单词与词组 Words and phrases

①predictable a. 可预言的

②prime　n. 青春，精华

③computation n. 计算

④possess v. 拥有

⑤trade-off n. 交换，平衡

⑥quotient n. 商，份额

⑦sonata n. 奏鸣曲

全文细细赏　Text reading

（注意：红色文字为重点背诵语句）

The ups and downs of life may seem to have no predictable① plan. But scientists know there are very definite patterns that almost all people share. Even if you've passed some of your "prime"②, you still have other prime years to experience in the future. Certain important primes seem to peak later in life.

　　人生的起伏似乎没有可以预知的模式，但是科学家现在发现有一些模式相当明确，绝大多数人都不例外。即使你度过了一些最佳时期，你仍然会在将来经历另外几个最佳时期。某些最佳时期似乎在生命的后半段才会到来。

When are you smartest? From 18-25, according to I.Q. scores; but you're wiser and more experienced with increasing age.

　　什么时候你最聪明？根据智商得分，你从15岁至25岁最聪明。然而，随着年龄的增长，你更加具有智慧和经验。

You're sharpest in your 20's; around 30, memory begins to decline, particularly your ability to perform mathematical computations③. But your I.Q. for other tasks climbs. Your vocabulary at age 45, for example, is three times as great as when you graduated from college. At 60, your brain possesses④ almost four times as much information as it did at age 21.

　　20多岁的时候你的思维最敏捷；30岁左右，记忆力开始衰退，尤其是你的数学计算能力。然而你做其他事情的智商提高了。例如45岁时你的词汇量是你刚从大学毕业时的3倍。60岁时你大脑中储存的信息几乎是你21岁时的4倍。

This trade-off⑤ between sharpness and wisdom has led psychologists to suggest that "maturity quotients"⑥ (M.Q.) be adopted for adults.

　　敏锐和智慧之间的这种消长，已经使得心理学家们提出了在成年人中采用"成熟商"这一概念。

When are you happiest? You have the best physical sense of yourself from 15 to 24; the best professional sense from 40 to 49.

　　什么时候你的自我感觉最好？15岁至24岁之间你的身体感觉最好；40岁至49岁之间你对自己的职业感觉最佳。

Before age 24, we believe that our happiest years are yet to come; over 30,we believe that they're behind us. A National Health Survey agrees: After age 30, we "become more realistic and do not view happiness as a goal in itself. If we maintain our health, achieve professional and emotional goals, then happiness, we feel, will follow".

　　24岁之前，我们相信自己最快乐的日子尚未到来；过了30岁，我们就认为最快乐的时光已经过去。一项全国性的健康调查也揭示了同样的结果：30岁过后，我们变得更加实际，不把幸福当成生命本身的一种目标。我们认为，只要我们保持健康，事业上、情感上称心如意，那么我们就觉得幸福便会随之而来。

When are you most creative? Generally between 30 and 39, but the peak varies with different professions.

　　什么时候你最富创造力？一般在30岁至39岁之间。但是不同的职业，高峰期也不相同。

Mozart wrote a symphony and four sonatas⑦ by age eight, and Mendelssohn composed his best known work A Midsummer Night's Dream, at 17, but most of the great music was written by men between 33 and 39.

　　莫扎特8岁时就创作了一部交响曲、4首奏鸣曲；门德尔松17岁就完成了他的最著名的作品《仲夏夜之梦》，但是大部分伟大的音乐作品都是人们在33岁至39岁之间创作出来的。

Though the peak in most fields comes early-most Nobel prizewinners did their top research in their late 20's and 30's-creative people continue to produce quality work throughout their lives. For the "well-conditioned mind", there is no upper limit.

　　虽然大多数领域的最佳状态来得比较早--大多数诺贝尔奖获得者都是在25岁以后、30多岁时完成他们最出色的研究--但是创造型的人会在生命中不断地完成高质量的工作。对于"状态良好的大脑"，不存在上限。

背诵小贴士 Recitation tips

三个大段：

1. When are you smartest?

2. When are you happiest?

3. When are you most creative?

再回到主题：Are these the best years of your Life? 想一想！
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