随身英语
What makes puzzles fun 智力游戏乐趣多
不论是拼图、谜语、数独还是纵横字迷，它们都各有各的乐趣。那到底是什么让这些智力游戏趣味横生？一个引人入胜的智力游戏有哪些特点？本期节目围绕智力游戏的乐趣展开讨论。
词汇：puzzles 智力游戏
Throughout history, people have been attracted to puzzles, from Ancient Greek riddles to brain-teasing video games, people have tried to solve problems for fun. But what is it about these conundrums that makes us enjoy them?
It could be that the desire to find a solution is wired into us. A study has shown that when people complete anagrams, it can stimulate the reward centre in the brain. One of the researchers behind the study, Yongtaek Oh, suggests that problem-solving ability provides an evolutionary advantage – it can help us survive! It's clear that this 'aha' moment is very enjoyable, but it's not just completing a puzzle that people enjoy.
David Shariatmadari highlights that solving the best puzzles requires a combination of luck and skill. He points out that the element of chance makes it more open to a wide range of people, while the need for skill gives players a feeling that they are in control. This also helps to provide a balance between being something challenging and something achievable. Michael Vilensky, a psychologist at Ohio State University, tells us that puzzles offer us a situation that we can control and resolve, which can be satisfying when compared with other life challenges. Other experts, such as therapist Elizabeth Hinkel, argue that by requiring concentration, puzzles can provide mindful moments away from the stresses of everyday life. Puzzles can also have a social aspect, whether that's making it easy to share your scorecard on social media, or the fact that people are keen to help each other find clues and come up with the answer.
Puzzles and fun may even be dependent on each other, researchers at Drexel University have suggested. When looking at brain images, they found that some people preparing to do a puzzle showed activity associated with positive moods and that these people were better able to come up with solutions. They also found that subjects performed better on puzzles if they had seen a funny video beforehand.
词汇表
riddle 谜语
brain-teasing 考验脑力的
solve 解决
problem 问题，难题
conundrum 谜语，难题
solution 解决方法，答案
anagram （游戏）同字母异序词
problem-solving 解决问题的
'aha' moment 顿悟时刻
complete 完成（谜语），解开（谜题）
luck 运气
skill 技能，技巧
element of chance 碰运气的成分
player 玩家
challenging 有挑战性的
achievable （谜语）可完成的，可解开的
resolve 解决
concentration 专注力，注意力集中
mindful 聚精会神的，注意的
scorecard 记分卡
clue （谜语、游戏、问题答案的）提示
come up with 想出
answer 答案，解法
测验与练习
1. 阅读课文并回答问题。
1. What can happen when people do anagrams?
2. What two things does David Shariatmadari say solving good puzzles requires?
3. Why does Michael Vilensky say that puzzles can be satisfying?
4. How can puzzles be social?
5. What did psychologists at Drexel University find that made completing puzzles easier?
2. 选择意思恰当的单词或词组来完成下列句子。
1. A puzzle where you have to rearrange the letters is called _______.
a conundrum a scorecard an anagram a riddle
2. A _______ helps you find the answer.
solution clue problem conundrum
3. A tricky puzzle is _______.
complete achievable mindful brain-teasing
4. It feels satisfying to _______ the answer.
complete resolve answer come up with
5. If a puzzle depends on your ability, it requires _______.
luck concentration skill chance
答案
1. 阅读课文并回答问题。
1. What can happen when people do anagrams?
A study suggests that it stimulates the reward centre in the brain.
2. What two things does David Shariatmadari say solving good puzzles requires?
He says that solving good puzzles requires both luck and skill.
3. Why does Michael Vilensky say that puzzles can be satisfying?
He says that puzzles can be satisfying because they offer us a situation that can be controlled and resolved.
4. How can puzzles be social?
Because results can be shared on social media and people can work together to complete them.
5. What did psychologists at Drexel University find that made completing puzzles easier?
They found that watching a funny video first helped people complete puzzles.
2. 选择意思恰当的单词或词组来完成下列句子。
1. A puzzle where you have to rearrange the letters is called an anagram.
2. A clue helps you find the answer.
3. A tricky puzzle is brain-teasing.
4. It feels satisfying to come up with the answer.
5. If a puzzle depends on your ability, it requires skill.
