To a large degree, the measure of our peace of mind is determined by how much we are able to live in the present moment. Irrespective of what happened yesterday or last year, and what may or may not happend tomorrow, the present moment is where you are — always!

Without question, many of us have mastered the neurotic art of spending much of our lives worrying about a variety of things — all at once. We allow past problems and future concerns to dominate our present moments, so much that we end up anxious, frustrated, depressed, and hopeless. On the flip side, we also postpone our gratification, ourstated priorities, and our happiness, often convincing ourselves that “someday” will be better than today. Unfortunately, the same mental dynamics that tell us to look toward the future will only repeat themselves so that “someday” never actually arrives. John Lennon once said, “life is what’s happening while we’re busy making other plans.” When we’re busy making “other plans”, our children are busy growing up, the people we love are moving away and dying, our bodies are getting out of shape, and our dreams are slipping away. In short, we miss out on life.

Many people live as if life were a dress rehearsal for some later date. It isn’t. In fact, no one has a guarantee that he or she will be here tomorrow. Now is the only time we have, and the only time that we have any control over. W

hen our attention is in the present moment, we push fear from our minds. Fear is the concern over events that might happen in the future — we won’t have enough money, our children will get into trouble, we will get old and die, whatever.

To combat fear, the best strategy is to learn to bring your attention back to the present. Mark Twain said, “I have been through some terrible things in my life, some of which actually happened.” I don’t think I can say it any better. Practice keeping your attention on the here and now. Your efforts will pay great dividends.

1.The purpose of this passage is to tell readers ________.

A. people who are busy making plans are living actively

B. how to help others overcome fear

C. we ought to learn to live in the present moment

D. someone who only enjoys the present time usually wastes his time blindly

Best Answer:C

详解：答案C。从文章的粗心分析中可知，文章的中心思维在于告诉咱们大约学会掌控如今，日子在如今。C项的说法与此共同。D项说法与文章意思悖离，不对。A项和B项文章未说到，故也不对。

2. It implies that ________.

A. many people know how to combat fear

B. it isn’t necessary to fear for future

C. you can gain more happiness by postponing your gratification

D. some people make plans for their children in order to improve their own lives when they are elder some day

Best Answer:B

详解：答案B。文章第三段第三句指出，实际上，没有人能保证他或她明日将活着。作者在这一段的首要论题是告诉我们不必为将来忧虑，所以这句话暗示咱们为将来忧虑惊骇是没必要的。B项说法正确。文章最终一段尽管指出了打败惊骇的最佳战略，但并非说许多人晓得怎样打败惊骇，故A项不对。从文章第二段第三句可知，咱们未感恩地日子，盼望日后会非常好，但咱们并没获得非常好的夸姣，故C项不对。D项说法与文章意思不符，也不对。

3.“Many people live as if life were a dress rehearsal” suggests that _________.

A. they always wish to be an actor or an actress

B. they believe that their present life is prepared for their future life

C. they are always busy making plan for future rather than keep their attention on the here and now

D. they all have a guarantee that they will be alive tomorrow

Best Answer:C

详解：答案C。这句话呈如今第三段第一句，意思是许多人的日子如同在为将来的“正式”日子做预备。作者在这儿是承受上一段的内容。上一段作者指出许多人老是忙着为将来的日子做方案，而未掌控如今，成果错失了日子 可见，C项契合此意，作者暗示的是许多人的日子如同在为将来的日子做预备，并不是说这些人信赖这一点，故B项不对。A项误解该句话的意义，故不对。

4. “Dividends”in the last paragraph means ________.

A. division of your happier and misery life

B. benefits in return for your efforts

C. money

D. difference between your current state of mind and what you were

Best Answer:B

详解：答案B。dividends原意是“投入股份得到的酬谢”，这儿指“尽力得到的成果”B项契合此意。

5.Why are some people depressed and anxious day and night?

A. Because they fear they cannot pass their tests.

B. Because past problems and future concerns dominate their present moment.

C. Because the people they love want to leave them alone.

D. Because they make some mistakes in the past.

Best Answer:B

详解：答案B。从文章第二段可知，因为曩昔的费事和将来的忧虑控制了他们如今的日子，所以他们变得担忧。B项正确。A项、C项和D项文章均未说到。