Advanced English Reading and Comprehension

Voluntary simplicity: Making more out of less 195

10. If you want to go hiking in the mountains, you need to get a good hardwearing pair
    of hiking boots.

Reading comprehension

14 · 5

EXERCISE

Reading for main ideasChoose the boldface word or phrase that correctly

completes each of the following statements. Some statements include two sets

of choices.

1.Wealth | Happiness is what gives our lives true meaning, but there is| isn’t a simple,

straightforward formula for achieving it.

2. According to the Happy Planet Index, people living in aluent countries are | are not
   the happiest people on earth.


3. According to the Happy Planet Index, the happiest people live in countries with the
   lowest | highest ecological footprint.


4. Voluntary simplicity originated in North America | Central and South America as a
   counterculture that evolved into an alternative lifestyle movement.


5. Voluntary simplicity seeks to reduce | increase consumption patterns and personal impact
   on the environment.


6. Voluntary simplicity equates | diferentiates between “wants” and “needs.”


7. Voluntary simplicity is a philosophy | dogma that depends on individual circumstances |
   societal pressures.

14 · 6

EXERCISE

Reading for details For each of the following sentences, choose the correct answer

to ill in the blank.

1. ATime-Life survey found that percent of participants wanted a more
   relaxed lifestyle.
   a. 25
   b. 60
   c. 69


2. According to the 2012 Happy Planet Index, the happiest countries are in.
   a. North America
   b. Central and South America
   c. Europe