常春藤生活英語：The Full Moon Effect 月圓效應(yīng)

Many people believe the full moon affects how we feel and act. They say people do crazy things, get into more accidents, and even can't sleep. These ideas come from folklore and are found in many cultures. More crimes, deaths, and births are also supposed to happen during a full moon. Modern-day studies show different results. For example, it has been proved that births do not increase, but dog bites do.

A lunatic is an insane person. This English word comes from luna, the Latin word for moon. One French word for mood, luné, also comes from luna. These words show how strongly people have believed in a connection between the moon and human behavior. Long ago in France, people who committed a crime during a full moon were set free. It was believed the full moon made them crazy and therefore they weren't considered guilty.

The most famous full moon stories are about werewolves. Although these stories were made up centuries ago, some people still think they really exist. If you are out at night during a full moon, be extra careful. You never know who or what might be hiding in the shadows.

許多人認(rèn)為滿月會(huì)影響我們的感覺及行為。他們說人們會(huì)做出瘋狂的事、陷入更多意外、甚至?xí)恢X。這些想法源自民間傳說，在許多文化中也都能找到。月圓時(shí)應(yīng)該會(huì)有更高的犯罪、死亡及出生率。現(xiàn)今的研究則顯示出不同結(jié)果。舉例說來，出生率已證實(shí)不會(huì)提高，而狗咬的案例則會(huì)。

lunatic指的是瘋子。這個(gè)英文字源于拉丁文中表『月亮』的luna。法文中表『情緒』的luné一字，同樣也源自luna。這些字顯示人們是多么堅(jiān)信月亮與人類的行為有關(guān)連。許久之前的法國，于月圓時(shí)分犯罪的人會(huì)被釋放。人們認(rèn)為是滿月讓他們變得瘋狂，因此他們不算有罪。

最出名的月圓故事都跟狼人有關(guān)。雖然這些故事都是數(shù)百年前杜撰的，有些人卻依舊認(rèn)為狼人確實(shí)存在。如果您在月圓之夜仍只身在外，千萬要特別小心。您永遠(yuǎn)不知道陰影之中躲著什么樣的人或東西。

1.Which of the following is true?

(A)The article implies that all criminals5 should be set free.

(B)Ideas about the full moon can only be found in US culture.

(C)The word lunatic has Latin origins.

(D)There are fewer dog bites during a full moon.

1.下列何者為真?

(A)本篇文章暗示所有罪犯都該被釋放。

(B)關(guān)于滿月的想法只能于美國文化中找到。

(C)lunatic這個(gè)字源于拉丁文。

(D)滿月時(shí)的狗咬案例較少。

2.Which title is also suitable for this article?

(A)Avoid Dark Places during Full Moons

(B)Full Moons and Superstitions6

(C)The History of Full Moons

(D)When Werewolves Meet Full Moons

2.哪個(gè)標(biāo)題也適用于本文?

(A)《月圓時(shí)分請(qǐng)避開陰暗處》

(B)《月圓及迷信》

(C)《滿月的歷史》

(D)《當(dāng)狼人碰上滿月》

Building Your Vocabulary

1.affect　vt. 影響

This disease mainly affects elderly people.

這種疾病主要是影響老年人。

2.commit　vt. 犯下(罪行)

Jesse was sent to prison for committing robbery.

杰西因犯下?lián)尠付魂P(guān)入牢里。

3.guilty　a. 有罪的

The jury found Casey guilty of murder.

陪審團(tuán)判定卡西的謀殺罪名成立。

4.imply　vt. 暗示，暗指

Are you implying that I stole the money?

你是在暗指我偷了那筆錢嗎?

5.suitable　a. 合適的

The weather today isn't suitable for a picnic.

今天的天氣不適合野餐。

Phrases for Learning

set + 人 + free　　釋放某人

The terrorists set all of the hostages free.

恐怖份子釋放了所有人質(zhì)。

參考字詞

1.folklore　n. 民間傳說

2.lunatic　n. 瘋狂的人

3.insane　a. 瘋狂的

4.werewolf　n. 狼人

5.criminal　n. 罪犯

6.superstition　n. 迷信

Grammar Check

...it has been proved that births do not increase...

(……出生率已證實(shí)不會(huì)提高……)

1.prove 為及物動(dòng)詞，表『證明，證實(shí)』，之后接名詞或 that 子句作受詞。

The lawyer is trying her best to prove her client's innocence.

(那名律師正盡全力證明她委托人的清白。)

2.prove 亦可作不完全不及物動(dòng)詞，表『證明是;顯示』之意，等同于"turn out"，之后接"to be + 名詞∕形容詞"作主詞補(bǔ)語，而"to be"可予以省略。

The rumor proved (to be) true.

=The rumor proved (to be) a true one.

=The rumor turned out (to be) true.

(那個(gè)謠言最后證實(shí)真有其事。)