Question 16 is based on the recording you have just heard.

听力原文

    Did you know that Americans have approximately three times the amount of space we had fifty years ago? Therefore, you’d think we’d have sufficient room for all of our possessions. On the contrary, the personal storage business is now a growing industry. We’ve got tripled space, but (16) [we’ve become such enthusiastic consumers that we require even more.] This phenomenon has resulted in significant credit card debt, enormous environmental footprints, and perhaps not coincidentally, (16) [our happiness levels have failed to increase over the same half century.] 

    I’m here to suggest an alternative—that having less might actually be a preferable decision. Many of us have experienced, at some stage, the pleasure of possessing less. I propose that less stuff and less space can not only help you economize, but also simplify your life. I recently started an innovative project to discover some creative solutions that offered me everything I required. By purchasing an apartment that was 40 square meters instead of 60, I immediately saved $200,000. Smaller space leads to reduced utility bills and also a smaller carbon footprint. Because it’s designed around an edited collection of possessions, limited to my favorite stuff, I’m really excited to live there.

    How can we live more basically? Firstly, we must ruthlessly cut the unnecessary objects out of our lives. (17) [To stem consumption, we should think before we buy and ask ourselves: will it truly make me happier? Obviously, we should possess some great stuff, but we want belongings that we’re going to love for years.] Secondly, we require space efficiency. We want appliances that are designed for use most of the time, not for occasional use. Why own a six-burner stove when you rarely use even three burners? Finally, (18) [we need multifunctional spaces and housewares.] I combined a movable wall with transforming furniture to get more out of my limited space. Consider my coffee table. It increases in size to accommodate ten. My office is tucked away, easily hidden. My bed simply pops out of the wall. For guests, I can relocate the movable wall and utilize the foldable guest beds I installed. 

    I’m not saying we should all live in tinier apartments, but consider the benefits of an edited life. When you return home and walk through your front door, take a moment to ask yourselves: Could I do with a little life editing? Would that give me more freedom and more time?

16. What has prevented American’s happiness levels from increasing?（是什么阻止了美国人幸福水平的提高？）

解析：B。录音开头提到，在过去半个世纪里，美国人的幸福水平没有提高，并在上文指出了这一情况的原因，即人们如今非常热衷于消费，总是想要更多。B项与此内容相符，其中的obsession with consumption对应录音中的enthusiastic consumers，因此正确答案为B。

错项排除：录音开头虽然提到了热衷消费会导致信用卡债务（credit card debt），但这并不等同于美国人没有积累财富而阻止了他们提高幸福感，故排除A项。C项利用录音开头提到的environmental设置干扰，但这里只是说这一现象留下了环境足迹（environmental footprints），并没有说环境恶化（deteriotation of the environment）导致了人们的不幸福，故排除C项。录音中间部分虽然提到了讲话者买房的事，但并没有说住房成本上涨导致了人们的不幸福，故排除D项。