Text 1: SOCIAL ACTIVITY

Social activity was proven to be the number one source of happiness for people. Research showed that a
rewarding social life had a far greater impact on happiness than success, or wealth, or indeed any other
factor that psychologists have studied. The findings of the research suggest that you would be happier if
you spent more time socializing because social interaction is the most happiness-producing of all human
activities and happy people tend to be highly social.

There is little question that the need for human contact is fundamental to our survival. Human beings
are among the most social of animals. Like other primates, they band together in families and groups.
Studies have demonstrated how critical warm, loving contact is in the mental and emotional
development of children, and how necessary it is to maintain both physical and mental health
throughout the adult life-cycle. Our social nature is intrinsic to our success as a species. Social activity is
not only critical to our survival but it is also the basis of our most enriching and enjoyable human
activities, as well as the source of our emotional well-being and mental health.

It is widely documented in psychology that relations with others are extremely reinforcing-and the
absence of relations can prove to be equally devastating. There is research which shows how destructive
a lack of social contact can be. Studies in criminal personality, learning disability, marital problems,
emotional illness, drug abuse and so many other areas of human suffering find their roots in childhood
where close human contact was largely absent. Research on the effects of social isolation where human
contact is cut has also shown quickly such conditions can cause psychological problems.

Being with others satisfies deep-seated human needs and instincts, gives us a sense of completeness and
provides a sense of stability –something we both biologically and psychologically lack when we are
independent of the group. It helps us anchor ourselves and pull us out of our own mental world; it keeps
our own concerns and problems in proper balance; it keeps us from exaggerating our own worries; it
keeps us “down to earth.” Through others, we can balance our perceptions of the world and find
perspective. But mostly, being with others tends to soften and reduce the painful loneliness that is at the
existential core of every human life. In essence, we live for social contact –and we cannot live without it.

Strong human bonds and social interaction are fundamental to the human condition. Happiness, as we
have seen, is the emotional reward for success in meeting the challenges of our human condition. No
wonder, then, that success in the social realm is so essential to happiness.
1. The text mainly discusses _____.

a) what success means

b) when we need happiness

c) the effects of socializing

d) the reasons for loneliness

2. According to studies, _____.

a) people feel incomplete without other people’s company

b) people always complain when they get together

c) people feel more stable when they are by themselves

d) the key to human survival is the feeling of loneliness

3. According to the text, people’s happiness is basically shaped by _____.

a) an improved social life b) employment

c) success and social issues d) developing social behaviors

4. The sentence “... so many other areas of human suffering find their roots in childhood where close
human contact was largely absent” in paragraph 3 means _____.

a) children who have psychological and emotional problems can get over them in later years

b) the sources of psychological and emotional problems are due to a lack of socializing during the early
years of life

c) children who receive too much attention and love can develop psychological and emotional problems
later on

d) people who have psychological and emotional problems might have had happy childhoods

5. What does “demonstrated” in paragraph 2 mean?

a) shown b) defined c) delayed d) demanded

6. What does “intrinsic to” in paragraph 2 mean?

a) unnatural for b) free from c) external to d) essential to

7. What does “devastating” in paragraph 3 mean?

a) satisfying b) destructive c) strange d) artificial

8. What does “down to earth” in paragraph 4 mean?

a) disappointed b) selective c) realistic d) emotional

9. What does “they” in paragraph 2 refer to?

a) other primates b) families and groups c) human beings d) animals

10. What does “it” in paragraph 4 refer to?

a) our own mental world b) a sense of stability

c) something we both biologically and psychologically lack d) being with others

Text 2: EDUCATION AFLOAT

I have never believed that the only way to get an education is to sit at a desk with four walls around you.
The world is our classroom and our home -a 41-foot sailing boat- takes us there. My husband, Tom, and I
dreamed of sailing around the world even before our daughters were born. Their arrivals only increased
our desire to lead a sailing lifestyle –a way of life that has given us the opportunity for a lot of quality
time. Educating our two daughters while living afloat has added a wonderful dimension to our lives.

We started out years ago, with a kindergarten correspondence course for our daughter Kate. It is what
most cruising families use, I was told, but as Kate went through the entire year’s course in a matter of
two months, we realized that a pre-packaged school was not what she needed. Kate’s mind needed to be
challenged, excited, and sent into orbit. We devised our own program for the rest of the year.

Choosing our own course of study was great fun. We looked at where we should be sailing to during the
school year or where we would be stopping to work, and all sorts of topics of interest presented
themselves. For example, while sailing down the East Coast of Florida, we chose space exploration for a
unit of study. Our studies included both fictional and non-fictional reading, experiments, and writing
assignments. The finale was watching a shuttle launch from Cape Canaveral and visiting the Kennedy
Space Center museums.

Our math studies were fairly traditional but we found it easy and fun to put our math skills to everyday
use on board. How exciting it was to find out where in the world we were located by measuring angles of
stars and planets above the horizon or determining our position on a chart by calculating such things as
speed, time traveled and course!

All the while, both girls have kept a diary and a nature journal. My daughter Kate has been writing,
editing and publishing a monthly newsletter for the past two years. She sends it to friends and relatives
who are able to keep up with our sailing and school activities. It may also contain poetry, weather
reports, jokes, and artwork. She is quite proud of both her writing accomplishments and her computer
skills that she uses to produce her newsletter.

1. Why did they design their own program for their daughter?
a) Kate did not like the pre-packaged schooling program.

b) The pre-packaged schooling program did not create any inspiring effect on Kate.

c) They wanted to have fun while choosing their own course of study.

d) Kate failed to satisfy the requirements of the pre-packaged schooling program.

2. How did they choose their own course of study for their daughter?

a) They wanted to be traditional although they were cruising on a boat.

b) They asked their daughter to decide on all the topics she wanted to learn about.

c) Their sailing route determined the content of their daughter’s study.

d) They consulted the parents of other home-schooled kids when they had a chance.

3. According to the text, what is the most advantageous part of home-schooling on a cruising boat?

a) Girls can easily practice much of the skills they have learnt.

b) Girls’ knowledge of geography improves.

c) Girls learn to appreciate sea life and sea creatures.

d) Girls do not have to read books or magazines.

4. What does “afloat” in paragraph 1 mean?

a) out of a country b) close to schools c) in the sea d) away from home

5. What does “accomplishments” in paragraph 5 mean?

a) desires b) achievements c) intentions d) failures

6. What does “there” in paragraph 1 refer to?

a) our home b) sailing around the world

c) our classroom d) the 41-foot sailing boat

7. What does “It” in paragraph 2 refer to?

a) their own program b) pre-packaged school

c) the group of cruising families d) kindergarten correspondence course

8. What does “it” in paragraph 4 refer to?

a) having traditional math studies b) putting math skills to everyday use

c) measuring the length of the horizon d) finding out the location of stars