英銘老師告訴你其實閱讀測驗並不難，因為外國人寫文章都愛用破題法，只要看第一段即可知道文章大概在講什麼。今天的文章一開頭就是What is happiness?快樂是什麼？所以內容一定也是跟快樂有關係的囉！
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What is happiness? In the United States and in many other
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industrialized countries, it is often equated with money. Economists
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measure consumer confidence on the assumption that the resulting
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figure says something about progress and public welfare. The gross
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5
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domestic product is routinely used as shorthand for the well-being of
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a nation.
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But the small Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan has been trying a
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different idea. In 1972, concerned about the problems afflicting other
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developing countries that focused only on economic growth,
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Bhutan’s newly crowned leader, King Wangchuck, decided to make
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the gross national happiness a priority in his kingdom.
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Bhutan, the king said, needed to ensure that prosperity was
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shared across society and that it was balanced against preserving
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cultural traditions, protecting the environment, and maintaining a
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15
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responsive government.
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While household incomes in Bhutan remain among the world’s
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lowest, life expectancy increased by 19 years from 1984 to 1998,
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jumping to 66 years. The country, which is preparing to shift to a
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constitution and an elected government, requires that at least 60
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20
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percent of its lands remain forested, welcomes a limited stream of
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wealthy tourists, and exports hydropower to India.
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( ) 1. What is the result of King Wangchuck’s policies?
(A) People in Bhutan become wealthier.
(B) Bhutan attracts more tourists.
(C) People in Bhutan enjoy longer life span.
(D) Bhutan cuts down a lot of trees.
( ) 2. Which of the following is one of the king’s policies?
(A) Emphasizing economic growth. (B) Eliminating cultural traditions.
(C) Increasing household incomes. (D) Exporting hydropower to India.
( ) 3. What do the people in the United States measure happiness with?
(A) Environmental protection. (B) Life expectancy.
(C) Satisfaction with life. (D) Wealth.
( ) 4. What does Bhutan plan to achieve in the future?
(A) A democratic government. (B) Economic prosperity.
(C) Higher gross domestic product. (D) A booming tourist industry.
英銘老師：閱讀測驗是很多考生畏懼的英文題型之一，其實閱題測驗的的解題並不難，因為外國人寫文章都愛用破題法，只要看文章的開頭，大概就可以了解內容在說些什麼。例如在此篇文章的開頭，有提到“What is happiness?” (快樂是什麼)，所以文章一定跟“快樂”有關。
第1題：Wangchuck國王的政策有什麼結果？根據文章的第17行至第18行，可得知從1984年至1998年，平均壽命增加19年，躍居至66歲。因此答案是(C)。
補充：
life expectancy n. 平均壽命 (often)
Life expectancy is three years higher than before.
平均壽命比之前提高了3年。
life span n. 壽命 (often)
A recent report said that every hour of TV you watch may decrease your life span by 22 minutes.
最近的一份報告說，每看1小時電視，人的壽命就有可能減少22分鐘。
第2題：下列何者是國王的政策之一？(A)著重經濟成長。國王是把國民的快樂放在第一優先，所以(A)是錯的。(B)消滅文化傳統。整篇文章皆無提到這點，所以(B)也是錯的。(C)增加家庭收入。根據文章的第16行，可得知不丹仍是世界上國民收入最低的國家之一，所以家庭收入沒有增加，(C)也是錯的。(D)出口水力發電到印度去。根據文章的第21行，可得知(D)是對的。
補充：
emphasize v. 強調 (always)
David emphasized the importance of using time well.
David強調好好利用時間的重要性。
同義：stress, highlight.
eliminate v. 消滅(除)、淘汰 (always)
It is impossible to eliminate the lure of money.
要消除金錢的誘惑是不可能的。
Vanessa was eliminated from the competition in the second round.
Vanessa在第二輪比賽中就被淘汰。
同義：remove, eradicate.
export v. n. 出口 (always)
America is exporting beef to Taiwan.
美國向台灣出口牛肉。
hydropower n. 水力所發的電力 (sometimes)
A new hydropower plant will be built here.
在這裡會蓋一座新的水力發電廠。
第3題：美國人用什麼來衡量快樂？根據文章的第2行至第3行，得知在美國和其他許多工業化國家，快樂往往等同於金錢。所以答案是(D)。
補充：
equate v. 相等 (often)
We must not equate wealth with happiness.
我們不能把財富和幸福等同起來。
wealth n. 財富、大量 (often)
Health is better than wealth.
健康勝於財富。
The city boasts a wealth of museums.
這座城市擁有眾多的博物館。
第4題：不丹計劃在將來達成什麼目標？根據文章的第18行至第19行，得知這個國家正準備轉換成一個立憲及民選的政府，所以答案是(A)。
補充：
democratic adj. 民主的、大眾的 (always)
France is a democratic country.
法國是一個民主國家。
The candidate is seeking more added democratic support.
這候選人正在尋求更多大眾的支持。
prosperity n. 繁榮 (often)
We hope the new measures will bring us economic prosperity.
我們希望新的措施會為我們帶來經濟繁榮。
gross domestic product (GDP) 國內生產總值 (often)
Military expenses gobble nearly 20% of GDP.
軍費開支耗費國內生產總值近20%。