题文
The Happiest Cities On EarthIf you’re looking for a cheery destination for your next vacation, consider these four spots and get ready to take notes on how to really live the good life.
Singapore
With one of the highest population densities（密度）in the world and residents known for being workaholics, it’s hard to imagine the city-state of Singapore having one of the happiest populations on earth. And yet in a recent survey, 95% of them said they were either very happy or quite happy.
They give their city high marks for cleanliness and safety—subways are pristine (洁净的) and unfailingly arrive on time, and police are seen as helpful and good at their jobs. What’s more, they feel they can count on their neighbours—all 5.1 million of them.
Arhus, Denmark
The residents of Arhus cheerfully part with 68% of their income in taxes, knowing that in return they will be guaranteed free healthcare, free daycare, and a top-notch (第一流的) education for their children.
An energetic city of 300,000 with a lively cultural scene and a diverse number of religions represented, the sense of equality (the range in incomes is narrow), as well as easy access to the nearby sea and surrounding countryside, make Arhus seem more like a small town.
San Luis Obispo, CA
According to a 2008 Gallup-Healthways study, people who live in San Luis Obispo are more likely than residents of other U.S. cities to smile and experience joy and are less likely to experience pain or depression. about 64,000 of the 260,000 people in the greater metropolitan area (都市区), located halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, volunteer at over 11,000 non-profit organizations.
Few journeys to work are longer than 10 minutes (one reason its members rank in the upper third for job satisfaction), so “it’s easy to be involved,” resident Pierre Rademaker said. Business signs are unobtrusive (不显眼的) by law, fewer than 11% of residents smoke—the lower rate in the U.S.—there are lots of bike lanes, and the city’s plaza draws crowds of people for free concerts on summer Fridays. What’s not to love?
Monterrey, Mexico
The people of Monterrey don’t enjoy high household incomes or access to good healthcare. Instead, there’s a profound sense of gratitude for the new political freedom enjoyed since the oppressive Institutional Revolutionary Party lost power in 2000—the first time in nearly a century—as well as an emphasis on social life over work.
Another reason Monterrey residents may be so happy is their faith in God and family, and their ability to tough it out through bad times.
“We laugh at sickness, poverty and even death,” says Basanez, a political scientist who lives in Monterrey. “We even have a holiday to celebrate death. November 2, the Day of the Dead, is one of the biggest holidays of the year.”
小题1:According to the passage, what do the residents in the four cities have in common?A．All the residents can make great fortunes by working hard.B．The residents there are mostly educators.C．All the residents enjoy enough material wealth.D．The majority of the residents are satisfied with their current life.小题2:According to the passage, we can infer that _______.A．the people of Singapore expect their neighbours to come to their help when necessaryB．the people of Monterrey even observe one’s death on a special day of a yearC．the residents of Arhus happily pay 68% of their income for their children’s education feeD．the people who live in San Luis Obispo have job satisfaction because they can enjoy good working conditions小题3:According to the passage which of the following statements is NOT TRUE?A．The people of Monterrey didn’t enjoy political freedom until 2000.B．The residents in Singapore feel happy because of its low population density.C．The people of San Luis Obispo can enjoy free concerts in summer.D．Arhus is handy to the seaside and countryside.小题4:What can we learn from the underlined part “the sense of equality”?A．The residents of Arhus have no racial discrimination.B．Arhus is considered as a family sharing everything with each other.C．There is no wide gap between the rich and the poor in Arhus.D．The residents of Arhus can depend on their neighbours to help. 题型：未知 难度：其他题型
答案
小题1:D
小题2:A
小题3:B
小题4:C
解析
本文介绍了世界上最适合旅游的，当地人满意度最高的四个地方，并且详细描述了这四个地方的特色。
小题1:D推理题。根据文章中对这4各地方的描述可知这些地方都有很多的特色之处，而且当地的人对于本地教育，环境等都很满意。根据the city’s plaza draws crowds of people for free concerts on summer Fridays. What’s not to love?和in a recent survey, 95% of them said they were either very happy or quite happy.故D正确。
小题2: A推理题。根据文章第2段最后一句What’s more, they feel they can count on their neighbours—all 5.1 million of them.可知他们都很信赖他们的邻居，认为邻居在必要的时候能够来帮助他们。故A正确。
小题3:B细节题。根据文章第二段第一句With one of the highest population densities（密度）in the world and residents known for being workaholics可知新加坡是世界上人口密度做大的国家之一。故B项的说法是错误的。
小题4:C推理题。根据横线后面的括号(the range in incomes is narrow)可知划线部分是指收入之间的差距是很小的。故C正确。
考点
据考高分专家说，试题“The Happiest Cities .....”主要考查你对 [政治经济类阅读 ]考点的理解。政治经济类阅读
政治经济类文章的概念：
要做好这类阅读，平时就要注意了解国内外发生的政治经济大事，掌握一定背景知识，对这类文章的叙述特点及内容安排有一定了解，还要扩展这方面的词汇。阅读这类文章，要抓住文章的核心，即文章整体和各段主要在说什么，也要注意段落之间的逻辑关系。
如何备考政治经济类阅读理解题：
【题型说明】政治经济类阅读文章是高考常选材料之一。该类文章时代气息浓郁，语言鲜活，但熟字新义词、超纲词及专业词语多，长句、难句多。政治类文章大多数是同学们感性趣的内容，读起来倒有似曾相识的感觉，经济类文章读起来就像是雾里看花，文章看完，一头雾水。再加之这类文章的命题侧重于词义猜测、推理判断和文章主旨，同学们对这类题材是望而生畏。
【备考策略】建立心理优势。针对不同体裁的文章，我们要采取相应的阅读方法和技巧。政治类文章多采用记叙文形式，我们可采取“顺读法”，以便抓关键语句，领会文章主旨；而经济类文章则多采用说明文形式，我们则可以采取“逆读法”，先读试题，再从文章中查找有用信息。若遇到的确难读的材料。千万不用着急，因为你觉得难，其他人也一定是同感。在高考前，我们就要有这种心理准备，高考试卷肯定有一、两篇难以阅读的材料。不过，我们平时可以有意识地从报刊杂志上找一些较难的阅读材料来阅读，以培养自己迎难而上的心理素质。
【答题方法】
1、寻找主干：
根据英语中五种基本句型结构，把句子中的主语、谓语、宾语、表语等主要成分找出来，其他成分如定语、状语、补语等则易于理解。找到了句子主干，句子的意思至少明白了一半。
2、剔除从句：
在一个长句中可能会出现若干个从句，在理解时，如果把各个从句剔除出来单独理解，然后把大意拼凑起来，整个长句的意思就会明白六、七分。
3、辨别分句：
一个长句如果是由几个并列、转折、递进、对比关系的分句组成，句中往往有表示这些分句关系的连接词，只要能弄清楚分句和分句之间的逻辑关系，再把各层分句的意思加以连贯，整个长句的句意基本上能跃然脑中。
4、寻找关键词：
如果一个句子看完，一点句意的感觉也没有，下下策就是抓住句中的关键词，通过关键词大体弄懂这个长句的意思。
