中英双语新闻——176 Testing times ahead

 　　Personality assessments² are popular. If you are applying for a job, you might need to take a test. Many employers believe the tests can help them avoid picking the wrong people.

 

　　性格测试很流行。如果你申请一份工作，你就可能要接受这样的测试。许多雇主相信测试能避免选错员工。

 

　　Companies also want to make sure their employees can cope with stress. Disagreements can be costly³ and inefficient⁴.

 

　　同时企业也希望确保员工能够应对压力。工作分歧会导致高成本和低效率。

 

　　According to the BBC, in the US alone, there are about 2,500 personality tests on the market.

 

　　根据BBC的报道，仅在美国，市场上就有将近2500种性格测试。

 

　　One of the most popular is called the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator⁵ or MBTI. Used by 89 of the Fortune 100 companies, it has been translated into 24 languages and has been adopted by governments and military agencies around the world.

 

　　其中最流行的一种叫做迈尔斯?布里格斯类型指标，即MBTI测试。《财富》杂志100强企业里有89家采用这个测试，此测试被翻译成24种语言，被全世界各地的政府和军事机构广为采用。

 

　　Perhaps its attraction lies in its simplicity⁶ – according to the MBTI, we all conform to one of 16 character types.

 

　　也许这种测试的吸引力在于它的简单——根据MBTI测试，我们每人都符合16种性格的其中一种。

 

　　But that simplicity is precisely⁷ what makes some people skeptical⁸.

 

　　但是这种简单也的确让一些人持怀疑态度。

 

　　“There is something about the wish to put everything in neat little boxes so that we can manipulate them and make them serve our purposes,” says American author Annie Murphy Paul.

 

　　“这就好比把所有的东西都塞进整齐划一的小盒子里，便于我们使用，适应我们的需求。”美国作家安妮?墨菲?保罗如是说。

 

　　Her book, The Cult⁹ of Personality Testing, claims such tests are leading people to miseducate their children, mismanage their companies and misunderstand themselves.

 

　　她的著作，《性格测试的狂热》，认为这样的测试会导致人们误导自己的孩子，或是对公司管理不善，还会误解自己的性格。

 

　　To someone unfamiliar¹⁰ with it, MBTI may look like random¹¹ combinations of letters, but the first category is relatively¹² straightforward¹³ – are you E or I? Extrovert¹⁴ or Introvert¹⁵?

 

　　对于不了解MBTI测试的人来说，它可能看起来就是字母的随机组合，但是第一个类别相对直接——你是E还是I？即：外向还是内向？

 

　　The second is a choice between S or N – Sensing or Intuitive – which means some people interpret the world by collecting data through their senses, others reply on their gut¹⁶ feelings.

 

　　第二个是S或N的选择——即理性还是感性——这是指有些人靠理性搜集数据来认识世界，而有人则依靠本能的直觉认识世界。

 

　　Are you a T or an F? A Thinker or somebody more governed by their Feelings? And, finally, are you J or P? Judging types prefer to regulate and manage their lives whereas Perceivers favor spontaneity.

 

　　你是T还是F？即：理智思考的人还是感情冲动的人？还有，你是J还是P？即：判断型的人倾向于有条不紊地规划和管理自己的生活，而凭感觉走的人更喜欢随性自在。

 

　　The BBC reported that the overwhelming majority of the 2.5 million Americans who take the MBTI assessment¹ each year feel their results do fit their personalities¹⁷.

 

　　据BBC报道，每年参加MBTI测试的250万美国人里，绝大多数人觉得测试结果符合自己的性格。

 

　　But according to Paul, as many as three-quarters of test takers achieve a different personality type when tested for a second time.

 

　　根据作家保罗的观点，有四分之三的受测试者接受第二次测试后得到不同的结果。

 

　　She argues that the 16 distinctive¹⁸ types described by the Myers-Briggs have no scientific basis whatsoever¹⁹.

 

　　她认为，迈尔斯?布里格斯描述的16种不同性格没有任何科学依据。

 

　　Employees often sense that management is looking for a particular type for a specific post. This assumption may lead to test-takers cheating on the test.

 

　　雇员往往觉得管理者测试员工性格是为了给特定岗位寻找特定性格的人。这样的臆测可能导致受测试者作假。

 

　　The investigative writer Barbara Ehrenreich, who has been a strong critic of personality testing for years, thinks employers have a greater tendency to worry about whether a candidate is introvert or extrovert.

 

　　调查作家芭芭拉?埃伦里希，多年来一直严厉批判性格测试，她认为雇主非常倾向于担心求职者是内向还是外向。

 

　　These days more employees are expected to work in teams. Sometimes, they are even expected to communicate effectively with people on the other side of the world whom they have never met.

 

　　现在，更多的雇员被要求进行团队协作。有时候，他们甚至需要与地球另一边素未谋面的人进行有效沟通。

 

　　There is a perception that extroverts²⁰ are better at this.

 

　　有一种观点认为，性格外向的人更能胜任此类工作。

 

　　“You will be told that no one type is better than another and you should be spontaneous in answering the questions,” she told the BBC.

 

　　“他们会告诉你，并非哪一种性格优于别的性格，你应该发自内心地回答这些问题。”她接受BBC采访时说。

 

　　“But, in reality, they are not looking for introverts²¹. Even if what you are doing is looking at figures all day. They want everyone in the environment to be perky and positive and upbeat at all times.”

 

　　“但是，事实上，他们不喜欢性格内向的人。即使你要做的工作是整天看图表，他们也希望工作环境里的每个人整天都是活泼、积极、乐观的。”

1 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？

2 assessments   

n.评估( assessment的名词复数 )；评价；（应偿付金额的）估定；（为征税对财产所作的）估价

参考例句：

• He was shrewd in his personal assessments. 他总能对人作出精明的评价。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Surveys show about two-thirds use such assessments, while half employ personality tests. 调查表明，约有三分之二的公司采用了这种测评；而一半的公司则采用工作人员个人品质测试。 来自百科语句

3 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。

4 inefficient   

adj.效率低的，无效的

参考例句：

• The inefficient operation cost the firm a lot of money.低效率的运作使该公司损失了许多钱。
• Their communication systems are inefficient in the extreme.他们的通讯系统效率非常差。

5 indicator   

n.指标；指示物，指示者；指示器

参考例句：

• Gold prices are often seen as an indicator of inflation.黃金价格常常被看作是通货膨胀的指标。
• His left-hand indicator is flashing.他左手边的转向灯正在闪亮。

6 simplicity   

n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯

参考例句：

• She dressed with elegant simplicity.她穿着朴素高雅。
• The beauty of this plan is its simplicity.简明扼要是这个计划的一大特点。

7 precisely   

adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地

参考例句：

• It's precisely that sort of slick sales-talk that I mistrust.我不相信的正是那种油腔滑调的推销宣传。
• The man adjusted very precisely.那个人调得很准。

8 skeptical   

adj.怀疑的，多疑的

参考例句：

• Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。
• Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。

9 cult   

n.异教，邪教；时尚，狂热的崇拜

参考例句：

• Her books aren't bestsellers,but they have a certain cult following.她的书算不上畅销书，但有一定的崇拜者。
• The cult of sun worship is probably the most primitive one.太阳崇拜仪式或许是最为原始的一种。

10 unfamiliar   

adj.陌生的，不熟悉的

参考例句：

• I am unfamiliar with the place and the people here.我在这儿人地生疏。
• The man seemed unfamiliar to me.这人很面生。

11 random   

adj.随机的；任意的；n.偶然的(或随便的)行动

参考例句：

• The list is arranged in a random order.名单排列不分先后。
• On random inspection the meat was found to be bad.经抽查，发现肉变质了。

12 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

13 straightforward   

adj.正直的，坦率的；易懂的，简单的

参考例句：

• A straightforward talk is better than a flowery speech.巧言不如直说。
• I must insist on your giving me a straightforward answer.我一定要你给我一个直截了当的回答。

14 extrovert   

n.性格外向的人

参考例句：

• A good salesman is usually an extrovert,who likes to mingle with people.一个好的推销员通常很外向，喜欢和人们交往。
• Do you think you're an extrovert or introvert?你认为你是个性外向的人还是个性内向的人？

15 introvert   

n.性格内向的人

参考例句：

• You are very much an introvert.你是一位地道的内向性格者。
• The same conversation that energizes the extravert also drains the introvert.同样的交谈能让外向者荣光焕发，却让内向者精神颓靡。

16 gut   

n.[pl.]胆量；内脏；adj.本能的；vt.取出内脏

参考例句：

• It is not always necessary to gut the fish prior to freezing.冷冻鱼之前并不总是需要先把内脏掏空。
• My immediate gut feeling was to refuse.我本能的直接反应是拒绝。

17 personalities   

n. 诽谤，（对某人容貌、性格等所进行的）人身攻击； 人身攻击；人格, 个性, 名人( personality的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There seemed to be a degree of personalities in her remarks.她话里有些人身攻击的成分。
• Personalities are not in good taste in general conversation.在一般的谈话中诽谤他人是不高尚的。

18 distinctive   

adj.特别的，有特色的，与众不同的

参考例句：

• She has a very distinctive way of walking.她走路的样子与别人很不相同。
• This bird has several distinctive features.这个鸟具有几种突出的特征。

19 whatsoever   

adv.（用于否定句中以加强语气）任何；pron.无论什么

参考例句：

• There's no reason whatsoever to turn down this suggestion.没有任何理由拒绝这个建议。
• All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you,do ye even so to them.你想别人对你怎样，你就怎样对人。

20 extroverts   

性格外向的人( extrovert的名词复数 )； 活跃、愉快、爱交际的人

参考例句：

• In the second half, the students were criticized. Extroverts were unfazed. 在后半部分，举不动时学生要受批评，外向性格的学生表现出不满。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 大脑与疾病
• Extroverts prefer lively conversation to brooding on the meaning of life. 性格外向的人喜欢高谈阔论，而不愿思索人生的意义。

21 introverts   

性格内向的人( introvert的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Extroverts tend to lack self-discipline while introverts lack courage. 性格外向的人缺乏自我约束力，而性格内向的人则缺乏勇气。
• I an introvert and introverts get drawn in. 我是个内向的人而且内向是天生的。