有些人性格内向，而有些人则性格外向。相比之下，开朗大方的人似乎更容易被人接受，又常是社交活动中备受瞩目的对象。但外向真的比内向好吗？还是说各有利弊？哪类人更善于倾听？

词汇：personality 个性

• From a young age, many of us learn the benefits of being an extrovert – those gregarious爱交际的，合群的 individuals who always seem to be the life and soul of the party, often outspoken and able to express their opinions easily. However, not all of us are wired 与生俱来 that way – so is being an extrovert really better?

  从很小的时候起，我们中的许多人就知道做一个外向的人的好处，那些喜欢交际的人似乎总是派对的生命和灵魂社交场合的灵魂人物，经常直言不讳，能够轻松地表达自己的观点。然而，并不是所有人都是这样的——那么做一个外向的人真的更好吗？

  ⭐ gregarious [grɪˈɡeriəs] 爱交际的; life and soul of the party 社交场合的灵魂人物; outspoken 坦率的，直率的； wire 与生俱来，生来……

• While thinking of extroverts, we imagine a character who is assertive果断的, approachable平易近人的, cheerful开朗的 and charming. We are taught to admire these traits特质 early on 在早期. Kids are often encouraged to interact 互动, play and communicate with other children. It seems at times as though children are made to embrace 接受 a more outgoing lifestyle, with some people becoming pseudo假的-extroverts – introverts who mimic模仿 extrovert behaviour. While externally外部地 they may seem to enjoy the company of others, or being in the limelight, they can still become over-extended in intense严肃紧张的 social situations.

  当想到外向者时，我们想象的是一个自信、平易近人、开朗和迷人的角色。我们从小就被教导要欣赏这些特质。孩子们经常被鼓励与其他孩子互动、玩耍和交流。有时，似乎孩子们被赋予了一种更外向的生活方式，有些人变成了伪外向的内向者，他们模仿外向的行为。虽然从外表上看，他们似乎很享受别人的陪伴，或处于聚光灯下，但在严肃紧张的社交场合，他们仍然会过度扩张吃不消/压力过大。

  ⭐ assertive 坚定自信的; approachable 平易近人的; cheerful 乐观开朗的; charming 迷人的; trait （性格）特点; encourage 鼓励; interact 互动，相互交流; communicate 沟通; outgoing 开朗外向的; pseudo [ˈsuːdəʊ; ˈsjuːdəʊ] adj. 假的，伪装的; mimic [ˈmɪmɪk] 模仿; over-extended 吃不消，压力过大;

• So, while the positive aspects of being an extrovert are plain to see, what are the benefits of introversion? While extroverts thrive on social interaction, introverts are more comfortable with levels of isolation. According to Dr Berit Brogaard, a professor of philosophy, extreme solitude独居, such as times like the recent lockdown, does not affect introverts as much as extroverts. Lack of social contact, something extroverts thrive以……为乐 on, can lead to depression, loneliness, and even premature过早的 death.

  所以，虽然外向的积极方面是显而易见的，但内向的好处是什么?外向的人喜欢社交，而内向的人更喜欢孤立更能适应不同程度的隔离。哲学教授贝瑞特·布罗加德(Berit Brogaard)博士表示，极端孤独，比如最近的禁闭，对内向者的影响不如外向者大。缺乏社交，而这正是外向的人所擅长的(缺乏外向的人所擅长的社交)，会导致抑郁、孤独，甚至早逝。

  ⭐ solitude [ˈsɒlətjuːd] 孤独; thrive on; 擅长 premature [ˌpriːməˈtʃʊr] adj. **过早的，提早的；**早产的；草率的，仓促的

• But it’s not just in an extreme situation that the pros赞成 of being an introvert shine through. These people seem to have more time for contemplation and introspection and thus can become more balanced. They also tend to be good listeners and think before they speak, meaning they could become great friends. Finally, introverts are often fantastic observers, as sitting out of the focus can give you more time to watch the behaviour of others.

  但并非只有在极端情况下，内向的优点才会显露出来。这些人似乎有更多的时间沉思和反省，因此可以变得更平衡。他们也往往是很好的倾听者，在说话前会思考，这意味着他们可以成为很好的朋友。最后，内向的人通常是很棒的观察者，因为远离焦点可以让你有更多的时间观察别人的行为。

  ⭐ pros [prəʊz] 优点; shine through 表现出来; contemplation [ˌkɑːntəmˈpleɪʃn] 沉思; introspection [ˌɪntrəˈspekʃn] 反思;

• So, whatever your personality, either introvert or extrovert, there are clear advantages to being either, and if you meet an introvert, you might just end up with an amazing friend.

  所以，无论你的性格是内向还是外向，两者都有明显的优势，如果你遇到一个内向的人，你可能会遇到一个很棒的朋友。

  ⭐ end up with 结束；以……而结束；以……告终

词汇表

gregarious [grɪˈɡeriəs] 爱交际的

life and soul of the party 社交场合的灵魂人物

outspoken 坦率的，直率的

assertive 坚定自信的

approachable 平易近人的

cheerful 乐观开朗的

charming 迷人的

trait （性格）特点

encourage 鼓励

interact 互动，相互交流

communicate 沟通

outgoing 开朗外向的

mimic [ˈmɪmɪk] 模仿

over-extended 吃不消，压力过大

solitude [ˈsɑːlətuːd] 孤独

premature [ˌpriːməˈtʃʊr] adj. 过早的，提早的；早产的；草率的，仓促的

contemplation [ˌkɑːntəmˈpleɪʃn] 沉思

introspection [ˌɪntrəˈspekʃn] 反思

测验与练习

1.  阅读课文并回答问题。

1. In what ways are children encouraged to be more extroverted?

2. What are pseudo-extroverts?

3. What are the potential risks of being alone for an extrovert?

4. Why can introverts become more balanced?

5. Why can introverts be good friends?

2. 选择意思恰当的单词或词组来完成下列句子。

1. He’s so warm and friendly – and he’s _______ all the time.

A. cheerful    B. introspection    C. solitude    D. mimic

1. Sharon’s so easy to talk with – she’s really _______.

A. contemplation    B. approachable    C. life and soul    D.encourage

1. Our boss always _______ us to take a holiday when we need one.

A. outgoing    B. introspection    C. encourages    D. mimic

1. The child is _______ his father’s speech patterns.

A. interact    B. cheerful    C. approachable    D. mimicking

1. I learnt Spanish so I could _______ better with my husband’s family.

A. mimic    B. over-extend    C. communicate    D. cheerful

答案

1.  阅读课文并回答问题。 *

1. In what ways are children encouraged to be more extroverted? A: Kids are often encouraged to interact, play and communicate with other children.

2. What are pseudo-extroverts? A: Pseudo-extroverts are introverts who mimic extroverts’ behaviour.

3. What are the potential risks of being alone for an extrovert? A: Lack of social contact, something extroverts thrive on, can lead to depression, loneliness, and even premature death.

4. Why can introverts become more balanced? A: Introverts seem to have more time for contemplation and introspection and thus can become more balanced.

5. Why can introverts be good friends? A: Introverts tend to be good listeners and think before they speak, meaning they could become great friends.

2. 选择意思恰当的单词或词组来完成下列句子。

1. He’s so warm and friendly – and he’s cheerful all the time.

2. Sharon’s so easy to talk with – she’s really approachable.

3. Our boss always encourages us to take a holiday when we need one.

4. The child is mimicking his father’s speech patterns.

5. I learnt Spanish so I could communicate better with my husband’s family.