RobertF.Kennedyoncesaidthataco-考网

Robert F.Kennedy once said that a country’s GDP measures“everything except that which makes life worthwhile.”With Britain voting to leave the European Union,and GDP already predicted to slow as a result,it is now a timely moment to assess what he was referring to.The question of GDP and its usefulness has annoyed policymakers for over half a century.Many argue that it is a flawed concept.It measures things that do not matter and miss things that do.By most recent measures,the UK’s GDP has been the envy of the Western World,with record low unemployment and high growth figures.If everything was going so so well,then why did over 17million people vote for Brexit,despite the warnings about what it could do to their country’s economic prospects?

A recent annual study of countries and their ability to convert growth into well-being sheds some light on that question.Across the 163 countries measured,the UK is one of the poorest performers in ensuring that economic growth is translated into meaningful improvement for its citizens.Rather than just focusing on GDR over 40 different sets of criteria from health,education and civil society engagement have been measured to get a more rounded assessment of how countries are performing.

While all of these countries face their own challenges,there are a number of consistent themes.Yes,there has been a budding economic recovery since the 2008 global crash,but in key indicators in areas such as health and education,major economies have continued to decline.Yet this isn't the case with all countries.Some relatively poor European countries have seen huge improvements across measures including civil society;income equality and the environment.This is a lesson that rich countries can learn:When GDP is no longer regarded as the sole measure of a country’s success,the world looks very different.

So what Kennedy was referring to was that while GDP has been the most common method for measuring the economic activity of nations,as a measure,it is no longer enough.It does not include important factors such as environmental equality or education outcomes-all things that contribute to a person's sense of well-being.

The sharp hit to growth predicted around the world and in the UK could lead to a decline in the everyday services we depend on for our well-being and for growth.But policymaker who refocus efforts on improving well-being rather than simply worrying about GDP figures could avoid the forecasted doom and may even see progress.

In the last two paragraphs,the author suggests that____

A.the UK is preparing for an economic boom
B.high GDP foreshadows an economic decline
C.it is essential to consider factors beyond GDP
D.it requires caution to handle economic issues

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答案： C

本题解析：

推理题。根据题干定位在第四段和第五段。第四段首句指出虽然GDP是衡量国家经济行为最普遍的方法，但是它已经不足够了（it is no longer enough，其中it指代GDP）。紧接着第二句进一步说明不足够的方面：it does not include important factors…，它没能包含一些重要的因素，即重要因素被忽略了。而第五段在But转折后指出政策制定者已经不仅仅只是担心GDP数据（rather than simply worrying about GDP figures），而是重新关注提高幸福的努力。结合两段的内容可以得知，除了GDP还有重要因素的存在，这正是当下关注的重点。因此正确答案为选项C，除了GDP还有其他重要因素需要考虑。