Study Buddy (Challenger): World Happiness Report says care and community are key

South China Morning Post

7 days ago

Content provided by British Council
Read the following text, and answer questions 1-9 below:
[1] Caring is sharing – a saying the World Happiness Report has put to the test in its latest research. Focusing on how caring benefits both the recipient and the giver, the organisation discovered that the way people treat one another profoundly affects their overall well-being.
[2] The World Happiness Report is published by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford in partnership with Gallup and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network.
[3] Since 2012, the World Happiness Report has released annual findings on global happiness, each exploring unique facets of well-being, such as age or the Covid-19 pandemic. This year, the organisation focused on caring and how it can be a key part of developing societal and individual happiness.
[4] Looking at 2022 and 2023 Gallup poll data across 142 countries, World Happiness Report researchers discovered that sharing meals can have an incredible effect on happiness. 'Sharing meals proves to be an exceptionally strong indicator of subjective well-being – on par with income and unemployment,' according to the report. 'Those who share more meals with others report significantly higher levels of life satisfaction and positive affect, and lower levels of negative affect. This is true across ages, genders, countries, cultures and regions.'
[5] It is a tough realisation because the researchers said more people in the United States are eating meals alone. In 2023, around 25 per cent of Americans reported spending all their meals alone within the past 24 hours – a statistic that increased by 53 per cent over the past two decades.
[6] Familial bonds inside a household can boost happiness, but social connections outside the home are also important. This is particularly true for young adults. In 2023, the researchers said nearly a fifth of young adults worldwide reported having no one to count on for social support in their lives. It marked a 39 per cent increase since 2006.
[7] 'Young adults across the globe face increasing mental health challenges,' the report said. 'Once considered one of the happiest phases of life, young adulthood has taken a troubling turn. Young people in North America and western Europe now report the lowest well-being among all age groups. In fact, the World Happiness Report 2024 found the fall in the United States' overall happiness ranking was largely due to a sharp decline in well-being among Americans under 30.'
[8] A major reason social connection improves happiness among young adults is its ability to dilute the toxic effects of stress. It also paves the way for growth. 'Historically, young adulthood has been one of the most social periods of life, as young adults tend to form more friendships and spend more time socialising than people in other age groups,' the researchers said. 'In addition to fulfilling social needs, young adult relationships lay the foundation for psychological and social growth in later life stages, providing a network of support that can sustain well-being and resilience in years to come.'
Source: Tribune News Service, April 16
Questions
1. In paragraph 1, what is the relationship between caring and happiness, according to the World Happiness Report's latest research?
2. Find a phrase in paragraph 1 that means 'to investigate the validity of something'.
3. Based on paragraph 3, which of the following best describes the researchers' approach to understanding happiness?
A. They assume happiness is a fixed concept.
B. They recognise that different factors may influence happiness.
C. They want to identify a single, universal key to global happiness.
D. none of the above
4. Are there any specific groups of people for whom sharing meals does not correlate with increased happiness, according to paragraph 4? Why? (2 marks)
5. What does the 'tough realisation' in paragraph 5 refer to?
6. Paragraph 6 suggests …
A. a diverse network of relationships is beneficial for well-being.
B. familial connections are the main source of happiness for young adults.
C. young adults' significant lack of social support is primarily due to fewer family bonds.
D. social support networks naturally improve as individuals age out of young adulthood.
7. Based on paragraph 7, what is the historical perception of young adulthood regarding happiness?
8. List two concerning trends mentioned in paragraph 7. (2 marks)
9. What are the long-term benefits of forming social relationships during young adulthood, according to paragraph 8?
In 2023, around 25 per cent of Americans reported eating all their meals alone within the past 24 hours. Photo: Shutterstock
Answers
1. Caring and happiness have a positive relationship because how people treat one another profoundly affects their overall well-being. (accept all similar answers)
2. put to the test
3. B
4. No, the report says sharing meals correlates with increased happiness across ages, genders, countries, cultures and regions.
5. Although there is a strong positive correlation between sharing meals and well-being, more Americans are eating many of their meals alone.
6. A
7. Young adulthood was once considered one of the happiest phases of life.
8. Young adults across the globe are facing more mental health challenges, and the United States' happiness ranking dropped mainly because of this sharp decline in well-being for Americans under 30.
9. Young adult relationships lay the foundation for psychological and social growth in later life stages, providing a support network that can sustain well-being and resilience in years to come. (accept all similar answers)