幸福来自哪里?

 　　The pursuit of lasting¹ happiness has long been a subject of interest for scientists and surveys alike.

　　长时间以来，对持久幸福感的追求一直是科学家和许多相关调查关注的目标。

　　But what makes us really happy and what lasting benefits does happiness have?

　　但是什么使我们真正感到快乐？快乐又能带来什么长久的益处呢？

　　Well, earlier this month, scientists from the University of Illinois found the people who are happy and positive about life live longer.

　　本月月初，来自伊利诺伊大学的科学家发现，那些对生活持积极态度的快乐的人更长寿。

　　The researchers found "clear and compelling evidence" that happiness is key when it comes to better health and longer lifespans.

　　研究人员发现“清晰有力的证据”，能证明快乐是健康和长寿的关键因素。

　　Last month a British study, which tracked members of 40,000 households across the country, concluded that eating a family meal at least three times a week is the key to happiness because it helps build a strong bond between parents and their children.

　　上个月，英国某项追踪调查了国内4万户人家的研究发现，每周至少和家人一起聚餐三次是快乐的关键因素，因为它有助于在父母和子女间建立起强大的纽带。

　　But happiness might be decided² when you are born. Names can apparently³ predict how happy we are as individuals, with researchers at Manchester Metropolitan⁴ University claiming in 2009 that people called Judy and Joshua enjoy life the most. Ben, Andrew and Edward were seen as miserable⁵ names on the other hand.

　　但是，幸福与否也许在你出生之时就已经注定了。2009年曼彻斯特城市大学的研究人员曾宣称，可以通过名字预测我们的个人生活是否幸福。根据他们的研究，名叫朱蒂和乔舒亚的人生活最幸福，而本、安德鲁和爱德华则是最悲惨的人名。

　　Married couples are most likely to be happy with their relationships, according to the study, which also found that the happiest relationships are those less than five years old between two university graduates who have no children.

　　根据这一研究，已婚夫妇最有可能对自身情感关系感到满意。研究还发现，拥有最幸福的情感关系的人是那些大学毕业、没有小孩、而且恋爱时间不超过五年的情侣。

　　Research has also suggested that happiness begins at 50. A study from Stony⁶ Brook⁷ University, New York, found that stress, anger and worry fade after your 50th. Women were also reported to suffer greater stress, worry and sadness at all ages.

　　此外，研究显示幸福的人生从50岁开始。纽约石溪大学的一项研究发现，压力、愤怒情绪和烦恼在过了50岁之后就渐渐远去。但该研究也显示，女性在各个年龄段都要承受更大的压力、更多烦恼和悲伤。

　　Money makes the world go round, but it is not the key to happiness, according to other studies. In 2008, a survey from the Office for National Statistics found that British families were healthier and twice as well off as they were 20 years ago, but are no happier. However, other studies have found money can buy you happiness after all, but only if you spend it wisely. Indeed, that might be why a good holiday can boost your happiness levels "for up to two months" after — although the break has to be "very relaxing" to have such an effect.

　　其他的研究则发现，金钱让世界运转，但不是幸福的要素。2008年，英国国家统计局的一项调查发现，英国家庭的健康状况比20年前更好，收入也是20年前的两倍，但是英国人并没有比20年前更幸福。但是，也有另外一些研究发现，金钱也可以买到快乐，但是前提是把钱用在正确的地方。诚然，这或许可以解释为什么一个美妙的假期可以在“两个月”后还能提升你的幸福指数，不过要达到这一效果你得在休假过程中“彻底放松”才行。

1 lasting   

adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持

参考例句：

• The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
• We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。

2 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

3 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

4 metropolitan   

adj.大城市的，大都会的

参考例句：

• Metropolitan buildings become taller than ever.大城市的建筑变得比以前更高。
• Metropolitan residents are used to fast rhythm.大都市的居民习惯于快节奏。

5 miserable   

adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的

参考例句：

• It was miserable of you to make fun of him.你取笑他，这是可耻的。
• Her past life was miserable.她过去的生活很苦。

6 stony   

adj.石头的，多石头的，冷酷的，无情的

参考例句：

• The ground is too dry and stony.这块地太干，而且布满了石头。
• He listened to her story with a stony expression.他带着冷漠的表情听她讲经历。

7 brook   

n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让

参考例句：

• In our room we could hear the murmur of a distant brook.在我们房间能听到远处小溪汩汩的流水声。
• The brook trickled through the valley.小溪涓涓流过峡谷。