SSS 2009-05-19-英语课

时间：2018-12-24 作者：英语课 分类：Scientific American(五)月

英语课

This is Scientific American’s 60-Second Science, I’m Cynthia Graber. This will just take a minute.

Senior citizens don't believe the hype, because a new study finds that older folks who accept that seniors' memories get worse do worse on memory tests. The finding was published in the journal Experimental Aging Research.

Scientists interested in the effects of stereotype 1 on memory enlisted 2 103 seniors between 60 and 82 years old to take a memory test. Before the test, some subjects were told that the test checked the effects of age on memory. Researchers called this a threat: it reminds participants of the stereotype. That group was also asked to write down their age after reading the instructions, again homing in on the stereotype. The other group was told that the test controlled for biases 3, this could make them feel more secure. Researchers also gave participants a stigma 4 consciousness questionnaire to test how strongly they bought into negative stereotypes 5. The results: participants who got reminded of their age and the old age poor memory stereotype did significantly worse, those who say they feel stigmatized 6 also performed more poorly. So your memory may function better just by believing that it will, in which case, you really will eventually figure out where you left you car keys.

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

1 stereotype

n.固定的形象，陈规，老套，旧框框

He's my stereotype of a schoolteacher.他是我心目中的典型教师。
There's always been a stereotype about successful businessmen.人们对于成功商人一直都有一种固定印象。

2 enlisted

adj.应募入伍的v.（使）入伍，（使）参军( enlist的过去式和过去分词 )；获得（帮助或支持）

enlisted men and women 男兵和女兵
He enlisted with the air force to fight against the enemy. 他应募加入空军对敌作战。来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

3 biases

偏见( bias的名词复数 )；偏爱；特殊能力；斜纹

Stereotypes represent designer or researcher biases and assumptions, rather than factual data. 它代表设计师或者研究者的偏见和假设，而不是实际的数据。来自About Face 3交互设计精髓
The net effect of biases on international comparisons is easily summarized. 偏差对国际比较的基本影响容易概括。

4 stigma

n.耻辱，污名；(花的)柱头

Being an unmarried mother used to carry a social stigma.做未婚母亲在社会上曾是不光彩的事。
The stigma of losing weighed heavily on the team.失败的耻辱让整个队伍压力沉重。

5 stereotypes

n.老套，模式化的见解，有老一套固定想法的人( stereotype的名词复数 )v.把…模式化，使成陈规( stereotype的第三人称单数 )