新視野大學(xué)英語讀寫教程第一冊unit4-b Body Language

Section B

Body Language

"I liked him the minute I saw him!" "Before she even said a word, I knew there was something funny about her." Such statements are examples of "snap judgments", opinions which are formed suddenly, seemingly on no sound reason at all. Most people say snap judgments are unsound or even dangerous. They also admit they often make snap judgments and find them to be fairly sound.
Snap judgments like "love at first sight" or "instant hate", if taken seriously, have usually been considered signs of immaturity or lack of common sense. When someone "has a feeling" about someone else, people more often laugh than pay attention. Most people think you find out about a person by listening to what he says over a period of time. Others say "actions speak louder than words," usually in relation to keeping promises, paying bills or sending money home.
Because people assume "you are what you say you are", they talk a lot to become acquainted with each other. Once two people have become acquainted, they think it was their conversation that gave them their information about each other.
As behavioral sciences develop, however, researchers find the importance of speech has been overestimated. Although speech is the most obvious form of communication, we do use other forms of which we may be only partially aware or, in some cases, completely unaware. It is possible we are unconsciously sending messages with every action, messages which are unconsciously picked up by others and used in forming opinions. These unconscious actions and reactions to them may in part account for our "feelings" and "snap judgments".
We communicate a great deal, researchers have found, with our bodies — by the way we move, sit, stand and what we do with our hands and heads. Imagine a few people sitting in a waiting room: one is tapping his fingers on his briefcase, another keeps rubbing his hands together, another is biting his fingernails, still another grabs the arms of his chair tightly and one keeps running his fingers through his hair. These people aren't talking but they're "saying" a lot if you know the "body language" they're using.
Two of the most "telling" forms of behavior are driving a car and playing games. Notice a person's reaction to stress in these situations and to aggressive behavior in others. Those who easily become angry, excited, passive or resentful when driving or playing may be giving insights into the inside self.
While clothing serves a purely practical function, how you dress also communicates many things about your social status, state of mind and even your aspirations and dreams. The eleven-year-old girl who dresses like a college student and the forty-year-old woman who dresses like a teenager are saying something through what they wear. What you communicate through your kind of dress definitely influences others to accept the picture of yourself you are projecting: in the business world, the person who dresses like a successful manager is most likely to be promoted into a managing position.
Also important are the ornaments a person wears: buttons, medals, jewels, etc. Such ornaments are often the means by which a person announces a variety of things about himself: his convictions (campaign buttons), his beliefs (religious tokens), his membership in certain groups (club pins or badges), his past achievements (college ring or Phi Beta Kappa key) and his economic status (diamonds).
Another sign of a person's nature is said to be found in his choices in architecture and furniture. A person who would really like to live in a castle would probably be more at home in the Middle Ages. Those who like Victorian family houses and furniture might secretly welcome a return to more rigid social norms. People who are content with modern design are probably comfortable with modern life-styles.
When you see a person for the first time, even though he doesn't speak to you, you begin watching him — his actions, his attitude, his clothing and many other things. There's a wealth of information there if you know how to "read" it. Perhaps snap judgments aren't so unsound after all.

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NEW WORDS

statement
n. something that one says or writes, often officially 說話，敘述，聲明

snap
a. done quickly and suddenly, often without careful thought 迅速的，突然的

judgment（英judgement）
n. 1. an opinion 看法，意見
2. the ability to form common sense opinions or to make wise decisions 判斷力，識別力

▲seemingly
ad. in a way it appears; as if 從表面上看起來；似乎是

instant
a. immediate; happening suddenly or at once 立即的，即刻的；瞬間發(fā)生的

action
n. something one does 行為

assume
vt. accept or believe that sth. is true even though one has no evidence 假定；想當(dāng)然認為，臆斷

▲acquaint
vt. make someone or oneself familiar with or aware of 使認識，使了解

behavior (behaviour)
n. the way one acts or behaves 行為，舉止

behavioral (behavioural)
a. concerning the behavior of an animal or a person, or the study of their behavior （關(guān)于）行為的；行為科學(xué)的

estimate
vt. figure out; judge 估計；判斷

overestimate
v. think sth. is bigger or more important, etc. than it really is 過高估計，過高評價

obvious
a. easily seen or understood; clear 顯然的，明顯的

partial
a. not complete 部分的，不完全的

partially
ad. partly; not completely 部分地，不完全地

account
v. (for) explain or give a reason for 作出解釋，提出理由，說明
n. 1. a report or description of sth. that has happened 記述，描述，報告
2. the plan by which a bank looks after your money for you 賬戶；交易關(guān)系

rub
vt. move one thing against another 擦，摩擦

aggressive
a. 1. using or showing force or stress in order to succeed 活躍有為的，積極進取的
2. ready or likely to fight or argue 挑釁的，侵略的



passive
a. not active; not showing any feelings or action 被動的；消極的

▲resent
v. feel angry about sth. because it is unfair （尤指因感到委屈、傷害等）對……表示忿恨，對……怨恨

resentful
a. feeling annoyed 充滿忿恨的，怨恨不止的

function
n. the purpose or special duty of a person or thing 功能，作用，機能

social
a. 1. concerning the position of people in society 一定社會地位的
2. concerning how people or groups of people connect; about the order of society 社會的

status
n. one's social or work position when compared to other people 地位，身份

▲aspiration
n. (often pl.) a strong desire to have or do sth. （常用復(fù)數(shù)）強烈的愿望，志向

project
vt. 1. show or present (oneself or one's qualities) in a certain way 表明……特征，使呈現(xiàn)特性
2. plan 打算，計劃
n. 1. a plan or secret plan 計劃，規(guī)劃
2. a piece of study or research （學(xué)術(shù)交流的）課題，作業(yè)，科研項目

promote
vt. 1. raise someone to a higher level or position 提升，晉升
2. encourage; help the progress of sth. 促進，增進

▲ornament
n. something added to make something else look better 裝飾品，點綴品

medal
n. 獎牌，獎?wù)拢瑒渍?br />
jewel
n. 寶石，寶石飾物；首飾

conviction
n. a very strong opinion or belief 堅定的信仰；確信

campaign
n. a plan to do a number of things in order to achieve a special aim 運動

belief
n. 1. an idea about faith, political ideas, etc. 信念，信仰
2. a feeling that sb. or sth. is true, good or right, or that sb. or sth. really exists 相信，信任

religious
a. 1. connected with faith 宗教的，宗教上的
2. having a strong belief in a faith 篤信宗教的，虔誠的

▲token
n. something that stands for or is a sign of something else 標志，象征

membership
n. the state of being a member 會員身份，會員資格

▲badge
n. 徽章，證章；標記，標識

achievement
n. something that is done successfully, esp. through hard work or skill 成就，成績

economic
a. connected with the supply of money, trade, industry, etc. 經(jīng)濟的，經(jīng)濟上的

architecture
n. the style or kind of building 建筑式樣，建筑風(fēng)格

rigid
a. strict 嚴格的，死板的


▲norm
n. what people normally do or follow 準則

style
n. the way that sth. is done, built, etc. 樣式，風(fēng)格

life-style
n. the way one lives 生活方式

PHRASES AND EXPRESSIONS


lack of
not having enough of 缺乏，不足

find out
discover 找出，查明，發(fā)現(xiàn)

actions speak louder than words
one is judged by what he does, rather than what he says he will do 行動比言語更響亮；事實勝于雄辯

in relation to
concerning 有關(guān)，關(guān)于

become/be acquainted with
become/be familiar or friendly with 與……相識，了解

pick up
1. learn interesting or useful information 獲得
2. learn a new skill or language by practicing it rather than being taught it 學(xué)會

in part
to some degree; not completely 在某種程度上；部分

account for
explain or give a reason for 作出解釋，提出理由，說明

be/feel at home
be/feel comfortable 感到無拘束，感到熟悉

be content with
be satisfied or happy with 對……感到滿足



a wealth of
a great quantity of 大量的，豐富的

PROPER NAMES

Phi Beta Kappa
PBK聯(lián)誼會（美國大學(xué)優(yōu)秀生和畢業(yè)生的榮譽組織，成立于1776年）；PBK聯(lián)誼會會員

Victorian
connected with the time of Queen Victoria (1837-1901) （英國）維多利亞（女王）的，維多利亞時代的，維多利亞式的