Happiness: Multiple Choice Vocabulary Test

In recent years there has been a remarkable increase in (0)________ into happiness. The researchers have (1)________ a number of factors which contribute to a definition of happiness.

First of all, there is, in some people, a moderate genetic predisposition to be happy: in other words, happiness (2)________ in families. And happiness seems to correlate quite (3)________ with the main dimensions of personality: extroverts are generally happier, neurotics are less so.

Second, people often (4)________ good social relations as a reason for their happiness. In particular, friends are a great (5)________ of joy, partly because of the agreeable things they do together, partly because of the way friends use positive non-verbal (6)________, such as caressing and touching, to affirm their friendship. Marriage and similar (7)________ relationships can also form the basis of lasting happiness.

Third, job satisfaction undoubtedly (8)________ overall satisfaction, and vice versa - perhaps this is why some people are happy in boring jobs: it (9)________ both ways. Job satisfaction is caused not only by the essential nature of the work, but (10)________ by social interactions with co-workers. Unemployment, on the (11)________ can be a serious cause of unhappiness.

Fourth, leisure is important because it is more under individual (12)________ than most other causes of happiness. Activities (13)________ sport and music, and participation in voluntary work and social clubs of various kinds, can give great joy. This is partly because of the (14)________ themselves, but also because of the social support of other group members — it is very strong (15)________ the case of religious groups.

Answers: 

1.D; 2.B; 3.A; 4.D; 5.D; 6.D; 7.B; 8.C; 9.A; 10.C; 11.D; 12.C; 13.A; 14.B; 15.C