2016考研英語：閱讀熱點浪漫背后的科學

考研英語來源：21英語網 2015-06-16　

Cheer up hopeless romantics – science appears to be on your side.

絕望的浪漫派這下可以歡呼雀躍了——科學貌似站在了你們這邊。

According to new research, it is actually possible to fall in love with another person at first sight.

據最新研究發現，對一個人一見鐘情確有可能發生。

The annual Singles in America survey, which is sponsored by the dating site Match.com, found that in 2014, 59 percent of men and 49 percent of women said they believe in love at first sight, and 41 percent of men and 29 percent of women say they have experienced it. The survey included more than 5,000 singles ages 21 to 70-plus.

一年一度由美國婚戀網站Match.com贊助支持的“單身在美國”調查顯示，2004年，59%的男性和49%的女性聲稱他們相信一見鐘情，并且41%的男性和29%的女性表示他們本身就經歷過一見鐘情。此項調查計入了5000名單身男女，年齡從21到70多不等。

These numbers are not surprising. As a recent article in The Wall Street Journal notes: “Scientists say we are genetically wired for the possibility of love at first sight, but why it happens to some people and not others is largely a matter of timing and self-*assurance.”

這些數字并不讓人意外。《華爾街日報》近期的一篇文章就指出：“科學家認為基因決定了我們產生一見鐘情的可能性，至于為什么有的人有此種經歷而其他人沒有，很大程度上是由于時間問題和自我認可程度。”

Numerous psychological studies have also found men fall in love faster than women, says Helen Fisher, a human behavior researcher and a professor at the US’ Rutgers University with a focus on romantic *interpersonal attraction. Fisher is Match.com’s chief scientific adviser and spearheaded the study.

人類行為研究員、美國羅格斯大學教授海倫•費希爾專注于研究人際吸引中的浪漫因素。她表示，大量的心理研究也表明，男性會比女性更快地陷入愛河。費希爾是Match.com的首席科學顧問，主導了此次研究。

“Men are so visual. They see a woman who appeals to them physically, and it will *trigger the romantic love system faster,” she says. “Women are more careful romantically.”

她認為：“男性真是視覺動物。他們只會看到那些外表對他們產生吸引的女性，這就會更加迅速地激發男人的浪漫愛情系統。女性則多是謹慎的浪漫。”

Three connected systems

三個相關聯的系統

Experts say romantic love is one of three systems – along with the sex drive and feelings of deep attachment – that humans developed for mating. Romantic love’s intense desire for connection with the other person typically lasts 18 months to three years.

專家認為浪漫的愛情是人類因交配需要而產生的三大系統之一——另外兩個分別是性沖動和深度情感依戀。

According to Fisher, the sex drive in both men and women is fueled by *testosterone. In contrast, romantic love is emotional obsession. The two are meant to go together, but it is possible to have one without the other.

費希爾認為，男女的性沖動皆由睪丸素控制。相反，浪漫的愛情則是一種對情感的依戀。這兩樣一般同時出現，但是也有可能只出現其一。

Fisher says that like the sex drive, romantic love can be triggered immediately, which may explain the quick and *unintentional experience of falling in love.

費希爾指出，浪漫的愛情與性沖動一樣，會被瞬時點燃，這也可以解釋人類為什么會迅速而毫無防備地戀愛。

Arthur Aron, research professor at Stony Brook University in New York and a visiting scholar at the University of California, Berkeley, who studies love, noted to The Wall Street Journal that there are three factors present when you fall in love: You have to like the other person’s physical appearance; you have to find his or her personality desirable, and you have to feel the other person likes you.

紐約州立大學石溪分校研究教授、加州伯克利大學訪問學者亞瑟•艾倫的研究領域是愛情。他對《華爾街日報》表示，人們能否陷入愛情取決于三大要素：喜歡對方的樣貌;滿意他/她的性格;感覺到對方也喜歡自己。

These feelings can be triggered by a number of *stimuli. But as Aron noted: “You may be more likely to fall in love quickly if you are ready.” So don’t just *fantasize about falling in love at first sight. Go out, be yourself and love (first sight or not) will find you.

這些感覺可以由一系列刺激因素引發。但是正如艾倫所說“如果你自己準備好了，才更有可能去戀愛。”所以不要天天幻想著一見鐘情了。走出門去，做你自己，愛情(一見鐘情或日久生情)就會找上你。