【17】乐观性格

Glass half full

乐观性格

你对生活有怎样的感受呢？你是一个乐观主义者还是一个悲观主义者呢？

Rob和Finn将要说说科学技术如何尝试找出使我们感觉乐观或悲观的因素。

同时，他们也会给我们解说一下，当我们说杯子还有一半是空的（glass is half empty）或杯子有一半是满的（glass is half full）是怎样不同的情绪。

那么，你是属于哪一种性格的人呢？我们一起来听听学习者的说法吧。

本期问题：

“乐观主义者从每个困难中看到机遇，悲观主义者从每个机遇中看到困难”是谁写下的名言？是：

a) Winston Churchill 温斯顿·伦纳德·斯宾塞·丘吉尔

b) Oscar Wilde 奥斯卡·王尔德

c) Charles Dickens 查尔斯·狄更斯

让我们一起听节目，找答案吧。

听力内容：

Glass half full

NB: This is not a word-for-word transcript

Rob: Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English, I'm Rob and with me is Finn.

Finn: Hello Rob.

Rob: You sound very cheerful – so, how are you feeling?

Finn: I'm good thanks. Things are going well. I'm here in the studio with you, I'm going on holiday next week, and I'm really enjoying this cold weather.

Rob: Really – I think it's miserable outside but I suppose you're a good example of an optimist - someone who always looks at life from a positive point of view. It's a good thing, Finn.

The opposite of an optimist is, of course, a pessimist.

Finn: Well Rob, there is some hope for pessimists because research is taking place to see if people's attitude to life can be switched from negative to positive.

Rob: Well I'll drink to that! Finn, here's a glass of lemonade to celebrate – the only thing is - it's half empty, there's not much left in there.

Finn: Stop complaining Rob – that's half full – look, there's still enough to enjoy.

Rob: If you say so. We'll explain more about that glass half empty saying shortly. But first, how optimistic are you about getting today's question right?

Finn: Extremely positive.

Rob: OK. Well do you know who wrote this famous quote: "A pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. An optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty". Was it:

a) Winston Churchill

b) Oscar Wilde

c) Charles Dickens

Finn: It's a good quote. I'm not sure but I'm think I'll say b) Oscar Wilde.

Rob: You sound optimistic! I'll give you the answer at the end of the programme. So we are talking about being an optimist or a pessimist. It's not something that can be easily measured; it more of a state of mind.

Finn: A state of mind is how you think or feel. There are many factors that can influence – or affect this. Certain events in a person's life, such as someone you know dying, or losing your job, can trigger – or cause – a negative feeling about life.

Rob: And people with depression – a medical condition where someone is very unhappy – tend to be pessimistic.

Finn: Indeed. But scientists are now looking inside our heads to see what's going on and if there is a way to change how we feel.

Rob: A medical journalist and doctor called Michael Mosley has been looking into this. He says our attitude to life – the positive or negative way we view life – affects our personality.

Finn: What phrase does he use to describe the importance of optimism and pessimism in our characters?

Medical journalist and doctor, Michael Mosley:

Our personalities are a complex interaction of character traits that affect behaviour, emotions and ultimately the lives we lead. And one of the fundamental drivers is how optimistic or pessimistic we are. This is also one of the hottest new areas of scientific research.

Rob: OK, so he says one of the fundamental drivers in shaping our personality is how optimistic or pessimistic we are. A fundamental driver means the most important thing that makes something happen.

Finn: So our outlook on life drives – or shapes – our behaviour, our emotions and character traits – traits are the particular qualities we have. This subject is described as 'one of the hottest new areas of research' – hottest here means latest and most popular.

Rob: And the research may find a way to change people from seeing a glass being half empty to one that is half full.

Finn: There's that phrase again! We sometimes say pessimistic people describe a glass of water or beer as being half empty – they have already drunk half of it and there's not much left.

Rob: But someone who is optimistic, like you Finn, would view the glass as being half full – there is still half of the drink left to enjoy. It really depends on your point of view – how you view things.

Finn: We asked our BBC Learning English audience how full or empty their glass is. What have they been saying?

Rob: Mariola says "My glass is half full because I'm going on holiday next Friday!"

Finn: And Raquel says "My glass is always half full because it's the best way to be happy!"

Rob: But Mon Tran says "My glass is half empty. I'm far away from my family and missing them so much."

Finn: Well maybe scientists will be able to help Mon Tran and others to feel more optimistic about life in the future? Well Rob, I'm optimistic that I got today's quiz question right.

Rob: Let's find out. Earlier I asked who wrote this famous quote: "A pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. An optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."

Finn: I said b) Oscar Wilde.

Rob: You are wrong. They were the words of Winston Churchill. Ok that's it for this programme. Do join us again soon for more 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English.

Both: Bye.

词汇学习：

1. an optimist 乐观主义者

2. a pessimist 悲观主义者

3. a state of mind 心态

4. influence 影响

5. trigger 印发

6. depression 抑郁症

7. point of view 观点

8. personality 个人

9. drivers 司机;驱动程序

10. Traits 特性，特质