Exam I1 LV

Complete each sentence with the correct word from the box. 

• access
• equal
• financial
• freedom
• poverty
• provide
• secure
• socialize

Match a vocabulary word to an item that best illustrates its meaning. 

Is There a Recipe for Happiness? 

A What makes us happy? Money? Friends? A good job? Are the answers the same for everyone? According to world surveys, Mexico and Singapore are two happy countries – but their people may be happy for different reasons.

SAFETY AND SECURITY 

B There are more than 21,000 people per square mile in the small nation of Singapore. People on the island work very long hours and regularly bring work home with them. The country has strict laws against smoking in public, littering, and even jaywalking. But according to the World Database of Happiness, Singapore is one of the happiest countries in Asia. Why?

C One reason for Singapore’s happiness is that the government provides the basic necessities, such as housing and healthcare. There is almost no extreme poverty in Singapore. The government “tops up” poorer people’s incomes so everyone can have a minimum standard of living. It also offers tax breaks to people who look after their aging parents. The result is a lot of closely connected families with roughly equal standards of living.

D People may not be happy about all the laws, but they are generally happy with the results – they breathe clean air, they don’t step in litter, and the streets are safe and orderly. So for Singaporeans, it seems that living in a secure, clean, and safe place may be more important than having a lot of personal freedom. Many societies are trying to find a happy medium between order and freedom. Singapore’s ranking on the World Database of Happiness suggests that the country has done a pretty decent job at it.

FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS 

E In many ways, Mexico is the opposite of Singapore. There are some parts of Mexico where people do not have a safe or secure life. Many people do not have jobs, enough food, or access to education. But, as in Singapore, most people in Mexico feel that they are happy. Why?

F One reason is the importance of social interaction. According to psychologists, much of our happiness comes from feeling that we are part of a larger community. Simple acts like smiling at a neighbor or having dinner with friends can greatly increase our overall happiness. People in Mexico socialize with family and friends a lot, and this adds to their happiness.

G But what about poverty? In Mexico, about half of the population is poor. However, most Mexicans live near people in a similar financial situation. If your neighbor doesn’t have expensive items – such as a big house or an expensive car – you probably don’t feel the need to have those things either. So money, by itself, may not be that important for happiness. What matters more is how much money you have compared to the people around you.

A MIXED RECIPE? 

H So the question “What makes people happy?” does not seem to have a simple answer. Security, safety, freedom, and socializing with friends and family can all play important roles. As the examples of Singapore

Review the passage before from Unit 1. Then read each question and choose the correct answer. 

16. What could be another title for this passage?

17. What does Paragraph B tell you about Singapore’s laws?

18. According to the passage, which of these is true about Singapore?

19. What is the purpose of Paragraph E?

20. Which of these is given as an example of socializing in the reading?

21. Which sentence has the closest meaning to “most Mexicans live near people in a similar financial situation” in Paragraph G?

22. What does the Paragraph H header “A Mixed Recipe” mean?

Is Laughter the Best Medicine? 

A For years, people have believed that laughter improves people’s health. Famous comedian Charlie Chaplin thought that laughing relieved pain. Recent research suggests that Chaplin may have been right, and that laughter can also remove stress, increase the function of your heart, and improve your immune system so that you can fight disease better. Of course, laughing can change your mood so you feel happier.

B Laughing changes the levels of hormones in the body so that a stressed person feels more relaxed. Under stress, the hormone cortisol increases and has a negative effect on the body. Laughing reduces the cortisol level, stimulates blood circulation, and helps the muscles relax. A hearty laugh brings in fresh air loaded with oxygen so the heart and lungs work better. Finding something funny also helps people put their problems in perspective and makes their problems seem more manageable.

C The body’s immune system benefits from laughter in several ways. A good guffaw, or strong laugh, can increase the number of antibodies and immune cells that fight infection. Antibodies in the blood attack harmful bacteria that cause disease. In addition, some scientists believe that negative thoughts are connected to disease. Laughter results in more positive thoughts that help the body respond better to infection.

D When a person laughs, natural pain-killers called endorphins are released from the brain. The endorphins create many changes in the body that help a person cope better with pain. A recent study tested people who had their arms in painful frozen ice packs. Laughter made a big difference in how long the research subjects could cope with the discomfort. In his writing, Norman Cousins, a 20th century American journalist, popularized the idea that laughter could help people cope with pain. In 1964, Cousins developed a serious muscle disease and was told he had only a short time to live. He used comic films to laugh frequently to control his pain and lived until 1990.

E Not all scientists are satisfied with the type of research that has been done on laughter and its health benefits. Some critics say that the research has depended on subjective responses – personal opinions of people involved in the studies. Participants simply described their personal reactions or feelings. There is a need for more laboratory research which tests the actual physical effects of laughter on the human body.

F Many research questions remain unanswered. For example, is there a difference in the body’s response when a person laughs in a social group that is experiencing a humorous moment together as contrasted to laughing alone? There is also the matter of basic personality differences. Some individuals simply have a greater sense of humor than others do. Will these people benefit more from laughing than more serious individuals? Clearly, there’s a need for more research, but in the meantime, it seems that we can all benefit from laughing loud and often.

Read the passage before. Then read each question and choose the correct answer. 

23. What is the passage mostly about?

24. Which of these is true about people suffering from stress?

25. Which of these describes a guffaw?

26. How does laughter make the heart and lungs work better?

27. What was Norman Cousins’s job?

28. Look at the word subjective in Paragraph E. Which is an example of a subjective response?

29. What conclusion can be made from the last paragraph?

Choose the main idea for each paragraph from Is Laughter the Best Medicine? 

30. A   For years, people have believed that laughter improves people’s health. Famous comedian Charlie Chaplin thought that laughing relieved pain. Recent research suggests that Chaplin may have been right, but that laughter can also remove stress, increase the function of your heart, and improve your immune system so that you can fight disease better. Of course, laughing can change your mood so you feel happier.

Which of these is the main idea for Paragraph A?

31. B   Laughing changes the levels of hormones in the body so that a stressed person feels more relaxed. Under stress, the hormone cortisol increases and has a negative effect on the body. Laughing reduces the cortisol level, stimulates blood circulation, and helps the muscles relax. A hearty laugh brings in fresh air loaded with oxygen so the heart and lungs work better. Finding something funny also helps people put their problems in perspective and makes their problems seem more manageable.

Which of these is the main idea for Paragraph B?

32. C    The body’s immune system benefits from laughter in several ways. A good guffaw, or strong laugh, can increase the number of antibodies and immune cells that fight infection. Antibodies in the blood attack harmful bacteria that cause disease. In addition, some scientists believe that negative thoughts are connected to disease. Laughter results in more positive thoughts that help the body respond better to infection.

Which of these is the main idea for Paragraph C?

33. D   When a person laughs, natural pain-killers called endorphins are released from the brain. The endorphins create many changes in the body that help a person cope better with pain. A recent study tested people who had their arms in painful frozen ice packs. Laughter made a big difference in how long the research subjects could cope with the discomfort. In his writing, Norman Cousins, a 20th century American journalist, popularized the idea that laughter could help people cope with pain. In 1964, Cousins developed a serious muscle disease and was told he had only a short time to live. He used comic films to laugh frequently to control his pain and lived until 1990.

Which of these is the main idea for Paragraph D?

34. E  Not all scientists are satisfied with the type of research that has been done on laughter and its health benefits. Some critics say that the research has depended on subjective responses – personal opinions of people involved in the studies. Participants simply described their personal reactions or feelings. There is a need for more laboratory research which tests the actual physical effects of laughter on the human body.

Which of these is the main idea for Paragraph E?

35. F   Many research questions remain unanswered. For example, is there a difference in the body’s response when a person laughs in a social group that is experiencing a humorous moment together as contrasted to laughing alone? There is also the matter of basic personality differences. Some individuals simply have a greater sense of humor than others do. Will these people benefit more from laughing than more serious individuals? Clearly, there’s a need for more research, but in the meantime, it seems that we can all benefit from laughing loud and often.

Which of these is the main idea for Paragraph F?

Complete the sentences by writing the simple present form of the verb in parentheses. 

Read Topic Sentence A and Topic Sentence B and decide which is a stronger topic sentence. Then choose Yes or No to respond to each bold statement. Write the answer like this: “Yes/No“

Read the sentence and find one word that is incorrect. Write the correct word. 

What part of your daily routine makes you happy and why? 

50. Write a paragraph about the topic. Introduce your ideas with a topic sentence. Then give reasons and details. Make sure all your verbs are correct.