單詞與詞組 Words and phrases
①optimist n. 樂觀主義者
②tend v. 趨向
③pessimist n. 悲觀主義者
④preference n. 偏愛
⑤mood n. 情緒
⑥depressing a. 沮喪的
⑦suicide n. 自殺
⑧sharply adv. 急劇地
⑨established a. 確定的
What is your favorite color? Do you like yellow, orange, red? If you do, you must be an optimist①, a leader. Do you prefer grays and blues? Then you are probably quiet, shy, and you would rather follow than lead. You tend② to be a pessimist③.
你最喜歡什么色彩?你喜歡黃色、橙色和紅色嗎?倘若如此,你準(zhǔn)是一個(gè)樂觀的人,一個(gè)領(lǐng)導(dǎo)者。你偏愛灰、藍(lán)系列色彩嗎?那么,你很可能緘默、羞怯,你寧愿被別人領(lǐng)導(dǎo)而不愿領(lǐng)導(dǎo)別人。你有悲觀者的傾向。
At least, this is what psychologists tell us, and they should know, because they have been seriously studying the meaning of color preference④, as well as the effect that colors have on human beings. They tell us, among other facts, that we do not choose our favorite color as we grow up-we are born with our preference.
至少,這是心理學(xué)家告訴我們的--心理學(xué)家應(yīng)該是這方面的專家,因?yàn)樗麄円恢痹谡J(rèn)認(rèn)真真地研究色彩偏愛的意義以及各種色彩對人的不同影響。他們告訴我們許多東西,其中之一是我們并不是在成長過程中挑選自己偏愛的色彩--我們的這種偏愛與生俱來。
If you happen to love brown, you did so, as soon as you opened your eyes, or at least as soon as you could see clearly.
假設(shè)你碰巧喜歡褐色,當(dāng)初你一睜看到這個(gè)世界,或至少當(dāng)你看清這個(gè)世界的時(shí)候,你就喜歡上褐色了。
Colors do influence our moods⑤-there is no doubt about it. A yellow room makes most people feel more cheerful and more relaxed than a dark green one; and a red dress brings warmth and cheer to the saddest winter day. On the other hand, black is depressing⑥.
色彩的確影響我們的情緒--這一點(diǎn)毫無疑問。大多數(shù)人在一個(gè)黃色的房間比在一個(gè)深色的房間更感到愉悅松弛;一件紅衣服在最凄涼的冬日也能給人帶來溫暖和振奮。而黑色卻使人壓抑。
A black bridge over the Thames River, near London, used to be the scene of more suicides⑦ than any other bridge in the area-until it was repainted green. The number of suicide attempts immediately fell sharply⑧; perhaps it would have fallen even more if the bridge had been done in pink or baby blue.
倫敦附近泰晤士河上曾有一座黑色的橋,在這座橋上自殺的人數(shù)比這一區(qū)任何一座橋都多。后來人們把它漆成綠色,企圖自殺的人數(shù)立刻驟減;倘若將這座橋梁漆成粉紅色或淺藍(lán)色,下降幅度或許會(huì)更大。
Light and bright colors make people not only happier but more active. It is an established⑨ fact that factory workers work better, harder, and have fewer accidents when their machines are painted orange rather than black or gray.
淺色或艷麗的色彩不僅使人更加愉快也更積極向上。事實(shí)證明,如果把工廠里的機(jī)器油漆成橘黃色而不是黑色或灰色,工人就會(huì)干得更勤奮、更出色,事故也會(huì)更少。