时间:2018-12-24 作者:英语课 分类:Scientific American(十)月


英语课

You're trying to exercise willpower—to avoid eating that second piece of cake or buying an electronic toy you don't really need. Try firming up your muscles. Any muscles. Now you can walk away—as long as walking away is truly in line with your overall goals.


Researchers created various tests of discipline. In one test, participants got a so-called health tonic 1 of diluted 2, but unpleasant tasting vinegar. Those committed to their long term health who also tensed their calf 3 muscles were more likely to drink more of the vinegar.


In another test, subjects had to choose whether to look at disturbing images of post-earthquake Haiti as part of an effort to solicit 4 donations. Half clenched 6 their fists, half didn't. And a much larger percentage of those who clenched were able to watch the images and pledge to help.


Another test involved snack choices. Subjects who had health as a priority and who tightened 7 their fingers were more likely to choose healthful snacks than non-clenchers. The study is in the Journal of Consumer Research.


So the next time you're faced with a choice that takes self-control, clench 5 your fist or firm that bicep. Your will might firm up, too.


Thanks for the minute. For Scientific American's 60-Second Science, I'm Cynthia Graber.

 



1 tonic
n./adj.滋补品,补药,强身的,健体的
  • It will be marketed as a tonic for the elderly.这将作为老年人滋补品在市场上销售。
  • Sea air is Nature's best tonic for mind and body.海上的空气是大自然赋予的对人们身心的最佳补品。
2 diluted
无力的,冲淡的
  • The paint can be diluted with water to make a lighter shade. 这颜料可用水稀释以使色度淡一些。
  • This pesticide is diluted with water and applied directly to the fields. 这种杀虫剂用水稀释后直接施用在田里。
3 calf
n.小牛,犊,幼仔,小牛皮
  • The cow slinked its calf.那头母牛早产了一头小牛犊。
  • The calf blared for its mother.牛犊哞哞地高声叫喊找妈妈。
4 solicit
vi.勾引;乞求;vt.请求,乞求;招揽(生意)
  • Beggars are not allowed to solicit in public places.乞丐不得在公共场所乞讨。
  • We should often solicit opinions from the masses.我们应该经常征求群众意见。
5 clench
vt.捏紧(拳头等),咬紧(牙齿等),紧紧握住
  • I clenched the arms of my chair.我死死抓住椅子扶手。
  • Slowly,he released his breath through clenched teeth.他从紧咬的牙缝间慢慢地舒了口气。
6 clenched
v.紧握,抓紧,咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 )
  • He clenched his fists in anger. 他愤怒地攥紧了拳头。
  • She clenched her hands in her lap to hide their trembling. 她攥紧双手放在腿上,以掩饰其颤抖。 来自《简明英汉词典》
7 tightened
收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 ); (使)变紧; (使)绷紧; 加紧
  • The rope holding the boat suddenly tightened and broke. 系船的绳子突然绷断了。
  • His index finger tightened on the trigger but then relaxed again. 他的食指扣住扳机,然后又松开了。
标签: SSS 托福素材
学英语单词
absorption of gas and vapo(u)r
aerospace system
after-vulcanization
amounts to
Anatolian shepherd dog
angle flnager
Anthemis L.
anthrax
antithesizes
arcing butt welding
bakelite papered plate
bioastronautic, bioastronautical
blennelytria
bush baptist
carbon nanofibers
coarse/acquisition code
collirie
cornuside
decreolises
end-of-school
fact-gathering
forced interruption
fourpounder
fucking around
gellywat
germont
glossography
glucobrassicins
Gorteen
Greeklish
Guadalquivir
harsh it
hatwood
home administration
in the first face
industrial peace
information resource sharing service
inosculans
inverse derivative action
isocrackate
kalakaua
large dam
maa
Malus angustifolia
matte-black
metal yarn
misways
monandrian
moonsails
Muller electron gun
nano-fiber
nasuti
nerolis
nonsequels
notifications
nucleus amygdalae
occasionss
on the voyage out
oppignerate
overpursuing
panel barrier
phasor difference
platean
PO, p.o.
Prichsenstadt
Quiadon
random correlation method
reclaimed leather
reticulated molding
right angle bracket
Roegneria dura
saliers
salli
scymme
semiapologetically
silk-mixture cloth
single-response receiver
snippers
solutrope
stencil tissue paper
straight forward experiment
strif
strongly typed language
Swedenborgianist
sweet-voiceds
technical progress report
Tmassah
tollbooths
tox-
transport test
unchawed
USB devices
v-src
vacation sittings
value of output per unit of labour
vehicle inspection and test station
Vorpommern
wild peas
wineshop
World Radio Laboratories
zeugmata
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