A. adequacy B.discipline C.missed D.challenge AB.accessible AC.employ
AD.persuasive BC.ironically BD.unrealistically CD.profound ABC.eliminating111.Com]
Whether we’re buying a pair of running shoes, reading a certain book, or even selecting a life partner , everyday decisions--from the ordinary and typically unexciting to the (41)______challenges of balancing career, family, and individual needs--have become increasingly complicated due to the overwhelming(42)______of choice with which we are presented.
We assume that more choices should mean better options and greater satisfaction. But (43)______the considerable amount of choice causes people to become helpless and dissatisfied. So beware of choice overload. Beyond a certain number of choices, the law of diminishing marginal utility(边际效应) begins to take effects. Choices overload can make you (44)______ the decisions you make before you even make them, it can set you up for (45)______high expectations, and it can make you blame yourself for any and all failures.
In his beautifully-reasoned book The Paradox of Choice, Barry Schwartz explains why too much of a good thing has proven harmful to our psychological and emotional well-being. The case he makes for a correlation between our emotional state and what he calls the “the tyranny(暴政) of choice” is fairly(46)______. Schwartz illustrates well how our choices have expanded, how our demands for perfection have increased and how we suffer as a result---from regret and feelings of asking for more. He makes the counter-intuitive case that(47)______choices can greatly reduce the stress, anxiety, and busyness of our lives. In (48)______, engaging language, he offers practical steps for how to limit choices to a manageable number, have the (49)______ to focus on the important ones and ignore the rest. And if you can(50)______those approaches, ultimately you will derive greater satisfaction from the choices you do make.
CD, A, BC, D, BD, AD, ABC, AB, B, AC
Some people believe that greed and selfishness has become the basis of modern society, and we should return to the old traditions of family and community then we will have a better life. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the above opinion?
In this fast-paced world, many values are undergoing major changes. While people traditionally prioritize caring, sharing and generosity in life and work, modern people seem to be more self-absorbed and self-concerned.
Modern people act selfishly to survive the harsh competition of life. They say that it is a jungle out there. To survive, you have to fight with whatever means that come handy. Obviously greedy and selfishness go perfectly well with such ideas. In a company, employees do everything they can to get better pay and higher position, even at the cost of colleagues. We are in any way advocating any selfish conduct. It is just that people are pressured to act in a certain way due to outside influences.
In spite of common practice, it is hard to conclude that modern society is built on greed and selfishness, both of which are not newly invented vocabulary. In ancient times people also did greedy and selfish things though such behaviors were more condemned then. But we can not ignore the fact that people in the past lived a relatively more isolated life and faced less pressure compared with their modern counterparts.
Are we happier to share with others and be generous to them? There is no fixed answer either. Some people take great pleasure helping and giving to others while others feel happy doing the opposite. But I personally think that people should not be too selfish. Caring for others can actually encourage the development of a mutually beneficial relationship.
In conclusion, modern people appear to be more self-centered than those in the past due to strong outside pressure. However, we should encourage people to know the importance of being caring and generous and to build a mutually beneficial relationship with others.
Are Modern People Becoming More Selfish?
Main comparisons | Contexts |
__76__ are changing | In the past people put caring, sharing and generosity in the first ___77____. |
Nowadays, people seem to be more ____78____about themselves. | |
___79___are changing too. | People in the past appeared to be modest and self-effacing(谦让的). |
People may strive to achieve their own __80___ at the price of their coworkers. | |
The author’s understanding | |
___81____ for the changes in author’s eyes | Fierce __82___ and great __83___on modern people may be responsible for the changes. |
The author’s ___84____towards topic | A relationship which can ___85___ two sides should be established. |