關于幸福的神話

吉林 戴宏超

在作者看來，沒有人會一直幸福，但我們可以找到一個中間地帶——滿足。

Every year, more books on happiness are published. And every year, more people feel depressed because they do not consider themselves to be happy. They don't remember or know what it feels like, and instead,they feel guilty that they aren't as happy as everyone says they should be. This is really a sad state of emotional affairs.

The books, blogs, YouTube videos and advice columns will tell you that if you read, exercise, stay busy, help others, and increase your intimacy (親密) every day,then you too can be happy.

The simple truth is that no one can be happy all the time, which doesn't mean you have to be sad, angry, or depressed the rest of the time but that you can find a middle ground called contentment. This middle ground is a good place mentally and emotionally, and spending time there is a healthy choice.

Contentment is somewhere between satisfaction and peace. When you are in that place, the stuff of life can be going on around you, but you don't need to allow it to bother you. And that, my friends, is a very nice way to go through life.

I find contentment in walks, in writing,and in talking with my partners and reminding each other that our life is good,despite temporary setbacks or scary moments. Because I know about myself and I can respond differently. Doing this takes away stress and will keep you from losing your state of contentment.

If there is even one thing that puts you in a state of contentment—you do it regularly and early enough each day—it will help you go through any challenges you may have to face later.

Right at this moment, things around me are still a little out of my control—such is life—but I am feeling pretty good because I am actively living my purpose. I am now content, and that feeling will last the whole day through. You can do the same.

1. What does the author want to stress by mentioning “books on happiness” in paragraph 1?

A. People find it difficult to agree on what happiness is.

B. Such books are so popular that they are sold out very soon.

C. Happiness is something easy to gain in our daily life.

D. Experts find it useless to argue about the value of happiness.

2. When facing setbacks or sad moments, what does the author do?

A. He turns to such media as blogs.

B. He definitely communicates with his partners.

C. He adjusts himself and reacts positively.

D. He sees himself unlucky and feels depressed.

3. What is the author most likely to agree with?

A. Still water runs deep.

B. Health is better than wealth.

C. Enough is as good as a feast.

D. One good turn deserves another.

4. What is the author's purpose in writing the text?

A. To introduce a novel experience.

B. To advocate a proper life attitude.

C. To encourage studies on happiness.

D. To persuade us to work endlessly.

Difficult sentence

The simple truth is that no one can be happy all the time, which doesn't mean you have to be sad, angry, or depressed the rest of the time but that you can find a middle ground called contentment. 簡單的事實是，沒有人能一直快樂，這并不意味著你必須在剩下的時間里感到悲傷、憤怒或沮喪，而是可以找到一個中間地帶——滿足。

【點石成金】句中第一個that引導的是表語從句，第二個that引導的從句作mean的賓語；which引導的是非限制性定語從句，指代整個主句；doesn't...but...構成的是“not...but...”句型，意為“不是……而是……”；called contentment為過去分詞短語作后置定語，修飾名詞ground。