In the past, people rarely discussed whether they were happy and tended to keep their feelings to themselves. Today, however, magazine artic...

In the past, people rarely discussed whether they were happy and tended to keep their feelings to themselves. Today, however, magazine articles offering advice on the pursuit of happiness surround us, and (18) __________.This group feels comfortable speaking openly about happiness or the lack of it and often equates happiness with success, believing that without success they amount to nothing. At the same time, more people appear willing to respond differently to life’s events. Janet is a clear example, (19) __________.She came to realise that she had made life difficult for herself through harmful patterns of thought, such as refusing to admit mistakes or criticising herself relentlessly.

At one point, Janet was a definite pessimist who believed that expecting little helped avoid disappointment. The turning point came when what she learned through her studies made her realise that she could overcome her doubts and become more content with her life. (20) __________.Change, however, creates uncertainty, and fear often keeps people attached to familiar unhappiness. Janet therefore advises against excessive self-criticism, noting that (21) __________.

Drawing on Epictetus’s view that it is our opinions rather than events themselves that trouble us, Janet argues that while we cannot always change what happens, we can change how we interpret it. She stresses that happiness is not a goal but a natural emotional response. Living in the present and focusing on positive experiences, she suggests, (22) __________.

[Adapted from Upstream]

Question 18:

A. the young generation now seems particularly unacceptable, largely shaped by their unhappiness

B. unhappiness is now largely shaped by the young generation, who seems particularly unacceptable

C. being unhappy now seems largely unacceptable, particularly among the young generation

D. the young generation now seems particular about unhappiness and finds it unacceptable at large

Question 19:

A. she also measured her happiness based on the discovery of a change in outlook

B. her discovery that a measure of happiness can bring a change to her outlook

C. discovered that a change in her outlook could be measured based on happiness

D. having discovered that a change in outlook brought her a measure of happiness

Question 20:

A. This also gave her insights into her outlook by changing her personal relationships and choices

B. This insight led her to change her outlook and her relationships and personal choices as well

C. Her outlook on relationships and choices was quite personal, which was changed by her insights

D. Her personal outlook was quite insightful, which also changed her relationships and choices

Question 21:

A. producing reactions among similar backgrounds can differ in the same events

B. similarity in reactions can differ among backgrounds reacting to the same events

C. similar backgrounds can still produce very different reactions to the same events

D. reactions to different backgrounds can still be similar in the same events

Question 22:

A. that allows happiness to grow         B. allowable for the growth of happiness

C. the growth of allowable happiness         D. allows happiness to grow