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. E. R.
abelmoschus esculentuss
alacepril
archwizard
articulation (or joint)
automatic input
beat the devil
bizygomatic
borghi
Casserres
chinese landing
Chopim, R.
clausocalanus minor
compressed thickness
Cost to Close
counterweight weight
critical ionization potential
crossing-over unit
dairy barn
decoloring agent
derivative title
dimensional chain
diro
Dorsedin
E-Pilo
Ehrlich-Hata treatment
elementary particle spectroscopy
eleven-inch
encoded recording
engine truck brake cylinder
faggot stitch
faggoted iron
ficus punctata
fixed electrode
fluorotic
gastric scarlet fever
gastroacephalus
gear driven
glycophosphosphingolioid
Grant, Duncan
grounds officer
hakataramea
Hexadiphanefg
hircocervus
Home Bias
hyperfocal distance
in whole
interproximate
invariant processing
jack brick
Kihinda
klutch
layout pass
low - temperature physics
maintain roads
marshal titoes
master equipmnet list
methane stannonic acid
mineralogies
Ndofane
normal giantism
O'Beirne's sphincter
objective function
open-cycle throttling refrigerator
osmium disulfide
output traffic control
Patricios
pekinensis
Petreto-Bicchisano
pick someone's brains
pimpinella astibaefolia hay
plain jolter
pleuromutilin
postwar
preferential shop
private-wire system
Putois
rb-wr
Sencor
serological determinant
Shalford
slackerism
soil consistancy
special material
specific drawdown
stationarity Gaussian process
stepless glider
streptococcic
subhumanly
subject-in-process
surplus funding
tarsal
there are no easy answers
third country bill
total amount
transmission control unit
tristichium sinense broth.
troopership
vestibule (l. vestibulum)
water memory
woman with a past
yellow mariposa tulip