Ask most people anywhere in the world what they want out of life and the reply will probably be“to be happy”. Ed Deiner，an American psychology professor，has spent his whole life studying what makes people happy，comparing levels of happiness between cultures and trying to find out exactly why we enjoy ourselves.

Many people would say that this question does not need an answer. But Professor Deiner has one anyway. “If you’re a cheerful，happy person，your marriage is more likely to last，and you’re more likely to make money and be successful in your job. On average，happy people have stronger immune systems（免疫系统），and there is some evidence that they live longer. ”

So who are the world’s happiest people？It depends on how the word is defined. There is individual（个人的）happiness，the sense of joy we get when we do something we like. But there is also the feeling of satisfaction we get when we know that others respect us and approve of how we behave. According to Professor Deiner，the Western world pursues individual happiness while Asia prefers mutual satisfaction.

“In the West，the individualistic culture means that your mood matters much more than it does in the East. People ask themselves if they are doing what is fun or interesting. They become unhappy when they can’t do any of these things. If you ask people from Japan or China whether they are happy，they tend to look at what has gone wrong in their lives. If not much has gone wrong，then they are satisfied. ”

“People from Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries have the happiest culture，”Professor Deiner found. “The biggest cultural difference is to do with pride and shame. Hispanic cultures report much more pride and much less shame than others. ”

Income（收入）also makes a big difference to people’s happiness，but only at the lowest levels. Average income earners in the US are much happier than people in poverty. But millionaires are only a little bit happier than people on average incomes. It seems that money makes us happy when we have enough to feel safe.

   Many years ago，when I was in high school and working on weekends to pay for the extras that my family couldn’t really afford，I lost my wallet.

My old car needed gassing up. I prepaid and then put my wallet on the bumper（保险杠），and drove off. I hadn’t even had time to miss it when my phone rang and a man asked me if I had lost my wallet. I checked my pocket and to my surprise，I didn’t find my wallet. He asked me to tell him how much money was in it. He then told me where to pick up my wallet.

As I pulled into his driveway，I noticed his handicapped van（残疾人车）and the ramp going up to the house. I was thinking that there was no way this man easily got out of his van and got my wallet off the street. He had to pull over，get in his wheelchair，lower the lift，and then pick it up. I was just surprised. I felt grateful.

I knocked on the door and he told me to come in. I thanked him like 10 times for finding my wallet. I was stuck，though. While I didn’t want to insult him by offering money，I really felt like offering something. So I asked him if there was anything I could do to repay his kindness，and he said，“Just pass it on. ”I said I would be certain to do that. I was raised to be honest in any situation and I would have done so，without promising this fellow I would，but I wanted to repay his kindness，so I willingly promised I would.

When【小题1】（choose）a place for a vacation or a trip，you need to know what that place can offer，and you should also take other 【小题2】（factor）into consideration（考虑）.

The amount of money you【小题3】（spend）is an important factor and plays an important role in making your 【小题4】（decide）. For example，traveling to big cities【小题5】 London，New York，Paris is expensive. When you travel to Asia，the cost is usually【小题6】（low） and you don’t need to spend much on traveling.

Another important factor is 【小题7】 number of the days you want to spend. There are many places in the world that can【小题8】 (cover) in a week’s time. You need to arrange more time if you are to visit big cities，【小题9】 (especial) those with a long history and multi-cultures.

Besides，you need to consider whom you are going to travel with. If you travel with your family，you will need a place【小题10】 you can enjoy with your family members. If you travel with your friends，a city full of amusement parks，museums，shopping centers will be a good choice.

I am writing to express my thank for your help when I was in New York. It was very kind of you to offer me a comfortable but clean room in your house. I like delicious food cooked by Mrs. Green, that made my journey more unforgettable. Hopeful, I will have the chance to taste them again in the future. In addition to, I really appreciate you practised spoken English with me. I had made great progress in my spoken English.

I really hope you can come to China for a visit when it is convenience for you.

Yours sincerely,

Li Hua

How to Achieve a School Goal

Every person wants to achieve the goals set at the beginning of a new school year.

•【小题1】. When it comes to choosing your goal，make sure that it states exactly what it is that you want to achieve. If your goal seems too big，divide it into simpler，easier tasks.

•Write down your goal. You can write it in a journal or write it on a sticky note. Writing keeps your memory fresh and helps you clear up the useless things in your brain. Try to keep a journal or a diary.

•Break your goal down. By breaking your goal up manageable sections，it allows you to mentally make your way through the goal until the end of a year. 【小题2】 . Therefore you’re far less likely to give up or dodge your goal by taking shortcuts or refusing to do anything.

•【小题3】. Turn off all distractions（使人分心的事物）like TV，the Internet，your phone and every other devices you have at home. Keep emails，phone calls，texts，ete. to a minimum.

•Make it happen. 【小题4】 . Thinking is a useful start but thinking doesn’t do the heavy work and thinking certainly won’t move mountains. Go out every morning knowing what you need to do and then do it！

•Stay positive. Keep saying that you can do it. Stay motivated and be confident.

•Reward yourself. 【小题5】 . Every once in a while，if you complete a goal，treat yourself to an extra bar of chocolate or make time to read that book you’ve been wanting to read two months ago.