【英语时差8，16】半瓶水危险

 Don: You know, Yael, wouldn't you say we do a pretty good job here at A Moment of Science?

Yael: Of course I would, Don.

D: Okay, but what if I told you that studies show that in general Americans do a pretty lousy job of estimating their skills, knowledge and experience?

Y: What do you mean?

D: Well, when scientists asked people to assess their problem-solving skills, it turned out that those participants who thought they were pretty hot stuff were actually not very good. In other words, the participants' assessment¹ of their own abilities had little to do with reality. In fact, those people who were most inept² were also the most likely to overestimate³ their abilities.

Y: But there's nothing wrong with a little self-esteem, is there?

D: It depends on the situation. For example, even though statistics show that most marriages fail, you never hear newlyweds saying that their marriage probably won't work. After all, if they felt this way, they wouldn't have gotten married in the first place. So in this case, blind optimism has a lot of benefits--Y: --on the off chance the marriage actually does work out?

D: Right. But now imagine a medical lab technician who overestimates⁴ his ability to interpret the results of a lab test. In this case, too much self-esteem can be dangerous. If you think you're doing a good job, you don't double-check your work, and so you're less likely to catch mistakes.

Y: So you're saying that if I think I'm good at something, I'm probably not?

D: No, of course not. On the other hand, a little modesty⁵ is a healthy thing.  

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 inept   

adj.不恰当的，荒谬的，拙劣的

参考例句：

• Whan an inept remark to make on such a formal occasion.在如此正式的场合，怎么说这样不恰当的话。
• He's quite inept at tennis.他打网球太笨。

3 overestimate   

v.估计过高，过高评价

参考例句：

• Don't overestimate seriousness of the problem.别把问题看重了。
• We overestimate our influence and our nuisance value.我们过高地估计了自己的影响力和破坏作用。

4 overestimates   

对（数量）估计过高，对…作过高的评价( overestimate的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• These overestimates counterbalanced the uncertain risk of radiation releases after sealing. 这些过高估计抵消了在密封以后放射性物泄漏所产生的未知危害。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法
• Never underestimate a man who overestimates himself. 切勿低估一个过高估计他自己的人。

5 modesty   

n.谦逊，虚心，端庄，稳重，羞怯，朴素

参考例句：

• Industry and modesty are the chief factors of his success.勤奋和谦虚是他成功的主要因素。
• As conceit makes one lag behind,so modesty helps one make progress.骄傲使人落后，谦虚使人进步。