第一段
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.
单词&词组
measure v. 衡量，评估
timely a. 及时的，适时的
assess v. 评定
refer to 提到，谈到
本段翻译
罗伯特•F•肯尼迪曾经说过，一个国家的GDP衡量的是“除了那些让生活更有价值的东西”。随着英国投票决定退出欧盟，而国内生产总值（GDP）已经被预测会因此放缓，现在是评估他所指的内容的时候了。
第二段
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?
单词&词组
annoy v. 使恼怒，使生气
flawed a. 有错误的，有缺点的
be the envy of 是令某人羡慕/嫉妒的事物
record a. 创纪录的，空前的
vote for 投票支持
economic prospect 经济前景
本段翻译
半个多世纪以来，GDP及其效用的问题一直困扰着决策者。许多人认为这是一个有缺陷的概念。它衡量的是无关紧要的事情，而忽略了有意义的事情。从最近的衡量标准来看，英国的GDP一直令西方世界羡慕不已，失业率和增长率均创下历史新高。如果一切都进展顺利，那么为什么超过1700万人投票支持英国脱欧，尽管有人警告说退欧会对他们国家的经济前景造成什么影响？
第三段
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.
单词&词组
convert v. 使转换，使转化
shed light on... 有助于解释……
translate v. 使转变，使转化
criteria n. 标准
civil society 公民社会
engagement n. （与……的）密切关系
rounded a. 完善的，全面的
本段翻译
最近一项关于各国及其将经济增长转化为福利的能力的年度研究为这个问题提供了一些启示。在衡量的163个国家中，英国是确保经济增长转化为公民有意义的改善方面表现最差的国家之一。除了关注国内生产总值（GDP）外，还对卫生、教育和民间社会参与等40多套不同标准进行了衡量，以更全面地评估各国的表现。
第四段
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 the environment.
单词&词组
consistent a. 一致的
budding a. 开始发展的
crash n. 失败，破产
indicator n. 指示物，指示者
case n. ［尤指影响某个人或群体的］状况，情形
major economies 主要经济体
income equality 收入平等
本段翻译
虽然所有这些国家都面临着各自的挑战，但有一些一致的主题。是的，自2008年全球金融危机以来，经济复苏初露端倪，但在卫生和教育等领域的关键指标上，主要经济体持续下滑。但并非所有国家都是如此。一些相对贫穷的欧洲国家在公民社会、收入平等和环境等方面都取得了巨大的进步。
第五段
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 .
单词&词组
learn a lesson 吸取教训
regard... as... 认为，看作
本段翻译
这是富国可以吸取的教训：当GDP不再被视为衡量一个国家成功与否的唯一标准时，世界看起来就大不相同了。
第六段
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.
单词&词组
economic activity 经济活动
environmental quality 环境质量
education outcome 教育成果
contribute to... 有助于……
sense of well-being 幸福感
本段翻译
因此，肯尼迪所指的是，虽然国内生产总值一直是衡量各国经济活动的最常用方法，但作为一种衡量手段，它已经远远不够了。它不包括诸如环境质量或教育成果等重要因素——所有有助于一个人幸福感的因素。
第七段
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 .
单词&词组
sharp a. 强烈的，剧烈的
depend on 依赖，取决于
refocus v. 重新集中，改变重点
worry about 担心，忧虑
forecast v. 预测
doom n. （不可避免的）厄运，劫数
本段翻译
全世界和英国预测的经济增长将受到严重打击，这可能导致我们赖以生存和发展的日常服务业下降。但是，政策制定者如果重新把精力放在改善福利上，而不是仅仅担心GDP数据，就可以避免预期的厄运，甚至可能看到进展。
五道题
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 title for the text ?
[A] High GDP But Inadequate Well-being , a UK Lesson
[B] GDP Figures , a Window on Global Economic Health
[C] Rebort F. Kennedy , a Terminator of GDP
[D] Brexit, the UK’s Gateway to Well-being
参考答案
DCDCA
答案解析
31、由题干中的Robert F. Kennedy 定位第一段第一句。由定位句可知,罗伯特·弗朗西斯·肯尼迪曾说过，一个国家的GDP衡量的是除了使生活有意义的事情之外的一切事情。该句暗指GDP有重大缺陷，由此可以看出他对GDP评价不高，这和本文要表达的主题一致,故确定本题答案为[D]。
32、由题干中的Paragraph2定位至第二段。第二段首先指出，许多人认为GDP是一个有缺陷的概念,它衡量不重要的事物而漏掉了重要的。接着作者以英国为例进行说明。英国的GDP 是西方世界羡慕的对象,但是为什么超过1,700万人不顾经济后果而投票赞成脱欧呢?由此可以推断出,英国人认为GDP不那么重要,所以才不顾后果脱欧,因此可以确定本题答案为[C]。
33、由题干中的the recent annual study定位至第三至五段。第三段简单介绍了该年度研究的对象方法、目的及结论。它研究了163个国家,其中英国在“确保把经济增长转化为真正改善国民生活”方面是表现最差的国家之一。除了GDP之外，它以40多套不同的标准衡量每个国家的表现。第四段洋述了研究发现。第五段是作者从中得出的结论如果不把GDP作为衡量国家成就的唯一标准，世界就看起来大不相同了。由此可知，该研究的结果非常具有启发性，因此确定本题答案为[D]。enlightening 是第三段首句sheds some light on的同义替换,同时与第五段a lesson that rich countries can earn相符。
34、由题干中的the last two paragraphs定位至第六、七段。第六段中，作者首先照应第一段,指出肯尼迪所指的就是GDP不足以衡量国家的经济活动，因为它不包括有助于提升人们幸福感的因素。第七段中作者提出了建议:政策制定者们应重新集中精力于提升幸福感，而非仅仅忧心GDP数字,这样才能避免预测中的厄运。由此可以得知，作者暗示政策制定者应该考虑GDP以外的因素，故本题答案为[C]。
35、本文主要分析说明了GDP不再被视为衡量一个国家成就的唯一标准 ，因为它忽略了对人们的幸福感十分关键的因素。英国就是这样的例子,虽然该国的GDP很高但是人们并不幸福，所以很多人赞成脱欧。所以[A]是对本文最全面的总结。
