took the idea from a poem by Jenny Joseph that begins: “When I am an old woman, I shall wear purple. With a red hat which doesn’t go,” said Ellen Cooper, who founded the Red Hat Society in 1998. When the ladies started to wear the red hats, they attracted lots of attention.

“The point of this is that we need a rest from always doing something for someone else,” Cooper said. “Women feel so ashamed and sorry when they do something for themselves.” This is why chapters are discouraged from raising money or doing anything useful. “We’re a ladies’ play group. It couldn’t be more simple,” added Cooper’s assistant Joe Heywood.

44．The underlined word “chapter” in paragraph 2 means __________.

       A．one branch of an organization

B．a written agreement of a club

       C．one part of a collection of poems

D．a period in a society’s history

45．From the text , we know that the “baby boomers” are a group of people who

       A．have gradually become more noticeable

       B．are worried about getting old too quickly

       C．are enjoying a good life with plenty of money to spend

       D．tried living a different life from their parents when they were young

46．It could be inferred from the text that members of the Red Hat Society are          .

       A．interested in raising money for social work

       B．programmers who can plan well for their future

       C．believers in equality between men and women

       D．good at cooking big meals and taking care of others

47．Who set up the Red Hat Society ?

       A．Emily Cornette .

B．Ellen Cooper .

C．Jenny Joseph .

D．Joe Heywood .

48．Women join the Red Hat Society because          .

       A．they want to stay young                     

       B．they would like to appear more attractive

       C．they would like to have fun and live for themselves

       D．they want to be more like their parents

I live in the land of Disney, Hollywood and year - round sun.You may think People , such an attractive, fun - filled place are happier than others.If so you have some mistaken ideas about the nature of happiness.
Many intelligent people still think fun equals happiness.The truth is that fun and happiness have little or nothing in common.Fun is what we experience during an act.Happiness is what we experience after an act.It is a deep, long-lasting emotion.
Going to an amusement park or a ball game, watching a movie or television are fun activities that help us relax, temporally forget our problems and maybe even laugh.But they do not bring happiness, because their positive effects end when the fun ends.
I have often thought that if Hollywood stars have a role to play, it is to teach us that happiness has nothing to do with fun.They have constant access to exciting parties, fancy cars, expensive homes, everything that spells "happiness" But in memoir（回忆录） after memoir, they expose Ac unhappiness hidden beneath all their fun: depression, alcoholism, drug addiction, broken marriages and loneliness.
Ask a bachelor why he resists marriage even though he finds dating to be less and less satisfying.If he is honest, he will tell you that he is afraid of making a commitment.For commitment is in fact quite painful.The single life is filled with fun, adventure and excitement.Man-iage has such moments, but they are not its most distinguishing features.
Similarly, couples that choose not to have children are deciding in favor of painless fun over painful happiness.They can dine out whenever they want and sleep as late as they want.Couples with babies are lucky to get a whole night' s sleep.I don't know any parent who would choose the word fun to describe raising children.
Understanding and accepting that true happiness has nothing to do with fun is one of the most liberating realizations we can ever come to.It liberates time: now we can devote more hours to activities that can truly increase our happiness.It liberates money: buying that new car or those fancy clothes that will do nothing to increase our happiness now seems pointless.And it frees us from envy: we now understand that all those rich and famous people we were so sure are happy because they are always having so much fun actually may not be happy at all.

1. 1.

   What is the passage mainly about?

   1. A.
      Fun and happiness.
   2. B.
      Success and satisfaction.
   3. C.
      Marriage and commitment.
   4. D.
      Entertainment and responsibility.
2. 2.

   The author probably agrees that ____.

   1. A.
      fun creates long - lasting satisfaction
   2. B.
      long - standing fun may lead to happiness
   3. C.
      fun is short-lived while happiness is long-lasting
   4. D.
      fun provides enjoyment while pain leads to happiness
3. 3.

   What does the author think of marriage?

   1. A.
      It ends in pain.
   2. B.
      It means commitment.
   3. C.
      It affords greater fun.
   4. D.
      It leads to raising children.
4. 4.

   If one gets the real meaning of happiness, he ____.
   

   1. A.
      will start a business          B  won' t place too much value on money
      C.will seek for freedom           D.won't devote himself to his family

I live in the land of Disney, Hollywood and year-round sun. You may think people in such a splendid, fun-filled place are happier than others. If so, you have some mistaken ideas about the nature of happiness.

   Many intelligent people still equate happiness with fun. The truth is that fun and happiness have little or nothing in common. Fun is what we experience during an act. Happiness is what we experience after an act. It is a deeper, more lasting emotion.

   Going to an amusement park or ball game, watching a movie or television, are fun activities that help us relax, temporarily forget our problems and maybe even laugh. But they do not bring happiness, because their positive effects end when the fun ends.

   I have often though that if Hollywood stars have a role to play, it is to teach us that happiness has nothing to do with fun. These rich, beautiful individuals have constant access to glamorous parties, fancy cars, expensive homes, everything that spells “happiness”. But in memoir（回忆录）after memoir, they reveal the unhappiness hidden beneath all their fun: depression, alcoholism ,drug addiction, broken marriages, troubled children and profound loneliness.

   Ask a bachelor why he resists marriage, if he’s honest, and he will tell you that he is afraid of making a commitment, for commitment is in fact quite painful. The single life is filled with fun, adventure and excitement. Marriage has such moments, but they are not its most distinguishing features.

   Similarly, couples that choose not to have children are deciding in favor of painless fun over painful happiness. They can dine out whenever they want and sleep as late as they can. Couples with infant children are lucky to get a whole night’s sleep or a three-day vacation. I don’t know any parent who would choose the word fun to describe raising children.

   Understanding and accepting that true happiness has nothing to do with fun is one of the most liberating（解放性的）realizations. It liberates time: now we can devote more hours to activities that can genuinely increase our happiness. It liberates money: buying that new car or those fancy clothes that will do nothing to increase our happiness now seems pointless. And it liberates us from envy: we now understand that all those rich and glamorous people we were so sure are happy because they are always having so much fun actually may not be happy at all.

41. We can learn from the passage that       .

      A. fun creates long-lasting satisfaction

      B. fun provides enjoyment while pain leads to happiness

      C. happiness is lasting whereas fun is short-lived

      D. fun that is long-standing may lead to happiness

42. To the author, the role Hollywood stars play is to      .

      A. write memoir after memoir about their happiness

      B. tell the public that happiness has nothing to do with fun

      C. teach people how to enjoy their lives

      D. bring happiness to the public instead of going to parties

43. In the author’s opinion, marriage      .

   A. affords greater fun                       B. leads to raising children

   C. indicates duty and devotion            D. usually ends up in pain

44.Which of the following is the best example of “painful happiness”?

   A. Winning lottery by accident    B. A bachelor resisting marriage

   C. Raising children                            D. Buying some fancy clothes

45. If one gets the true sense of happiness, he will     .

   A. stop playing games and joking with others  B. keep himself with his family

   C. give a free hand to money                 D. use his time to increase happiness

I live in the land of Disney, Hollywood and year-round sun. You may think people in such a splendid, fun-filled place are happier than others. If so, you have some mistaken ideas about the nature of happiness.

　 Many intelligent people still equate happiness with fun. The truth is that fun and happiness have little or nothing in common. Fun is what we experience during an act. Happiness is what we experience after an act. It is a deeper, more lasting emotion.

　 Going to an amusement park or ball game, watching a movie or television, are fun activities that help us relax, temporarily forget our problems and maybe even laugh. But they do not bring happiness, because their positive effects end when the fun ends.

　 I have often though that if Hollywood stars have a role to play, it is to teach us that happiness has nothing to do with fun. These rich, beautiful individuals have constant access to glamorous parties, fancy cars, expensive homes, everything that spells “happiness”. But in memoir（回忆录）after memoir, they reveal the unhappiness hidden beneath all their fun: depression, alcoholism ,drug addiction, broken marriages, troubled children and profound loneliness.

　 Ask a bachelor why he resists marriage, if he’s honest, and he will tell you that he is afraid of making a commitment, for commitment is in fact quite painful. The single life is filled with fun, adventure and excitement. Marriage has such moments, but they are not its most distinguishing features.

　 Similarly, couples that choose not to have children are deciding in favor of painless fun over painful happiness. They can dine out whenever they want and sleep as late as they can. Couples with infant children are lucky to get a whole night’s sleep or a three-day vacation. I don’t know any parent who would choose the word fun to describe raising children.

　 Understanding and accepting that true happiness has nothing to do with fun is one of the most liberating（解放性的）realizations. It liberates time: now we can devote more hours to activities that can genuinely increase our happiness. It liberates money: buying that new car or those fancy clothes that will do nothing to increase our happiness now seems pointless. And it liberates us from envy: we now understand that all those rich and glamorous people we were so sure are happy because they are always having so much fun actually may not be happy at all.

41. We can learn from the passage that　　　 .

　 A. fun creates long-lasting satisfaction

　 B. fun provides enjoyment while pain leads to happiness

　 C. happiness is lasting whereas fun is short-lived

　 D. fun that is long-standing may lead to happiness

42. To the author, the role Hollywood stars play is to　　 .

　 A. write memoir after memoir about their happiness

　 B. tell the public that happiness has nothing to do with fun

　 C. teach people how to enjoy their lives

　 D. bring happiness to the public instead of going to parties

43. In the author’s opinion, marriage .

A. affords greater fun B. leads to raising children

C. indicates duty and devotion D. usually ends up in pain

44.Which of the following is the best example of “painful happiness”?

A. Winning lottery by accident B. A bachelor resisting marriage

C. Raising children D. Buying some fancy clothes

45. If one gets the true sense of happiness, he will　　 .

A. stop playing games and joking with others B. keep himself with his family

C. give a free hand to money　　　 　 　　 D. use his time to increase happiness