They Say Irelands the Best

Ireland is the best place in the world to live in 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 the 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 breakdown in traditional institutions and family values in part take away from a positive impact."

"Ireland wins because it successfully combines the most desirab1e 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 GDP after Luxembourg, took the l3th place in the survey. China was in the 1lower 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

正确答案： B

答案解析：Ireland is the best place in the world to live in for 2005…．爱尔兰是2005年世界上最适合居住的地方，……这是文章中的第一句话。题干说的是：在长达2005年里，爱尔兰一直是世界上最适合于人类居住的地方。因此，不对。

2）. Job security is the least important measure of life quality.

A. Right

B. Wrong

C. Not Mentioned

正确答案： C

答案解析：题干说的是：工作稳定是生活质量中最不重要的衡量标准。文章第三段提到了工作稳定(job security)，但是没有说工作稳定是生活质量中最不重要的衡量标准。

3）. Cost of living in Ireland is pretty high.

A. Right

B. Wrong

C. Not Mentioned

正确答案： A

答案解析：题干说的是：在爱尔兰生活费用相当高。这一信息可以从第四段中的词组“the high cost of living”(很高的生活费用)中找到。

4）. Family life in Zimbabwe is not stable.

A. Right

B. Wrong

C. Not Mentioned

正确答案： C

答案解析：题干说的是：在津巴布韦，家庭生活不稳定。文章没有提到。

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

正确答案： A

答案解析：题干说的是：爱尔兰名居榜首是因为它把新时期的最佳的成分和一些好的传统结合在一起。这一信息可以从第七段中找到。

6）. To measure life quality is easy.

A. Right

B. Wrong

C. Not Mentioned

正确答案： B

答案解析：题干说的是：评价生活质量很容易。第八段是这么说的：The magazine admitted measuring quality of life is not a straightforward thing to do．该杂志承认评价生活质量不是一件简单的事。因此，不对。

7）. The United States of America is among the top 10 countries.

A. Right

B. Wrong

C. Not Mentioned

正确答案： B

答案解析：题干说的是：美国在前十名。事实是它排在第十三名。有关此信息可以在最后一段找到。

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