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.”
小题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.小题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小题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.小题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.
