Text 3

　　Robert F. Kennedy once said that a country's GDP measures “everything except that which makes life worthwhile.” With Britain voting to leave the European Union, and GDP already predicted to slow as a result, it is now a timely moment to assess what he was referring to.

　　The question of GDP and its usefulness has annoyed policymakers for over half a century. Many argue that it is a flawed concept. It measures things that do not matter and misses things that do. By most recent measures, the UK’s GDP has been the envy of the Western world, with record low unemployment and high growth figures. If everything was going so well, then why did over 17 million people vote for Brexit, despite the warnings about what it could do to their country’s economic prospects?

　　A recent annual study of countries and their ability to convert growth into well-being sheds some light on that question. Across the 163 countries measured, the UK is one of the poorest performers in ensuring that economic growth is translated into meaningful improvements for its citizens. Rather than just focusing on GDP, over 40 different sets of criteria from health, education and civil society engagement have been measured to get a more rounded assessment of how countries are performing.

　　While all of these countries face their own challenges, there are a number of consistent themes. Yes, there has been a budding economic recovery since the 2008 global crash, but in key indicators in areas such as health and education, major economies have continued to decline. Yet this isn’t the case with all countries. Some relatively poor European countries have seen huge improvements across measures including civil society, income equality and environment.

　　This is a lesson that rich countries can learn: When GDP is no longer regarded as the sole measure of a country’s success, the world looks very different.

　　So what Kennedy was referring to was that while GDP has been the most common method for measuring the economic activity of nations, as a measure, it is no longer enough. It does not include important factors such as environmental quality or education outcomes – all things that contribute to a person's sense of well-being.

　　The sharp hit to growth predicted around the world and in the UK could lead to a decline in the everyday services we depend on for our well-being and for growth. But policymakers who refocus efforts on improving well-being rather than simply worrying about GDP figures could avoid the forecasted doom and may even see progress.

　　31. Robert F. Kennedy is cited because he

　　[A]praised the UK for its GDP.

　　[B]identified GDP with happiness.

　　[C]misinterpreted the role of GDP.

　　[D]had a low opinion of GDP.

　　32. It can be inferred from Paragraph 2 that

　　[A]the UK is reluctant to remold its economic pattern.

　　[B]the UK will contribute less to the world economy.

　　[C]GDP as the measure of success is widely defied in the UK.

　　[D]policymakers in the UK are paying less attention to GDP.

　　33. Which of the following is true about the recent annual study?

　　[A]It excludes GDP as an indicator.

　　[B]It is sponsored by 163 countries.

　　[C]Its criteria are questionable.

　　[D]Its results are enlightening.

　　34. In the last two paragraphs, the author suggests that

　　[A]the UK is preparing for an economic boom.

　　[B]high GDP foreshadows an economic decline.

　　[C]it is essential to consider factors beyond GDP.

　　[D]it requires caution to handle economic issues.

　　35. Which of the following is the best for the text?

　　[A]High GDP But Inadequate Well-being, a UK lesson

　　[B]GDP figures, a Window on Global Economic Health

　　[C] Robert F. Kennedy, a Terminator of GDP

　　[D]Brexit, the UK’s Gateway to Well-being

　　答案：31-35 DCDCA

　　31.答案【D】had a low opinion of GDP.

　　解析：題目問的是Robert被引用是因為什么。根據(jù)題目中的人名定位到第一段第一句話Robert F. Kennedy once said that a country's GDP measures “everything except that which makes life worthwhile.”這句話是說這個人認為一個國家的GDP可以衡量所有東西，除了讓生活有意義的事。這個觀點擺明了Robert對GDP持不欣賞的態(tài)度。D選項 a low opinion不高的評價，顯然是對原文的概括性描述，因此選D。

　　32. 答案【C】GDP as the measure of success is widely defied in the UK.

　　解析：題目明確說了從第二段中找答案。A選項中的economic pattern在原文中沒有直接的表達，但在二段末句···people vote for Brexit, despite the warnings about what it could do to their country’s economic prospects?中，原文有提到人們投票脫歐，盡管有很多人警告他們這樣做可能會對國家經(jīng)濟前景有影響。這說明英國人不怕改變現(xiàn)有經(jīng)濟狀況，因此與A中的reluctant不情愿不相符。B選項中英國對世界經(jīng)濟的貢獻問題，在第二段中完全沒提，只有the UK’s GDP has been the envy of the Western world英國GDP讓西方世界嫉妒的表述。C選項說GDP用來衡量幸福的作用以及被英國人普遍否定了。原文中第二段第二句說it is a flawed concept，認為GDP是有問題的，第三句緊接著說It measures things that do not matter and misses things that do表面GDP其實忽視了很多關(guān)鍵的東西，并不能衡量幸福。第四句、第五句拿UK來舉例，說英國GDP很好，但是人們卻要脫歐來改變現(xiàn)狀，暗示人們的生活并不好。整段說明了英國人并不認為他們的高GDP給她們帶來了好的生活，與C選項正好形成正話反說，為正確選項。D選項policymakers在第二段第一句出現(xiàn)，并不存在所謂英國的policymakers，更沒有談過其是否關(guān)注GDP。

　　33. 答案【D】Its results are enlightening.

　　解析：這題根據(jù)題干中的recent annual study定位到第三段第一句A recent annual study ...and ...sheds some light on that question。這句話中的shed light on 短語就是照亮，闡釋的意思，跟D選項中的enlighten啟發(fā)是同義轉(zhuǎn)換，因此為正確答案。

　　34.答案【C】it is essential to consider factors beyond GDP.

　　解析 ：從題目可知答案來自于最后兩段。第六段第一句···, as a measure, it is no longer enough說明GDP不靠譜，第二句It does not include important factors···that contribute to a person's sense of well-being說明GDP沒有包含所有個人幸福的要素。最后一段最后一句But policymakers who refocus efforts on improving well-being rather than simply worrying about GDP figures could avoid the forecasted doom and may even see progress.也明確說了制定政策的人要關(guān)注提高福利，而不是簡單關(guān)注GDP數(shù)字。這些句子都與C選項factors beyond GDP相符。

　　35. 答案【A】High GDP But Inadequate Well-being, a UK lesson

　　解析：第一段第一句就引用名人名言，說GDP是不靠譜的，第二句就拿英國脫歐舉例，說it is now a timely moment to assess what he was referring to，表明英國脫歐證明他說得有道理，咱們要好好聽聽。第二段繼續(xù)說英國GDP高，但是人們要搞事——脫歐，說明人們?nèi)兆硬缓眠^。第三段，第四段開始分析為啥英國人不乖乖聽話過日子，原來是福利在后退but in key indicators in areas such as health and education, major economies have continued to decline。第五段直接說富裕國家要引以為戒：This is a lesson that rich countries can learn。所以整篇文章的主題就是GDP不靠譜，福利不給力不行，英國脫歐是例證。A選項正好包括了這三個要素，High GDP, Inadequate Well-being和a UK lesson因此選A。

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