D) A lack of various races.

5. Where might this article NOT be found? A) In one's personal blog. B) In a newspaper. C) In an entertainment magazine. D) In an academic journal. Passage One On July 1, 2000, Vermont became the first state in the country to legally recognize civil unions between gay or lesbian couples. Building on a state Supreme Court decision in Dec. 1999, which ruled that denying gay couples the benefits of marriage was unconstitutional discrimination, the ground-breaking law grants the same state benefits, civil rights, and protections to same-sex couples as to married couples. In Oct. 2005, Connecticut became the second U.S. state legalizing civil unions. New Jersey became the third in Dec. 2006, and New Hampshire the fourth in 2007. Same-sex unions have provoked enormous controversy on moral and philosophical grounds, but separate from these issues, they have raised a legal quagmire: can a couple of the same sex be married, given that the very definition of marriage is the legal union of a man and a woman? To solve this problem and to protect the legal institution of marriage, Vermont's legislators adopted a different term -- \thus be entitled to the same legal rights as married couples. Vermont was not the first state to attempt socially progressive legislation benefiting gays. In 1993, two men in Hawaii applied for a marriage license and were turned away. The couple brought their case to Hawaii's Supreme Court, which ruled in May 1993 that the denial of the license was equivalent to discrimination -- a violation of the state's constitution. In 1998, the Hawaii legislature took up the issue, and passed a state constitutional amendment barring same-sex marriages, thus rendering the earlier decision by the Hawaii Supreme Court unconstitutional. The progressive Vermont law stands in stark contrast to the antigay marriage laws of more than 32 states and the federal government. Just months before passage of the Vermont law, California -- with an eighth of the United States' population -- voted against recognition of gay unions. Proposition 22, passed on March 7, 2000, ensures that most state benefits of married couples are not extended to same-sex couples. California is not alone. In total, 32 states have passed similar legislation, and on the federal level, the Defense of Marriage Act was passed in 1996, barring federal benefits to same-sex partners. On the other hand, several states in 2000 defeated bills that would have banned state benefits for same-sex unions, including Mississippi, New Hampshire, and New Mexico. In 2008, New York and Oregon became two more states to recognize same-sex unions.

1. According to the passage, \ A) is an equivalent to \ B) only refers to gay marriages C) is a term first adopted in Vermont D) deprives same-sex couples of their legal rights

2. What is the possible meaning of the underlined word \ A) A difficult situation. B) A confusion. C) A challenge. D) A chance.

3. What is California's attitude towards same-sex marriages according to the passage? A) Most of its population approve of same-sex marriages.

B) It has banned certain state benefits for same-sex couples. C) It is the same with Hawaii. D) It has recognized same-sex marriages.

4. Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage? A) Same-sex unions are still barred in Hawaii. B) It is considered unconstitutional to deny same-sex marriages in Vermont. C) More than half of the states have passed legislation against same-sex unions. D) On the federal level, gay marriages are recognized.

5. According to the passage, _______ states have recognized same-sex marriages by 2008. A) eight B) seven C) six D) five Passage Two A good marriage is one that lasts. Where's divorce in the formula of a good marriage? Merriam Webster defines marriage as the legal relationship into which a man and a woman enter with the purpose of making a home and raising a family. With just its definition, marriage is not a simple thing to get into. It calls for a lot of hard work and effort to survive the stress of marital issues like finances, children, household chores, and more. Divorce offers a grand exit away from quarrelling and fights, from hurt and from other problems that marriage brings. On the other hand, it's also the bus that will take you away from those long and worthwhile conversations with your spouse, from the love and security your marriage offers. It's also the sign that the once brave person who got married is no longer as brave and actually became a coward that takes the easy way out. If you have been brave once, be even more brave and stand up for your marriage. Remember that considering divorce is not a key to a good marriage. There are keys to making your marriage a good one despite some marital clouds. Compromise plays an important role to keep couples together and have a good marriage. Compromise means arriving to an agreement after a dispute because each or both partners have given up their demands and arguments. They both recognized their parts on the issue at hand. With constant compromise, marital issues can be settled without even putting divorce in the picture. When someone feels the hurt is already too much, ending the relationship or marriage is a seemingly good option. But have you tried to forgive your spouse before you even thought of giving up on your marriage? Forgetting previous conflicts is hard to do since it leaves a mark in your memory. But dwelling on those negative emotions has a very destructive effect on you, your partner, and your marriage. Consider trial separation rather than divorce. Some time to cool down is perhaps what you need. If you and your partner just can't stop fighting over almost everything, rest. Give each other a chance to rediscover buried feelings of love, respect, and trust. It is also a great time to remember your good times together as a couple. It also might help you find ways on how to get those times back.

1. According to the definition given by Merriam Webster, which of the following statements is NOT true? A) Marriage is the legal relationship between man and woman. B) The purpose of marriage is to raise a family. C) Divorce offers a way by which people get away from the problems caused by marriage. D) A good marriage demands a lot of hard work. 2. Divorce _______.

A) deprives you of the happiness in marriage B) separates you from the whole family C) turns you into a coward D) is the key to get rid of marital clouds 3. What is \ A) It is the most important element of a good marriage. B) It denies any disagreement or dispute. C) Constant compromise makes divorce unnecessary. D) It requires both partners to give up their claims after a dispute. 4. Why is forgiveness so important in marriage? A) Because there is too much hurt. B) Because it helps you shake off the negative feelings. C) Because it is hard to forget previous conflicts. D) Because you will never think of divorce if you try to forgive. 5. Couples may turn to trial separation _______. A) if they fail to reach compromise in disputes B) if they need time to rest C) when they would like to recall good times D) after a dispute Passage One

Unhappiness used to be considered an unavoidable part of human existence. Knowledge and rationality can help us overcome this dilemma.

Most people oscillate between bursts of happiness and long periods of unhappiness. Only recently have we realized that happiness need not merely be an involuntary emotional response to outside events.

Unhappiness can exist only when our actions, perceptions or expectations are not in alignment with objective reality: when we do not understand what is really happening in Objective Reality, then what is Objective Reality?

Objective Reality is everything that simply exists. Nature is the small part of Objective Reality that surrounds us and people are just as much part of Objective Reality, as trees, the ocean or other galaxies.

If we could have total knowledge of Objective Reality, we would be in complete alignment with the world. Conflicts and problems would disappear because they only arise when our perceptions are in conflict with Objective Reality.

In order to understand Objective Reality, we need to have a view of the way the world really is. We need to separate relevant knowledge, such as Gravity and Probability, from knowledge that is irrelevant to human existence, such as the Big Bang. From cosmology to geology, from evolution to psychology, we need to provide ourselves with the clearest possible perspective of the way things really are.

Above all, he must understand that human \with reality. In order to be aligned with objective reality we need to separate the wheat from the chaff(谷壳). The more we dig, the more chaff we have to shovel, from politics to love, from economics to sex.

Persons who rely on religion for guidance through the hardships of life have to overcome an obstinate hindrance: They need to abandon the illusory comforts of a belief system that is filled with irrationality.

Many people are ineffective in recognizing the reality of problematic situations and thus can not choose between happiness and unhappiness. However, it is within the grasp of modern man to

acquire a thorough understanding of Objective Reality.

Yet, even with modern science, it is still impossible for man to have total knowledge of reality. Therefore it is not possible for him to be in total alignment with Objective Reality at all times. Conflicts and problems are unavoidable. Yet, by perceiving Objective Reality as clearly as possible, we can minimize our conflicts and thus optimize our happiness. 1. According to the passage, ______ can help people avoid being unhappy. A) education B) Objective Reality C) knowledge and rationality D) irrationality

2. What is the possible meaning of the underlined word \ A) Hesitate. B) Move back and forth. C) Change. D) Go.

3. Which of the following knowledge is NOT relevant to human existence? A) Gravity. B) Geology. C) Evolution. D) Big Bang.

4. By using the analogy of separating wheat from chaff, the author means that \ A) politics, love, economics and sex are just like chaff B) in order to get more wheat, we have to shovel more chaff C) in order to be aligned with Objective Reality, we have to know how to separate relevant knowledge from the knowledge irrelevant to human existence D) human 'problems' are actually the result of our misalignment with reality 5. Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage? A) A belief system is illusory because it is filled with irrationality. B) Many people don't know how to be happy because they do not recognize the reality of problematic situations. C) By perceiving Objective Reality, we can be the happiest. D) It is impossible for man to have total knowledge of reality. Therefore it is not possible for him to be in total alignment with Objective Reality at any time. Passage Two

New research from Harvard Medical School and the University of California, San Diego suggests that happiness is influenced not only by the people you know, but by the people we don't know. The study showed that happiness spreads through social networks, sort of like a virus, meaning that your happiness could influence the happiness of someone you've never even met.

\and another's,\

\this study shows that indirect relationships also affect happiness. We found a statistical relationship not just between your happiness and your friends' happiness, but between your happiness and your friends' friends' friends' happiness.\

Fowler and Harvard social scientist Nicholas Christakis, have been studying social networks for several years. Last year the pair made headlines when they reported that obesity seems to spread through social groups, so that your chances of becoming overweight are greater when your friends and their friends gain weight.

A related study, published earlier this year, found that smokers were more likely to give up cigarettes when their family, friends, and other social contacts stopped smoking.

Their latest research was designed to determine whether happiness spreads through social networks in a similar way.