Read the following article and select the best answer. Article: Being able to count at least ten people as friends makes us happy, but those with five or fewer are likely to be miserable, researchers say. Their study of hundreds of men and women also found t hat people who feel satisfied with their lives always have lots of close friends and regularly make new ones. While it is not clear whether our friends make us happy or we make friends because we are happy, the researchers say it is clear that we should maintain our friendships. Psychologist RichardTunney said, "Whatever the reason is, actively working on friendships in the same way as to maintain a marriage is a prerequisite to happiness. "Dr. Tunney, of Nottingham University, quizzed more than 1,700 people about their satisfaction with their lives and the state of their friendships. Those with five friends or fewer had just a 40 percent chance of being happy. In other words they were more likely to be unhappy than happy. Ten was the first number at which people were more likely to be happy than unhappy. The happiest people were those with dozens of friends, according to the study, which was carried out for the National Lottery . For women, this meant having 33 friends;for men, the number was 49. Dr. Tunney said,"People who were extremely satisfied with their lives had twice the number of friends of people who were extremely dissatisfied. " Women tended to have fewer friends than men but formed tighter relationships. Interestingly, the study found that childhood friends are no more likely to make us happy than people we become close to later in life. Lottery winners, however, have a differentopinion on life. They are always happier than others despite spending their time with asmall circle of old friends. This could be because they trust people they've known for along time. Question: We can conclude from the passage that _ . - it's enough for one person to have ten friends - unhappy people must have few friends - childhood friends make people happier than adulthood ones - friendships play a major role in people's life
friendships play a major role in people's life
------
Read the following article and select the best answer. Article: For a writer, there is hardly any greater honor than winning the Nobel Prize for literature. And for a woman writer, claiming the prize is even harder, for only eight women once won it. Austria's Elfriede Jelinek is the ninth and the first since 1996. The Stockholm-based Swedish Academy announced last Thursday that Jelinek won this year's Nobel Prize in literature. She is recognized for her socially critical novels and plays. Jelinek, 57, made her literary debut in 1967. She has written plays, novels and poetry. She is best known for her autobiographical 1983 novel "The Piano Teacher", made into a movie in 2001. The basic theme of her work is the inability of women to live as people beyond the roles and personalities traditionally expected of _ . Her characters struggle to lead lives not normally acceptable in society. "The nature of Jelinek's texts is often hard to define. They shift between prose and poetry and songs, they contain theatrical scenes and film script," said the academy. The Nobel Prize was founded by Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel. Nobel died in 1896 and left his fortune of about US $920 million to a fund to honor people who have helped other human beings. This year each prize is worth US $13 million. Question: Which of the following about the Nobel Prize is TRUE? - It is harder for a woman writer to win than a man writer. - The total prize every year was $920 million. - Women writers were not awarded until 1996. - Only eight women writers won the prize since 1996.
It is harder for a woman writer to win than a man writer.
------
Read the following article and select the best answer. Article: FROM 1964 to 1978, Dazhai, with a population of 500, was the most famous village in China. Millions of Chinese came to the Shanxi village to visit its terraced fields and "splendid" irrigation systems. It was not until 1978 when Guo Fenglian, head of the village, paid a visit to the US that China's model village found how far it had fallen behind those in developed countries. "I was astonished at their modern equipment in harvesting, which could even separate big tomatoes with small ones," said Guo. "American farmers' life quality also impressed me a lot. Every day they had two cups of milk, which is something we don't have even in our wildest dreams." "We have to learn their advanced technology and administration for our own development," said then first Deputy Prime Minister Deng Xiaoping who was planning China's reform and opening up policy then. "Through opening our doors, we would not only take advantage of foreign funds , but also create job opportunities and cultivate talents." In 1978 Japanese electricity giant Panasonic came to China as the first foreign business to invest here and its success attracted other world brands into exploring the Chinese market. So far China has for 15 years taken in the world's second biggest foreign investment, following the US, to help set the country in a fast growth. However, China's 30-year road of reform was not always smooth. Doubts on the reform began to rise at the end of the 1980s as many people worried the country would turn to capitalism . "The criterion for our judgment is whether it helps develop socialist productive forces, whether it helps increase the overall national strength of a socialist country, and whether it brings about better living standards," said Deng. "China's reform and opening up is a unique success story. It has brought benefit to both China and the world," said William Keller, chief manager of a Swiss pharmaceutical company. Question: Many people have doubts about the reform _ . - in 1978 - in 1980 - in 1981 - at the end of the 1980s
at the end of the 1980s
------
Read the following article and select the best answer. Article: Bea, a five-year-old girl, was born with a severe illness which means she has to be kept away from other children of her age, because her body is so weak that she would be unable to fight off a common cold. Bea was diagnosed with this disease when she was five months old. Since then, the hospital has become her second home, medicines for food, and all kinds of treatments her friends. Bea received a very special treatment when she was four years old, which would allow her to be like a normal child if successful. After that, she spent two weeks in ICU before living for four months on a separate ward . Bea was allowed home in February but still needed a special tube in her nose to send in medicines every two days. Her parents clean the house from top to bottom every two days and hoover each morning to make sure Bea is free from any possible bacteria. Anna, Bea's mother, said, "she is weak but so strong. We've never seen any child stronger than her. It seems as if nothing in the world could beat her. We really hope to send her to school next year." She used to drive on the local playground, but Bea was only allowed to watch sitting in the car. "It was heartbreaking to see Bea staring at the running and laughing children there. She never stopped fighting the disease. I know she's dying for such a normal life." Hearing of Bea's story, the Make-A-Wish Foundation has paid for a play park to be built in her back garden. "Bea is very brave and she has encouraged many children like her," said the chairman of the foundation. Question: What makes Bea so brave to fight against this serious disease - Her parents' encouragement and care. - Her dream of owning a play park. - Her wish to become a normal child. - Her doctor's skills and experience.
Her wish to become a normal child.
------