Passage One
Questions 46 to 50 are based on the following passage.
Our society places a high value on physical beauty. Americans spend an average of over $722 each year on their appearance. One in ten Americans has tried to look like a star.
There's nothing wrong with trying to look our best, but excessive focus on physical appearance misses the soulful aspects of what it means to be beautiful. Trying to look like the magazine pictures can take us on a long ride away from what beauty is really about.
Many of us spend far too much time, energy, and money trying to polish an image of what we think will bring attention, love, and connection. In the process, we may fail to attend to ourselves in a way that would move us toward deeper intimacy, fulfillment, and meaning.
It may sound trite (老生常谈的)，but beauty is only skin deep; ifs not what brings love toward us. Just read about the latest Hollywood starlets whose seeming love turns into resentment and bitter court battles.
Outer beauty can be as much of a curse as a blessing. We may develop a habit of being so focused on maintaining a perfect appearance that we never cultivate the inner qualities necessary to sustain and deepen intimacy and connection. As I describe in my book, The Authentic Heart, it is the courage to be authentic that connects us in a deeper way.
While our initial attraction may be based, in part, on physical chemistry, it is the meeting of our inner worlds that creates the lasting intimacy and spiritual connection for which we long. If we redirect our attention toward cultivating inner qualities, we might find a magnetic attraction that moves us from something superficial to something that connects us to our depths.
The path toward cultivating inner beauty is really simple. But what is simple is not always easy. Not everyone will see us and appreciate us as we take the courageous risk to allow ourselves to be seen as we really are. But if they don't, it is their loss, not ours. eventually we'll find those compatible souls who appreciate us as we are.
46. What do we learn about American society from the first paragraph?
A) It sees lots of personal income wasted on beauty products.
B) It considers one's physical appearance very important.
C) It places a high value on the physical fitness of stars.
D) It expects every individual to look their very best.
47. What happens when people strive to look better?
A) They have to get prepared for resentment and bitter court battles.
B) They are better able to gain attention, love, and personal connection.
C) They may neglect to cultivate the inner qualities that matter more.
D) They feel much of their precious time, energy and resources is wasted.
48. What does the author say about outer beauty?
A) It may be inherited or cultivated.
B) It may lead to bad as well as good habits.
C) It may create connection or isolation.
D) It may do as much harm as good.
49. What brings about spiritual connection?
A) Meeting of minds.
B) Attraction at first sight.
C) Physical chemistry.
D) frequent interaction.
50. What happens when we take the path toward cultivating inner beauty?
A) We may find a route toward other people's souls.
B) We may be appreciated more by people around us.
C) We will meet people who value us for who we are.
D) We will be discouraged from revealing our true selve
答案解析：
46. 由题干中的关键词“American society”以及“the first paragraph”定位到第一段“Our society places a high value on physical beauty. Americans spend an average of over $722 each year on their appearance.”。第一段提到美国社会高度重视外在美，美国人平均每年在外貌上花费超过722美元，说明美国社会认为一个人的外貌非常重要，所以选B。
47. 由题干中的关键词“strive to look better”定位到第三段和第五段。第三段提到“Many of us spend far too much time, energy, and money trying to polish an image...we may fail to attend to ourselves in a way that would move us toward deeper intimacy, fulfillment, and meaning.”以及第五段“We may develop a habit of being so focused on maintaining a perfect appearance that we never cultivate the inner qualities necessary to sustain and deepen intimacy and connection.”。文中提到当人们努力让自己看起来更好时，可能会忽视培养更重要的内在品质，所以选C。
48. 由题干中的关键词“outer beauty”定位到第五段“Outer beauty can be as much of a curse as a blessing.”。第五段提到外在美可能既是福也是祸，说明外在美可能既有好处也有坏处，即可能带来的伤害和好处一样多，所以选D。
49. 由题干中的关键词“spiritual connection”定位到第六段“While our initial attraction may be based, in part, on physical chemistry, it is the meeting of our inner worlds that creates the lasting intimacy and spiritual connection for which we long.”。第六段提到虽然最初的吸引力可能部分基于外在的化学反应，但正是内心世界的交汇创造了我们渴望的持久亲密和精神联系，即心灵交汇带来精神联系，所以选A。
50. 由题干中的关键词“the path toward cultivating inner beauty”定位到最后一段“Not everyone will see us and appreciate us as we take the courageous risk to allow ourselves to be seen as we really are...Eventually we'll find those compatible souls who appreciate us as we are.”。最后一段提到当我们踏上培养内在美的道路时，不是每个人都会欣赏真实的我们，但最终我们会找到那些欣赏我们真实自我的志同道合的人，所以选C。
