幸福的秘密

 　　Rob: Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English. I'm Rob and with me today is Finn.

　　Finn: (sounding glum) Hi Rob.

　　Rob: Finn you're sounding a bit down in the dumps¹ - you know, a bit miserable².

　　Finn: Well Rob I am. It's raining again… I've got no money… and I'm feeling unfit too - just look at me!

　　Rob: Hmm. Well I've got some news today that might put a smile on your face. It's about a new study that tells us how we can make ourselves happier. And we'll be using some words about happiness too.

　　Finn: Well that's sounds good and I'm feeling a lot happier already, thank you, Rob!

　　Rob: So Finn, what other things make you feel happy?

　　Finn: The finer things in life - good food, fine wine, things like that. And you Rob?

　　Rob: For me, it's got to be… everything! Nothing worries me and I always look for the positive things even in a bad situation. You could say I'm happy-go-lucky! And to keep you happy, let's see if you know the answer to today's question. The World Happiness Database³ has ranked countries in order of how happy their people are - or to be more precise⁴ - their 'satisfaction with life'. Do you know which country came top of the list? Was it:

　　a) Finland

　　b) Canada

　　c) Costa Rica

　　Finn: I think Finland has a high quality of life but let's say the happiest nation is Canada.

　　Rob: Canada, ok. We'll find out if you are right at the end of the programme. So, let's talk more about happiness. There's been some good news from Holland - that's where the World Happiness Database is - at the Erasmus University in Rotterdam.

　　Finn: It's been collecting the results of studies about happiness from all over the world.

　　Rob: And now all that information has been put together to produce some interesting results.

　　Finn: Surely, Rob, happiness is a state of mind - so different things make different people content - or happy - depending on their mood or situation at the time?

　　Rob: Yes, but this research has found some factors that we all share when we are searching for happiness. It also found what made people unhappy.

　　Finn: So, maybe things like not having enough money or not going on holiday?

　　Rob: Nothing like that, not materialistic⁵ values. Unhappy people are more aware of their life goals - things they want to achieve because they want to change their life for the better. Does that sound like you Finn?

　　Finn: Not me Rob. I lead such a hectic⁶ - or busy - life that I don't always get time to think about the future!

　　Rob: That's good because the study found having an active life is most important for a happy and rewarding life - that means a feeling of satisfaction and pleasure. There are other reasons too as we can hear from the Director of the World Happiness Database, Professor Veenhoven. When in life does he say we are happiest?

　　Professor Rudd Veenhoven, Director of World Happiness Database:

　　Research has shown that we can make ourselves happier because we see that happiness does change over time, and that these changes are not just a matter of better circumstances but also better dealing⁷ with life. Elderly people tend to be wise and for that reason, happier.

　　Finn: OK, our happiness changes over time. It's older people - the elderly - who are happiest because, he says, they are wiser. They understand things more and have learnt to deal with the problems in life. So Rob, you're old so you should be happy, right?

　　Rob: Wrong, Finn! The study has also found having children - which I do - lowers your happiness level.

　　Finn: But it does say your happiness increases when they grow up, your children grow up, and leave home.

　　Rob: That's good to hear. The study also says if you think you're good looking, rather than if you actually are, makes you happier. So you might be really ugly but if you think you're handsome then you're happy. Isn't that right Finn?

　　Finn: Right yeah, I guess that makes me the happiest man on the planet⁸, Rob!

　　Rob: Did you also know, being in a long-term relationship and going out for dinner a lot also makes you happier.

　　Finn: Oh, so are you saying I need to do these things to be happy?

　　Rob: Yes Finn. But luckily for you, the study has also found that being sad for ten per cent of the time is actually good for you. Let's face it - we can't be happy all the time!

　　Finn: That's comforting to know - but Rob you can cheer me up - or make me happier - by telling me that I answered today's question correctly.

　　Rob: We'll see! Earlier I asked you which country did The World Happiness Database rank as having the greatest 'satisfaction with life'?

　　Finn: I said Canada.

　　Rob: I'm sure the Canadians are very happy people, but you're wrong. All those countries are in the top ten but Costa Rica is at number one. Hopefully this programme has put you in a good mood. Join us again soon for 6 Minute English from BBC Learning⁹ English.

　　Both: Bye.

1 dumps   

n.抑郁v.倾倒( dump的第三人称单数 )；丢下；随便堆放；释放

参考例句：

• They eke out a precarious existence foraging in rubbish dumps. 他们靠在垃圾场捡垃圾维持着朝不保夕的生活。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• It's no use letting yourself fall into the dumps. 你听任自己的情绪低沉下去一点用也没有。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 miserable   

adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的

参考例句：

• It was miserable of you to make fun of him.你取笑他，这是可耻的。
• Her past life was miserable.她过去的生活很苦。

3 database   

n.数据库 （=databank）

参考例句：

• I discovered some new information in the database.我在资料库里发现了一些新信息。
• We planned to build an online database.我们计划建一个联机数据库。

4 precise   

adj.精确的，恰好的，极清楚的

参考例句：

• At that precise moment, Miss Pulteney came into the office.就在那时，普尔特尼小姐走进了办公室。
• A scientist must be precise in making tests.科学家做试验必须精确。

5 materialistic   

a.唯物主义的，物质享乐主义的

参考例句：

• She made him both soft and materialistic. 她把他变成女性化而又实际化。
• Materialistic dialectics is an important part of constituting Marxism. 唯物辩证法是马克思主义的重要组成部分。

6 hectic   

adj.肺病的；消耗热的；发热的；闹哄哄的

参考例句：

• I spent a very hectic Sunday.我度过了一个忙乱的星期天。
• The two days we spent there were enjoyable but hectic.我们在那里度过的两天愉快但闹哄哄的。

7 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

8 planet   

n.行星

参考例句：

• Neptune is the furthest planet from the sun. 海王星是离太阳最远的行星。
• Rubbish, however, is only part of the problem of polluting our planet. 然而, 垃圾只是我们这个星球的污染问题的一个方面。

9 learning   

n.学问，学识，学习；动词learn的现在分词

参考例句：

• When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时，常会从车上掉下来。
• Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。