双语有声阅读:Love or Money? 钱可以买到幸福吗？

Love or Money? 钱可以买到幸福吗？

There is a Web site called the “World Database of Happiness.” It combines and analyzes¹ the results of hundreds of surveys from around the world that have been conducted on life satisfaction. Most of the findings are predictable, but a few are surprising.

The database makes it clear that there is not a strong connection between material wealth and general contentment. It is a cliché to say that money can’t buy happiness, but the old saying seems to be supported by research. Many people still cling to the belief that gaining riches will be the answer to all their problems, yet they are probably mistaken.

Studies have been carried out on people who acquired sudden wealth, such as lottery² winners. In most cases, after the initial joy had worn off, people were not left with a sense of lasting³ happiness. In fact, they tended to revert⁴ to the way they felt before they became rich. Previously⁵ contented⁶ people continue to be contented, while those who were miserable⁷ before sink back into misery⁸.

If material wealth does not bring happiness, then what does? Perhaps happiness has something to do with where you live. The authorities at the World Database on Happiness have surveyed levels of happiness in different countries. Apparently⁹, people in America, Canada, and Singapore are very happy; people living in India and Russia, not surprisingly, are not happy.

Other surveys consistently point to the importance of relationships. Family relationships in particular seem to be the key to long-term contentment. The Web site suggests that falling in love and having children are two of the situations that bring the greatest happiness. 

Nowadays people look to technology as an alternative source of satisfaction. People increasingly spend more time alone watching TV or surfing the Internet rather than spending time with family. Can technology truly make people happy? It is too difficult to tell, but one thing is sure: If the Web site’s research is accurate, time spent with your family is a better investment than time spent making money.

有一个网站叫 “世界幸福数据库”。它综合并分析了来自世界各地对生活满意度所做的上百个调查得出的结果。大多数结果都在意料之中，不过也有一些意外。

这个数据库表明物质生活的富裕和整体的满意度并没有太大的联系。虽然 “金钱买不到幸福”已是陈词，但研究结果似乎证实这句俗话。许多人仍然坚信得到财富就可以解决他们所有的问题，但他们可能错了。

研究一夕致富的人，比如赢得彩票奖金的人，在大多数情形下，最初的欣喜逐渐消失后，人们心中并没有留下持久幸福的感觉。事实上，他们往往又回到致富前的心理状态。过去满足的人仍然很满足，而那些在过去郁郁寡欢的人则又重拾悲伤。

如果物质生活的富裕无法带来快乐，那么到底什么才能使人快乐呢？也许快乐和你居住的地方有关。 “世界幸福数据库”的专家调查了不同国家的快乐程度。显而易见，美国，加拿大和新加坡的人非常快乐，而住在印度和俄罗斯的人，毫不意外地并不快乐。

其它调查结果一致指出各种人际关系的重要性。尤其家庭关系似乎是令人能长久感到满足的关键。这个网站指出坠入情网和生儿育女是给人们带来最大幸福的两大源泉。

现在人们指望科技能成为满足感的另一个来源。人们把越来越多的时间花在一个人看电视或上网，而并非与家人共聚。科技真的能使人幸福吗？这很难说，但有一件事是可以确定的：如果这个网站的研究结果精确，和赚钱花的时间相比，与家人共度的时光是更好的投资
 

1 analyzes   

v.分析( analyze的第三人称单数 )；分解；解释；对…进行心理分析

参考例句：

• This approach analyzes management by studying experience usually through cases. 这个学派通常从实例获得经验，用以分析管理。 来自辞典例句
• The econometrician analyzes statistical data. 经济计量学者要分析统计材料。 来自辞典例句

2 lottery   

n.抽彩；碰运气的事，难于算计的事

参考例句：

• He won no less than ￡5000 in the lottery.他居然中了5000英镑的奖券。
• They thought themselves lucky in the lottery of life.他们认为自己是变幻莫测的人生中的幸运者。

3 lasting   

adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持

参考例句：

• The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
• We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。

4 revert   

v.恢复，复归，回到

参考例句：

• Let us revert to the earlier part of the chapter.让我们回到本章的前面部分。
• Shall we revert to the matter we talked about yesterday?我们接着昨天谈过的问题谈，好吗？

5 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

6 contented   

adj.满意的，安心的，知足的

参考例句：

• He won't be contented until he's upset everyone in the office.不把办公室里的每个人弄得心烦意乱他就不会满足。
• The people are making a good living and are contented,each in his station.人民安居乐业。

7 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。

8 misery   

n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦

参考例句：

• Business depression usually causes misery among the working class.商业不景气常使工薪阶层受苦。
• He has rescued me from the mire of misery.他把我从苦海里救了出来。

9 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。