2023年《学位英语》试题（网友回忆版）

People are most likely to become depressed in middle age, according to a worldwide study of happiness. Andrew Oswald led a study on more than 2 million people from 80 countries to find if happiness was __31__ age. The results showed that we are happier towards the beginning and end of our lives, __32__ us most miserable in middle years. Thus people’s __33__ of happiness followed a U-shaped curve. The researchers also found the __34__ of mid-life depression across many groups of people, __35__ their socioeconomic status was, whether they had children in the house, or were facing changes in jobs or income. __36__ causes this U-shaped curve, and its __37__ shape in different parts of the developed and even often developing world, is unknown.Oswald said,“It looks from the data like something happens deep inside humans. Only in their 50s do most people emerge from the __38__ period. But encouragingly, __39__ you are 70, if you are still physically fit, then on average you are as happy as a 20-year-old. Perhaps realizing that such feelings are completely normal in mid-life might even help individuals __40__ this phrase better. ”

Passage One
Sure, learning has its own reward. But some kids respond best to cash. Andrew Waller’s grades soared (飙升)when his parents started offering $5 for A’s and $4 for B’s. “I think I would still be getting good grades, but this does help,” said Andrew, a 12-year-old.So you want your kids to get an A, eh? Are you willing to pay?
In fact many parents are considering what prize is appropriate to offer when kids get good grades. The rewards can get pretty high. Reagan Hawkins, a high school teacher in Texas, has had students who tell him they will get a new car for A’s. Their parents will give those students a used car if they get B’s. “That’s a problem, ” Hawkins said. “I’d rather see a student wanting to learn for the sake of learning than learn for the sake of a car. ”
But adults who promise money, gifts or privileges say their children study harder when incentives (物质奖励)are on the table. The lesson they hope to teach is that rewards require work. The final goal is to make sure that students develop a natural love of learning along the way.Some homes set punishments instead of rewards. Some of Jessica Tucker’s students have had iPods taken away or been told they can’t send “instant messages” to their friends online. It happened because they brought home C’s or D’s. Tucker, who teaches middle school in NJ, likes to work with parents on ways to help their kids improve. “ It is a real-world practice,” she said of awarding bonuses for excellent work. “But if you start it at a young age, it can take away the value of learning—learning to become a more cultured person, someone who adds value to the world. It’s a tough issue. ’’

Passage Two
There is a famous expression in English：“Stop the world; I want to get off!” This expression refers to a feeling of panic, or stress, that makes a person want to stop whatever they are doing, try to relax, and become calm again. “Stress” means pressure or tension. It is one of the most common causes of health problems in modem life. Too much stress results in physical, emotional, and mental health problems.There are numerous physical effects of stress. Stress can affect the heart. It can increase the pulse rate, make the heart miss beats, and can cause high blood pressure. Stress can affect the respiratory(呼吸）system. It can lead to asthma(气喘病）. It can cause a person to breathe too fast, resulting in a loss of important carbon dioxide. Stress can affect the stomach. It can cause stomach aches and problems digesting food.Emotions are also easily affected by stress. People suffering from stress often feel anxious. They may have panic attacks. They may feel tired all the time. When people are under stress, they often overreact to little problems. For example, a normally gentle parent under a lot of stress at work may yell at a child for dropping a glass of juice. Stress can make people angry, moody, or nervous.Long-term stress can lead to a variety of serious mental illnesses. Depression, an extreme feeling of sadness and hopelessness, can be the result of continued and increasing stress. Alcoholism and other addictions often develop as a result of overuse of alcohol or drugs to try to relieve stress. Eating disorders，such as anorexia (厌食症)，are sometimes caused by stress and are often made worse by stress. If stress is allowed to continue, then one’s mental health is put at risk.It is obvious that stress is a serious problem. It attacks the body. It affects the emotions. Untreated, it may eventually result in mental illness. Stress has a great influence on the health and well-being of our bodies, our feelings, and our minds.So, reduce stress ：stop the world and rest for a while.

Passage Three
I’ve been a vegetarian(素食者)for almost 10 years. As my mom can attest to (证实)， I’ve never been able to digest meat well; throughout my childhood, adolescence(青春期)， and early adulthood I suffered a lot from digestive problems, always with a bottle of medicine on hand.Everything changed when I became a vegetarian.I didn’t become a vegetarian to improve my digestive problems ( although they improved dramatically afterward). I became a vegetarian because I believe that the world’s hunger problems could be solved by the world adopting a plant-based diet. I became a vegetarian because of the horrible environmental practices attached to farming. And most of all, I became a vegetarian because I do not believe in eating animals； I never have.My husband and I became vegetarians together. We did a significant amount of research. We bought excellent books like Becoming vegetarian which provides extensive
information about proper nutrition. We learned about combining foods. We learned about potential nutrient problems. Neither of us went into our decisions blindly.Since being a vegetarian, I have never felt better. I eat a more healthy diet than many people I know. I feel strong. I feel good. And I know that I have been extremely healthy for ten years.I don’t wish to debate my vegetarianism(素食主义）. I have been doing it for decade.I know that I have made the right choice for myself. Everyone else needs to make the right decision for himself/herself.