(Question)
Misery and setbacks are not always as terrible as one imagines. Hard times can offer new ways of looking at life that would otherwise never be known. And, if you are a writer, this can be the source of much of your success. Popular British author, Charles Dickens' (1812-1870)family could hardly make ends meet. They could only afford to send one of their six children to school. Dickens was not that child. His parents chose to send a daughter, who had a talent for music, to an academy. Then at the age of 12, Dickens' life took another turn for the worse. His father, a clerk, was placed in prison for unpaid debts. And, being the oldest male left at home, Dickens took up work at a factory. His horrible experience there became the fuel for his future writing. His father was freed three months later and inherited a small amount of money. Dickens was then sent to school. From 1836 to 1837, he wrote a monthly series of stories. Thus thePickwick Papers, came into being, which brought fame to the 23-year-old man. Throughout his career, Dickens covers various situations in his novels. He wrote about the miserable lives of the poor inOliver Twist, the French Revolution in Tale of Two Cities, and social reform inHard Times. He also wroteDavid Copperfield, a book thought to be modeled on his own life. "I do not write bitterly or angrily: for I know all these things have worked together to make me what I am," he once said. His difficult childhood did indeed shape the person he became, as well as his writing career. There are _ young Dickens in many of his most beloved characters, including David Copperfield and Oliver Twist. Like the author, all these characters come from poor beginnings and are able to rise above their setbacks and achieve success. "Minds, like bodies, will often fall into an ill-conditioned state from too much comfort," he once wrote. On June 9th, 1870, aged 58, Dickens died, leaving one unfinished work.The words on his tombstone read: "He was a sympathizer to the poor, the suffering and the oppressed,... The book that first called public attention to Dickens was _ . A) the Pickwick Papers B) Oliver Twist C) Tale of Two Cities D) David Copperfield
(Answer)
A

(Question)
Finding true happiness is a universal aspiration . We all want it, but can we all have it? Genuine happiness is written all over our faces when we are truly contented, and, likewise, a forced smile does nothing to hide underlying sadness. Believing that everyone can create their own lasting joy, Matthieu Richard has been declared the Happiest Man in the World. Richard earned his "happiest man" status after a series of laboratory tests in 2004. Richard has shared his thoughts on happiness with a worldwide audience. As an experienced speaker, he has explained his insights into happiness to everyone, from students to corporate groups. Looking inwards to find joy rather than relying on outer conditions, he believes, is the way to achieve well-being. "It's quite clear that the outer conditions are not enough. The way we interpret those outer conditions in our inner experience is what determines either a sense of well-being or misery. We love to go jogging for fitness and we do all kinds of things to remain beautiful, yet we spend surprisingly little time taking care of what matters most: the way our minds function. It's the essential thing that determines the quality of our experience." Besides this, Richard stresses that it is not what's happening around us that makes us unhappy, but rather the way we choose to react to it. The pursuit of happiness is becoming a modern obsession . As life becomes more complex, our ability to process our reactions to various outside influences comes under strain. "Genuine happiness" he says, "doesn't mean pleasant feelings one after the other. It's more like a series of qualities that we can develop as skills -- like openness, genuine love, compassion, inner strength and inner peace." Richard has been declared the Happiest Man in the World _ . A) because he has shared his thoughts on happiness with a worldwide audience B) after he has explained his insights into happiness to everyone C) after a series of laboratory tests D) because he tries his best to achieve happiness and well-being
(Answer)
C

(Question)
Emotional eating is when people use food as a way to deal with feelings instead of to satisfy hunger. We've all been there, finishing a whole bag of chips out of boredom or eating cookie after cookie while _ for a big test. But when done a lot -- especially without realizing it -- emotional eating can affect weight, health, and overall well-being. Not many of us make the connection between eating and our feelings. But understanding what drives emotional eating can help people take steps to change it. One of the biggest myths about emotional eating is that it's prompted by negative feelings. Yes, people often turn to food when they're stressed out, lonely, sad, anxious, or bored. But emotional eating can be linked to positive feelings too, like the romance of sharing dessert on Valentine's Day or the celebration of a holiday feast. Sometimes emotional eating is tied to major life events, like a death or a divorce. More often, though, it's the countless little daily stresses that cause someone to seek comfort or distraction in food. Emotional eating patterns can be learned: A child who is given candy after a big achievement may grow up using candy as a reward for a job well done. A kid who is given cookies as a way to stop crying may learn to link cookies with comfort. We're all emotional eaters to some extent. But for some people, emotional eating can be a real problem, causing serious weight gain or cycles of binging and purging. The trouble with emotional eating (apart from the health issues) is that once the pleasure of eating is gone, the feelings that cause it remain. And you often may feel worse about eating the amount or type of food you did. That's why it helps to know the differences between physical hunger and emotional hunger. Next time you reach for a snack, check in and see which type of hunger is driving it. Which of the following is NOT true about emotional eating? A) It is usually linked to positive or negative feelings. B) It is sometimes linked to major life events. C) It is caused by physical hunger. D) It can cause health problems.
(Answer)
C