山西农业大学第四册大学体验英语视听说教程Unit1-Unit8.docVIP

U1-L1 Why aren’t women happier these days? That’s the question raised by a thought-provoking study-- ‘The Paradox of Declining Female Happiness’ released last month. The research showed that over the past 35 years women’s happiness has declined, both compared to the past and relative to men even though, by most objective measures, the lives of women in the U.S. have improved in recent decades. The research, by University of Pennsylvania economists Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers, released by the National Bureau of Economic Research, found the decline in happiness to be pervasive among women across a variety of demographic groups. The researchers measured similar declines in happiness among women who were single parents and married parents. They cast doubt on the hypothesis that trends in marriage and divorce, single parenthood or work/family balance are at the root of the happiness declines among women. One theory for the decline in happiness is that expectations for workplace and general advancement were raised too high by the women’s movement and women might feel inadequate for not having it all. The researchers acknowledge that is a possibility. They think that if the Women’s Movement raised women’s expectations faster than society was able to meet them, the women would be more likely disappointed by their actual life experiences. But the researchers also add that things could change for the better, as women’s expectations move into alignment with their experiences, this decline in happiness may reverse. 1. What is the audio clip mainly about? A) How to raise women’s sense of happiness. B)Reasons for women’s lesser sense of happiness. C)The improved women status in the U.S.. 2. What account for the declining sense of happiness for women? A) Discrepancy between women’s wants and gains. B) Single parenthood or divorce. C)Family financial problems. 1.The research showed that over the past 35 years women’s happiness has declined ,both compared to