快乐人生七准则

7 Rules for a Happy Life

语速：CET-4听力/ 词汇：六级（CET-6）偏易/ 篇幅：1006词/ 时长：6分27秒

刘立军 供稿

Part I.QUESTIONS

Listen to the talk and choose the best answer to each question you hear.

Q1. According to rule one, how should onedeal with negative thoughts about the past?

A.By focusing on the present and embracing the now.

B.By seeking professional help to overcome them.

C.By trying to go back and change what happened.

D.By holding onto the judgments of others.

Q2. What does rule two advise against whendealing with critics?

A.Completely ignoring all feedback.

B.Consulting your inner compass for guidance.

C.Being influenced by opinions that don't align with core values.

D.Accepting thoughtful critiques from caring people.

Q3. What is suggested as a natural healeraccording to rule three?

A.Immediate action to fix problems.

B.Forcing a resolution to issues quickly.

C.Constantly revisiting and analyzing setbacks.

D.Patience and allowing time to pass.

Q4. What does rule four identify as the "thief of joy"?

A.Setting too many goals.

B.Not acknowledging hurdles you've overcome.

C.Comparing yourself to others.

D.Celebrating small milestones.

Q5. In rule five, what is a person advisedto do when feeling overwhelmed?

A.Rush to achieve their goals.

B.Take a deep breath and stay calm.

C.Give up on unclear paths.

D.Pressure themselves more.

Q6. What does rule six highlight aboutpersonal power and happiness?

A.The importance of controlling external circumstances.

B.That happiness is conditioned by perfect life situations.

C.Taking responsibility for your own happiness.

D.That achieving goals instantly is necessary for joy.

Q7. What overall message do these sevenrules convey?

A.That happiness is completely out of an individual's control.

B.That major life changes are needed to find happiness.

C.That happiness can only be achieved with the absence of stress.

D.That adopting certain habits can increase one's happiness.

Part II.TRANSCRIPT

7 Rules for a Happy Life

What does it really take to live a happylife? Navigating a world full of stress, negativity, and uncertainty, the questfor genuine happiness can feel like a wild goose chase. But the truth is, itdoesn’t need to be so difficult. (Q1) Small, intentional changes in ‘how youthink and act’ can significantly impact your ability to experience joy.

This video highlights 7 simple rules thatanyone can follow to invite more happiness into their life. And whilepracticing these habits does take effort, those who embrace them oftenexperience the benefits of increased calmness, confidence, and a more cheerfuldisposition!

(1) Don’t Let Yesterday Define Today

All of us have had bad days. Times when itfeels like the world is against us or we’ve made mistakes that haunt us. It’sso easy to obsess over the past and replay upsetting events in our mindsas if we could go back and change what happened. But we can’t. Embrace the nowand make the most of today. Forgive yourself for past mistakes and releaseothers from your judgment. (Q2) When negative thoughts about the past creepin, consciously refocus your mind on the gifts of the present; the sights,sounds, and feelings available right now. Each moment is an opportunity tolive fully, so don’t ruin a good today by thinking about a bad yesterday.

obsess v. 唠叨；挂牵；念念不忘

(2) Tune Out the Critics

Everybody wants to feel accepted andvalued by others. However, seeking constant validation leads nowhere good.You’ll twist yourself into a pretzel, trying to be what you think others wantyou to be. Instead, make a habit of checking in with your inner compass. Whatdo you truly want? What principles matter most, deep down? (Q3) Learn torecognize when someone’s judgments don’t align with your core values.Their opinions might sting, but don’t let them sway you. Stay grounded inwhat you know to be right and important. Of course, this doesn’t meandisregarding all feedback; we all have blind spots. It’s wise to listen when acaring person makes a thoughtful critique. But ultimately, you are theexpert on you. Sift through the noise and focus on what resonates with yourtrue self.

align with 使一致

critique n. 评论

(3) Allow for Time’s Natural Mend

When life hands you heartache, or you facea setback, it’s hard to imagine that things will ever get better. (Q4) Butif you can summon the patience to wait it out, time will provide theperspective you need. With the passing days, months, and years, your woundswill slowly mend, the intensity of emotion will fade, and you’ll gain theclarity to understand why things happened the way they did. Trust that yourcircumstances will improve if you allow them the time to do so. Don’t try torush the process or force a resolution. Let things unfold naturally. As youmove forward, you’ll start to rediscover meaning, purpose, and possibilitiesfor the future. Obviously, time alone doesn’t make wounds disappear entirely.But when you’re patient and nurture yourself through the process, your resiliencegrows.

nurture v. 扶持；帮助；支持

resilience n. 快速恢复的能力；适应力

(4)Don’t Compare Yourself to Others

(Q5) Comparing yourself to others istruly a thief of joy. It will only leave you discouraged as you fixate onwhat you lack. There will always be someone who appears more successful,talented, or well-liked than you. But the only yardstick that truly matters isyourself. Focus on being a little bit better today than you were yesterday. Setsmall, achievable goals. It will allow you to witness tangible progress,promoting a sense of accomplishment. Because it’s not about outshining others;it’s about outshining your former self. Celebrate the milestones, no matter howsmall, and acknowledge the hurdles you’ve overcome. This shift inperspective transforms the comparison game into a personal evolution, makingroom for gratitude and self-compassion.

hurdle n. 难关；障碍

(5)Stay Calm

Life can feel overwhelming sometimes.There’s always so much going on, and it’s easy to feel anxious, stressed, orimpatient. But getting all worked up will only cloud your judgment. It’s okaynot to have everything figured out right now. Not everything happens accordingto our desired timelines. (Q6) When challenges arise, take a deep breath andstay calm. It will give you the mental space to consider your options andseek solutions. Don’t pressure yourself to achieve your goals instantly, butkeep moving forward. Maintain momentum in a positive direction, even ifthe path looks unclear. Progress will unfold one step at a time.

momentum n. 推进力；动力；势头

(6) Take Responsibility for Your Happiness

As much as we might wish to shape thenarratives of others or mold external circumstances to our liking, the realityis that control over these aspects is limited. The real power lies in how wechoose to respond to the unfolding scenes, regardless of the twists and turnsin the plot. So, stop putting conditions on your happiness; waiting for thatperfect job, relationship, or bank account balance before allowing yourself tofeel joyful. (Q7) True happiness comes from within. It’s not contingenton external factors but is a reflection of your mindset, perspective,and the choices you make. Rather than waiting for happiness to find you, takecharge to create your own fulfilment.

contingent on sth. 依情况而定的

(7) Look for Reasons to Smile

Life is a series of fleeting moments, bothgood and bad. But if you focus too much on the negative ones, you’ll miss thepositive moments zipping by. So, look for reasons to smile. Savor thesmall joys in each day, appreciate your blessings, and spread positivity toothers. When you make a habit of smiling, you’ll carry more lightness andoptimism into every situation. It not only brightens your day, but also adds asprinkle of joy to the lives of those around you. With enough practice, you canturn smiling into an instinctive response that shapes your perspective andexperience of the world. There you have it. These simple rules can make a realdifference in living a happier life. Following these guidelines can help youappreciate the present, see challenges in a better light, and open yourself upto more joy.

savor v. 欣赏

Part III.KEY

Q1. A. 细节题。文章第(1) 段中提到：“When negative thoughts about the pastcreep in, consciously refocus your mind on the gifts of the present; thesights, sounds, and feelings available right now.” 中文翻译为：“当消极的过去回忆悄然而至时，有意识地将你的注意力重新集中在当下可感恩的事上上；眼睛看到的、耳朵听到的、心灵感受到的。”因此答案为A。

Q2. C. 细节题。文章第 (2) 段提到：“Learn to recognize when someone’sjudgments don’t align with your core values... don’t let them sway you.” 中文翻译为：“当他人的评判与你的核心价值观不一致要学会辨别……不要让它们影响你。”因此答案为C。

Q3 D. 细节题。文章第 (3) 段提到：“But if you can summon the patience towait it out, time will provide the perspective you need.” 中文翻译为：“但如果你能够耐心等待，时间会给你所需要的视角。”因此答案为D。

Q4. C. 细节题。文章第 (4) 段中提到：“Comparing yourself to others is truly athief of joy.” 中文翻译为：“将自己与他人比较确实是快乐的小偷。”因此答案为C。

Q5. B. 细节题。文章第 (5) 段提到：“When challenges arise, take a deep breathand stay calm.” 中文翻译为：“当挑战出现时，深呼吸并保持冷静。”因此答案为B。

Q6. C. 细节题。文章第 (6) 段提到：“True happiness comes from within...Rather than waiting for happiness to find you, take charge to create your ownfulfilment.” 中文翻译为：“真正的幸福来自内心……与其等待幸福来临，不如主动创造自己的满足。”因此答案为C。

Q7. D. 主旨题。整篇文章通过列出七条规则，传达了采纳特定习惯可以提高一个人幸福感的总体信息，这些规则包括专注于当下、处理批评、耐心面对困难、避免与他人比较等。因此答案为D。

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