单词与词组   Words and phrases

    ①optimist  n. 乐观主义者

    ②tend  v. 趋向

    ③pessimist  n. 悲观主义者

    ④preference   n. 偏爱

    ⑤mood  n. 情绪

    ⑥depressing   a. 沮丧的

    ⑦suicide   n. 自杀

    ⑧sharply   adv. 急剧地

    ⑨established   a. 确定的

    What is your favorite color? Do you like yellow, orange, red? If you do, you must be an optimist①, a leader. Do you prefer grays and blues? Then you are probably quiet, shy, and you would rather follow than lead. You tend② to be a pessimist③. 

    你最喜欢什么色彩？你喜欢黄色、橙色和红色吗？倘若如此，你准是一个乐观的人，一个领导者。你偏爱灰、蓝系列色彩吗？那么，你很可能缄默、羞怯，你宁愿被别人领导而不愿领导别人。你有悲观者的倾向。

    At least, this is what psychologists tell us, and they should know, because they have been seriously studying the meaning of color preference④, as well as the effect that colors have on human beings. They tell us, among other facts, that we do not choose our favorite color as we grow up-we are born with our preference. 

    至少，这是心理学家告诉我们的--心理学家应该是这方面的专家，因为他们一直在认认真真地研究色彩偏爱的意义以及各种色彩对人的不同影响。他们告诉我们许多东西，其中之一是我们并不是在成长过程中挑选自己偏爱的色彩--我们的这种偏爱与生俱来。

    If you happen to love brown, you did so, as soon as you opened your eyes, or at least as soon as you could see clearly.

    假设你碰巧喜欢褐色，当初你一睁看到这个世界，或至少当你看清这个世界的时候，你就喜欢上褐色了。

    Colors do influence our moods⑤-there is no doubt about it. A yellow room makes most people feel more cheerful and more relaxed than a dark green one; and a red dress brings warmth and cheer to the saddest winter day. On the other hand, black is depressing⑥. 

    色彩的确影响我们的情绪--这一点毫无疑问。大多数人在一个黄色的房间比在一个深色的房间更感到愉悦松弛；一件红衣服在最凄凉的冬日也能给人带来温暖和振奋。而黑色却使人压抑。

    A black bridge over the Thames River, near London, used to be the scene of more suicides⑦ than any other bridge in the area-until it was repainted green. The number of suicide attempts immediately fell sharply⑧; perhaps it would have fallen even more if the bridge had been done in pink or baby blue.

    伦敦附近泰晤士河上曾有一座黑色的桥，在这座桥上自杀的人数比这一区任何一座桥都多。后来人们把它漆成绿色，企图自杀的人数立刻骤减；倘若将这座桥梁漆成粉红色或浅蓝色，下降幅度或许会更大。

    Light and bright colors make people not only happier but more active. It is an established⑨ fact that factory workers work better, harder, and have fewer accidents when their machines are painted orange rather than black or gray.

    浅色或艳丽的色彩不仅使人更加愉快也更积极向上。事实证明，如果把工厂里的机器油漆成橘黄色而不是黑色或灰色，工人就会干得更勤奋、更出色，事故也会更少。