How to Tell If You Have Been Gaslit We're unlucky enough if we meet with people who want to do us wrong, show us contempt and take advantage of us. But this is as nothing next to the monumental bad luck of encountering people who do all this to us while also being extremely skilled at pretending that they aren't; those master manipulators who are at once innocent-seeming and, deep down, profoundly scheming. These people won't only hurt us, they will do something far worse: rob us of our understanding of ourselves, strip us of basic trust and, along the way, for a time, make us lose our minds. There are people we can take up with who have been so badly hurt by something in their early lives that they are committed to exacting revenge on anyone who comes too close to them: They may semi-consciously be seeking to exorcise on their partners a latent rage against a dead or depressed parent, they may want to punish a bullying sibling, or release themselves from a sense of intolerable vulnerability created by an incident of early abuse. When we meet with difficulties, we have two explanations to fall back on: the first is to doubt ourselves. The second is to wonder whether, and how, the other person might be ill. If we almost always pick the former, it's because of how familiar and reassuring it is not to take our own sides. It is so much easier for us to think that we are (as they also quickly tell us) irrationally prone to anger, over-excited, 'insane' and complaining for no reason – rather than deep in a relationship with a cruel soul. Those who are most prone to being gaslit in adult love are, sadly of course, the very people who may have been gaslit by their own parents. The idea sounds yet more curious, but parents too can be adept at polishing their reputations and will insist that they are kind – while simultaneously expending enormous hostility on their thoroughly confused child. Despite decades of training in self-doubt, we may need to do a remarkable thing: trust in what our unhappiness is telling us about those we think of as good. The test isn't whether they tell us they love us, it's how at peace they make us feel. We may have to accept that the world is filled with some very dangerous people who look entirely safe to our fatefully untrained eyes. We may need to think a bit less badly of ourselves and substantially worse of some sweet-seeming characters who claim with great sincerity to love us – and don't. 词汇表 gaslight [ˈɡæslaɪt] 煤气灯操纵，情感操纵（指通过扭曲事实、否认现实等方式，使受害者质疑自身认知和判断力的心理操纵手段） contempt [kənˈtempt] 轻视，蔑视，鄙视 monumental [ˌmɒnjuˈmentl] 巨大的，极大的 master manipulator [məˈnɪpjuleɪtə(r)] 操控高手，擅长操纵他人的人 innocent-seeming [ˈɪnəsnt ˈsiːmɪŋ] 表面无辜的，看似无害的 scheming [ˈskiːmɪŋ] 诡计多端的，狡猾的 rob of / strip of [rɒb][strɪp] 剥夺，使丧失 lose one's mind 使精神失常，失去理智 take up with 与…来往，和…结交 be committed to [kəˈmɪtɪd] 致力于，投身于，决心做 exact revenge on [ɪɡˈzækt rɪˈvendʒ] 向…复仇，报复 semi-consciously [ˌsemɪ ˈkɒnʃəsli] 半意识地，半清醒地，有意无意中 exorcise [ˈeksɔːsaɪz] 发泄，除去，消除（不良情绪等） latent rage [ˈleɪtənt reɪdʒ] 潜藏的愤怒 bullying sibling [ˈbʊliɪŋ ˈsɪblɪŋ] 欺负人的兄弟姐妹 intolerable vulnerability [ɪnˈtɒlərəbl ˌvʌlnərəˈbɪləti] 难以忍受的脆弱 abuse [əˈbjuːs] 虐待，伤害 fall back on 依赖，诉诸于，求助于 reassuring [ˌriːəˈʃʊərɪŋ] 令人安心的，使人放心的 irrationally [ɪˈræʃənəli] 不合理地，无理智地 be prone to anger [prəʊn] 容易生气，动辄发怒 insane [ɪnˈseɪn] 精神失常的，疯癫的 be adept at [əˈdept] 擅长，精通 polish one's reputation [ˈpɒlɪʃ][ˌrepjuˈteɪʃn] 粉饰名声，美化声誉 simultaneously [ˌsɪmlˈteɪniəsli] 同时地 enormous hostility [ɪˈnɔːməs hɒˈstɪləti] 极大的敌意 fatefully [ˈfeɪtfəli] 命中注定地，宿命地 substantially [səbˈstænʃəli] 大大地，很大程度地 🏫翻译和pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复"1"可进入【打卡交流群】

Is hustle culture toxic? "There are way easier places to work, but nobody ever changed the world on 40 hours a week." That's exactly what Elon Musk tweeted in November 2018, as part of a call for new talent to join his companies. The post went viral, leading to a lot of people critiquing Musk's take on work and merit. Despite the criticism he faced, a lot of people, and followers of hustle culture in particular, stood firmly behind him. So just what is hustle culture all about? Hustle culture essentially glorifies putting in excessive effort at work, often at the expense of health and personal relationships. In this mindset, our identity becomes intertwined with our work role, with work being seen not as a means to a comfortable life, but as an end in itself. And when not grinding at work, adherents engage in activities that are deemed productive and professionally valuable, such as networking or reading work-related books. For those for whom work is life, colleagues become akin to family. Taking it a step further, some companies, like Facebook and Apple, Introduced egg freezing benefits for female employees in the mid-2010s, critics said this seemed to suggest that starting a family should be deferred for the sake of professional dedication. When did the trend of hustle culture really kick off? While the roots of hustle culture are ancient, it took its current shape in the late 90s. Google, for instance, created ultra-comfortable work environments, complete with relaxation areas, on-site healthy food options, massage corners, and even clothing cleaning services. Initially appearing as a healthy work environment initiative, the real aim was to attract, and more crucially, retain employees. Dave Heinemeier Hansen is the co-founder of Basecamp and author of It Doesn't Have to be Crazy at Work. He's quoted in a January 2019 New York Times article as saying, the vast majority of people beating the drums of hustle mania are not the people doing the actual work. They're the managers, financiers and owners. The persistent myths about overwork, he argued, serve to justify the extreme wealth accumulated by a select group of tech elites. Is there a shift happening? Increasingly, people are pushing back against hustle culture, especially in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Newer generations find themselves in precarious situations, facing temporary and unstable employment despite putting in hard work. Aidan Harper, the mind behind a European campaign for a reduced work week known as the four-day week, argues that hustle culture is dehumanising and toxic. He believes it perpetuates the idea that our only value as human beings lies in our productivity, our ability to work, rather than in our humanity. To break free from this mindset, setting clear boundaries becomes crucial. Identifying what saps our energy, scheduling breaks and rest time as diligently as meetings, and questioning whether tasks are beyond our job description, or if late nights at the office are driven by perfectionism or obligation, all become essential strategies. There you have it! 词汇表 tweet [twiːt] （在推特上）推文；发推文 go viral [ˈvaɪrəl] （在网络上）走红，迅速传播 critique [krɪˈtiːk] 批评，对…发表评论 take on something 对…的看法，态度 merit [ˈmerɪt] 功绩，价值；有点 hustle culture [ˈhʌsl ˈkʌltʃə(r)] “奋斗文化”（推崇过度投入工作，常以牺牲健康和个人关系为代价的文化理念） glorify [ˈɡlɔːrɪfaɪ] 美化，推崇，颂扬 at the expense of [ɪkˈspens] 以…为代价 be intertwined with [ˌɪntəˈtwaɪnd] 与…紧密相连，与…交织在一起 grind at work [ɡraɪnd] 拼命工作，埋头苦干 adherent [ədˈhɪərənt] 拥护者，追随者；信徒 deem [diːm] 认为，视为，看作 networking [ˈnetwɜːkɪŋ] （尤指工作中）发现人际关系，建立人脉 be akin to [əˈkɪn] 类似于，相当于 egg freezing benefits （企业为女员工提供的）冷冻卵子福利 defer [dɪˈfɜː(r)] 推迟，延期 for the sake of [seɪk] 为了…（的利益） professional dedication [ˌdedɪˈkeɪʃn] 职业奉献，敬业精神 kick off （活动或进程）开始，兴起，启动 ultra-comfortable [ˌʌltrə ˈkʌmfətəbl] 极其舒适的 on-site [ˌɒn ˈsaɪt] 现场的，就地的 massage [ˈmæsɑːʒ] 按摩，推拿 initiative [ɪˈnɪʃətɪv] 倡议，举措 retain [rɪˈteɪn] 留住，保住，保持 beat the drums of [drʌmz] 鼓吹，宣扬 mania [ˈmeɪniə] 狂热，狂潮，热衷 persistent myths [pəˈsɪstənt mɪθs] 长期存在的谬论，根深蒂固的错误观念 accumulate [əˈkjuːmjʊleɪt] 积聚，积累 a select group of tech elites [ɪˈliːts] 特定的科技精英群体 push back against 抵制，反对，反抗 in the light of 鉴于，考虑到，在…的背景下 precarious [prɪˈkeəriəs] 不稳定的，不确定的 dehumanising [diːˈhjuːmənaɪzɪŋ] 非人性化的，非人道的 toxic [ˈtɒksɪk] 有害的，有毒的 perpetuate [pəˈpetʃueɪt] 传播，延续（尤指不好的事物） sap one's energy [sæp] 消耗某人的精力，使精疲力尽 diligently [ˈdɪlɪdʒəntli] 认真地，勤奋地，勤勉地 job description 职责说明，工作描述 perfectionism [pəˈfekʃənɪzəm] 完美主义，精益求精 obligation [ˌɒblɪˈɡeɪʃn] 义务，责任，职责 🪴翻译和pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复"1"可进入【打卡交流群】

Why are some people always late? As the saying goes, 'time waits for no man'. Time is always against us, and we just can't stop it. Maybe that's why some of us are always running late for appointments. But if timekeeping is not what you're good at, don't stress. There might be a good reason for your lack of punctuality. People's attitudes to being on time vary. Some clock-watch and make sure they're bang on time for a meeting. It is, after all, rude to be late, and if you can make it on time, why can't everyone else? But if, like me, you want to make every second count, you might try to squeeze as much as you can into the time you have available. However, when your schedule doesn't run to plan, your punctuality inevitably slips. People who lack promptness have been described as 'time benders'. Author Grace Pacie told the BBC that "they're the people who don't want to be late, but they have a strange resistance to being early, and they don't allow enough time." They assume their journey to an appointment will always go smoothly, and the train will always be on time! Perceptions of unpunctual people are almost always negative – even if sometimes wrong. Writing for the BBC, Laura Clarke says: "Being consistently late might not be your fault. It could be your type. The punctually-challenged often share personality characteristics, such as optimism, low levels of self-control, anxiety, or a penchant for thrill-seeking, experts say. It is also possible people are late so not to be conspicuous and to avoid the anxious wait for others to turn up. Maybe us latecomers should make more of an effort and follow the advice I heard to not 'try' to be on time but 'decide' to be on time. But I know if a meeting or a deadline really matters, then I'll be there. Otherwise relax, even if others are cursing you! 词汇表 time waits for no man 时不我待，时间不等人（强调时间的不可逆转性和珍贵性） run late for 迟到，赶不上 timekeeping [ˈtaɪmkiːpɪŋ] 守时，准时，计时 punctuality [ˌpʌŋktʃuˈæləti] 准时，守时 vary [ˈveəri] （根据情况而）变化，改变，各不相同 clock-watch [ˈklɒk wɒtʃ] （尤指着急下班）不停地看表，紧盯时间 bang on time [bæŋ] 时间刚好，恰好准时 make every second count 充分利用每一秒，珍惜每一秒 run to plan 按计划进行，如期进行 inevitably [ɪnˈevɪtəbli] 不可避免地，必然地，难免 slip [slɪp] 变糟，下降，退步 promptness [ˈprɒmptnəs] 准时，及时，迅速 time bender [ˈbendə(r)] 时间扭曲者（指因预留时间不足或对早到有莫名抗拒的迟到者） assume [əˈsjuːm] 假定，假设，认为 unpunctual [ˌʌnˈpʌŋktʃuəl] 不守时的，迟到的 consistently [kənˈsɪstəntli] 一贯地，始终如一地 punctually-challenged [ˈpʌŋktʃuəli ˈtʃælɪndʒd] 难以守时的，不擅长准时的 penchant [ˈpɒŋʃɒŋ] 倾向，爱好，嗜好 thrill-seeking [θrɪl ˈsiːkɪŋ] 寻求刺激的，追求惊险的 conspicuous [kənˈspɪkjuəs] 显眼的，引人注目的 turn up 出现，到来 latecomer [ˈleɪtkʌmə(r)] 迟到者，晚来的人 deadline [ˈdedlaɪn] 截止日期，最后期限 curse [kɜːs] 咒骂，诅咒 📖 翻译、pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复"1"可进【打卡交流群】

Why do we get addicted to social media? A recent report from Cybercrew revealed how UK residents spend an average of 110 minutes per day on social media. Many of us start scrolling before we've even got out of bed in the morning, in an almost automatic way. Why do we end up scrolling on TikTok and Instagram for hours on end? Because social media can have a similar effect on the brain to certain addictive substances, according to Healthline.com, they stimulate the brain's reward system. When you log into your favourite social media platform, you get a burst of dopamine, a chemical that makes you feel good and motivates you to seek more of the same stimulus. Social media also provides a constant source of social validation, such as likes, comments and shares, that boost your self-esteem and reinforce your behaviour. Additionally, social media can create a fear of missing out, known as FOMO, which can lead to compulsive checking and scrolling, as well as anxiety and stress. How does it work in concrete terms? When we do something that helps us meet our needs, like eating or having sex for example, our brain releases dopamine. It's one of our happy hormones, a neurotransmitter linked with pleasure and satisfaction. Dopamine reinforces our survival behaviours and helps us adapt to our environment. And it's relevant when considering social media addiction too. Each time we watch a video or get a like, our brain releases a small amount of dopamine, which makes us want to keep going back for more. The unpredictable nature leads to anticipation and excitement. No doubt at some stage you've wondered, how many likes do I have on my last post? Or, what's this latest notification about? The thing is, dopamine is not designed to make us happy or satisfied. It only gives us a temporary boost of pleasure that fades quickly, and then it makes us crave more. Experts have compared the feelings to those experienced when playing casino slot machines. Both use sounds, colors, animations and other stimuli to create an immersive and engaging experience that captivates our attention and distracts us from reality. Is it fair to say that social networks were designed to be addictive then? Maybe not only for that purpose, but at least to some extent. The techniques and features used on social media platforms exploit the brain's reward system. Of course, it's in the interest of social media platforms to make their product addictive, because it leads to increased advertising revenue. The more time users spend on social media, the more ads they see, and the more data they generate. That means more profit for the platforms, and more influence for their owners. To avoid falling into the trap, you need to schedule some time off from social media so that you can give your brain a break and maybe even allow yourself to get bored. There you have it. 词汇表 get addicted to [əˈdɪktɪd] 沉迷于，对…上瘾 scroll [skrəʊl] （在电子屏幕上）滚动，滑动浏览，刷 automatic [ˌɔːtəˈmætɪk] 自动的，无意识的，下意识的 addictive substances [əˈdɪktɪv səbˈstænsɪz] 成瘾物质，致瘾物 stimulate [ˈstɪmjuleɪt] 刺激，激励 reward system 奖励系统（大脑中负责产生愉悦感并强化行为的神经机制） get a burst of [bɜːst] 突然获得一阵，爆发，释放 dopamine [ˈdəʊpəmiːn] 多巴胺（一种神经递质，与愉悦感和动机相关） stimulus [ˈstɪmjələs] 刺激物，刺激因素 social validation [ˌvælɪˈdeɪʃn] 社会认可，社交认同 self-esteem [ˌself ɪˈstiːm] 自尊，自尊心 reinforce [ˌriːɪnˈfɔːs] 强化，加强 fear of missing out (FOMO) 错失恐惧症（担心错过社交活动、信息等的焦虑感） compulsive [kəmˈpʌlsɪv] 强迫性的，难以控制的 in concrete terms [ˈkɒŋkriːt] 具体来说，具体而言 happy hormones [ˈhɔːməʊnz] 快乐激素（指能让人产生愉悦感的激素，如多巴胺、血清素，催产素，内啡肽） neurotransmitter [ˌnjʊərəʊtrænsˈmɪtə(r)] 神经递质（大脑中传递神经信号的化学物质） unpredictable [ˌʌnprɪˈdɪktəbl] 不可预测的，难以预料的 anticipation [ænˌtɪsɪˈpeɪʃn] 期待，预期 notification [ˌnəʊtɪfɪˈkeɪʃn] （社交媒体更新的）通知消息 be designed to 旨在，目的是，被设计用来 temporary boost of pleasure 短暂的愉悦感提升，一时的快感 casino [kəˈsiːnəʊ ] 赌场，娱乐场 slot machine [slɒt] 老虎机（一种赌博机器，通过随机结果吸引玩家） animation [ˌænɪˈmeɪʃn] 动画，动画片 immersive [ɪˈmɜːsɪv] 沉浸式的，身临其境的 engaging [ɪnˈɡeɪdʒɪŋ] 引人入胜的，吸引人的 captivate [ˈkæptɪveɪt] 迷住，使着迷，吸引 exploit [ɪkˈsplɔɪt] 利用，开发 advertising revenue [ˈædvətaɪzɪŋ ˈrevənjuː] 广告收入（平台通过投放广告获得的收益） 🪴翻译和pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复"1"可进入【打卡交流群】

The joys of writing lists Phil Hello. This is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I'm Phil. Beth And I'm Beth. Phil A list is a collection of items with a single item written on each line, and they're everywhere: shopping lists, to-do lists, even bucket lists – a list of all the things a person would like to do before they die. In fact, there's an episode of 6 Minute English all about them. Beth Imagine you're at the supermarket and find someone's shopping list. This happens a lot to Jo Nolan, a linguistics researcher whose new book explores our love of lists. Here's Jo reading her shopping list on BBC Radio 4 programme Word of Mouth: Jo Nolan I only list the first four items, but the list read: "Nanas, aye-aye, puke, shrooms." Beth "Nanas, aye-aye, puke, shrooms." Err… can you work out what Jo was buying at the supermarket, Phil? Phil OK. Well, I'm going to guess that 'nanas' are bananas. And 'shrooms' – they've got to be mushrooms, right? Beth OK. But what about 'aye-aye' and 'puke'? What could they mean? Well, here's Jo's explanation to Michael Rosen, presenter of BBC Radio 4's Word of Mouth: Michael Rosen And let's just come back to puke… I mean, were you instructing yourself to be sick in the supermarket? I'm just a bit lost there. Jo Nolan No, it's slightly grotesque. Erm… my husband doesn't like cucumber, and the abbreviation for cucumber would be 'cuc', so he has always referred to it as puke. Phil Aha! Cucumbers make Joanna's husband puke – a slang word for vomit. And puke rhymes with 'cuc', so it's a way of reminding her to buy cucumbers. Wow! Sometimes lists are like secret codes. Beth In this episode, we'll find out why people love lists and learn some useful new words and phrases. Phil But first, a question for you, Beth. According to the list on the Internet Movie Database website, which movie has made the most money ever? Is it: a) Titanic, b) Avengers: Endgame, or c) Avatar? Beth I think it might be Avatar, although that might have been the most expensive to make. I'm not sure. Phil OK. Well, we'll find out at the end of the programme. Popular songs are full of lists, and one of the most famous is My Favourite Things, sung by Julie Andrews in the film The Sound of Music. The song lists all her favourite things, from 'raindrops on roses' to 'whiskers on kittens'. Here, Jo Nolan and Michael Rosen discuss the song on BBC Radio 4 programme Word of Mouth: Jo Nolan I feel like you get a lot – you get a big bang for your buck in that song. Maybe it's the positivity – it's a bit saccharine. Maybe that's also part of the issue. The list encourages you to think really efficiently and economically, so I think you don't waste a lot of time and effort making a nice sentence or using long words. You just get to the nub of things quite quickly. Beth The song's list of 'favourite things' is long, and Jo says you get a big bang for your buck – an idiom meaning that you gain a lot in return for the money or effort you spend on something. But not everyone likes the song. Some call it saccharine – an adjective meaning excessively sweet, sentimental or insincere. Phil Lists often abbreviate the items they contain, so you get to the nub of things quickly. The nub of something means the most important or essential point about it. Beth Lists can be useful as well. Here's Jo Nolan giving an example of a useful list to BBC Radio 4's Word of Mouth: Jo Nolan A friend of mine who makes pros and cons lists finds that it really helps her resolve a situation. She halves her page: pros, cons. And she said by the end of it, she knows what she's doing. Phil Lists help us make decisions by writing down all the pros and cons of a situation. The pros and cons is another way of saying the advantages and disadvantages of something, especially when you're trying to choose between them. Beth The more you think about it, the more you see lists everywhere – in menus and bank statements, for example. And therapists even recommend listing all the good things in your life to feel happier – not bad for a few words on a scrap of paper. Phil OK. It's time to reveal the answer to my question. Beth, I asked you which movie had made the most money ever, and you said Avatar. And now, according to the Internet Movie Database… that's exactly right. Beth Yay! Phil OK. Let's recap the vocabulary we've learned, starting with bucket list – all the things you would like to do before you die. Beth Puke is slang for vomit or sick. Phil If something gives bang for your buck, you gain a lot of extra value in return for the money or effort you put into it. Beth If you call something saccharine, you criticise it for being too sweet or sentimental. Phil The nub of a problem or situation is the most important or essential thing about it. Beth And finally, something's pros and cons are its advantages and disadvantages. Once again, our six minutes are up. Goodbye for now! 📝 字数限制，词汇表、翻译及pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复1可加入【打卡交流群】

Promoting body positivity 'Don't judge a book by its cover,' the popular saying goes. 'All that glitters is not gold,' is another. 'Fine feathers do not make fine birds,' is a third. What do they have in common? They remind us that something's appearance should not be the most important thing when determining its value. This is what the body positivity movement is all about. Its message is that we should value ourselves for who we are, warts and all – accept our flaws and stop judging ourselves against our imperfections. But it's easier said than done. Despite this rise in positivity, many people still feel insecure about themselves and their appearance because it may not measure up to the objectified stereotype. So what can a person do to improve their own body positivity? Not comparing your body to others', particularly celebrities', is a good first step. "We're surrounded by these idealised images of what it is to be beautiful," says Becky Young, founder of the Anti Diet Riot Club – a club helping people rethink their relationship with their bodies and food. She points out that comparing only creates a standard we think we need to aspire to and leads to feelings of disappointment if we aren't up to scratch. 'Learn to take a compliment,' recommends Thriveworks, a counselling and coaching website which promotes positive mental health. When someone says something nice, embrace it – don't push it away or play it down. And compliment others too. If you think someone looks nice, or someone has a good idea, tell them. It can lift them up. Appreciate your body for what it can do – walking, yoga, playing sport or otherwise. "You can be an incredible human regardless of your shape or size," says Esther Field, a body-positive social media campaigner interviewed by the BBC. After knee surgery, "I attended the gym and realised how strong and capable my body was, even though it was fat." And finally, don't forget that low self-esteem and body confidence issues affect everyone. "There aren't a lot of guys that are pushing this idea of body positivity," David Fadd, a plus-size male model of two years told the BBC. The social media influencer wants to remind us that body image and confidence affect men too. Ultimately, the only person who can truly affect your body positivity is you. Becoming comfortable with yourself is unlikely to be accomplished overnight – but don't give up. Remember that everyone is insecure sometimes. And as David Fadd says "be unapologetic about who you are and what you want as a person. Love what you look like." 词汇表 Don't judge a book by its cover 不要以貌取人 All that glitters is not gold [ˈɡlɪtəz] 闪光的并非都是金子 Fine feathers do not make fine birds [ ˈfeðəz] 人不可貌相 body positivity [ˈbɒdi ˌpɒzəˈtɪvəti] 身体自爱，身体自信，身体积极性（指接纳并珍视自己的身体，不因外貌缺陷而评判自我的理念或运动） warts and all [wɔːts ənd ɔːl] 毫无保留地，包括所有缺点地 flaw [flɔː] 缺点，缺陷 judge against （按照某种标准）对……做出评判 imperfection [ˌɪmpəˈfekʃn] 不完美，缺点 insecure [ˌɪnsɪˈkjʊə(r)] 缺乏自信的，没有安全感的 measure up [ˈmeʒə(r) ʌp] 符合，达到，满足（标准，要求等） objectified stereotype [əbˈdʒektɪfaɪd ˈsteriətaɪp] 被物化的刻板印象 idealised image [aɪˈdiəlaɪzd] 理想化形象 Anti Diet Riot Club [ˈraɪət] 反节食反抗俱乐部 aspire to [əˈspaɪə(r)] 渴望，追求 up to scratch [skrætʃ] 达到标准，合格 compliment [ˈkɒmplɪmənt] 赞美，称赞 counselling and coaching [ˈkaʊnsəlɪŋ ənd ˈkəʊtʃɪŋ] 心理咨询与辅导 push away 推开，拒绝接受 play down 淡化，不予重视，对……作低调处理 lift up [lɪft ʌp] 使振奋，鼓舞 incredible [ɪnˈkredəbl] 了不起的，极好的 low self-esteem [ˌself ɪˈstiːm] 自卑，低自尊 plus-size [plʌs saɪz] 加大码的，大尺寸的 influencer [ˈɪnfluənsə(r)] 影响者，网络红人 be unapologetic about [ˌʌnəˌpɒləˈdʒetɪk] 坦然接受，对…毫不掩饰 📖 翻译、pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复"1"可进【打卡交流群】

On feeling painfully different Much is said about the virtues and pleasures of individuality – of being someone who stands out from the crowd and delights in their own particularity. But let's also admit to how frankly lonely and frightening it can be to find ourselves (yet again) in a peculiar minority, where the differences between us and others strike us as bewildering rather than emboldening, when, for example: Everyone seems to want to gossip, but we prefer generosity and forgiveness. When everyone is at ease, but we're melancholy and self-conscious. When everyone is cheerful, but we can't seem to let go of anxiety and apprehension. When everyone seems confident, but we feel suspicious and ashamed of ourselves. When everyone is contented in their couples, but we're still searching for a home. When everyone worries passionately about the future of the planet – but we feel cold and at times almost indifferent. When everyone seems to love life, but we're not sure if we quite do. At such times, we might benefit from a few thoughts to alleviate the isolation: Firstly, we don't know reality as well as we imagine. What we believe that 'everyone' is like may not be how they actually are. We may have more friends than we think. Also, we are getting statistics wrong: these four or eight or twelve people in a room don't represent all of humanity. The 80 or so people in our extended social group are in fact always a miniscule part of the human story. There are still so many friends left to meet. Also, perhaps our existing companions actually know much more about the material we feel alone with than we suspect; they, and we, simply haven't found a way to share our true selves. Maybe they will feel what we feel one day – just not yet. It may be fine to belong to a minority. Minorities have sheltered some of the most accomplished spirits that've ever lived. Isolation may just be a price we have to pay for a certain complexity of mind. And lastly, we have art to bridge the gaps between ourselves and other people. Bookshops are an ideal destination for the lonely, given how many books were written because their authors couldn't find anyone to talk to. Maybe there are people nearby – perhaps in this community – who would understand very well indeed. 词汇表 virtue [ˈvɜːtʃuː] 美德，品德，优点 individuality [ˌɪndɪˌvɪdʒuˈæləti] 个性，个人特征 stand out from the crowd 脱颖而出，与众不同 particularity [pəˌtɪkjʊˈlærəti] 特殊性，独特性，个性 peculiar [pɪˈkjuːliə(r)] 特殊的，独特的 minority [maɪˈnɒrəti] 少数群体，少数人，少数派 strike [straɪk] 给…印象，让…感到 bewildering [bɪˈwɪldərɪŋ] 令人困惑的，使人不知所措的 emboldening [ɪmˈbəʊldənɪŋ] 使人勇敢的，鼓舞人心的 gossip [ˈɡɒsɪp] 说长道短，传播流言蜚语，说闲话 at ease [æt iːz] 自在的，放松的 melancholy [ˈmelənkəli] 忧郁的，郁郁寡欢的 self-conscious [ˌself ˈkɒnʃəs] 局促不安的，不自在的，难为情的 apprehension [ˌæprɪˈhenʃn] 担忧，忧虑 contented [kənˈtentɪd] 满足的，满意的 worry passionately about [ˈpæʃənətli] 对……忧心忡忡，极度担忧 indifferent [ɪnˈdɪfrənt] 冷漠的，漠不关心的 alleviate [əˈliːvieɪt] 减轻，缓解（痛苦等） isolation [ˌaɪsəˈleɪʃn] 孤立，孤独，隔绝 extended social group [ɪkˈstendɪd] 延伸的社交圈（指同事、同学等弱关系社交群体） miniscule [ˈmɪnɪskjuːl] 极小的，微不足道的 shelter [ˈʃeltə(r)] 躲避，隐匿；庇护，保护 accomplished [əˈkʌmplɪʃt] 才华高的，有成就的，杰出的 complexity [kəmˈpleksəti] 复杂性，复杂的事物 bridge the gaps [ɡæps] 消除差异，弥合隔阂 🏫翻译，视频和pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复"1"可进入【打卡交流群】

Are women really more emotional than men? Irrational. Overdramatic. Hysterical. Sensitive. If you're a woman, you have most likely been described using one of those words or similar in the past. That's because there's a common belief that women are more emotional than men. which still persists to this day. It can sometimes be framed in a positive way, saying that women show more empathy, but all too often it's used as a weapon to dismiss what a woman is saying. Is there any scientific basis to such assumptions? Actually, no. And as it turns out, it's not based in reality at all. Back in October 2021, a study entitled Little Evidence for the Influence of Sex or Ovarian Hormones on Affective Variability was published in the highly respected scientific journal Nature. Researchers from the University of Michigan and Purdue University in the US monitored the emotions of 142 women and men for a period of 75 days. Every evening, participants answered a 20-minute online questionnaire about the emotions they had experienced during the day. They had to rate the extent to which they had experienced certain positive effect items like happy and proud, on a scale of 1 to 5. The same was done for negative effect items like irritable and afraid. A mix of women with natural menstrual cycles and women using contraception were selected as participants. specifically to look into the idea that women are more emotionally variable during their cycle, a long-standing popular belief. What were the results then? The emotional stability and fluctuations of men and women are clearly, consistently, and undeniably more similar than they are different, according to study lead author Adrienne Belz, as quoted by today.com. Also talking to today.com, Robert Blum, a professor of public health and pediatrics at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, stressed that there is in fact no biological basis for thinking that women are more emotional than men. So humans have been misguided for a long time in that respect. However, Blum also pointed out that there is a strong and global finding that males are socialised to hide their emotions, while it is far more legitimate for females to share them. And the effects of these double standards are dangerous. How so? Statistics show that the overwhelming majority of people who end up in prison are men. The same is true when it comes to the proportion of people who commit suicide. This is partly due to men struggling to externalize and manage their emotions, precisely because of societal expectations and upbringing. Meanwhile, incorrect assumptions about women have led to a lack of understanding of the female body. Generally speaking, women are diagnosed with chronic illnesses and given pain relief less often than men. That's because they have historically been excluded from scientific and medical studies due to their presumed emotional variability. There you have it. 词汇表 irrational [ɪˈræʃənl] 不理智的，缺乏理性的 overdramatic [ˌəʊvədrəˈmætɪk] 反应过激的；过于夸张的，过分戏剧化的 hysterical [hɪˈsterɪkl] 歇斯底里的，情绪失控的 sensitive [ˈsensətɪv] 敏感的，易受影响的，神经过敏的 persist [pəˈsɪst] 继续存在，持续 frame [freɪm] （措词谨慎地）表达，说出，表述 empathy [ˈempəθi] 同理心，共情，共鸣 dismiss [dɪsˈmɪs] 否定，驳回，不予理会 assumption [əˈsʌmpʃn] 设想，假定，假设 entitle [ɪnˈtaɪtl] 给…命名，以…为标题 ovarian hormone [əʊˈveəriən ˈhɔːməʊn] 卵巢激素 affective variability / emotional variability [əˈfektɪv ˌveəriəˈbɪləti] 情绪波动，情绪易变，情绪不稳定 monitor [ˈmɒnɪtə(r)] 监测，监视 irritable [ˈɪrɪtəbl] 易怒的，暴躁的，过敏的 menstrual cycle [ˈmenstruəl] 月经周期，生理周期 contraception [ˌkɒntrəˈsepʃn] 避孕，避孕措施 emotionally variable [ɪˈməʊʃənəli ˈveəriəbl] 情绪易变的，情绪不稳定的 long-standing 长期存在的，由来已久的 emotional stability [ɪˈməʊʃənl stəˈbɪləti] 情绪稳定性 fluctuation [ˌflʌktʃuˈeɪʃn] 波动，起伏，变动 consistently [kənˈsɪstəntli] 一致地，一贯地，始终如一地 undeniably [ˌʌndɪˈnaɪəbli] 毋庸置疑地，不可否认地 pediatrics [ˌpiːdiˈætrɪks] 儿科学，小儿科 biological basis [ˌbaɪəˈlɒdʒɪkl] 生物学依据，生理基础 misguide [ˌmɪsˈɡaɪd] 误导，使引入歧途 respect 方面，细节 be socialised to [ˈsəʊʃəlaɪzd] 被社会化为，被培养成（行为模式或角色） legitimate [ləˈdʒɪtɪmət] 合理的，可接受的，得到认可的 double standards 双重标准 the overwhelming majority of [ˌəʊvəˈwelmɪŋ məˈdʒɒrəti] 绝大多数的，绝大部分的 commit suicide [kəˈmɪt ˈsuːɪsaɪd] 自杀，自尽 externalize [ɪkˈstɜːnəlaɪz] 使外在化，表达，表露（情绪、思想等） societal expectation [səˈsaɪətl ˌekspekˈteɪʃn] 社会期望，社会期待 upbringing [ˈʌpbrɪŋɪŋ] 教养，抚养，成长环境 chronic illness [ˈkrɒnɪk] 慢性疾病 pain relief [peɪn rɪˈliːf] 止痛，疼痛缓解的药物（或方法） be excluded from [ɪkˈskluːdɪd] 被排除在…之外，不被允许参与… presume [prɪˈzjuːm] 认定，假定，推定 🪴翻译和pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复"1"可进入【打卡交流群】

What's it like to be a twin? Neil Hello, this is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I'm Neil. Beth And I'm Beth. Neil In this episode, we're talking about twins. Non-identical, or fraternal twins come from two separate eggs and share half their genes. More uncommon are identical twins, who come from a single fertilised egg and share 100% of their genes. Beth As humans, we're fascinated by twins. When people discover that someone's a twin, they start asking all kinds of questions. What question would you ask a twin, Neil? Neil Oh, probably quite an annoying one. Maybe… "Do you share each other's thoughts?" Beth Ooh! I might ask, "If one of you is hurt, does the other one feel the pain?" Neil Hmm. Interesting. Beth Well, some common questions for twins include: "Do you have psychic powers? Have you ever swapped boyfriends? And do you have the same dreams?" But according to Anand Jagatia, who presented a recent episode of BBC World Service's CrowdScience all about twins… Anand Jagatia …if you meet a twin and you ask them one of these questions, don't be surprised if they roll their eyes at you. Neil Ask a twin about psychic powers and they might roll their eyes – a way of showing boredom or irritation. But nevertheless, twins continue to capture our imagination, and in this episode we'll be finding out why, using some useful new words and phrases. First, I have a question for you, Beth. These days, twins are more common than you might think. In fact, one in every 42 babies is born a twin. But do you know which famous Hollywood star is a twin? Is it: a) Jennifer Lawrence, b) Angelina Jolie, or c) Scarlett Johansson? Beth Ooh, I don't know. I'm going to guess Scarlett Johansson. Neil Well, we'll find out the answer at the end of the programme. Professor Karen Dillon is the author of a book on twins in American literature and a twin herself. Here, she discusses the good and bad sides of twinship with Anand Jagatia, for BBC World Service programme CrowdScience: Anand Jagatia Being a twin isn't always plain sailing. Karen Dillon Yeah, it is nice – there's never that fear, because you're going through school together, you're sometimes in the same class together, you're making friends together. So, all of those milestones of childhood, in some ways, are made easier for twins. But then the older you get, the more you realise how much people really think of you as a twin rather than as an individual. Beth Twins go through many childhood milestones together. A milestone is an important stage of development, so a childhood milestone could be something like your first day at school. Neil But being a twin isn't always plain sailing – an idiom meaning easy and problem-free. Many twins find it hard to establish their own identity as a separate and unique individual. Beth Our fascination with twins also comes from the age-old 'nature versus nurture' debate: how much of our lives is determined by nature, the genetics we're born with, and how much by nurture, the environment we grow up in? Because twins are so genetically similar, differences between them tell scientists a lot. Neil Here's presenter of BBC World Service programme CrowdScience, Anand Jagatia, discussing this with Helena De Bres, a philosopher at Wellesley College, Massachusetts, and – that's right – another twin. Anand Jagatia Yeah, you hear about twins that were separated at birth, grew up in different parts of the world, and they kind of have these eerily similar life courses. And you think, "Gosh! How much choice have I had over the way my life's turned out?" Helena De Bres Absolutely, yeah. There's that really famous case of the Jim Twins, who were reunited at age 39 after being separated at birth, and they just had so many similarities – it was crazy! They both married someone called Linda and then divorced her for someone called Betty. They both named their dog 'Toy'. It was, like, ridiculous! Beth The twins, Jim Lewis and Jim Springer, were separated at birth. The phrase separated at birth can be used to describe two people with strong similarities. Although, in this case the twins were literally separated and adopted by different parents at birth. Neil When the Jims were reunited in the 1970s, everyone was amazed at how similar their lives were. Anand used the adjective eerie, meaning strange in a frightening, mysterious way. And Helena says, "It was crazy," using crazy to mean strange and fantastic. Beth Yes, I think 'strange', 'mysterious' and 'fantastic' describe being a twin quite well. OK. Neil, it's time to reveal the answer to your question. Neil I asked which Hollywood star is a twin, and you said, "c) Scarlett Johansson"… Beth I did. Neil …which was the right answer. Beth Yay! Neil Let's recap the vocabulary we've learned, starting with roll your eyes – to move your eyes upwards to show you are bored or annoyed. 📝 字数限制，完整文本、词汇表、翻译及pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复1可加入【打卡交流群】

The benefits of eating alone Should you eat to live or live to eat?... a question posed by French playwright Moliere in his work 'The Miser'. While eating is functional, and our bodies need the fuel that food provides, dining with friends or loved ones can be a wonderful experience. However, some of us often find ourselves reserving a table for one in a restaurant. But is dining alone really that bad? Maybe not. We all have foods we like and dislike. Maybe it's a pungent cheese or stinky fish. We sometimes hold back on things that may offend the noses of others. When dining alone, we can consume whatever we like, with the added bonus that we might be able to eat more healthily. Often, if you want a salad and your significant other wants some less healthy cuisine, you end up ordering the same. And if you don't get the same, you might end up with food envy as you watch someone chow down on a pizza while you're left holding the lettuce. Have you ever spent too long debating with people which restaurant to eat in or when to meet? If dining solo, you can make the choice depending on your culinary desires at that moment and get your nourishment at exactly the time you're hungry! And why does it have to be a restaurant? You could eat in a park, garden or even your bed – the point is, the choice is yours! That alone time also means it's a time to switch off. According to psychologist Sherrie Bourg Carter, a bit of solitude can help your brain to unwind and may help you concentrate more. Finally, for some, dining alone can be a necessity. For those of us who suffer from misophonia, a hatred of sound, that can in some cause PTSD, the noise of someone else masticating can be unbearable. Eating alone can save you from the extreme anxiety that may arise listening to someone smack their lips or the sloshing of saliva in their mouths! So, is eating alone bad? Well, it may not be for everyone, but there certainly are some benefits to it. Try it sometime – you might just like it! 词汇表 playwright [ˈpleɪraɪt] 剧作家，编剧 The Miser [ˈmaɪzə(r)] 《吝啬鬼》（莫里哀创作的喜剧作品） fuel [ˈfjuːəl] 燃料，能量来源（这里比喻食物所提供的能量） reserve [rɪˈzɜːv] 预订，预约 pungent [ˈpʌndʒənt] （气味或味道）浓烈的，刺鼻的 stinky [ˈstɪŋki] 恶臭的，难闻的 hold back on 克制，抑制，忍住 offend the noses [əˈfend] 让鼻子不适，刺鼻（指气味让人难以忍受） dine alone / dine solo [daɪn][ˈsəʊləʊ] 独自用餐，一人食 consume [kənˈsjuːm] （大量地）吃，喝 added bonus [ˈædɪd ˈbəʊnəs] 额外好处，额外福利 significant other 重要的另一半（指配偶或伴侣） cuisine [kwɪˈziːn] 美食，菜肴；烹饪 food envy [fuːd ˈenvi] 食物嫉妒（看到别人吃的美味食物时产生的嫉妒心理） chow down [tʃaʊ] 大口吃，大块朵颐 lettuce [ˈletɪs] 生菜，莴苣 culinary desires [ˈkʌlɪnəri dɪˈzaɪəz] 食物欲望，食欲 nourishment [ˈnʌrɪʃmənt] 营养，滋养，提供营养的食物 switch off 放松，放空，不再关注 unwind [ˌʌnˈwaɪnd] 放松，减压（尤指从工作或紧张状态） misophonia [ˌmaɪsəˈfəʊniə] 恐音症（一种对特定声音产生厌恶或不适的心理疾病） hatred [ˈheɪtrɪd] 憎恨，强烈的厌恶 PTSD 创伤后应激障碍（Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder） masticate [ˈmæstɪkeɪt] 咀嚼，嚼碎（食物） smack one's lips [smæk] （吃东西时）咂嘴 slosh [slɒʃ] （液体）溅，泼，搅动，晃动 saliva [səˈlaɪvə] 唾液，口水 📖 翻译、pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复"1"可进【打卡交流群】

Just 7000 steps a day cuts health risks, study says If you've got a phone or a fitness tracker, you're probably checking your steps each day. Reach 10,000 and you feel smug. Why? Well, we've been told it's the number to aim for - the threshold for health gains. But a review of previous studies in medical journal The Lancet, involving data on160,000 adults worldwide, suggests a target of 7,000 steps brings plenty of health benefits, too, including reducing the risk of heart disease, dementia, depression, cancer and falls. The research found that even modest step counts of 4,000 per day were linked to better health, compared with very low activity of 2,000 a day. For most health conditions, the benefits tended to level off beyond 7,000 steps, although there were additional advantages to walking further for the heart. The review can't prove that daily steps alone reduce the risk of disease. Some of the findings were based on only a small number of studies, but they say encouraging people to track their steps is a practical way to improve their health. And adding a step count target into official exercise guidance could be useful for everyone. 词汇表 fitness tracker [ˈfɪtnəs ˈtrækə(r)] 健身追踪器（用于记录身体健康和活动的可穿戴设备） smug [smʌɡ] 沾沾自喜的，自鸣得意的 threshold [ˈθreʃhəʊld] 门槛，界限，临界值 health gains [ɡeɪnz] 健康益处，健康收获 medical journal The Lancet [ˈlænsət] 医学杂志《柳叶刀》（全球知名的综合性医学学术期刊） dementia [dɪˈmenʃə] 痴呆症，痴呆 modest [ˈmɒdɪst] 适度的，适中的 step count 步数 level off 趋平，趋于稳定 🗒️翻译和pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复1可加入【打卡交流群】

Why gratitude is good for you Gratitude is more than just saying 'thank you' to someone who has helped us or given us a gift. Gratitude is a deeper appreciation for someone or something that makes us feel a positive emotion. And this positive emotion can be good for our health – our emotional and physical health, as well as the health of our relationships. Let's start by looking at the emotional or mental health benefits of expressing gratitude. There have been many studies, as described in a 2018 paper from the Greater Good Science Center titled 'The Science of Gratitude' , showing that writing a gratitude letter to another person or writing in a gratitude journal, if done regularly, improves mental health. One reason for this, is that gratitude stops us from ruminating on toxic, negative emotions, and writing a 'thank you' letter, for example, shifts our attention so that we focus on positive emotions. But even if we don't share our writing with anyone, like in a journal, the act of completing the exercise alone makes us happier and more satisfied with life. And this gets better with time. As we are essentially training our brain to be more in tune with noticing the positive, after several weeks or months, this becomes more intuitive. And so, the more we express gratitude, the more positive we feel. Gratitude can also make us feel good in our bodies. There are studies linking a gratitude practice to better sleep quality, better eating habits, and reduced inflammation in people who have had heart problems. So gratitude is clearly good for us, but is it also good for the people in our lives? The simple answer is 'yes'. When shared – spoken or written – gratitude is about feeling valued and helping others feel valued too. Feeling valued can help build stronger relationships – be it with family, partners, friends or even colleagues. And that's on top of all the other ways gratitude is clearly good for us. Maybe we should all stop counting sheep or counting calories and start counting our blessings instead? 词汇表 gratitude [ˈɡrætɪtjuːd] 感恩，感激 appreciation [əˌpriːʃiˈeɪʃn] 欣赏，感激，感谢 ruminate on [ˈruːmɪneɪt] 反复思考，沉思，沉湎于（尤指令人不快的事） toxic [ˈtɒksɪk] 有害的，令人不愉快的 shift attention [ʃɪft] 转移注意力 be in tune with [tjuːn] 觉察，理解；与…协调一致，与…同步 intuitive [ɪnˈtjuːɪtɪv] 直觉的，本能的，自然而然的 inflammation [ˌɪnfləˈmeɪʃn] 炎症，发炎 feel valued [ˈvæljuːd] 感到被重视，感到受珍视 on top of 除了……之外（还） count sheep 数羊（常用于缓解失眠） count calories [ˈkæləriz] 计算卡路里（常用于控制体重） count blessings [ˈblesɪŋz] 细数幸事，常怀感恩，知足 📖 翻译、pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复"1"可进【打卡交流群】