听美文故事记6级单词07-01

Unit 7 1. As Luck Would Have it, Summer Babies Do Best

The secret of being born lucky is a summer birthday, with May babies most likely to enjoy a lifetime's good fortune, according to a study of more than 40,000 people.

The time of year at which you are born has an enduring influence on levels of optimism and self-reported luck, according to research by British and Swedish scientists.

May was the luckiest month in which to be born, with 50 per cent of those born then considering themselves lucky, while October was the least lucky month, with just 43 per cent claiming good fortune.

The findings add to growing evidence that the phenomenon of luck is not all down to chance, but is affected¹ by a person's general disposition².

Other research has shown that whether people think themselves fortunate depends less on objective success than on having a "glass half-full" or "half-empty" approach to life.

"What we are seeing suggests that something is influencing how people perceive their luckiness. My hypothesis is that people create their own luck by traits such as optimism, that luck is a psychological phenomenon rather than a matter of blind chance," said Professor Richard Wiseman, who led the research,.

The pattern of the results, with those born in spring and summer reporting themselves luckier than those born in autumn or winter, could have two potential explanations, Professor Wiseman said.

"One theory is a medical and physiological³ one, that the temperature at the time of birth might influence the development of the brain, particularly neurotransmitter chemicals," he said. "The pattern is the same as that you see in the depression literature: people born in the winter are statistically⁴ more likely to suffer from depression, and we may be seeing the same effect here."

"The other strong possibility is that mother-infant interactions are affected by seasonal⁵ factors. There is more post-natal depression in the winter, and mothers who suffer from this don't interact with their children in the same way. It's possible that this affects the psychological complexion⁶ of their children later in life."

1 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

2 disposition   

n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署

参考例句：

• He has made a good disposition of his property.他已对财产作了妥善处理。
• He has a cheerful disposition.他性情开朗。

3 physiological   

adj.生理学的，生理学上的

参考例句：

• He bought a physiological book.他买了一本生理学方面的书。
• Every individual has a physiological requirement for each nutrient.每个人对每种营养成分都有一种生理上的需要。

4 statistically   

ad.根据统计数据来看，从统计学的观点来看

参考例句：

• The sample of building permits is larger and therefore, statistically satisfying. 建筑许可数的样本比较大，所以统计数据更令人满意。
• The results of each test would have to be statistically independent. 每次试验的结果在统计上必须是独立的。

5 seasonal   

adj.季节的，季节性的

参考例句：

• The town relies on the seasonal tourist industry for jobs.这个城镇依靠季节性旅游业提供就业机会。
• The hors d'oeuvre is seasonal vegetables.餐前小吃是应时蔬菜。

6 complexion   

n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格

参考例句：

• Red does not suit with her complexion.红色与她的肤色不协调。
• Her resignation puts a different complexion on things.她一辞职局面就全变了。