美国科学60秒 SSS 2012-11-19_在线英语听力室_免费在线英语听力学习网站

(单词翻译:双击或拖选)

Feeling listless? Unfulfilled? Looks like life have all over, what could have to show for it? You are not alone. In fact, you might not even be human. Because a new study shows that even apes can experience a mid-life crisis.

The work appears in the proceedings¹ of the National Academy of Sciences. Social scientists, economists² and philosophers have long been aware that some people are subject to a sort of half-time slump³, the period when their wellbeing gives to it all-time low. What less clear is what causes this mid-life unwi, which by many measures falls between a joyous⁴ childhood and contented⁵ retirement⁶. Is it socioeconomic? Psychological? Med physical?

In this study, researchers first checked to see if the slump is uniquely humane⁷. They asked zoo-keepers to rate the relative happiness of some 500 chimps⁸ in a round tank, based on how often the apes seem to be in a good mood and how much pleasure they derive⁹ from socializing. It turns out our closest relatives also show a U-shaped curve of life’s satisfaction. Cheers in an old age and mope in the middle. So when you start lasting¹⁰ that life convertible¹¹, you are not totally bananas. You are just going ape.

点击

收听单词发音

1 proceedings
n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报
参考例句：
He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。 to initiate legal proceedings against sb 对某人提起诉讼

2 economists
n.经济学家，经济专家( economist的名词复数 )
参考例句：
The sudden rise in share prices has confounded economists. 股价的突然上涨使经济学家大惑不解。 Foreign bankers and economists cautiously welcomed the minister's initiative. 外国银行家和经济学家对部长的倡议反应谨慎。来自《简明英汉词典》

3 slump
n.暴跌，意气消沉，（土地）下沉；vi.猛然掉落，坍塌，大幅度下跌
参考例句：
She is in a slump in her career.她处在事业的低谷。 Economists are forecasting a slump.经济学家们预言将发生经济衰退。

4 joyous
adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的
参考例句：
The lively dance heightened the joyous atmosphere of the scene.轻快的舞蹈给这场戏渲染了欢乐气氛。 They conveyed the joyous news to us soon.他们把这一佳音很快地传递给我们。

5 contented
adj.满意的，安心的，知足的
参考例句：
He won't be contented until he's upset everyone in the office.不把办公室里的每个人弄得心烦意乱他就不会满足。 The people are making a good living and are contented,each in his station.人民安居乐业。

6 retirement
n.退休，退职
参考例句：
She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。 I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。

7 humane
adj.人道的，富有同情心的
参考例句：
Is it humane to kill animals for food?宰杀牲畜来吃合乎人道吗？ Their aim is for a more just and humane society.他们的目标是建立一个更加公正、博爱的社会。

8 chimps
（非洲）黑猩猩( chimp的名词复数 )
参考例句：
Chimps are too scarce, and too nearly human, to be routinely slaughtered for spare parts. 黑猩猩又太少，也太接近于人类，不可以作为人器官备用件说杀就杀。来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 医学的第四次革命 And as nonprimates, they provoke fewer ethical and safety-related concerns than chimps or baboons. 而且作为非灵长类，就不会产生像用黑猩猩或狒狒那样的伦理和安全方面的顾虑。来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 医学的第四次革命

9 derive
v.取得；导出；引申；来自；源自；出自
参考例句：
We derive our sustenance from the land.我们从土地获取食物。 We shall derive much benefit from reading good novels.我们将从优秀小说中获得很大好处。

10 lasting
adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持
参考例句：
The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。 We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。

11 convertible
adj.可改变的，可交换，同意义的；n.有活动摺篷的汽车
参考例句：
The convertible sofa means that the apartment can sleep four.有了这张折叠沙发，公寓里可以睡下4个人。 That new white convertible is totally awesome.那辆新的白色折篷汽车简直棒极了。