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閱讀理解
What is it that makes people happy?Youth, health, a good job, good looks, a flash car?None of these things, Spanish experts say．
The concept(概念)of happiness is thought to be determined by genetics, while the rest depends on childhood environment and the process(過程)of growing up．Perhaps the most surprising thing about happiness is coming under increasingly close examination in Spain．
As the nation rises to the club of the world's wealthiest countries, people are discovering that material(物質(zhì)的)things do not bring happiness．
“Most people use money as a measure of human value,”says Jesus Ynfante, author of a book on Spain's 300 biggest fortunes．“Expensive products are regarded as the best．The rich are admired simply for being rich,”Ynfante said．
Yet psychologists(心理學(xué)家)warn that happiness as a moment of ecstatic pleasure(狂喜)-something that, by definition(定義),cannot last-while others speak of it as peace and acceptance of oneself．Polls(問卷調(diào)查)in different countries indicate that between 65 and 85 percent of the world's population regard themselves as reasonably happy．
Around 40 percent of a person's happiness is that it has little to do with age, health, wealth, or other values thought to be important in Western society．For most Spaniards, happiness is linked with feeling close to other people．Happy people accept their limitations and set themselves reachable goals, experts say．
There are life-style choices that favour happiness, such as exercise, eating carbohydrates and exposing oneself to sunlight．But the main secret of happiness is to take pleasure in small things．
“If you are given a choice between eternal(永久的)happiness and a cheese sandwich, take the sandwich,”advises musician Julian Hernandez．
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