ANALYTICAL ENGLISH 解析英語(常春藤)

We think. We decide. We act. It all seems simple and under our control. Yet, beneath these everyday processes lie hidden patterns that influence our behavior in surprising ways. These patterns, known as “effects,” help explain why people tend to react similarly under certain conditions, even without realizing it.

A. The Dunning–Kruger Effect

Photo: Ivy English I 照片：常春藤解析英語

Olivia learned to play the piano on her own by watching some online videos. After picking up a few simple pieces, she saw herself as naturally gifted. Feeling confident, she signed up for a piano competition. Unfortunately, she was eliminated in the first round, as the judges pointed out her lack of technique and limited musical expression. At that moment, she realized that her confidence was out of proportion with her actual ability.

B. The Bystander Effect

At a busy MRT station, an elderly man tripped and fell in front of everyone. Ethan was in the crowd, but he hesitated to help. It was only when a station staff member finally rushed over that he realized he could have stepped in. The assumption that someone else will act first can quietly prevent people from helping when it is needed most.

C. The Mandela Effect

When Gina was talking about Pikachu with her friends, they recalled that its tail had a black tip, as if it were an established fact from the original animation. However, when they checked the official images of Pikachu, they were surprised to find that its tail had always been completely yellow, with no black tip at all. This illustrates how people can collectively misremember the same details, even when the actual information has never changed.

思考、決定、行動。這一切看似簡單且在我們的控制中。然而，這些日常過程背後隱藏著以驚人的方式影響我們行為的模式。這些模式被稱為「效應」，有助於解釋為什麼人們在特定情況下往往會做出相似反應，甚至自己都沒有意識到。

A. 鄧寧-克魯格效應

奧莉維亞透過觀看一些網路影片自學鋼琴。學會幾首簡單的曲子後，她認為自己天賦異稟。她自信滿滿報名了鋼琴比賽。遺憾的是，她在第一輪就被淘汰了，因為評審指出她缺乏技巧、音樂表達不足。那一刻，她意識到她的自信與實力不成比例。

B. 旁觀者效應

在繁忙的捷運站中，一名老先生在眾人面前絆倒。伊森身處人群之中，卻猶豫要不要去幫忙。直到一名站務人員終於跑過去，他才意識到自己本來可以出手幫忙的。假設其他人會先有所行動的想法，可能會默默阻止人們在他人最需要的時候伸出援手。

C. 曼德拉效應

當吉娜與朋友在談論皮卡丘時，他們回想起他的尾巴尖端是黑色的，彷彿這是來自原始動畫的既定事實。不過當他們查看皮卡丘的官方影像時，發現其尾巴一直都是全黃色，根本沒有黑色的尖端，令他們大吃一驚。這說明了人們是如何集體記錯一樣的細節，即使真實資訊從未改變過。

What Did You Learn?

Which phrase in the passage means “lacking the appropriate relationship with the size, shape, or position of some part of the same thing”?（簡答題）

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答案:

out of proportion with

Words in Use

1. gifted a. 有天賦的

Although Stacy is gifted in art, she still practices every day to refine her skills.

雖然史黛西具有藝術天賦，她仍每天練習以精進技巧。

2. competition n. 比賽

The team trained for months before the competition began.

那支隊伍在比賽開始前訓練了好幾個月。

3. eliminate vt. 淘汰，剔除

One mistake was enough to eliminate the experienced singer from the contest.

一次失誤就足以讓那名有經驗的歌手從比賽中淘汰。

4. technique n. 技巧，技術

Mastering a new technique usually requires patience and consistent practice.

掌握新技巧通常需要耐心與持續練習。

5. confidence n. 信心

Despite facing a strong opponent, the young tennis player showed confidence.

儘管面對強大對手，那名年輕的網球選手仍展現信心。

Practical Phrases

1. under certain conditions 在特定情況∕條件下

This chemical reaction occurs only under certain conditions.

這種化學反應只會在特定的條件下發生。

2. be out of proportion with / to... 與……（在程度、實體大小等方面）不成比例

proportion n. 比例

Many members felt that the fee they paid was out of proportion to the services offered by the gym.

許多會員覺得他們所支付的費用與健身房提供的服務不成比例。

3. step in 介入，插手

The police stepped in before the situation became worse.

警方在情況變得更糟前介入。

4. as if. . . 彷彿∕好像……（= as though...）

本文中的 as if 為表與過去事實相反的情況，由於as if 子句的動詞與主要子句動詞的時間一致，因此用過去式。

? After the scandal, the mayor continued to work as if it didn’t affect him.

醜聞過後，那名市長繼續工作，彷彿那並未影響到他。

若此動作比主要子句動詞所表示的動作更早發生時，則 as if 子句採過去完成式。

Paul slipped and fell, but he quickly stood up and acted as if nothing had happened.