Being able to count at least ten people as friends makes us happy,but those with five or fewer are likely to be miserable,researchers say.
Their study of hundreds of men and women also found that people who feel satisfied with their lives always have lots of close friends and regularly make new ones.
While it is not clear whether our friends make us happy or we make friends because we are happy,the researchers say it is clear that we should maintain our friendships. Psychologist Richard Tunney said,“Whatever the reason is,actively working on friendships in the same way as to maintain a marriage is a prerequisite(必备条件) to happiness.”
Dr.Tunney,of Nottingham University,quizzed more than 1,700 people about their satisfaction with their lives and the state of their friendships.Those with five friends or fewer had just a 40 percent chance of being happy. .
In other words they were more likely to be unhappy than happy.Ten was the first number at which people were more likely to be happy than unhappy.The happiest people were those with dozens of friends,according to the study,which was carried out for the National Lottery(彩票).
For women,this meant having 33 friends;for men,the number was 49. Dr.Tunney said,“People who were extremely satisfied with their lives had twice the number of friends of people who were extremely dissatisfied.” Women tended to have fewer friends than men but formed tighter relationships.
Interestingly,the study found that childhood friends are no more likely to make us happy than people we become close to later in life.Lottery winners,however,have a different opinion on life.They are always happier than others despite spending their time with a small circle of old friends.This could be because they trust people they’ve known for a long time.
1.What’s the best title for this passage?
A.The Secret to Happiness Is to Make New Friends
B.Having at Least 10 Good Friends Makes People Happy
C.Why Most People Like to Make Friends Regularly
D.Men’s and Women’s Friends Are Different
2.Which of the following opinions may Richard Tunney NOT agree with?
A.People with few friends are sure to be unhappy.
B.Our friends can make us happy.
C.Happiness may come from a good marriage life.
D.We may become happier if we have more friends.
3.According to the passage,lottery winners ________.
A.enjoy making new friends
B.make new friends easily
C.like staying with old friends