Next time you’re unhappy or complaining about your life, don’t turn to a cheerful comedy. You might find a tear-jerking tragedy(催人泪下的悲剧) is just the thing you need to brighten your day.
A team of researchers at Ohio State University, US, has found sad movies can make people happier, Science Daily reported last month.
Many people find tragedies make them realize how good their own lives are, the study showed.
“People seem to use tragedies as a way to reflect on the important relationships in their own lives,” said Silvia Knobloch-Westerwick, leader of the study. “Tragic stories often focus on themes of eternal(永恒的) love, and this leads viewers to think about their loved ones and count their good and helpful things.”
In the study, researchers gathered 361 college students and showed them the 2007 movie, Atonement. The movie is about two lovers who are separated(分离) and finally die during World War II. Before and after the movie, the students were asked questions measuring(衡量) how happy they were with their lives. Researchers also asked them before, after and three times during the movie to measure various emotions, including sadness.
Researchers found that the sadder students felt while watching the movie, the more likely they were to think about real people they had close relationships with in life. This increased their happiness after watching the movie.
Knobloch-Westerwick explained that negative(消极的) moods make people more thoughtful.
“Positive(积极的) emotions show that everything is fine, you don’t have to worry, you don’t have to think about problems in your life,” she said. “But negative emotions, like sadness, make you think more critically about your situation. So seeing a tragic movie may make you sad, but that will make you to think more about your own close relationships and appreciate them more.”
The link between watching a tragic story and feeling better has long been recognized. The ancient Greeks even had a word for the feeling of happiness after seeing something sad that led to the modern English word “catharsis (宣泄)”.
The study also showed that relationships are a very important source of happiness in our lives, so it is no surprise that thinking about your loved ones makes you happier, researchers said.
1. Which of the following about the study of Ohio State University is NOT true?
A. Only sadness is measured in the study.
B. Students’ emotions are measured by asking questions.
C. The study shows relationships are a source of happiness.
D. Those who felt sadder when watching the movie were more likely to be happier after that.
2. Why are ancient Greeks mentioned in the passage?
A. To introduce the meaning of the word “Catharsis”.
B. To explain the importance of knowing how to become happier.
C. To prove that they were of high intelligence and guessed its meaning.
D. To tell readers the relationship between tragedies and happiness was found long ago.
3. From Knobloch-Westerwick’s explanation, we can learn that .
A. seeing tragedies makes you more thoughtful
B. positive emotions make you think more about your relationships
C. negative emotions show you have no need to think about your situation
D. after seeing comedies, you will appreciate your close relationships more
4. Which is the title of the passage?
A. Watching sad films may start smiles B. There is eternal love in the world
C. It’s useless to complain about life D. Comedies should make way for tragedies
1A 2D 3A 4A
‘USA? Britain? Which country is better to study in?’ We often hear such discussions. As China opens its door, it is a dream for many Chinese students to study abroad. They want to learn about the outside world.
It’s true that studying abroad can help students develop themselves. Their foreign language skills will be improved and it may be easier to find jobs.
But there are problems that should be considered. Language is the first. Students must spend a lot of time learning another language.
Students must also learn to live without parents’ care and deal with all kinds of things they haven’t had to do before, like looking after themselves. There are reports about Chinese students abroad running into an ocean of difficulties and giving up finally. When they have to take care of themselves, it is hard for students to study well.
Finally, studying abroad brings a heavy burden（负担）to the family. For most Chinese parents, the cost of studying abroad is very high. But is it worth it?
We know that there are many famous people who have achieved success through their hard work in China. Liu Xiang is a good example. Once an American teacher invited him there, but he refused. He kept training hard with his Chinese teacher. He surprised the world when he won a gold medal at the Athens Olympic Games. So when you wonder which country is better to study in, think again.
| Title: Studying at 56 or abroad | |
| Phenomenon（现象） | Studying abroad has become a 57 for Chinese students. |
| Advantages | ◆ It is helpful to the future 58 of Chinese students. |
| ◆ It helps to 59 foreign language skills. | |
| ◆ It enables Chinese students to find jobs more 60 . | |
| 61 | ◆ It 62 Chinese students too much time to learn a fo language. |
| ◆ It’s hard for Chinese students to get used to the life abroad 63 parents’ care. | |
| ◆ Parents may be under pressure（压力）because the cost of studying abroad is very 64 . | |
| Purpose: To tell us studying abroad is not the only way to be 65 by describing Liu Xiang’s example. | |
Choose one you’ve never played before. If you find you like it, you’ll have a hobby for life.
40. Which of the following statements is True according to the passage?
ked at them. “This is your last chance,” he said. “Does anyone else want to leave?” All the students there stayed in their seats and took out their pencils.
ir seats B. students leaving the classroom
ethods. If the teacher is called “killer” by the last grade, many students will give up choosing him. Because this kind of teacher will leave too much homework, too many exams and give too low grades.