2024年6月3日发(作者：)

You Are What You Think

And if you change your mind—from pessimism to optimism—you can change

your life

Claipe Safran

[ 1 ] 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 scrutinize the power of positive thinking.

[ 2 ] A fast-growing body of research—104 studies so far, involving some 15

000 people—is proving that optimism can help you to be happier, healthier and

more successful. Pessimism

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," says psychologist Craig A. Anderson of Rice

University in Houston，" it would be like inoculating them against these mental

ills."

[ 3 ] "Your abilities count," explains psychologist Michael F. Scheier of

Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, "but the belief that you can succeed

affects whether or not you will." In part

, that's because optimists and pessimists

deal with the same challenges and disappointments in very different ways.

[ 4 ] Take, for example, your job. In a major study, psychologist Martin E. P.

Seligman of the University of Pennsylvania and colleague Peter Schulman surveyed

sales representatives at the Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. They found that the

positive-thinkers among longtime representatives sold 37-percent more insurance

than did the negative-thinkers. Of newly hired representatives, optimists sold

20-percent more.

[ 5 ] Impressed, the company hired 100 people who had failed the standard

industry test

but had scored high on optimism. These people, who might never

have been hired, sold 10 percent more insurance than did the average

representative.

[ 6 ] How did they do it? The secret to an optimist's success, according to

Seligman, is in his "explanatory style". When things go wrong the pessimist tends

to blame himself. " I'm no good at this, " he says, " I always fail." The optimist

looks for loopholes. He blames the weather, the phone connection, even the other

person. That customer was in a bad mood, he thinks. When things go right, the

optimist takes credit while the pessimist sees success as a fluke.

[ 7 ] Craig Anderson had a group of students phone strangers and ask them

to donate blood to the Red Cross

. When they failed on the first call or two,

pessimists said, "I can't do this." Optimists told themselves, "I need to try a

different approach."

[ 8 ] Negative or positive, it was a self-fulfilling prophecy. "If people feel

hopeless, "says Anderson, "they don't bother to acquire the skills they need to

succeed."

[ 9 ] A sense of control, according to Anderson, 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.

[ 10 ] Optimists may think they are better than the facts would justify—and

sometimes that's what keeps them alive. Dr. Sandra Levy of the Pittsburgh Cancer

Institute studied women with advanced breast cancer. For the women who were

generally optimistic, there was a longer disease-free interval, the best predictor of

survival. In a pilot study of women in the early stages of breast cancer, Dr. Levy

found the disease recurred sooner among the pessimists.

[ 11 ] Optimism won't cure the incurable, but it may prevent illness. In a long

term study, researchers examined the health histories of a group of Harvard

graduates, all of whom were in the top half of their class and in fine physical

condition. Yet some were positive thinkers, and some negative. Twenty years later,

there were more middle-age diseases—

hypertension, diabetes, heart ailments —among the pessimists than the

optimists.

[ 12 ] Many studies suggest that the pessimist's feeling of helplessness

undermines the body's natural defenses, the immune system. Dr. Christopher

Peterson of the University of Michigan has found that the pessimist doesn't take

good care of himself. Feeling passive and unable to dodge life's blows, he expects

ill health and other misfortunes, no matter what he does. He munches

on junk

food，avoids exercise, ignores the doctor, has another drink.

[ 13 ] 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 your mother‘s

knee”，says Seligman. It grows out of thousands of cautions or encouragements,

negative statements or positive ones. Too many “don’ts” and warnings of

danger can make a child feel incompetent, fearful—and pessimistic.

[ 14 ] As they grow, children experience small triumphs, such as learning to

tie shoelaces. Parents can help turn these successes into a sense of control, and

that breeds optimism.

[ 15 ] Pessimism is a hard habit to break—but it can be done. In a series of

landmark studies, Dr. Carol Dweck of the University of Illinois has been working

with children in the early grades of school. As she helps floundering students to

change the explanations for their failures—from "I must be dumb" to "I didn't

study hard enough“—their academic performance improves.

[ 16 ] Pittsburgh's Dr. Levy wondered if turning patients into optimists would

lengthen their lives. In a pilot study, two groups of colon

﹡

-cancer patients were

given the same medical treatment, but some were also given psychological help to

encourage optimism. Results showed that this worked. Now a major study is

planned to determine whether this psychological change can alter the course of

the disease.

[ 17 ] So, if you're a pessimist, there's reason for optimism. You can change.

Here's how, says Steve Hollon, a psychologist at Vanderbilt University:

[ 18 ] 1. Pay careful attention to your thoughts when bad things happen.

Write down the first thing that comes to mind, unedited and uncensored.

[ 19 ] 2. Now try an experiment. Do something that's contrary to any negative

reactions. Let's say something has gone wrong at work. Do you think,

I hate my job,

but I could never get a better one

? Act as if that weren't so. Send out resumés. Go

to interviews. Look into training and check job leads.

[ 20 ] 3. Keep track of what happens. Were your first thoughts right or wrong?

"If your thoughts are holding you back, change them," says Hollon. " It's trial and

error, no guarantees, but give yourself a chance."

[ 21 ] Positive thinking leads to positive action, and reaction. What you

expect from the world, the evidence suggests, is what you're likely to get.

1. Those people who "keep their eye upon the doughnut rather than on the

hole" _______.

A. are considered positive-thinkers by the author

B. are likely to see their glass as half empty

C. view their successes and failures more objectively

D. have suddenly become the object of scientific research on clichés

2. An optimist _______.

A. is always in control of his own life

B. often overestimates his abilities

C. might live longer than a pessimist when suffering from certain illness such

as cancer

D. encounters different challenges and disappointments from a pessimist

3. The pessimist ________.

A. seldom succeeds in what he does

B. attributes his success to luck

C. tries different approaches when his first attempt fails

D. knows how to take good care of himself

4. The Metropolitan Life Insurance Company hired 100 new employees

because ________.

A. they failed the standard industry test

B. their high scores on optimism impressed the company

C. they were not likely to be hired by other companies

D. the company was impressed by the result of a study done by some

psychologists

5. The 100 new employees ______.

A. sold 37% more insurance than the average representatives

B. sold 20% more insurance than the negative thinkers

C. sold 10% more insurance than longtime representatives

D. proved that they could do better at selling insurance than the company’s

average sales representative

6. According to Seligman, the secret to an optimist’s success can be found

in “his explanatory style”, by which he means that the optimist ________.

A. is able to explain more clearly to the customers

B. sounds more pleasant in his explanation

C. tries to find faults with other factors other than in himself for his failure

D. has more confidence in himself than in others

7. It can be inferred from the article that the author thinks that _______.

A. people will be able to prevent depression and painful shyness if they learn

to think more positively

B. business companies might make better judgment if they test the attitudes

of the applicants instead of giving them the standard industry test before hiring

them

C. one is more likely to succeed the next time if one is able to lay blames on

others when one has failed

D. one’s belief that one can succeed will guarantee his success

8. Whether positive or negative, a person’s attitude towards life is a

thinking habit _______.

A. inherited from either of his parents

B. formed when he is very young

C. acquired after he has gained considerable experience

D. never to be got rid of

9. Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A. Most people cannot be conveniently put under the category of optimist or

pessimist.

B. There are more positive thinkers among optimists than among pessimists.

C. It is not sure yet whether psychological treatment will help cancer patients.

D. By looking into training opportunities and checking job leads, a pessimist

will become an optimist.

10. Which of the following is not one of the steps mentioned by the author in

forming a more positive attitude towards life?

A. Document your gloomy thoughts.

B. Do something against your negative inclination.

C. Record what happens.

D. Find the causes for your failure more objectively.

Vocabulary

1. Those who believed their religious leader’s prophecy that the end of the

world would come soon went into a panic.

A. announcement B. forecast C. prediction D. declaration

2. It became obvious when the boy floundered through the recitation in class

today that he had not taken the trouble to do his homework.

A. meditated

staggered

B. faltered C. contemplated D.

3. The teacher told the students that they should avoid using clichés in their

composition.

A. popular proverbs B. well-known storie C. famous quotations D. trite

expressions

4. After listening to the same old moral lesson all these years, the villagers

became almost immune to it.

A. insensitive to

accustomed to

B. fed up with C. familiar with D.

5. I can't claim credit for her English proficiency; after all, she only came to

my class this semester.

A. ask for money B. expect payment

B. C. say that I deserve praise D. declare that I am grateful

6. Believe it or not, this popular novel now you see on every shelf was

censored only a few years ago.

A. officially examined and banned B. despised by the general public

C. sold out soon after its publication D. condemned by the critics

7. The party leader regards the result of the election as a personal triumph.

A. victory B. celebration C. satisfaction D. propaganda

8. The immigration officer scrutinized his passport before he was allowed to

leave.

A. Stamped B. examined C. returned D. issued

9. He suffered a long period of depression before his first suicide attempt.

A. Inoculation B. hypertension C. ailments D. dejection

10. He was never able to enjoy the metropolitan delights of cinemas and

theatres.

A. artistic B. modern C. urban D. various

11. He quickly _____ behind the building to avoid being hurt by the stones

thrown in his direction.

A. eluded B. evaded C. escaped D. dodged

12. His dislike of the course may prove to be a _____ barrier he cannot

overcome.

A. Biological B. ideological C. spiritual D. psychological

13. As the Cup Final was drawing closer, the injury of the best player was a

_____ for the whole team.

A. misdemeanour B. mistrust C. misfortune D. mischief

14. The best solution to the problem can only be found by a process of trial

and _____.

A. error B. mistake C. success D. experiment

15. He thought that he might be able to avoid paying some of his taxes by

taking advantage of the ______ in the law.

A. circles B. loopholes C. exceptions D. misunderstanding

16. When he lived in that remote place, radio was the only means he had to

keep _____ of current events in the country.

A. account B. trace C. record D. track

17. ______ what is generally believed, the adjustment to this kind of work is

quite easy.

A. Contrary to B. Contrast with C. Controversial of D. Contradictory to

18. The flashing red light served as a ______ of danger ahead.

A. predictor B. caution C. precaution D. prevention

19. Their confidence in him was greatly ______ by his prolonged hesitation

before taking any action.

A. appreciated B. confirmed C. undermined D. cherished

20. Your headache is likely to ______ if its real cause is not identified and proper

treatment administered accordingly.

A. cure B. recover C. recur D. release

Close

In a recent issue of Psychology Today, we offered readers the opportunity to

express their thoughts and feelings about the 4 . The topic was timely

and the response 5 : more than 62,000 readers returned the 109-item

"Body-Image" questionnaire. But they were divided and 6 on the matter of

7 important attractiveness and physical looks are - or should be.

A 8 number of people wrote letters to protest a "whole survey" on the

body. Some said that appearance is a superficial matter, not 9 undue

discussion. By contrast, other respondents 10 , some reluctantly, the

importance of one's appearance. In our studies, we found that body image is

strongly 11 self-esteem, the general feeling 12 one is competent and

confident.

People who are happy with their bodies may actually be more assertive and

likeable than those who have 13 body images. Or they think they are. One

young man explained that in the last year his body image has changed very much

14 the better, as a result of his personal development: "I've gone from

considering myself some sort of dumb-head to 15 that I'm a fascinating

individual nearly impossible to dislike…I have more friends than I know what to do

with."

1. A. judge B. Judging C. Judged D. being judged

2. A. obsessed B. possessed C. absorbed D. occupied

3. A. troubles B. efforts C. lengths D. extremes

4. A. ideal B. mind C. body D. opinion

5. A. overwhelming B. enthusiastic C. controversial D. contradictory

6. A. ambient B. Ambitious C. Ambiguous D. Ambivalent

7. A. what B. why C. how D. which

8. A. good B. many C. lot D. tremendous

9. A. worthy B. unworthy C. worthwhile D. worthy of

10. A. testified B. verified C. confessed D. acknowledged

11. A. linked by B. associated with

to

C. concerned about D. related

12. A. that B. which C. of D. since

13. A. positive B. negative C. superficial D. satisfactory

14. A. to B. for C. to be D. into

15. A. understanding B. believing C. regarding D. remembering

Translation

Is there a “success personality”—some winning combination of traits that

leads almost inevitably to achievement? If so, exactly what is that secret success

formula, and can anyone cultivate it?

At the Gallup Organization we recently focused in depth on success, probing

the attitudes and traits of 1 500 prominent people selected at random from

Who’s Who in America

.

The main criterion for inclusion in

Who’s Who

is not wealth or social position,

but current achievement in a given field. Our research pinpoints a number of traits

that recur regularly among top achievers, among which five of the most important

are: common sense, knowing one’s field, self-reliance, general intelligence, and

ability to get things done. If you cultivate these traits, chances are you’ll succeed.

And you might even find yourself listed in

Who’s Who

someday.

1.你对他说的话不能为你这种行为辩护。(justify)

2.你认为他会因为同主教的私人关系而免受宗教迫害吗 ? (immune from)

3.你对心理医生的忠告采取什么态度会影响到你是否会再做恶梦。(recur)

4.乐观主义者成功的秘诀在于他们是用积极的态度对待失望和失败。

5.悲观主义者往往容易失败，部分原因就是一个人对自己的看法常常是一种能够自我

实现的预言。(in part)

6.在幼儿的性格特征没有来得及发展之前，他们的行为不如大多数成年人的行为那样

保持一致 (consistent)。一个儿童行为的改变，可能表明他的注意力已因其活动特点的不

同而转变。他的兴趣总是集中在手头的事情上。个性坚强、兴趣强烈的人能够坚持把自己

正在做的事进行下去，只有重大的环境变化才能干扰其行为的方向和目的。

Writing

1. Title: Breaking Bad Habits

2. Time limit: 30 minutes

3. Word limit: 120～150 words