2023届高考英语三轮复习·冲刺押题·外刊阅读理解训练 (32)

2023届高考英语三轮复习·冲刺押题 外刊阅读理解训练32 ——改编自Kindness Can Have Unexpectedly Positive Consequences 【文章】 Happiness can be improved through being kind to others, according to scientists. Even small gestures such as buying someone a cup of coffee can boost a person's mood. However, people may not always take the opportunities to perform such actions. A recent study conducted by Nick Epley, a behavioral scientist at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, and his colleague examined this phenomenon. The study shows that people who perform random acts of kindness do not always understand how much of an impact they are having on others. They systematically underestimate how much these actions are valued. The researchers conducted multiple experiments involving approximately 1,000 participants who performed a random act of kindness with no expectation of anything in return. The specific acts of kindness varied from one experiment to another. For example, in one experiment, people wrote notes to friends and family "just because." In another, they gave away cupcakes. The researchers asked both the person performing the kind act and the recipient to fill out questionnaires. They asked the person who had acted with kindness to report their own experience and predict their recipient's response. The results showed that people consistently undervalue the positive impact of their kind actions. People's expectations of the recipient's reaction were consistently lower than the actual reported response. In other words, the acts of kindness had a more significant impact on the recipients than the performers believed. This research highlights the importance of being kind to others. Not only does it have a positive effect on the recipient, but it also benefits the performer. The act of kindness can improve the performer's well-being by boosting mood and providing a sense of purpose. Therefore, we should all strive to perform random acts of kindness whenever possible, even if we do not