I was selfish as a teenager.I usually spent my time thinking about myself and taking care of my own needs.I let my older brother do most of the work around the house until he left for college.I let my mom and dad worry about our bills and problems while I read books, played, and lost myself in my own imagination.This didn't change even when I went to college either.I studied hard but only to make my own life better.Even when I started to explore my faith, it was only to increase my own happiness.
I married after graduation and decided to start a family.Of course, I had no idea what hard knocks reality had in store for my selfish soul.Soon I found myself unemployed, deeply in debt, and with a new baby on the way.I found out that life has little sympathy for spoiled people.In fact, all of the struggles I was going through were beating the selfishness slowly out of me.
Still, I didn't give up on happiness.I knew that there must be a way to find it.I finally realized, however, that it had to include more than just my own needs, wants, and desires.The answer began to make itself clear one night shortly after my baby boy was born.I got a bottle and held him in my arms.As I was feeding him I looked down and saw his big, innocent, trusting eyes.I smiled and talked to him.Then he smiled and I could feel my heart growing, expanding with love.I felt such peace and joy.At that moment I had a hint of the truth: it is by growing our hearts with love that we find our happiness.
Carolyn Arends wrote: “The more people you let into your heart, the bigger your heart gets.The more love you get, the more love you have to give.It just keeps growing.” So, keep loving, keep living and keep caring.Keep growing your heart today, tomorrow, and always.
语篇解读：本文是一篇夹叙夹议文。作者讲述了自己从一个自私的人变为一个心中对他人有爱的人的成长经历，明白了“爱他人是获得幸福的方法”的道理。
1．What do we know about the author from the first paragraph?
A．He often helped his brother with housework.
B．He studied hard for his family.
C．He was concerned about his family.
D．He put his own needs above others'.
解析：选D 推理判断题。根据第一段中的I usually spent my time thinking about myself and taking care of my own needs.可知，作者在青少年时期较为自私，行为处事总是只考虑自己，几乎不为家人考虑，故选D项。
2．What did the author realize after he suffered in life?
A．Spoiled people can't survive the hardship of life.
B．Spoiled people are never happy in life.
C．Life is cruel to spoiled people.
D．Selfishness is helpful.
解析：选C 推理判断题。根据第二段中的Soon I found myself unemployed, deeply in debt, and with a new baby on the way.I found out that life has little sympathy for spoiled people.可推断出，作者在遭遇了人生变故后，意识到生活对被宠坏的人是残酷的，故选C项。
3．What can be inferred from the passage?
A．The author loved kids.
B．The author often fed his baby.
C．The author realized the importance of happiness.
D．When caring for his baby, the author got inspired.
解析：选D 推理判断题。根据第三段中的As I was feeding him I looked down and saw his big, innocent, trusting eyes.I smiled and talked to him.Then he smiled and I could feel my heart growing, expanding with love.I felt such peace and joy.At that moment I had a hint of the truth: it is by growing our hearts with love that we find our happiness.可知，作者是在照料孩子的过程中受到了启示，了解到通往幸福的途径是心中充满爱，故选D项。
4．Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?
A．Loving Others, a Way to Happiness
B．The Elder One Grows, the More He Gets
C．Help Others, Help Oneself
D．Keep Growing to Live a Happy Life
解析：选A 标题归纳题。作者通过讲述自己从一个自私的人变为一个心中对他人有爱的人的成长经历，明白了“爱他人是获得幸福的方法”的道理，故A项(爱别人，一条幸福之路)是最佳标题。
