Study Buddy (Explorer): How to be happy? 10 keys to happiness from the author of a bestselling book about achieving it
- Malene Rydahl took for granted the values she had at home in Denmark until she moved to Paris at the age of 18, she wrote in her book
- Each week, this page presents an interesting story that we have adjusted to be more accessible for all English learners
What do you believe is the secret to happiness? Photo: ShutterstockContent provided by British Council
Read the following text, and answer questions 1-9 below:
[1] Malene Rydahl did not realise she had been born into what is considered one of the world’s happiest countries until she moved from Denmark to Paris to become a nanny at the age of 18.
[2] She soon discovered that values she had taken for granted at home, such as innate trust in and respect for others, independence, and good work-life balance, were not so widely embraced in other places. She struggled to regain her happiness and, in doing so, realised that it can be self-taught and comes from within.
[3] After going on to have a successful career in advertising, marketing, and public relations in France, she went on to search for what really makes people happy. In 2017, she published the international bestseller Happy As a Dane: 10 Secrets of the Happiest People in the World.
[4] Since The World Happiness Report was first published in 2012, Rydahl’s home country has consistently appeared in the top five happiest countries, usually accompanied by the other Nordic countries of Norway, Finland and Iceland.
[5] The report, published by the United Nations, draws on data mainly from the Gallup World Poll, based on respondents’ ratings of their own happiness. In the 2024 report, Hong Kong ranked 86 out of 143 countries and territories; its ranking has been moving steadily lower since the report’s debut, when the city ranked 64th.
[6] “All the top countries tend to have high values for all six of the key variables that have been found to support well-being: income, healthy life expectancy, social support, freedom, trust and generosity,” according to the most recent report.
[7] Rydahl shared some values some of the happiest people on the planet adopt. According to the author, these include trusting others and having an education system tailored to develop each student’s personality and skills. It also includes having the freedom and independence to do what we want, an equal opportunity for all, having realistic expectations, an excellent work-life balance, and not being obsessed with money.
[8] She added that living in a particular country will not make you happy, but what you have inside of you will. So even if your country ranks low in the happiness index, there is no reason you cannot attain a 10/10 score yourself.
Source: South China Morning Post, March 20
Questions
1. Which country was Rydahl born in according to paragraph 1? ___________________________________________________
2. In paragraph 2, the phrase “taken for granted” suggests that Rydahl … the values she grew up with.
A. had forgotten about
B. did not appreciate
C. rejected
D. was proud of
3. Find a word in paragraph 2 that refers to “the belief that somebody is good and honest, and will not try to harm”.
___________________________________________________
4. When did Rydahl publish her book on happiness according to paragraph 3?
___________________________________________________
5. Who does the “Happiest People in the World” in paragraph 3 refer to?
___________________________________________________
6. Which of the following places are in the top five happiest countries according to the World Happiness Report in paragraph 4?
A. Iceland
B. Finland
C. Denmark
D. all of the above
7. According to paragraph 5, Hong Kong’s ranking in the World Happiness Report is …
A. one of the top 20 in the world.
B. rising.
C. falling.
D. the same for the last 10 years.
8. What do all the top countries in the World Happiness Report have in common according to paragraph 6?
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
9. Decide whether the following statements in paragraphs 7 and 8 about what Rydahl believes are True, False or the Information is Not Given. Fill in ONE circle only for each statement. (4 marks)
(i) Children who are happy grow up in a place where the education system fits each student’s needs.
(ii) People are happiest when they are focused on making money.
(iii) Where you live completely determines how happy you are.
(iv) People should only work four days a week to have a good work-life balance.
Answers
1. Denmark
2. B
3. trust
4. 2017
5. Danes/Danish people
6. D
7. C
8. They have high values for income, healthy life expectancy, social support, freedom, trust and generosity.
9. (i) T; (ii) F; (iii) F; (iv) NG