The secret of being born lucky is a summer birthday, with May babies most likely to enjoy a lifetime’s good fortune, according to a study of more than 40,000 people. The time of year at which you are born has an enduring influence on levels of optimism and self-reported luck, according to research by British and Swedish scientists. May was the luckiest month in which to be born, with 50 per cent of those born then considering themselves lucky, while October was the least lucky month, with just 43 percent claiming good fortune.
The findings add to growing evidence that the phenomenon of luck is not all down to chance, but is affected by a person’ s general disposition. Other research has shown that whether people think themselves fortunate depends less on objective success than on having a “glass half-full” or “half-empty” approach to life. “What we are seeing suggests that something is influencing how people perceive their luckiness. My hypothesis is that people create their own luck by traits such as optimism, that luck is a psychological phenomenon rather than a matter of blind chance,” said Professor Richard Wise man, who led the research.
The pattern of the results, with those born in spring and summer reporting themselves luckier
than those born in autumn or winter, could have two potential explanations, Professor Wiseman said.
1. According to the passage, whether people think themselves lucky not depends on the following factors EXCEPT ______
A) one’s objective success    B) one’s general disposition
C) one’s attitude to life      D) one’s place of birth
2. According to the passage, those who were born in _______ regard themselves as the most fortunate. less is more大学英语课件
A) March      B) April      C) May     D) October
3. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
A) Optimistic people tend to be luckier.
B) Devoted people tend to be luckier.
C) Objective success is more important than one’s general disposition in feeling lucky.
D) People drinking more water tend to be luckier.
4. Which of the following words can best replace the word “trait”(Line 8, Para. 2)?
A) quality.     B) expectation.  C) belief.  D) idea.
is the best title for the passage?
A) Luck is Something Born.
B) Luck is Not All Down to Chance.
C) Luck is A Matter of Blind Chance.
D) Luck and Age.
Passage 2
Researchers say most of us make instant judgement about a person on the basis of how they look. They say facial features can determine whether we like or trust someone. It may even influence how we vote.
“Over the years, we have found that facial features affect the way many of us perceive others,” says Elisabeth Cornwell, a psychology researcher at the university’s Perception Laboratory. Studies suggest that people are less likely to trust those with particularly masculine features, such as a square jaw, small eyes or big nose. “They are perceived as dominant and less trustworthy,” says Ms Cornwell. “It doesn’t mean that men who look more masculine are less trustworthy—It’s just our first impressions. “ Those with less masculine features—larger eyes, a smaller nose and thinner lips—are deemed to be more trustworthy. “We are very good at processing these features quickly,” says Ms Cornwell.
The researchers are putting their science to the test at the Royal society’s annual summer exhibition in London. They have subtly manipulated the faces of Prime Minister Tony Blair, Conservative leader Michael Howard and Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy accen
tuating their dominant and trustworthy features respectively. “We have used a computer programme to change the shape of their face and features. We hope it will help people to understand our work.” So should we expect to see Tony Blair, Michael Howard and Charles Kennedy at the exhibition getting tips? “I don’t think it’s something they will want to try,” says Ms Cornwell. “It’s not really possible with television. We all know what they look like. I think they would be naive to try it.”
1. Why are people less likely to trust those with particularly masculine features?
A) Because they are bad-tempered.
B) Because they are perceived as dominant and less trustworthy.
C) Because they are perceived as tricky.
D) Because they are more stubborn.
2.  According to the passage, which of the following is perceived as a g masculine feature?
A) Larger eyes.          B) A square jaw.
C) A smaller nose.        D) Thinner lips.
3. What can be inferred from the passage?
A) Most of us tend to judge people by how they look.
B) Some studies show that people with particular masculine features are more dominant.
C) A candidate with less masculine features is more likely to win a vote.
D) Most of us are with masculine features.
4. Why will Tony Blair not want to change his facial features according to the passage?
A) Because he is so popular that everyone knows what he looks like.
B) Because he does not want to get tips.

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