考研人数逐年增加，竞争之激烈使得我们不得不加急复习的日程。众所周知，阅读理解占据了考研英语二100分试卷的一半分值，而考研英语阅读文章大多来自英美国家的主流报刊杂志，所以如果能在日常就多多阅读这些文章，对以后读懂文章做对题目来说会大有裨益。
学习步骤如下：
1.不看汉语译文自己看一遍短文做理解
2.看汉语译文比对自己理解的意思与之出入
3.强化记忆重点单词（以记忆其汉语意思为主）
文段一
These two academics use an array of behavioral research to show that the most rewarding ways to spend money can be counterintuitive. Fantasies of great wealth often involve visions of fancy cars and extravagant homes. Yet satisfaction with these material purchases wears off fairly quickly. What was once exciting and new becomes oldhat; regret creeps in. It is far better to spend money on experiences, say Ms. Dumn and Mr. Norton, like interesting trips, unique meals or even going to the cinema. These purchases often become more valuable with time—as stories or memories—particularly if they involve feeling more connected to others.
短文翻译
这两位学术研究者通过一系列的行为研究表明：回报率最高的花钱方式可能是与我们的直觉相反的。说起巨额财富人们往往会想到名车与豪宅，然而购买的这些物质性的东西所带来的满足感很快就会消耗殆尽。曾经的新意和激动很快就退去，随之而来的是后悔。邓恩女士和诺顿先生认为钱应该花在一些有意义的经历上，例如有趣的旅行，别致的聚餐或者看场电影。这些经历会随着时间变得更有价值——正如故事和记忆一样——特别是如果这些经历包含了更多与他人有关的情感。
重点单词
counterintuitive [ˌkaʊnt(ə)rinˈtjuːitiv]
adj.反直觉的，反常的
extravagant [ɪkˈstrævəɡənt]
adj.奢侈的; 挥霍的; 铺张浪费的;
satisfaction [ˌsætɪsˈfækʃn]
n.满足; 满意; 欣慰; 令人满意(或欣慰)的事;
wear off
（感觉等）逐渐消逝，消失
purchase [ˈpɜːtʃəs]
n.购买; 采购; 购买的东西;
文段 II
This slim volume is packed with tips to help wage slaves as well as lottery winners get the most “happiness bang for your buck.” It seems most people would be better off if they could shorten their commutes to work, spend more time with friends and family and less of it watching television (something the average American spends a whopping two months a year doing, and is hardly jollier for it). Buying gifts or giving to charity is often more pleasurable than purchasing things for oneself, and luxuries are most enjoyable when they are consumed sparingly. This is apparently the reason MacDonald's restricts the availability of its popular McRib—a marketing trick that has turned the pork sandwich into an object of obsession.
短文翻译
这本书虽然薄但却有很多小诀窍可以帮助工薪阶层以及赢得彩票的人获得“货真价实”的幸福。如果大多数人能够减少他们的工作时间，花更多的时间和朋友以及家人在一起，少看点电视(看电视是平均每个美国人一年会用整整两个月的时间所做的一件事情，并且他们从中获得的乐趣几乎很少)，他们会过得更快乐一点。买礼物送给别人或者做慈善通常要比给自己买东西带来更多的乐趣，奢侈品只有偶然的买一回才能让你感到真正的快乐。这就是为什么麦当劳限制供应其传奇的烤汁猪排骨的原因——一种市场营销的手段，使猪肉三明治变成了让人们着魔的一样东西。
重点单词
commute [kəˈmjuːt]
v.(乘公共汽车、火车、汽车等)上下班往返，经常往返(于两地) ;
jollier [ˈdʒɒlɪə]
adv.非常; 很;
adj.愉快的; 快乐的; 高兴的;
pleasurable [ˈpleʒərəbl]
adj.愉快的; 快活的; 适意的
luxury [ˈlʌkʃəri]
n.奢侈的享受; 奢华; 奢侈品; 不常有的乐趣(或享受、优势);
sparingly ['speərɪŋli]
adv.很少; 细嚼慢咽地; 节俭地;
obsession [əbˈseʃn]
n.痴迷; 着魔; 困扰; 使人痴迷的人(或物);
