Appearance

英语自学网

　　Unit 5
        　　Appearance
        　　In-Class Reading
        　　Physical Attractiveness
        　　1 What do you look for in a potential date? Sincerity? Good looks? Character? Conversational ability? Asked to rank such attributes, most intellectuals put physical attractiveness near the bottom of the list. Of course. Sophisticated, intelligent people are not greatly concerned with such superficial qualities as good looks; they know that "beauty is only skin deep." At least they know that's how they ought to feel. As Cicero counseled, "The final good and the supreme duty of the wise man is to resist appearance."
        　　2 This intuition that looks matter little may be another instance of our denying real influences upon us, for there is now a file drawer full of research studies indicating that appearance is a powerful determinant of initial attraction. The consistency and pervasiveness of this effect is startling, perhaps even disconcerting. Good looks are a great asset.
        　　3 Like it or not, the fact is that a young woman's physical attractiveness is a moderately good predictor of how frequently she dates; a young man's attractiveness, slightly less a predictor of how frequently he dates. Does this simply imply, as many have surmised, that women are better at following Cicero's advice to "resist appearance"? Or does it merely reflect the fact that men more often do the inviting? If women were to indicate their preferences among various men, would looks be as important to them as to men?
        　　4 Some researchers have addressed this question by providing men and women students with various pieces of information about someone of the other sex, including a picture of the person, or by briefly introducing a man and a woman, and later asking them how interested they would be in dating one another. In these experiments, women were virtually as much influenced by a man's looks as men were by a woman's.
        　　5 Do the benefits of being good-looking spring entirely from one's being sexually attractive? Clearly not. Young children are favorably biased toward attractive children much as adults are biased toward attractive adults. When adults judge children they are similarly biased. Margaret Clifford and Elaine Hatfield showed Missouri fifth-grade teachers identical information about a boy or girl, but with the photograph of an attractive or unattractive child attached. The teachers who judged an attractive child saw the child as more intelligent and more likely to do well in school. Or think of yourself as a playground supervisor having to discipline an unruly child. Might you be tempted to give more benefit of the doubt if the child is attractive?
        　　6 What is more, beautiful people, even if of the same sex, are assumed also to possess certain desirable traits. Other things being equal, they are guessed to be happier, more intelligent, more sociable, more successful, and more competent. When in need, they receive more help. When good things happen (for example, a promotion), attractive people are perceived as more responsible for the outcome than are unattractive people; when bad things happen, attractive people are seen as less responsible. To top it off, attractive people, more than unattractive people, are guessed to have personalities like one's own. Added together, the findings point to a physical-attractiveness stereotype: What is beautiful is good. Children are taught the stereotype quite early. Snow White and Cinderella are beautiful--and kind; the witch and the stepsisters are ugly--and wicked. As one kindergarten girl put it when asked what it means to be pretty, "It's like being a princess. Everybody loves you".
        　　7 However, we should not overstate the potency of the attractiveness stereotype. To say that attractiveness is important, other things being equal, is not to say that physical appearance is always more important than other qualities. Attractiveness probably most affects first impressions; one's appearance is vivid, it draws immediate attention. As a relationship develops, appearance may diminish in importance. Nevertheless, first impressions are important, not only for one's prospects for dating, but also for job interviews. If first impressions are bad, there may never be a chance for second impressions. Indications are that attractiveness does figure strongly in hiring decisions. Moreover, as society has seemingly become more mobile and urbanized--our contacts with doctors, colleagues, and neighbors more fleeting--first impressions have probably become more important than ever before.
        　　8 Is the physical-attractiveness stereotype accurate? Or was Leo Tolstoy correct when he wrote that it's "a strange illusion... to suppose that beauty is goodness"? There might well be a trace of truth to the stereotype. Children and young adults who are attractive tend to have higher self-esteem. They are more assertive, though they are also believed to be more egotistical. They are neither more nor less academically capable (contrary to the negative stereotype that "beauty times brains equals a constant"). However, they are somewhat more socially polished.
        　　9 Thus far, I have described attractiveness as if it were an objective quality like height, something some people have more of, some less. Actually, attractiveness is whatever the people of any given place and time find attractive. This, of course, varies. And even in a given place and time, there is (fortunately) some disagreement about who's attractive and who's not. Generally, though, "attractive" facial and bodily features do not deviate too drastically from the average. Noses, legs, or statures that are not unusually large or small tend to be perceived as relatively attractive.
        　　10 We can conclude our discussion of attractiveness on a heart-warming note. Not only do we perceive attractive people as likable, but we also perceive likable people as physically attractive. Perhaps you can recall individuals who, as you grew to like them, became more attractive, their physical imperfections no longer so noticeable. For example, Alan Gross and Christine Crofton had University of Missouri students view someone's photograph after reading a favorable or unfavorable description of the person's personality. Those perceived as good appeared more attractive. Other researchers have found that the more in love a woman is with a man, the more physically attractive she finds him. Apparently Plato was right: "The good is the beautiful." (1002 words)
        　　Time taken: _______ minutes
        　　Proper Names
        　　Alan Gross
            
            

entwo

        　　(男子名)艾伦.格劳斯
        　　Christine Crofton
        　　(女子名)克里斯廷·克罗夫顿
        　　Cinderella
        　　灰姑娘(童话人物)
        　　Elaine Hatfield
        　　(女子名)伊莱恩·哈特菲尔德
        　　Margaret Clifford
        　　(女子名)玛格丽特·克利福德
        　　Leo Tolstoy
        　　列·托尔斯泰(1828-1910，俄国作家。主要作品：《战争与和平》、《复活》等)
        　　Plato
        　　柏拉图(427-347BC，古希腊哲学家)
        　　Snow White
        　　白雪公主(童话人物)
        　　University of Missouri
        　　密苏里大学(美国一所大学)
        　　New Words
        　　academically *
        　　adv. in terms of performance in academic courses学业上
        　　e.g. All the candidates are well qualified academically.
        　　assertive*
        　　adj. confidently aggressive or self-assured, forceful 果断的，自信的，有冲劲的
        　　e.g. I) A good army officer must be assertive.
        　　II) His assertive nature helped him attain his goals.
        　　attractiveness *
        　　n. the quality of being pleasing to the eye or mind 魅力，吸引力
        　　e.g. She doesn't have to worry about her attractiveness- everyone thinks she's beautiful.
        　　consistency*
        　　n. the state of always keeping to the same principles or course of action 一贯性，前后一
        　　e.g. I) There's no consistency between what he says and what he does.
        　　II) The consistency of the teacher's making the students work hard helps them learn a lot.
        　　conversational *
        　　adj. of or relating to conversation 善于辞令的，会话的
        　　e.g. I) His family fascinated me with their brilliant conversational powers.
        　　II) Business letters are not usually written in conversational style.
        　　determinant *
        　　n. something that controls or influences what will happen 决定因素
        　　e.g. I) Social class is a major determinant of consumer spending patterns.
        　　II) Is cost or reliability the main determinant in choosing a new car?
        　　deviate
        　　v. vary or move away, as from a norm or purpose 偏离，背离
        　　e.g. I) The plane deviated from its usual route.
        　　II) Their plans deviated from what we originally agreed to do.
        　　disconcerting
        　　adj. making someone feel confused or worried 令人不安的，令人烦恼的
        　　e.g. The old man had this disconcerting habit of pausing before he spoke.
        　　drastically *
        　　adv. extremely, severely 极端地，严厉地
        　　e.g. I) They kept cutting the budget drastically.
        　　II) You can drastically alter your appearance by dyeing your hair.
        　　favorable
            
            

enone

        　　adj.
        　　1) approving, praising 赞同的，称赞的
        　　e.g. I) The film received favorable reviews.
        　　II) His request met with a favorable response.
        　　2) helpful, advantageous 有利的，顺利的
        　　e.g. I) Conditions are favorable for skiing today.
        　　II) The noisy environment of the office is scarcely favorable to the kind of concentration that is expected of us.
        　　favorably *
        　　adv. positively, beneficially 赞同地，有利地
        　　e.g. I) Television audiences responded favorably to the series.
        　　II) Japan is thus favorably placed to maintain its lead as the most successful manufacturing nation.
        　　heart-warming *
        　　adj. causing feelings of happiness and pleasure 暖人心房的
        　　e.g. Is there a sight more heart-warming than a family reunion?
        　　imperfection *
        　　n. a fault or defect that someone or something has 缺陷，缺点，不完美
        　　e.g. I) There are no imperfections in this china.
        　　II) A tendency to be lazy was his only imperfection.
        　　likable *
        　　adj. easy to like, with a pleasing personality 可爱的，值得喜欢的
        　　e.g. He is a likable boy, always friendly.
        　　moderately *
        　　adv. to a certain extent, not excessively 适中地，有限地
        　　e.g. I) His handwriting was moderately good.
        　　II) She is moderately happy with her new car.
        　　overstate *
        　　v. state something too strongly, exaggerate 言过其实，夸大
        　　e.g. We must not frighten people by overstating the dangers.
        　　pervasiveness
        　　n. the state of spreading widely throughout an area or a group of people 遍布，普遍蔓延
        　　e.g. The book deals with the pervasiveness of television in our culture.
        　　polished *
        　　adj. polite and graceful 有礼貌的，文雅的
        　　e.g. The hostess has a polished manner towards her guests.
        　　sexually *
        　　adv. in a way that relates to sex 两性之间地
        　　sincerity *
        　　n. honesty in thought and action 真诚，诚挚，诚实
        　　e.g. I) She said it in all sincerity.
        　　II) I like her sincerity; she means what she says.
        　　startling *
        　　adj. very unusual or surprising 令人吃惊的，惊人的
        　　e.g. I) I've got some startling news for you!
        　　II) The results were quite startling-a 78% increase in six months.
        　　stature
        　　n. someone's height 身高
        　　e.g. Most professional basketball players are tall in stature.
        　　stepsister*
        　　n. one's stepfather's or stepmother's daughter by a previous marriage 同父异母(或同母异父)的姐姐或妹妹
        　　surmise
        　　v. make a reasonable guess 推测，猜测
        　　e.g. After seeing that the room was empty, he surmised that the party was over.
        　　unfavorable*
        　　adj. negative, disapproving, bad 否定的，不利的
        　　e.g. I) He has formed an unfavorable opinion of my work.
        　　II) The unfavorable weather prevented the game from being played.
        　　unruly
        　　adj. not easily controlled, disobedient and wild 不守规矩的，不受约束的
        　　e.g. The little boy's parents think he's energetic, but his teacher finds him unruly.
        　　urbanize*
        　　v. change (especially a rural place) into a town-like area 使都市化
        　　e.g. The coastal regions are highly urbanized and industrialized.
        　　wicked
        　　adj. bad, wrong, immoral 坏的，邪恶的
        　　e.g. I) It is wicked to make other people suffer.
        　　II) It was very clear to him that he had done something wicked.
        　　Phrases and Expressions
        　　be concerned with
        　　be involved in something because it interests someone or because someone thinks it's important 关心
        　　e.g. I) We are more concerned with efficiency than expansion.
        　　II) The novelist is not concerned with other people's attitude to his work.
        　　give someone the benefit of the doubt
        　　believe that someone is telling the truth, or is innocent of wrongdoing, in the absence of any proof for or against the person(在没有相反的语气之前)给予肯定的判断，或者假定某人是无辜的
        　　e.g. I) They decided to give the President the benefit of the doubt.
        　　II) We don't really know if Jane was cheating or not; I'd be inclined to give her the benefit of the doubt.
        　　point to
        　　suggest the strong possibility of, be a sign of 显出大有可能......,表明是......的迹象
        　　e.g. I) All the facts point to the same conclusion.
        　　II) All the evidence points to Randall as the murderer.
        　　spring from
        　　be the result of 出于，由......而来，由......造成
        　　e.g. I) Her unhappiness has sprung from her lack of self-confidence.
        　　II) His fear of dogs springs from a bad experience as a child.
        　　top it (all) off
        　　in addition, usually something especially good or very bad 更有甚者，最妙的是，最糟糕的是
        　　e.g. Tom hadn't finished his homework, he was late for school, and to top it all off he missed a surprise test(事先不知道的考试)