2024年2月28日发(作者：田南烟)
READING SELECTION A
Does Economic Growth (development) Improve Human Morale?
By David G. Myers
注黄字体为课后生词
[1] During the mid-1980s my family and I spent a sabbatical year in the historic
town of St. Andrews, Scotland. Comparing life there with life in America, we were
impressed by a seeming disconnection between national wealth and well-being
(happiness). To most Americans, Scottish life would have seemed Spartan. Incomes were
about half that (income) in the U. S. Among families in the Kingdom of Fife surrounding
(around) St. Andrews, 44 percent did not own a car, and we never met a family that
owned two. Central heating in this place not far south of Iceland was, at that time,
still a luxury.
[2] In hundreds of conversations during our year there and during three
half-summer stays since (since then), we repeatedly noticed that, despite (=in spite
of) their simpler living, the Scots appeared no less joyful (happy) than Americans.
We heard complaints about Margaret Thatcher, but never about being underpaid or unable
to afford (pay for) wants (necessities). With less money there was no less
satisfaction with living, no less warmth of spirit, no less pleasure (happiness) in
one another's company. Are rich American is happier? [accompany sb. to somewhere]
[3] Within any country, such as our own, are rich people happier? In poor countries,
such as Bangladesh and India, being relatively well off (rich) does make for (cause/
bring about) somewhat (a little) greater well being (happiness). Psychologically as
well as (=and) materially, it is much better to be high caste than low caste. We humans
need food, rest, warmth, and social contact.
[4] But in affluent (rich) countries, where nearly everyone can afford life's
necessities, increasing affluence matters (vi.) surprisingly little. In the USA,
Canada, and Europe, the correlation between income and happiness is, as University
of Michigan researcher Ronald Ingle-hart noted in 1980s 16-nation study,
"surprisingly weak [indeed, virtually (actually) negligible". Happiness is lower
among the very poor. But once (they are) comfortable, more money provides diminishing
returns. The second piece of pie, or the second $ 50, 000, never tastes as good as
the first. So (As) far as happiness is concerned, it hardly matters (vi.) whether
one drives a BMW or, like so many of the Scots, walks or rides a bus.
[5] Even very rich people -- the Forbes' 100 wealthiest (richest) Americans
surveyed by University of Illinois psychologist Ed Diener -- are only slightly happier
than average (the ordinary people). With net (<->gross) worth all exceeding
(surpassing) $ 100 million, providing ample (enough) money to buy things they don't
need and hardly care about, 4 in 5 of the 49 people responding to the survey agreed
that "Money can increase OR decrease happiness, depending on how it is used." And
some (people) were indeed unhappy. One fabulously (extremely) wealthy man said he
could never remember being happy. One woman reported that money could not undo
(correct) misery caused by her children's problems. Does economic growth improve
human morale? (net weight<->gross weight)
[6] We have scrutinized (examined) the American dream of achieved wealth and
well-being (happiness) by comparing rich and unrich countries, and rich and unrich
people. That (analysis) leaves the final question: Over time (in the long run), does
happiness rise (increase) with affluence (wealth)?
[7] Typically (Absolutely) not. Lottery winners appear (seem) to gain (get) but
(only) a temporary jolt of joy (happiness) from (because of) their winnings. Looking
back, they feel delighted (happy) to have won. Yet the euphoria doesn't last (vi.).
In fact, previously enjoyed activities such as reading may become less pleasurable
(pleasant). Compared to the high (high spirit) of winning a million dollars, ordinary
pleasures (become) pale.
[8] On a smaller scale, a jump in our income can boost (promote/ increase) our
morale, for a while (a short time). "But in the long run," notes Inglehart, "neither
an ice cream cone nor a new car nor becoming rich and famous produces（bring about）
the same feelings of delight that it initially did. Happiness is not the result of
being rich, but a temporary consequence (result) of having recently become richer."
Ed Diener's research confirms that those whose incomes have increased over a 10-year
period are not happier than those whose income has not increased. Wealth, it therefore
seems, is like health: Although its utter (complete) absence can breed (produce/ lead
to) misery, having it does not guarantee happiness. Happiness is less a matter of
getting what we want than of wanting (enjoy) what we have.
Are we happier today?
[9] We can also ask whether, over time, our collective (total/ comprehensive)
happiness has floated upward (increase) with the rising economic tide. Are we happier
today than in 1940, when two out of five homes (families) lacked a shower or bathtub,
heat often meant feeding a furnace wood or coal, and 35 percent of homes had no toilet?
Or consider 1957, when economist John Galbraith was about to describe the United
States as The Affluent Society. Americans' per person income, expressed in today's
dollars, was less than $ 8,000. Today it is more than $ 16, 000, thanks to increased
real wages into the 1970s, increased nonwage income, and the doubling of married
women's employment. Compared to 1957, we are therefore "the doubly affluent
society"—with double what money buys including twice as many cars per person, not
to mention microwave ovens, big screen color TVs, home computers, and $ 200 billion
a year spent in restaurants and bars -- two and a half times our 1960
inflation-adjusted restaurant spending per person. From 1960 to 1990, the percentage
of us with
·dishwashers zoomed from 7 to 45 percent, (zoom in=enlarge<->zoom out)
·clothes dryers rose from 20 to 69 percent,
·air conditioners soared from 15 to 70 percent.
Not best of times (for) the human spirit (morale)
[10] So, believing that a little more money would make us a little happier, and
having seen our affluence ratchet upward little by little over nearly four decades,
are we now happier?
[11] We are not (happy at all). Since 1957, the number telling the University
of Chicago's National Opinion Research Center that they are "very happy" has declined
from 35 to 30 percent. Twice as rich, and a little less happy. In fact, between 1956
and 1988, the percentage of Americans saying they were "pretty (very) well satisfied
with your present financial situation" dropped from 42 to 30 percent. [live/ lead
a happy/ miserable life]
[12] We are also more often downright (completely) miserable. Among Americans
born since World War II, depression has increased dramatically – tenfold (ten times),
reports University of Pennsylvania clinical researcher Martin Seligman. Today's
25-year-olds are much more likely (possible) to recall a time in their life when they
were despondent (depressed) and despairing than are their 75-year-old grandparents,
despite the grandparents having had many more years to suffer all kinds of disorder,
from broken legs to the anguish of depression. Researchers debate the actual extent
(degree) of but no matter how we define depression, the findings
(discoveries) persist. Today's youth and young adults have grown up with much more
affluence, slightly less overall happiness, and much greater risk of depression, not
to mention tripled teen suicide and all the other social pathologies we have
considered (discussed). Never has a culture (nation) experienced such physical
comfort combined with such psychological misery. Never have we felt so free, or had
our prisons so overstuffed. Never have we been so sophisticated (complicated) about
pleasure, or so likely to suffer broken relationships.
[13] These are the best of times materially, "a time of elephantine (great) vanity
and greed" observes Garrison Keillor, but they are not the best times for the human
spirit. William Bennett, no critic of free market economies, is among those who
recognize (find) the futility (uselessness) of economics without ethics and money
without a mission (goal/ purpose): "If we have full employment and greater economic
growth -- if we have cities of gold and alabaster -- but our children have not learned
how to walk in goodness, justice, and mercy, then the American experiment, not matter
how gilded (beautiful), will have failed." (1, 208 words)
II. Vocabulary
A. Choose the best word from the tour choices to complete each of the following
sentences.
注 每个题目后面出现的相同标号的题目是备考查单词在课文里出现的原句
1. In 1977, I took my first ever _____ year and spent a couple of months at the
Australian National University in Canberra.
A. underpaid B. sabbatical C. prosperous D. affluent
（1）During the mid-1980s my family and I spent a sabbatical year in the historic
town of St. Andrews, Scotland.
2. He has had _____ opportunity to exercise leadership, which he almost invariably
directs along positive channels, and has improved in the various skills.
A. ample B. utter (complete/ thorough) C. messy D. greedy
（2）With net (<->gross) worth all exceeding (surpassing) $ 100 million, providing
ample (enough) money to buy things they don't need and hardly care about,
3. Presumably (perhaps) they are paid their _____ salaries to spot (look for)
errors such as these.
A. despairing B. fabulous (unbelievable) C. depressing D. sympathetic
（3）One fabulously (extremely) wealthy man said he could never remember being happy.
4. It still depends on flow-patterns, even when the air is so thin as to be almost
_____.
A. diminishing B. tripled C. negligible D. perceivable
(=comprehensive)
（4）"surprisingly weak [indeed, virtually (actually) negligible".
5. This would carry with it a responsibility on their part to help devise (design)
the tests, or at least to _____ their content.
A. boost (increase/ promote) B. bread C. guarantee D.
scrutinize (examine)
（5）We have scrutinized (examined) the American dream of achieved wealth and
well-being (happiness) by comparing rich and unrich countries, and rich and unrich
people.
6. But he was already affected (influenced) by a(n) _____ which induced courage and
recklessness.
A. euphoria B. mission (task) C. (idea->) ideology D.
bewilderment (confusion)
（6）Yet the euphoria doesn't last (vi.). In fact, previously enjoyed activities
such as reading may become less pleasurable (pleasant).
7. Not only was there physical weakness but also intense loneliness and sometimes
mental _____ due to (because of) lack of occupation (job) in the "workhouse"
(workshop/ factory/ company) and the chronic sick wards.
A. morale B. enthusiasm C. starvation (=hanger) D.
anguish(extreme pain)
（7）from broken legs to the anguish of depression. Researchers debate the actual
extent (degree) of
8. Worst of all is the sense (feeling) of utter (thorough) _____ because it is
far too late to change anything.
A. luxury B. possession C. futility D. dominance
（8）but they are not the best times for the human spirit. William Bennett, no critic
of free market economies, is among those who recognize (find) the futility
(uselessness) of economics without ethics and money without a mission (goal/ purpose)
9. The (mode<->) mood was (desperate->) despairing, _____ and war-weary pathetic
(poor/pitiful) rather than rebellious.
A. deficient B. destructive C. despondent (depressed) D.
declining (fall)
（9）Today's 25-year-olds are much more likely (possible) to recall a time in their
life when they were despondent (depressed) and despairing than are their 75-year-old
grandparents,
10. She was born friendly and intelligent with none of the _____ so often
associated with beautiful women.
A. vanity B. caste C. lottery D. eternity (eternal:
adj.)
（10）These are the best of times materially, "a time of elephantine (great) vanity
and greed" observes Garrison Keillor,
B. Choose the best word or expression from the list given for each blank. Use each
word or expression only once and make proper changes where necessary.
well off necessity diminish undo persist
well-being underpay downright zoom delight
注 每个题目后面出现的相同标号的题目是备考查单词在课文里出现的原句
1. This suggests that Sterling's strength, unwelcome though it seemed, may
actually have been conductive (helpful) to Britain's economic well-being (health/
development).
（1）Comparing life there with life in America, we were impressed by a seeming
disconnection between national wealth and well-being (happiness).
We have scrutinized (examined) the American dream of achieved wealth and
well-being (happiness) by comparing rich and unrich countries, and rich and unrich
people.
2. The coal miners complain that they are ridiculously underpaid, especially as
the work is so dangerous.
（2）We heard complaints about Margaret Thatcher, but never about being underpaid
or unable to afford (pay for) wants (necessities).
3. We have seen the value of our house diminish substantially (considerably) over
the last six months.
（3）But once (they are) comfortable, more money provides diminishing returns.
4. It's very difficult to undo (correct) the damage that's caused by
inadequate (improper) parenting (parental education) in a child's early years.
（4）One woman reported that money could not undo (correct) misery caused by her
children's problems.
5. The company's benefits zoomed (increase) from nil (zero/ naught) in 1981 to
about $ 16 million last year. (zoom in=enlarge; zoom out)
（5）dishwashers zoomed from 7 to 45 percent, (zoom in=enlarge<->zoom out)
6. But she was an orphan, and the uncle and aunt with whom she lived were not
at all well off (rich).
(6) Within any country, such as our own, are rich people happier? In poor countries,
such as Bangladesh and India, being relatively well off (rich) does make for (cause/
bring about) somewhat (a little) greater well being (happiness).
7. For some women at this stage, cooking can become an absorbing (attractive)
hobby rather than the necessity of life it was when there were others to feed -- a
social pleasure or simply (only) a personal indulgence (favor/ preference).
(7) But in affluent (rich) countries, where nearly everyone can afford life's
necessities, increasing affluence matters (vi.) surprisingly little.
8. Those words uttered (spoken) by some political leaders would sound banal
(cliché) and from one or two others downright phony (adj. n. false).
(8) We are also more often downright (completely) miserable. Among Americans born
since World War II, depression has increased dramatically – tenfold (ten times),
reports University of Pennsylvania clinical researcher Martin Seligman.
9. Call your doctor for advice if symptoms persist for more than a few days.
(9) but no matter how we define depression, the findings (discoveries) persist.
10. Yet there is much of scenic and historic interest here to delight (make sb.
happy/ happiness) the leisurely visitor. (scene->scenery->scenic)
(10) Looking back, they feel delighted (happy) to have won. Yet the euphoria
doesn't last (vi.).
"But in the long run," notes Inglehart, "neither an ice cream cone nor a new car
nor becoming rich and famous produces（bring about） the same feelings of delight
that it initially did.
第＋二课A 经济增长能促进人类道德进步吗？
戴维· G · 迈尔斯
[1] 20 世纪80 年代中期，我和家人在苏格兰的历史名城圣安德鲁斯度过了一年学术体假年。比较美国与圣安德鲁斯两地的生活，印象最深刻的是国家财富与个人生活安康之间并无明显联系。对绝大多数美国人而言，苏格兰人的生活可称得上清贫。他们的收入大约仅为美国人的一半。在圣安德鲁斯附近的法夫地区，44 ％的家庭没有私家车，我们也从未遇见过哪个家庭拥有两辆私家车。那个时候，这个离冰岛南部不远的地方，中央供暖系统仍是一种奢侈品。
[2]那一年以及此后三年在圣安德鲁斯度过的每年半个夏季，我们与当地人进行了上百次的交谈，我们一次又一次注意到，尽管苏格兰人的生活简朴，但他们的快乐感一点儿也不比
美国人少。我们也曾听到人们对玛格丽特· 撒切尔夫人的抱怨，但却从未听到有人抱怨工资太低或买不起想买的东西。虽然钱比美国人挣得少些，但对生活的满足、对人的热情、朋友相聚的愉悦却一点儿也不比美国人少。
有钱的美国人就更快乐吗？
[3］在任何一个国家，如我们自己的国家美国，有钱人就更快乐吗？在穷国，如孟加拉国和印度，只要相对有钱，无论是心理上还是物质上，就意味着比别人要富裕得多。社会等级高比社会等级低的要好得多。我们人类需要食物、休息、温暖和社会亲情。
[4］但在富裕国家，儿乎人人能支付生活必需品，再提高一点儿富裕，没有什么意义，这一点令人吃惊。在美国、加拿大、欧洲，正如密执安大学研究员罗纳德· 英格哈特20 世纪80 年代对16 个国家的研究后指出的那样，收入与幸福之间的相关系数“小得让人吃惊（实际上，儿乎可以忽略不计）”。非常贫穷的人，他们的幸福感较低。但是，一旦达到小康水平，更多的钱所带来的回报呈下降趋势。第二块馅饼吃起来决没有第一块香，第二笔5 万美金所带来的快乐也绝没有第一笔5 万美金所带来的快乐多。无论你是驾驶宝马车，还是像许多苏格兰人一样步行或乘公交车，就幸福感而言没有两样。
[5］甚至是富豪― 像伊利诺伊大学心理学家埃德· 迪纳所调查的、在《 福布斯》 杂志上公布的美国最富有的100 人― 他们的幸福感比平常人也只多一点点。他调查了49 位净资产超过10 亿美元，有大量的钱可以购买他们并不需要、也不在乎的东西的富豪，4 / 5 的人这样答复：“金钱能增加也能减少幸福，这取决于怎么花。”有些富豪甚至一点儿也不快乐。一位巨富说他从不记得曾经有过幸福。一位女富豪说金钱不能解决孩子问题所造成的苦恼。
经济增长能促进人类道德进步吗？
[6］通过富国和穷国、富人和穷人之间的对比，我们仔细了解了美国梦，即获得财富、过上富裕的生活。现在还剩最后一个问题：随着时间的流逝，幸福感与财富相伴相随吗？
[7] 否。彩票中奖者只能从奖品中获得短暂的快乐。回头看，赢得彩票，他们的确感到高兴。但这种快乐不会持续长久。事实上，以前曾经令人愉快的活动，如读书，变得不那么令人愉快。与赢得百万美元的兴奋相比，平常的快乐黯然失色。[8 ］就小范围而言，收入的剧增能在短期内提升我们的道德标准。“但不是长远的，”英格哈特解释道，“一支冰激凌、一辆新车、成名赢利等，都不能与起初的快乐感相提并论… … 幸福并非源自有钱，而是刚刚有钱时短暂的感受。”埃德· 迪纳的研究证实，那些奋斗了10 年、收入逐渐增加的人并不比那些收入没有增加的人更幸福。如此看来，财富好比健康：虽然赤贫会导致悲惨，但有钱并不能保证幸福。与其说幸福是获得我们想要的东西，还不如说是想得到我们已经拥有的东西。
今天我们更幸福吗？
[9］我们还可以时不时地问自己，我们的总体幸福感是否随着经济增长的势头而水涨船高。今天的我们比20 世纪40 年代的人们更幸福吗？那时，5 个家庭中有2 个没有淋浴或盆浴的设施，取暖则需往壁炉里添加木柴或煤炭，35 ％的家庭甚至没有卫生间。1957 年，经济学家约翰· 加尔布雷斯曾打算把美国列入富国的行列。当时美国的人均收入用现在的美
元价值来换算还不到8 000 元，而今天则超过了人均16 000 美元，这要归功于70 年代真实工资的提高，非工资收入的增加，还有己婚妇女就业率的翻倍增长。与1957 年相比，我们的社会应该是“相当富裕的社会”― 有翻番的钱购买包括比原来多一倍的私家车，更甭提微波炉、宽屏彩电、家用电脑以及每年在餐馆、酒吧消费掉的2 000 亿美元比1960 年金融危机调整后每人在餐馆中的消费增长了2 . 5 倍。从1960 年到1990 年，我们人均拥有的财富为：
洗碗机的拥有率从7 ％猛增到45 % ;
衣服烘干机的拥有率从20 ％增长到69 % ;
空调的拥有率从巧％猛增到70 ％。
人们的心情却并非最佳时期
[10]如此看来，认为多点钱就会使我们多点快乐，近40 年来我们的财富像齿轮般旋转着向上增长，我们现在是否就更快乐呢？
[11］事实并非如此。据芝加哥大学全国民意调查中心统计，自1957 年以来，自司匆称“非常幸福”的人的数量在逐渐下滑，从35 ％下滑至30 ％。财富翻了番，但幸福感却在下降。事实上，1956 年至1988 年间，说“对目前的经济状况相当满意”的美国人的比例从42 ％跌至30 ％。
[12]同时我们更多地感到彻底的沮丧。据宾夕法尼亚大学研究所的马丁· 塞利格曼报道，第二次世界大战后出生的美国人中，患抑郁症的人数急剧上升― 上升了10 倍。今天25 岁左右的年轻人比75 岁左右的老年人更多地回想起生活中曾经有过的沮丧、绝望的日子，尽管老年人在更多的日子里经历了各种各样的痛苦，从腿部骨折到经济萧条所带来的极大痛苦等。研究者在争论越来越多的忧伤的实际定义… …
但无论我们如何定义忧伤，发现的结果依然是：在更富裕的环境中长大的青少年，总体幸福感有所下降，而患忧郁症的可能性却大为上升，更甭提青少年自杀己多了三倍，还有其他我们需考虑的社会病态。从未有哪种文化有过如此舒适的物质生活与如此悲苦的精神生活交织在一起的经历。我们从未感到像现在这样自由，然而我们的监狱也从未像现在这样人满为患。我们对快乐的理解也从未像现在这样精深，然而我们却更有可能承受破碎的家庭所带来的痛苦。
[13]这是历史上物质最丰富的时代，“是一个充满了名利和贪欲的时代”，加里森· 凯勒说，但却不是人们心情愉悦的最佳时期。威廉· 贝内特虽不是自由市场经济的批评家，却是认识到没有道德准则的经济是无效的经济、没有光荣使命的金钱是无价值的金钱的人。他说：“即使我们全员就业，经济增长更快，即使我们的城市是金雕玉砌的，假如我们的孩子没有学会善良、正义、怜悯，那么，无论我们的社会如何镶金镀银，也会最终在世界民族之林中消亡的。
2024年2月28日发(作者：田南烟)
READING SELECTION A
Does Economic Growth (development) Improve Human Morale?
By David G. Myers
注黄字体为课后生词
[1] During the mid-1980s my family and I spent a sabbatical year in the historic
town of St. Andrews, Scotland. Comparing life there with life in America, we were
impressed by a seeming disconnection between national wealth and well-being
(happiness). To most Americans, Scottish life would have seemed Spartan. Incomes were
about half that (income) in the U. S. Among families in the Kingdom of Fife surrounding
(around) St. Andrews, 44 percent did not own a car, and we never met a family that
owned two. Central heating in this place not far south of Iceland was, at that time,
still a luxury.
[2] In hundreds of conversations during our year there and during three
half-summer stays since (since then), we repeatedly noticed that, despite (=in spite
of) their simpler living, the Scots appeared no less joyful (happy) than Americans.
We heard complaints about Margaret Thatcher, but never about being underpaid or unable
to afford (pay for) wants (necessities). With less money there was no less
satisfaction with living, no less warmth of spirit, no less pleasure (happiness) in
one another's company. Are rich American is happier? [accompany sb. to somewhere]
[3] Within any country, such as our own, are rich people happier? In poor countries,
such as Bangladesh and India, being relatively well off (rich) does make for (cause/
bring about) somewhat (a little) greater well being (happiness). Psychologically as
well as (=and) materially, it is much better to be high caste than low caste. We humans
need food, rest, warmth, and social contact.
[4] But in affluent (rich) countries, where nearly everyone can afford life's
necessities, increasing affluence matters (vi.) surprisingly little. In the USA,
Canada, and Europe, the correlation between income and happiness is, as University
of Michigan researcher Ronald Ingle-hart noted in 1980s 16-nation study,
"surprisingly weak [indeed, virtually (actually) negligible". Happiness is lower
among the very poor. But once (they are) comfortable, more money provides diminishing
returns. The second piece of pie, or the second $ 50, 000, never tastes as good as
the first. So (As) far as happiness is concerned, it hardly matters (vi.) whether
one drives a BMW or, like so many of the Scots, walks or rides a bus.
[5] Even very rich people -- the Forbes' 100 wealthiest (richest) Americans
surveyed by University of Illinois psychologist Ed Diener -- are only slightly happier
than average (the ordinary people). With net (<->gross) worth all exceeding
(surpassing) $ 100 million, providing ample (enough) money to buy things they don't
need and hardly care about, 4 in 5 of the 49 people responding to the survey agreed
that "Money can increase OR decrease happiness, depending on how it is used." And
some (people) were indeed unhappy. One fabulously (extremely) wealthy man said he
could never remember being happy. One woman reported that money could not undo
(correct) misery caused by her children's problems. Does economic growth improve
human morale? (net weight<->gross weight)
[6] We have scrutinized (examined) the American dream of achieved wealth and
well-being (happiness) by comparing rich and unrich countries, and rich and unrich
people. That (analysis) leaves the final question: Over time (in the long run), does
happiness rise (increase) with affluence (wealth)?
[7] Typically (Absolutely) not. Lottery winners appear (seem) to gain (get) but
(only) a temporary jolt of joy (happiness) from (because of) their winnings. Looking
back, they feel delighted (happy) to have won. Yet the euphoria doesn't last (vi.).
In fact, previously enjoyed activities such as reading may become less pleasurable
(pleasant). Compared to the high (high spirit) of winning a million dollars, ordinary
pleasures (become) pale.
[8] On a smaller scale, a jump in our income can boost (promote/ increase) our
morale, for a while (a short time). "But in the long run," notes Inglehart, "neither
an ice cream cone nor a new car nor becoming rich and famous produces（bring about）
the same feelings of delight that it initially did. Happiness is not the result of
being rich, but a temporary consequence (result) of having recently become richer."
Ed Diener's research confirms that those whose incomes have increased over a 10-year
period are not happier than those whose income has not increased. Wealth, it therefore
seems, is like health: Although its utter (complete) absence can breed (produce/ lead
to) misery, having it does not guarantee happiness. Happiness is less a matter of
getting what we want than of wanting (enjoy) what we have.
Are we happier today?
[9] We can also ask whether, over time, our collective (total/ comprehensive)
happiness has floated upward (increase) with the rising economic tide. Are we happier
today than in 1940, when two out of five homes (families) lacked a shower or bathtub,
heat often meant feeding a furnace wood or coal, and 35 percent of homes had no toilet?
Or consider 1957, when economist John Galbraith was about to describe the United
States as The Affluent Society. Americans' per person income, expressed in today's
dollars, was less than $ 8,000. Today it is more than $ 16, 000, thanks to increased
real wages into the 1970s, increased nonwage income, and the doubling of married
women's employment. Compared to 1957, we are therefore "the doubly affluent
society"—with double what money buys including twice as many cars per person, not
to mention microwave ovens, big screen color TVs, home computers, and $ 200 billion
a year spent in restaurants and bars -- two and a half times our 1960
inflation-adjusted restaurant spending per person. From 1960 to 1990, the percentage
of us with
·dishwashers zoomed from 7 to 45 percent, (zoom in=enlarge<->zoom out)
·clothes dryers rose from 20 to 69 percent,
·air conditioners soared from 15 to 70 percent.
Not best of times (for) the human spirit (morale)
[10] So, believing that a little more money would make us a little happier, and
having seen our affluence ratchet upward little by little over nearly four decades,
are we now happier?
[11] We are not (happy at all). Since 1957, the number telling the University
of Chicago's National Opinion Research Center that they are "very happy" has declined
from 35 to 30 percent. Twice as rich, and a little less happy. In fact, between 1956
and 1988, the percentage of Americans saying they were "pretty (very) well satisfied
with your present financial situation" dropped from 42 to 30 percent. [live/ lead
a happy/ miserable life]
[12] We are also more often downright (completely) miserable. Among Americans
born since World War II, depression has increased dramatically – tenfold (ten times),
reports University of Pennsylvania clinical researcher Martin Seligman. Today's
25-year-olds are much more likely (possible) to recall a time in their life when they
were despondent (depressed) and despairing than are their 75-year-old grandparents,
despite the grandparents having had many more years to suffer all kinds of disorder,
from broken legs to the anguish of depression. Researchers debate the actual extent
(degree) of but no matter how we define depression, the findings
(discoveries) persist. Today's youth and young adults have grown up with much more
affluence, slightly less overall happiness, and much greater risk of depression, not
to mention tripled teen suicide and all the other social pathologies we have
considered (discussed). Never has a culture (nation) experienced such physical
comfort combined with such psychological misery. Never have we felt so free, or had
our prisons so overstuffed. Never have we been so sophisticated (complicated) about
pleasure, or so likely to suffer broken relationships.
[13] These are the best of times materially, "a time of elephantine (great) vanity
and greed" observes Garrison Keillor, but they are not the best times for the human
spirit. William Bennett, no critic of free market economies, is among those who
recognize (find) the futility (uselessness) of economics without ethics and money
without a mission (goal/ purpose): "If we have full employment and greater economic
growth -- if we have cities of gold and alabaster -- but our children have not learned
how to walk in goodness, justice, and mercy, then the American experiment, not matter
how gilded (beautiful), will have failed." (1, 208 words)
II. Vocabulary
A. Choose the best word from the tour choices to complete each of the following
sentences.
注 每个题目后面出现的相同标号的题目是备考查单词在课文里出现的原句
1. In 1977, I took my first ever _____ year and spent a couple of months at the
Australian National University in Canberra.
A. underpaid B. sabbatical C. prosperous D. affluent
（1）During the mid-1980s my family and I spent a sabbatical year in the historic
town of St. Andrews, Scotland.
2. He has had _____ opportunity to exercise leadership, which he almost invariably
directs along positive channels, and has improved in the various skills.
A. ample B. utter (complete/ thorough) C. messy D. greedy
（2）With net (<->gross) worth all exceeding (surpassing) $ 100 million, providing
ample (enough) money to buy things they don't need and hardly care about,
3. Presumably (perhaps) they are paid their _____ salaries to spot (look for)
errors such as these.
A. despairing B. fabulous (unbelievable) C. depressing D. sympathetic
（3）One fabulously (extremely) wealthy man said he could never remember being happy.
4. It still depends on flow-patterns, even when the air is so thin as to be almost
_____.
A. diminishing B. tripled C. negligible D. perceivable
(=comprehensive)
（4）"surprisingly weak [indeed, virtually (actually) negligible".
5. This would carry with it a responsibility on their part to help devise (design)
the tests, or at least to _____ their content.
A. boost (increase/ promote) B. bread C. guarantee D.
scrutinize (examine)
（5）We have scrutinized (examined) the American dream of achieved wealth and
well-being (happiness) by comparing rich and unrich countries, and rich and unrich
people.
6. But he was already affected (influenced) by a(n) _____ which induced courage and
recklessness.
A. euphoria B. mission (task) C. (idea->) ideology D.
bewilderment (confusion)
（6）Yet the euphoria doesn't last (vi.). In fact, previously enjoyed activities
such as reading may become less pleasurable (pleasant).
7. Not only was there physical weakness but also intense loneliness and sometimes
mental _____ due to (because of) lack of occupation (job) in the "workhouse"
(workshop/ factory/ company) and the chronic sick wards.
A. morale B. enthusiasm C. starvation (=hanger) D.
anguish(extreme pain)
（7）from broken legs to the anguish of depression. Researchers debate the actual
extent (degree) of
8. Worst of all is the sense (feeling) of utter (thorough) _____ because it is
far too late to change anything.
A. luxury B. possession C. futility D. dominance
（8）but they are not the best times for the human spirit. William Bennett, no critic
of free market economies, is among those who recognize (find) the futility
(uselessness) of economics without ethics and money without a mission (goal/ purpose)
9. The (mode<->) mood was (desperate->) despairing, _____ and war-weary pathetic
(poor/pitiful) rather than rebellious.
A. deficient B. destructive C. despondent (depressed) D.
declining (fall)
（9）Today's 25-year-olds are much more likely (possible) to recall a time in their
life when they were despondent (depressed) and despairing than are their 75-year-old
grandparents,
10. She was born friendly and intelligent with none of the _____ so often
associated with beautiful women.
A. vanity B. caste C. lottery D. eternity (eternal:
adj.)
（10）These are the best of times materially, "a time of elephantine (great) vanity
and greed" observes Garrison Keillor,
B. Choose the best word or expression from the list given for each blank. Use each
word or expression only once and make proper changes where necessary.
well off necessity diminish undo persist
well-being underpay downright zoom delight
注 每个题目后面出现的相同标号的题目是备考查单词在课文里出现的原句
1. This suggests that Sterling's strength, unwelcome though it seemed, may
actually have been conductive (helpful) to Britain's economic well-being (health/
development).
（1）Comparing life there with life in America, we were impressed by a seeming
disconnection between national wealth and well-being (happiness).
We have scrutinized (examined) the American dream of achieved wealth and
well-being (happiness) by comparing rich and unrich countries, and rich and unrich
people.
2. The coal miners complain that they are ridiculously underpaid, especially as
the work is so dangerous.
（2）We heard complaints about Margaret Thatcher, but never about being underpaid
or unable to afford (pay for) wants (necessities).
3. We have seen the value of our house diminish substantially (considerably) over
the last six months.
（3）But once (they are) comfortable, more money provides diminishing returns.
4. It's very difficult to undo (correct) the damage that's caused by
inadequate (improper) parenting (parental education) in a child's early years.
（4）One woman reported that money could not undo (correct) misery caused by her
children's problems.
5. The company's benefits zoomed (increase) from nil (zero/ naught) in 1981 to
about $ 16 million last year. (zoom in=enlarge; zoom out)
（5）dishwashers zoomed from 7 to 45 percent, (zoom in=enlarge<->zoom out)
6. But she was an orphan, and the uncle and aunt with whom she lived were not
at all well off (rich).
(6) Within any country, such as our own, are rich people happier? In poor countries,
such as Bangladesh and India, being relatively well off (rich) does make for (cause/
bring about) somewhat (a little) greater well being (happiness).
7. For some women at this stage, cooking can become an absorbing (attractive)
hobby rather than the necessity of life it was when there were others to feed -- a
social pleasure or simply (only) a personal indulgence (favor/ preference).
(7) But in affluent (rich) countries, where nearly everyone can afford life's
necessities, increasing affluence matters (vi.) surprisingly little.
8. Those words uttered (spoken) by some political leaders would sound banal
(cliché) and from one or two others downright phony (adj. n. false).
(8) We are also more often downright (completely) miserable. Among Americans born
since World War II, depression has increased dramatically – tenfold (ten times),
reports University of Pennsylvania clinical researcher Martin Seligman.
9. Call your doctor for advice if symptoms persist for more than a few days.
(9) but no matter how we define depression, the findings (discoveries) persist.
10. Yet there is much of scenic and historic interest here to delight (make sb.
happy/ happiness) the leisurely visitor. (scene->scenery->scenic)
(10) Looking back, they feel delighted (happy) to have won. Yet the euphoria
doesn't last (vi.).
"But in the long run," notes Inglehart, "neither an ice cream cone nor a new car
nor becoming rich and famous produces（bring about） the same feelings of delight
that it initially did.
第＋二课A 经济增长能促进人类道德进步吗？
戴维· G · 迈尔斯
[1] 20 世纪80 年代中期，我和家人在苏格兰的历史名城圣安德鲁斯度过了一年学术体假年。比较美国与圣安德鲁斯两地的生活，印象最深刻的是国家财富与个人生活安康之间并无明显联系。对绝大多数美国人而言，苏格兰人的生活可称得上清贫。他们的收入大约仅为美国人的一半。在圣安德鲁斯附近的法夫地区，44 ％的家庭没有私家车，我们也从未遇见过哪个家庭拥有两辆私家车。那个时候，这个离冰岛南部不远的地方，中央供暖系统仍是一种奢侈品。
[2]那一年以及此后三年在圣安德鲁斯度过的每年半个夏季，我们与当地人进行了上百次的交谈，我们一次又一次注意到，尽管苏格兰人的生活简朴，但他们的快乐感一点儿也不比
美国人少。我们也曾听到人们对玛格丽特· 撒切尔夫人的抱怨，但却从未听到有人抱怨工资太低或买不起想买的东西。虽然钱比美国人挣得少些，但对生活的满足、对人的热情、朋友相聚的愉悦却一点儿也不比美国人少。
有钱的美国人就更快乐吗？
[3］在任何一个国家，如我们自己的国家美国，有钱人就更快乐吗？在穷国，如孟加拉国和印度，只要相对有钱，无论是心理上还是物质上，就意味着比别人要富裕得多。社会等级高比社会等级低的要好得多。我们人类需要食物、休息、温暖和社会亲情。
[4］但在富裕国家，儿乎人人能支付生活必需品，再提高一点儿富裕，没有什么意义，这一点令人吃惊。在美国、加拿大、欧洲，正如密执安大学研究员罗纳德· 英格哈特20 世纪80 年代对16 个国家的研究后指出的那样，收入与幸福之间的相关系数“小得让人吃惊（实际上，儿乎可以忽略不计）”。非常贫穷的人，他们的幸福感较低。但是，一旦达到小康水平，更多的钱所带来的回报呈下降趋势。第二块馅饼吃起来决没有第一块香，第二笔5 万美金所带来的快乐也绝没有第一笔5 万美金所带来的快乐多。无论你是驾驶宝马车，还是像许多苏格兰人一样步行或乘公交车，就幸福感而言没有两样。
[5］甚至是富豪― 像伊利诺伊大学心理学家埃德· 迪纳所调查的、在《 福布斯》 杂志上公布的美国最富有的100 人― 他们的幸福感比平常人也只多一点点。他调查了49 位净资产超过10 亿美元，有大量的钱可以购买他们并不需要、也不在乎的东西的富豪，4 / 5 的人这样答复：“金钱能增加也能减少幸福，这取决于怎么花。”有些富豪甚至一点儿也不快乐。一位巨富说他从不记得曾经有过幸福。一位女富豪说金钱不能解决孩子问题所造成的苦恼。
经济增长能促进人类道德进步吗？
[6］通过富国和穷国、富人和穷人之间的对比，我们仔细了解了美国梦，即获得财富、过上富裕的生活。现在还剩最后一个问题：随着时间的流逝，幸福感与财富相伴相随吗？
[7] 否。彩票中奖者只能从奖品中获得短暂的快乐。回头看，赢得彩票，他们的确感到高兴。但这种快乐不会持续长久。事实上，以前曾经令人愉快的活动，如读书，变得不那么令人愉快。与赢得百万美元的兴奋相比，平常的快乐黯然失色。[8 ］就小范围而言，收入的剧增能在短期内提升我们的道德标准。“但不是长远的，”英格哈特解释道，“一支冰激凌、一辆新车、成名赢利等，都不能与起初的快乐感相提并论… … 幸福并非源自有钱，而是刚刚有钱时短暂的感受。”埃德· 迪纳的研究证实，那些奋斗了10 年、收入逐渐增加的人并不比那些收入没有增加的人更幸福。如此看来，财富好比健康：虽然赤贫会导致悲惨，但有钱并不能保证幸福。与其说幸福是获得我们想要的东西，还不如说是想得到我们已经拥有的东西。
今天我们更幸福吗？
[9］我们还可以时不时地问自己，我们的总体幸福感是否随着经济增长的势头而水涨船高。今天的我们比20 世纪40 年代的人们更幸福吗？那时，5 个家庭中有2 个没有淋浴或盆浴的设施，取暖则需往壁炉里添加木柴或煤炭，35 ％的家庭甚至没有卫生间。1957 年，经济学家约翰· 加尔布雷斯曾打算把美国列入富国的行列。当时美国的人均收入用现在的美
元价值来换算还不到8 000 元，而今天则超过了人均16 000 美元，这要归功于70 年代真实工资的提高，非工资收入的增加，还有己婚妇女就业率的翻倍增长。与1957 年相比，我们的社会应该是“相当富裕的社会”― 有翻番的钱购买包括比原来多一倍的私家车，更甭提微波炉、宽屏彩电、家用电脑以及每年在餐馆、酒吧消费掉的2 000 亿美元比1960 年金融危机调整后每人在餐馆中的消费增长了2 . 5 倍。从1960 年到1990 年，我们人均拥有的财富为：
洗碗机的拥有率从7 ％猛增到45 % ;
衣服烘干机的拥有率从20 ％增长到69 % ;
空调的拥有率从巧％猛增到70 ％。
人们的心情却并非最佳时期
[10]如此看来，认为多点钱就会使我们多点快乐，近40 年来我们的财富像齿轮般旋转着向上增长，我们现在是否就更快乐呢？
[11］事实并非如此。据芝加哥大学全国民意调查中心统计，自1957 年以来，自司匆称“非常幸福”的人的数量在逐渐下滑，从35 ％下滑至30 ％。财富翻了番，但幸福感却在下降。事实上，1956 年至1988 年间，说“对目前的经济状况相当满意”的美国人的比例从42 ％跌至30 ％。
[12]同时我们更多地感到彻底的沮丧。据宾夕法尼亚大学研究所的马丁· 塞利格曼报道，第二次世界大战后出生的美国人中，患抑郁症的人数急剧上升― 上升了10 倍。今天25 岁左右的年轻人比75 岁左右的老年人更多地回想起生活中曾经有过的沮丧、绝望的日子，尽管老年人在更多的日子里经历了各种各样的痛苦，从腿部骨折到经济萧条所带来的极大痛苦等。研究者在争论越来越多的忧伤的实际定义… …
但无论我们如何定义忧伤，发现的结果依然是：在更富裕的环境中长大的青少年，总体幸福感有所下降，而患忧郁症的可能性却大为上升，更甭提青少年自杀己多了三倍，还有其他我们需考虑的社会病态。从未有哪种文化有过如此舒适的物质生活与如此悲苦的精神生活交织在一起的经历。我们从未感到像现在这样自由，然而我们的监狱也从未像现在这样人满为患。我们对快乐的理解也从未像现在这样精深，然而我们却更有可能承受破碎的家庭所带来的痛苦。
[13]这是历史上物质最丰富的时代，“是一个充满了名利和贪欲的时代”，加里森· 凯勒说，但却不是人们心情愉悦的最佳时期。威廉· 贝内特虽不是自由市场经济的批评家，却是认识到没有道德准则的经济是无效的经济、没有光荣使命的金钱是无价值的金钱的人。他说：“即使我们全员就业，经济增长更快，即使我们的城市是金雕玉砌的，假如我们的孩子没有学会善良、正义、怜悯，那么，无论我们的社会如何镶金镀银，也会最终在世界民族之林中消亡的。