And its power over people's lives is fantastic. Optimists (乐观主义者) get along better than pessimists (悲观主义者) in almost every aspect of life, often achieving more and enjoying greater social success. Optimistic people are also less likely to get depressed and physical ills, says psychology lecturer Martin Seligman of the University of Pennsylvania. Psychologists believe that optimism and pessimism are habits we learn as children, and that our parents are our role models. When a water pipe broke and flooded your new home, did your father sigh, "Why did I pick such a terrible house?" Or did he declare, "Our contract guaranteed everything would be in perfect condition, so I'll get the builder to fix the pipe and make good the damage?" "Optimism is a habitual way of explaining failures to yourself," Seligman says. The pessimist believes bad events stem from permanent conditions and good events from temporary ones. The optimist, however, attributes failure to temporary causes and favorable situations to enduring causes. The pessimist allows a disappointment in one area of his life to spread the rest. Say he's laid off from work. He not only feels bad about losing his job, but also starts to worry that his marriage is in trouble and his children are out of control. The optimist doesn't let one setback affect his whole life. "So at the moment I don't have a job," he thinks, "but my wife and I are still close, and my kids are doing well at school." When things go wrong, pessimists blame themselves. If another driver dents (弄凹) your parked car, you chide yourself for parking in a "stupid" spot. The optimist considers it as an accident or looks for a new approach—"Next time I'll park where there are fewer cars." Luckily, learned habits can be unlearned. The latest research shows that optimism is a skill anyone can master. Here's advice to help you think positively. Firstly, challenge negative thoughts. "Think of failure as the result of a faulty strategy, not some character weakness," recommends Seligman. Secondly, acknowledge past successes. Taking pride in your accomplishments builds a sense of self-worth. Finally, set goals. Choose those goals wisely and be sure they're your own.1. What does the example of "a broken pipe" in Paragraph 2 show?A) Good habits are important to shape one's personality.B) Parents' behaviors influence children's personality. C) Living conditions affect family members' mood.D) Parents should teach children to solve problems by law.2. What does the word "chide" (Para. 3) most probably mean in the passage?A) Adjust.B) Blame. C) Explain.D) Complain.3. What conclusion can we draw from Paragraph 3?A) Pessimists are more likely to be laid off from work.B) Pessimists are more likely to suffer from troublesome marriage.C) Optimists are more likely to separate their work from their life.D) Optimists are more likely to believe that failures won't last long. 4. Psychologists seem to think that optimism and pessimism are ________.A) habits that people learn from their fathersB) essential qualities that people are born withC) skills that people can manage to acquire or abandon D) certain ways of thinking that strike people sometimes5. Which of the following is NOT advice given to cure pessimism?A) Building self-confidence.B) Setting practical goals.C) Overcoming character weaknesses. D) Having positive self-evaluation.

Positive thinking is a lot more than blind faith. And its power over people's lives is fantastic. Optimists (乐观主义者) get along better than pessimists (悲观主义者) in almost every aspect of life, often achieving more and enjoying greater social success. Optimistic people are also less likely to get depressed and physical ills, says psychology lecturer Martin Seligman of the University of Pennsylvania.  Psychologists believe that optimism and pessimism are habits we learn as children, and that our parents are our role models. When a water pipe broke and flooded your new home, did your father sigh, "Why did I pick such a terrible house?" Or did he declare, "Our contract guaranteed everything would be in perfect condition, so I'll get the builder to fix the pipe and make good the damage?"  "Optimism is a habitual way of explaining failures to yourself," Seligman says. The pessimist believes bad events stem from permanent conditions and good events from temporary ones. The optimist, however, attributes failure to temporary causes and favorable situations to enduring causes. The pessimist allows a disappointment in one area of his life to spread the rest. Say he's laid off from work. He not only feels bad about losing his job, but also starts to worry that his marriage is in trouble and his children are out of control. The optimist doesn't let one setback affect his whole life. "So at the moment I don't have a job," he thinks, "but my wife and I are still close, and my kids are doing well at school." When things go wrong, pessimists blame themselves. If another driver dents (弄凹) your parked car, you chide   yourself for parking in a "stupid" spot. The optimist considers it as an accident or looks for a new approach—"Next time I'll park where there are fewer cars."  Luckily, learned habits can be unlearned. The latest research shows that optimism is a skill anyone can master. Here's advice to help you think positively.  Firstly, challenge negative thoughts. "Think of failure as the result of a faulty strategy, not some character weakness," recommends Seligman. Secondly, acknowledge past successes. Taking pride in your accomplishments builds a sense of self-worth. Finally, set goals. Choose those goals wisely and be sure they're your own.1. What does the example of "a broken pipe" in Paragraph 2 show?A)  Good habits are important to shape one's personality.B)  Parents' behaviors influence children's personality. C)  Living conditions affect family members' mood.D)  Parents should teach children to solve problems by law.2. What does the word "chide" (Para. 3) most probably mean in the passage?A)  Adjust.B)  Blame. C)  Explain.D)  Complain.3. What conclusion can we draw from Paragraph 3?A)  Pessimists are more likely to be laid off from work.B)  Pessimists are more likely to suffer from troublesome marriage.C)  Optimists are more likely to separate their work from their life.D)  Optimists are more likely to believe that failures won't last long. 4. Psychologists seem to think that optimism and pessimism are ________.A)  habits that people learn from their fathersB)  essential qualities that people are born withC)  skills that people can manage to acquire or abandon D)  certain ways of thinking that strike people sometimes5. Which of the following is NOT advice given to cure pessimism?A)  Building self-confidence.B)  Setting practical goals.C)  Overcoming character weaknesses. D)  Having positive self-evaluation.