Be an Optimist

Be an Optimist¹（做一个乐观的人）
Do you see the glass as half－full rather than half empty? Do you keep your eye upon the doughnut，not upon the hole? Suddenly these clichés are scientific questions，as researchers scrutinize² the power of positive thinking． Research is proving that optimism can help you to be happier，healthier and more successful． Pessimism³ leads，by contrast，to hopelessness，sickness and failure，and is linked to depression，loneliness and painful shyness． If we could teach people to think more positively，it would be like inoculating⁴ them against these mental ills．
Your habits count but the belief that you can succeed affects whether or not you will． In part，that‘s because optimists⁵ and pessimists⁷ deal with the same challenges and disappointments in very different ways． When things go wrong the pessimist⁶ tends to blame himself．“I’m not good at this．”“I always fail．”He would say． But the optimist looks for loopholes． Negative or positive，it was a self－fulfilling prophecy． If people feel hopeless they don‘t bother to acquire the skills they need to succeed．
A sense of control is the litmus test for success． The optimist feels in control of his own life． If things are going badly，he acts quickly，looking for solutions，forming a new plan of action，and reaching out for advice． The pessimist feels like fate‘s plaything and moves slowly． He doesn’t seek advice，since he assumes nothing can be done． Many studies suggest that the pessimist‘s feeling f helplessness undermines the body’s natural defenses，the immune system． Research has found that the pessimist doesn‘t take good care of himself． Feeling passive and unable to dodge⁸ life’s blows，he expects ill health and other misfortunes，no matter what he does． He munches⁹ on junk food，avoids exercise，ignores the doctor，had another drink．
Most people are a mix of optimism and pessimism，but are inclined in one direction or the other． It is a pattern of thinking learned at our mothers ‘knees． It grown out of thousands of cautions or encouragements，negative statements or positives ones． Too many “don’t” and warnings of danger can make a child feel incompetent，fearful—and pessimistic． Pessimism is hard habit to break—but it can be done．

1 optimist   

n.乐观的人，乐观主义者

参考例句：

• We are optimist and realist.我们是乐观主义者，又是现实主义者。
• Peter,ever the optimist,said things were bound to improve.一向乐观的皮特说，事情必定是会好转的。

2 scrutinize   

n.详细检查，细读

参考例句：

• Her purpose was to scrutinize his features to see if he was an honest man.她的目的是通过仔细观察他的相貌以判断他是否诚实。
• She leaned forward to scrutinize their faces.她探身向前，端详他们的面容。

3 pessimism   

n.悲观者，悲观主义者，厌世者

参考例句：

• He displayed his usual pessimism.他流露出惯有的悲观。
• There is the note of pessimism in his writings.他的著作带有悲观色彩。

4 inoculating   

v.给…做预防注射( inoculate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He attempted to investigate bidirectional streaming by inoculating two dishes with R. oryzae. 他试图研究双向流动的问题，他把未根霉接种于两个培养皿。 来自辞典例句
• Doctors examined the recruits but nurses did the inocuLating. 医生们给新兵检查了身体，护士们给他们打了预防针。 来自互联网

5 optimists   

n.乐观主义者( optimist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Even optimists admit the outlook to be poor. 甚至乐观的人都认为前景不好。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Optimists reckon house prices will move up with inflation this year. 乐观人士认为今年的房价将会随通货膨胀而上涨。 来自辞典例句

6 pessimist   

n.悲观者；悲观主义者；厌世

参考例句：

• An optimist laughs to forget.A pessimist forgets to laugh.乐观者笑着忘却，悲观者忘记怎样笑。
• The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity.The optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty.悲观者在每个机会中都看到困难，乐观者在每个困难中都看到机会。

7 pessimists   

n.悲观主义者( pessimist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Pessimists tell us that the family as we know it is doomed. 悲观主义者告诉我们说，我们现在的这种家庭注定要崩溃。 来自辞典例句
• Experts on the future are divided into pessimists and optimists. 对未来发展进行预测的专家可分为悲观主义者和乐观主义者两类。 来自互联网

8 dodge   

v.闪开，躲开，避开；n.妙计，诡计

参考例句：

• A dodge behind a tree kept her from being run over.她向树后一闪，才没被车从身上辗过。
• The dodge was coopered by the police.诡计被警察粉碎了。

9 munches   

v.用力咀嚼（某物），大嚼( munch的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• He tried to talk between munches on the sandwich. 他试图在吃三明治的当间儿讲话。 来自互联网
• A flying squirrel munches a meal on terra firma. 一只鼯鼠在地上贪婪的咀嚼着它的食物。 来自互联网