EZCNN 易英网

Secrets of the Sexes 男女大不同

课文朗读

课文讲解

繁體中文譯本

Sometimes it seems that men and women behave in such contrasting ways that they aren’t even the same species. But how different are we really, and what lies behind those differences? The BBC series “Secrets of the Sexes” sets out to try and answer these questions.

有时男性和女性的行为似乎形成强烈对比，甚至到不是同一物种的地步。可是我们到底有多不同？这些差异背后的原因又是什么？BBC影集《男女大不同》试图回答这些问题。

Firstly, the investigation focused on the notion of “Brainsex” – that there is a concrete difference between each sex’s thought processes. One experiment tested the theory that women are more guided by emotions than men. A group of men and women were connected to a brain scanner and shown a series of facial images expressing different emotions. The results revealed that the area of the brain dealing with emotion was much more active in the women than in the men.

首先，调查重点在「大脑性别」的概念──也就是两性的思考过程彼此间有具体的差异。其中一项实验检验了女性要比男性容易受到情绪影响的说法。把一群男女与脑部扫描仪链接，接着出示一系列表达不同情绪的脸部图案给他们看。结果显示，女性脑部处理情绪的区域要比男性的活跃许多。

Another key difference between the sexes is the hormone testosterone, which men tend to possess more of. It’s actually been proved that testosterone levels correspond to the difference in length between a person’s ring and index fingers. Interestingly, among the program’s test subjects, the woman with the longest ring finger also performed best on tasks utilizing the visuospatial brain area, which is usually a male strong point.

两性另一项关键差异在于睪丸素这种荷尔蒙，男性体内的含量通常较多。睪丸素的多寡和一个人无名指与食指的长度差异相符，事实上这点已经获得证实。有趣的是，在该节目的受试者当中，无名指最长的女性在运用脑部视觉空间区的工作也表现最佳，而这区块通常是男性的强项。

So although the “Brainsex” theory appears somewhat valid, the distinction is not so clear-cut. The brain is more like a mosaic, a mixture of both sexes’ characteristics which tends to balance out one way or the other.

因此，虽然「大脑性别」的说法似乎有点道理，其区别却非十分清楚。大脑比较像是一幅马赛克，混合了两性的特色，且往往会以某种方式中和。

Vocabulary

单词发音

notion [ˋnoʃən] n. 概念；想法

concrete [ˋkɑnkrit] adj. 具体的

utilize [ˋjut!͵aɪz] v. 利用

clear-cut [ˋklɪrˋkʌt] adj. 明确的，清楚的

balance out 相抵，平衡 counterbalance

More Information

单词发音

set out (to do something) 动身.., 开始.. to begin doing something that is part of a plan

testosterone [tɛsˋtɑstə͵ron] n. 睾丸素﹐ 睾丸甾酮

correspond [͵kɔrɪˋspɑnd] v. 相当[（+to）]; 符合，一致[（+to/with）]

visuospatial [ˌvɪʒuo'speʃəl] adj. 视觉空间的 of or relating to visual perception of spatial relationships among objects

strong point 长处；特长 something at which one excels

valid [ˋvælɪd] adj. 有根据的；正确的

mosaic [məˋzeɪk] n. 马赛克，镶嵌细工

one way or the other 以这样或那样的方式; 设法 whatever method is used

课文朗读

课文讲解

For millions of men and women, finding an ideal partner can be quite a struggle. So could science actually come to the rescue of those in dating distress? A Scientific Dating Agency was set up to try and “play cupid” using scientific theory.

对数百万名旷男怨女来说，找到理想的伴侣是一大快事。所以科学真能解救那些饱受约会之苦的可怜人吗？某个科学婚友社就因此设立，试图利用科学理论来「巧扮红娘」。

Twenty men and women were chosen to go on “speed dates,” but beforehand they underwent a series of tests. Among these was a questionnaire that evaluated their CQ (Compatibility Quotient) to find an ideal personality match. Furthermore, scientists tested the theory of facial similarity – that men and women with similar faces are instinctively attracted to each other. By analyzing the various data, the scientists then attempted to predict the participants’ perfect matches.

20名男女被选中进行「闪电约会」，可是事先经过了一连串的测试。其中包括一项问卷调查，评估他们的「适配性商数」，以找到个性最合得来的人。此外，科学家也测试脸部相似理论──长相相似的男女本能会受到彼此吸引。藉由分析不同的资料，科学家试图预测参加者的最佳速配对象。

Then came the actual speed date, where the men and women took turns to meet with each other and rate potential partners both before and after chatting. To the scientists’ disappointment, though, most of their predictions missed the target in terms of facial similarity attraction. Instead, bodies were more of a factor, with the taller men and curvier women receiving the most positive responses. As for CQ, people tended to make judgments about a person almost immediately, with personality not being a big factor for initial attraction. When it comes to the language of love, it would seem that short-term, let alone long-term, relationships’ success is just too unpredictable for science. At least for now!

接着进行真正的闪电约会，男女两方轮流和彼此见面，评估聊天前后的可能伴侣。可是令科学家失望的是，他们关于脸部相似度吸引力的预测，大多数都不准。身材却反而成为影响比较大的因素，较高大的男性和曲线玲珑有致的女性获得最正面的响应。至于适配性商数，人们往往一见面就立刻对人下判断，所以对一开始的吸引力来说，个性并不是重要的因素。谈到爱的语言，似乎短期关系──更别说长期──能否成功是科学所无法预测的。至少现在是如此！

−by David Vickers

Vocabulary

单词发音

come to the rescue of somebody 营救..，帮助..

distress [dɪˋstrɛs] n. 悲痛，苦恼

undergo [͵ʌndɚˋgo] v. 接受（治疗，检查等）

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

let alone 更不必说 not to mention; much less

More Information

单词发音

cupid [ˋkjupɪd] n. 邱比特；爱神

beforehand [bɪˋfor͵hænd] adv. 预先，事先

compatibility [kəm͵pætəˋbɪlətɪ] n. 兼容〔能够并存或同时使用而不致产生问题〕

quotient [ˋkwoʃənt] n.【数】商（数）

instinctively [ɪnˋstɪŋktɪvlɪ] adv.（出于）本能地；凭直觉

take turns 轮流做(工作等) to do something one person after another

in terms of 就...方面来说  regarding something; concerning something

curvy [ˋkɝvɪ] adj. 曲线美的

when it comes to  当涉及...时, 谈到...时 speaking of ….

Reading Questions 

1. What theory was tested by the scientists in the program?

A. That men and women are different species.

B. That women respond to emotions more readily than men.

C. That men’s testosterone levels are higher.

D. That men are smarter than women.

2. What conclusion did the “Brainsex” investigation reach?

A. Men’s and women’s brains are completely different.

B. Brains are too complicated for us to understand.

C. Hormones have a limited effect on how we think.

D. Everyone possesses both masculine and feminine ways of thinking.

3. What did NOT happen in the speed dating experiment?

A. Men and women rated their impressions of each other.

B. Participants answered questions about their ideal partner.

C. Lots of data on facial similarity was gathered.

D. Scientists chatted to twenty men and women.

4. What is the second half of the article mainly about?

A. An attempt to predict male and female compatibility.

B. Investigating the reasons behind dating distress.

C. Explaining the process of a typical speed date.

D. The relationship between physical attraction and facial similarity.

BBC Secrets of the Sexes (1)

BBC Secrets of the Sexes (2)

BBC Secrets of the Sexes (3)

Answer