The Peace of Green

The Peace of Green

Green lies at the centre of the 1)spectrum¹ and offers perfect balance. It is a harmonizing peaceful colour, the most 2)abundant colour of nature. It represents the cycle of life and death, growth and health. The Irish adopted it as a national colour, Americans made green the colour of money. Green has an edge though, in nature it represents life, in politics it suggests the danger of the death of the planet. Psychologists say that humans 3)instinctively² flee to green when faced with too much stress or 4)trauma³.

Not all greens are the same though. It can be an energy drainer and canny⁴ decorators avoid using too much lime and olive greens because of their association to sickliness and envy. It is the colour of self-esteem. Green is one of the most used colours in decoration, different shades evoke⁵ different eras. The 5)Georgians went for deep green, Napoleon loved brilliant green and the Victorians went for more 6)sedate⁶ olive shades. As a natural balance between the more powerful colours of red and blue, it works best in peaceful interiors, harmonizing effortlessly with the rest of the spectrum.

注释：
1) spectrum [5spektrEm] n. 光，光谱
2) abundant [E5bQndEnt] a. 丰富的，充裕的
3) instinctively [in5stiNktivli] ad. 本能地
4) trauma [5trC:mE] n. [医] 外伤，损伤
5) Georgian [5dVC:dVjEn] n. 乔治王朝时代的人
6) sedate [si5deit] a. 安静的，稳重的

绿韵祥和

    绿色位于色谱的中央，是绝佳的平衡色，它和谐、宁静，是大自然中最具内涵的颜色。绿色象征生与死的生命周期以及成长与健康。爱尔兰人以绿色为民族之色，美国人更将绿色定为该国纸币的颜色。不过，绿色也有尖锐面：在大自然中，它代表生命，在政治上却意味着地球灭亡的危机。心理学家指出人类在面对过多的压力和伤痛时，会本能地逃往绿色的地方。
    然而，绿的颜色并非千篇一律。有的绿色可以让人失去气力，而精明的室内设计师不会使用太多的青柠色和橄榄绿，因为它们会令人联想到疾病和妒忌。绿色也代表自尊，是室内装潢中最常用的颜色，其深浅表现了不同的时代。乔治王朝的人崇尚深绿，拿破仑喜爱鲜绿，而维多利亚时代的人则向往沉稳的橄榄绿。绿色自然地平衡了抢眼的红色与蓝色，能与色谱中的各种色系轻易配搭。营造宁静祥和的室内环境绿色最为出色。

1 spectrum   

n.谱，光谱，频谱；范围，幅度，系列

参考例句：

• This is a kind of atomic spectrum.这是一种原子光谱。
• We have known much of the constitution of the solar spectrum.关于太阳光谱的构成，我们已了解不少。

2 instinctively   

adv.本能地

参考例句：

• As he leaned towards her she instinctively recoiled. 他向她靠近，她本能地往后缩。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He knew instinctively where he would find her. 他本能地知道在哪儿能找到她。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 trauma   

n.外伤，精神创伤

参考例句：

• Counselling is helping him work through this trauma.心理辅导正帮助他面对痛苦。
• The phobia may have its root in a childhood trauma.恐惧症可能源于童年时期的创伤。

4 canny   

adj.谨慎的，节俭的

参考例句：

• He was far too canny to risk giving himself away.他非常谨慎，不会冒险暴露自己。
• But I'm trying to be a little canny about it.但是我想对此谨慎一些。

5 evoke   

vt.唤起，引起，使人想起

参考例句：

• These images are likely to evoke a strong response in the viewer.这些图像可能会在观众中产生强烈反响。
• Her only resource was the sympathy she could evoke.她以凭借的唯一力量就是她能从人们心底里激起的同情。

6 sedate   

adj.沉着的，镇静的，安静的

参考例句：

• After the accident,the doctor gave her some pills to sedate her.事故发生后，医生让她服了些药片使她镇静下来。
• We spent a sedate evening at home.我们在家里过了一个恬静的夜晚。