They say Ireland’s the Best Ireland is the best place in the world to live in for 2005, according to a life quality ranking that appeared in Britain’s Economist magazine last week. The ambitious attempt to compare happiness levels around the world is based on the principle that wealth is not the only measure of human satisfaction and well-being. The index of 111 countries uses data on incomes, health, unemployment, climate, political stability, job security, gender equality as well as what the magazine calls "freedom, family and community life". Despite the bad weather, troubled health service, traffic congestion (拥挤), gender inequality, and the high cost of living, Ireland scored an impressive 8.33 points out of 10. That put it well ahead of second-place Switzerland, which managed 8.07. Zimbabwe, troubled by political insecurity and hunger, is rated the gloomiest (最差的), picking up only 3.89 points. "Although rising incomes and increased individual choices are highly valued, "the report said, "some of the factors associated with modernization 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 with the preservation of certain warm elements of the old, such as stable family and community life." The magazine admitted measuring quality of life is not a straightforward thing to do, and that its findings would have their critics. No.2 on the list is Switzerland. The other nations in the top 10 are Norway, Luxembourg, Sweden, Australia, Iceland, Italy, Denmark and Spain. The UK is positioned at No.29, a much lower position chiefly because of the social and family breakdown recorded in official statistics. The US, which has the second highest per capita GDP after Luxembourg, took the 13th place in the survey. China was in the lower half the league at 60th. Ireland is positioned at NO. 1 because it combines the most desirable elements of the new with some good elements of the old.
A. Right
B. Wrong
C. Not mentioned
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Outside-the-classroom Learning Makes a Big Difference Putting a bunch of college students in charge of a $300,000 Dance Marathon, fundraiser surely sounds a bit risky. When you consider the fact that the money is supposed to be given to. Children in need of medical care, you might call the idea crazy. Most student leaders don’t want to spend a large amount of time on something they care little about, said 22-year-old University of Florida student Darren Heitner. He was the Dance Marathon’s operations officer for two years. Yvonne Fangmeyer, director of the student organization office at the University of Wisconsin, conducted a survey in February of students involved in campus organizations. She said the desire for friendship was the most frequently cited reason for joining. At large universities like Fangmeyer’s, which has more than 40,000 students, the students, first of all, want to find a way to "belong in their own comer of campus". Katie Rowley, a Wisconsin senior, confirms the survey’s findings. "I wanted to make the campus feel smaller by joining an organization where I could not only get involved on campus but also find a group of friends." All of this talk of friendship, however, does not mean that students aren’t thinking about their resumes. "I think that a lot of people do join to ’fatten up their resmne’," said Heitner. "At the beginning of my college career, I joined a few of these organizations, hoping to get a start in my leadership roles." But without passion student leaders can have a difficult time trying to weather the storms that come. For example, in April, several student organizations at Wisconsin teamed up for an event designed to educate students about homelessness and poverty. Student leaders had to face the problem of solving disagreements, moving the event because of rainy weather, and dealing with the university’s complicated bureaucracy. "Outside-of the classroom learning really makes a big difference," Fangmeyer said. An extracurricular activity like raising a fund of $300,000 is risky because most student leaders______.
A. are lazy
B. are stupid
C. are not rich enough
D. wilt not take an interest in it
Outside-the-classroom Learning Makes a Big Difference Putting a bunch of college students in charge of a $300,000 Dance Marathon, fundraiser surely sounds a bit risky. When you consider the fact that the money is supposed to be given to. Children in need of medical care, you might call the idea crazy. Most student leaders don’t want to spend a large amount of time on something they care little about, said 22-year-old University of Florida student Darren Heitner. He was the Dance Marathon’s operations officer for two years. Yvonne Fangmeyer, director of the student organization office at the University of Wisconsin, conducted a survey in February of students involved in campus organizations. She said the desire for friendship was the most frequently cited reason for joining. At large universities like Fangmeyer’s, which has more than 40,000 students, the students, first of all, want to find a way to "belong in their own comer of campus". Katie Rowley, a Wisconsin senior, confirms the survey’s findings. "I wanted to make the campus feel smaller by joining an organization where I could not only get involved on campus but also find a group of friends." All of this talk of friendship, however, does not mean that students aren’t thinking about their resumes. "I think that a lot of people do join to ’fatten up their resmne’," said Heitner. "At the beginning of my college career, I joined a few of these organizations, hoping to get a start in my leadership roles." But without passion student leaders can have a difficult time trying to weather the storms that come. For example, in April, several student organizations at Wisconsin teamed up for an event designed to educate students about homelessness and poverty. Student leaders had to face the problem of solving disagreements, moving the event because of rainy weather, and dealing with the university’s complicated bureaucracy. "Outside-of the classroom learning really makes a big difference," Fangmeyer said. The phrasal verb fatten up in paragraph 6 could be best replaced by______.
A. invent
B. rewrite
C. polish
D. complete
Gun Rights in the US Immediately after the shooting at Virginia Tech University, Americans gathered to mourn the dead. The president and the state governor both hurried there to share the (51) . But the majority of Americans still cling to their right to (52) weapons. Strictly speaking, the US is not the only country (53) gun violence has destroyed lives, families and communities in everyday circumstance. But the US is one of the (54) countries that seems unwilling and politically incapable of doing anything serious to stop it. In countries like Britain and Canada. The government adopted stricter (55) control soon after serious gun violence incidents. US leaders, however, are held (56) by the gun lobby and the electoral system. The powerful National Rifle Association, the major supporter of gun (57) in the US, is too strong for any party to take on. Most Republicans oppose gun controls anyway. (58) the years, the Democrats have found that they can either campaign for gun control or win power, not (59) ; they prefer power. According to the US Bureau of Justice Statistics, firearm incidents accounted (60) nine percent of the 4.7 million violent crimes in 2005. So, although opinion polls show most Americans want stricter gun laws, many don’t want to give up their arms they (61) to protect themselves. Dave Hancock, a Virginia gun lover, is one example. In an interview he said. "If one professor in Virginia incident had been carrying a legal weapon they might have been able to (62) all this." In his opinion, the massacre is an argument for more people to carry, weapons, not fewer. But at the root of Americans’ clinging to the right to bear arms is not just a fear of crime, but a mistrust of (63) , commented UK’s Guardian newspaper. One Virginia resident, who had a permit to carry; a concealed firearm, told the Guardian thin it was (64) American’s responsibility to have a gun. "Each person," he said, "should not rely solely (65) the government for protection.\
A. hide
B. buy
C. sell
D. keep
Gun Rights in the US Immediately after the shooting at Virginia Tech University, Americans gathered to mourn the dead. The president and the state governor both hurried there to share the (51) . But the majority of Americans still cling to their right to (52) weapons. Strictly speaking, the US is not the only country (53) gun violence has destroyed lives, families and communities in everyday circumstance. But the US is one of the (54) countries that seems unwilling and politically incapable of doing anything serious to stop it. In countries like Britain and Canada. The government adopted stricter (55) control soon after serious gun violence incidents. US leaders, however, are held (56) by the gun lobby and the electoral system. The powerful National Rifle Association, the major supporter of gun (57) in the US, is too strong for any party to take on. Most Republicans oppose gun controls anyway. (58) the years, the Democrats have found that they can either campaign for gun control or win power, not (59) ; they prefer power. According to the US Bureau of Justice Statistics, firearm incidents accounted (60) nine percent of the 4.7 million violent crimes in 2005. So, although opinion polls show most Americans want stricter gun laws, many don’t want to give up their arms they (61) to protect themselves. Dave Hancock, a Virginia gun lover, is one example. In an interview he said. "If one professor in Virginia incident had been carrying a legal weapon they might have been able to (62) all this." In his opinion, the massacre is an argument for more people to carry, weapons, not fewer. But at the root of Americans’ clinging to the right to bear arms is not just a fear of crime, but a mistrust of (63) , commented UK’s Guardian newspaper. One Virginia resident, who had a permit to carry; a concealed firearm, told the Guardian thin it was (64) American’s responsibility to have a gun. "Each person," he said, "should not rely solely (65) the government for protection.\
A. fire
B. attacks
C. rights
D. violence