Passage Two
Questions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.
GDP growth is not a good indicator of how well a country is performing, and should not be the primary goal of governments. Unlimited growth is not sustainable, and economic thinking is moving toward the idea that we should aim for sustainability in our economic models. But while a sustainable economy is vital to our future, it is a means to an end, not an end in itself.
The idea that governments should focus on happiness has its critics. There are concerns about how happiness can be measured. Is happiness not a fleeting and subjective psychological state? Don't different people experience different levels of happiness? Even on the broadest interpretation of 'happiness' as prosperity or 'life satisfaction', people want different things.
Of course, governments cannot impose life satisfaction on citizens. But our happiness relies on collaborative efforts as a society. A government's obligation lies in creating conditions that promote prosperity. And there is good reason to suppose that such conditions exist, are globally applicable, and are discover able through research.
In a recently published article, philosopher Julian Bagginess suggests we should focus on 'real wealth' for citizens, which does not depend on GDP growth. access is key: people do not need to own, but rather access things that enable them to live well. Technological advances and changes in social behavior enable us to make more efficient use of the assets that we already have. And focusing on access to the resources people need to live better lives could help reduce inequality.
As far as it goes, this has much in common with proposals tabled by 'happiness' advocates. But it sets the bar far too low for what governments can and should be doing for their citizens.
For example, it's not clear how a 'real wealth' economy would remedy the epidemic of mental ill-health that plagues our society. In Western countries, at least-poor mental health is more detrimental to belling than poverty. Over and above a vastly improved provision of therapeutic mental healthcare, there are preventative measures for improving mental health that governments could and should adopt. The WHO recommends establishing institutions that facilitate community participation—educational programs and interventions that provide skills for promoting mental belling. It says a lot, however, that the WHO feels the need to appeal to the economic benefits of improving mental health to persuade governments that the cost of taking proposed measures is justified. As long as the economy is their priority, governments need go no further than ensuring citizens' continued productivity.
To demand that governments set the 'happiness' of citizens as their highest priority is to demand that they view citizens as ends in themselves.
51. What does the passage say is the more recent thinking of economic growth?
A) It should be made sustainable.
B) It is vital to the future of humanity.
C) It should be governments' chief concern.
D) It is an indicator of government performance.
52. Why are some people opposed to the idea that governments should focus on happiness?
A) Governments cannot impose happiness on citizens.
B) People's happiness is built upon their own endeavor.
C) Happiness means different things to different people.
D) Happiness depends on sustainable economic growth.
53. What does philosopher Julian Bagginess suggest governments do in a recently published article?
A) Try to reduce inequality between the rich and the poor.
B) Provide people with access to resources for a better life.
C) Change people's behaviors to put social wealth to better use.
D) Make use of advanced technologies to improve people's lives.
54. Why does the WHO feel the need to appeal to the economic benefits of improving mental health to justify its recommendations?
A) Mental health programs cannot be executed without GDP growth.
B) Psychological interventions are conducive to people's belling.
C) Poor mental health is detrimental to a nation's economic system.
D) Governments still take economic development as their priority.
55. What message does the author try to convey at the end of the passage?
A) Governments' goal should be prosperity-driven.
B) Governments' goal should be people-oriented.
C) Governments should consider citizens' views in decision-making.
D) Governments should set sustained productivity as their top priority.
答案解析：
由题干中的关键词“more recent thinking of economic growth”定位到第一段。“economic thinking is moving toward the idea that we should aim for sustainability in our economic models.”提到经济思想正朝着在我们的经济模式中追求可持续发展的方向转变，所以选A。
由题干定位到第二段。“Don't different people experience different levels of happiness? Even on the broadest interpretation of 'happiness' as prosperity or 'life satisfaction', people want different things.”提到不同的人对幸福的体验程度不同，即使对“幸福”作最宽泛的解释，人们想要的东西也不同，即幸福对不同的人意味着不同的事情，所以选C。
由题干中的关键词“philosopher Julian Bagginess”、“governments do”定位到第四段。“In a recently published article, philosopher Julian Bagginess suggests we should focus on 'real wealth' for citizens...Access is key: people do not need to own, but rather access things that enable them to live well.”提到哲学家Julian Bagginess建议应关注公民的“真实财富”，关键是让人们能够接触到使他们生活得好的东西，所以选B。
由题干中的关键词“the WHO”、“appeal to the economic benefits of improving mental health”定位到最后一段。“As long as the economy is their priority, governments need go no further than ensuring citizens' continued productivity.”提到只要经济是政府的优先事项，政府就只需确保公民持续的生产力，说明政府仍以经济发展为优先，所以世卫组织觉得有必要从改善心理健康的经济利益方面来证明其建议的合理性，所以选D。
由题干中的关键词“the end of the passage”定位到最后一段。“To demand that governments set the 'happiness' of citizens as their highest priority is to demand that they view citizens as ends in themselves.”提到要求政府把公民的“幸福”作为最高优先事项，就是要求政府把公民本身视为目的，即作者想传达政府的目标应该是以人为本的，所以选B。
