1. What do you think about money? / What are the connections between money and happiness?
Well, I definitely think money’s important. And it’s nice to have. I mean, who doesn’t want to be able to afford the things they need in life? That’s why we have jobs and work hard. But I don’t think money is the most important thing in life. You know, as they say145, money doesn’t buy happiness. It’s better to focus on having good relationships with the people around you. That’s where true joy comes from.
2. Do most people think that money is important?
Yeah, I’d say so. Actually a lot of people believe money is the key to a successful life, but as I said just now, money can’t buy happiness. You can’t depend on having money that much146; it’ll just let you down in the end. But in my opinion, people think money is important because it helps them lead a comfortable life and meet their basic needs. So in that way, having enough money is definitely a must.
3. Are people happier than in the past?
The quality of life nowadays is way better than it’s ever been. We’re better off147 than any other time in the past. Plus, there’s more entertainment in this era. Now we have tons of ways to have fun, like movies, TV shows, and video games. But my parents told me that when they were kids, most families didn’t even have a TV. Their lifestyle was a lot more boring than nowadays.
4. Are rich people happier than poor people?
Well, this is definitely a tough question to answer. On the one hand, money can buy external things148, but true happiness comes from inside. So people shouldn’t assume that the rich are happier than the poor. But on the other hand, people are generally happier when they don’t have to worry about making ends meet. When you’re not living paycheck to paycheck149, you can focus more on building healthy and happy relationships, which brings you a lot of joy in the long run.
145 as they say:俗话说
146 that much:表示程度，太过于依靠…(素材中有很多类似的小词，有疑问联系Penny)
147 better off:较宽裕
148 external things:身外之物
149 living paycheck to paycheck:靠薪水生活