西部落：丹麦: 生活品质最高的国家

Glob glob glob, around the Watercooler this morning, the question is simple, but the answer may be complex. What do you think is the happiest country on the planet? Ladies, some guesses?

Somewhere in the South Pacific, perhaps. Fiji was a guess over here (one of our...), any place with steel drums. Yes, over there.

So we're going with a happy cultural environment?

It would have to be an island, I would think, Yes, (yeah) I would think, if not the South Pacific, maybe the Caribbean? I don't know.

And you?

I know the answer, go.

Oh, I would, I would still say America. I'm an Ameri-can, (Oh, you are...) not an Ameri-can't. But let's take a look. David M with the researchers who came up with the answer. Let's see what it is.

Yes.

The happiest country on earth? Denmark. Researchers at the University of Leicester in England looked at 178 countries. What mattered most? Health, wealth, and education. "Precisely¹", says the Danish Embassy².

We are happy because we have a balance between our work and our private life.

How many weeks of vacation?

Do you really wanna know?

Let me know.

5 to 6 weeks.

But vacation, she says, is only part of it, there're shorter work weeks, 37 hours on average and higher education and health care for all and when it comes to the people, well, they say they are humble³.

You say they don't like to brag⁴ --, (no) and yet, you'll be happy to tell us that you're happy.

We'll be happy to tell we're happy, but then nothing more and we'll do it together.

But no bragging⁵?

No bragging.

But they have reason to and who's behind them? Switzerland, Austria, Iceland and the Bahamas. Where's the US? 23rd, not so bad out of 178.

But Denmark is not as big as the United States, by any means.

Definitely not, it's a little smaller than Lake Michigan so er...

Denmark?

Yes.

All of Denmark?

All of Denmark.

There's a new poll⁶ out about the happiest country on earth. Give a guess.

Anguilla, Italy.

Anguilla? Italy?

Finland, though I, one of those Nordic (close close close ) Nordic countries. Sweden.

Getting closer.

Starts with a D, sounds like (Denmark) landmark⁷...

Yeah.

Denmark, there you go.

What do you think is the happiest country?

It's my country.

It's your country?

It's Denmark.

You are from Denmark?

Yeah.

What are the chances! She's from Denmark.

You've heard that song, Don't Worry, Be Happy?

Yeah.

Is that your national anthem⁸?

No, not yet.

But it could be.

Could be.

Don't worry, be happy.

How about my ma'am you're saying man mark? (I love it, love it)

(Inaudible...)

But there is something to be said about the balance, you know, people who talk more about life and happiness (true) than work and in this country, we talk so much about work.

It's true.

I think that, and lunch of herring.

Herring is not as pickled as this. . . )

Herring and gulag (smog as board)

But seriously, the question: You said the islands, all these places, would you want to live there? Would you want to live in Fiji instead of here?

Not forever.

But Denmark is a beautiful place. I have been there. (It is) (yeah). I have to say it is very very inspiring.

It is. . .

We love America, but we love America.

It's joky we're happier?

Exactly

Contest desire. .

1 precisely   

adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地

参考例句：

• It's precisely that sort of slick sales-talk that I mistrust.我不相信的正是那种油腔滑调的推销宣传。
• The man adjusted very precisely.那个人调得很准。

2 embassy   

n.大使馆，大使及其随员

参考例句：

• Large crowd demonstrated outside the British Embassy.很多群众在英国大使馆外面示威。
• He's a U.S. diplomat assigned to the embassy in London.他是美国驻伦敦大使馆的一名外交官。

3 humble   

adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低

参考例句：

• In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见，他将在选举中获胜。
• Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。

4 brag   

v./n.吹牛，自夸；adj.第一流的

参考例句：

• He made brag of his skill.他夸耀自己技术高明。
• His wealth is his brag.他夸张他的财富。

5 bragging   

v.自夸，吹嘘( brag的现在分词 )；大话

参考例句：

• He's always bragging about his prowess as a cricketer. 他总是吹嘘自己板球水平高超。 来自辞典例句
• Now you're bragging, darling. You know you don't need to brag. 这就是夸口，亲爱的。你明知道你不必吹。 来自辞典例句

6 poll   

n.民意测验，民意调查，选举投票

参考例句：

• The result of the poll won't be known until midnight.选举结果要到午夜才能揭晓。
• They expected a heavy poll.他们期望会有很高的投票数。

7 landmark   

n.陆标，划时代的事，地界标

参考例句：

• The Russian Revolution represents a landmark in world history.俄国革命是世界历史上的一个里程碑。
• The tower was once a landmark for ships.这座塔曾是船只的陆标。

8 anthem   

n.圣歌，赞美诗，颂歌

参考例句：

• All those present were standing solemnly when the national anthem was played.奏国歌时全场肃立。
• As he stood on the winner's rostrum,he sang the words of the national anthem.他站在冠军领奖台上，唱起了国歌。