Question

“What is the meaning of life?” It is a question that I have asked myself many times over the years. Frankl once wrote, “The meaning of life is to give life meaning.” The best answer I ever came across was written by the great psychologist (心理学家) Viktor Frankl, who survived the Nazi concentration camps (纳粹集中营) of World War II.

When I was a young boy, I gave my life meaning by simply playing, running, swimming, laughing, and riding my bike.

When I went to school, I gave my life meaning by learning, studying hard, getting good grades and trying to make my mom and dad proud.

In college, I found meaning by deciding what I wanted to study and what career I wanted to prepare for.

When I was working as a teacher, I found meaning by helping open young minds to new ideas and old wisdom.

When I got married, I found meaning in protecting, providing for, and watching over my spouse (配偶).

And when I found out that both of my sons were born with mental illnesses (精神疾病), I found meaning in loving them, caring for them, and learning from them about love, patience, faith, and joy.

All we have to do is love ourselves and others. It is love that gives life meaning. It is love that makes life worth living. As I got older, I began to realize that meaning isn’t something that comes and goes. We are responsible for creating our own meaning.

1.From the story, we know that Viktor Frankl was _____.

A. a soldier B. a physicist C. a psychologist D. the author’s teacher

2.Which statement about Viktor Frankl is RIGHT?

A. He had been a teacher.

B. He had two sons with mental illness.

C. He had a hard life in the Nazi concentration camps of World War II.

D. He and the author were good friends.

3.When the author was a teacher at school, he found meaning of life is_______.

A. protecting his spouse

B. laughing, and riding his bike

C. trying to make his mom and dad proud

D. helping open young minds to new ideas and old wisdom

4.Paragraphs 3-8 were written to show _____.

A. how the author lived a meaningful life

B. how the author got through difficult times

C. that the meaning of life doesn’t change over time

D. how the meaning of life changes at different life periods

5.According to the story, who gives meaning to our life?

A. Children. B. Friends C. Parents. D. Ourselves.

Answer 1