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The “Why” Behind the Lie 谎言背后的真相

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Have you ever told someone a lie? If not, have you ever stretched the truth to fit your liking? Generally speaking, telling lies puts strain on the liar both physically and mentally. ___1___

曾经对别人说过谎吗？如果没有，可曾依自己的意思加油添醋？一般来说，说谎会带来身、心上的压力，不过稍稍扭曲事实有时也有好处。

At Northeastern University in the U.S., 62 students were first asked to fill out a questionnaire about their academic history, goals and grades. ___2___

在美国东北大学，研究人员先请62名学生填写有关学历、目标及成绩的问卷。他们随后与受试者进行面谈，询问相同的问题，但受试者身上接有测谎器。

The results of the study were quite surprising. ___3___ However, the lie detectors registered them as being much more relaxed while discussing their grades. ___4___

研究结果颇令人讶异。他们发现，学生在面试时会把自己的学业平均成绩说得高一点。然而测谎器却显示，学生谈论学业成绩时，心情显得轻松许多，其反应类似人们静坐之时或从事正面社交活动之时。

Researchers have concluded that the grade inflation was less an attempt to deceive than a reflection of healthy confidence and a statement of aspirations. ___5___ In some cases, it’s stretching the truth, rather than the truth itself, that will set you free.

研究人员的结论是，学生将自己的成绩灌水，与其说是蓄意欺骗，不如说是展现了健康的自信及企图心。在先前几次研究中，研究人员还发现，面试时将成绩灌水的学生，后来成绩都变好，而且通常进步的幅度正是当初灌水的幅度。在某些情形下，使你自由的并非真理，而是经过粉饰的事实。

−by Mark Mitchell

A.   Then, researchers conducted face-to-face interviews with participants regarding the same information while the latter were hooked up to lie detectors.

B.   In earlier studies, the researchers even found that students who inflated their grades in interviews subsequently improved their grades – often by the very amount they had exaggerated.

C.  However, bending the truth can sometimes be beneficial.

D.  Researchers found that students inflated their grade point averages when interviewed.

E.   Their response was similar to that of people who are meditating or engaged in a positive social encounter.

Vocabulary

单词发音

academic [͵ækəˋdɛmɪk] adj. 学业的（尤指学识方面而非实践、技能上的）

aspiration [͵æspəˋreʃən] n. 抱负

subsequently [ˋsʌbsɪ͵kwɛntlɪ] adv. 【正式】后来; 随后; 接着

beneficial [͵bɛnəˋfɪʃəl] adj. 有益的

inflate [ɪnˋflet] v. 夸张; 夸大; 吹嘘

encounter [ɪnˋkaʊntɚ] n. 相遇; 邂逅

More Information

单词发音

stretch the truth 夸大事实  to exaggerate

liking [ˋlaɪkɪŋ] n. 喜欢；爱好

strain [stren] n.（身心的）紧张状态; 负担，沉重压力

questionnaire [͵kwɛstʃənˋɛr] n.（调查情况用的）问卷

lie detector【口】测谎器

register [ˋrɛdʒɪstɚ] v. 显示

deceive [dɪˋsiv] v. 欺骗，蒙蔽

regarding [rɪˋgɑrdɪŋ] prep. 关于；就……而论

hook up〔电器〕连接; 接通  to connect a mechanism and a source of power

exaggerate [ɪgˋzædʒə͵ret] v. 夸张，夸大

bend the truth 扭曲事实 to change or leave out certain facts of a story or situation, generally in order to elicit a specific response in the audience.

meditate [ˋmɛdə͵tet] v. 冥想; 打坐

engage [ɪnˋgedʒ] v. 使从事，使忙于

Answer