Ireland is the best place in the world to live for 2005, 【1】 a life quality ranking that appeared in Britain’’s Economist magazine last week. The ambitious 【2】 to compare happiness levels around the world is based on the principle that wealth is not the only 【3】 of human satisfaction and well-being. The index of 111 countries uses 【4】 on incomes, health, unemployment, climate, political stability, job security equality between men and women as well as what the magazine calls "freedom, family and community life". Despite the bad weather troubled health service, traffic problems, and the high cost of living, Ireland scored an impressive 8.33 points 【5】 10. That put it well ahead of second-place Switzerland, which managed 8.07. Zimbabwe (津巴布韦) , troubled by political insecurity and hunger, is rated the lowest, 【6】 only 3.89 points. "Although rising incomes and increased individual choices in developed countries are 【7】 valued," the report said, "some of the factors associated with 【8】 such as the breakdown in traditional institutions and family values in part take away from a positive impact. "Ireland wins because it successfully combines the most desirable elements of the new—the fourth highest gross domestic product per head in the world in 2005, low unemployment, political 【9】 —with the preservation of certain warm elements of the old, such as 【10】 family and community life. "
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It’s the most romantic day of the year, but for many people the cards they receive on February 14 are not from a Valentine, but from themselves. One in nine love missives received on Valentine’s Day were sent by people to themselves "to save face on the dreaded V-day," according to a survey released by online retailer amazon. co. uk. Amazon, which questioned more than 1,000 people in Britain, France and Germany, also found one in three cards was received by a parent and one person in 10 admitted to stealing a card from a sibling or housemate. Amazon said Germans were the least romantic, with 69 percent saying Valentine’s Day was unimportant, compared to 54 percent of Britons and 46 percent of French. Germans were also the most likely to forget to give their partners a present while the French spent the most on their loved ones. One in three French lovers splashed out be tween $42 and $84 on a gift, and 11 percent spent more than $84. The most common romantic gift in Britain and Germany was flowers. The French were more likely to opt for a romantic dinner. How did the 1/10 of the persons get the cards on that day