They Say Irelands the Best
Ireland is the best place in the world to live for 2005, according to a life quality ranking that appeared in Britains Economist magazine last week.
The ambitious attempt to compare happiness levels around the world is based on the principle that wealth is not the only measure of human satisfaction and well-being.
The index of 111 countries uses data on incomes, health, unemployment, climate, political stability, job security, gender equality as well as what the magazine calls freedom, family and community life.
Despite the bad weather, troubled health service, traffic congestion, gender inequality, and the high cost of living, Ireland scored an impressive 8.33 points out of 10.
That put it well ahead of second-place Switzerland, which managed 8.07. Zimbabwe troubled by political insecurity and hunger, is rated the gloomiest, picking up only 3.89 points.
Although rising incomes and increased individual choices are highly valued, the report said, some of the factors associated with modernization such as the breakdownin traditional institutions and family values in part take away from a positive impact.
Ireland wins because it successfully combines the most desirable elements of the new with the preservation of certain warm elements of the old, such as stable family and community life.
The magazine admitted measuring quality of life is not a straightforward thing to do, and that its findings would have their critics.
No. 2 on the list is Switzerland. The other nations in the top 10 are Norway, Luxembourg, Sweden, Australia, Iceland, Italy, Denmark and Spain.
The UK is positioned at No. 29, a much lower position chiefly because of the social and family breakdown recorded in official statistics. The US, which has the second highest per capita GDPafter Luxembourg, took the 13th place in the survey. China was in the lower half of the league at 60th.
1 For 2,005 years, Ireland has been the best place for humans to live in.
A Right
B Wrong
C Not mentioned
2 Job security is the least important measure of life quality.
A Right
B Wrong
C Not mentioned
3 Cost of living in Ireland is pretty high.
A Right
B Wrong
C Not mentioned
4 Family life in Zimbabwe is not stable.
A Right
B Wrong
C Not mentioned
5 Ireland is positioned at No. 1 because it combines the most desirable elements of the new with some good elements of the old.
A Right
B Wrong
C Not mentioned
6 To measure life quality is easy.
A Right
B Wrong
C Not mentioned
7 The United States of America is among the top 10 countries.
A Right
B Wrong
C Not mentioned
【参考答案】1. B 2. C 3. A 4. C 5. A 6. B 7. B