IELTS reading · Reading Test 19

Hello Happiness!

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Section 1

Reading Passage 1

Hello Happiness!

Preview
Ask 100 people what would make them happy, and a sizeable majority would say “winning the lottery.” Yet, if they won a vast fortune, within a year they would be back to their previous level of happiness. The fact is that money has many uses, but more money does not mean more happiness. Surveys carried out in recent years by leading psychologists and sociologists all confirm that while individuals may increase their material wealth during the course of their lifetime, this has no bearing on their well-being. And what is true for individuals can be applied on a larger scale to the world population. Statistically, wealthier nations do not achieve higher scores on the happiness-ometer than developing or underdeveloped nations. Once the basic criteria of adequate shelter and nutrition are satisfied, increased wealth plays no significant role. So why the obsession with getting rich? The answer, say researchers, is simple. Call it jealousy, competitiveness, or just keeping up with the Joneses, however well we are doing, there is always someone else who is doing better. Just as we acquire a new $25,000 car, our neighbour parks his brand spanking new $40,000 set of wheels in his drive, causing us much consternation, but fuelling us with new aspirations in the process. And so the cycle continues. Money, or material wealth, may be a prime mover, but it is not the foundation of our well-being. If money isn’t the key to happiness, then what is? In all 44 countries surveyed by a prominent research centre, family life provided the greatest source of satisfaction. Married people live on…

Questions 1–3

Choose THREE letters A - H. Circle the correct letters, A - H, below. NB Your answers may be given in any order. Which THREE of the following statements are true, according to the text?

1.

2.

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Answers & explanations

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13 answers3 explanations open
  1. 1

    C

    - Option A, B, D, H: no information - Option C: + The statement in option C can be found in the 7th sentence of paragraph 1: ‘Once the basic criteria of adequate shelter and nutrition are satisfied, increased wealth plays no significant role’ + Pay attention to the key phrases from option C and the corresponding phrases in the paragraph: ‘a place to live’ = ‘adequate shelter’ + Moreover, the 7th sentence is written in a conditional structure with the aim of confirming that having an adequate shelter is human’s basic needs - Option E: + Firstly, look for the keyword ‘married couple’ and ‘unmarried couple’; then, quickly skim and scan through the passage. + The answer for this Qs can be found in paragraph 2 in the 2nd sentence. Read this sentence carefully, comparing it with the given information from the option + Finally, make a conclusion that option E is the correct answer - Option G: + Firstly, look for the keyword ‘policy making’ and ‘well-being’ and its same expression such as ‘political process’; then, quickly skim and scan through the passage. + The answer for this Qs can be found in paragraph 4 in the 4th sentence. Read this sentence carefully, comparing it with the given information from the option + Finally, make a conclusion that option G is the correct answer => Hence, the answer is C, E, G

  2. 2

    E

    Option E states that unmarried people living together are less likely to be happy than married people. This is supported by paragraph 2, which says married people enjoy greater physical and psychological health than 'the unmarried and, surprisingly, couples in a cohabitational relationship.' This means even cohabiting (unmarried) couples are less happy than married couples. Therefore, E is correct.

  3. 3

    G

    Option G states that involvement in policy making can increase well-being. This is confirmed in paragraph 4, where it says 'the more that governments recognise the needs of their citizens and allow them to have a say in the political process, the happier those citizens will be.' Having a say in the political process is equivalent to involvement in policy making, and being happier equates to increased well-being. Therefore, G is correct.

  4. 4

    F

    Premium explanation

  5. 5

    B

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  6. 6

    D

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  7. 7

    G

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  8. 8

    NOT GIVEN

    Answer only

  9. 9

    TRUE

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  10. 10

    NOT GIVEN

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  11. 11

    FALSE

    Answer only

  12. 12

    TRUE

    Answer only

  13. 13

    FALSE

    Answer only

Understand why, not only what.

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