【正确答案】Our need for status and wealth is never decided independently^①, but is decided by comparing ourselves with a reference group, usually people we consider to be our equals^②. We can neither appreciate what we have in isolation^③, nor can we be impressed^④ by what we have achieved in the past. We will only consider ourselves happy when we have as much as, or more than, people we grow up with or work alongside^⑤.

【答案解析】 ①“孤立定位”可理解为“由……独立决定”，故可译为is...decided independently。
   ②原文中的插入语可处理为译文中的同位语“...usually people we consider to be our equals”，并将其放在句末，或者可以处理为由whom引导的后置定语从句“...whom we usually consider to be our equals”。
   ③为了避免和前文independently重复，此处可译为in isolation，以增加多样性。
   ④原文语气比较严肃，此处宜使用被动语态be impressed by，与原文风格更为贴近。
   ⑤英语喜欢用后置限定语来修饰名词，可把“共同成长的朋友”和“一起工作的同事”合并在一起译为people we grow up with or work alongside，并置于句末。