Reading Comprehension 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 wellbeing 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 the 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]

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

[C]

the UK will contribute less to the world economy. 

[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 is sponsored by 163 countries. 

[B]

It excludes GDP as an indicator. 

[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 of 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 

答案与解析 (Answers)

31. [D] had a low opinion of GDP.
解析：第一段首句引用肯尼迪的话：GDP衡量“除那些让生活值得过的事情以外的一切”，说明他对GDP评价不高。

32. [B] GDP as the measure of success is widely defied in the UK.
解析：第二段提到英国GDP数据很好看（envy of the Western world），但依然有1700万人投赞成脱欧，作者反问“既然一切都好，为什么人们还要投票脱欧？”，暗示英国人已不再将GDP视为成功的唯一标准（即对其权威的蔑视）。

33. [D] Its results are enlightening.
解析：第三段首句提到这项研究“sheds some light on that question”（阐明/启发了那个问题），shed light on 与 enlightening（启发性的）对应。

34. [C] it is essential to consider factors beyond GDP.
解析：倒数第二段结论指出：GDP作为衡量标准“is no longer enough”，且未包含环境、教育等因素，暗示必须考虑GDP之外的因素。

35. [A] High GDP But Inadequate Well-being, a UK Lesson.
解析：文章以英国为例（High GDP vs. Brexit），引出GDP无法全面衡量幸福感（Inadequate Well-being）的主旨，最符合标题要求。

核心长难句精解 (Highlighted Sentences)

1. 同位语与现在分词结构：
"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."
【解析】With 引导伴随状语。as a result 意为“因此”。timely moment 是评估GDP局限性的绝佳契机。
【翻译】随着英国投票脱离欧盟，且GDP已因此被预言将放缓，现在是评估他（肯尼迪）所指内容的适当时机。

2. 让步与反问结构：
"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?"
【解析】go well 顺利。despite 引导让步。这句话通过反问揭示了GDP增长与民众真实获得感之间的断层。
【翻译】如果一切进展得如此顺利，那么为什么会有超过 1700 万人投票支持脱欧，尽管此前已有警告称这将对国家的经济前景产生不利影响？

3. 被动语态与评价：
"When GDP is no longer regarded as the sole measure of a country’s success, the world looks very different."
【解析】be regarded as 被视为。sole 唯一的。这句话点明了全文的哲学深度：改变衡量标准，就会改变我们看待世界的方式。
【翻译】当GDP不再被视为衡量国家成功的唯一标准时，世界看起来就会大不相同。