What is the main idea of the text?

That research points to relationships, purpose and small habits, rather than wealth, as the roots of a contented life

Why does the writer mention the fading thrill of a new phone?

To illustrate how quickly we get used to what we have

That the quality of a person's close relationships best predicts a happy old age

As a modest but genuinely hopeful possibility

What Research Says Really Makes Us Happy

towards, meaningful, with, reaching, practised, been, shown, for, past, modest, with, hopeful

Pilkkoa osiin, eritellä perusteellisesti: To pick something apart
Pysähtyä miettimään, olla pysähtymisen arvoinen: To pause over (something) / to be worth pausing over
Tasoittua, litistyä (käyrästä/trendistä): To flatten out
Yliarvioida: To overestimate (how much something will change)
Tottua johonkin: To get used to (whatever we have)
Tavoitella, jahdata: Chasing possessions (a poor long-term strategy)
Panostaa, satsata johonkin: To invest in (friendships)
Nauttia hitaasti, maistella: To savour (ordinary pleasures)
Tuupata, nostaa hienoisesti: To nudge wellbeing upwards
Kiitää ohi, kiirehtiä ohitse: To rush past (pleasures)
Olla luotu/rakennettu johonkin: To be built to / built for something
Hioa, tarkentaa: To keep refining the picture
Hyvinvointi: Wellbeing
Sopeutuminen, tottuminen: Adaptation
Köyhyys: Poverty
Yksinäisyys: Loneliness
Ennustaja, ennustava tekijä: A predictor (of who grows old happily)
Siteet, läheiset suhteet: Close ties
Tarkoitus, päämäärä: Purpose
Elämäntyytyväisyys: Life satisfaction
Tyytyväinen: Content (feeling content)
Järkevä, luotettava, pätevä: A sound bet / the soundest bets
Mukaansatempaava, kiehtova: Absorbing (goals)
Petollisen (yksinkertainen): Deceptively simple

What is the main idea of the text? — That research points to relationships, purpose and small habits, rather than wealth, as the roots of a contented life
According to the text, what happens to the effect of money on wellbeing once a person has a comfortable income? — It levels off and adds little
Why does the writer mention the fading thrill of a new phone? — To illustrate how quickly we get used to what we have
What does the study of adult life described in paragraph three suggest? — That the quality of a person's close relationships best predicts a happy old age
How does the writer present the idea that happiness "can be practised"? — As a modest but genuinely hopeful possibility
The word *content* (in "feeling content", paragraph two) is closest in meaning to — satisfied and at ease
Which of the following would be the best alternative title for the text? — What Research Says Really Makes Us Happy
Read the passage and choose the best alternative for each gap. —
The passage below is taken from the study text (paragraphs four and five). Fill each gap using the grey hint shown in the gap. — towards, meaningful, with, reaching, practised, been, shown, for, past, modest, with, hopeful