The Happiest Cities On Earth
If you’re looking for a cheery destination for your
next vacation, consider these four spots and get ready to take notes on how to
really live the good life.
Singapore
With one of the highest population
densities（密度）in the world and residents known for being
workaholics, it’s hard to imagine the city-state of Singapore having one of the
happiest populations on earth. And yet in a recent survey, 95% of them said
they were either very happy or quite happy.
They give their city high marks for cleanliness and
safety—subways are pristine (洁净的) and unfailingly
arrive on time, and police are seen as helpful and good at their jobs. What’s
more, they feel they can count on their neighbours—all 5.1 million of them.
Arhus, Denmark
The residents of Arhus cheerfully part with 68% of
their income in taxes, knowing that in return they will be guaranteed free
healthcare, free daycare, and a top-notch (第一流的)
education for their children.
An energetic city of 300,000 with a lively cultural
scene and a diverse number of religions represented, the sense of equality
(the range in incomes is narrow), as well as easy access to the nearby sea and
surrounding countryside, make Arhus seem more like a small town.
San Luis Obispo, CA
According to a 2008 Gallup-Healthways study, people
who live in San Luis Obispo are more likely than residents of other U.S. cities
to smile and experience joy and are less likely to experience pain or
depression. About 64,000 of the 260,000 people in the greater metropolitan area
(都市区), located halfway between Los Angeles and
San Francisco, volunteer at over 11,000 non-profit organizations.
Few journeys to work are longer than 10 minutes (one
reason its members rank in the upper third for job satisfaction), so “it’s easy
to be involved,” resident Pierre Rademaker said. Business signs are unobtrusive
(不显眼的) by law, fewer than 11% of residents
smoke—the lower rate in the U.S.—there are lots of bike lanes, and the city’s
plaza draws crowds of people for free concerts on summer Fridays. What’s not to
love?
Monterrey, Mexico
The people of Monterrey don’t enjoy high household
incomes or access to good healthcare. Instead, there’s a profound sense of
gratitude for the new political freedom enjoyed since the oppressive
Institutional Revolutionary Party lost power in 2000—the first time in nearly a
century—as well as an emphasis on social life over work.
Another reason Monterrey residents may be so happy is
their faith in God and family, and their ability to tough it out through bad
times.
“We laugh at sickness, poverty and even death,” says
Basanez, a political scientist who lives in Monterrey. “We even have a holiday
to celebrate death. November 2, the Day of the Dead, is one of the biggest
holidays of the year.”
1.According to the passage, what do the residents in
the four cities have in common?
A. All the residents can make great fortunes by
working hard.
B. The residents there are mostly educators.
C. All the residents enjoy enough material wealth.
D. The majority of the residents are satisfied with
their current life.
2.According to the passage, we can infer that _______.
A. the people of Singapore expect their neighbours to
come to their help when necessary
B. the people of Monterrey even observe one’s death on
a special day of a year
C. the residents of Arhus happily pay 68% of their income
for their children’s education fee
D. the people who live in San Luis Obispo have job
satisfaction because they can enjoy good working conditions
3.According to the passage which of the following
statements is NOT TRUE?
A. The people of Monterrey didn’t enjoy political
freedom until 2000.
B. The residents in Singapore feel happy because of
its low population density.
C. The people of San Luis Obispo can enjoy free
concerts in summer.
D. Arhus is handy to the seaside and countryside.
4.What can we learn from the underlined part “the
sense of equality”?
A. The residents of Arhus have no racial
discrimination.
B. Arhus is considered as a family sharing everything
with each other.
C. There is no wide gap between the rich and the poor
in Arhus.
D. The residents of Arhus can depend on their
neighbours to help.
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