Wealth and Discontent
If your sense of well-being fluctuates with stock market, you might be comforted to know that money can’t buy you happiness anyway.
In one American study conducted in 1993, level of income was shown to have an inverse relation to happiness: The group whose income had declined was happier overall than the group whose income had increased. A soon-to-be published review of the hundreds of studies on this subject supports the 1993 findings.
In developed countries, the correlation between income and happiness is close to zero and sometimes negative.
With a correlation between level of income and happiness somewhere between 0.12 and 0.18, the United States is near the bottom of the list; that, factors other than income are overwhelmingly more important in explaining happiness.
Also, as our material wealth increases, the gap between income and satisfaction with life seems to be widening. Predictably, money has its most positive effect on the poor, but once a person has achieved a minimal standard of living level of income has almost nothing to do with happiness.
Close relationship, rather than money, is the key to happiness. Indeed, the number of one’s personal friends is a much better indicator of overall satisfaction with life than personal wealth. One stands a better chance of achieving a satisfying life by spending time with friends and family than by striving for higher income. Incidentally, in the US, as people become richer, the probability of divorce increases.
Our need for companionship is partly biological. All primates respond with pleasure to demonstrations of affection and with pain to loss of companionship. Isolated monkeys will sacrifice food just for the glimpses of another monkey. By ignoring our biologically programmed need for each other, we risk physical and mental distress.
A recent cross-national study of mental depression in the US found that in advanced countries, there is a rising tide of major depression. Teenage suicides have increased in recent decades in almost all advanced countries. Moreover, in the US since World War II, there has been an actual decline in the proportion of people who report themselves to be “very unhappy.”
You can easily test the claim that companionship exceeds wealth as a source of happiness. Ask yourself which has a greater influence on your satisfaction with life: your income or the affection of your intimate companions and the well-being of your children? Conversely, which would make you more depressed: a reduction in salary or a divorce and isolation from your friends?
Capitalism succeeds in creating material riches, but it is less successful in building companionable societies and protecting family integrity. But developing countries still have much work to do in pursuing material wealth, where a rise in productivity still greatly increases happiness. For poorer countries, the time is not yet ripe for a shift in priorities from wealth accumulation to companionship.
Can we afford to believe that the pursuit of material gain will lead to self-fulfillment? We should continue to enjoy our wealth in good company, or else we may find that it is not satisfying.
1. According to the 3rd paragraph, which of the following is true in developed countries?
A. the more money one has, the unhappier he becomes.
B. income and happiness are closely related
C. the richer one is, the happier he is
D. more money does not necessarily make one happy
2. Which of the following statements best describes the situation in the US, according to the 1993 study?
A. most people think personal wealth can make them happy
B. most people do not think wealth has much to do with happiness
C. money is an important factor in making one happy
D. happiness can only be explained in terms of income
3. In the author’s opinion, which of the following statements is not true?
A. wealth means differently to the poor and the rich
B. money makes the poor and the rich equally happy
C. money means less to a person as he achieves a higher standard of living
D. money means more to the poor than to the rich
4 According to the author, which of the following is most likely to share our biological need for companionship besides the monkey?
A. a swallow
B. a pig
C. an ape
D. a dog
5. Which of the following is the least likely cause of one’s unhappiness in advanced countries?
A. loss of friends
B. Reduction of income
C. Death of a family member
D. Divorce
在線作業(yè)參考答案：
1. D。 分析： 問題問“根據(jù)第3段的內(nèi)容來看， 下列哪種說法是發(fā)達(dá)國家中存在的情況?”。從語意上看A和C都太絕對， 因此肯定不是答案; 根據(jù)文章開頭的句子(提示： 文章開頭的句子常常起著直接點(diǎn)明文章主題的作用)： If your sense of well-being fluctuates with stock market， you might be comforted to know that money can’t buy you happiness anyway.(你會(huì)意識到錢不能買來快樂)，判斷D很可能是答案。 而實(shí)際上第3段中只有一句話： In developed countries, the correlation(A 級) between income and happiness is close to zero and sometimes negative. 該句說“在發(fā)達(dá)國家里， 收入和快樂之間的關(guān)系接近零， 而有時(shí)候還成為了負(fù)數(shù)”， 因此否定了B(收入和快樂相關(guān))， 所以答案是D。
2。 B。 分析： 問題說“根據(jù)1993年進(jìn)行的研究， 下列哪種說法能地陳述美國的狀況?”。 選項(xiàng)中B的內(nèi)容與文章主題貼近(大多數(shù)人不認(rèn)為財(cái)富與快樂有很大的關(guān)系)，因此推測B很可能是答案。 利用問題句中的特征詞1993 study作為答案線索，這樣在文章中找到答案相關(guān)句：(第2段) In one American study conducted in 1993, level of income was shown to have an inverse(A) relation to happiness: the group whose income had declined was happier overall than the group whose income had increased. 該句說“1993年在美國進(jìn)行的一項(xiàng)研究表明，收入的水平與快樂呈現(xiàn)出相反的關(guān)系： 收入下降的人總的來說比收入增加的人更快樂。”， 根據(jù)這句話的內(nèi)容可以否定A， C和D， 因此與文章主題內(nèi)容一致的B是答案。
3 B。 分析：問題句說“根據(jù)作者的觀點(diǎn)來看， 下列哪種說法不正確?”被選項(xiàng)中多處提到了“富人”和“窮人”， 因此利用“the poor和 the rich”作為答案線索， 這樣在文章中找到了答案相關(guān)句：(第5段)Predictably, money has its most positive effect on the poor, but once a person achieved a minimal standard of living， level of income has almost nothing to do with happiness. 該句說“可以預(yù)言的是，錢對窮人有的影響” 從該句內(nèi)容可以推出這樣的語意： “錢對窮人和富人的影響是不同的(A)”， “錢對窮人具有的意義比對富人更大(D)”， 該句還說“ 但是一旦人達(dá)到了最低生活水平，他的收入水平與快樂就幾乎沒有什么關(guān)系了?！痹摬糠謨?nèi)容與C一致(當(dāng)一個(gè)人達(dá)到了更高一些的生活水平， 錢對他來說所具有的意義就更小些)， 因此答案是B。
4.C. 分析： 問題句說“根據(jù)作者的說法，除了猴子以外，下列哪種動(dòng)物最有可能具有我們對友誼的需要?”根據(jù)常識來看，因?yàn)樵澈?C)與猴子最接近， 所以推測C最可能是答案。 利用問題句中的特征詞monkey和問題句中的新信息詞companionship作為答案線索， 這樣找到答案相關(guān)句： Our need for companionship is partly biological.該句說“我們對友誼的需要有部分原因是出于動(dòng)物的天性?！?(All primates (靈長目動(dòng)物)respond with pleasure to demonstrations of affection and with pain to loss of companionship. (該句說“所有靈長目動(dòng)物當(dāng)其他動(dòng)物對它表示出好感時(shí)，它會(huì)感到快樂， 它對友誼的失去會(huì)感到痛苦”)) Isolated monkeys will sacrifice food just for the glimpses of another monkey. 該句說“孤獨(dú)的猴子會(huì)為了讓其他的伙伴多看自己一眼， 可以拱手讓出吃的食物?！苯Y(jié)合段首句的內(nèi)容來看， 這個(gè)句子是用作具體的例子例證“我們對友誼的需要有部分原因是出于動(dòng)物的天性?！保袛嘣摼淝熬渲刑岬降撵`長目(猴子也屬于靈長目)也應(yīng)該是用來例證的， 因此判斷靈長目都應(yīng)該具有對友誼的生理需要， 因此判斷C(猿猴)是答案。
5 B。分析: 問題句說“下列拿個(gè)選項(xiàng)是最不可能造成生活在發(fā)達(dá)國家的人感到不快樂的原因?”。利用問題句中的新信息詞advanced countries作為答案線索， 這樣找到答案相關(guān)句： Capitalism(advanced countries) succeeded in creating material riches， but it is less successful in building companionable societies and protecting family integrity. (But developing countries still have much work to do in pursuing material wealth, where a rise in productivity still greatly increases happiness. For poor countries, the time is not yet ripe for a shift in priorities from wealth accumulation to companionship. 該句說“資本主義(制度)(借助后句中分別出現(xiàn)的‘發(fā)展中國家’和‘窮國’， 判斷Capitalism是指“發(fā)達(dá)國家”)成功地創(chuàng)造了物質(zhì)財(cái)富， 但是它在建立和諧社會(huì)和保護(hù)家庭的完整上就不太成功” ， 從這個(gè)句子可以推出結(jié)論：資本主義國家的不足之處： 不能很好地維持社會(huì)的和諧和家庭的完整應(yīng)該是造成資本主義國家的人民不快樂的原因， 選項(xiàng)A， C和D 都涉及到社會(huì)和家庭，因此判斷B(收入的減少) 是答案。
If your sense of well-being fluctuates with stock market, you might be comforted to know that money can’t buy you happiness anyway.
In one American study conducted in 1993, level of income was shown to have an inverse relation to happiness: The group whose income had declined was happier overall than the group whose income had increased. A soon-to-be published review of the hundreds of studies on this subject supports the 1993 findings.
In developed countries, the correlation between income and happiness is close to zero and sometimes negative.
With a correlation between level of income and happiness somewhere between 0.12 and 0.18, the United States is near the bottom of the list; that, factors other than income are overwhelmingly more important in explaining happiness.
Also, as our material wealth increases, the gap between income and satisfaction with life seems to be widening. Predictably, money has its most positive effect on the poor, but once a person has achieved a minimal standard of living level of income has almost nothing to do with happiness.
Close relationship, rather than money, is the key to happiness. Indeed, the number of one’s personal friends is a much better indicator of overall satisfaction with life than personal wealth. One stands a better chance of achieving a satisfying life by spending time with friends and family than by striving for higher income. Incidentally, in the US, as people become richer, the probability of divorce increases.
Our need for companionship is partly biological. All primates respond with pleasure to demonstrations of affection and with pain to loss of companionship. Isolated monkeys will sacrifice food just for the glimpses of another monkey. By ignoring our biologically programmed need for each other, we risk physical and mental distress.
A recent cross-national study of mental depression in the US found that in advanced countries, there is a rising tide of major depression. Teenage suicides have increased in recent decades in almost all advanced countries. Moreover, in the US since World War II, there has been an actual decline in the proportion of people who report themselves to be “very unhappy.”
You can easily test the claim that companionship exceeds wealth as a source of happiness. Ask yourself which has a greater influence on your satisfaction with life: your income or the affection of your intimate companions and the well-being of your children? Conversely, which would make you more depressed: a reduction in salary or a divorce and isolation from your friends?
Capitalism succeeds in creating material riches, but it is less successful in building companionable societies and protecting family integrity. But developing countries still have much work to do in pursuing material wealth, where a rise in productivity still greatly increases happiness. For poorer countries, the time is not yet ripe for a shift in priorities from wealth accumulation to companionship.
Can we afford to believe that the pursuit of material gain will lead to self-fulfillment? We should continue to enjoy our wealth in good company, or else we may find that it is not satisfying.
1. According to the 3rd paragraph, which of the following is true in developed countries?
A. the more money one has, the unhappier he becomes.
B. income and happiness are closely related
C. the richer one is, the happier he is
D. more money does not necessarily make one happy
2. Which of the following statements best describes the situation in the US, according to the 1993 study?
A. most people think personal wealth can make them happy
B. most people do not think wealth has much to do with happiness
C. money is an important factor in making one happy
D. happiness can only be explained in terms of income
3. In the author’s opinion, which of the following statements is not true?
A. wealth means differently to the poor and the rich
B. money makes the poor and the rich equally happy
C. money means less to a person as he achieves a higher standard of living
D. money means more to the poor than to the rich
4 According to the author, which of the following is most likely to share our biological need for companionship besides the monkey?
A. a swallow
B. a pig
C. an ape
D. a dog
5. Which of the following is the least likely cause of one’s unhappiness in advanced countries?
A. loss of friends
B. Reduction of income
C. Death of a family member
D. Divorce
在線作業(yè)參考答案：
1. D。 分析： 問題問“根據(jù)第3段的內(nèi)容來看， 下列哪種說法是發(fā)達(dá)國家中存在的情況?”。從語意上看A和C都太絕對， 因此肯定不是答案; 根據(jù)文章開頭的句子(提示： 文章開頭的句子常常起著直接點(diǎn)明文章主題的作用)： If your sense of well-being fluctuates with stock market， you might be comforted to know that money can’t buy you happiness anyway.(你會(huì)意識到錢不能買來快樂)，判斷D很可能是答案。 而實(shí)際上第3段中只有一句話： In developed countries, the correlation(A 級) between income and happiness is close to zero and sometimes negative. 該句說“在發(fā)達(dá)國家里， 收入和快樂之間的關(guān)系接近零， 而有時(shí)候還成為了負(fù)數(shù)”， 因此否定了B(收入和快樂相關(guān))， 所以答案是D。
2。 B。 分析： 問題說“根據(jù)1993年進(jìn)行的研究， 下列哪種說法能地陳述美國的狀況?”。 選項(xiàng)中B的內(nèi)容與文章主題貼近(大多數(shù)人不認(rèn)為財(cái)富與快樂有很大的關(guān)系)，因此推測B很可能是答案。 利用問題句中的特征詞1993 study作為答案線索，這樣在文章中找到答案相關(guān)句：(第2段) In one American study conducted in 1993, level of income was shown to have an inverse(A) relation to happiness: the group whose income had declined was happier overall than the group whose income had increased. 該句說“1993年在美國進(jìn)行的一項(xiàng)研究表明，收入的水平與快樂呈現(xiàn)出相反的關(guān)系： 收入下降的人總的來說比收入增加的人更快樂。”， 根據(jù)這句話的內(nèi)容可以否定A， C和D， 因此與文章主題內(nèi)容一致的B是答案。
3 B。 分析：問題句說“根據(jù)作者的觀點(diǎn)來看， 下列哪種說法不正確?”被選項(xiàng)中多處提到了“富人”和“窮人”， 因此利用“the poor和 the rich”作為答案線索， 這樣在文章中找到了答案相關(guān)句：(第5段)Predictably, money has its most positive effect on the poor, but once a person achieved a minimal standard of living， level of income has almost nothing to do with happiness. 該句說“可以預(yù)言的是，錢對窮人有的影響” 從該句內(nèi)容可以推出這樣的語意： “錢對窮人和富人的影響是不同的(A)”， “錢對窮人具有的意義比對富人更大(D)”， 該句還說“ 但是一旦人達(dá)到了最低生活水平，他的收入水平與快樂就幾乎沒有什么關(guān)系了?！痹摬糠謨?nèi)容與C一致(當(dāng)一個(gè)人達(dá)到了更高一些的生活水平， 錢對他來說所具有的意義就更小些)， 因此答案是B。
4.C. 分析： 問題句說“根據(jù)作者的說法，除了猴子以外，下列哪種動(dòng)物最有可能具有我們對友誼的需要?”根據(jù)常識來看，因?yàn)樵澈?C)與猴子最接近， 所以推測C最可能是答案。 利用問題句中的特征詞monkey和問題句中的新信息詞companionship作為答案線索， 這樣找到答案相關(guān)句： Our need for companionship is partly biological.該句說“我們對友誼的需要有部分原因是出于動(dòng)物的天性?！?(All primates (靈長目動(dòng)物)respond with pleasure to demonstrations of affection and with pain to loss of companionship. (該句說“所有靈長目動(dòng)物當(dāng)其他動(dòng)物對它表示出好感時(shí)，它會(huì)感到快樂， 它對友誼的失去會(huì)感到痛苦”)) Isolated monkeys will sacrifice food just for the glimpses of another monkey. 該句說“孤獨(dú)的猴子會(huì)為了讓其他的伙伴多看自己一眼， 可以拱手讓出吃的食物?！苯Y(jié)合段首句的內(nèi)容來看， 這個(gè)句子是用作具體的例子例證“我們對友誼的需要有部分原因是出于動(dòng)物的天性?！保袛嘣摼淝熬渲刑岬降撵`長目(猴子也屬于靈長目)也應(yīng)該是用來例證的， 因此判斷靈長目都應(yīng)該具有對友誼的生理需要， 因此判斷C(猿猴)是答案。
5 B。分析: 問題句說“下列拿個(gè)選項(xiàng)是最不可能造成生活在發(fā)達(dá)國家的人感到不快樂的原因?”。利用問題句中的新信息詞advanced countries作為答案線索， 這樣找到答案相關(guān)句： Capitalism(advanced countries) succeeded in creating material riches， but it is less successful in building companionable societies and protecting family integrity. (But developing countries still have much work to do in pursuing material wealth, where a rise in productivity still greatly increases happiness. For poor countries, the time is not yet ripe for a shift in priorities from wealth accumulation to companionship. 該句說“資本主義(制度)(借助后句中分別出現(xiàn)的‘發(fā)展中國家’和‘窮國’， 判斷Capitalism是指“發(fā)達(dá)國家”)成功地創(chuàng)造了物質(zhì)財(cái)富， 但是它在建立和諧社會(huì)和保護(hù)家庭的完整上就不太成功” ， 從這個(gè)句子可以推出結(jié)論：資本主義國家的不足之處： 不能很好地維持社會(huì)的和諧和家庭的完整應(yīng)該是造成資本主義國家的人民不快樂的原因， 選項(xiàng)A， C和D 都涉及到社會(huì)和家庭，因此判斷B(收入的減少) 是答案。