环球英语 — 68:Bhutan - The Happy Country
时间:2019-01-19 作者:英语课 分类:环球英语 Spotlight
Voice 1
Hello. I’m Marina Santee.
Voice 2
And I’m Elizabeth Lickiss. Welcome to Spotlight 1. This programme uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 1
What do you dream of? What would make you happy? Is it money - being rich? It would be nice to buy the latest modern technology? What about jewels and clothes? ... the list could go on and on. No one can deny 2 that these things are nice but are they enough? In today’s Spotlight programme we ask what makes us really happy. And is it good for countries to make happiness the centre of government policy 3?
Voice 2
Experts in the 1970’s carried out a study in Britain. They wanted to find out about how British people felt. They asked people to describe their general emotional 4 state. The experts found that thirty-four percent [34%] of people described themselves as happy. They repeated the study in the late 1990’s. This time only thirty percent [30%] of British people claimed to be happy.
Voice 1
The wealth of the country improved during this time. So the result surprised a lot of people. But the experts were not surprised. They said that this is a common problem in western societies. Extra wealth fails to bring extra happiness.
Voice 2
Researchers at the BBC 5 asked British people to answer some questions about happiness. They asked, ‘Should the government make happiness or wealth the main aim for the country?’. Eighty-one percent [81%] of people stated happiness as a goal.
Voice 1
The researchers then asked people to say what happiness meant to them. Ilona Boniwell is from Oxford 6 University. She is an expert on how humans think. She looked at the people’s answers. Ilona said that good friends and a supporting family made people happy. Also that people found it very important to feel safe and sure in their spirit. They needed inner 7 peace.
Voice 2
In the kingdom of Bhutan, happiness is the most important goal. The kingdom of Bhutan is in the Himalayas north of India. King Wangchuck rules the country. The King is very clear about the way he wants the country to develop. He proclaimed 8 that, ‘Gross 9 national happiness is more important than gross national product’. The King believes that the happiness of his people is more important than increasing the wealth of the country. It may be a good goal to have. But it is very difficult to reach. Not everyone in Bhutan is happy. The country has its fair share of difficulties 10. But it is the only country in the world that has happiness at the centre of its government policy.
Voice 1
Mrs Lem lives in the village of Tempakha in Bhutan. She says it is a happy place to live. She does not consider wealth to be the answer to gaining happiness. Most of the people in her community are farmers. They lead a simple life. The land is fertile 11 - it provides enough food. The villages can grow two rice crops a year. They also grow chillies, tomatoes, beans and aubergines. Mrs Lem says she has everything that she needs.
Voice 2
Economic developments do happen in the villages of Bhutan. But they happen slowly. The people of Tempakha hope that they will soon be connected to the country’s electricity system. And they also hope to build a road to transport their surplus 12 crops. The King recognises that some economic growth 13 is important. But each new development in Bhutan is considered carefully. Will it make people happier? Will it really make life better?
Voice 1
In Bhutan’s capital city people see a very different way of life. In 1999 the King permitted 14 television. International media 15 now shows a whole new world to the young people of Bhutan. Young people are better informed about the world. They are in a better position to develop businesses. But the new technology has also brought problems. The young people see a world where wealth seems to buy more happiness. And the young people want what they see.
Voice 2
So are the young people of Bhutan seeing a false image?
Voice 1
The Worldwatch Institute is a respected research organisation 16. It collects information on world economic, social and health developments. Worldwatch has studied the effects of wealth on people’s health and happiness. Worldwatch states that most people in developed countries have enough money. They can satisfy 17 their everyday needs. They do not need to earn more.
Voice 2
Experts at the Worldwatch Institute say that since 1957 the average American has doubled his wealth. But American people are not happier. Studies show that only a third of Americans described themselves as ‘very happy’. This is the same number as in 1957.
Voice 1
Daniel Kahneman is an expert working at the University of Princeton America. He says,
Voice 3
‘There is a lot of evidence 18 that being richer is not making us happier. The research suggests that after you have a home, food and clothes, then extra money does not seem make a lot of difference.’
Voice 2
In Oxford, Ilona Boniwell is concerned. She says that people in developed countries may have more money. But they have also lost a lot of their hope and happiness. Ilona wants people to look at their lives in a different way. She wants people to put more time into creating a strong family. She also wants people to spend more time thinking and developing 19 their spiritual 20 selves.
Voice 1
Mark Windsley is a man who agrees with that. Mark tells of his experience. He had a good job, money and power. He had more money than he needed. He could have anything he wanted. But he was not happy. He felt a huge desire to work harder and harder. The months went by. Mark could no longer deal with the pressure of work. He became sick. Doctors said that he had suffered a mental breakdown 21. It was a terrible time. Mark felt alone and afraid. He cried out to God to help him. At the time Mark says he felt stupid. He did not even believe that God existed. But today Mark describes that time as a turning point in his life. He says that God answered his cry. He felt close to God. Mark felt stronger. He knew that he was no longer alone.
Voice 2
In time Mark recovered from his sickness. And today he teaches other people to care for their whole selves. He says,
Voice 4
‘Look at the Bible 22. It is God’s guide as to how to live a healthy life. Christian 23 teaching 24 says that we are made up of three parts - body, mind and spirit. For a balanced and happy life we need an understanding of all three parts. All the money in the world cannot buy inner spiritual peace. That is something that God freely 25 gives to those who love and trust him. So my advice is - take it and enjoy it’.
- This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
- The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。
- Don't imagine you can deny that.你休想低赖。
- He didn't deny the facts.他没有否认这些事实。
- This policy is very tough.这个政策是很强硬的。
- The country has always pursued a policy of peace.该国一直奉行和平政策。
- Emotional people don't stop to calculate.感情容易冲动的人做事往往不加考虑。
- This is an emotional scene in the play.这是剧中动人的一幕。
- She works for the BBC.她为英国广播公司工作。
- The BBC was founded in 1922.英国广播公司建于1922年。
- At present he has become a Professor of Chemistry at Oxford.他现在已是牛津大学的化学教授了。
- This is where the road to Oxford joins the road to London.这是去牛津的路与去伦敦的路的汇合处。
- The label is on the inner side of the box.标签贴在盒子内侧。
- Other people seek the mountains for renewal of their inner lives.另一些人到深山中去,寻求新的精神生活。
- The president proclaimed a state of emergency. 总统宣布了紧急状态。
- The ringing bells proclaimed the birth of the prince. 响亮的钟声宣布王子的诞生。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The gross weight of the box of chocolates is 500 grams.那盒巧克力的全部重量是500克。
- I consider this a gross oversight on your part.我把这件事看作是你的一大疏忽。
- I am acutely aware of the difficulties we face. 我十分清楚我们面临的困难。
- the difficulties of English syntax 英语句法的难点
- The district is fertile of wheat.该地区盛产小麦。
- Plants grow well in fertile soil.植物在肥沃的土壤里长势良好。
- The manufacturers in some countries dumped their surplus commodities abroad.一些国家的制造商向国外倾销过剩产品。
- The surplus steam was blown off through the pipes.多余的蒸气通过管道放掉了。
- All living things depend on the sun for their growth.万物靠太阳生长。
- Youth is the time of physical growth.青年时期是长身体的时期。
- Radios are not permitted in the library. 图书馆内不许使用收音机。
- Entrance is permitted only on production of a ticket. 出示门票才可进入。
- The local media reported rioting across the country.当地媒体报道了全国范围的骚乱。
- His latest movie is being hyped up by the media.他新近的电影正被媒体大肆炒作。
- The method of his organisation work is worth commending.他的组织工作的方法值得称道。
- His application for membership of the organisation was rejected.他想要加入该组织的申请遭到了拒绝。
- Her father tried his best to satisfy her demands.她的父亲想尽一切办法来满足她的要求。
- She is too poor to satisfy her family's material needs.她太穷了,无法满足家人的物质需要。
- The first signs of spring are in evidence.春天的最初迹象已显然可见。
- From the evidence I must conclude that you are wrong.从证据看,我敢断定你错了。
- Transport has always been the key to developing trade.运输一直是发展贸易的关键。
- They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
- His spiritual nature is good.他心灵本质上是善良的。
- Their friendship was strictly spiritual.他们的友情完全是精神上的。
- She suffered a nervous breakdown.她患神经衰弱。
- The plane had a breakdown in the air,but it was fortunately removed by the ace pilot.飞机在空中发生了故障,但幸运的是被王牌驾驶员排除了。
- According to the Bible we are all the seed of Adam.根据《圣经》所说的,我们都是亚当的后裔。
- This dictionary should be your Bible when studying English.学习英语时,这本字典应是你的主要参考书。
- They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
- His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。
- We all agree in adopting the new teaching method. 我们一致同意采取新的教学方法。
- He created a new system of teaching foreign languages.他创造了一种新的外语教学体系。