IELTS Speaking Part 3: What Makes People Happy?

We've been talking about a happy memory from your childhood.

我們剛才聊到你童年時一段快樂的回憶。

Now I'd like to ask you some broader questions.

現在我想問你一些比較廣泛的問題。

Sure, that sounds great.

好的，沒問題。

What do you think makes people genuinely happy?

你覺得什麼能讓人真正感到幸福？

For me, it's relationships, far more than money or success.

對我來說，是人際關係，遠比金錢或成功重要。

Long-term studies show that close friends predict happiness best.

長期研究顯示，親近的朋友最能預測一個人是否幸福。

The happiest people I know aren't rich, but they're rarely alone.

我認識最幸福的人並不有錢，但他們很少孤單。

That said, basic financial security obviously matters too.

話雖如此，基本的經濟保障當然也很重要。

So does money buy happiness, in your view?

那麼在你看來，錢買得到幸福嗎？

Ha, up to a point! It certainly buys a comfortable sofa.

哈，某種程度上可以！至少買得到一張舒服的沙發。

Beyond a certain income, though, the effect fades quickly.

不過，收入超過某個水準之後，這種效果很快就會變弱。

Chasing more can actually leave people anxious and exhausted.

一直追求更多，反而會讓人焦慮又疲憊。

Has social media made people less happy?

社群媒體讓大家變得比較不快樂了嗎？

In many ways, yes, because we constantly compare ourselves.

很多方面是的，因為我們總是在跟別人比較。

Everyone else's life looks like a permanent holiday!

別人的生活看起來都像永遠在度假！

We see their highlights and compare them with our ordinary days.

我們看到的是別人的精彩片段，卻拿來跟自己平凡的日子比。

So should we all delete our apps tomorrow?

那我們明天都該把App刪掉嗎？

I'd love to, but my mum would never forgive me!

我是很想啦，但我媽絕對不會原諒我的！

Honestly, using them mindfully is a more realistic goal.

老實說，有意識地使用才是比較實際的目標。

Are people today happier than their grandparents were?

現在的人比他們的祖父母那一代更幸福嗎？

Materially, we're far better off, without a doubt.

物質上，我們無疑過得好太多了。

But my grandparents had something we've partly lost.

但我的祖父母擁有一樣我們已經失去一部分的東西。

They knew every neighbour, and nobody ever ate alone.

他們認識每個鄰居，從來沒有人一個人吃飯。

Community gave them a sense of belonging we often lack.

社區給了他們一種我們常常缺少的歸屬感。

Finally, should governments try to measure happiness?

最後，政府應該試著衡量幸福嗎？

Absolutely! Bhutan already does, and it's a fascinating idea.

當然！Bhutan已經這樣做了，這個想法超有意思的。

Growth figures alone tell us nothing about wellbeing.

光看成長數字，根本看不出大家過得好不好。

Thank you. That's the end of the speaking test.

謝謝。口說測驗到此結束。

Oh, already? I was just starting to enjoy it!

喔，已經結束了？我才剛開始覺得好玩耶！

Well done. Thank you for your thoughtful answers.

表現得很好。謝謝你經過思考的回答。

Thank you so much! Have a great afternoon.

非常感謝！祝您有個愉快的下午。