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
A bird is known by its note,and a man by his words.
Abs.E
acantholynic
acetylcholine-retard
adjustment in phases
air injection pump
authigenous
bastioned
bhoot
big wig
bod bottle
bubble wrap
cadmium-selenium photocell
carpenterworm
cash prepayment service
CFS charge
chimney flue
cods
cold-tube process
combine nuclear and gas turbine
common language
coverboard
customary profitability analysis
derated output
digging depth
digitalness
dilute phase conveying
drill pipe straightener
dry pump room
eIectrohydrotherapy
endomere
Epinnula
filth blockage
fire alarm sounder
fixed bed unit
FLWG
gawbers
genus nyssas
glipa
Gmelin, Leopold
grisms
hand market
high pressure eccentric
high-speed rolling
humodurite
hydronitric acid
Immenstadt im Allgäu
intraparietal
ion-exchange fibre
Khitola
knowledge-driven
lateral aberration
lock strike
mazar-i
mediumfrequency
Methylgluceth-20
microphotographic camera
Mikorzyn
moscones
mozki
muckerism
Mud-road
nanocells
Nanterre
national conference of standard laboratories (ncsl)
nephritic calculus
noncanonical path
Norwalk virus
open ... big mouth
opsonometry
oval neck
path validation
phallacidin
prot
pyrenium
quinacrine banding
radioactive by-product
retrograde metastasis
ribofuranosides
Rioprest
sarcoclorin
schema translation
secure protocol
send into exil
separable slide fastener
series heater
site close to load centre
smoker keratosis
Sokur
sowdyare
standard weight car
steep seam
sulfonator
sunbeams
superbattery
the magic fountain
tongyuan
transoceanic cable system
trigger
unperturbed end-to-end distance
vitalor
weddle